Atherosclerosis in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with and without liver cirrhosis

Background

Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis may be associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). There are two phases to atherosclerosis, Subclinical and Clinical. Assessment of atherosclerosis may be started at its Subclinical phase by the evaluation of Epicardial Fat Thickness (EpFT) and Carotid Intima Thickness (CIMT).

Effect of danazol on clotting factor levels, bleeding incidence, factor infusion requirements, and immune parameters in hemophilia

Several recent studies have reported conflicting results on the effectiveness of danazol, an attenuated androgen, in raising plasma levels of clotting factors VIII and IX in patients with hemophilia. We undertook a randomized, double-blind cross-over trial using 8 weeks' administration of danazol (D), 600 mg/d, and 8 weeks' administration of placebo (P) separated by 2 weeks of rest in 12 patients with hemophilia A and four patients with hemophilia B. Plasma factor VIII and IX levels, frequency and type of bleeding episodes, amount of factor concentrate infused, fibrinogen, fibrinolysis assays, antithrombin III, liver function, and immune parameters were followed. During the danazol phase a minimal increase was noted in the average clotting factor levels, an increase that, although statistically significant, was of hemostatically marginal magnitude. Significant increases in protein C and plasminogen levels, however, were observed during the danazol period, suggestive of danazol-mediated enhanced fibrinolysis. Clinically, bleeding frequency was significantly increased, and more clotting factor was consumed during the danazol period. Furthermore, eight episodes of hematuria and oral mucosal bleeding was reported during the danazol phase in contrast to only one episode of hematuria during the placebo phase, consistent with an enhancement of fibrinolytic activity with danazol. We conclude that danazol does not have a hemostatically significant effect on plasma levels of factor VIII and IX but may be associated with enhancement of fibrinolytic activity, resulting in increased bleeding frequency and requiring more clotting factor infusions. Therefore, danazol is not a viable alternative in the treatment of hemophilia.     

Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) in Inorganic and Organic Oilfield Scales from the Middle East

The distribution of natural nuclide gamma-ray activities and their respective annual effective dose rates, produced by potassium-40 (⁴⁰K), uranium-238 (²³⁸U), thorium-232 (²³²Th), and radium-226 (²²⁶Ra), were determined for 14 oilfield scale samples from the Middle East. Accumulated radioactive materials concentrate in tubing and surface equipment, and workers at equipment-cleaning facilities and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) disposal facilities are the population most at risk for exposure to NORM radiation. Gamma-spectra analysis indicated that photo-gamma lines represent the parents of 10 radioactive nuclides: ²³⁴Th, plutonium-239, actinium-228, ²²⁶Ra, lead-212 (²¹²Pb), ²¹⁴Pb, thallium-238 (²⁰⁸Tl), bismuth-212 (²¹²Bi), ²¹⁴Bi, and ⁴⁰K. These nuclides represent the daughters of the natural radioactive series ²³⁸U and ²³²Th with ⁴⁰K as well. The mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were found to be 25.8 ± 11.6, 18.3 ± 8.1, and 4487.2 ± 2.5% Bq kg⁻¹ (average values for 14 samples), respectively. The annual effective dose rates and the absorbed doses in air, both indoor and outdoor, for the samples were obtained as well. The results can be used to assess the respective hazard on workers in the field and represent a basis for revisiting current engineering practices.     

Medical risk factors in perinatal mortality in Kuwait: a case-controlled study from Al-Jahra district.

This study is the first of its kind in Kuwait. It evaluates various risk factors associated with perinatal mortality (PNM) in the Al-Jahra district hospital during the period January 1995-December 1997. Risks associated with PNM were age above 30, parity above 8, history of abortion or perinatal death, lack of antenatal care, presence of chronic maternal disease, hydramnios, antepartum haemorrhage, breech presentation and low Apgar scores. The effect of the appropriate preventative programmes involving highlighting women at risk of perinatal mortality and probable intervention are discussed.     

指数程序升温药物稳定性试验

介绍了一种新的程序升温(指数程序升温)药物稳定性预测加速试验方法及计算方法。在这一新的程序升温方法中,温度每升高10℃,升温速率将增大2～4倍:dT/dt=a^(T-T₀)/10·(dT/dt)₀,使药物在高温和低温范围内的降解程度尽可能一致,提高了试验准确度。采用单因素优选法和数值积分法处理试验数据,避免了任何近似处理,使计算结果准确可靠。与线性升温、倒数升温和对数升温加速试验进行了对比,结果表明,指数程序升温法的准确性优于其它3种升温法。     

Morphological and molecular biological characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleistophora aegyptiaca</Emphasis> sp. nov. infecting the Red Sea fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saurida tumbil</Emphasis>

One hundred three out of 225 (45.8%) of the Red Sea fish Saurida tumbil were infected with microsporidian parasites. The infection was recorded as tumor-like masses (whitish macroscopic cysts) or xenomas often up to 2 cm in diameter and embedded in the peritoneal cavity. Generally, the infection was increased during winter 63.8% (86 out of 135) and fall to 18.9% (17 out of 90) in summer. Light microscopic study revealed that xenomas were encapsulated by a fibrous layer encircling numerous sporophorous vesicles filled with mature spores measuring 1.7 ± 0.6 (1.5–2.7 μm) × 1.5 ± 0.3 μm (1.2–1.8 μm) in size. Ultrastructural microscopic study showed the presence of smooth membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum forming a thick, amorphous coat surrounding various developmental stages of the parasite. The various recognizable stages of the parasite were uninuclear, binucleated, and multinucleated meronts followed by detachment of the plasmalemma of the sporont from the sporophorous vesicle producing sporoblasts. Mature spores consist of a spore coat and spore contents. The spore contents consist of the uninucleated sporoplasm and a posterior vacuole located at the posterior end. The polar tube consists of a straight shaft and a coiled region (26–32 coils) arranged in many rows along the inside periphery of the spore. The polaroplast consisted of an anterior region of closely and loosely packed membranes. Molecular analysis based on the small subunit rDNA gene was performed to determine the phylogenetic position of the present species. The percentage identity between this species and a range of other microsporidia predominantly from aquatic hosts demonstrated a high degree of similarity (>92%) with eight Pleistophora species. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences and divergence showed that the sequence of the present microsporidium was most similar to that of Pleistophora anguillarum (99.8% identity) differing in 13 nucleotide positions. So, the present species was recorded and phylogenetically positioned as a new species of Pleistophora.