Lack of association between leptin G2548A gene polymorphism and Behçet''s disease

Background Behçet's disease is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disease characterized by the predominance of T‐helper 1 cytokines. The disease is also characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils into the affected tissues. Because cytokines are involved in the regulation of lymphocyte and phagocyte functions, they may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Leptin, a member of the gp 130 family of cytokines, induces a strong T‐helper 1 response and is regarded as a proinflammatory inducer. Recent studies have shown that serum leptin concentration was increased in patients with Behçet's disease and correlated with disease activity. Objectives We aimed to investigate the role of G2548A polymorphism of leptin gene in patients with Behçet's disease and compare the results with healthy controls. Patients and methods A total of 93 subjects with Behçet's disease and 125 healthy controls were included in this study. Analyses of G‐2548A polymorphism of the LEP gene were performed using the PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. The genotypes (GG, GA, and AA of leptin G2548A) and alleles (G and A of leptin 2548) were scored and the frequency was estimated. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes in patients and controls were compared. We analysed the correlation between leptin gene polymorphism and the clinical features of BD. Results Both genotype and allele frequencies were not significantly different between controls and Behçet's disease patients [OR = 0.67, 95% CI (0.35–1.29), P = 0.197 and OR = 0.77, 95% CI (0.52–1.15), P = 0.184]. We did not find any significant relationship between leptin gene polymorphism and the clinical features of BD (P > 0.05). Conclusion In the present case‐control study, we found no evidence of an association between the G‐2548A variant of the leptin gene and BD among Turks. Further studies are needed to investigate serum leptin level to explain the mechanisms behind the lack of association between leptin G2548A gene polymorphism and BD.     

静脉留置针输液中静脉炎7例的处理

0　引言　封闭式静脉留置套管针进行静脉输液的广泛应用,对改善患者生活质量,提高医护人员工作效率发挥了重要作用.我科1998年开始普及使用,但同时存在一些不足之处,在长期使用中,我们发现一些患者出现了局部渗漏、红、肿、痛等情况,现就96例套管针使用者,7例患者不同程度地出现静脉炎后的护理观察、处理体会报告如下.1　临床资料　本组96(男40,女56)例患者,年龄1～67岁,应用套管针时间1～5d,7例不同程度出现局部红、肿、热、痛现象.1例应用可达龙24h内出现机械性静脉炎,2例48h出现化学性静脉炎,2例同时应用多巴胺、多巴酚丁胺3～6μg.收稿…     

Involvement of nitric oxide in regulation of the medullary respiratory rhythm in neonatal rats

The NADPH-diaphorase (as a neuronal NO-synthase) reactivity in the medullary structures of the respiratory rhythm (RR) generator and the role of NO in the regulation of respiratory activity in the phrenic nerve of artificially superfused semi-isolated medulla-spinal cord preparations were investigated in newborn rats. NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were found in all nuclei of both dorsal and ventral respiratory groups of neurons. The maximal density of stained cells was present within the rostral part of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM), in the region of the lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus. It was found that endogenous NO mediates the mechanism of tonic inhibitory control of the RR frequency located in the rostral VLM under normal and hypoxic conditions, and appears to be involved in generation of the basic RR by the more caudal structures of VLM. It was shown that NO biosynthesis mediates the effect of NMDA receptors activation on the RR.     

Pathogenesis of cardiac insufficiency in thyrotoxicosis]

The purpose of the work was to study some problems relating to the pathogenesis of cardiac insufficiency in patients with thyrotoxicosis. To do this a total of 108 patients suffering from thyrotoxicosis with varying degree of severity and aged from 17 to 59 were examined. In addition to the general clinical examination vectoro-, poly- and mechanocardiography was employed. The resulting findings ascertained two possible ways for the development of cardiac insufficiency in patients under consideration. One of them is cardiac hyperfunction that comes to the forefront. In this case the myocardial changes are of a stage-wise nature. The myocardial contractility at the onset of the affection is up, a slight hypertrophy is developing, chiefly, of the outflow passages. As the disease progresses further hypertrophy gains in intensity and dilation of the heart comes in as an intercurrent factor. At this time the contractile function of the myocardium is still unaffected and the patients are at a stage of compensation. With progressing dystrophy and wearing away of the myocardium its contractility is declining and signs of cardiac incompetence appear. Such a development is characteristic of patients with severe course of thyrotoxicosis, long-standing disease and frequent relapses. Of the other way is typical cardiac hyperfunction of low intensity. To the forefront come dystrophic alterations in the myocardium unaccompanied by hypertrophy, and in this case cardiac insufficiency is of latent nature. Such alterations are seen to occur with a milder course of thyrotoxicosis, with the disease of short duration. Dynamic observations bear proof to a reversible nature of hypertrophy and dystrophy of the myocardium.     

