Multiple pulmonary arterial aneurysms in Behçet's disease: clinical and radiologic remission after cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid therapy

Beh?et's disease (BD) with pulmonary arterial aneurysm is rare and often associated with a poor prognosis. But there is also a chance that the aneurysm may completely resolve with medical therapy. A 39-year-old man presented with fever, malaise, bilateral chest pain, recurrent oral ulcers, and hemoptysis. The chest radiograph showed a round opacity in the right hilum. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) further revealed multiple, bilateral pulmonary arterial aneurysms consistent with the diagnosis of BD. The patient was started on a course of cyclophosphamide and corticosteroid therapy that resulted in cessation of his symptoms and complete resolution of radiologic findings. The chest radiograph and MRA reverted to normal on long-term follow-up. He is still alive and symptom-free 20 months after diagnosis.     

Acetyl salicylic acid improves somatosensory evoked potentials in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Microalbuminuria and retinopathy was studied in a non-proteinuric diabetic population of Cameroon. Patients were enrolled on a consecutive basis in two referral hospitals in Yaoundé. Retinopathy was evaluated by direct ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy, and controlled by mydriatic fundus photography. Detection of microalbuminuria was carried out on an overnight urine sample using Micral II test (Boehringer Mannheim). Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were done using validated methods. In 64 non-proteinuric diabetic patients (9 IDDM and 55 NIDDM) aged 19-70 years with known duration of diabetes of 1-23 years, the prevalence of retinopathy was 37.5%. Microalbuminuria was detected in 53.1% of patients. Microalbuminuria correlated with duration of diabetes, and blood pressure, retinopathy was positively correlated with age, and blood pressure. Retinopathy was not significantly associated with the known duration of diabetes. Retinopathy was found to be independently associated with microalbuminuria (P < 0.001) and microalbuminuria appeared to be a sensitive marker of retinopathy. The prevalence of retinopathy and microalbuminuria in this population was high. Microalbuminuria and non-proliferative retinopathy are independently associated, and are both associated with increased blood pressure levels in the study population. As shown in previous studies microalbuminuria may also be a sensitive marker of early diabetic retinopathy in African diabetic patients.     

Mood and metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation as a potential endophenotype’ in bipolar disorder

It has been commonly recognized that circadian rhythm and sleep/wake cycle are causally involved in bipolar disorder. There has been a paucity of systematic research considering the relations between sleep and mood states in bipolar disorder. The current study examines the possible influences of sleep deprivation on mood states and endocrine functions among first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Blood samples were taken at two time points in the consecutive mornings at predeprivation and postdeprivation periods. Participants simultaneously completed the Profiles of Mood States at two time points after giving blood samples. Plasma T3 and TSH levels increased after total sleep deprivation in both groups. Sleep deprivation induced TSH levels were reversely associated with depression–dejection among healthy controls. A paradoxical effect was detected for only the first-degree relatives of the patients that changes in plasma cortisol levels negatively linked to depression–dejection and anger–hostility scores after total sleep deprivation. Plasma DHEA levels became correlated with vigor-activity scores after sleep deprivation among first-degree relatives of bipolar patients. On the contrary, significant associations of depression–dejection, anger–hostility, and confusion–bewilderment with the baseline plasma DHEA levels became statistically trivial in the postdeprivation period. Findings suggested that first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder had completely distinct characteristics with respect to sleep deprivation induced responses in terms of associations between endocrine functions and mood states as compared to individuals whose relatives had no psychiatric problems. Considering the relationships between endocrine functions and mood states among relatives of the patients, it appears like sleep deprivation changes the receptor sensitivity which probably plays a pivotal role on mood outcomes among the first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder.     

Early osteoblastic activity on TiO2 thin films decorated with flower-like hierarchical Au structures

Titanium alloys are the most commonly used dental and orthopedic implant materials due to their proven biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The native oxide layer (TiO₂ layer) formed on such Ti-based implants acts as the self-protecting layer against possible ion release. Increasing the oxide layer thickness further on such TiO₂ implants even opens the triggering of the osseointegration process if the oxide layer is having a certain degree of roughness, preferably higher. This work reports a novel photocatalytic patterning of sputter deposited TiO₂ layers with flower-like Au structures to enhance the early osteoblastic activity. The prepared hierarchical Au structures, composed of micro- and nanoscale features on the top, lead to improved number of filopodia formation. This suggest that proposed Au–TiO₂ surface may foster the cell attachment and as well as cell proliferation.

