Cross-Border Response of Moss, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypnum cupressiforme</Emphasis> Hedw., to Atmospheric Deposition in Southern Bulgaria and Northeastern Greece

This study aimed at first cross-border mapping of 10 heavy metals and toxic elements accumulation in moss Hypnum cupressiforme reflecting wet and dry atmospheric deposition in Southern Bulgaria and Northeastern Greece. It is a part of the European moss survey 2005/2006 including first Greek results. Data obtained from 66 sites, covering 20,000 km², showed different deposition patterns particularly for As, Cd, Cr and Pb. The determined concentrations (ICP–AES), revealed no serious pollution by airborne heavy metals and toxic elements contaminants. Lead was the only element with proved statistical significant difference, between Bulgarian and Greek part of the study area.     

Correlation of infrared pupillometers and CCD-camera imaging from aberrometry and videokeratography for determining scotopic pupil size

PURPOSE: To compare 2 infrared pupillometers with a videokeratographer and 2 aberrometers for the determination of scotopic pupil size. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. METHODS: The pupil diameter was measured in 100 eyes of 51 patients after 2 minutes of dark adaptation using the following devices: digital infrared pupillometer (Procyon Instruments Ltd.), handheld infrared pupillometer (Colvard) (Oasis Medical), Zywave aberrometer (Bausch & Lomb), Wasca aberrometer (Asclepion-Meditec-Zeiss), and Orbscan II topography system (Bausch & Lomb Surgical). Measurements taken with the Procyon pupillometer were considered reference values for comparison with the other devices. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Bland-Altmann method for comparison of measurement techniques. RESULTS: The mean pupil size was 6.10 mm +/- 0.86 (SD) with the Procyon pupillometer, 5.68 +/- 1.07 mm with the Colvard pupillometer, 5.91 +/- 1.01 mm with the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned off, 5.09 +/- 1.14 mm with the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned on, 5.59 +/- 0.99 mm with the Wasca aberrometer, and 3.75 +/- 0.67 mm with the Orbscan topographer. The limits of agreement were smallest for measurements between Procyon and Colvard and largest for measurements between Procyon and Orbscan. The sign test revealed statistically significant differences for all devices compared with the Procyon pupillometer (P<.001 in all cases) except the Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target turned off (P=.13). CONCLUSIONS: The Zywave wavefront sensor with the fixating target turned off using the study settings and light conditions provided measurements of scotopic pupil diameter that were closest to the reference values (Procyon). With the other devices (Colvard pupillometer, Zywave aberrometer with the fixating target switched on, Wasca aberrometer, and Orbscan topographer), the difference was statistically significant.     

Effect of periodontal therapy on crevicular fluid interleukin-1beta and interleukin-10 levels in chronic periodontitis

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyse the levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis prior to, and following, periodontal therapy for a period of 32 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: GCF samples were obtained from 24 non-diseased and 72 diseased sites of 12 periodontal patients prior to as well as at 6, 16 and 32 weeks post-periodontal therapy. All sites received conventional periodontal treatment and IL-1beta and IL-10 levels (concentration and total amount) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, probing pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival (GI) and plaque (PII) indices were evaluated pre-and post-therapy. RESULTS: IL-1beta was detected in 382 out of 384 samples, while IL-10 was detected in 337 out of 384 samples. The total amount of IL-1beta was significantly higher at diseased compared to non-diseased sites (p<0.01). Following therapy, IL-1beta total amounts were reduced, while IL-1beta concentration gradually increased. IL-10 total amounts (per 30 s sample) were similar in diseased and non-diseased sites, and following therapy they remained almost unchanged. By contrast, IL-10 concentration was significantly higher in non-diseased sites (p<0.01) and displayed a significant increase post-therapy. Moreover, IL-1beta concentration and total amount were significantly greater in smokers following therapy, while IL-10 total amount was significantly higher in non-smokers both prior to and following therapy. Total IL-1beta amounts were positively correlated with GI and Pll. A weak negative correlation between IL-1beta and IL-10 levels was noted (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the total amount rather than the concentration of IL-1beta in GCF seemed to be closely associated with periodontal disease severity. Moreover, smoking status influenced IL-1beta and IL-10 levels. An inverse relationship between IL-1beta and IL-10 was evident.     

Soluble CD27 Is a Faithful Marker of Disease Burden and Is Unaffected by the Rituximab-Induced IgM Flare,as Well as by Plasmapheresis,in Patients with Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia

BackgoundThe assessment of disease burden is often difficult in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) who receive rituximab due to the induction of an IgM flare, and following the removal of serum IgM by plasmapheresis. Soluble CD27 (sCD27) is a tumor necrosis factor family member secreted by WM cells which is strongly correlated with serum IgM levels and clinical responses in patients with WM. As such, we attempted to delineate its potential role in WM patients experiencing a rituximab-induced IgM flare and following plasmapheresis.Patients and MethodssCD27 levels were serially measured by serum-based ELISA in 8 patients who ultimately demonstrated a response to therapy, and in whom a rituximab-mediated IgM flare was observed, as well as in 3 WM patients undergoing plasmapheresis.ResultsAmong the 8 patients who experienced a rituximab-mediated IgM flare, IgM levels rose from 3515 to a peak of 5270 mg/dL (P = .008), while sCD27 levels decreased from 174.1 to 155.9 U/mL (P = .012), with a decline observed in all patients. Among 3 patients undergoing plasmapheresis, IgM levels declined from a median of 6940 to 4770 mg/dL (P = .031), while median sCD27 levels remained without significant change (P = .317).ConclusionsCD27 is a faithful marker of disease burden and is unaffected by the rituximab-induced IgM flare, as well as plasmapheresis in WM. The use of this marker may aid in correctly predicting clinical outcome in patients undergoing treatment with rituximab and/or plasmapheresis in WM.     

Primary gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas: Recent advances regarding disease pathogenesis and treatment

Primary gastric lymphomas (PGLs) are distinct lymphoproliferative neoplasms described as heterogeneous entities clinically and molecularly. Their main histological types are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue. PGL has been one of the main fields of clinical research of our group in recent years. Although gastric DLBCLs are frequent, sufficient data to guide optimal care are scarce. Until today, a multidisciplinary approach has been applied, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of these treatments. In this minireview article, we provide an overview of the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and staging of these diseases, along with their molecular pathogenesis and the most important related clinical published series. We then discuss the scientific gaps, perils and pitfalls that exist regarding the aforementioned studies, in parallel with the unmet need for future research and comment on the proper methodology for such retrospective studies. Aiming to fill this gap, we retrospectively evaluated the trends in clinical presentation, management and outcome among 165 patients with DLBCL PGL who were seen in our institutions in 1980-2014. The study cohort was divided into two subgroups, comparing the main 2 therapeutic options [cyclophosphamide doxorubicin vincristine prednisone (CHOP) vs rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP)]. A better outcome with immunochemotherapy (R-CHOP) was observed. In the next 2 mo, we will present the update of our study with the same basic conclusion.