Assessment of sialic acid diversity in cancer- and non-cancer related CA125 antigen using sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins (Siglecs)

This study was aimed at obtaining insight into the diversity of sialic acids in cancer- and non-cancer-related CA125 antigen, tumour marker of serous ovarian cancer. Starting from available data suggesting the possible relevance of sialic acids for discriminating CA125 antigens of different origin, we have employed a new experimental approach based on the use of human sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins, Siglecs, as tools for the investigation of sialylation. Siglec-2, belonging to the group of evolutionarily conserved Siglecs, and Siglec-3, -6, -7, -9 and -10, which are CD33-like Siglecs, were probed in solid-phase binding assays with cancer-related CA125 antigens from pleural fluid of patients with ovarian carcinoma (pfCA125), the OVCAR-3 ovarian carcinoma cell line (clCA125) and a non-cancer-related CA125 antigen, i.e. pregnancy-associated pCA125 antigen. All Siglecs used showed detectable binding to pCA125 antigen. Siglec-3, Siglec-7 and Siglec-2 exhibited moderately stronger binding to pCA125 antigen than the others. In contrast to this, Siglec-2 and Siglec-3 preferentially recognized pfCA125 with greater total binding than for pCA125, whereas Siglec-9 and Siglec-10 were highly selective for clCA125. Siglecs promise to be powerful tools for discriminating CA125 of different origin and could propagate further research on other molecular markers of biomedical and diagnostic importance.     

Discrete eyelid swelling caused by live subconjunctival <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dirofilaria repens</Emphasis>

We present a case concerning a 48 year-old man, who had complaints about ocular pains and an unpleasant feeling, which had started two days before admission. It was as if there was “something moving in his left eye.” The examination showed an extremely motile white worm, which was wrapped in concentric circles around the limb in the subconjunctival space of the patient’s left eye. It was identified as the adult female form of Dirofilaria repens. The patient had a normal clinical finding, except eosinophilia. Ocular filariasis is as a possibility to think about, even when the cases are not in a typically endemic area and with no specific subjective complains.     

Trends in adolescent alcohol consumption in Halifax, Nova Scotia--1970-1986

The drinking behaviours of 1,128 students from grades 7 to 12 in Halifax, Nova Scotia were surveyed and the results were compared to surveys done on similar samples of adolescents in 1970, 1976 and 1983. The survey instruments were self-administered, anonymous questionnaires administered in class groups. In the 1986 survey, while no differences (p greater than .05) in the frequency of drinking episodes exists between males and females, the former group were found to be drinking more heavily. Since 1983, the percentage of drinkers has declined significantly (p less than .05) among both sexes. The percentage of frequent drinkers (once a week or more) and heavy drinking (6+ drinks per sitting, more than once per week) has not changed significantly (p greater than .05) in either sex.     

Emergency care of patients receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which inhibit thrombin (dabigatran) and factor Xa (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) have been introduced in several clinical indications. Although NOACs have a favourable benefit-risk profile and can be used without routine laboratory monitoring, they are associated–as any anticoagulant–with a risk of bleeding. In addition, treatment may need to be interrupted in patients who need surgery or other procedures. The objective of this article, developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts in thrombosis and haemostasis, is to provide an update on the management of NOAC-treated patients who experience a bleeding episode or require an urgent procedure. Recent advances in the development of targeted reversal agents are expected to help streamline the management of NOAC-treated patients in whom rapid reversal of anticoagulation is required.     

Acute renal failure after licorice ingestion: A case report

A 39-year-old female presented to the nephrology clinic emergency department with a complaint of muscle weakness and stomach pain. A detailed personal history revealed ingestion of 50–100 g herbal products which contained licorice, every day for 8 weeks to treat sterility. The herbal product was studied and determined to contain ‘licorice’ containing glycyrrhizic acid. Licorice (a plant which contains glycyrrhizic acid) induced hypokalemia which usually has a mild progression. However, it may cause critical failure in physical action by means of weakness followed by paralysis and may cause rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and hyperaldosteronism. This report presents the first case with acute renal failure due to licorice consumption from Serbia. In addition, the report aims to emphasize the importance of obtaining the detailed personal history of a patient for precise diagnosis.     

A pilot randomized controlled trial of coblation tonsillectomy versus dissection tonsillectomy with bipolar diathermy haemostasis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare postoperative recovery in children between 4 and 12 years undergoing tonsillectomy, using either coblation tonsillectomy or dissection tonsillectomy with bipolar diathermy haemostasis. DESIGN: A prospective, single blind, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: ENT clinic, University Teaching Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty paediatric patients, aged between 4 and 12 years and between 16 and 60 kg in weight with standard indication for tonsillectomy. METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated to either coblation tonsillectomy or dissection tonsillectomy groups. Patients, parents, and nurses were blinded for operation method. Parents were asked to fill out a postoperative diary from 1 to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were scored for postoperative pain, nutrition, activity, and use of analgetics for each of the 10 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes were estimated from the nurses' postoperative data and 10-day follow-up statistics regarding crossing of the two-score limit. RESULTS: The groups were statistically comparable by age, weight and operation type. There was no significant difference in operation time in two groups. Intra-operative bleeding was significantly less in the coblation group. Statistically significant differences between dissection tonsillectomy and coblation tonsillectomy were found in the day when a score of two of five was passed in pain scores (9.6 versus 6.2), nutrition scores (8.9 versus 6.6), activity score (8.4 versus 6.6) and medicine intake (9.4 versus 6.4), We found parallelism, between regression lines, that indicates better postoperative life quality for the coblation tonsillectomy group and approximately 2 days' shorter recovery time. CONCLUSION: In our pilot study, patients undergoing coblation tonsillectomy reported less pain, quicker return to normal diet, quicker return to normal activity, and less use of analgetics over a 10-day period than patients undergoing dissection tonsillectomy. Our results indicate that the recovery period for coblation tonsillectomy was approximately 2 days shorter and demonstrated less morbidity.     

