COVID‐19 vaccine‐induced Radiation Recall Dermatitis: Report of a case

Radiation Recall Dermatitis (RRD) is an inflammatory process in the site of irradiation, induced by physical and medical agents. Few cases of RRD in the skin and lung have been reported after COVID‐19 vaccination. Here, we report radiation recall dermatitis after both doses of inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine (Sinopharm, China).     

The enamel protein ODAM promotes mineralization in a collagen matrix

ABSTRACT

Purpose/aim of the study: Odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (ODAM) is predominantly expressed during the maturation stage of enamel formation and interacts strongly with amelotin (AMTN). AMTN is involved in enamel mineralization, but the effect of ODAM on mineralization has not been investigated. This study determined whether ODAM was able to induce hydroxyapatite (HA) mineralization in modified simulated body fluid (SBF) and in a collagen matrix in vitro. Materials and methods: To monitor the kinetics of calcium phosphate mineralization, recombinant human (rh) ODAM protein in SBF buffer was incubated at 37°C and a light-scattering assay was conducted at intervals. To investigate the nucleation of ODAM in collagen matrix, the ODAM-impregnated collagen hydrogel was incubated in SBF buffer for 24 hours. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as negative control. Mineral deposits were visualized using electron microscopy. Results: The presence of rh-ODAM protein in SBF resulted in higher light-scattering values after 18–24 hours. Calcium phosphate precipitates were observed on the surface of the ODAM-treated, but not BSA-treated collagen hydrogel after 24 hours in SBF. TEM and SAED analyses showed that these crystals consisted of needle-like HA. Conclusion: Similar to AMTN, ODAM is able to promote HA nucleation in a dose-dependent manner in SBF, and even outside of its biological context in vitro.     

Characterization of BU09059: A Novel Potent Selective κ-Receptor Antagonist

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Asbestos: use,bans and disease burden in Europe

Objective

To analyse national data on asbestos use and related diseases in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods

For each of the 53 countries, per capita asbestos use (kg/capita/year) and age-adjusted mortality rates (deaths/million persons/year) due to mesothelioma and asbestosis were calculated using the databases of the United States Geological Survey and WHO, respectively. Countries were further categorized by ban status: early-ban (ban adopted by 2000, n = 17), late-ban (ban adopted 2001–2013, n = 17), and no-ban (n = 19).

Findings

Between 1920–2012, the highest per capita asbestos use was found in the no-ban group. After 2000, early-ban and late-ban groups reduced their asbestos use levels to less than or equal to 0.1 kg/capita/year, respectively, while the no-ban group maintained a very high use at 2.2 kg/capita/year. Between 1994 and 2010, the European Region registered 106 180 deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis, accounting for 60% of such deaths worldwide. In the early-ban and late-ban groups, 16/17 and 15/17 countries, respectively, reported mesothelioma data to WHO, while only 6/19 countries in the no-ban group reported such data. The age-adjusted mortality rates for mesothelioma for the early-ban, late-ban and no-ban groups were 9.4, 3.7 and 3.2 deaths/million persons/year, respectively. Asbestosis rates for the groups were 0.8, 0.9 and 1.5 deaths/million persons/year, respectively.

Conclusion

Within the European Region, the early-ban countries reported most of the current asbestos-related deaths. However, this might shift to the no-ban countries, since the disease burden will likely increase in these countries due the heavy use of asbestos.     

Association of the rs3758391 polymorphism in the SIRT1 gene with diabetic nephropathy and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in a population from southwest Iran

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a polygenic metabolic disorder. SIRT1 has an essential role in the insulin-signaling pathway and energy homeostasis. SIRT1 exerts protective effects in the kidney cells.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate whether the rs3758391 variant was associated with diabetic nephropathy, measures of kidney function, and BMI in a population with and without diabetes in southwest Iran.

Methods

The study comprised 132 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (with and without nephropathy). They were compared with 66 normal subjects. The subjects were genotyped for the rs3758391 polymorphism by the PCR–RFLP method. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, and urinary albumin were measured using a biochemistry analyzer. Serum cystatin C levels were measured by ELISA.

Results

The genotype distribution and allele frequencies were significantly different between the entirely diabetic group and the healthy subjects (p value < 0.05). For T2DM, the odds ratios (ORs) for the TT genotype and the T allele carrier were 5.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2–14.9, p < 0.001) and 4.01 (95% CI 2.1–7.5, p < 0.001), respectively. For diabetic nephropathy, the ORs for the TT genotype and the T allele carrier were 3.96 (95% CI 1.5–10.0, p = 0.003) and 3.0 (95% CI 1.4–6.4, p = 0.003), respectively. For decreased eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73m², the OR for TT was 2.9 (95% CI 1.1–7.5, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our results confirm that the risk allele of the rs3758391 SNP in the SIRT1 gene is strongly associated with T2DM and diabetic nephropathy. The TT genotype is also associated with decreased eGFR.

