Laser-modified nanostructures of PET films and cell behavior

The surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films was irradiated using KrF excimer laser (λ = 248 nm) with different number of pulses at constant repetition rate. The adhesion behavior of L-929 fibroblast cells on the irradiated surface was investigated. The changes in films' morphology were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hydrophilicity and both polar and dispersion components of the surface tension of the treated films were evaluated by contact angle and surface tension measurement techniques. The films roughness was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. AFM and SEM observations showed that a specific nanostructure was created on the laser-treated polyethylene terephthalate surface. Contact angle and surface energy measurements have indicated an increase in wettability of the laser treated samples up to 5 pulses as optimum result; while, by increasing the laser pulses beyond 5 pulses the hydrophilicity of laser treated samples dropped and the surface energy of the treated films was leveled off. Data from in vitro assays showed significant cell attachment and cell growth onto laser treated samples in comparison with the untreated films. Moreover, a number of fibroblast cells attached and proliferated onto treated PET films were achieved under optimum condition of 5 pulses which was significantly higher than the other treated samples.     

Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Helicobacter pylori is associated with many pregnancy adverse effects such as preeclampsia (PE). We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis study to assess the possible association between H. pylori infection and PE and this is the first meta-analysis to clarify this issue.

Methods: PubMed, ISI (Web of Science), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases were searched (up to April 2017) to identify the relevant studies. The Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines were used to do this study. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the χ²-based Q-test and I² statistic.

Results: A total of eight studies including 889 participants (460 preeclamptic women and 429 controls) met the eligibility criteria. A positive association was found between H. pylori infection and PE (OR: 3.35; 95% CI: 2.21–5.10). Heterogeneity was acceptable (χ²?=?13.39; I²?=?47.7, 95% CI: 0–77). In subgroup analysis, cytotoxin-associated antigen A seropositivity was a substantial risk factor for PE when immunoblotting methods (OR: 11.12; 95% CI: 5.34–23.16; χ²?=?6.42; I²?=?53.3, 95% CI: 0–85) were used, whereas it was not potential risk factor for PE when ELISA was used as a detecting method (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.6–2.06; χ²?=?1.83; I²?=?0, 95% CI: 0–90).

Conclusions: This study indicated that women with H. pylori infection, especially those infected with Cag A positive strains are more likely to have PE compared with the uninfected women.     

Effects of Gly71Arg mutation in UGT1A1 gene on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The associations between Gly71Arg polymorphism in the coding region of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene and the risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia remained controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis of observational studies has been conducted to assess the relationship between UGT1A1 gene polymorphism of Gly71Arg and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia susceptibility.

Methods: An electronic literature search from online databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus was conducted to identify eligible studies. The effect summary odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to estimate the strength of association in the fixed or random effects model, based on the absence or presence of heterogeneity.

Results: A total of 32 eligible studies involving 2634 cases of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and 4996 controls were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The combined results showed that UGT1A1 Gly71Arg polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in all genetic models (homozygote model: OR?=?6.12, 95% CI?=?4.42–8.46; heterozygote model: OR?=?2.06, 95% CI?=?1.82–2.33; dominant model: OR?=?2.44, 95% CI?=?2.03–2.93; recessive model: OR?=?4.79, 95% CI?=?3.48–6.59, and allelic model: OR?=?2.37, 95% CI?=?1.98–2.82). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity strongly validated this correlation in Asians but slightly in Caucasian population.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms that UGT1A1 Gly71Arg polymorphism significantly increases the risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Asian population, but results from the Caucasians were conflicting and further well-designed epidemiological studies are, therefore, required to more adequately assess this correlation.     

Sleep disturbance in preschool-aged hyperactive and nonhyperactive children

In spite of inadequate laboratory demonstrations of sleep problems in children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, the belief persists that such problems exist. Sleep restlessness is, in fact, one of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ed 3, definition of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and sleep problems are listed on two major checklists often used for describing the symptoms of this disorder. In a series of three studies, sleep problems were investigated in preschool-aged children with attention deficit disorder relative to control children without the disorder. Results of the first two studies demonstrated clearly that parents of hyperactive children considered their children to have many more sleep problems than did parents of the control children. Parental daily documentation, which is less likely to be affected by reporting bias, was used in the third study. Although the results of the third study supported the finding of increased frequency of night wakings in these children, there was no difference in total sleep time or sleep onset latency between the two groups. Two other significant group differences (enuresis and night sweats) were primarily due to subgroups of children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity. The greater number of sleep wakings, which disrupt parents' sleep, may be responsible for the clinical reports that these children are poor sleepers.     

Psychiatric symptomatology across the menstrual cycle in women reporting high, medium, and low levels of premenstrual change

We examined general well-being across the menstrual cycle in women reporting minimal, mild, and moderate to severe premenstrual dysphoric changes. Those reporting moderate to severe changes had lower general well-being during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.     

Aerobic bacterial contamination in dental materials

Current concern about disease transmission points out the need for better infection control in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to test samples of dental materials in factory-sealed containers for aerobic bacterial contamination. Multiple unopened containers of 12 different dental materials were obtained from the dental school dispensary. Samples were removed from each container and incubated at 38 degrees C in standard broth medium for 1 week. Those that exhibited visual signs of possible bacterial growth were subjected to a Gram stain for verification. The results of that test indicated that 20% to 30% of the samples of alginate, glass ionomer cement and base powders, and retraction cord contained bacterial contamination. The remaining eight dental materials exhibited no apparent bacterial growth. Thus viable aerobic organisms were found in samples from 4 of 12 dental material products.     

c-myc amplification and expression in newly established human osteosarcoma cell lines

Three cell lines were isolated from a patient with osteosarcoma of the femur. These lines were obtained from the primary neoplasm before (HTLA145) and after (HTLA161) chemotherapy and from a metastasis of the lung (HTLA195) in the same patient. The three cell lines exhibited a similar morphology in culture and formed tumors in nude mice which demonstrated a histopathology similar to that which had been observed in the patient. High expression of the genes coding for the alpha-1 and alpha-2 chain of collagen Type I was found in vitro and in s.c. tumors growing in nude mice. The c-myc protooncogene was amplified in all three cell lines and extensive expression of c-myc was found in vitro and in vivo. No heterogeneity in regard to c-myc expression in vivo was detected by in situ localization in tumors growing in nude mice.