The inflammatory infiltrate in the acute stage of the dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis: B cell response differs depending on the percentage of DSS used to induce it

Background  

Experimental colitis with features similar to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has initially been described. A detailed analysis of inflammatory cells has not yet been described. Therefore in this study we characterized the cells involved in the acute phase of the colitis and compared those findings to what is known about human IBD.     

Incidence of IDDM during 1988–1992 in Zagreb,Croatia

Summary The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the population of Zagreb, Croatia, during 1988–1992. A centralized diabetes registry was the primary source of data, while secondary sources were used to assess ascertainment. A total of 282 new cases of IDDM were diagnosed in the study period, the primary and secondary sources identifying annually 93–100% of the cases. The annual incidence rate ranged from 5.6 per 100,000 to 6.6 per 100,000. Early fatality in persons older than 50 years was the major cause of underascertainment. The incidence peaked in the 10–14 years age group (12.4 per 100,000), and remained stable after age 24 years. Males had a significantly higher incidence in the 5–9 and 24–44 years age groups. In the 45–54 years age group, females had a significantly higher incidence. No seasonality was observed. Despite the war conditions in Croatia, the low overall IDDM incidence rates did not change significantly during the study period.Abbreviations IDDM Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - DKA diabetic ketoacidosis     

Animal and human dentin microstructure and elemental composition

Animal teeth are a common model in studies on dentin adhesive materials. The aim of this study was to compare microstructural parameters (density and diameter of dentinal tubules (DT), peritubular dentin (PTD) thickness, PTD and intertubular dentin (ITD) surface area) and chemical characteristics of canine, porcine, equine, and human root dentin. The middle layers of dentin were harvested just below a cemento-enamel junction from incisors and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). SEM evaluation of the specimens revealed, that porcine dentin shared most similarities with human dentin. When comparing the density of DTs, canine dentin was also found to be similar to human dentin. Elemental composition of the root dentin did not differ significantly in porcine, equine and human dentin, but in canine dentin higher magnesium value in PTD compared to ITD was found. It is known that microstructural and chemical characteristics affect the strength of the adhesive bonds created among restorative materials and dentin. According to the results of this study, porcine dentin seems to be the most appropriate model to study dental materials to be used in human restorative dentistry.     

A pilot study of mitochondrial DNA point mutation A3243G in a sample of Croatian patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with maternal inheritance

Abstract In this work, patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic mothers were tested for the presence of mitochondrial DNA point mutation A3243G. This mutation is associated with the MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), diabetes and deafness. Twenty-two diabetic persons were screened. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes and from swabs of oral mucosa. The mitochondrial DNA point mutation A3243G was detected using PCR-RFLP test. The mutation was detected in oral mucosal DNA of two patients (but not from lymphocyte DNA). One patient was a man with hearing and visual impairments and proteinuria; the other was a woman having proteinuria but no hearing impairment. The mutation was not detectable in oral mucosal DNA from the control persons: 20 diabetic patients having diabetic fathers and 22 healthy, nondiabetic volunteers. The incidence of mitochondrial DNA point mutation A3243G in this study of Croatian diabetic patients is in line with data in the literature.     

Lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders in inflammatory bowel disease: A review

The lymphoproliferative disorders (LDs) are a heterogeneous group of at least 70 conditions that result from the clonal proliferation of B, T, and NK cells. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)‐associated lymphomas are typically B‐cell LD, while T‐cell or Hodgkin's lymphomas are rare. In IBD patients not on immunosuppression, the risk of LD seems to be similar or slightly higher than the background population risk. Thiopurine therapy is associated with an increased risk: the relative risk is increased four‐ to sixfold and the absolute risk varies between 1 in 4000–5000 for those aged 20–29 to 1 in 300–400 in those over 70. It is difficult to quantify the risk of anti‐ tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy alone; however, it appears to be less than for thiopurines alone. There is particular concern regarding the development of post‐transplant‐like LD in those with latent epstein‐barr virus (EBV) infection exposed to immunosuppressives, the occurrence of hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma in patients treated with combination anti‐TNF and thiopurine therapy, and the development of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in those who acquire a primary EBV or other infections while on immunosuppressive medication. There are currently no guidelines for monitoring EBV (or other virus) status in patients on immunosuppression, although it could be used to monitor those who have a prior history of lymphoma and are about to start a thiopurine or anti‐TNF agent. In discussing the risks of lymphoproliferative disorders associated with agents used for the treatment of IBD, patients can often be reassured that the benefits of such therapy still outweigh the small, but real, risks.     

