Comparative effects of acute and subacute lycopene administration on chromosomal aberrations induced by cisplatin in male rats.

Lycopene is a natural carotenoid, free radical scavenger, and presents protective effects by inhibiting oxidative DNA damage. The objective of the current study was to investigate the cytogenetic effects of a single acute and four daily gavage administrations of lycopene, and to examine possible protective effects on chromosomal damage induced by the antitumor drug cisplatin (cDDP) in rat bone marrow cells. The animals were divided into treatment groups, with three lycopene doses in the acute treatment (2, 4, and 6 mg/kg b.w.), three lycopene doses in the subacute treatment (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg b.w.) with and without cDDP (5 mg/kg b.w. i.p.), and respective controls. The results indicated that lycopene is neither cytotoxic nor clastogenic when compared with the negative controls (p>0.01). cDDP-treated animals submitted to acute and subacute treatments with different lycopene doses showed a significant reduction (p<0.01) in the number of abnormal metaphases when compared with the animals treated only with cDDP. The protective effects of lycopene on cDDP-induced chromosomal damage may be attributed to its antioxidant activity. These results suggest that this carotenoid may prove useful in reducing some of the toxic effects associated with certain classes of chemotherapeutic agents.     

Solitary fibrous tumor of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and anterior fossa

Solitary fibrous is rare mesenchymal neoplasm that usually arises in the pleura or less commonly is related to other serosal surfaces. There were reported SFTs in some extrapleural locations. There locations cause diagnostic difficulties. Ethmoid sinuses, nasal cavity and anterior fossa are rare site for SFTs. Authors report a case of SFT of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and anterior fossa in 33 year-old woman to show the difficulty and importance of recognition. Diagnostic procedures and medical treatment are presented. This report pays attention that SFT should be taken into consideration during diagnostic process of spindle-cell lesions of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses in order to avoid some confusions.     

Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from endocervical specimens in Brazil

BACKGROUND: There is no data concerning genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from Brazilian samples. GOAL: To characterize the genotype of C. trachomatis detected in women assisted at a STD public clinic and establish the prevalence of this infection in that population. STUDY DESIGN: Endocervical samples of a group of 100 women were tested for chlamydial infection with PCR directed to C. trachomatis cryptic plasmid. Genotyping of positive samples were done after omp1 amplification and sequencing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 19%, with the highest prevalence in women between 15 and 25 years old (68.4%). Four genotypes were found associated with endocervical infections: D, E, F, and K. Sequence analysis revealed a coinfection of genotypes D and E in 1 woman. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first study to characterize Brazilian C. trachomatis endocervical samples and Brazilian C. trachomatis genotype coinfection. Our results also emphasize the importance of routine diagnosis of C. trachomatis for the control of this STD.     

Cataract surgery: regional anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care?]

BACKGROUND: Retrospective study in patients undergoing cataract surgery by facoemulsification in order to evaluate the incidence of regional peribulbar anaesthesia compared with MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care). METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2000, 1902 patients were studied. Peribulbar anaesthesia was performed by using a double or single inferior-lateral injection with a mixture of Lidocaine 2% and Bupivacaine 0.5% or, as a single agent, of Ropivacaine 0.75%. Jaluronydase 10 UI/ml was added to either agents. RESULTS: Only in 8% of patients intravenous drugs were added during surgery to correct bradycardia in 3%, hypertension 3% and for sedation in 2%. CONCLUSIONS: Regional anesthesia represents the most suitable anesthesia technique in patients undergoing cataract surgery by facoemulsification. Only in 8% of patients MAC was suitable, due to excessive anxiety or cardiovascular imbalance. Compared to other anesthesia techniques, regional anaesthesia is significantly safer. The utility of preoperative tests in reducing the morbidity associated with surgery, is also discussed.     

Cigarette Smoking and E-Cigarette Use by Pharmacy Students in Serbia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of e-cigarettes among pharmacy students. In 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional study among pharmacy students enrolled at the University of Kragujevac (Serbia). Overall, 47.0% of pharmacy students reported that they ever smoked cigarettes; 29.7% were former and 17.3% were current smokers. The overall prevalence of e-cigarette use was 9.9%. The final year pharmacy students significantly more frequently smoked tobacco cigarettes (p?=?.001) and used e-cigarettes (p?=?.009) compared to younger students. Also, alcohol use was positively related to ever smoking tobacco cigarettes (adjusted OR = 4.57, 95% CI = 2.80–7.43; p?<?.001) and to ever use of e-cigarettes (adjusted OR = 5.58, 95% CI = 1.58–19.71; p?=?.008). The pharmacy students who ever used e-cigarettes more frequently reported a history of self-funded study financing (adjusted OR = 14.68, 95% CI = 2.42–89.17; p?=?.004) and use of psychoactive substances (adjusted OR = 13.63, 95% CI = 2.52–73.69; p?=?.002). In pharmacy students, a higher overall grade was related to a significantly less frequent ever use of tobacco cigarettes (adjusted OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22–0.84, p?=?.015). This paper highlights the need for a more effective tobacco control among pharmacy students in Serbia in order to reduce smoking prevalence.     

