Targeting an RNA-Binding Protein Network in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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Intraoperative hypercyanosis in a patient with pulmonary artery band: case report and review of the literature

A case of intraoperative cyanosis in a patient with a common atrioventricular canal palliated with a pulmonary artery (PA) band is presented. The patient's physiology was consistent with cyanosis due to inadequate pulmonary blood flow, and responded quickly to typical interventions used for a hypercyanotic episode in a patient with unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot. Differences and similarities in the physiology of PA banding compared with Tetralogy of Fallot are presented, including a rationale for treatment options for hemodynamic decompensation occurring in the setting of anesthesia and surgery.     

Cardiovascular risk factors in Tanzania: a revisit.

In this assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, we examined the prevalence of selected risk factors according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) CARDIAC Study protocol and compared them with a similar study conducted more than a decade ago. The survey was carried out in Dar es Salaam (D, urban), Handeni (H, rural) and Monduli (Mo, semi-nomadic area). Subjects aged 47-57 were recruited randomly for blood pressure and anthropometrical measurements, 24 h urine collection and blood sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain dietary information. The 1998 survey studied 446 subjects, while the 1987 survey included 496 men and women. The measured weight, body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)) increased significantly among women in the 1998 survey in rural Handeni and urban Dar. The overall prevalence of obesity was higher for women in the most recent survey (22.8%, P < 0.0001). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher in the most recent survey for women in Handeni. The overall prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure > 160/95 mmHg, or antihypertensive drug use), rose to 41.1% in 1998, (P < 0.001) for men and to 38.7% (P < 0.05) for women. The mean total serum cholesterol and prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia increased significantly in the most recent survey in the three studied areas. The overall prevalence of hypercholestrolaemia (serum cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l) was higher in the 1998 survey for both men (21.8%, P < 0.0001) and women (54.0%, P < 0.0001). The mean HDL cholesterol increased significantly in the most recent survey, with a significant reduction in the mean atherogenic index, though these were still at higher levels (men 5.8, P < 0.0001; women 5.1, P < 0.0001 vs. 1987). A strong positive correlation was observed between blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and body mass index, total serum cholesterol and sodium to potassium ratio. These data suggest that for the past decade there has been an increase in the mean levels and prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors in Tanzania.     

Changes in pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance after bare metal and drug eluting stent implantation in patients with stable coronary disease

ObjectivesIn this study we aimed to assess the changes in pro-oxidant–antioxidant balance (PAB) after the placement of either a drug-eluting-stent (DES) or bare-metal-stent (BMS) in patients with stable coronary artery disease.Design and methodsPercutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with either BMS or DES were undertaken for 152 patients (82 in the BMS and 70 in the DES groups respectively). PAB values were measured 24 h before and after PCI.ResultsBaseline PAB values were 80.68 (64.98–99.37) and 98.86 (64.70–140.62) for BMS and DES group, respectively, which were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Following PCI, median PAB values decreased to 72.10 (61.40–96.13) and 81.40 (54.15–121.90) in BMS and DES groups, respectively. The reduction was significant in both BMS and DES groups (P < 0.05). The changes in PAB values were ?2.81 (?12.76 to 2.31) for BMS and ?2.82 (?29.88 to 8.93) for DES group, which were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionWe found that the reported difference in clinical outcomes following DES or BMS implantation cannot be attributed to differences in early changes in oxidative stress induction as assessed by changes in PAB values.     

HIV prevalence among female sex workers,drug users and men who have sex with men in Brazil: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background  

The Brazilian response towards AIDS epidemic is well known, but the absence of a systematic review of vulnerable populations ─ men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and drug users (DU) remains a main gap in the available literature. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing HIV prevalence among MSM, FSW and DU, calculating a combined pooled prevalence and summarizing factors associated the pooled prevalence for each group.     

Respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among cement factory workers

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed chronic respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among workers exposed to cement dust at a Tanzanian cement factory. METHODS: A total of 120 exposed workers and 107 controls participated in this cross-sectional investigation. Information on demographics, occupational history, chronic respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and use of respiratory protection equipment was collected by questionnaire. Ventilatory function testing and measurement of personal total dust exposure were also carried out. COPD was diagnosed for workers with chronic bronchitis who also had spirometric airflow obstruction. Chronic respiratory symptoms and COPD were correlated with cumulative total dust exposure and adjusted for age, pack-years, and education. RESULTS: The exposed workers had more chronic cough [odds ratio (OR) 4.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.9-10.4], chronic sputum production (OR 10.8, 95% CI 4.4-26.4.), dyspnea (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.9-15.2), work-related shortness of breath (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.6-14.2), and chronic bronchitis (OR 5.5, 95% CI 2.0-15.3) than the controls. Chronic cough, chronic sputum production, dyspnea, work-related shortness of breath, and chronic bronchitis were significantly related to cumulative dust exposure of 20.0-99.9 and > or = 100.0 versus <20.0 mg/m3-years. The prevalence of COPD was higher for the exposed group (18.8%) than for the controls (4.8%). The odds ratio for COPD was significantly increased for cumulative dust exposure, > or = 100.0 versus <20.0 mg/m3-years (OR 11.2, 95% CI 2.2-56.0). CONCLUSIONS: Cement workers seem to be at high risk of developing chronic respiratory symptoms and COPD, probably caused by cumulative total dust exposure independent of smoking habits.     

Single breath assessment of bronchial responsiveness: a comparison with the astograph method

Bronchial responsiveness to inhaled doubling concentrations of acetylcholine using the astograph and single breath techniques was assessed in 7 males and 11 females (mean age 22.7, SD = 2.05 and 21.2, SD = 1.11 years for male and female respectively) healthy volunteers. Eleven (61%) of the subjects had neither a history of allergy nor wheezes. Five (28%) had allergic rhinitis and two (11%) had asthma. Seven (64%) of the normal subjects, all asthmatic and subjects with allergic rhinitis responded to inhaled acetylcholine. Respiratory conductance (Grs) and the one second forced expired volume (FEV1) expressed as percentages of the baseline values were compared on a semilogarithmic scale against cumulative dose. In most subjects the pattern of the curves showed close similarities in the two methods. The bronchial sensitivity i. e. minimum cumulative dose of acetylcholine just sufficient to start a fall in the FEV1 and Grs (CminS and CminA respectively), showed good correlation (r = 0.750, P less than 0.01). The results indicate that bronchial responsiveness can be reliably assessed using the simple single breath method as well as the more complex astograph method.     

Dust exposure during small-scale mining in Tanzania: a pilot study

Small-scale mining in developing countries is generally labour-intensive and carried out with low levels of mechanization. In the Mererani area in the northern part of Tanzania, there are about 15000 underground miners who are constantly subjected to a poor working environment. Gemstones are found at depths down to 500 m. The objectives of this pilot study were to monitor the exposure to dust during work processes, which are typical of small-scale mining in developing countries, and to make a rough estimation of whether there is a risk of chronic pulmonary diseases for the workers. Personal sampling of respirable dust (n = 15) and 'total' dust (n = 5) was carried out during three consecutive days in one mine, which had a total of 50 workers in two shifts. Sampling started immediately before the miners entered the shaft, and lasted until they reappeared at the mine entrance after 5-8 h. The median crystalline silica content and the combustible content of the respirable dust samples were 14.2 and 5.5%, respectively. When drilling, blasting and shovelling were carried out, the exposure measurements showed high median levels of respirable dust (15.5 mg/m(3)), respirable crystalline silica (2.4 mg/m(3)), respirable combustible dust (1.5 mg/m(3)) and 'total' dust (28.4 mg/m(3)). When only shovelling and loading of sacks took place, the median exposures to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica were 4.3 and 1.1 mg/m(3). This study shows that the exposure to respirable crystalline silica was high during underground small-scale mining. In the absence of personal protective equipment, the miners in the Mererani area are presumably at a high risk of developing chronic silicosis.