Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage Is Associated with Leptospirosis Acute Kidney Injury

Leptospirosis is a common disease in tropical countries, and the kidney is one of the main target organs. Membrane proteins of Leptospira are capable of causing endothelial damage in vitro, but there have been no studies in humans evaluating endothelial glycocalyx damage and its correlation with acute kidney injury (AKI). We performed a cohort study in an outbreak of leptospirosis among military personnel. AKI was diagnosed in 14 of 46 (30.4%) patients. Leptospirosis was associated with higher levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; 483.1 ± 31.7 versus 234.9 ± 24.4 mg/L, P < 0.001) and syndecan-1 (73.7 ± 15.9 versus 21.2 ± 7.9 ng/mL, P < 0.001) compared with exposed controls. Patients with leptospirosis-associated AKI had increased level of syndecan-1 (112.1 ± 45.4 versus 41.5 ± 11.7 ng/mL, P = 0.021) and ICAM-1 (576.9 ± 70.4 versus 434.9 ± 35.3, P = 0.034) compared with leptospirosis patients with no AKI. Association was verified between syndecan-1 and ICAM-1 with serum creatinine elevation and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels. This association remained even after multivariate analysis including other AKI-associated characteristics. Endothelial injury biomarkers are associated with leptospirosis-associated renal damage.     

SCF increases in utero–labeled stem cells migration and improves wound healing

Diabetic skin wounds lack the ability to heal properly and constitute a major and significant complication of diabetes. Nontraumatic lower extremity amputations are the number one complication of diabetic skin wounds. The complexity of their pathophysiology requires an intervention at many levels to enhance healing and wound closure. Stem cells are a promising treatment for diabetic skin wounds as they have the ability to correct abnormal healing. Stem cell factor (SCF), a chemokine expressed in the skin, can induce stem cells migration, however the role of SCF in diabetic skin wound healing is still unknown. We hypothesize that SCF would correct the impairment and promote the healing of diabetic skin wounds. Our results show that SCF improved wound closure in diabetic mice and increased HIF‐1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels in these wounds. SCF treatment also enhanced the migration of red fluorescent protein (RFP)‐labeled skin stem cells via in utero intra‐amniotic injection of lenti‐RFP at E8. Interestingly these RFP+ cells are present in the epidermis, stain negative for K15, and appear to be distinct from the already known hair follicle stem cells. These results demonstrate that SCF improves diabetic wound healing in part by increasing the recruitment of a unique stem cell population present in the skin.     

Seasonal Strength Performance and Its Relationship with Training Load on Elite Runners

The aim of this study was to analyze the time-course of force production of elite middle and long-distance runners throughout an entire season and at the end of the off-season, as well as its relationships with training load and hormonal responses. Training load was recorded daily throughout an entire season by measuring and evaluating the session distance (km), training zone and session-RPE in a group of 15 elite middle and long-distance runners (12 men, 3 women; age = 26.3 ± 5.1yrs, BMI = 19.7 ± 1.1). Also, basal salivary-free cortisol levels were measured weekly, and 50-metre sprints, mean propulsive velocity (MPV), mean propulsive power (MPP), repetition maximum (RM) and peak rate of force development (RFD) of half-squats were measured 4 times during the season, and once more after the off-season break. There were no significant variations in force production during the season or after the off-season break, except for the RFD (-30.2%, p = 0.005) values, which changed significantly from the beginning to the end of the season. Significant correlations were found between session-RPE and MPV (r = -0.650, p = 0.004), MPP (r = -0.602, p = 0.009), RM (r = -0.650, p = 0.004), and the 50-metre sprint (r = 0.560, p = 0.015). Meanwhile, salivary-free cortisol correlated significantly with the 50-metre sprint (r = 0.737, p < 0.001) and the RM ( r = -0.514, p = 0.025). Finally, the training zone correlated with the 50-metre sprint (r = -0.463, p = 0.041). Session-RPE, training zone and salivary-free cortisol levels are related to force production in elite middle and long-distance runners. Monitoring these variables could be a useful tool in controlling the training programs of elite athletes.

Key points

• Session-RPE, training zone and salivary free cortisol levels correlate significantly with strength-related variables in middle and long-distance elite runners.
• A month of active rest during the off-season break is enough to prevent decreases in force production of such athletes.
• Monitoring training loads through session-RPE is a suitable and simple method for controlling the training process in elite middle and long-distance runners.

Key words: Endurance, exercise, testing, physiology     

Insulin-like growth factor (IgF)-I,IgF binding protein-3, and prostate cancer: correlation with gleason score

Introduction

Non-androgenic growth factors are involved in the growth regulation of prostate cancer (PCa).

Objective

This is the first Brazilian study to correlate, in a population of patients operated for PCa, PSA, total testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) with Gleason score and to compare with a control group with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Materials and Methods

This retrospective single-center study included 49 men with previously diagnosed PCa and 45 with previously diagnosed BPH. PSA, testosterone, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 were determined in both groups.

