Exercise decreases plasma total homocysteine in overweight young women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, lipid abnormalities, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Exercise is reported to lower the incidence of cardiac events. The effect of exercise on plasma homocysteine concentrations, an independent cardiovascular risk factor, has not been previously reported in women with PCOS. We examined the effects of exercise on plasma total homocysteine concentrations in young overweight or obese PCOS women [age (mean +/- SD), 30.6 +/- 6.6 yr; body mass index, 35.49 +/- 7.57 kg/m(2)]. Twenty-one women consented to a 6-month exercise program; 12 women (exercisers) adhered to the program, whereas 9 (nonexercisers) did not. In both groups of women, the following parameters were recorded at baseline and 6 months: body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen consumption); blood samples were taken after an overnight fast for plasma total homocysteine, insulin, and other biochemical parameters. A significant decrease in plasma total homocysteine concentrations (P < 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = 0.041) and a significant increase in maximal oxygen consumption (P = 0.019) were recorded at 6 months, compared with baseline in the exercise group. This decrease in homocysteine was not explained by changes in anthropometric or biochemical parameters. In contrast, no significant changes in any of the variables were observed in the nonexercise group. Our study has provided the first evidence that regular exercise significantly lowers plasma homocysteine in young overweight or obese women with PCOS, a group at increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. The precise mechanism by which exercise is associated with a reduction in homocysteine remains to be elucidated.     

Protein structure prediction for the male-specific region of the human Y chromosome

The complete sequence of the male-specific region of the human Y chromosome (MSY) has been determined recently; however, detailed characterization for many of its encoded proteins still remains to be done. We applied state-of-the-art protein structure prediction methods to all 27 distinct MSY-encoded proteins to provide better understanding of their biological functions and their mechanisms of action at the molecular level. The results of such large-scale structure-functional annotation provide a comprehensive view of the MSY proteome, shedding light on MSY-related processes. We found that, in total, at least 60 domains are encoded by 27 distinct MSY genes, of which 42 (70%) were reliably mapped to currently known structures. The most challenging predictions include the unexpected but confident 3D structure assignments for three domains identified here encoded by the USP9Y, UTY, and BPY2 genes. The domains with unknown 3D structures that are not predictable with currently available theoretical methods are established as primary targets for crystallographic or NMR studies. The data presented here set up the basis for additional scientific discoveries in human biology of the Y chromosome, which plays a fundamental role in sex determination.     

Randomised clinical trial on 7-days-a-week postoperative radiotherapy vs. concurrent postoperative radio-chemotherapy in locally advanced cancer of the oral cavity/oropharynx

Objective:To compare the efficacy and tolerance of 7-days-a-week accelerated postoperative radiotherapy (p-CAIR) vs postoperative radio-chemotherapy (p-RTCT)Methods:Between September 2007 and October 2013, 111 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive 63 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions 7-days-a-week (n = 57, p-CAIR) or 63 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions 5-days-a-week with concurrent cisplatin 80–100 mg per square meter of body-surface area on days 1, 22 and 43 of the radiotherapy course (p-RTCT). It represents approximately 40% of the intended trial size, that was closed prematurely due to slowing accrual. Only high-risk patients with squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx/oral cavity, considered fit for concurrent treatment were enrolled.Results:The rate of locoregional control (LRC) did not differ significantly between treatment arms (p = 0.18, HR = 0.56), 5 year LRC tended, however, to favour p-RTCT (81%) vs p-CAIR (62%). There was no difference in overall survival between treatment arms (p = 0.90, HR = 1.03).The incidence and severity of acute mucosal reactions and late reactions did not differ significantly between treatment arms. Haematological toxicity of p-RTCT was, however, considerably increased compared to p-CAIRConclusion:Concurrent postoperative RTCT tended to improve locoregional control rate as compared to p-CAIR. This, however, did not transferred into improved overall survival. Postoperative RTCT was associated with a substantial increase in haematological toxicity that negatively affected treatment compliance in this arm.Advances in knowledge:To our knowledge, this is the first trial that compares accelerated radiotherapy and radio-chemotherapy in postoperative treatment for oralcavity/oropharyngeal cancer     

Association between IVS3 + 17T/C CD28 gene polymorphism and the acute kidney allograft rejection

CD28 is a costimulatory molecule which plays an important role in T cell-mediated immune response and transplantation. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the IVS3 + 17T/C (rs3116496:T/C) polymorphism in the CD28 gene and the development of delayed renal graft function (DGF), as well as the acute rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy. A total of 270 recipients of the first renal transplants were included in the study. SNP within the CD28 gene was genotyped using TaqMan genotyping assay.Acute rejection was diagnosed in 21.74% of the carriers of the TT genotype, 33.33% of CT carriers and 60.00% of CC homozygotes. The odds of acute rejection were statistically significantly higher in carriers of the C allele (with CT or CC genotype) compared with TT homozygotes (CC + CT vs TT: OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.10–3.39, p = 0.026). There were no statistically significant associations between CD28 gene polymorphism and DGF as well as chronic allograft nephropathy.The results of our study suggest an association between IVS3 + 17T/C polymorphism in the CD28 gene and acute kidney allograft rejection.     

