Selective rod outer segment disruption in commotio retinae — a finding identified on Multicolour® Imaging

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To report Multicolour® imaging (MCI) findings in commotio retinae (CR) involving macula and correlate topographically with...     

Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Postpartum Depression,Regardless of Socioeconomic Status

Objective This study examined whether socioeconomic status moderated the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and postpartum depression among a community-based sample of women. Defining the role of poverty in the risk of postpartum depression for IPV victims enables prioritization of health promotion efforts to maximize the effectiveness of existing maternal-infant resources. Methods This cross-sectional telephone-survey study interviewed 301 postpartum women 2 months after delivery, screening them for IPV and depression [using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)]. Socioeconomic status was defined by insurance (Medicaid-paid-delivery or not). This analysis controlled for the following covariates, collected through interview and medical-record review: demographics, obstetric history, prenatal health and additional psychosocial risk factors. After adjusting for significant covariates, multiple linear regression was conducted to test whether socioeconomic status confounded or moderated IPV’s relationship with EPDS-score. Results Ten percent of participants screened positive for postpartum depression, 21.3 % screened positive for current or previous adult emotional or physical abuse by a partner, and 32.2 % met poverty criteria. IPV and poverty were positively associated with each other (χ² (1) = 11.76, p < .001) and with EPDS score (IPV: beta 3.2 (CI 2.0, 4.5) p < .001, poverty: beta 1.3 (CI 0.2, 2.4) p = .017). In the multiple linear regression, IPV remained significantly associated, but poverty did not (IPV: adjusted beta 3.1 (CI 1.8, 4.3) p < .001, poverty: adjusted beta 0.8 (CI ?0.3, 1.9) p = .141), and no statistically significant interaction between IPV and poverty was found. Conclusions Study findings illustrated that IPV was strongly associated with postpartum depression, outweighing the influence of socioeconomic status upon depression for postpartum women.     

Role of endocrine factors in autistic spectrum disorders

It is possible that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a multifactorial cause along with more than one predisposing and perpetuating factor, all of which culminate in expression of these disorders. Endocrine and neuropeptide factors are among the list of possible etiologic or predisposing contenders. The search for an endocrine model to explain the etiopathogenesis of ASD is a new endeavor. In this article, the authors look at some of the emerging literature that is available regarding any possible relationship between the endocrine hormones and factors and whether it can possibly be etiologic or merely coincidental with autism and ASDs.     

Quality of life in children with diabetes and celiac disease: minimal impact of the 'double diagnosis'

Sud S, Marcon M, Assor E, Daneman D and Mahmud FH. Quality of life in children with diabetes and celiac disease: minimal impact of the ‘double diagnosis'. Background: Despite the advent of sensitive testing to detect celiac disease (CD), screening in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains controversial. Many diabetes clinics are apprehensive about the prospect of introducing a second illness requiring intensive lifestyle changes in patients and families already managing a chronic condition, especially in asymptomatic patients. Objective: To determine the impact of managing CD + T1D on quality of life in families, with attention to the effect of adherence with a gluten‐free diet (GFD) and metabolic control. Patients and Methods: Cross‐sectional assessment using a validated self‐reported quality of life measure: 28 children with biopsy‐proven CD + T1D were compared with 40 subjects with T1D aged 8–18 yr. Parental and child reports were assessed as well as symptoms at the time of CD diagnosis and adherence with a GFD at the quality of life assessment. Results: No significant differences in quality of life were observed between subjects with established CD + T1D and subjects with T1D alone. Parents of children with CD + T1D reported lower social functioning scores than parents of children with T1D (p = 0.03). In the CD + T1D group no differences in quality of life were observed with regard to age at CD diagnosis, CD duration, or on the basis of adherence with a GFD. Conclusions: The additional diagnosis of CD has minimal impact on quality of life in children with T1D; however, parents of CD + T1D children did express greater concern about their child's social functioning.     

Bla g 6: a troponin C allergen from Blattella germanica with IgE binding calcium dependence

BACKGROUND: The known cockroach allergens do not appear to account for the full repertoire of IgE responses. OBJECTIVE: To identify and investigate the importance of other Blattella germanica allergens contributing to cockroach allergy. METHODS: A B germanica cDNA library was screened with pooled sera from patients with cockroach allergy. Three isoallergens of troponin C (Bla g 6) were cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. Homology modeling was performed by using Swiss-Model. IgE responses to purified allergens were simultaneously measured in 104 sera by using a fluorescent multiplex array system. The effect of calcium on IgE binding was investigated by ELISA. RESULTS: Three isoallergens, Bla g 6.0101, Bla g 6.0201, and Bla g 6.0301, were identified which share homology with insect troponin Cs and vertebrate calmodulins (61% to 78% and 42% to 44% amino acid identity, respectively) and have 2 EF-hand calcium binding domains. Molecular models of Bla g 6 showed 2 structurally homologous lobes connected by a linker that confers flexibility to the allergen. The prevalence of IgE binding to recombinant Bla g 6 was 14%. Calcium depletion by 10 mmol/L ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid did not significantly affect IgE binding in most cases. Interestingly, addition of 10 mmol/L CaCl2 after calcium depletion increased IgE binding by approximately 2-fold, a finding not previously reported for calcium binding allergens. CONCLUSION: Bla g 6 is a troponin allergen with a calcium dependent IgE reactivity that may be involved in muscle contraction. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Bla g 6 homologous allergens may occur among other insects and cause cosensitization or allergenic cross-reactivity.     