     

Memory CD4<Superscript>+</Superscript> T cell subsets in tumor draining lymph nodes of breast cancer patients: A focus on T stem cell memory cells

Background

The compartments of memory T cells play a fundamental role in the immune system by substantiating specific and acquired immunity. A new subset of memory cells, T stem cell memory (T_SCM) cells, with stem cell-like properties, a high capacity to proliferate, a long survival, and an ability to differentiate into all effector and memory cells has recently been introduced. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequency of CD4⁺ T_SCM and other T memory cell subsets in tumor draining lymph nodes of breast cancer patients.

Materials and methods

Mononuclear cells were obtained from axillary lymph nodes of 52 untreated patients with breast cancer (BC) and stained with fluorochrome conjugated anti-CD4, ?CCR7, ?CD45RO and -CD95 antibodies to detect different subtypes of memory cells in CD4⁺ lymphocyte populations. Data were acquired using a four-color FACSCalibur flow cytometer and analyzed using CellQuest Pro software.

Results

We found that >70% of CD4⁺ lymphocytes in draining lymph nodes of BC patients exhibited a memory phenotype of which 7.04 ± 1.04% had a T_SCM phenotype (CD4⁺CCR7⁺CD45RO^?CD95⁺). The frequency of T_SCM cells was significantly higher in tumor positive lymph nodes compared to tumor negative lymph nodes (p = 0.026) as well as among those patients who had at least one affected lymph node (p = 0.012). Moreover, we found that the total frequency of central memory T cells (T_CM) with a low expression of CD45RO was significantly higher among these patients. The percentage of CD45RO^Low T_CM cells was also found to increase with tumor progression from stage I to stage III (p = 0.020). On the other hand, we found that the percentage of CD95^Hi effector memory T cells (T_EM) was significantly decreased in involved lymph nodes (p = 0.009).

Conclusion

Our data suggest that following long-term exposure to putative tumor antigens, T_SCM cells proliferate to generate a pool of committed memory and effector T cells. As the tumor progresses, the immunosuppressive milieu induced by tumor cells may slow down the differentiation of CD45RO^Low T_CM cells to more functional sub-populations.

     

Molecular investigation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">WFS1</Emphasis> gene exon 8 in Iranian patients with Wolfram syndrome

Most patients with Wolfram syndrome carry mutations in WFS1, while a lower percentage present a mutation in CISD2 (also known as WFS2). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mutations in exon 8 of WFS1 gene in two Iranian patients with Wolfram syndrome (WFS). In this study using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing, we screened the entire length of WSF1 gene exon 8 for presence of mutations. Patients included were two male subjects who developed diabetes mellitus earlier than the age of 8 years old, showing early-onset diabetes, followed by reduced visual acuity, deafness, and diabetes insipidus. The presence of two missense mutations G736D and R629W were confirmed. These mutations have been previously reported in patients with WFS in other populations. Identification of pathogenic mutations in patients with Wolfram syndrome will be helpful in earlier diagnosis of the disease and in understanding the frequency of mutations in various populations and their relation with clinical features of Wolfram syndrome.     

Early initiation of antiretroviral treatment: Challenges in the Middle East and North Africa

New World Health Organization guidelines recommend the initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for asymptomatic patients with CD4+ T-cell counts of ≤ 500 cells/mm³. Substantial reduction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is addressed as a major public health outcome of this new approach. Middle East and North Africa (MENA), known as the area of controversies in terms of availability of comprehensive data, has shown concentrated epidemics among most of it’s at risk population groups. Serious challenges impede the applicability of new guidelines in the MENA Region. Insufficient resources restrict ART coverage to less than 14%, while only one fourth of the countries had reportable data on patients’ CD4 counts at the time of diagnosis. Clinical guidelines need to be significantly modified to reach practical utility, and surveillance systems have not yet been developed in many countries of MENA. Based on available evidence in several countries people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men are increasingly vulnerable to HIV and viral hepatitis, while their sexual partners - either female sex workers or women in monogamous relationships with high-risk men - are potential bridging populations that are not appropriately addressed by regional programs. Research to monitor the response to ART among the mentioned groups are seriously lacking, while drug resistant HIV strains and limited information on adherence patterns to treatment regimens require urgent recognition by health policymakers. Commitment to defined goals in the fight against HIV, development of innovative methods to improve registration and reporting systems, monitoring and evaluation of current programs followed by cost-effective modifications are proposed as effective steps to be acknowledged by National AIDS Programs of the countries of MENA Region.     

The expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in Iranian patients with gastric carcinoma

To assess the significance of epidermal growth factor receptor family members, the overexpression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 was retrospectively investigated in 146 southern Iranian gastric cancer patients. Indirect immunostaining was used to evaluate the expression of these two receptors in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. c-ErbB-1 expression was observed in 47 (32.2%) and c-erbB-2 expression was observed in 24 (16.4%) of tumors. Significant positive correlations were observed between c-erbB-1 expression and tumor size, local invasion, lymph node involvement and tumor stage. There was also a negative correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and tumor stage. These results may suggest the contribution of c-erbB-1 molecule in progression of gastric carcinomas in southern Iranian patients. Moreover, the relatively high percentage of c-erbB-2 positive tumors may provide a useful target for the immunotherapy of these cancers.