Endothelial function,regulation of angiogenesis and embryonic central hemodynamics in ART-conceived pregnancies

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the concentrations of pro- and anti-angiogenic growth factors, nitric oxide (NO) stable metabolites in maternal serum and embryonic left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation time (IRT, ms) during the first trimester in two groups of women: with pregnancy conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART, n?=?39) and normally conceived (control group, n?=?68) pregnancy. The concentration of vasoconstrictor endothelin 1 was 45.5 times more in ART than in control group. On the contrary, the concentrations of NO stable metabolites in ART were 1.9 times less than in control women. The assessment of angiogenic suppressors in ART women demonstrates the decrease in s-endoglin concentration was 1.6 times and in soluble receptor to vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was 2.0 times in comparison with control group. There was a significant increase in LV IRT in ART embryos in comparison to control ones. These data suggest significant changes in pro- anti-angiogenic factors balance and increase in vascular impedance in ART-conceived embryos.     

Effect of Tropicamide on Laser Flare Meter Measurements in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the effect of 1% tropicamide on anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) measurements acquired with laser flare meter in patients with pseudoexfoliation.     

妊娠早期糖化血红蛋白联合PAPP-A对妊娠期糖尿病的预测意义

目的:探讨妊娠早期血清学指标糖化血红蛋白(glycohemoglobin,HbA1c)联合妊娠相关血浆蛋白A(pregnancy-associated plasma protein A,PAPP-A)对妊娠期糖尿病(gestational diabetes mellitus,GDM)的预测意义。方法:随机选取2018年12月1日-2019年7月30日孕11~13+6周于我院门诊产检的妊娠妇女,进行临床资料采集并记录妊娠早期(11~13+6周)空腹血糖(fasting plasma glucose,FPG)、HbA1c、PAPP-A中位数倍数(multiple of the median,MoM)水平,根据孕24~28周进行的75 g口服葡萄糖耐量试验(oral glucose tolerance test,OGTT)结果将研究对象分为研究组和对照组,统计分析妊娠早期血清学指标预测GDM的最佳截断值并得出最适宜的联合预测方案。结果:多因素Logistic回归分析显示,高水平FPG和HbA1c、低水平PAPP-A、受孕方式采用辅助生殖技术、有家族糖尿病史以及妊娠早期体质量指数(BMI)为超重或肥胖均是GDM发生的独立危险因素。有糖尿病家族史和使用辅助生殖技术受孕发生GDM的风险显著增高(OR分别为7.206和47.512,均P<0.001)。分析不同预测指标的受试者工作特征(receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线及曲线下面积(area under the curve,AUC)显示,PAPP-A MoM联合HbA1c及FPG诊断时AUC最大(0.728),其后依次为PAPPA MoM联合HbA1c(0.721)、HbA1c联合FPG(0.717),均大于HbA1c(0.707)和FPG(0.647),而PAPP-A MoM的AUC为0.380,对GDM没有诊断意义。结论:具有高风险因素的孕妇,推荐在妊娠早期联合检测HbA1c与PAPPA MoM,以早期预测GDM。     

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

Optimal SPECT processing and display: Making bad studies look good to get the right answer

Conclusion  Several quality-control measures take place before (patient and camera preparation) and during SPECT acquisition to achieve high-quality images. Not uncommonly, technologists and physicians are left with suboptimal images that have to be addressed to reach the “right answer” for patient diagnosis and hence management. In many cases patients may be reimaged, especially if the problem is detected early, but in other cases either the patient has left the nuclear laboratory or there is an inevitable problem that, even with reimaging, will not be resolved. In these situations the technologist and physician have to seek the available techniques to obtain the best images possible. These resources are discussed in this issue as an aid in quality control to obtain the best possible images.     

