Investigation of the chronic effects of NPY by subcutaneous implantation of 6-23 cells producing NPY in WAG rats

OBJECTIVE: In this experiment, we studied the chronic effects of NPY, as there were no data on long-term effects of NPY in vivo. METHODS: Complementary DNA encoding NPY was isolated, sequenced and cloned into the expression vector, pCEP4. The 6-23 clone 6 cell line was transfected with this clone. Two groups of 10 adult male WAG rats (180-250 g body weight) were injected with either untransfected 6-23 clone 6 or 6-23 clone 6 transfected with NPY cDNA [6-23 (NPY)]. After 8 weeks, the animals were killed, their plasma assayed for insulin. Pancreatic glucagon (PG), by RIA, and plasma glucose were measured. RESULTS: The transfected cells were shown to be producing fully processed, bioactive NPY. The expression of NPY was also confirmed by Northern blot analysis. The animals injected with 6-23 (NPY) cells gained significantly more weight than the controls, (on day 54, 31.89 +/- 3.56 vs. 24.1 +/- 4.12 g, n = 10, P < 0.05). Plasma insulin and PG increased significantly in NPY animals compared to controls. The total RNA extracted from tumours was analysed by Northern blotting and showed NPY mRNA expression in NPY animals, but not in controls. CONCLUSION: The long-term effects of NPY was confirmed by injection of the cells producing this peptide.     

Spontaneous regression and complete disappearance of the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation

Introduction

Thrombosis is frequently observed in Galen malformation, but propagation of thrombosis resulting in the disappearance of the aneurysmal malformation is a very rare clinical condition.

Case report

A rare case of spontaneous regression and disappearance of the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VoGAM) in a pediatric patient with repeated generalized seizure, increased head circumference, and congestive heart failure is recorded. The course of regression from infancy to 8 years of age has been depicted. Radiological studies initially demonstrated VoGAM complicated by an intra-cerebral hemorrhage and hydrocephalus, which later underwent spontaneous regression. Long-term clinical and radiological follow-up is presented.

Discussion

Different conditions including hemodynamic alteration, compression of adjacent hematoma, and narrowing of related vascular structures have been described to cause thrombosis of VoGAM. The relevant literature to address possible mechanism is reviewed.

     

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease in immunocompetent patients: report of a fatal case associated with transfusion of blood from a second-degree relative, and a survey of predisposing factors

A patient without evident immune deficiency who received a transfusion of blood from a second-degree family member developed fatal transfusion- associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD). The donor was homozygous for an HLA haplotype for which the recipient was heterozygous (one-way HLA match). All 39 reported cases of TA-GVHD in immunocompetent patients were reviewed to ascertain the predisposing factors and to define the indications for irradiating blood for this population. HLA typing was described in 15 cases; in 13, including seven related and six unrelated donors, a one-way HLA match was present. Thirty-one (79%) of the 39 cases were reported from Japan (and 196 other cases are cited in the Japanese literature), but a one-way HLA match among unrelated donors at HLA-A, -B, -DR loci is only approximately two to four times more likely in Japanese persons than in whites. Fresh blood (< 96 hours old) was used in 29 (94%) of the 31 cases reported from Japan and in 33 (87%) of 38 cases overall (in one case, the age of the blood used was not reported). Thus, factors that appear to predispose to TA-GVHD in immunocompetent patients are a one- way HLA match, fresh blood, and, possibly, Japanese ancestry. Irradiating cellular blood components from all blood relatives of transfusion recipients will not completely eliminate the risk of TA- GVHD.     

