Potential roles of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers in diabetes: A Systematic

Diabetes, as a low‐grade chronic inflammatory disease, causes disruption in proper function of immune and metabolic system. Chromium is an important element required for normal lipid and glucose metabolism. Chromium deficiency is correlated with elevation in cardiometabolic risk, which results from increased inflammation. This systematic review was conducted to discover the potential roles of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers. Eligible studies were all in vitro, animal and human studies published in English‐language journals from inception until October 2018. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest and Google Scholar databases were searched to fined interventional studies from the effects of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers such as tumour necrosis factor a (TNF‐a), C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukins, monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 (MCP‐1), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and adipocytokines in hyperglycaemia and diabetes. Out of 647 articles found in the search, only 14 articles were eligible for analysis, three in vitro studies, eight animal studies and three human studies. Twelve of the 14 studies included in this review, chromium significantly decreased inflammatory factors. The findings of this review indicate, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, that chromium might have potential anti‐inflammatory properties, but some of the studies did not show anti‐inflammatory effects for chromium (two studies). There are only three studies in humans with controversial results. Therefore, more consistent randomized double‐blind controlled trials are needed to reach relevant clinical recommendations, as well as to determine the precise mechanism, of chromium on inflammation in diabetes.     

Measure of association between selenium status and sepsis in cattle

Odds ratio was used to evaluate relationship between sepsis in cattle less than 1 year old and mastitis in cows and erythrocyte glutathione peroxides (GSH-PX) activity as an indicator of selenium status. Data were from 178 blood samples collected from referred cases to Urmia University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Low activity of GSH-PX was significantly associated with higher odds of developing sepsis (P=0.005) in young cattle and mastitis (P=0.044) in adult cows. The odds ratios for the low activity of GSH-PX on incidence of sepsis and mastitis were 4.74 and 3.95, respectively. Selenium deficiency was associated with sepsis in young cattle and mastitis in cows, i.e., cattle with low activity of erythrocyte GSH-PX were at increased risk of sepsis and mastitis.     

Mechanisms of cold sensitivity of paramyotonia congenita mutation R1448H and overlap syndrome mutation M1360V

Missense mutations of the human skeletal muscle voltage-gated Na⁺ channel (hSkM1) cause a variety of neuromuscular disorders. The mutation R1448H results in paramyotonia congenita and causes cold-induced myotonia with subsequent paralysis. The mutation M1360V causes an overlapping syndrome with both K⁺-induced muscle weakness and cold-induced myotonia. The molecular mechanisms of the temperature dependence of these disorders are not well understood. Therefore we investigated physiological parameters of these Na⁺ channel mutations at different temperatures. Channel proteins were recombinantly expressed in human embryonic kidney cells and studied electrophysiologically, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. We compared the wild-type (WT) channel with both mutants at different temperatures. Both mutations had slower inactivation and faster recovery from inactivation compared to WT channels. This effect was more pronounced at the R1448H mutation, leading to a larger depolarization of the cell membrane causing myotonia and paralysis. The voltage dependence of activation of R1448H was shifted to more negative membrane potentials at lower temperature but not at the M1360V mutation or in the WT. The window current by mutation R1448H was increased at lower temperatures. The results of this study may explain the stronger cold-induced clinical symptoms resulting from the R1448H mutation in contrast to the M1360V mutation.     

Genetics of the central MHC

The MHC, primarily known for its antigen-presenting class I and II molecules, harbours, within a central segment of less than 1 Mb, a dense collection of genes involved in various biological functions. Although MHC I and MHC II are principal players of adaptive immunity, several loci within this central (still called class III) MHC region encode members of the innate immune system. These include the long known factors of the complement system--potentially inhibitory and triggering natural killer receptors as well as stress proteins. Whether this physical proximity is fortuitous or functionally advantageous is an important question for the future of MHC genetics.     

Dietary patterns and health-related quality of life among Iranian adolescents

Quality of Life Research - Examining the associations of a-posteriori-defined dietary patterns and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Iranian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was...     

