Predictors of mortality in medically treated patients with congestive heart failure of nonrheumatic etiology and reduced systolic function

ObjectiveWe investigated the prognostic value of various parameters on the mortality of patients with nonrheumatic chronic heart failure and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.MethodsThis study included 132 consecutive patients with congestive heart failure and reduced LV systolic function without rheumatic valve disease. The primary outcome was mortality. Mean follow-up was 38 ± 6 months.ResultsDuring the follow-up period there were 47 deaths (35.6%). The age (64.1 ± 13.5 vs. 58.7 ± 11.8 years, P = 0.019), left bundle branch block (44.7% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.002), urea concentration (11.4 ± 5.3 vs. 8.9 ± 4.6 mmol/L, P = 0.006), LV end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions (6.7 ± 0.8 vs. 6.4 ± 0.8 cm, P = 0.025 and 5.5 ± 0.8 vs. 4.9 ± 0.8 cm, P < 0.001, respectively), grade 3–4 mitral regurgitation (40.4 vs. 22.4%, P < 0.001), fractional shortening (16.7 ± 5.3% vs. 19.8 ± 5.7%, P = 0.002) and LV ejection fraction (32.9 ± 8.5% vs. 38.7 ± 11.3%, P = 0.003) were different between non-survivors and survivors. Multivariate analysis identified severity of mitral regurgitation (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.18–3.34; P = 0.009), age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.12; P = 0.01) and LV end-systolic dimension (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.16; P = 0.014) as independent correlates of mortality.ConclusionsIn medically treated patients with nonrheumatic chronic heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, severity of mitral regurgitation, age and enlarged LV end-systolic dimension were independently associated with increased risk of death.     

Expression of the testis-specific gene, TSGA10, in Iranian patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Testis-specific gene antigen (TSGA10) is expressed in fetus, testis and frequently in human solid cancers and acute leukemias, making it a candidate for immunotherapy and for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). This gene is considered as a member of cancer-testis (CT) genes. We previously demonstrated TSGA10 expression during spermatogenesis. There is also evidence for potential TSGA10 involvement in cell proliferation. TSGA10 expression has been observed in a wide spectrum of cancers but not in hematopoietic neoplasm. Here we demonstrated expression of TSGA10 by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in 44 (84.6%) out of 52 bone marrow samples and all peripheral blood samples from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Twenty-seven (52%) cases had high level of gene expression and 16 (30.7%) cases had a lower expression level of the gene in the patients bone marrow. Presence of TSGA10 expression in ALL may open a window to functional study of mitotic checkpoint proteins in leukemia. RT-PCR of TSGA10 may help in detection of residual clonal cells leading to early diagnosis and better prognostic qualification of the disease.     

NK cells in hepatitis B virus infection: a potent target for immunotherapy

Viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), are the most prevalent and infectious agents that lead to liver disease in humans. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis of the liver are the most serious complications arising from prolonged forms of hepatitis B. Previous studies demonstrated that patients suffering from long-term HBV infections are unable to eradicate HBV from hepatocytes completely. The mechanisms responsible for progression of these forms of infection have not yet been clarified. However, it seems that there are differences in genetic and immunological parameters when comparing patients to subjects who successfully clear HBV infections, and these may represent the causes of long-term infection. Natural killer (NK) cells, the main innate immune cells that target viral infections, play important roles in the eradication of HBV from hepatocytes. NK cells carry several stimulatory and inhibitor receptors, and binding of receptors with their ligands results in activation and suppression of NK cells, respectively. The aim of this review is to address the recent information regarding NK cell phenotype, functions and modifications in hepatitis B. This review addresses the recent data regarding the roles of NK cells as novel targets for immunotherapies that target hepatitis B infection. It also discusses the potential to reduce the risk of HCC or cirrhosis of the liver by targeting NK cells.     