Coronary calcification and its association with mortality in haemodialysis patients

Aim:   Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been associated with higher mortality in chronic renal disease. The purpose of this study was to assess coronary artery calcium score (CaCs) in haemodialysis patients and to correlate calcium scores with clinical parameters and mortality.
Methods:   A cross-sectional study was conducted in 59 haemodialysis patients. CaCs was assessed by multidetector-row computed tomography and stratified as: CaCs of less than 10 Agatston units (U), no calcification; CaCs of 10–400 U, mild-to-moderate; and CaCs of more than 400 U, severe calcification. The effects of age, haemodialysis duration and biochemical and inflammatory markers on CaCs logarithm were evaluated by multiple linear regression analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to measure the impact of CaCs of more than 400 on 2-year mortality.
Results:   Coronary calcifications were detected in 64.5% of patients, and the median of CaCs was 31.7 U (0–589.7) with a range of 0–5790.0 U. Twenty-one (35.5%) patients had mild-to-moderate and 17 (29%) severe CaCs. Patients with severe CaCs were older and showed a higher prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and a higher body mass index ( P  = 0.04). A trend towards higher C-reactive protein levels was found in patients with severe CaCs. Advanced age was the only variable that influenced CaCs logarithm independently. The effect of severe CaCs on 2-year mortality did not persist after adjustment for other covariates.
Conclusion:   Coronary calcification was highly prevalent in these uraemic patients on chronic haemodialysis. A correlation was evidenced between CaCs and advanced age, but severity of the CAC score did not have an impact on 2-year mortality of this cohort.     

Sex differences in myocardial infarction events between patients with and without conventional risk factors: the Modares Heart Study

The authors sought to determine the profile of traditional risk factors and hematologic-metabolic parameters as well as relative risk among patients with myocardial infarction (MI). This study included 594 MI patients (70.2% men and 29.8% women) and was carried out during a period of 11 years from 1994 to 2005. Patients were analyzed by sex according to selected hematologic-metabolic parameters and risk factors. The mean age, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose were significantly different (P<.05) between men and women. The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in men with hyperlipidemia (HLP) and family history of MI compared with those without these risk factors were significantly different (P<.05). Relative risks of HLP, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension (HTN) for women were higher than for men in all age groups. The relative risk was 6.16 times higher for women with the 3-factor HLP, DM, and HTN combination. The results of this study confirm the important role of HLP, DM, and HTN in the occurrence of MI, especially in women.     

Cytopathological and chemico‐physical analyses of smears of mucosa surrounding oral piercing

Oral Diseases (2010) 16 , 160–166 Objective: The aim of this comparative study was to analyze cytopathologically and chemico‐physically the mucosa surrounding oral piercing to correlate results with adverse tissue signs. Materials and methods: The tongue superficial mucosa of 15 young subjects (control group) and the superficial mucosa surrounding oral piercing of 15 young subjects (test group, TG) were smeared on slides, Papanicolaou stained and analyzed under the optical microscope. Some smears were prepared for (back‐scattered) scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray microanalysis to study piercing fragments. Results: Smears of TG displayed a variable extent of bacterial cytolysis of epithelial cells, fungi, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, granulocyte infiltration, calcium formations and bacterial flora; the four last statistically significant (P < 0.05). Foreign bodies surrounded by keratinocytes were detected under both light and SEM. X‐ray microanalyses highlighted piercing alloy aggression, ion release and an inverse gradient of ion concentration inside keratinocytes. Conclusions: The pathological findings in smears correlated with adverse effects of oral piercing. Ion release may be related to direct toxic effects and belated reactions because of metal sensitization. A strict regulation of piercing is warranted.     

Prevalence of mucosal types of human papillomavirus in skin lesions in north part of Iran

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) consist of more than 100 types and are known to be associated with numerous malignant tumors, including carcinomas of the mucosal and cutaneous epithelium. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequently occurring malignancy worldwide in the Caucasian population. Some studies have shown that NMSC biopsy specimens harbor cutaneous as well as mucosal human papillomavirus, suggesting that mucosal types may play a role in development and progression of the tumor in skin. To investigate the presence of mucosal HPV types in skin lesions, we performed a retrospective study in which 288 paraffin embedded biopsies from benign and malignant skin lesions (NMSC) were collected. Using nested PCR with MY09/11 and GP5+/6+ primers mucosal HPVs were detected in 25.7% of malignant specimens, but just in 0.7% of benign lesions. Direct sequencing revealed HPV18 as the most frequent type, which was found in 75% of HPV-positive specimens. HPV16 and HPV56 were also detected, 22.3 and 2.7%, respectively. These findings suggest that, high-risk mucosal HPV types recently identified as significant risk factors for cervical cancer, may also represent a risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancer.