Efficacy of Oral Zinc Sulfate Supplementation on Clearance of Cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV); A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Aim: Human Papillomavirus is one of the most crucial infectious disease in gynecology disease. To assess the efficacy of supplemental zinc treatment in clearance of HPV infection. Methods: Eighty zinc-sufficient women between 21-55 years, with positive HPV DNA testing, and abnormal cervical cytology in Pap test (ASCUS or LISL) were randomly divided to case (n=40) and control group (n=40). Case group received oral tablets of zinc sulfate twice a day for 3 months while control group received no placebo. During follow-up patients underwent repeat HPV DNA test and PAP test and were evaluated for clearance/persistence of HPV infection and regression/progression in the lesion grading. Results: As far as demographics, serum zinc levels and the relevant risk factors for persistence of HPV were concerned, there was no significant difference between two groups, except for the frequency distribution of HR-HPV which was significantly higher in case  group. Zinc treatment for 3 months reduced the risk of persistence of HPV infection and progression from baseline cytology (OR = 0.130) (CI 95% 0.04-0.381; p <0.001) and 0.301 (95% CI 0.777-0.116; p = 0.012), respectively. Age, initial cytology, HPV type, and contraceptive method were not related to persistence of HPV. Serum zinc levels increased in the casr group as a result of oral zinc consumption for 3-month period, though without any statistical significance (p = 0.407). Conclusion: The results of the following study suggested that oral intake of zinc sulfate supplement for 3 months increases the rates of HPV clearance and resolution of pre-existing cervical lesion.     

Urease-induced calcification of segmented polymer hydrogels – A step towards artificial biomineralization

Natural organic/inorganic composites, such as nacre, bones and teeth, are perfectly designed materials with exceptional mechanical properties. Numerous approaches have been taken to synthetically prepare such composites. The presented work describes a new way of mineralizing bulk materials on a large scale following the approach of bioinduced mineralization. To this end, a series of polymer conetworks with entrapped urease were prepared. After polymerization, the entrapped urease shows high enzymatic activity. The bioactive polymer conetworks were then treated with an aqueous mixture of urea and CaCl₂. The urease-induced calcification indeed allows formation of carbonate crystals exclusively within the hydrogel even at room temperature. The influence of network composition, degree of cross-linking, immobilized urease concentration and temperature of calcification were investigated. By varying these parameters, spherical, monolithic clusters, as well as bar-like nanocrystals with different aspect ratios in spherical or dendritic arrays, are formed. The grown nanocrystals improve the stiffness of the starting material by up to 700-fold, provided that the microstructure shows a dense construction without pores and strong interaction between crystals and network. The process has the potential to generate a new class of hybrid materials that would be available on the macroscopic scale for use in lightweight design and medicine.     

Major and trace elements levels in multifloral and unifloral honeys in Croatia

Different honey types were collected in Croatia during 2010 and 2011: 7 multifloral orchard honeys, 7 multifloral meadow honeys, 19 black locust, 9 chestnut, 11 lime and 6 sage honeys. Elements were measured using graphite (As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Se) and flame atomic absorption spectrometer (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Zn) and by mercury analyser (Hg). Significant differences in Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Zn, As and Hg levels were observed between honey types. In chestnut honey were determined (K, Ca, Mg: mg kg⁻¹; Hg, Ad, Cd: μg kg⁻¹): the highest concentrations of K 2824.4, Ca 486.7, Mg 59.1 and Hg 2.52; the lowest of As 24.1 and Cd 2.52. Lime honey has been shown the highest content of Cu (20.6 mg kg⁻¹), Zn (6.78 mg kg⁻¹), Cd (2.14 μg kg⁻¹) and Pb (810.3 μg kg⁻¹). The lowest levels of following elements were determined in black locust honey (Fe, K, Mg: mg kg⁻¹; Hg: μg kg⁻¹): Fe 2.77, K 304.7, Mg 8.02 and Hg 0.82. Sage honey had the lowest Ca and Na content (173.9 and 31.8 mg kg⁻¹). Among the multifloral honeys, the following was determined (Fe, Na, Cu: mg kg⁻¹; As, Pb: μg kg⁻¹): orchard honey – highest of Fe 5.17 and As 276.1, lowest Pb 301; meadow honey – highest Na 36.1, lowest Cu 4.38. The average Ca, Cu and Pb levels found in multifloral honey types were much higher than those reported in other European countries. Calcium levels in lime, chestnut and black locust were higher than those from other countries.     

小儿健脾开胃合剂联合赖氨酸维B12颗粒治疗小儿厌食症的临床研究

目的研究小儿健脾开胃合剂联合赖氨酸维B_(12)颗粒治疗小儿厌食症的临床疗效。方法选取2017年12月—2018年12月青海省妇女儿童医院收治的80例厌食症患儿为研究对象,将所有患儿随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组各40例。对照组患儿口服赖氨酸维B_(12)颗粒,1～5岁,0.5袋/次,2次/d,6～12岁,1袋/次,2次/d;治疗组患儿在对照组治疗的基础上口服小儿健脾开胃合剂,10 mL/次,2次/d。两组患儿持续治疗30 d。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组的微量元素、生化指标水平。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为82.50%、95.00%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患儿铁、钙和锌水平均显著升高,同组治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);并且治疗组患儿铁、钙和锌水平均明显高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患儿血红蛋白(Hb)、血清淀粉酶(AMS)、血清铁蛋白(SF)水平均显著升高,同组治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);并且治疗组患儿Hb、AMS、SF水平明显高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论小儿健脾开胃合剂联合赖氨酸维B_(12)颗粒治疗小儿厌食症具有较好的临床疗效,能改善患儿贫血症状,调节血清微量元素水平,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