乳腺癌X线表现分析

目的分析乳腺癌典型及不典型X线征象,提高对乳腺癌不典型X线表现的认识。方法对61例经手术病理证实的乳腺癌资料进行回顾性分析。结果61例乳腺癌主要X线征象:肿块39例;微小钙化30例;不伴肿块及微小钙化的乳腺局部结构紊乱4例、星芒征3例、非对称性密度增高3例。结论肿块及微小钙化是乳腺癌最主要、最直接的X线征象,但部分乳腺癌X线上缺乏上述2种表现,单纯以结构紊乱、非对称性密度增高或星芒征为主要表现。提高对此类乳腺癌不典型X线表现的认识,有利于防止误、漏诊。     

Zinc sulfate addition to glass-ionomer-based cements: influence on physical and antibacterial properties, zinc and fluoride release.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ZnSO(4) addition to a conventional glass ionomer and a resin-modified glass ionomer on solubility, flexural strength, zinc and fluoride (F) release, and Streptococcus mutans growth inhibition. METHODS: 5 or 10% ZnSO(4) was added to Vitremer and Ketac-Fil powders. Solubility test was performed based on ISO 7489. Flexural strength was determined by 3-point bending test based on ISO 4049. Zn release/uptake was determined by atomic emission spectrometry; F release/uptake was measured using a F-specific electrode. Both release measurements were performed for 15 d before and 15 d after recharging. Antibacterial test was conducted according to agar plate methods against S. mutans, by measuring the inhibition halos in 1-h and 15-d specimens. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. RESULTS: Solubility increased with higher ZnSO(4) content, but remained below the ISO 7489 limit. Flexural strength was not affected by ZnSO(4) addition, and Vitremer performed better than Ketac-Fil. The control materials released no zinc. Vitremer with 10% ZnSO(4) released the highest amount of zinc. Fluoride release was similar for Ketac-Fil and Vitremer. In both cases, the highest amounts were released in the first 24 h. The growth inhibition halo of S. mutans was similar for both materials with highest content of ZnSO(4) and occurred only with 1-h specimens. SIGNIFICANCE: Zinc addition decreased microorganisms growth and improved fluoride release, without significantly affecting the materials' flexural strength and solubility.     

Penicillium piceum infection: diagnosis and successful treatment in chronic granulomatous disease.

Infections due to Penicillium species other than P.marneffei are rare. We identified a boy with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) with a pulmonary nodule and adjacent rib osteomyelitis caused by Penicillium piceum. The only sign of infection was an elevated sedimentation rate. P. piceum was isolated by fine needle aspirate and from excised infected tissues. Surgical removal and one year of voriconazole treatment were very well tolerated and led to complete recovery. Microbiological, microscopic and molecular studies support the fungal diagnosis. P. piceum should be considered as a relevant pathogen in immunocompromised patients.     

High-resolution optical coherence tomography as a non-destructive monitoring tool for the engineering of skin equivalents

BACKGROUND: Three dimensional skin equivalents are widely used in dermatopharmacological and toxicological studies and as autologous transplants in wound healing. In pharmacology, there is tremendous need for monitoring the response of engineered skin equivalents to external treatment. Transplantation of skin equivalents for wound healing requires careful verification of their quality prior to transplantation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-contact, non-destructive imaging technique for living tissues offering the potential to fulfill these needs. This work presents an analysis of OCT for high-resolution monitoring of skin equivalents at different stages during the culture process. METHODS: We developed a high-resolution OCT imaging setup based on a commercially available OCT system. A broadband femtosecond laser light source replaces the original superluminescence diode. Tomograms of living skin equivalents were recorded with an axial resolution of 3 mum and correlated with histology and immunofluorescence images. Comparison with standard low-resolution OCT is presented to emphasize the advantages of high-resolution OCT for this application. RESULTS: OCT is particularly able to distinguish between different layers of skin equivalents including stratum corneum, epidermal and dermal layer as well as the basement membrane zone. The high-resolution OCT scans correlate closely with two key benchmarks, histology and immunofluorescence imaging. CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly demonstrates the benefits of high-resolution OCT for identifying living tissue structure and morphology. Compared with the current gold standard histology, OCT offers non-destructive tissue imaging, enabling high-resolution evaluation of living tissue morphology and structure as it evolves.