In Vitro Effects of Tp5 Analogs on E-Rosette Formation and Cell Division

The effects of seventeen synthetic analogs of thymopentin (TP-5) have been studied in the active and azathioprine-inhibited E-rosette tests.

Thymopentin was gradually shortened from the C terminus to peptides and single amino acids. Thymopoietin 32-34 (Arg-Lys-Asp-RGH-0205-TP-3) (II) and thymopoietin 32-35 (Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-RGH-0206-TP-4) (I) were the most active peptides.

Dipeptide Arg-Lys produced significant stimulatory effect on azathioprine (ED₇₅) inhibited E-receptor. Treatment of azathioprine (ED₇₅-inhibited E-rosette forming cells (ERFC) with arginine or especially lysine increased the number of ERFC.

Some of TP-4 analogs decreased further the number of ERFC decreased by azathioprine ED₃₀. These “suppressive” peptides as well as TP-3 caused a partial arrest of K 562 cell proliferation up to 96 hours.

Results suggest that TP-5 is not the smallest active fragment of thymopoietins, since peptides (TP-3 and TP-4) exhibit similar or higher T-cell membrane activation on E-receptor. Arginine, lysine, and acidic aspartyl residue seem to be a necessary basic structure to produce a cumulative chemical signal on the activity of T-lymphocytes.     

Pelvic masses in childhood: ultrasonographic imaging

The echographic appearance of pelvic masses in children was examined in 38 patients. Sonography was correct in determining the site of origin in all cases. Cystic uterine masses and cystic ovarian masses were the most specific, representing hydrometrocolpos and benign ovarian cysts. A nonspecific sonographic pattern was encountered with complex masses, which proved to be ovarian teratomas, hemorrhagic ovarian cysts and pelvic abscesses. Although a number of characteristic features of teratomes have been described, these signs were seen very rarely in children.     

L-carnitine ameliorates gentamicin-induced renal injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether administration of L-carnitine ameliorates gentamicin-induced renal injury in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of seven treatment groups: group A (control) rats were given normal saline injections daily for 8 consecutive days; group B, C and D rats were given gentamicin injections, 50 mg/kg body weight/day daily for 8 consecutive days; and group E, F and G rats were given gentamicin injections, 80 mg/kg/day daily for 8 consecutive days. Starting 4 days before these injections, all groups were given additional injections, for 12 consecutive days, of normal saline (groups A, B and E) or L-carnitine at 40 mg/kg (groups C and F) or 200 mg/kg (groups D and G). Histological scoring of renal cortical pathology was performed after day 12. RESULTS: Among rats injected with gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day, those given either 40 or 200 mg/kg/day of L-carnitine had higher creatinine clearances at day 12 than the rats not given carnitine. In the rats given 80 mg/kg gentamicin and no carnitine, renal function tended to be lower than in controls. At day 12, the rats given gentamicin 80 mg/kg and L-carnitine 200 mg/kg/day, compared with rats given gentamicin 80 mg/kg and no carnitine, displayed lower serum urea and probably creatinine concentrations, and higher creatinine clearances, and their serum urea was not different from control (group A) rats. Both doses of gentamicin induced renal cortical histopathology. Changes were milder with gentamicin 50 mg/kg/day, and L-carnitine, particularly at 200 mg/kg/day, ameliorated the severity of renal pathology induced by both gentamicin doses. In rats given gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day, the animals treated with carnitine 200 mg/kg/day had significantly less severe proximal tubular necrosis and significantly greater mild proximal tubular necrosis compared with rats receiving L-carnitine 40 mg/kg/day or no carnitine. CONCLUSIONS: In rats receiving gentamicin, daily L-carnitine injections, particularly at 200 mg/kg/day, ameliorate the severity of renal cortical proximal tubular necrosis and maintain greater renal function.     

Rectal endosonography in inflammatory bowel disease: differential diagnosis and prediction of remission

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: There are few and conflicting data on EUS features of the rectal wall in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of our study was to determine whether rectal EUS could first differentiate between CD and UC, and secondly predict remission in CD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 14 month period we prospectively and blindly studied several parameters on rectal EUS (total wall thickness, mucosal appearance, submucosal thickness, number of enlarged vessels in the submucosa and number of pathological lymph nodes around the rectum and sigmoid colon) in 20 normal subjects, 26 patients with UC, 39 patients with CD, and four with infectious colitis. Comparisons were made between normal controls, patients with acute UC and those with acute CD, as well as between acute flare-ups and quiescent forms of CD and UC in the same patients. RESULTS: Normal subjects showed some features which were significantly different from those in CD or UC patients. A greater number of pathological lymph nodes was characteristic for acute UC, whereas the number of enlarged vessels was increased in acute CD. Quiescent CD showed a lower amount of wall thickening than acute CD. No significant alterations of the five parameters were found in quiescent UC compared to acute UC. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that EUS could be helpful in differentiating acute UC from CD, and to predict remission in CD.     