Effect of nano copper on visceral organs and the contents of trace elements in weanling pigs

We determine the effect of nano copper on visceral organs and contents of trace elements in organs and serum in weanling pigs. Our results showed that following supplementary concentration with 25, 50 and 200?mg/kg/day of nano copper, contents of copper shows trend of increasing in liver, kidney and intestinal; and ferrum shows gradually decreasing. The histopathological examination showed hemolysis, degeneration, nucleus pycnosis in liver, while renal tubular epithelial cell exfoliation and lymphocyte infiltration were found in kidney on supplementation of high concentration of nano-copper. Therefore, dietary supplementation of nano-copper 25?mg/kg b.wt could be a potential substitute for weaning piglets.     

Variant effect on splicing regulatory elements,branchpoint usage,and pseudoexonization: Strategies to enhance bioinformatic prediction using hereditary cancer genes as exemplars

It is possible to estimate the prior probability of pathogenicity for germline disease gene variants based on bioinformatic prediction of variant effect/s. However, routinely used approaches have likely led to the underestimation and underreporting of variants located outside donor and acceptor splice site motifs that affect messenger RNA (mRNA) processing. This review presents information about hereditary cancer gene germline variants, outside native splice sites, with experimentally validated splicing effects. We list 95 exonic variants that impact splicing regulatory elements (SREs) in BRCA1, BRCA2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. We utilized a pre‐existing large‐scale BRCA1 functional data set to map functional SREs, and assess the relative performance of different tools to predict effects of 283 variants on such elements. We also describe rare examples of intronic variants that impact branchpoint (BP) sites and create pseudoexons. We discuss the challenges in predicting variant effect on BP site usage and pseudoexonization, and suggest strategies to improve the bioinformatic prioritization of such variants for experimental validation. Importantly, our review and analysis highlights the value of considering impact of variants outside donor and acceptor motifs on mRNA splicing and disease causation.     

Pathogenomics insights for understanding Pasteurella multocida adaptation

Pasteurella multocida is an important veterinary pathogen able to infect a wide range of animals in a broad spectrum of diseases. P. multocida is a complex microorganism in relation to its genomic flexibility, host adaptation and pathogenesis. Epidemiological analysis based on multilocus sequence typing, serotyping, genotyping, association with virulence genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), enables assessment of intraspecies diversity, phylogenetic and strain-specific relationships associated with host predilection or disease. A high number of sequenced genomes provides us a more accurate genomic and epidemiological interpretation to determine whether certain lineages can infect a host or produce disease. Comparative genomic analysis and pan-genomic approaches have revealed a flexible genome for hosting mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and therefore significant variation in gene content. Moreover, it was possible to find lineage-specific MGEs from the same niche, showing acquisition probably due to an evolutionary convergence event or to a genetic group with infective capacity. Furthermore, diversification selection analysis exhibits proteins exposed on the surface subject to selection pressures with an interstrain heterogeneity related to their ability to adapt. This article is the first review describing the genomic relationship to elucidate the diversity and evolution of P. multocida.     

Vitamin and mineral status in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Eating problems are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and intake of micronutrients might be lower than recommended. Objective: To study dietary intake, serum and urinary concentration of trace elements and vitamins in elderly underweight patients with established severe COPD. Methods: Outpatients at a university clinic for lung medicine, with COPD, 70–85 years old, with no other serious disease, and with a body mass index (BMI) of ≤20 kg/m² and an FEV₁of <50 % predicted were recruited. Body composition and bone density were evaluated with dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was studied by a trained dietitian using diet‐history interview. Blood and urine samples were analysed for various vitamins and trace elements. Results: Seventeen of 30 recruited patients took part. Osteoporosis or osteopaenia was found in 16 patients. Dietary intake of energy and macronutrients was in line with recommendations for healthy individuals. Intake of protein did not meet recommendations for COPD patients. Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids was lower than recommended and intake of saturated fatty acids was higher than recommended. Mean intake of vitamin D and folic acid was far below recommendations. Serum concentrations for folic acid and methylmalonate and plasma concentrations for homocysteine were below normal in several patients. Conclusion: Intake of vitamin D and calcium is often low in older COPD patients, which might contribute to osteoporosis. Low intake of folic acid might also be a problem. The results support prophylaxis with calcium, vitamin D and folic acid. Please cite this paper as: Andersson I, Grönberg A, Slinde F, Bosaeus I and Larsson S. Vitamin and mineral status in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2007;1:23–29.     

氟病区人群微量元素水平对血液抗氧化酶类的影响

检测了饮水氟含量不同的两组氟病村患者及两组正常人群内外环境 F、Se、Zn、Cu、Mo 等元素,血液 GSH—Px、SOD 及 LPO。结果病村、非病村内外环境 Se 含量较低。随饮水 F 增加,氟病患者体Se 增加;血、尿 F、血 Zn、Mo、Zn/Cu 比升高,血 Cu、Cu/Mo 比减少;血 LPO 升高,GSH—Px、SOD、GSH—Px/LPO 比降低。此提示,氟中毒患者体内 Se 等元素平衡紊乱,抗氧化酶类受损害,脂质过氧化代谢发生异常。本文就其相互关系及在氟病发病中的作用进行了初步讨论。