It is Not (Always) the Mismatch That Beats You—On the Relationship Between Interaction of Early and Recent Life Stress and Emotion Regulation,an fMRI Study

Brain Topography - Stress may impact the ability to effectively regulate emotions. To study the impact of stressful experiences in early and recent life on emotion regulation, we examined the...     

The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Formulas Versus Measured or Estimated Creatinine Clearance in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after renal transplantation is performed with the use of methods that are standardized for a population of nontransplantation patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of the study was to compare the performance of GFR estimation formulas in renal transplant recipients.

Methods

The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas were compared with measured creatinine clearance or clearance estimated by the Cockroft-Gault (C-G) formula. The influence of age, body mass index, and eGFR on the relative performance of these formulas also was studied by subgroups analysis.

Results

Mean measured or estimated creatinine clearance overestimates the values of GFR calculated using the MDRD or CKD-EPI equation. This was statistically significant (P < .05) in whole-study population and in subgroups of patients at age above 25 years, with body mass index above 25, and in a subgroup with eGFR-MDRD <50 mL/min/m². The mean bias from creatinine clearance was 7.46 mL/min for MDRD, 4.4 mL/min for CKD-EPI and −1.65 mL/min for C-G formula. There was a statistically significant (P < .05) negative correlation between eGFR value and bias from creatinine clearance for all 3 methods of estimation. The correlation coefficient was −0.4 for MDRD, −0.36 for CKD-EPI, and −0.46 for C-G clearance.

Conclusions

Measured and estimated creatinine clearance overestimate values of eGFR calculated by the MDRD or CKD-EPI formula in a population of kidney transplant recipients, especially in subjects with obesity and worse renal function. Accuracy of analyzed GFR estimation formulas decreases with deterioration of renal graft function.     

Effects of single and repeated in vitro exposure of three forms of parabens,methyl-, butyl- and propylparabens on the proliferation and estradiol secretion in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells

BackgroundHere, we analyzed the dose- (0.2, 2, 20, 200 nM or 2 μM) and time- (48, 96, 144 and 196 h) dependent activity of a single or repeated exposure of methyl-, butyl- and propylparaben on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells. Additionally, the effect on estradiol secretion, gene and protein expression of aromatase (CYP19A1) was investigated.MethodsCell proliferation was determined by AlamarBlue assay, and estradiol secretion by ELISA kits. Gene and protein expression of CYP19A1 was measurement using real time PCR and western blot, respectively.ResultsStimulatory effect of a single exposure of all doses of tested parabens and time dependent effect of repeated exposure to methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, the same as that of 17β-estradiol, on proliferation of MCF-7 cells was observed. Only at low doses methyl- and butylparabens increased MCF-10A cells proliferation after single exposure, but no effect of repeated exposure was noted. Exposure at low doses of all of the parabens significantly increased 17-β estradiol (E2) secretion in MCF-7 cells but had the opposite effect on MCF-10A cells. It was correlated with gene and protein expression of CYP19A1 in MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells.ConclusionsIn summary, present study indicates a different mechanism of proliferative action of parabens in investigated cell lines. In MCF-7 breast cancer cell line it is probably due to stimulatory action on estradiol secretion and aromatase activity. In MCF-10Aby an unknown mechanism, independent on stimulatory action on estradiol section, which requires further investigation.     

Selective sweep of Wolbachia and parthenogenetic host genomes – the example of the weevil Eusomus ovulum

Most parthenogenetic weevil species are postulated to have originated via hybridization, but Wolbachia has also been speculated to play a role via the induction of parthenogenesis. Here, we examine the molecular diversity of Wolbachia and parthenogenetic host genomes. The host species studied here, Eusomus ovulum, is known to be exclusively parthenogenetic and triploid. The E. ovulum populations that we examined had a low genetic diversity of mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I gene) and nuclear markers (internal transcribed spacer 2 and elongation factor 1‐ α gene), and they all were infected by only single bacteria strains (genotyped for five genes according to the multilocus sequence typing system). We found significant signs of linkage disequilibrium and a lack of recombination amongst all of the examined genomes (bacteria and host), which strongly indicates a selective sweep. The lack of heterozygosity in host nuclear genes, missing bisexual populations and selective sweep between the parthenogenetic host and bacteria genomes suggest that parthenogenesis in this species could have originated as a result of infection rather than hybridization. However, the finding that highly similar Wolbachia strains are also present in other parthenogenetic weevils from the same habitat suggests the opposite scenario: bacteria may have infected the already parthenogenetic lineage and taken advantage of the host's unisexual reproduction.     

Epidemiology of Posttransplantation Chronic Kidney Disease Can Be Altered by Choice of Formula Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate

Background

Epidemiology of posttransplantation chronic kidney disease (CKDPT) has different characteristics than in the general population. Precise determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential in the clinical decision making process as well as in management of a population that is based on epidemiological data. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of an applied GFR estimation method on the epidemiology of CKDPT during the first year after transplantation.

Methods

We estimated GFR (eGFR) using the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula in 215 renal transplant recipients. We also measured and estimated creatinine clearance using the Cockroft-Gault (C-G) formula. Based on these data, we analyzed the influence of these formulas on the epidemiology of CKDPT.

Results

The largest fraction of patients is in stage 3 of CKDPT (40% to 62%). Application of the CKD-EPI formula instead of MDRD results in a decrease of prevalence of stage 3 by 3.9% at the early period (weeks 2 to 8) and by 13.8% at the late period (weeks 9 to 52) after transplantation. This is coexistent with reclassification from stage 3B to 3A and 3A to stage 2. Use of a measured or C-G–based creatinine clearance instead of the MDRD formula results in decrease of prevalace of stage 3 by 16.5% and 13%, respectively, in the early period and by 32.5% or 27%, respectively, in the late period.

Conclusions

Epidemiology of CKDPT depends on the method of calculation of eGFR. Application of creatinine clearance or the C-G formula results in an increase of prevalence of patients with better graft function.     

Profound consequences of hidradenitis suppurativa: a review

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) influences patients’ lives in many ways. The most troublesome symptom of HS is chronic pain, of mild-to-moderate intensity, which is reported by almost all patients. With reference to psychosocial evaluation, HS appears to be a highly debilitating disease. The major factors influencing patients’ well-being are disease severity, the number of flares or affected skin areas, and the lesion location. The mean Dermatology Life Quality Index scores of 8·3–12·7 points obtained among patients with HS are typical for severe dermatoses, which have a large impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). HS not only affects skin-related QoL issues, but also has a profound impact on general QoL measures – it causes substantial deterioration of both physical and mental health. Considering the impaired QoL due to HS and HS-associated, nonpsychiatric comorbidities, it is not surprising that patients with HS experience psychological disturbances. In both observational and registry studies, depression and anxiety were significantly related to HS. The prevalences were estimated as 1·6–42·9% and 0·8–3·9%, respectively. HS was also linked to feelings of loneliness and stigmatization. Moreover, these patients have a significantly increased suicide risk (hazard ratio 2·42). HS, with its frequent involvement of the genital area, causes a pronounced impairment of sex life (66·7% of patients with HS reported sexual difficulties). Finally, HS causes significant financial burden, not only through the costs of healthcare, but also due to a substantial impact on patients’ professional careers. This is a reason for absenteeism from work for approximately half of patients, and a relatively high unemployment rate.