Results

PSA and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in the PCa group as compared to the BPH group (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant difference when we compared the PSA before surgery (p<0.001) and at the inclusion in the study (p<0.001) and IGFBP3 (0.016) among patients with Gleason <7, ≥7 and BPH. In the PCa group, PSA, testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were comparable between Gleason <7 and ≥7.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that in localized PCa, the quantification of PSA and, not of IGF-1, may provide independent significant information in the aggressiveness. IGFBP-3 could be a biochemical marker of disease control in PCa patients.     

Delayed-type Necrosis after Soft-tissue Augmentation with Hyaluronic Acid

The growing use of dermal fillers, specifically the use of hyaluronic acid, can be explained by their effectiveness and versatility as well as their favorable safety profiles. Nevertheless, early and late complications with varying levels of severity may occur. The incidence of complications is low and the majority of adverse events are mild (edema, erythema, and local ecchymosis) and of limited duration. However, more severe events, such as ischemia and necrosis, may occur. The symptoms of ischemia can occur immediately after the injection or several hours after the procedure. Here, the authors report three cases of necrosis after hyaluronic acid injection with the first symptoms presenting only several hours after the procedure. The patients were treated immediately after the diagnosis. The aim of this review is to communicate the possibility of the delayed-type presentation of necrosis, present the signs and symptoms that lead to early diagnosis, and review the treatment possibilities of this severe complication.Dermal fillers have been injected with increasing frequency over the past three decades for soft-tissue augmentation by volume expansion in the management of the aging face. In 2012, there were about two million procedures using dermal fillers, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, five percent more than in 2011 and 205 percent more than in 2000, second only to botulinum toxin type A. These minimally invasive and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were the two most commonly performed in this range of time studied.1,2The growing use of dermal fillers, specifically the use of hyaluronic acid (HA), can be explained by their effectiveness and versatility as well as their favorable safety profiles. Nevertheless, early and late complications with varying levels of severity may occur. The incidence of complications is low and the majority of adverse events are mild (edema, erythema, and local ecchymosis) and of limited duration. However, more severe events, such as ischemia and necrosis, may occur.Injection necrosis is a rare, but important, complication associated with dermal fillers. Necrosis can be attributed to one of two factors—an interruption of vascular supply due to compression or frank obstruction of vessels by direct injection of the material into a vessel itself. The glabella is the injection site commonly believed to be at greater risk for necrosis, but it can also occur at the nasolabial fold.3 Risk factors for intravascular injection include site of application (deep injection of filler products at or near the site of named vessels), volume applied (larger amounts of product can cause a proportionally greater degree of arterial obstruction), and previous scarring (deep tissue scars may stabilize and fix arteries in place, making them easier to penetrate with small sharp needles).4The initial presentation of vascular events may include pain and discomfort disproportionate to what is typically experienced following filler treatments and clinical findings, including blanching, livedo pattern, or violaceous discoloration.4 Although many cases report this immediate post-injection presentation as the typical background seen in a necrosis event, there are few reports with the first symptom presenting only hours after augmentation. See Figures 1 through ​through3,3, where the authors present three cases of vascular compromise after soft-tissue augmentation with delayed-type presentation. Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 2Aand 2B.Case 2: Necrosis and secondary infection 48 hours after the HA injection (a). Discrete scars in the affected area after treatment (b). Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 1Aand 1B.Case 1: Edema, erythema, and progressive violaceous reticulated patch, livedoid area were observed on the left cheek 36 hours after the injection (a). Complete healing five days after hyaluronidase application and nine days after the HA injection (b). Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 3Aand 3B.Case 3: Necrosis and secondary infection 48 hours after the HA injection (a). Erythema, hipercromia, and discreet scars in the affected area after treatment (b).     

Ischemia Modified Albumin for the assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain but normal or non-diagnostic 12-lead electrocardiograms and negative cardiac troponin T

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients with acute chest pain at rest but non-diagnostic electrocardiograms (ECG) is problematic. Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) is a new biochemical marker of ischemia, which may be useful to characterise acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. METHODS: We studied 131 patients (mean age 58.5 years; 95 male) presenting to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of ACS but with normal or non-diagnostic ECGs. Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and IMA were measured within 3 h of last chest pain episode. Based on hospital diagnostic test results, patients were classified as having ACS or non-ischemic chest pain (NICP), by two independent cardiologists unaware of IMA results. RESULTS: Mean IMA levels (U/ml) were higher in patients with ACS (98.3+/-11) compared to patients with NICP (85.5+/-15); p<0.0001. IMA levels >93.5 U/ml demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 75% for the diagnosis of ACS; area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70-0.85). If we applied the manufacturer cutoff point of 85 U/ml, the sensitivity of IMA increased to 90.6% with a specificity of 49.3% (negative predictive value=84.6%). In combination with cTnT (6-12 h) (>0.05 ng/ml), the sensitivity increased to 92.2%. After multivariate analysis, IMA levels >85 U/ml (odds ratio=14.6 [95% CI 4.4-48.4]; p<0.0001), age and prior myocardial infarction were independent predictors of ACS. CONCLUSION: IMA may be a useful biomarker for the identification of ACS in patients presenting with typical acute chest pain but normal or non-diagnostic ECGs.