Flower-like hierarchical Au structures, composed of micro- and nanoscale features, lead to higher number of filopodia formation on TiO₂ thin films.     

Unveiling the optical parameters of vanadium dioxide in the phase transition region: a hybrid modeling approach

The phase change behavior of vanadium dioxide (VO₂) has been widely explored in a variety of optical and photonic applications. Commonly, its optical parameters have been studied in two extreme regimes: hot (metallic) and cold (insulating) states. However, in the transition temperatures, VO₂ acts like an inherent metamaterial with mixed metallic-insulating character. In this range, the portions of metallic and insulating inclusions are tuned by temperature, and therefore a gradual change of optical parameters can be achieved. In this paper, a universal hybrid modeling approach is developed to model VO₂ in the intermediate region. For this aim, the measured reflectivity data, is analyzed and matched through the transfer matrix method (TMM) simulations where an effective medium theory (EMT) is employed. Based on the findings of this approach, not only the relative portions of inclusions are tailored but also their grain shapes are significantly altered in the transition range. Finally, the modeling approach is testified by experimental findings through dynamic device applications operating at short and mid infrared wavelengths. In addition, the hysteretic behaviors on electrical, optical, and structural parameters of the VO₂ film along the heating and cooling cycles are demonstrated by the experiments and scrutinized by the simulations.

A universal hybrid modeling approach is developed to model VO₂ in transition, revealing dynamic behavior of metallic inclusions and grain shapes.     

Convalescent plasma therapy in patients with COVID-19

IntroductionPassive antibody therapy has been used to immunize vulnerable people against infectious agents. In this study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in the treatment of severe and critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19.MethodThe data of severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody-containing CP along with the antiviral treatment (n = 888) and an age-gender, comorbidity, and other COVID-19 treatments matched severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients at 1:1 ratio (n = 888) were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsDuration in the intensive care unit (ICU), the rate of mechanical ventilation (MV) support and vasopressor support were lower in CP group compared with the control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively). The case fatality rate (CFR) was 24.7 % in the CP group, and it was 27.7 % in the control group. Administration of CP 20 days after the COVID-19 diagnosis or COVID-19 related symptoms were associated with a higher rate of MV support compared with the first 3 interval groups (≤5 days, 6?10 days, 11?15 days) (p=0.001).ConclusionCP therapy seems to be effective for a better course of COVID-19 in severe and critically ill patients.     

Thymoquinone protects end organs from abdominal aorta ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

Introduction

Previous studies have demonstrated that thymoquinone has protective effects against ischemia reperfusion injury to various organs like lungs, kidneys and liver in different experimental models.

Objective

We aimed to determine whether thymoquinone has favorable effects on lung, renal, heart tissues and oxidative stress in abdominal aorta ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods

Thirty rats were divided into three groups as sham (n=10), control (n=10) and thymoquinone (TQ) treatment group (n=10). Control and TQ-treatment groups underwent abdominal aorta ischemia for 45 minutes followed by a 120-min period of reperfusion. In the TQ-treatment group, thymoquinone was given 5 minutes. before reperfusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg via an intraperitoneal route. Total antioxidant capacity, total oxidative status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) in blood serum were measured and lung, kidney, and heart tissue histopathology were evaluated with light microscopy.

Results

Total oxidative status and oxidative stress index activity in blood samples were statistically higher in the control group compared to the sham and TQ-treatment groups (P<0.001 for TOS and OSI). Control group injury scores were statistically higher compared to sham and TQ-treatment groups (P<0.001 for all comparisons).

Conclusion

Thymoquinone administered intraperitoneally was effective in reducing oxidative stress and histopathologic injury in an acute abdominal aorta ischemia-reperfusion rat model.