Cofactor metals and antioxidant enzymes in cisplatin-treated rats: effect of antioxidant intervention

We explored the association between the activities of antioxidant enzymes and their metallic cofactors in rats treated with cisplatin. The antioxidant effects of aminoguanidine, and a combination of vitamins E and C were investigated. Plasma platin was significantly lower than liver and kidney. Cisplatin treatment caused significant increase in plasma Se-glutathione peroxidase activity. Activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase have been found to be significantly decreased in liver and kidney compared to controls. Zn levels in these organs were diminished upon cisplatin treatment, while levels of Cu were unaffected. Interestingly, levels of iron, the cofactor of catalase, were found to be significantly increased in liver and kidney. Intervention with aminoguanidine or vitamins was generally prevented cisplatin-caused changes in the activity of enzymes and in the tissue levels of cofactor metals. These observations suggest that relation between activities of enzymes and levels of cofactor metals is multifactorial.     

Insulin resistance-associated genetic variants in type 1 diabetes

AimsTo examine candidate insulin resistance single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for associations with glycemic control, insulin resistance, BMI, and complications in an observational type 1 diabetes (T1D) cohort: the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) study.MethodsIn 422 European-ancestry participants, we assessed associations using additive models between 15 candidate SNPs and 25-year mortality, cardiovascular disease, microalbuminuria, overt nephropathy and proliferative retinopathy, and 25-year mean HbA1c, estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR, inverse measure of insulin resistance), and BMI.ResultsThe A allele of rs12970134 was associated with higher mean HbA1c (β = +0.34 ± 0.09, p = 0.00009) and nominally associated with worse eGDR (p = 0.02). Further analyses suggest the HbA1c association may be modified by diabetes therapy regimen: rs12970134 AA genotype was associated with higher HbA1c under non-intensive therapy conditions (<3 insulin injections/day or monitoring blood glucose<3 times/day [p = 0.004]), but not under intensive therapy (≥3 injections/day or insulin pump and monitoring glucose≥3 times/day [p = 0.71]). There were no significant associations between any SNPs and BMI or complications.Conclusionsrs12970134, near MC4R, is strongly associated with HbA1c in this cohort. Further exploration of this genomic region is warranted, as it may hold promise for discovering new therapeutic targets to improve glycemic control in T1D.     

Comparison of the E-test method with an automated bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility detection system for screening extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers

Some automated systems used in clinical microbiology laboratories are able to detect products responsible for antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 626 isolates (436 Escherichia coli, 134 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 56 Klebsiella oxytoca strains) were examined for the presumptive detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production by 2 methods: the Sceptor system (BD, Sparks, MD, USA) and the E-test. ESBL production was detected in 26 E. coli strains (5.96%), 60 K. pneumoniae strains (44.77%) and 15 K. oxytoca strains (26.78%) by ceftazidime/ceftazidime-clavulanate E-test. Using the E-test, ESBL production was detected in 25 of 201 E. coli strains (12.43%), 55 of 75 K. pneumoniae (73.33%) and 14 of 27 K. oxytoca strains (51.85%) that were alerted as ESBL-producing strains by the Sceptor system. ESBL positivity was detected in 1 E. coli, 5 K. pneumoniae and 1 K. oxytoca strains, that were not warned as being ESBL producers by the Sceptor system. These data suggest that clinical microbiology laboratories should not only rely on these rapid automated systems but also use another method for screening ESBL producers, such as the E-test. The rates of these ESBL-producing isolates in this study were lower than those in other studies reported from other parts of Turkey, but higher than those reported from the USA and Europe.     