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia Following Radiofrequency Ablation of AV Nodal Tachycardia: Incidence and Clinical Significance

The incidence and consequences of inappropriate sinus tachycardia following modification of the AV nodal area with radiofrequency energy were prospectively studied in a consecutive series of 118 patients. Twelve (10%) patients developed this complication, which persisted less than 1 week in all but three patients. Inappropriate sinus tachycardia was only observed after fast pathway ablation. Only four patients required temporary treatment with a beta blocker.     

A sensitive indicator for the severity of COVID-19: thiol

Background/aimThiol status is a good reflector of the cellular redox and have vital roles in various cellular signaling pathways. The purpose of the study was to investigate thiol status in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods A total of 587 subjects (517 patients/70 healthy controls) were enrolled in the study.The patients were categorized into the groups regarding to the severity of disease (mild, moderate, severe, and critical).Thiol status of all groups were compared.ResultsThe patients had significantly diminished thiol levels compared to controls. Thiol levels were gradually decreased as the severity of the disease increased. Logistic regression analyses identified that thiol concentrations were an independent risk factor for the disease severity in each phase (mild group OR 0.975, 95%CI 0.965-0.986; moderate group, OR 0.964, 95%CI 0.953-0.976; severe group OR 0.953, 95%CI 0.941-0.965; critical group OR 0.947, 95%CI 0.935-0.960).Thiol test exhibited the largest area under the curve at 0.949, with the highest sensitivity (98.6%) and specificity (80.4%).ConclusionsDepleted thiol status was observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Decline of the thiol levels by degrees while the severity of infection increased was closely related to the progression of the disease. This outcome highlights that thiols could be an impressible biomarker for predicting of the severity of COVID-19.     

Cation-osmotic Haemolysis in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion

The purpose of this work was to use a new technique to assess erythrocyte deformability in patients with retinal vein occlusion. Erythrocyte microrheology changes were measured by cation-osmotic haemolysis (COH) in healthy donors and in patients with both central (n= 6) and branch (n= 16) retinal vein occlusion up to 12 months after the occlusion. The patient group consisted of five patients with ischaemic and 17 with oedematous vein occlusion. The control group consisted of the same number of age-, sex- and risk factor (hypertension)-matched donors. In patients with retinal vein occlusion, COH was significantly decreased compared to the control group. The decrease was most marked at low and high concentrations of incubating media where the differences reached high statistical significance (p<0.01–0.001). In our previous experiments we showed that COH and erythrocyte deformability (ED) are closely related and that COH reflects basic information about erythrocyte deformability. Thus, decreased COH in patients with retinal vein occlusion points to reduced ED in comparison with the control group. We, therefore, assume that impairment in ED together with other microrheological abnormalities contributes to the pathophysiology of changes in patients with retinal vein occlusion.     

Incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a comparison of two definitions

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children by comparing two commonly used definitions: the lung injury score and the American-European Consensus Conference definition. The causes and risk for developing ARDS were also studied. METHODS: Part prospective and retrospective analysis of 8100 consecutive hospital admissions from 1 June 1995 to 1 April 1997. RESULTS: Twenty one patients fulfilled the criteria for ARDS. Both definitions identified the same group of patients. The incidence was 2.8/1000 hospital admissions or 4.2% of paediatric intensive care unit admissions. The main causes were sepsis and pneumonia. Mortality was 13 of 21. Factors predicting death were a high admission paediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score (30.38 v 18.75) and the presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (92% v 25%). CONCLUSION: Both definitions identified similar groups of patients. The incidence in this population was higher than that reported elsewhere, but mortality and cause were similar to those in developed countries. Poor outcome was associated with sepsis, a high admission PRISM score, and simultaneous occurrence of other organ dysfunction.     

Developmental profiles of neurotransmitter receptors in respiratory motor nuclei

We discuss the time course of postnatal development of selected neurotransmitter receptors in motoneurons that innervate respiratory pump and accessory respiratory muscles, with emphasis on other than classic respiratory signals as important regulatory factors. Functions of those brainstem motoneurons that innervate the pharynx and larynx change more dramatically during early postnatal development than those of spinal respiratory motoneurons. Possibly in relation to this difference, the time course of postnatal expression of distinct receptors for serotonin differ between the hypoglossal (XII) and phrenic motoneurons. In rats, distinct developmental patterns include a decline or increase that extends over the first 3-4 postnatal weeks, a rapid increase during the first 2 weeks, or a transient decline on postnatal days 11-14. The latter period coincides with major changes in many transmitters in brainstem respiratory regions that may be related to a brain-wide reconfiguration of sensorymotor processing resulting from eye and ear opening and beginning of a switch from suckling to mature forms of food seeking and processing. Such rapid neurochemical changes may impart increased vulnerability on the respiratory system. We also consider rapid eye movement sleep as a state during which some brain functions may revert to conditions typical of perinatal period. In addition to normal developmental processes, changes in the expression or function of neurotransmitter receptors may occur in respiratory motoneurons in response to injury, perinatal stress, or disease conditions that increase the load on respiratory muscles or alter the normal levels and patterns of oxygen delivery.