Prognostic value of cell-free DNA in plasma of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors at ICU admission and 24 h post-admission

Cell-free DNA has been associated with outcome in several acute conditions including two reports concerning the outcomes after cardiac arrest that found association of circulating DNA quantities at admission with mortality. The origins of cell-free DNA are primarily necrosis and apoptosis, which in cardiac arrest occur during ischaemia (“no-flow” and “low-flow” period), during reperfusion injury and as a consequence of post-arrest inflammatory response. Respecting the facts that significant cellular damage may occur during the post-arrest period, and that damage might be reduced by mild therapeutic hypothermia, we investigated the prognostic value of cell free DNA at ICU admission and 24 h after admission.     

Expression of leukocyte adhesion-related glycosyltransferase genes in acute coronary syndrome patients

Introduction

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is caused by destabilization and rupture of atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery via mechanisms affecting leukocyte signaling, rolling, adhesion, extravasation and inflammation-promoting factors. The majority of cellular communication takes place on the membrane surface that is covered with glycoproteins and glycolipids synthesized by glycosyltransferases. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA expression of leukocyte adhesion-related glycosyltransferases in patients during the onset and the chronic phase of ACS and to compare the expression with matching subjects without coronary disease.

Subjects and methods

The study included 26 ACS patients and 26 ACS-free matched-pair controls. Blood samples were collected at the time of hospital admittance and 8 days later. Expression analysis of six fucosyltransferases and six sialyltransferases was performed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

At the time of admittance ACS subjects had lower expression levels of FUT4, ST6GalNac4, ST6Gal1 and GM3 synthase (p < 0.05) than the control subjects, and moreover, after 8 days down-regulation of FUT7 and ST6GalNac3 was also observed (p < 0.05). When compared to the initial gene expression, after treatment and stabilization of ACS subjects, FUT7, ST6GalNac2 and ST6GalNac3 were down-regulated, whereas ST6GalNac1 was up-regulated. Expression levels of FUT7, ST6GalNac1, ST6GalNac2 and ST6GalNac3 were predicted by several drugs and medical history.

Conclusion

Expression of glycosyltransferase genes differs in ACS and control subjects. During the course of the ACS study we established further changes in gene expression levels. Medical history was predictive of gene expression levels while drugs were shown to modulate expression levels.     

Influence of Adhesives and Methods of Enamel Pretreatment on the Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets

Aim

The objective of present study was to examine influence of adhesives and methods of enamel pretreatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets. The adhesives used were resin-reinforced glass ionomer cements-GIC (Fuji Ortho LC) and composite resin (Transbond XT).

Material and Methods

The experimental sample consisted of 80 extracted human first premolars. The sample was divided into four equal groups, and the metal brackets were bonded with different enamel pretreatments by using two adhesives: group A-10% polyacrylic acid; Fuji Ortho LC, group B–37% phosphoric acid; Fuji Ortho LC, group C–self etching primer; Transbond XT, group D–37% phosphoric acid, primer; Transbond XT. SBS of brackets was measured. After debonding of brackets, the adhesive remnant index (ARI) was evaluated.

Results

After the statistical analysis of the collected data was performed (ANOVA; Sheffe post-hoc test), the results showed that significantly lower SBS of the group B was found in relation to the groups C (p=0.031) and D (p=0.026). The results of ARI were similar in all testing groups and it was not possible to determine any statistically significant difference of the ARI (Chi- square test) between all four experimental groups.

Conclusion

The conclusion is that the use of composite resins material with appropriate enamel pretreatment according to manufacturer’s recommendation is the “gold standard” for brackets bonding for fixed orthodontic appliances.Key words: orthodontic brackets, shear strength, adhesive, enamel preparation