Does telomere length affect blood pressure?

Telomeres—tandem repeats at the ends of mammalian chromosomes—serve as clocks that pace cellular aging in vitro and in vivo and they may be a major determinant of human aging, not only at the cellular level but also at the organ and perhaps systemic levels. In industrialized nations, pulse pressure rises with age, and this might serve as a phenotype of biologic aging of the vasculature. In this study, investigators explored the relationship between telomere length in white blood cells and systolic/diastolic and pulse pressures. Telomere lengths of 37 female volunteers who were 50 years of age were measured with the fiber fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. With the use of Spearman’s correlation coefficient, no relationship was found between pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, and telomere length. The results suggest that telomere length is not an indicator of blood pressure dynamics.     

Mycophenolate mofetil and roscovitine decrease cyclin expression and increase p27(kip1) expression in anti Thy1 mesangial proliferative nephritis

The response of mesangial cells to a phlogistic challenge includes cell proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion. Cell proliferation is a highly regulated process which includes enhancing factors such as cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases, and inhibitory proteins, such as p27(kip1). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and roscovitine (R), on the cell cycle regulatory system when administered in the florid phase of the experimental model of mesangial proliferative nephritis induced by the anti Thy-1 antigen monoclonal antibody. Three days after nephritis induction, different groups were given MMF and R. Rats treated with MMF or R showed a slight decrease in mesangial proliferation and matrix expansion. Samples of cortical tissue were tested by 'real time' RT-PCR in order to study gene expression of cyclins B, D1, D2, D3, E, and the cyclin inhibitor p27(kip1). Localization of mRNA was evaluated by in situ hybridization. Real time RT-PCR analysis showed a significant decrease in cyclins B, D1, D2, and D3 in rats treated with either MMF or R as compared to controls. Both MMF and R treatment induced a significant increase in p27(kip1) mRNA expression. In situ hybridization showed a mesangial-endothelial expression pattern in glomeruli. The number of labelled cells per glomerulus, the number of positive glomeruli in each examined slide as well as cyclin D2 and D3 signal intensity was significantly lower in rats treated with MMF or R as compared to controls, whereas MMF or R treatment up-regulated p27(kip1) mRNA expression. Immunohistochemical evaluation of p27(kip1) aimed to examine the influence of MMF or R on protein expression confirmed up-regulation.     

Effects of spironolactone on heart rate variability and left ventricular systolic function in severe ischemic heart failure

Recent data show that blockade of aldosterone receptors by spironoloctone reduces the risk of morbidity and death among patients with severe heart failure. Heart failure secondary to ischemia is characterized by an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, which can be assessed by analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV). Spironolactone's effects on HRV are not well defined. If spironolactone has beneficial effects on HRV, this would contribute to favorable results. We therefore measured Holter-derived HRV indexes in a group of 126 patients with heart failure, aged 36 to 83 years, with angiographically proved coronary artery disease, on 3 separate occasions. Patients' sodium intake was restricted; therapy with enalapril, furosemide, and digoxin was begun, and 2 weeks after this standard therapy, spironolactone 50 mg/day was added. Evaluations were done at baseline, and the first and 12th months. After spironolactone, the triangular interpolation of the NN histogram (from 233.0 +/- 98 to 291.7 +/- 74 ms and 340.5 +/- 130 ms, p <0.001) and the percentage of differences between successive normal RR intervals differing >50 ms over a 24-hour electrocardiography (from 2.9 +/- 2.4% to 4.3 +/- 5.2% and 3.9 +/- 2.6%, p <0.002) increased significantly. Ejection fraction and functional classes were also improved. These data imply that in patients with heart failure who are taking conventional drugs, the addition of spironolactone induces a favorable sympathovagal balance. These changes, as assessed by the triangular interpolation of the NN histogram and the percentage of differences between successive normal RR intervals differing >50 ms over a 24-hour electrocardiography, and observed at 1 month after therapy, persisted in the long term.     

Cervical radicular pain caused by herpes simplex virus-type 1 infection: a case report

A case of a 16-year-old with herpes simplex virus type-1 infection with radicular arm pain is reported. The clinical implications of the case are discussed.     