Virulence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium According to Linezolid Resistance and Clinical Outbreak Status

Assessing clinical virulence differences between vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) strains resistant to linezolid (LRVRE) and linezolid-susceptible VRE (LSVRE) strains is difficult due to confounding patient variables. Galleria mellonella is a validated host interaction model allowing straightforward organism virulence assessment. The objective of this study was to assess the virulence of VREF in G. mellonella according to linezolid resistance and clinical outbreak status. A genetically related pair of VREF strains with and without genotypically confirmed linezolid resistance was selected for analysis. Additionally, six strains of LSVRE and two strains of LRVRE were selected according to epidemiologic outbreak status. Mortality of G. mellonella was assessed daily over a 5-day period and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log rank tests. Linezolid resistance did not have a significant effect on G. mellonella mortality in the genetically related pair (P = 0.93). There was no significant difference in mortality over time between strains (non-outbreak [i.e., no patient transmissions were recorded] [n = 2] versus outbreak [i.e., transmission occurred between 3 or more patients in a period of 30 days] [n = 6], P = 0.84; extensive transmission [i.e., the isolate was transmitted between at least 80 patients] [n = 2] versus limited transmission [i.e., the isolate was transmitted between fewer than 10 patients] [n = 4], P = 0.78). These results suggest that patients infected with LRVRE or outbreak strains of VREF are at no greater risk of poor outcomes mediated by organism virulence than those infected with LSVRE or non-outbreak strains.     

Factores motivadores y barreras para implantar una vía clínica de atención precoz de espondiloartritis: estudio cualitativo con médicos de atención primaria

Background and objectivesPrevious to the development of a clinical pathway (CP) for early spondyloarthritis (SpA), a qualitative study was performed to know the attitude of primary care physicians (PCP) with respect to CP implementation.Methods5 discussion groups (2 in Madrid, 2 in Barcelona and 1 in Sevilla) and 3 interviews in Bilbao, were performed. PCP with different profiles were included. Groups and interviews were carried out by experts on qualitative methodology.ResultsPCP know little about CP. Motivations of professionals to work on a SpA CP were: to improve patients care, availability of a specialist consultant, possibility of learning and doing research, remuneration, and professional recognition. Objections to CP implementation were: extra work, excessive bureaucracy, absence of a specialist consultant, computer difficulties, and no remuneration. SpA knowledge by PCP was defective. PCP associated the term «spondylitis» with osteoarthritis, low-back pain, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. They only referred patients to the rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis, when patients complained and when treatment was ineffective.ConclusionsFor an optimal CP implementation, the following is deemed necessary: 1) a practical, simple program that eases the interaction with the rheumatologist without an increase on the PCP work load; 2) to provide continuous feedback by the specialist and 3) to provide knowledge on SpA to PCP.     

Hypermethylation of p15 Gene in Diffuse – Large B‐Cell Lymphoma: Association with Less Aggressiveness of the Disease

In this study, methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the potential prognostic significance of the methylation status of p15, p16, MGMT, and DAPK genes in 51 specimens of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Hypermethylation of p15 gene was significantly more prevalent in patients without relapse (p = 0.001) and there was a trend toward more frequent presence of p15 methylation in patients without death outcome within 5‐year follow‐up period (p = 0.086) Also, there was a trend toward accumulation of p15 methylation with favorable clinicopathological parameters including: age ≤ 60 years (p = 0.091), normal levels of lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.090), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status < 2 (p = 0.095), and low/intermediate low International Prognostic Index (p = 0.076). In the female group and group of the patients without bulky tumor mass, treated with chemotherapeutic regimens including rituximab, methylation of p15 was significantly related to longer overall survival (p = 0.036 and 0.027, respectively). Our results suggest that promoter methylation of p15 gene could have prognostic value in DLBCL patients treated with rituximab when used in combination with gender and tumor size.