Monocyte adhesion molecule expression in interstitial inflammation in patients with renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Patients with renal failure have an increased susceptibility to infections. We therefore studied the recruitment of monocytes and their expression of adhesion molecules CD11b and CD62L at the site of interstitial inflammation in patients with renal failure. Furthermore, we studied if the capacity of monocytes to up-regulate CD11b in interstitial inflammation was determined by the interstitial concentration of chemotactic factors. METHODS: Three intensities of interstitial inflammation (0, intermediate and intense) were established in skin blister chambers. Leukocyte count, CD11b/CD62L expression, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and blister activity in terms of CD11b mobilization were determined. RESULTS: The CD62L expression on monocytes was lower in the peripheral circulation in patients with renal failure compared with healthy subjects (P<0.005 and P<0.001). At the site of interstitial inflammation patients had a higher expression of CD62L (intermediate, P<0.05; intense, P<0.005). Furthermore, monocytes from patients had an impaired capacity to mobilize CD11b both in the peripheral circulation (P<0.005) and at the intermediate and intense sites of interstitial inflammation (P<0.005 and P<0.001, respectively) compared with cells collected from healthy subjects. We incubated monocytes in blister exudates, in order to explore whether this phenomenon is caused by cellular factors and/or to the interstitial concentration of chemotactic mediators. The expression of CD11b on monocytes from healthy blood donors incubated in blister exudates from either patients or healthy subjects in vitro was similar. The interstitial concentration of MCP-1 at the site of intermediate inflammation was significantly lower in patients with renal failure compared with the corresponding blister exudate collected from healthy subjects (P<0.05), but no differences were observed at the site of intense inflammation. Furthermore, neutralizing the action of MCP-1 in blister exudates with monoclonal antibodies did not have any impact on monocyte CD11b expression following incubation in blister exudates. CONCLUSION: These studies indicate that the impaired capacity of monocytes to mobilize CD11b at the site of inflammation in patients with renal failure is more dependent on constitutive cellular factors than the concentration of CD11b mobilizing factors in the interstitium.     

Relationship between pregnancy outcomes and maternal vitamin D and calcium intake: A cross-sectional study.

Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.     

Factors affecting coronal fracture of anterior teeth in North Jordanian children

Abstract –  The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of coronal fracture of the anterior teeth in North Jordanian schoolchildren and to study the main predisposing factors and the factors that may affect the severity of this fracture. A study group (958) comprising schoolchildren aged 13–15 years was chosen by a simple random method from five geographical areas in Irbid Governate, Jordan. All children completed a questionnaire related to history of trauma to their anterior teeth before they had a clinical examination for lip competence, lip line and amount of fracture. Overjet was recorded from a study cast made for each student. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test. The results showed a prevalence of 11% of coronal fracture with female-male ratio of 1:1. An increase in the overjet more than 3 mm doubled the incidence of coronal fracture while overjet more than 6 mm increased the incidence fourfold. There was higher incidence of coronal fracture associated with lip incompetence and low lip line ( P  < 0.01). The severity of fracture increased in children with a larger overjet ( P  < 0.001). It was concluded that overjet, lip competence and lip line were important predisposing factors to coronal fracture of the anterior teeth while the severity of the fracture was mainly determined by overjet.     

Internet teleconferencing method for telepathology consultations from lung and heart transplant patients

Current Internet-based teleconferencing techniques allow a referring pathologist to transmit real-time images from a microscope to a consultant, while maintaining a verbal conversation using Internet telephony. In our study, 50 randomly selected transbronchial biopsies from lung allograft recipients and 58 randomly selected endomyocardial biopsies from heart transplant patients were diagnosed by consultant pathologists using Internet-based teleconferencing methods. The referring pathologists acquired the real-time video images from the biopsies using a light microscope equipped with a phototube adapter and a video camera. The consultant pathologists viewed the processed images on a video monitor at 800 x 600 resolution, using a standard microcomputer equipped with Netmeeting software, and directed the referring pathologist to move the slide under the microscopy and/or change image magnification. The validity of telepathology diagnoses was assessed with kappa coefficients. Consultations were completed in 5 to 15 minutes per case. Sound transmission was unreliable, and in approximately 25% of consultations the referring pathologist needed to "call back" to reestablish verbal communication. In all but 2 transbronchial biopsies there was agreement between the original diagnosis and the diagnosis by telepathology (kappa = 0.92). In 48 of 58 endomyocardial biopsies there was concordance between the 2 diagnoses (kappa = 0.692). Only 3 out of 10 of these discrepancies were clinically significant (kappa = 0.897). Internet-based teleconferencing techniques provide effective and relatively inexpensive tools for real time telepathology consultations. The technology is probably best suited for the study of small specimens from patients that require rapid diagnosis by a consultant.     