The effect of Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves in unimodal and multimodal object recognition tasks in male rats

Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) electromagnetic waves (2.45 GHz) have widespread usage almost everywhere, especially in our homes. Considering the recent reports about some hazardous effects of Wi-Fi signals on the nervous system, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation on multisensory integration in rats. This experimental study was done on 80 male Wistar rats that were allocated into exposure and sham groups. Wi-Fi exposure to 2.4 GHz microwaves [in Service Set Identifier mode (23.6 dBm and 3% for power and duty cycle, respectively)] was done for 30 days (12 h/day). Cross-modal visual-tactile object recognition (CMOR) task was performed by four variations of spontaneous object recognition (SOR) test including standard SOR, tactile SOR, visual SOR, and CMOR tests. A discrimination ratio was calculated to assess the preference of animal to the novel object. The expression levels of M1 and GAT1 mRNA in the hippocampus were assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results demonstrated that rats in Wi-Fi exposure groups could not discriminate significantly between the novel and familiar objects in any of the standard SOR, tactile SOR, visual SOR, and CMOR tests. The expression of M1 receptors increased following Wi-Fi exposure. In conclusion, results of this study showed that chronic exposure to Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves might impair both unimodal and cross-modal encoding of information.     

Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite markers from the leafhopper Hishimonus phycitis distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

The leafhopper Hishimonus phycitis has received considerable attention as a vector of witches’ broom disease of lime phytoplasma. In the present study, nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from a repeat-enriched genomic library of H. phycitis. The number of alleles varied between 2 and 4 with an average of 2.80 per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.28 to 0.84 and 0.28 to 0.80, respectively. The Polymorphism Information Content varied from 0.25 to 0.75 with an average of 0.55. These microsatellites will be useful for future genetic studies of H. phycitis populations and could help in the development of an efficient control strategy against this vector.     

耳穴疗法减轻分娩焦虑：一项随机临床试验研究

目的:探讨耳穴疗法对减轻分娩焦虑的作用.方法:在这项随机临床试验中,纳入伊朗Izadi医院产科病房的166名初产妇,并通过随机区组设计分配至两组.干预组(83例)分别于宫口扩张至4、6、8cm时,在\"神门、丘脑、零、脑、脑干\"给予耳穴疗法,双耳分别刺激30s,间隔1h.同时对照组接受常规护理.在干预前和干预后采用SpielbergerInventory对产妇的焦虑状态和焦虑特质评分并进行组间比较.结果:与对照组相比,耳穴疗法能有效减轻干预组产妇的焦虑状态(P=0.001).干预组产妇焦虑状态评分在宫口扩张至4、6、8cm时分别降低了7.0、8.0和11.0U.干预组的焦虑特质评分在三个时间点分别降低了3.8、4.0和8.3U.组间比较,分娩方式、新生儿体重、Apgar评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).两组均未观察到出血等不良事件.结论:由于大多数妇女在分娩过程中存在焦虑,耳穴疗法似乎是一种减轻分娩焦虑的简便安全方法.(注册号:irct20121230011944n4)     

Assessment of interferon-γ levels and leishmanin skin test results in persons recovered for leishmaniasis

Patients who recover from leishmaniasis usually show development of strong immunity and induction of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and delayed type hypersensitivity. In a randomized trial, we analyzed the IFN-γ response by using a Quantiferon-Leishmania assay against three Leishmania peptide antigens and compared it with results of the leishmanin skin test (LST) in persons residing in areas in Iran to which zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL, 181 persons), anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL, 104 persons), and zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL, 67 persons) are endemic. The percentage of persons with an IFN-γ-positive response (> 0.2 IU/mL) to three antigens and the mean concentration of IFN-γ induced by the antigens were higher for persons from areas endemic for ZVL than for persons from areas endemic for ZCL and ACL. The percentage of persons with LST-positive results (≥ 5 mm indurations) was 99%, 94%, and 70% for areas with ZCL, ACL, and ZVL, respectively. Our data indicate that the LST is significantly more sensitive than IFN-γ levels in persons who have been cured of cutaneous leishmaniasis than in persons who have been cured of ZVL.