Scintigraphic evaluation of gallbladder motor functions in H pylori positive and negative patients in the stomach with dyspepsia

AIM：To evaluate the relationship between gallbladder （GB） motor function and H pylori infection in the stomach.
METHODS： All cases （86） underwent the 14C urea breath test （UBT）. ^14C-UBT was found as positive in 58 and negative in 28 dyspeptic patients. ^14C- UBT was accepted as a gold standard test. Clo test and histopathologic examination were compared with the results of ^14C-UBT in cases who tolerated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure. Cholescintigraphy with ^99mTc-mebrofenin was used to determine the parameters of GB motor function （GB filling and emptying time, half of the emptying time, ejection fraction at 30th and 60th min） in all patients.
RESULTS： We found the sensitivity and specificity as 88% and 86% for Clo test and as 89% and 80% for histologic evaluation, respectively. The parameters of GB function were not significantly different in H pylori positive and negative patients. The GB emptying was normal in both groups. Minimum GB filling time was 30 min in 34 of 86 cases （39.5%）, filling was not observed in 2 cases. The GB ultrasonography （USG） results were normal for all cases and bile composition abnormality was not determined.
CONCLUSION： Our study showed that ^14C-UBT is highly reliable method to detect the presence of H pylori. The presence of H pylori infection does not directly affect the GB function.     

Angiotensin II inhibits uptake of transferrin-bound iron but not non-transferrin-bound iron by cultured astrocytes

The existence of all components of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and the iron metabolism system, and the recent findings on the functions of angiotensin II (ANGII) in peripheral iron metabolism imply that ANGII might play a role in iron homeostasis by regulating expression of iron transport proteins in the brain. Here, we investigated effects of ANGII on uptake and release of iron as well as expression of cell iron transport proteins in cultured astrocytes. We demonstrated that ANGII could significantly inhibit transferrin-bound iron (Tf-Fe) uptake and iron release as well as the expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and the iron exporter ferroportin 1 (Fpn1) in cultured astrocytes. This indicated that the inhibitory role of ANGII on Tf-Fe uptake and iron release is mediated by its negative effect on the expression of TfR1 and Fpn1. We also provided evidence that ANGII had no effect on divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) expression as well as non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) uptake in the cells. Our findings showed that ANGII has a role to affect expression of iron transport proteins in astrocytes in vitro and also suggested that ANGII might have a physiological function in brain iron homeostasis.     

Intrauterine upper extremity thrombosis successfully treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, enoxaparin and collagenase

Intrauterine ischemia of the limbs is a rare condition involving thrombosis and ischemia of the extremities before birth. The clinical presentation depends on the extremity affected as well as the timing of thrombosis. Very few cases with extremity hypoperfusion and gangrene due to intrauterine thrombosis have been reported in the literature, and therefore there is no consensus on the optimal therapeutic strategy for such cases. Presented here is a case of a newborn with intrauterine brachial arterial thrombosis of the right upper extremity who was successfully treated by a combination of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, enoxaparin and collagenase application followed by surgery.     

Validity and reliability of the Korean Version of Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC)

The purpose of the present study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Child (ASD-DC). Mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders (N = 333) and mothers of typically developing children (N = 223) ages from 2 to 16 years completed the ASD-DC. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 4-factor structure of the ASD-DC fits the data well, comprising the following factors: nonverbal communication/socialization, verbal communication, social relationships, and insistence of sameness/restricted interests. The ASD-DC was associated with high internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The discriminant validity was demonstrated by the mean differences between ASD and control group. High correlations between several subscales of ASD-DC and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) were found, showing concurrent validity. High correlations between several subscales were found. Optimal cutoff scores for Autism, Asperger's disorder, and PDD-NOS were found via ROC curve analysis. Clinical and research implications as well as limitations are discussed.     

Zervikale, inguinale und abdominelle Lymphknotendissektion

Diagnostic lymph node dissections can be defined as a form of oncological service surgery. These procedures aim at clarification of differential diagnoses of local or systemic lymph node pathologies or contribute to tumor staging. Procedure implementation can either involve incisional biopsy, selective lymph node extirpation or regional systematic lymph node dissection. Sentinel lymph node lymphadenectomy is a focused form of selective lymphadenectomy. Both surgeon and oncologist must have a preoperative consensus and mutual understanding about the detailed purpose of the procedure in the individual patient setting. Terminology conventions must be considered in communication. Potential reasons to extend surgery should be strategically reflected prior to surgery. Interventional techniques and minimally invasive forms of surgical lymph node dissection must be technically taken into account in order to reduce procedural morbidity. Clinically indicative scenarios, pathophysiological concepts and technical options of surgical lymph node dissection are described and discussed for various anatomical regions.