Modulation of JAK2, STAT3 and Akt1 proteins by granulocyte colony stimulating factor following carbon monoxide poisoning in male rat

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless and non-irritating by-product of inefficient combustion of hydrocarbon fuels such as motor vehicle exhausted gases. It is the leading cause of mortality in the USA among all unintentional toxicants. Male rats exposed to CO poisoning in the heart has many cardiovascular effects such as, cardiomyopathy, tachycardia, arrhythmias, and ischemia and in severe cases, myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac arrest. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is one of the most frequent consequences in the heart. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that mobilizes and differentiates granulocytes from stem cells. It can stimulate many anti-apoptotic pathways such as JAK2–STAT3 and PI3-Akt kinases following cardiac ischemia. G-CSF exerts its anti-apoptotic effects through binding to its specific cell surface receptor. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of anti-apoptotic effect of G-CSF following CO poisoning. Rats were exposed to CO 1500 or 3000?ppm for 60?min. Animals received G-CSF 100?μg/kg subcutaneously for five consecutive days after CO intoxication. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression of six proteins namely JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, p-STAT3, Akt1 and p-Akt1 following G-CSF 100?μg/kg consecutive dose administration after CO poisoning. There was a significant difference between phosphorylated proteins including p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and p-Akt1 in the G-CSF groups and those in control groups and there were not any significant differences in total protein among the groups.     

Acute neonatal appendicitis in a preterm

Acute neonatal appendicitis is very rare in the neonatal period. It is usually associated with comorbidity including prematurity. Symptoms are non-specific. The prognosis is marked by high risk of mortality and morbidity. Here, we report a case of preterm new born who presented with sepsis, apnoea, and digestive signs. The laparotomy revealed perforated appendicitis complicated with peritonitis.Key words: Appendicitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal appendicitis, neonate     

Associations of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms FokI and BsmI with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and Behçet's disease in Tunisians

ObjectivesReports of immunomodulating effects of vitamin D suggest a need for examining allele and genotype frequencies of the vitamin D nuclear receptor gene (VDR) in patients with autoimmune diseases. T-helper-1 (Th1) counts in peripheral blood are increased in both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Behçet's disease (BD). We studied VDR polymorphisms in patients with these two diseases in Tunisia.MethodsIn 108 patients with RA, 131 patients with BD, and 152 controls, we studied FokI and BsmI VDR polymorphisms, using the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.ResultsThe FokI polymorphism alleles and genotype were significantly more common in the RA group than in the controls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). The FokI F allele and F/F genotype were significantly associated with BD (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, in the group with BD, the FokI polymorphism was significantly associated with the presence of vascular manifestations (P = 0.006). In patients with RA, the FokI polymorphism was significantly associated with female gender (P = 0.003). No significant associations were found between the Bsm1 polymorphism and RA or BD.ConclusionThe VDR F allele is associated with RA and BD in Tunisians.     

Evaluation of an Arabic version of the non-motor symptoms scale in Parkinson’s disease

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson Disease (PD) are common and can cause severe disability. They are often under-recognized and remain untreated. Tools to evaluate these symptoms in Arabic-speaking patients are still lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate an Arabic version of the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) of PD as an instrument for measuring NMS in Arabic-speaking patients. Sixty-two PD patients clustered around Hoehn & Yahr Stages 2–3 were evaluated by the Arabic version of NMSS. They also underwent a battery of standard psychometric assessment measures that included the scales for outcomes of Parkinson’s disease-autonomic (SCOPA-AUT), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Beck depression inventory, the geriatric depression scale (GDS), the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the visual analogical scale for pain(VAS) and the neuro-psychiatric inventory (NPI). The metric properties of the NMSS were studied as well as its correlation with other standard tests evaluating NMS. The mean NMSS score was 82 ± 56 (skewness 0.88). There were highly significant correlations between the NMSS and the SCOPA-AUT as well as the NMSS and PSQI scores. Significant positive correlations between NMSS and GDS, BECK and VAS were also observed. The sleep/fatigue domain significantly correlated with the PSQI, the cardiovascular/urinary/sexual function/gastrointestinal domains significantly correlated with the SCOPA-AUT, the mood/cognition domain significantly correlated with the GDS and BECK findings. The mean Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.87, showing a satisfactory internal consistency. The Arabic version of NMSS can be considered a comprehensive and reliable measure for non-motor symptoms in Arabic-speaking PD patients.     

Osteoarticular manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: a literature review

Clinical Rheumatology - Osteoarticular manifestations such as arthritis and bone pain are scarce among adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We present a systematic review of...     

Clear-cell sarcoma of the kidney. Two pediatric cases

Clear-cell sarcoma of the kidney is a rare pediatric renal sarcoma with poor prognosis and propensity to metastasize to bone. It is a distinctive renal malignancy regarded as a morphologic feature of Wilms' tumor. We report two cases occurring in four-year and 12-month-old boys, explored for abdominal masses. They were treated by surgery and chemotherapy. The histological diagnosis was clear cell sarcoma. Patients were doing well at 10 and seven months respectively.