The role of TNF-α and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms in familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract

Objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is one of the most serious inherited inflammatory disorders among Jewish, Armenian, Turkish and Arab populations. The imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in its etiology. We have investigated whether tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) gene polymorphisms are associated with FMF and evaluated the relationship between these polymorphisms and genotypic manifestation of FMF.

Methods: We investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TNF-α promoter at positions ?308 G/A and the PAI-1 4G/5G gene polymorphism in peripheral blood leukocytes collected from 177 individuals with FMF with different genotype combinations. All of the polymorphisms of TNF-α and PAI-1 were detected by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Results: There were no association between the TNF-α/308 genotypes and mutations in FMF. In contrast, the PAI-1 4G/5G gene polymorphism may have a significant effect in FMF disease.

Conclusions: Screening with PAI-1 gene polymorphism tests may be beneficial for tracing future FMF patients. However, further investigations are needed to reach a conclusion on the association between PAI-1 polymorphisms and FMF.     

Bond strength of a silicone lining material to alumina-abraded and lased denture resin

The aim of this study was to investigate the bond strength and adhesion of commercially available polydimethylsiloxane denture liner (Molloplast-B) to alumina-abraded or lased heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate denture base resin. The effect of laser irradiation on denture base resin by a surface analyzer and scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) was also determined. Laser-treated specimens demonstrated statistically significantly higher surface roughness values compared to alumina-abraded and untreated (control-group) specimens (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in surface roughness between alumina-abraded and control specimens. In the tensile debonding test, no statistically significant differences were found among the treatment modalities tested (alumina abraded, lased, and control) (p > 0.05). Molloplast-B applied to alumina-abraded polymethyl methacrylate resin surface recorded the highest mean tensile bond strength. Laser-treated specimens produced the next highest mean tensile bond strength, and untreated polymethyl methacrylate resin surface recorded the lowest tensile bond strength. Laser irradiation produced significant surface texture changes of the denture base material. However, this mechanical surface preparation of denture base before application of a resilient liner did not improve the adhesion between denture base and soft lining material.     

The Assessment of Validity of Different Asthma Diagnostic Tools in Adults

Background. The diagnosis of asthma is based on the presence of symptoms. Lung function measurements such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability and airway hyperresponsiveness support the clinical diagnosis. However, asthma is still an under- or overdiagnosed disease. Objectives. The aim of this study was to identify which test(s) is the most valuable for making the diagnosis of asthma by using patients with asthma-like symptoms as a reference population. Methods. One hundred patients admitted to an asthma outpatient clinic of an education and research hospital and 23 non-smoking healthy control subjects were included in this study. An asthma questionnaire, spirometric tests, monitoring of PEF variability during two weeks, non-specific bronchial challenge test with methacoline, skin prick tests (SPT) with common aeroallergens, measurements of serum total IgE and blood eosinophil counts were applied to all cases. Results. Sixty of one hundred patients were diagnosed with asthma, whereas the 40 remaining participant were accepted as pseudoasthma due to a diagnosis of another cause for their symptoms. The sensitivity and specificity of the methacholine challenge test was 96.5% and 78.4%, respectively. While the most sensitive test was a methacholine challenge test, the most specific test was the reversibility test. The test with the highest correlation of a positive result and asthma was the reversibility test. However, the highest correlation with a negative result was found with the methacholine challenge test. SPT positivity, serum total IgE and eosinophilia had low sensitivity and moderate specificity. The most specific question was “have you had an attack of shortness of breath that came on during the day when you were at rest at any time?”, whereas the most sensitive question was “have you had an attack of shortness of breath that came on following strenuous activity at any time?” In addition, the questions “have you had an attack of shortness of breath that came on following strenuous activity at any time?” and “have you woken up with an attack of wheezing at any time?” had significant correlation with the results of the methacholine challenge test. Conclusions. We have shown that the methacholine challenge test is the most valuable diagnostic tool for asthma. In addition, there is a significant correlation between the methacholine challenge test and some patient symptoms.     

Effects of some antigenic fractions of Leishmania major on nitric oxide production and IL-12 secretion by murine peritoneal macrophages

Nitric oxide (NO) and IL-12 are important mediators of the immune response to Leishmania major. In this study, the effects of L. major promastigotes, crude antigenic fraction (CAF) and its subfractions on NO production and IL-12 secretion by BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages is investigated. The subfractions of CAF, namely, fractions 1, 2 and 3, that were in the molecular weight range of 97.4–66, 66–45 and below 45 kDa, respectively, were separated by SDS-PAGE. NO production was determined by using Griess reagent and IL-12 was measured by ELISA. It was found that NO production was stimulated by promastigotes but not by CAF or its subfractions. IL-12 secretion was stimulated by promastigotes, CAF and fraction 1 while fractions 2 and 3 did not have any effect.     

Intravenous itraconazole emulsions produced by SolEmuls technology.

Itraconazole is a drug which is poorly soluble in both the water and oil phases of emulsions. Incorporation in parenteral emulsions was performed applying the SolEmuls Technology, i.e. localising the drug in the interfacial lecithin layer of the emulsions by homogenising a hybrid dispersion of oil droplets and drug nanocrystals in water. The maximum loading capacity of the emulsion system was found to be 10 mg/ml; at 20 mg/ml the loading capacity was exceeded leading to remaining drug nanocrystals in the emulsion. Incorporation of itraconazole into the lecithin layer led to an enhanced dispersion effect, i.e. with increasing drug concentration the droplet size of the emulsions decreased. Physical long-term stability of the optimum emulsion with 10 mg/ml could be shown over a period of 3 months at room temperature.     

The Assessment of Validity of Different Asthma Diagnostic Tools in Adults

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of house dust mite impermeable covers on asthma-specific health-related quality of life in adult asthmatic patients that were trained in guided self-management. In a 2-year randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, information on the quality of life was collected. The improvement of Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) score in the allergens-avoidance group (0.26) was comparable to the improvement in the placebo group (0.30) and not significant. HDM-impermeable covers for pillows, duvets, and mattresses did not result in improved health-related quality of life.