Plasma concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand in smokers with acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is believed to be the single leading cause of death in both men and women in the world. Smoking is the most important risk factor for CAD. Smoking increases platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a transmembrane glycoprotein derived from activated platelets. It participates in thrombus formation during the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Elevation of CD40L identifies the patients who are at highest risk for cardiac events and who are likely to benefit from treatment with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor antagonists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of CD40L in smokers with acute MI. Fifty-seven patients with acute MI were enrolled in this study. Thirty-one smokers were compared with 26 non-smokers. Soluble CD40L level in the plasma was determined by a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating levels of CD40L were higher in the smokers’ group. Smokers with acute MI may have increased risk for thrombotic complications during acute MI, and optimal antiaggregant therapy should be administered.     

Jaw movement alters the reaction of human jaw muscles to incisor stimulation

The changes in the minimum time to consciously react (reaction time) and the order of jaw muscle recruitment to precisely controlled axial stimulation of the incisors during controlled jaw movements are not known. To this end, ten subjects were recruited to investigate the reaction time of bilateral temporalis and masseter muscles and bite force. Stimuli were delivered axially to the upper central incisors during active jaw closing and opening, and under static conditions. The results showed that the reaction time was increased an average of 35% during both jaw opening and closing movements when compared with static jaw conditions. The left temporalis was recruited approximately 10 ms before the right temporalis, whereas no significant side differences were found between the masseter muscles. The masseter muscles were recruited an average of 20 ms before the temporalis muscles during jaw closing, but no difference existed during opening. Under static conditions the reaction time in the bite force was approximately 16 ms longer than the left temporalis, but was not significantly different from the reaction time of any of the other muscles, indicating that, under the static conditions tested, the left temporalis was more often responsible for initiation of the mechanical reactions in the jaw. Because of active compensation, no force measurements were made during jaw movement. This study is a prerequisite for investigations into the modulation of reflexes during jaw movement, because a response to a stimulus commencing after the minimum reaction time may not be entirely reflex in origin.     

Changed Bcl:Bax ratio in endometrium of patients with unexplained infertility

Apoptosis has been shown to be an important regulator of endometrial function during the menstrual cycle and implantation. Recently, some possible implantation defects were identified in patients with unexplained infertility. In this study, we investigated the role of spontaneous apoptosis, which is regulated by death regulatory genes, such as Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and isoenzymes of nitric oxide synthases; eNOS and iNOS during the implantation window in women with unexplained infertility. Endometrial samples were evaluated from fertile (n=15) and unexplained-infertile women (n=15) during post-ovulatory 7th or 8th day of their menstrual cycles. Apoptotic cells were detected using the dUTP nick-end labelling assay and Bcl-2, Bax, p53, iNOS and eNOS were assessed immunohistochemically. Reduced apoptotic cells, weak immunoreactivity of p53 and strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 were observed in the unexplained-infertile group compared with the fertile group (p<0.001). Bax intensity was similar in both groups. While weak iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in both groups, moderately increased eNOS immunoreactivity was observed in infertile cases. Spontaneous apoptosis is reduced in the endometrium of unexplained-infertile women, and is associated with the changed Bcl-2:Bax ratio. This finding may be a contributing factor to defective implantation causing infertility in this group of patients.     

Susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid and rifampin on blood agar

In this study, blood agar was used instead of 7H10 agar for the susceptibility testing of 34 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) in accordance with the NCCLS. The BACTEC 460 TB system (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, Md.) was used as a "gold standard." Results for both media were in agreement for RIF and INH at 100 and 94.1%, respectively. For INH, the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were found to be 71.4, 100, 93.1, and 100%, respectively, while these values were 100% for RIF. In addition, the results of the susceptibility test performed with blood agar were obtained on day 14 of incubation. In conclusion, results were obtained much earlier with blood agar (2 weeks) than with 7H10 agar (3 weeks), and the results of this study suggest that blood agar may be used as an alternative medium for the susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis to INH and RIF.     

A survey study on some neurological symptoms and sensations experienced by long term users of mobile phones

A survey study was conducted to investigate the possible effects of mobile phone on headache, dizziness, extreme irritation, shaking in the hands, speaking falteringly, forgetfulness, neuro-psychological discomfort, increase in the carelessness, decrease of the reflex and clicking sound in the ears. There is no effect on dizziness, shaking in hands, speaking falteringly and neuro-psychological discomfort, but some statistical evidences are found that mobile phone may cause headache, extreme irritation, increase in the carelessness, forgetfulness, decrease of the reflex and clicking sound in the ears.     

