The risk of post-operative complications associated with infliximab therapy for Crohn's disease: a controlled cohort study

BACKGROUND: By temporarily suppressing the immune response, the anti-tumour necrosis factor agent, infliximab, may increase the risk of peri-operative complications. AIM: To test this hypothesis for intestinal resection in a cohort of 313 Crohn's disease patients treated with infliximab. Forty received one or more infusions prior to intestinal resection (31/40 within 12 weeks). METHODS: The post-operative events of these patients were compared with those of a control group (infliximab naive) of 39 patients adjusted for age, gender and surgical procedure. Early (10 days) and late (3 months) major or minor complications were identified. RESULTS: The incidence of early minor (15.0% vs. 12.8%) and major (12.5% vs. 7.7%) and late minor (2.5% vs. 5.1%) and major (17.5% vs. 12.8%) complications and the mean hospital stay after surgery (10.3 +/- 4.0 days vs. 9.9 +/- 5.5 days) were similar in both groups. A trend towards an increased early infection rate was found in infliximab pre-treated patients (6 vs. 1; P = 0.10), but more patients in this group received corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressives (29 vs. 16 patients; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of infliximab before intestinal resection does not prolong the hospital stay and does not increase the rate of post-operative complications.     

Correction of fatty acid oxidation in carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2-deficient cultured skin fibroblasts by bezafibrate

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPTII) deficiency is among the most common inborn errors of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO). Clinical phenotype varies in relation to the metabolic block, as assessed by studies of FAO in patient fibroblasts. Thus, fibroblasts from patients with mild manifestations have appreciable residual CPTII enzyme activity, in contrast to those from severely affected patients. In the present study, we hypothesized that the hypolipidemic drug bezafibrate, acting as an activator of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha might stimulate FAO in CPTII-deficient cells. Data obtained show that bezafibrate treatment of mild-type CPTII-deficient cells resulted in a time- and dose- dependent increase in CPTII mRNA (from +47% to +66%) and residual enzyme activity (from +54% to 135%), and led to normalization of 3H-palmitate and 3H-myristate cellular oxidation rates. Bezafibrate did not correct FAO in fibroblasts from patients with severe phenotype. This study establishes for the first time that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor activators, acting via stimulation of gene expression, can stimulate CPTII residual activity to a level sufficient to allow normal FAO flux in deficient human fibroblasts, and suggests that this approach should be tested in other inborn errors of mitochondrial beta-oxidation.     

Does distillery yeast sludge ameliorate moldy feed toxic effects in White Leghorn hens?

Aflatoxin and ochratoxin are important mycotoxins formed by different species of Aspergillus and Penicillium. The purpose of this study was to check the toxic pathological effects of moldy feed in White Leghorn (WLH) hens and to estimate the amelioration by distillery yeast sludge (DYS) against mycotoxins. For this purpose, 100, 40-weeks old WLH hens were procured and kept under standard management conditions. Birds were divided in five equal groups. Birds were kept on moldy feed (ochratoxin A (OTA): 56?μg/kg and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1): 136?μg/kg) mixed with 0, 0.5, 1 and 2% DYS/kg moldy feed. Group A served as control. The birds of the control group were active, with normal feed intake and feathers as compared to moldy feed and in combination with DYS. The attraction toward feed and water, feed intake, body weight gain, egg production (%) and egg weight significantly (p?≤?0.05) decreased in the moldy group as compared to control group. The relative weight of liver, kidney, heart and spleen increased significantly in groups B (moldy feed) and C (moldy feed?+?0.5% DYS) as compared to control group. Total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit lowered significantly in B and C groups. Moldy feed in liver, kidney and spleen produced pathological changes like enlargement, ecchymotic hemorrhages on the surface, vacuolar degeneration, cellular infiltration, congestion, etc. Almost all parameters studied were normal compared to control group with the addition of 2% DYS in moldy feed while 1% DYS partially ameliorated the toxic effects of mycotoxins.     

Synthesis and Antitubercular Activity Evaluation of Novel Unsymmetrical Cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine Derivatives

A library of unsymmetrical cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in vitro. Out of the 46 compounds synthesized, eight compounds ( 11h , 13a , 13e , 13f , 14a , 14c , 14d , and 15d ) were found to be active at or below 6.25 µM concentration, with negligible toxicity to human red blood cells at a concentration much higher than the MIC₉₉. Compound 13a was the best active compound showing inhibition at 3.125–6.25 µM, and was found to be non‐hemolytic up to 500 µg/mL concentration.