Precision of the transpulmonary thermodilution measurements

Introduction  

We wanted to determine the number of cold bolus injections that are necessary for achieving an acceptable level of precision for measuring cardiac index (CI), indexed global end-diastolic volume (GEDVi) and indexed extravascular lung water (EVLWi) by transpulmonary thermodilution.     

Association between dementia and vascular disease-associated polymorphisms in a Tunisian population

Purpose: Dementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, eDementia is a multifactorial idiopathic pathology caused by clinical, environmental and genetic factors. Hence, its etiology is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between five genetic risk factors for vascular diseases and dementia individually and when gathered in haplotypes. Materials and Method: We enrolled 200 dementia patients and 300 controls. All subjects were genotyped for vascular diseaseassociated polymorphisms in the genes coding for Apolipoprotein-E (ApoE), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and Paraoxonase-1 (PON1). Results: The association between dementia risk and all the studied polymorphisms except of PON1-Q192R was found to be significant. Carrying the ApoE e4 allele seems to increase dementia risk by 4.32 fold (p = 0.001). The risk associated with ACE I and PON1-L55M T alleles were lower (2.58 and 2.11 fold, p < 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). When combined in haplotypes, these polymorphisms showed a cumulative and synergetic effect. GTICC haplotype appears to be associated with 9-fold dementia risk (p < 0.001), whereas AADTT seems to reduce dementia risk by 80% (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Our results suggest that, ApoE ε4, ACE I and PON1-L55M T alleles are associated with dementia risk whether these polymorphisms were studied separately or gathered in haplotypes. Still, the contribution of each gene to the pathophysiological development of dementia must be more investigated.     

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule: report of five cases

Case 1 A 54‐year‐old woman presented with a 5‐month history of an asymptomatic, 2.5‐cm, erythematous, ulcerated nodule involving the umbilicus ( Fig. 1 ). Biopsy demonstrated metastatic adenocarcinoma ( Fig. 2 ) and abdominal ultrasound showed a large ovarian tumor ( Table 1 ). Further evaluation revealed pleural metastases.

Figure 1 Open in figure viewer PowerPoint Erythematous nodule of the umbilicus     

Oxidative stress status,caspase-3, stromal enzymes and mitochondrial respiration and swelling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paramecium caudatum</Emphasis> in responding to the toxicity of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles

The number of industrial and consumer products which contain engineered nanomaterials (ENMs, materials with at least one dimension 1–100 nm) are increasing exponentially and there is a concern regarding their occupational and environmental safety. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles especially, in biomedical applications. Although, nanoparticles can enter to the different organs, little is known so far on the toxicity potential and oxidative stress of Fe₃O₄. Here the understanding of the effect of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on the general Redox state of a unicellular protozoa Paramecium and the effect on mitochondrial swelling and respiration were assessed. Fe₃O₄ resulted in increase of toxicity markers, lipid peroxidation, protein and ROS formation. Mitochondrial enzymes and swelling were elevated with decreased respiration level. Caspase 3 activity was also increased.Finally, our study suggested that the mitochondrial disease and dysfunction with elevated oxidative stress in Paramecia treated with 200 and 300 ppm during 15 days is the original of toxicity and maybe the original cause of many environmental pathologies.     

Crystal structure and functional mapping of human ASMT,the last enzyme of the melatonin synthesis pathway

Abstract: Melatonin is a synchronizer of many physiological processes. Abnormal melatonin signaling is associated with human disorders related to sleep, metabolism, and neurodevelopment. Here, we present the X‐ray crystal structure of human N‐acetyl serotonin methyltransferase (ASMT), the last enzyme of the melatonin biosynthesis pathway. The polypeptide chain of ASMT consists of a C‐terminal domain, which is typical of other SAM‐dependent O‐methyltransferases, and an N‐terminal domain, which intertwines several helices with another monomer to form the physiologically active dimer. Using radioenzymology, we analyzed 20 nonsynonymous variants identified through the 1000 genomes project and in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. We found that the majority of these mutations reduced or abolished ASMT activity including one relatively frequent polymorphism in the Han Chinese population (N17K, rs17149149). Overall, we estimate that the allelic frequency of ASMT deleterious mutations ranges from 0.66% in Europe to 2.97% in Asia. Mapping of the variants on to the 3‐dimensional structure clarifies why some are harmful and provides a structural basis for understanding melatonin deficiency in humans.     

Effect of the phosphogypsum amendment of saline and agricultural soils on growth,productivity and antioxidant enzyme activities of tomato (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis> L.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of phosphogypsum (PG) amendment on the physiochemical proprieties of saline and agricultural soils along with the growth, productivity and antioxidant enzyme activities of tomato plants ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown on the amended soils under controlled conditions. Obtained results showed that the amendment of saline soil (H) by PG induced a decrease in pH as well as in electrical conductivity. However, for the non saline soil (MC), there was a decrease in pH associated with an increase in electrical conductivity. For both soils, PG amendment led to an increase in Calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na), and a decrease in potassium (K) in plant tissues. Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) and Chromium (Cr) contents in different parts of plants increased in proportion with PG concentration in the soils. Apart from Cd, all the analyzed metals in tomato fruit were found to be below the recommended maximum allowable concentration (MAC). Our results showed that PG application, at doses not exceeding 20%, seems to be beneficial for growth, photosynthetic activity and productivity of tomato plants as well as in decreasing salinity of saline soils. In these conditions, the use of PG could be a promising project for the rehabilitation of marginalized and saline ecosystems with either ornamental or non-fruit species. For both soils, a significant accumulation of MDA in shoots was detected, reflecting cell membrane damage especially when the PG amendment reached 20%. Beyond 20 and 40% PG, tomato plants developed an enzymatic antioxidant defense system in response to salinity and heavy metal stress. However, at 80% PG, enzymes activities were significantly inhibited.     

Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by soluble HLA class I in vitro

In the present study, the effects of soluble HLA (sHLA) class I molecules against EBV-specific CTL were examined. Two different sources of sHLA class I, either bioengineered spliced form of HLA-B7 (sB7) or natural production from EBV-transformed B cells (natural sHLA), were added during the induction of CTL or incubated with MHC-restricted CD8+ CTL, which were selected by immunobeads just before testing for their cytotoxic activity. Both sB7 and natural sHLA class I blocked the generation of CD8+ CTL and also inhibited the cytotoxic activity of established CTL in a dose-dependent manner. In both ways, natural sHLA class I was effective in 10-fold lower concentrations compared with sB7. The inhibitory effect did not require a sharing of the HLA allotypes between sHLA and the CTL. CTL, after being treated with sHLA, underwent apoptosis, which was considered here as the main mechanism.