Zapobieganie zakażeniom meningokokowym – jak stosować obecnie dostępne szczepionki

Authors have presented the current recommendations for the prevention of meningococcal infections. The epidemiological situation in Poland has been described and the use of currently available meningococcal vaccines has been discussed. The chemoprophylaxis for close contacts of all people with invasive meningococcal disease has been also presented.     

Relationship between signal-averaged electrocardiography and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias in patients with left ventricular aneurysm after myocardial infarction.

We performed signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) and Holter monitoring, and subsequently followed-up 53 ambulatory patients with left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) after myocardial infarction (MI). A history of spontaneous episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) was also analysed. Out of 53 patients, 25 (47%) had an abnormal SAECG. Abnormal SAECG correctly identified nine out of 10 cases with a history of sustained VT. Complex ventricular arrhythmias were detected on Holter monitoring in 23 patients: in five out of 28 with normal SAECG (18%) and in 18 out of 25 with abnormal SAECG (72%) (P less than 0.001). During follow-up (mean 19 months) sustained VT and/or sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurred in eight cases, out of which seven had an abnormal SAECG. The negative predictive value of SAECG (no VT or SCD during follow-up) was very high, 96%, similar to the negative predictive value of a history of sustained VT (93%). Using multivariate analysis only a history of sustained VT was an independent factor in predicting the outcome of patients in this study. We conclude that an abnormal SAECG identifies those post infarction patients with LVA who are prone to complex ventricular arrhythmias. A normal SAECG and an absence of a history of sustained VT strongly indicate that the risk of developing arrhythmic events is very low.     

New Clamp-PID Algorithm for Automated Glucose Clamps Improves Clamp Quality

Background:In automated glucose clamp experiments, blood glucose (BG) concentrations are kept close to a predefined target level using variable glucose infusion rates (GIRs) determined by implemented algorithms. Clamp quality (ie, the ability to keep BG close to target) highly depends on the quality of these algorithms. We developed a new Clamp algorithm based on the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) approach and compared clamp quality between this and the established Biostator (BS) algorithm.Methods:In numerical simulations, the PID-based algorithm was optimized in silico. The optimized Clamp-PID algorithm was tested in in vitro experiments and finally validated in vivo in a small (n = 5) clinical study.Results:In silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments showed better clamp quality for the new Clamp-PID algorithm compared with the BS algorithm: precision and absolute control deviation (ACD) decreased from 3.7% to 1.1% and from 2.9 mg/dL to 0.6 mg/dL, respectively, in the numerical simulation. The in vitro validation demonstrated reductions in precision (from 3.3% ± 0.1% (mean ± SD) to 1.4% ± 0.4%) and in ACD (from 2.3 mg/dL ± 0.4 mg/dL to 0.8 mg/dL ± 0.2 mg/dL), respectively. In the clinical study, precision and ACD improved from 6.5% ± 1.3% to 4.0% ± 1.1% and from 3.6 mg/dL ± 0.9 mg/dL to 2.2 mg/dl ± 0.6 mg/dl, respectively. The quality parameter utility did not change.Conclusions:The new Clamp-PID algorithm improves the clamp quality parameters precision and ACD versus the BS algorithm.     

Quality of life versus semen parameters

INTRODUCTION: Psychological factors are believed to play an important role in infertility and its treatment Psychological problems may be considered to be risk factors and the cause of reduced infertility, as well as contribute to an unsuccessful outcome of infertility treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between semen parameters and quality of life in male patients with fertility problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 70 patients with infertility treated in Andrology Clinic were divided into two groups according to semen parameters: bad and good quality of semen. The quality of life has been with the help of Campbell questionnaires. RESULTS: Significantly lower questionnaire score in bad quality of semen group has been observed, in comparison with normozoospermic men. High correlation between concentration, motility and morphology in comparison with the quality of life has been observed in the studied group of patients. CONCLUSION: The quality of life is directly associated with semen parameters such as concentration, motility and morphology of sperm.     

Decreased Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in Gastrocnemius Muscle in Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background/Aims: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is responsible for increased expression of genes engaged in angiogenesis. Our previous study indicated capillary rarefaction and atrophy of glycolytic fibers, mainly in locomotor muscles of uremic animals. Perhaps these changes are secondary to disturbances of HIF-1α in skeletal muscles. Methods: Expression of HIF-1α at mRNA and protein levels, as well as mRNA of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in gastrocnemius muscle (MG) and longissimus thoracic muscle (ML) were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. Rats were randomized to subtotal nephrectomy (CKD5/6), uninephrectomy (CKD1/2) or sham operation (controls). Results: For CKD5/6 versus controls, mRNA levels for HIF-1α, VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were significantly reduced only in MG, while eNOS was significantly decreased and iNOS was significantly increased only in ML. Western blot analysis indicated significantly increased HIF-1α protein levels in MG and ML from CKD1/2 animals versus controls, whereas in the CKD5/6 group, the level of HIF-1α protein decreased significantly in MG and increased significantly in ML versus controls and CKD1/2. Conclusion: The reduced expression of HIF-1α mRNA and protein in locomotor muscle from CKD5/6 animals may be involved in the pathogenesis of uremic myopathy. Increased expression of iNOS in the postural muscles may act as a protective factor through HIF-1α stabilization.