Gene expression of growth differentiation factors in the developing periodontium of rat molars

Growth and differentiation factors (GDF) 5, 6, and 7 are known to play roles in tendon and ligament formation, and are therefore probably involved in the formation of periodontal ligament. In this study, we sought to determine temporal and spatial expression of GDF-5, -6, and -7 mRNA in developing periodontal tissue of rat molars using in situ hybridization. GDF gene expression in the periodontal ligament was first detected in cells associated with the initial process of periodontal ligament fiber bundle formation. Gene signals were also detected in cells located along the alveolar bone and cementum surfaces, the insertion sites of periodontal ligaments, during the course of root formation. GDF expression in these cells were down-regulated after completion of root formation. Our results appeared to suggest the involvement of GDF-5, -6, and -7 in the formation of the dental attachment apparatus.     

Abdominal lymphoma with abscess and thoracic perforation: en-bloc resection

The authors compare a rare case of acute onset Gastric Lymphoma with that present in the literature. The patient, a white 67 year-old man, was admitted to hospital in severe general condition. On CT scan an opacity of the pleura and a subtotal collapse of the left lung associated with a mass infiltrating the diaphragm, the gastric fundus and pancreas were seen. After 48 hours from the admission an operation was performed. The abdominal mass infiltrating the stomach, the spleen and the left thorax was resected en-bloc by laparotomy. A Boulau drainage was inserted. The histology showed an high malignant, diffused, big cell lymphoma. The patient was discharged 23 days later after a regular postoperative course. Surgery can be necessary, sometime curative in gastric lymphomas while long term result and quality of life could be improved by chemotherapy.     

Outcome measures of interepisode bipolar patients in a Turkish sample

Background We aimed to study the correlations of several outcome measures in bipolar patients with the clinical features of interepisode period. Methods Bipolar patients who were diagnosed according to DSM-III-R or IV were contacted and asked for a further evaluation. Interepisode bipolar patients (n = 100) were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS). In addition the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ), the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) and the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) were administered to assess outcome. They were also asked to check the List of Life Events (LLE) for the last six months. Results Our results can be summarised as follows: (1) quality of life was predicted by current subthreshold depressive symptoms; (2) the number of previous depressive episodes, current subthreshold depressive and manic symptoms predicted disability; (3) the number of previous depressive episodes and the duration of hospitalisation as well as current subthreshold depressive and manic symptoms predicted overall functioning; (4) the number and distress level of life events were correlated with suicidal symptoms. Conclusions Our findings suggest that outcome measures were correlated with subsyndromal disorder, the number of previous depressive episodes and the duration of hospitalisation. Accepted: 2 October 2001     

Developmental delay in children: assessment with proton MR spectroscopy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The cause of developmental delay frequently is unknown, and clinicians and families can be frustrated by the lack of neuroimaging correlation especially when considering therapeutic options and long-term prognosis. We sought to determine if proton MR spectroscopy can depict abnormalities in patients with developmental delay who have structurally normal brain MR images. METHODS: Children with developmental delay who were older than 2 years (mean age, 5.0 years; range, 3.0-10.0 years) and those aged 2 years or younger (mean age, 1.5 years; range, 0.5-2.0 years) and age-matched control subjects for each patient group underwent brain MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy. A point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (2000/144 [TR/TE]) was used. Voxels (8 cm(3)) were placed in the subcortical white matter of the frontal and parieto-occipital lobes bilaterally. N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho)/Cr ratios were assessed. RESULTS: All patients had normal brain MR images. In children with developmental delay who were aged 2 years or younger, no statistically significant differences were detected in the NAA/Cr or Cho/Cr ratios compared with those of the control subjects. In children with developmental delay who were older than 2 years, decreases in the NAA/Cr ratio were observed in frontal (P <.001) and parieto-occipital (P <.017) subcortical white matter, and elevations in the Cho/Cr ratio were detected in the frontal (P <.24) and parieto-occipital (P <.002) subcortical white matter compared with age-matched control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In children with developmental delay who are older than 2 years, proton MR spectroscopy depicted abnormalities in the NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios. Proton MR spectroscopy should be performed as part of the neuroimaging evaluation of developmental delay. Further studies will be needed to determine if abnormalities detected with proton MR spectroscopy can be used as a diagnostic tool and neuroimaging marker to assess long-term functional outcome.