Exhaustive exercise reduces TNF-α and IFN-α production in response to R-848 via toll-like receptor 7 in mice

Stressful exercise results in temporary immune depression. However, the impact of exercise on the immune responses via toll-like receptor (TLR) 7, which recognizes the common viral genomic feature, single-stranded RNA, remains unclear. To clarify the effect of stressful exercise on immune function in response to viral infection, we measured the changes in the plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-α, which are induced downstream from the TLR–ligand interaction, in exhaustive-exercised mice immediately after treatment with the imidazoquinoline R-848, which can bind to and activate TLR7. Both exhaustive-exercised (EX) and non-exercised (N-EX) male C3H/HeN mice were injected with R-848 (5 mg kg^?1), and blood samples were collected. In addition, RAW264 cells, which are mouse macrophage cells, were cultured 30 min after epinephrine (10 μM) or norepinephrine (10 μM) treatments, and were then stimulated with R-848 (10 μg ml^?1). In addition, the effect of propranolol (10 mg kg^?1) as blockade of β-adrenergic receptors on R-848-induced TNF-α and IFN-α production in the exercised mice was examined. Both the TNF-α and IFN-α concentrations in the plasma of EX were significantly lower than those in the plasma of N-EX after R-848 injection (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), although the R-848 treatment increased the plasma TNF-α and IFN-α concentrations in both groups (P < 0.01, respectively). The R-848-induced TNF-α production in RAW264 cells was significantly inhibited by epinephrine and norepinephrine pre-treatment, although IFN-α was not detected. The propranolol treatment completely inhibited exercise-induced TNF-α and IFN-α suppression in response to R-848 in the mice. These data suggest that EX induces a reduction in TNF-α and IFN-α production in response to R-848, and that these phenomena might be regulated by an exercise-induced elevation of the systemic catecholamines.     

Estrogen receptors alpha (rs2234693 and rs9340799), and beta (rs4986938 and rs1256049) genes polymorphism in prostate cancer: Evidence for association with risk and histopathological tumor characteristics in Iranian men

We evaluated the effect of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-β genes polymorphisms on development of prostate cancer (PCa) and its correlation with serum reproductive hormones and with clinicopathological characteristics in a sample of Iranian men. One hundred sixty-two men with PCa (mean age 63.7?±?13.4 years) and 324 age-matched healthy controls (mean age 63.1?±?13.2 years) were recruited in this study. Genotypes for ER-α and ER-β genes polymorphisms were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Serum levels of reproductive hormones were also measured. Of PCa patients, 38.3%, and 61.7% had localized and advanced tumor, and 45.7%, and 54.3%, had low grade and high-grade cancer, respectively. There was a significant difference in genotype frequency distribution of ER-α gene polymorphism (P?=?0.002), and ER-β gene polymorphism (P?=?0.003) between cancer patients and controls. The ER-α Pvull C allele carriers (TC or CC) had a significantly increased risk of PCa compared with the TT homozygotes [odds ratio (OR) 3.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.87-5.84, and OR?=?4.73, 95% CI:2.44-7.33, respectively]. It was also found that the ER-α XbaI AG (OR?=?4.36; 95% CI:2.47-6.68; P?=?0.001) and ER-β AluI AG (OR?=?2.66, 95% CI:1.61-4.16; P?=?0.004) genotypes were significantly associated with increased risk of PCa. The ER-β RsaI genotype was not associated with PCa. Baseline serum free E2 levels tended to be lower in men with PCa (0.35?±?0.04?pg/ml) compared to healthy men (0.48?±?0.05?pg/ml). Genotypes which confer susceptibility for developing PCa, accompanied with lowest serum levels of free E2. In the Iranian population, genetic polymorphisms of the ER-α and ER-β genes may be involved in the etiology of PCa. ? 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gingival hemangioma with port wine nevi of the face. A case report

Hemangioma is a proliferating mass of blood vessels. Its occurrence in gingiva is rare. The diagnosis and treatment of hemangioma is complex, and any attempt to carry out biopsy/surgical excision may lead to fatal consequences due to severe hemorrhage. A rare case of gingival hemangioma with port wine nevi of face is reported. The case is of periodontal interest because the lesion occurred on the gingiva, a reliable diagnostic approach (Ultrasound Spectra Doppler Flow) was used and a conservative treatment using a sclerosing agent was employed.     