Nasal mucosal expression of nitric oxide synthases in patients with allergic rhinitis and its relation to asthma.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) has contradictory roles in the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation in both allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Small amounts of NO produced by constitutive NO synthase (NOS) is anti-inflammatory, whereas large amounts produced by inducible NOS (iNOS) are proinflammatory. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in constitutive endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS expression in nonallergic and allergic mucosa and the possible relation of this to the coexistence of asthma in seasonal AR. METHODS: Seventeen patients (10 women and 7 men) with seasonal AR and 9 nonallergic patients (5 women and 4 men) with nasal septum deviation were enrolled. Inferior turbinate nasal biopsy specimens were obtained in all. Levels of eNOS and iNOS expressed as immunohistochemical scores (HSCOREs) were determined immunohistochemically from the specimens. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD HSCOREs for eNOS in patients with seasonal AR were not significantly different from those of the nonallergic controls (1.85 +/- 0.78 vs 1.63 +/- 0.54; P = .12). On the other hand, the mean +/- SD HSCOREs for iNOS were significantly higher in patients with seasonal AR (1.75 +/- 0.75 vs 0.71 +/- 0.6; P = .004). Furthermore, although eNOS expression was not different between seasonal AR patients with and without asthma, the mean +/- SD HSCOREs for iNOS were significantly higher in the patients with asthma (1.93 +/- 0.78 vs 1.65 +/- 0.55; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Increased expression of iNOS might have a role in the development of allergic inflammation in upper and lower airways and in comorbidity of AR and asthma.     

Clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical spectrum of 11 cases of epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors,including INI1/SMARCB1 results and BRAF V600E analysis

Epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare, relatively less chemosensitive sarcoma. We report clinicopathologic features of 11 epithelioid MPNSTs, including rare forms, along with INI1 immunostaining and BRAF V600E mutation results. BRAF V600E mutation was tested by Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Eleven tumors occurred in six men and five women (M:F ratio = 0.85:1) within an age range of 5–73 years (average = 44), mostly in lower limbs (five), followed by upper limbs (four). Tumor size (n = 6), varied from 3.1 to 15 cm (average = 8.3). Histopathologically, most tumors were multilobular, characterized by epithelioid to round‐shaped, malignant cells, along with spindle cells (three cases), “rhabdoid‐like” cells (seven cases) and pleomorphic giant cells (single case). By immunohistochemistry, tumor cells were positive for S100 protein (11/11) (100%), EMA (3/7) (42.8%), pan CK(2/7) (28.5%), and HMB45 (1/11) (9%), while these were negative for Melan A (0/11) and INI1 (3/11), including a single tumor, displaying HMB45 positivity. BRAF V600E mutation was positive in 1/8 cases, that lacked melanocytic marker expression. All patients (n = 5) were treated by surgical resection. During follow‐up (n = 8, median duration = 23 months), four patients developed tumor recurrences and four developed metastasis, mostly to lymph nodes (3). Finally, four patients were alive with disease, two were alive with no evidence of disease, and two patients died of disease. Epithelioid MPNSTs have a diverse histopathologic spectrum. Loss of INI1 is useful, including in identifying rare forms of epithelioid MPNST, displaying melanocytic differentiation. Most tumors are treated by surgical resection. Loss of INI1 and the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in some cases raises future possibility of exploring targeted therapy in those, rare epithelioid MPNSTs.     

Immunohistochemical COX-2 overexpression correlates with HER-2/neu overexpression in invasive breast carcinomas: a pilot study

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a prostaglandin synthase that catalyzes the synthesis of prostaglandin G2 and H2. It has been shown that COX-2 plays an important role in tumorigenesis of different tumor types and it is thought to take part in breast carcinogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of immunohistochemical COX-2 expression with clinicopathological parameters, including HER-2/neu overexpression in invasive breast carcinoma (IBC).Our study population comprised 10 normal breasts, 25 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), and 51 invasive breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemical overexpressions of COX-2 and HER-2/neu were investigated in sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks by 3 observers.In normal breast, DCIS and IBC, the COX-2 overexpression rate was 0%, 84%, and 58.8%, respectively. In IBC, COX-2 overexpression had a significant relationship with HER-2/neu overexpression (p = 0.026) and a high histological grade (p = 0.026). COX-2 expression in both DCIS (n = 25) and IBC (n = 51) was significantly higher than in normal breast tissue (p < 0.0001). In addition, the COX-2 expression rate was significantly higher in DCIS than in IBC (p = 0.042).Our results indicated that COX-2 overexpression correlates with aggressive phenotypic features, such as HER-2/neu overexpression and high histological grade in IBC. Increased expression of COX-2 in both DCIS and IBC in comparison to normal breast could indicate a role in breast carcinogenesis. COX-2 overexpression may provide a clinically useful biomarker for estimating tumor aggressiveness.     

Diffuse infiltration of Aspergillus hyphae in the thyroid gland with multinodular goiter

A 35-year-old woman presented with a thyroid mass, weakness and shortness of breath of 3 years duration. On physical examination, she had a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland with multiple nodules. There were no signs to suggest immune suppression. The patient farmed and raised livestock. Biochemical tests and hemogram were normal. She underwent surgery, and a histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed nodular hyperplasia. Microscopically, silver methenamine (PASM) stain-positive hyphae that divided into branches at 45° and conidia were detected beside the thyroid capsule, with conidia in the cystic nodule. Moreover, ischemic changes of the thyroid tissue were observed closer to the capsule. We report a case of Aspergillosis of the thyroid of a patient who underwent surgery for a multinodular goiter.