Toll-like receptor 9 in systemic sclerosis patients: relation to modified Rodnan skin score,disease severity,and functional status

Clinical Rheumatology - The objective of this study is to assess toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) expression in CD3-positive T lymphocytes and CD19-positive B lymphocytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc)...     

Plasma visfatin and retinol binding protein-4 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their relationship to adiposity and fatty liver

ObjectivesWe investigated whether plasma visfatin and binding protein-4 (RBP-4) levels correlate with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Design and methodsTwo groups were enrolled: Group 1: 40 patients with T2DM and Group 2: 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Both groups were subdivided according to body mass index (BMI) into non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m²) and obese subjects (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) (20 each).ResultsPlasma visfatin and RBP-4 levels were significantly increased in T2DM patients compared with controls with similar BMI values (for both p < 0.001). Plasma visfatin and RBP-4 concentrations correlated with BMI, waist/hip ratio, insulin and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA_IR). Visfatin and RBP-4 correlated with visceral fat and liver fat in diabetic patients (for both p < 0.001).ConclusionVisfatin level was increased in T2DM, possibly related to hyperglycemia. Plasma RBP-4 correlated positively with liver fat and HOMA_IR which may reflect its effects on hepatic insulin sensitivity.     

Heme oxygenase-1 expression protects melanocytes from stress-induced cell death: implications for vitiligo

To study protection of melanocytes from stress-induced cell death by heme oxygenases during depigmentation and repigmentation in vitiligo, expression of isoforms 1 and 2 was studied in cultured control and patient melanocytes and normal skin explants exposed to UV or bleaching agent 4-TBP. Similarly, expression of heme oxygenases was followed in skin from vitiligo patients before and after PUVA treatment. Single and double immunostainings were used in combination with light and confocal microscopic analysis and Western blotting. Melanocyte expression of heme oxygenase 1 is upregulated, whereas heme oxygenase 2 is reduced in response to UV and 4-TBP. Upregulation of inducible heme oxygenase 1 was also observed in UV-treated explant cultures, in skin of successfully PUVA-treated patients and in melanocytes cultured from vitiligo non-lesional skin. Heme oxygenase encoding genes were subsequently cloned to study consequences of either gene product on cell viability, demonstrating that HO-1 but not HO-2 overexpression offers protection from stress-induced cell death in MTT assays. HO-1 expression by melanocytes may contribute to beneficial effects of UV treatment for vitiligo patients.     

Prevalence of serum autoantibodies and paraproteins in patients with glaucoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible link between normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and autoimmunity.METHODS: We studied the serum of 95 patients: 31 with NTG, 32 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and 32 age- and sex-matched controls. Blood was drawn from each patient and serum was examined for the presence of antinuclear antigens (ANA), autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA), anti-double-strand DNA, serum protein electrophoresis, and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) levels.RESULTS: In the NTG group, the relative risks for ANA and ENA positivity were 2.5 and 4.4 times, respectively, that of the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between IgA levels in the NTG and control group (P=0.024), but there was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding IgM or IgG levels. In the POAG group, the relative risks for ANA and ENA positivity were 0.77 and 2.9 times, respectively, that of the control group. The relative risk for detection of paraprotein in the POAG group was 0.97 times that of the control group. Also, there was a statistically significant difference between IgA levels in the POAG and control group (P=0.011), but there was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding IgM or IgG.CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that humoral immune mechanisms may have a role in the pathogenesis of NTG.     

Effect of urethral dilation on vesical motor activity: identification of the urethrovesical reflex and its role in voiding

PURPOSE: We investigated the hypothesis that mild urethral distention, which presumably occurs during the passage of urine through the urethra, stimulates stretch receptors in the urethral wall, leading reflexively to vesical contraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 9 male and 10 female healthy volunteers with a mean age +/- SD of 39.6 +/- 8.3 years. The posterior urethra was distended by a balloon filled with saline in 1 ml. increments up to 6 ml., while recording vesical pressure. The test was repeated after individual anesthetization of the urethra and bladder. RESULTS: Vesical pressure increased significantly at 1 and 2 ml. urethral distention (p <0.01). Increases in urethral distention effected further vesical pressure elevation (p <0.001), although there was no significant difference in distention at 3 to 6 ml. (p >0.05). No significant vesical pressure response of the individually anesthetized urethra or bladder occurred during urethral distention. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral distention is thought to cause vesical contraction through the stimulation of urethral stretch receptors. Vesical contraction at urethral distention postulates a reflex relationship that was abolished by individual anesthetization of the urethra and bladder. This relationship, which we call the urethrovesical reflex, appears to have a role in maintaining vesical contraction during voiding. Further studies are required to investigate the role of this reflex in voiding disorders.     

Determination of nitrofurantoin drug in pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids by square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry

Nitrofurnation is an antibacterial drug. It is used in the treatment of initial or recurrent urinary tract infections caused by susceptible organisms. The cyclic voltammogram of the drug in Britton-Robinson buffers (pH 2-11) exhibited a single well-defined cathodic peak at the hanging mercury drop electrode, that due to the reduction of its nitro group to the amine stage. A fully validated, sensitive, and reproducible developed procedure was described for determination of the drug in bulk form, pharmaceutical formulation, human serum and human urine using, square-wave cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The optimal experimental parameters for the drug assay were: accumulation potential = -0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/ KCl(s)), accumulation time = 40 s, frequency = 120 Hz, pulse amplitude = 50 mV and scan increment = 10 mV in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 10). A mean percentage recovery of 100.68 +/- 0.17 (n = 5) and a detection limit of 1.32 x 10(-10) M of bulk drug were achieved. Applicability to assay of the drug in pharmaceutical formulation, human serum and human urine was studied and illustrated. The mean percentage recoveries were found as: 101.49 +/- 0.65, 103.94 +/- 0.73 and 101.98 +/- 0.52 (n = 5) in pharmaceutical formulation, human serum and human urine, respectively. Detection limits of 2.86 x 10(-10) M and 5.77 x 10(-10) M nitrofurantoin were achieved in human serum and urine, respectively.