Effect of calcium ions on the gelling and drug release characteristics of xanthan matrix tablets

Xanthan is a well-known biopolymer. It is an anionic polysaccharide, whose primary structure depends on the bacterial strain and fermentation conditions. Xanthan was extensively studied in combination with galactomannans, and over 90 patents cover the technology of this preparation. Our aim was to investigate the relation between the physical properties of a xanthan matrix in the absence or presence of calcium ions and its influence on the release of pentoxifylline. The release of pentoxifylline from xanthan tablets in purified water was shown to be very slow and governed by the process of polymer relaxation. The presence of calcium ions significantly increased the drug release, changing the release mechanism into a more diffusion controlled one. Xanthan matrices showed substantially faster and more extensive swelling in water than in the presence of Ca2+ ions. Surprisingly, negative correlation between drug release and degree of swelling was obtained for xanthan: the higher the swelling, the slower the drug release. Higher ionic strength led to lower erosion of xanthan tablets, and the gel layers formed were more rigid and of firmer texture, as shown by rheological experiments and textural profiling. The results indicate that the presence of Ca2+ ions in the solution or in matrices does not cause crosslinking of xanthan polymers, but causes charge screening of ionized groups on the trisaccharide side chains of xanthan, leading to lower inter-molecular repulsion and changing water arrangement. The understanding of the parameters influencing drug release leads to the conclusion that xanthan is suitable for controlled release formulations, especially with the incorporation of certain small counterions.     

Factors influencing the outcome after the operative treatment of cerebral aneurysms of anterior circulation

BACKGROUND: The influence of various factors on the outcome after the operative occlusion of the cerebral aneurysm was to be defined through the retrospective study on 111 surgically treated patients with aneurysm of anterior cerebral circulation. METHODS: Preoperative clinical condition was graded from 0 to V, according to Hunt & Hess. Postoperative outcome, defined as good or bad according to modified Glasgow Outcome Scale, was correlated in homogenous experimental groups with the following factors: gender, age, aneurysmal size, preoperative interval, nimodipine therapy, experience of surgical team and existence of chronic vascular diseases. RESULTS: Surgical outcome was good in 74.4% of males and 71.4% of females (p > 0.05); in 83.3% of patients with and 41.2% of patients without chronic diseases (p < 0.01); in 71.4% of patients underwent early, 83.3% of ones underwent postponed and 85% of those underwent late surgery (p > 0.05); in 81.5% of patients treated by nimodipine and in 41.7% of those untreated by the same drug (p < 0.01); in 78.9% of patients operated by the experienced surgical team and in 40% of those operated by less experienced surgical team (p < 0.01). In patients with both good and bad outcome, the mean age was 50.6 and 47.6 years (p > 0.05), and the mean aneurysmal size was 12.3 mm and 13.3 mm, respectively (p > 0.05). Before rupture, the mean size for aneurysms on the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery was 14.3 mm, and for posterior communicating artery aneurysms only 9.7 mm (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Surgical outcome was significantly influenced by the existence of chronic diseases, nimodipine therapy and experience of surgical team, whereas gender, age, timing for surgery and aneurysmal size were not of significant influence.     

Multiple cerebral aneurysms

BACKGROUND: To define risk factors for the multiplicity of cerebral aneurysms, as well as clinical and therapeutical characteristics of patients with single aneurysms (SA) and multiple aneurysms (MA). METHODS: Retrospective study on 95 patients with SA and 22 patients with MA. For patients with SA and MA the following parameters were compared: gender, age, clinical state, aneurysmal localization and size, incidence of rebleeding and vasospasm, manner and outcome of treatment, preoperative interval, intraoperative rupture and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Aneurysms on anterior communicating artery existed in 37.4% of SA and in 17.8% of all MA (p < 0.05). As much as 44.2% of all aneurysms on middle cerebral artery and only 19% of all aneurysms on anterior communicating artery were associated with some other aneurysm (p < 0.02). The average size of SA was 15.4 +/- 11.8 mm, and 9.8 +/- 9 mm for MA (p < 0.05). Surgery was performed in 77.3% of patients with MA and 78.9% of patients with SA (p > 0.05), but complete surgical clipping was performed in 89.3% of patients with SA and in 47.1% of patients with MA (p < 0.01). Among operated patients with MA and SA, intraoperative rupture occurred in 36% and 17.6% of cases, respectively (p < 0.05) and ischemic postoperative complications were found in 29.4% and 17.3% of the cases (p > 0.05). Among 72.7% of all patients with MA and in 69.5% of all patients with SA the outcome was good, while among surgically treated patients it was good in 76.5% and 70.7% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The treatment outcome was similar for patients with MA and SA, but complete operative treatment is significantly more frequent for SA. Multiple aneurysms were considerably smaller and with different anatomical distribution in relation to solitary aneurysms.