No Influence of the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene rs9939609 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on Blood Lipids in Young Males

The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 A-allele is linked to obesity and dyslipidemia, yet the independent influence of this polymorphism on blood lipids remains equivocal. We examined the influence of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on fasting and postprandial blood lipids in individuals homozygous for the risk A-allele or T-allele with similar anthropometric and demographic characteristics. 12 AA and 12 TT males consumed a standardized meal after fasting overnight. Blood samples were collected at baseline (−1.5 h), before the meal (0 h), and for five hours postprandially to measure lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations. Time-averaged total area under the curve (TAUC) values (0–5 h) were calculated and compared between genotypes. Fasting triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose, and insulin concentrations were similar between groups (p ≥ 0.293). TAUC for TG was similar in AAs and TTs (95% confidence interval (CI) −0.52 to 0.31 mmol/L/h; p = 0.606). Likewise, TAUC values were similar for NEFA (95% CI −0.04 to 0.03 mmol/L/h; p = 0.734), glucose (95% CI −0.41 to 0.44 mmol/L/h; p = 0.951), and insulin (95% CI −6.87 to 2.83 pmol/L/h; p = 0.395). Blood lipids are not influenced by the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism, suggesting the FTO-dyslipidemia link is mediated by adiposity and weight management is important in preventing FTO-related lipid variations.     

Efficacy of an air-cleaning device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air filter in house dust mite respiratory allergy

The efficacy of an air-cleaning device equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (without further avoidance measures) was studied in patients allergic to house dust mite. The effects of the air-cleaner on indoor Dermatophagoides sp. levels, symptom score and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in nine mite-allergic patients were assessed using a cross-over controlled study. No significant effect was demonstrated on indoor Dermatophagoides sp. levels when comparing the period of air-cleaner activity (2 months) with the control period (2 months). The Dermatophagoides sp. levels in the houses studied were lower than the risk level for asthmatic attacks, making it difficult to assess any effect on asthma; however, neither bronchial hyperresponsiveness nor rhinitis symptom score were changed by air-cleaner activity. During the trial period, however the mean level of Dermatophagoides sp. allergen in the houses changed spontaneously from 4.4 micrograms/g (mean level in the first 2 trial months) to 1.75 micrograms/g of dust (second 2 months) (P less than 0.05). Owing to this change, the mean rhinitis symptom score also decreased (P less than 0.05), even if no significant correlation was demonstrated (r = 0.4 P = 0.089). HEPA filter air-cleaners appear insufficient as substitutes for standard avoidance measures in mite allergic patients.     

Clonidine prolongs canine tetracaine spinal anaesthesia

Using a randomized blind cross-over design, the comparative efficacy of clonidine in prolonging tetracaine spinal anaesthesia was studied in six mongrel dogs. Lumbar subarachnoid injections (1 ml) of: tetracaine 4 mg with clonidine 150 micrograms, tetracaine 4 mg with epinephrine 200 micrograms, tetracaine 4 mg, clonidine 150 micrograms, epinephrine 200 micrograms, and five per cent dextrose in H2O (vehicle) were administered randomly to each animal at 5-7 day intervals. Subarachnoid tetracaine produced a motor blockade of 186 +/- 58 (mean +/- SEM) min. Both clonidine and epinephrine produced a similar prolongation of tetracaine motor blockade, 135 per cent (p less than 0.01) and 116 per cent (p less than 0.05) respectively, compared with tetracaine alone. No motor blockade was observed in dogs receiving clonidine, epinephrine or five per cent dextrose in H2O. The addition of clonidine to tetracaine spinal anaesthesia produced a significant increase in duration of sensory blockade, 56 per cent (p less than 0.01) and 107 per cent (p less than 0.01) respectively, when compared to tetracaine with and without epinephrine. Subarachnoid clonidine alone produced a sensory blockade of 76 +/- 17 minutes, while only one animal receiving subarachnoid epinephrine had a sensory blockade (40 minutes). No neurologic deficits were observed in any of the animals. The study concludes that during spinal anaesthesia with tetracaine in dogs, clonidine is as effective as epinephrine in prolonging motor blockade, but is more effective in prolonging sensory blockade.     

Release of soluble transferrin receptor from the surface of human leukemic HL60 cells

Information regarding transferrin (Tf) receptor degradation is largely incomplete. HL60 cells were shown to release to their growth medium a Tf-binding protein which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-Tf receptor monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) B3/25 and OKT9. Soluble Tf receptor was detected in the medium within one hour of replating of cells, and its release was inhibited at 4 degrees C. The affinity of Tf for the soluble receptor released by cells (kd = 2.3 x 10(-10) mol/L) was slightly lower than its affinity for the detergent-solubilized cellular receptor (kd = 1.2 x 10(-10) mol/L). 125I-Tf internalized and released by cells subsequently bound to Tf receptor released by the same cells, and soluble Tf receptor in the conditioned medium (CM) inhibited 125I-Tf binding to intact cells. The soluble Tf receptor isolated from the CM was smaller (78,000 daltons) than the cell surface receptor (94,000 daltons) when analyzed by gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Isolated cell membranes readily released soluble receptor; however, this release could be blocked by protease inhibitors. The soluble Tf receptor may represent the extracytoplasmic domain of the cellular Tf receptor released from the surface of HL60 cells through proteolytic cleavage by a membrane-based protease.     

Systemic treatment of rhinosinusitis in children

Systemic acute rhinosinusitis therapy consists mostly of antibiotic treatment because pathogens play a major role. Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of acute rhinosinusitis, with second- and third- generation cephalosporins, azythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin as possible options, especially in the case of allergy to amoxicillin. If the clinical course suggests that an anaerobic pathogen is more likely, clindamycin or metronidazole can be considered in combination with a broad-spectrum drug. In antimicrobial treatment of chronic sinusitis there is no consensus on treatment length, organism coverage, or which antibiotics are most effective because the bacteriology is variable with polymicrobial anaerobic and aerobic organisms present. Adjuvant therapies need to be proven by additional studies. Chronic rhinosinusitis is heterogeneous and treatment should vary according to the causative factor involved. Short courses of systemic steroids have been found very useful to decrease mucosal swelling and inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, no randomized controlled studies have been performed to validate their efficacy in children. A variety of other agents are used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis including antihistamines, decongestants, and leukotriene modifiers. To date, there is no good evidence from randomized controlled studies to support the use of any of these agents in the treatment of this disease in either children or adults.     

Pneumothorax and other lung diseases: effect of altered resolution and edge enhancement on diagnosis with digitized radiographs

Prior studies have shown that pneumothorax is one of the more difficult entities to diagnose with digitized radiography. This study was designed to test whether increasing resolution from 1.25 to 2.5 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) and image processing (edge enhancement from unsharp masking) would increase accuracy and confidence in the diagnosis of pneumothorax, as well as normal cases and other forms of lung disease. Conventional radiographs were digitized with use of a laser reader and then reformatted as film hard copy. Eleven observers read 35 cases reformatted in three different ways (1.25 lp/mm, 2.5 lp/mm, 1.25 lp/mm unsharp mask). The images with finer resolution (2.5 lp/mm) and unsharp mask images were superior to those with coarser resolution (1.25 lp/mm) for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy for normal patients. For abnormalities other than pneumothorax, the unsharp mask images were significantly worse. Confidence in the diagnosis of pneumothorax and other abnormalities was highest with the finest resolution (2.5 lp/mm).