Peripheral ossifying fibroma and pyogenic granuloma. Are they interrelated?

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) and pyogenic granuloma (PG) belong to the group of "focal reactive overgrowths," having different histomorphologic representations. The pathogenesis of POF remains controversial. It has been observed that POF in some cases may initially develop as a PG that undergoes subsequent fibrous maturation and calcification. A case of focal reactive gingival overgrowth with a recurrence is presented. Clinical, radiological and histological examinations were performed and included a detailed history of the lesions to come up with the proper diagnosis. The primary lesion was diagnosed as POF and the recurrent lesion as PG. The POF might have developed initially as PG and subsequent maturation led to the ossification of the lesion. These two lesions represent the progressive stages of the same spectrum of pathosis.     

Laparoscopic pancreatectomy: Indications and outcomes

The application of minimally invasive approaches to pancreatic resection for benign and malignant diseases has been growing in the last two decades. Studies have demonstrated that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy(LDP) is feasible and safe, and many of them show that compared to open distal pancreatectomy, LDP has decreased blood loss and length of hospital stay, and equivalent post-operative complication rates and shortterm oncologic outcomes. LDP is becoming the procedure of choice for benign or small low-grade malignant lesions in the distal pancreas. Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy(MIPD) has not yet been widely adopted. There is no clear evidence in favor of MIPD over open pancreaticoduodenectomy in operative time, blood loss, length of stay or rate of complications. Robotic surgery has recently been applied to pancreatectomy, and many of the advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery have been observed in robotic surgery. Laparoscopic enucleation is considered safe for patients with small, benign or low-grade malignant lesions of the pancreas that is amenable to parenchyma-preserving procedure. As surgeons’ experience with advanced laparoscopic and robotic skills has been growing around the world, new innovations and breakthrough in minimally invasive pancreatic procedures will evolve.     

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology compared with twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously: a prospective follow-up study

Objective

To compare the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies conceived by assisted reproduction technology (ART) with spontaneously conceived (SC) twin pregnancies.

Study design

A prospective cohort study compared all dichorionic twin pregnancies in nulliparous women following fresh in vitro fertilization/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or ICSI cycles at Royan Institute (n = 320) with SC dichorionic twin pregnancies in nulliparous women at Arash Women's hospital (n = 170) from January 2008 to October 2010. These pregnancies were followed-up until hospital discharge following delivery. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of SC and ART twin pregnancies were compared.

Results

Multivariate analysis, adjusted for maternal age and body mass index, revealed that the obstetric outcomes were similar in both groups. However, the risks of very preterm birth [odds ratio (OR) 5.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1–12.9], extremely low birth weight (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–3.9), admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.2) and perinatal mortality (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.0) were higher in the ART group.

Conclusions

The maternal outcomes of ART dichorionic twins were comparable with those of SC twins. However, despite the same obstetric management, the rates of very preterm birth, extremely low birth weight, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit and perinatal mortality were significantly higher in the ART group.     

Understanding low levels of condom use between female sex workers and their regular partners: Timing of sexual initiation in relationships as a differentiating factor in Karnataka,South India

ABSTRACT

Evidence shows that low condom use is the norm in relationships between female sex workers (FSWs) and their regular partners. We investigated the timing of sexual initiation in a relationship with a regular partner as a critical factor in determining condom use. Three rounds of Integrated Behavioral and Biological Assessment (IBBA) surveys were used to derive whether regular partner relationships began before or after sex work initiation. Of the 7,015 FSWs surveyed, 33% started an intimate partner relationship before sex work initiation, 27% after beginning sex work, and the remaining 40% did not have a regular partner. Condom use was significantly higher in a FSW’s relationship after sex work initiation (p?<?0.01), compared to a relationship with a regular partner before sex work. Programmatically, more efforts and resources are necessary toward promoting condom use among FSWs who have regular partner relationships before their initiation of sex work.