Prolyl hydroxylase inhibition during hyperoxia prevents oxygen-induced retinopathy

Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in the mouse, like the analogous human disease retinopathy of prematurity, is an ischemic retinopathy dependent on oxygen-induced vascular obliteration. We tested the hypothesis that chemically overriding the oxygen-induced downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activity would prevent vascular obliteration and subsequent pathologic neovascularization in the OIR model. Because the degradation of HIF-1α is regulated by prolyl hydroxylases, we examined the effect of systemic administration of a prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, dimethyloxalylglycine, in the OIR model. Our results determine that stabilizing HIF activity in the early phase of OIR prevents the oxygen-induced central vessel loss and subsequent vascular tortuosity and tufting that is characteristic of OIR. Overall, these findings imply that simulating hypoxia chemically by stabilizing HIF activity during the causative ischemia phase (hyperoxia) of retinopathy of prematurity may be of therapeutic value in preventing progression to the proliferative stage of the disease.     

Blood donors’ positivity for transfusion-transmissible infections: the Serbian Military Medical Academy experience

Background

Members of armed forces worldwide are considered to be very susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, thus falling into a high-risk group of blood donors regarding transfusion-transmissible infections. In the Serbian Military Medical Academy a significant number (44% for the period 2005–2013) of blood donations were from members of the Serbian Army. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of military blood donors for the safety of blood transfusion.

Material and methods

Between January 2005 and December 2013, a total of 155,479 blood donations were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis using serological assays (enzyme immunoassays, chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and western blot) and molecular testing (polymerase chain reaction analysis).

Results

The percentage of blood donations positive for transfusion-transmissible infections in the estimated period was 0.38%, and the percentage of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis positive blood donations was 0.20%, 0.12%, 0.005% and 0.06%, respectively. During that period, the percentage of all transfusion-transmissible infections, and in particular of HBV and HCV, declined significantly. In contrast, the percentage of HIV and syphilis positive blood donations remained unchanged. Higher rates of positivity for transfusion-transmissible infections in blood donations from members of the Serbian Army were not found, especially after mandatory military service was abolished in 2009.

Discussion

The reported rate of positivity for transfusion-transmissible infections in blood donations from the Military Medical Academy was considered low. This information is of great significance for further implementation of public health measures.     

Can We Clinically Recognize a Vascular Depression?: The Role of Personality in an Expanded Threshold Model

The vascular depression (VD) hypothesis postulates that cerebrovascular disease may “predispose, precipitate, or perpetuate” a depressive syndrome in elderly patients. Clinical presentation of VD has been shown to differ to major depression in quantitative disability; however, as little research has been made toward qualitative phenomenological differences in the personality aspects of the symptom profile, clinical diagnosis remains a challenge.We attempted to identify differences in clinical presentation between depression patients (n = 50) with (n = 25) and without (n = 25) vascular disease using questionnaires to assess depression, affect regulation, object relations, aggressiveness, alexithymia, personality functioning, personality traits, and counter transference.We were able to show that patients with vascular dysfunction and depression exhibit significantly higher aggressive and auto-aggressive tendencies due to a lower tolerance threshold. These data indicate that VD is a separate clinical entity and secondly that the role of personality itself may be a component of the disease process. We propose an expanded threshold disease model incorporating personality functioning and mood changes. Such findings might also aid the development of a screening program, by serving as differential criteria, ameliorating the diagnostic procedure.     

Simultaneous dacryocystography and dacryoscintigraphy using SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Epiphora, an abnormal overflow of tears, is commonly caused by tear drainage system anomalies including nasolacrimal duct obstruction. To assess morphologic abnormalities, dacryocystography by CT is used when CT contrast material is syringed into the lacrimal drainage system. To evaluate the function of the system, dacryoscintigraphy is the most readily available noninvasive method. In the case presented, a 43-year-old man was referred to our clinic with an 8 months' history of indefinite left side epiphora. After performing dacryoscintigraphy, we acquired SPECT/CT images during dacryocystography by CT to establish the surgical indication.