Therapeutic equivalence in survival for hepatic arterial chemoembolization and yttrium 90 microsphere treatments in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Intrahepatic arterial yttrium 90 (⁹⁰Y) microspheres have been proposed as a less toxic, less invasive therapeutic option to transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with surgically unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE has demonstrated the ability to prolong survival. However, long‐term survival remains uncertain.

METHODS:

In a 2‐cohort experience in the treatment of North American patients who had advanced, unresectable, biopsy‐proven HCC, 691 patients received repetitive, cisplatin‐based chemoembolization; and a separate cohort of 99 patients who had similar treatment criteria received a planned, single dose of ⁹⁰Y. Over the study period, an additional 142 patients were followed without treatment (total, 932 patients).

RESULTS:

Overall survival was slightly better in the ⁹⁰Y group compared with the TACE group (median survival, 11.5 months vs 8.5 months). However, the selection criteria indicated a small but significant bias toward milder disease in the ⁹⁰Y group. By using stratification into a 3‐tier model with patients dichotomized according to bilirubin levels <1.5 mg/dL, the absence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and low α‐fetoprotein plasma levels (<25 U/dL), an analysis of survival in clinical subgroups indicated that the 2 treatments resulted in similar survival. In addition, patients who had PVT or high α‐fetoprotein levels also had similar survival in both treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Given the current evidence of therapeutic equivalence in survival, ⁹⁰Y and TACE appeared to be equivalent regional therapies for patients with unresectable, nonmetastatic HCC. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

β-Blockers bearing hydroxyethylamine and hydroxyethylene as potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors: rational based design,in silico,in vitro,and SAR studies for lead optimization

The global COVID-19 pandemic became more threatening especially after the introduction of the second and third waves with the current large expectations for a fourth one as well. This urged scientists to rapidly develop a new effective therapy to combat SARS-CoV-2. Based on the structures of β-adrenergic blockers having the same hydroxyethylamine and hydroxyethylene moieties present in the HIV-1 protease inhibitors which were found previously to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV, we suggested that they may decrease the SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell through their ability to decrease the activity of RAAS and ACE2 as well. Herein, molecular docking of twenty FDA-approved β-blockers was performed targeting SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Results showed promising inhibitory activities especially for Carvedilol (CAR) and Nebivolol (NEB) members. Moreover, these two drugs together with Bisoprolol (BIS) as an example from the lower active ones were subjected to molecular dynamics simulations at 100 ns. Great stability across the whole 100 ns timeframe was observed for the top docked ligands, CAR and NEB, over BIS. Conformational analysis of the examined drugs and hydrogen bond investigation with the pocket''s crucial residues confirm the great affinity and confinement of CAR and NEB within the Mpro binding site. Moreover, the binding-free energy analysis and residue-wise contribution analysis highlight the nature of ligand–protein interaction and provide guidance for lead development and optimization. Furthermore, the examined three drugs were tested for their in vitro inhibitory activities towards SARS-CoV-2. It is worth mentioning that NEB achieved the most potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.030 μg ml⁻¹. Besides, CAR was found to have a promising inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.350 μg ml⁻¹. Also, the IC₅₀ value of BIS was found to be as low as 15.917 μg ml⁻¹. Finally, the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro assay was performed to evaluate and confirm the inhibitory effects of the tested compounds (BIS, CAR, and NEB) towards the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme. The obtained results showed very promising SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory activities of BIS, CAR, and NEB (IC₅₀ = 118.50, 204.60, and 60.20 μg ml⁻¹, respectively) compared to lopinavir (IC₅₀ = 73.68 μg ml⁻¹) as a reference standard.

Hydroxyethylamine and hydroxyethylene moieties of β-blockers exert potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory effects: rational-based design and in silico, in vitro, and SAR Studies.     

Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin: Incidence and potential therapeutic options

Streptococcus pneumoniae was recovered from 12 (50%) samples of middle ear fluid of 24 consecutive patients with AOME and in mixed culture of middle ear pathogens from one (4%) additional specimen. Two (15.3%) isolates had intermediate resistance to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.125 and 1.0 μg/mL). The antimicrobial susceptibility to various antimicrobials of 30 S pneumoniae strains recovered from patients seen in the last 12 months was also determined. One of the patients with AOME developed bacteremia that resolved uneventfully, whereas the other developed meningitis. MIC₉₀ was determined from penicillin (2 μg/mL), erythromycin (>32 μg/mL), cefaclor (32 μg/mL), loracarbef (≥64 μg/mL), cefixime (16 μg/mL), ceftibuten (>64 μg/mL), chloramphenicol (16 μg/mL), cefpodoxime (4 μg/mL), ciprofloxacin (2 μg/mL), cephalexin (≥64 μg/mL), augmentin (2 μg/mL), cefprozil (8 μg/mL), clindamycin (64 μg/mL), TMP-SXT (>64 μg/mL), clarithromycin (32 μg/mL), rifampin (0.06 μg/mL), cefuroxime (2 μg/mL), cefotaxime (0.25 μg/mL), vancomycin (0.25 μg/mL), and imipenem (0.5 μg/mL). Cefprozil, vancomycin, and rifampin inhibited all strains, whereas cefpodoxime, cefuroxime, clindamycin, and clarithromycin exhibited very good activity.