Novel approach to an early assessment of a patient’s potential for neurological remission after acute spinal cord injury: Analysis of hemoglobin concentration dynamics

Context/objective: Examining hemoglobin (Hb) dynamics with regard to the potential of neurological remission in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).Design: Prospective Clinical Observational Study.Setting: BG Trauma Centre Ludwigshafen, Department of Paraplegiology, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.Methods: From 2011 to 2017 a total of 80 patients with acute spinal injury were enrolled and divided into three groups: initial neurological impairment either with (G1; n = 33) or without subsequent neurological remission (G0; n = 35) and vertebral fractures without initial neurological impairment as control group (C; n = 12). Blood samples were taken for 3 months at 11 time-points after injury. Analyses were performed using routine diagnostics.Outcome measures: Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the prognostic value of Hb regarding neurological remission respecting clinical covariates.Results: Data showed elevated mean Hb concentrations in G1 from the third day to 1 month compared to G0, Hb levels were significantly higher in G1 after 3 days (P = 0.03, G1 > G0). The final multiple logistic regression model based on this data predicting the presence of neurological remission resulted in an AUC (area under the curve) of 80.5% (CI: 67.8%–93.2%) in the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis.Conclusion: Elevated Hb concentrations are associated with a higher likelihood of neurological remission. Elevated concentrations of Hb in G1 compared to G0 over time might be linked to both a better initial oxygen supply response and a decreased ECM (extracellular matrix) degradation highlighting the role of Hb as a valuable biomarker for neural regeneration after TSCI.     

Salivary Intraductal Carcinoma Arising within Intraparotid Lymph Node: A Report of 4 Cases with Identification of a Novel STRN-ALK Fusion

Intraductal carcinoma (IDC) is a rare salivary gland tumor that is considered analogous to ductal carcinoma in-situ of the breast, demonstrating a complex neoplastic epithelial proliferation surrounded by a continuous layer of presumed non-neoplastic myoepithelial cells. It is subcategorized into intercalated duct, apocrine, and hybrid subtypes based on morphologic and immunohistochemical features, with frequent NCOA4-RET and TRIM27-RET fusions, respectively, seen in intercalated duct and hybrid tumors. However, as an expanding clinicopathologic spectrum of IDC has been documented, controversy has emerged as to whether this tumor type is best defined by its intraductal growth pattern or distinctive molecular and immunophenotypic differentiation. Here, we further explore the nature of IDC by evaluating four cases that arose within intraparotid lymph nodes. These intercalated-duct phenotype tumors with diffuse S100 protein expression demonstrated a crowded and complex epithelial proliferation arranged in cystic, cribriform, and micropapillary architecture, surrounded by an intact myoepithelial cell layer, and were completely intranodal. Of two tumors with tissue available for molecular analysis, one demonstrated a NCOA4-RET fusion and one harbored a STRN-ALK fusion that is novel to IDC. Not only does the intranodal presence of IDC present a challenging differential diagnosis, but the complex nature of this proliferation within lymph node tissue raises questions as to whether the myoepithelial component of IDC is actually non-neoplastic in nature. Furthermore, identification of a STRN-ALK fusion expands the genetic spectrum of IDC and adds to evidence of an emerging role for ALK in salivary gland tumors. Further attention to the nature of the myoepithelial cells and documentation of alternate fusion events in IDC may inform continued discussion about its appropriate classification.     

Interaction of topiramate with glycine receptor channels

Glycine receptor channels are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that respond to the application of inhibitory neurotransmitters by opening of a chloride-selective central pore. Topiramate (TPM) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug used as add-on or monotherapy for focal seizures. In the present study the interaction of TPM with glycine receptor channels was studied on outside-out patches from HEK293 cells expressing alpha1beta glycine receptor channels. The patch clamp techniques combined with ultra fast solution exchange enabled us to investigate the kinetics of receptor channels in presence of TPM. Our study showed no agonistic or potentiating effect for TPM on glycine receptor channels. However, in presence of 1 mM glycine + 1 mM TPM, the desensitization got faster and the peak current amplitude decreased. After the end of glycine + TPM pulses, off-currents occurred, suggestive for a specific channel block mechanism.     

Multimodal imaging in photic retinopathy

Letter to the Editor