A preliminary evaluation of leukocyte phospho-glucocorticoid receptor as a potential biomarker of depressogenic vulnerability in healthy adults

The mechanism of maladaptive chronic stress response involves altered phosphorylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In this study, we investigated if important depressogenic vulnerability factors, such as neuroticism and self-reports of negative affective states, may be associated with alterations in levels of the GR and GR phosphoisoforms in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy adults. In 21 women and 16 men we evaluated PMBC levels of total GR (tGR), GR phosphorylated at serine 211 (pGR-S211) and serine 226 (pGR-S226) and correlated these data with personality traits and current reports of stress, anxiety and depression. Also, we assessed plasma cortisol levels in all tested subjects. Our results showed that in women nuclear pGR-S226 was positively correlated with neuroticism and current reports of depression, anxiety and stress, while the ratio of nuclear pGR-S211/pGR-S226 was negatively correlated with reports of depression. None of the aforementioned correlations were significant in men. No significant relations between cortisol levels and any of GR parameters were observed. These preliminary findings highlight the value of GR phosphorylation-related research in identifying molecular biomarkers of depressogenic vulnerability, at least in women.     

Erosive Effect of Different Soft Drinks on Enamel Surface in vitro: Application of Stylus Profilometry

Objective

To assess the erosive potential of various soft drinks by measuring initial pH and titratable acidity (TA) and to evaluate enamel surface roughness using different exposure times.

Materials and Methods

The initial pH of the soft drinks (group 1: Coca-Cola; group 2: orange juice; group 3: Cedevita; group 4: Guarana, and group 5: strawberry yoghurt) was measured using a pH meter, and TA was measured by titration with NaOH. Enamel samples (n = 96), cut from unerupted human third molars, were randomly assigned to 6 groups: experimental (groups 1–5) and control (filtered saliva). The samples were exposed to 50 ml of soft drinks for 15, 30 and 60 min, 3 times daily, during 10 days. Between immersions, the samples were kept in filtered saliva. Enamel surface roughness was measured by diamond stylus profilometer using the following roughness parameters: R_a, R_q, R_z, and R_y. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, Tukey''s post hoc and Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc tests.

Results

The pH values of the soft drinks ranged from 2.52 (Guarana) to 4.21 (strawberry yoghurt). Orange juice had the highest TA, requiring 5.70 ml of NaOH to reach pH 7.0, whereas Coca-Cola required only 1.87 ml. Roughness parameters indicated that Coca-Cola had the strongest erosion potential during the 15 min of exposure, while Coca-Cola and orange juice were similar during 30- and 60-min exposures. There were no significant differences related to all exposure times between Guarana and Cedevita. Strawberry yoghurt did not erode the enamel surface regardless of the exposure time.

Conclusion

All of the tested soft drinks except yoghurt were erosive. Erosion of the enamel surfaces exposed to Coca-Cola, orange juice, Cedevita, and Guarana was directly proportional to the exposure time.Key Words: Soft drinks, pH, Titratable acidity, Dental enamel, Surface roughness, Stylus profilometry     

Ocular and systemic factors associated with glaucoma in chronic kidney disease patients

The goal of this study was to examine, the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and glaucomatous optic disc neuropathy in a cohort of patients from the south-east Serbia and to determine whether limited screening for glaucoma in specific subgroups of patients with CKD is reasonable and justifiable. This cross-sectional study included 328 subjects with various stages of CKD. All patients had visited the Outpatient Department of the Nephrology Clinic, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. All patients underwent routine ophthalmic examinations. Glaucoma diagnosis based on elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the presence of excavation of the optic nerve head (C/D ratio), and characteristic glaucomatous visual field loss (MD—mean deviation, PSD—pattern standard deviation). CKD was defined as kidney damage or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of <60 ml/min/1.73 m² for >3 months. A total number of 328 CKD patients, 33 (10.1 %) with primary open angle glaucoma and 28 (8.5 %) with ocular hypertension (OH), were included in the study. Patients with CKD and glaucoma had significantly higher mean values of C/D ratio (0.59), visual field mean deviations (dB)—MD (p < 0.001), and visual field pattern standard deviations (dB)—PSD (p < 0.001) than patients with CKD and OH. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis confirmed that the most significant factors related to IOP are age (p < 0.05), AHT (p = 0.01), and eGFR (p = 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis also confirmed that the most significant factors related to cup-to-disc ratio are number of years of smoking (p < 0.05), AHT, and sCr (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the prevalence of glaucoma among CKD patients in the cohort from south-east Serbia is 10.1 %. Patients with CKD and glaucoma, eGFR and current cigarette smoking are associated with IOP level, MD, and PSD of visual field and C/D ratio.