C77G mutation in protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 gene and autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare frequent, multiplex disorder with undefined etiology. Susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the involvement of C77G mutation in CD45 gene in patients with autoimmune hepatitis among Iranian population by genotyping this mutation in 70 patients and 140 healthy individuals. METHODS:: After amplifying exon 4 by Polymerase chain reaction, we genotyped this mutation with MspI restriction endonuclease among the studied population. RESULTS:: None of the cases with AIH was hetero or homozygote for C77G mutation. Controls had normal genotype except one of them who was heterozygote for C77G mutation. CONCLUSION:: Our results do not confirm the genetic link between C77G mutation and autoimmune hepatitis in Iranian population.     

Sitting imbalance cause and consequence of post-traumatic Charcot spine in paraplegic patients

Purpose

To analyze the role of spine alignment in post-traumatic paraplegic patient as a potential cause of late Charcot spine disease (CSD).

Method

A retrospective review of three cases in which the disease appeared more than 15 years after a spinal cord injury treated by posterior fusion. A review of the literature concerning spine balance in sitting position, especially referred to paraplegic patients, is done to validate this hypothesis.

Results

Lumbar kyphosis in paraplegic patients during the sitting position may increase the mechanical load on disks and ligament below the previously fused area. This phenomenon, in combination with lack of protective mechanism because of poor muscular support and lack of sensitivity can speed up and amplify the normal degenerative changes in the disk and ligaments.

Conclusions

More investigations are required to fully understand all the mechanisms underlying CSD pathogenesis to prevent it. Until then, a systematic long-term clinical and radiological follow-up in all post-trauma paraplegic patients is suggested. Combined anterior and posterior fusion, when feasible, can restore the sagittal balance providing a better quality of life in these patients.

     

The Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated with Low Muscle Mass and Low Muscle Function in Older Australians

Age-associated chronic, low grade systemic inflammation has been recognised as an important contributing factor in the development of sarcopenia; importantly, diet may regulate this process. This cross-sectional study examined the association of diet-related inflammation with components of sarcopenia. Participants (n = 809) aged 60–95 years from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were studied. Body composition was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. In this study, low appendicular lean mass (ALM/height², kg/m²) was defined as T-score < −1 and low muscle function as Timed-Up-and-Go >10 s over 3 m (TUG > 10). Dietary inflammatory index (DII^®) scores, based on specific foods and nutrients, were computed using dietary data collected from a food frequency questionnaire. Associations between DII scores and low muscle mass and low muscle function, alone and combined, were determined using linear and logistic regression. After adjusting for covariates, higher DII score was associated with lower ALM/height² (β −0.05, standard error (SE) 0.02, p = 0.028), and higher natural log-transformed (ln) (TUG) (β 0.02, standard error 0.01, p = 0.035) and higher likelihood for these components combined (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.69, p = 0.015). A pro-inflammatory diet, as indicated by higher DII score, is associated with lower muscle mass, poorer muscle function and increased likelihood for the combination of low muscle mass and low muscle function. Further studies investigating whether anti-inflammatory dietary interventions could reduce the risk of sarcopenia are needed.     

Efficacy of psychotherapy for anxiety reduction in hospital management of women successfully treated for preterm labor: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Preterm labor (PTL) is associated with high anxiety and stress in pregnant women. The study investigated the effect of adding psychotherapy to hospital management of pregnant women with successfully treated for PTLon improving anxiety, pregnancy stress, and perceived control. In a randomized controlled trial study, sixty pregnant women with gestational ages of 24 to 37 weeks and successfully treated forPTL were randomly divided into the experimental (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). The experimental group received psychotherapy along with medical care in individual face-to-facesessions, 1 h per day for 6 consecutive days.The control group received medical care for PTL. Objective outcomes were assessed via the State-Anxiety Inventory, Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ), and Perceived Pregnancy Control at pre-trial and post-trial. The results revealed that psychotherapy significantly improved mean pregnancy distress (45.80 ± 2.29 vs. 43.80 ± 1.93), state anxiety (47.46 ± 5.92 vs. 41.60 ± 5.46), and perceived control (2.86 ± 1.59 vs. 5.26 ± 1.38) in women with PTL from beginning to end of the intervention. The findings suggest that adding psychotherapy to hospital management of women successfully treated for PTLcan be considered a potential method to reduce anxiety and pregnancy-specific stress.     

Melatonin supplementation and pro-inflammatory mediators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

European Journal of Nutrition - Inflammatory processes are involved in chronic diseases. It has been suggested that melatonin reduces inflammation by its radical scavenging properties; however, the...     