中药复方及单体治疗结肠癌药效与机制研究进展

结肠癌（CRC）是全世界至今未攻克的消化系统常见的恶性肿瘤之一。目前治疗CRC的临床手段均具有一定局限性,疗效不尽人意,从而导致治疗中途被迫停止或疗效欠佳。因此,寻找和研发具有治疗潜力、针对性强、不良反应小、经济性的新型候选药物迫在眉睫。中医药在改善上述症状方面具有西医不可替代的优势,并且中医药学历史悠久,君臣佐使、辨证用药具有调节人体状态的实践基础。近年来中医药在CRC的临床治疗领域有着显著的成效,尤其已有临床应用实践基础的中药复方及单体为干预治疗CRC提供了新的治疗方案,疗效确切、优势突出。具体体现在提高生活质量、改善临床症状,减轻化疗不良反应、延长生存期等方面。因此该文从CRC的现状、中医辨证论治基础上以“结肠癌”“中医药”“复方”及“单体”等为关键词,检索查阅近些年中英文相关文献。主要从“益气健脾”“清热解毒”“滋补肝肾”“补气养血”4个方面较为系统地介绍了中药复方及单体在治疗CRC领域的新进展。但因中药多组分、多靶点、多途径的特点,在今后仍然需要不断地深入探索中药复方及单体在治疗CRC领域的应用,以期使患者病痛和不良反应最小化、治疗效果最大化。为CRC治疗提供更宽广的前景和思路,为基于物质基础深入研究药效作用与机制提供参考。     

Undiagnosed Depression among Hypertensive Individuals in Gaza: A Cross-sectional Survey from Palestine

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and to determine the associated factors of undiagnosed depression amongst hypertensive patients (HTNP) at primary health care centers (PHCC) in Gaza.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted including 538 HTNP as a recruitment phase of a clustered randomized controlled trial. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interview, and depression status was assessed by Beck''s Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Data were analyzed by STATA version 14 using standard complex survey analyses, accounted for unresponsiveness and clustering approach. Generalized linear regression analysis was performed to assess associations.ResultsThe prevalence of undiagnosed clinical depression was 11.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1, 16.3). Moreover, prevalence of 15.4% (95% CI: 10.8, 21.6) was found for mild depression symptoms. We found that non-adherence to antihypertensive medications (AHTNM) (β = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.17, 1.7), having more health-care system support (β = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 3.9) and number of AHTNM (β = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.6, 2.5) remain significantly positively associated with BDI-II score. On the other hand, older age (β = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2, -0.02), having better social support (β = -6.8, 95% CI: -8.9, -4.7) and having stronger patient-doctor relationship (β = -4.1, 95% CI: -6.9, -1.2) kept significantly negative association.ConclusionThe prevalence of undiagnosed depression was about one-quarter of all cases; half of them were moderate to severe. Routine screening of depression status should be a part of the care of HTNP in PHCC.     

Efficacy of allogeneic cord blood platelet gel on wounds of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients after pseudosyndactyly surgery

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the formation of blisters and wounds in skin and mucous membranes; it is classified into four types and has various methods of treatment. Management of previous wounds and prevention of formation of new lesions are the most important strategies in the course of therapy to improve patient's quality of life; lack of wound management can lead to further complications such as infection. The current study investigated the therapeutic effects of allogeneic platelet gel (prepared from umbilical cord blood) in a group of children diagnosed with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) eligible for surgical correction of pseudosyndactyly in the hand. The post‐surgical clinical outcome in this group was compared with the clinical outcomes of DEB patients receiving the standard treatment (paraffin gauze wound dressing and topical antibiotics) after corrective surgery. The current study results showed an increase in the rate of recovery and promotion of tissue granulation, complete wound healing, and a decrease in pain level and treatment period. The application of cord blood platelet gel topical dressing was not a conventional method of treatment in patients with DEB wounds and blisters. However, the current study results demonstrated that this gel dressing could effectively accelerate epithelialization and healing of the wounds and decrease patients' pain and post‐surgical recovery period, which altogether leads to improvements in patients' overall quality of life.     

Liver transplantation in a patient after COVID-19 – Rapid loss of antibodies and prolonged viral RNA shedding

To date, little is known about the duration and effectiveness of immunity as well as possible adverse late effects after an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Thus it is unclear, when and if liver transplantation can be safely offered to patients who suffered from COVID-19. Here, we report on a successful liver transplantation shortly after convalescence from COVID-19 with subsequent partial seroreversion as well as recurrence and prolonged shedding of viral RNA.