The interaction between ApoA2 −265T&gt;C polymorphism and dietary fatty acids intake on oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Introduction

Apolipoprotein A2 (APOA2) ?265T>C polymorphism has been studied in relation to oxidative stress and various dietary fatty acids. Since the interaction between APOA2 polymorphism and dietary fatty acids on oxidative stress has not yet discussed, we aimed to investigate the interaction on oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods

The subjects were 180 T2DM patients with known APOA2 genotype, either TT, TC or CC. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined by colorimetric method. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum level of 8-isoprostane F2α were measured by spectrophotometry and ELISA, respectively. Dietary intake was collected through a food frequency questionnaire. Based on the median intake, fatty acids intake was dichotomized into high or low groups. The interaction between APOA2 polymorphism and dietary fatty acids intake was analyzed by ANCOVA multivariate interaction model.

Results

Higher than median intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) was associated with increased serum level of 8-isoprostane F2α in subjects with TT/TC genotype (p = 0.004), and higher than median intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) was associated with increased serum SOD activity in CC genotype (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant interaction between APOA2 polymorphism and n-6 PUFA intake on 8-isoprostane F2α concentration as well as n-3 PUFA intake on serum SOD activity (p-interaction = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

The current study shows the interaction between APOA2 polymorphism and dietary fatty acids intake on oxidative stress. More investigations on different populations are required to confirm the interaction.

     

Calcitonin effects on shoulder adhesive capsulitis

Introduction

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is a relatively prevalent disease of shoulder and affects soft tissue of glenohumeral joint. Signs include painful restricted motion and disability of the patient in daily activities. Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone, and its effectiveness has been demonstrated in painful conditions. The presents study aims to evaluate the effect of calcitonin in treating shoulder adhesive capsulitis.

Method

This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 patients suffering from shoulder adhesive capsulitis. The intervention and control groups were given intranasal calcitonin and placebo for 6 weeks, respectively. For both groups, physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered correspondingly. The patients were evaluated pre- and post-treatment for shoulder pain and shoulder range of motion (ROM). Shoulder functional outcome (secondary outcome) was evaluated using Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and Health Assessment Questionnaire disability criteria.

Results

The mean age of patients in calcitonin and control group was 52.4 ± 4.6 and 53.2 ± 4.9, respectively. Demographic characteristics and pre-treatment scores were similar in both groups (all P > 0.05). In post-treatment follow-up, shoulder pain, ROM, and the patients’ functional scores were significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.001); however, the improvement in calcitonin group was more effective than that of placebo group.

Conclusion

Intranasal calcitonin spray could be an additional safe alternative in shoulder adhesive capsulitis with regard to the efficiency in alleviating pain and improving functional outcome.

Level of evidence

II.

     

An international collaborative pathologic study of surgical lung biopsies from mustard gas-exposed patients

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown strong evidence that bronchiolitis obliterans is the major long-term sequelae of exposure to sulfur mustard (SM). This study is the first to examine the histopathologic spectrum of changes in a large number of surgical lung biopsies from patients exposed to SM. METHOD: Fifteen patients with chronic respiratory disease from mustard gas exposure were divided into severe (6 cases) and mild exposure (9 cases). All had surgical (open or thoracoscopic) lung biopsy, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest high-resolution computed tomography scan (HRCT). RESULT: The mean age of the cases was 43.8+/-9.6 (range 33-65). All patients had dyspnea and cough as the two main complaints. Only one patient was a smoker. Thirteen patients had normal PFTs, while one had obstruction and one had mild restriction. Six (66.6%) patients in the mild exposure and 3 (50%) in the severe exposure group showed evidence of more than 25% air trapping on chest HRCT. Among the mild group, 3 had features of constrictive bronchiolitis and another had features suggestive of this (bronchiolectasis and mucus stasis). The next most common finding was a mild-to-moderate chronic cellular bronchiolitis (3 patients). Two among the 6 in the severe group showed constrictive bronchiolitis and one showed features suggestive of constrictive bronchiolitis. CONCLUSION: We conclude that about half of patients had diagnostic constrictive bronchiolitis, or bronchiolectasis and mucus stasis consistent with more proximal luminal compromise. The fact that there were no differences between the low- and high-dose groups suggests that effects of SM are not solely dependent on the severity of exposure. The results also indicate that the diagnosis of chronic lung disease due to SM may be difficult. Surgical lung biopsy may be helpful in difficult cases, as constrictive (obliterative) bronchiolitis can be present in symptomatic patients with normal PFTs and chest HRCT.