Detached ciliary tufts mistaken for peritoneal parasites: a warning

Detached ciliary tufts of columnar epithelial cells from the female genital tract may be mistakenly identified as protozoa when examined in wet mounts of fluid specimens in the laboratory because of their appearance and motility, although they are generally identified correctly in fixed specimens prepared for cytologic examination. A case of such mistaken identity in specimens from a gynecologic patient was documented, and the literature on ciliary tufts was reviewed. Infectious disease and gynecology consultants should be alert to the potential confusion arising from the presence of ciliary tufts in body fluids.     

Early prediction of encephalopathic transformation in children with benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes

BackgroundMost children with Benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS) undergo remission during late adolescence and do not require treatment. In a small group of patients, the condition may evolve to encephalopathic syndromes including epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep (ECSWS), or Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS). Development of prediction models for early identification of at-risk children is of utmost importance.AimTo develop a predictive model of encephalopathic transformation using data-driven approaches, reveal complex interactions to identify potential risk factors.MethodsData were collected from a cohort of 91 patients diagnosed with BECTS treated between the years 2005–2017 at a pediatric neurology institute. Data on the initial presentation was collected based on a novel BECTS ontology and used to discover potential risk factors and to build a predictive model. Statistical and machine learning methods were compared.ResultsA subgroup of 18 children had encephalopathic transformation. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression Model with Elastic Net was able to successfully detect children with ECSWS or LKS. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 and 0.44. The most notable risk factors were fronto-temporal and temporo-parietal localization of epileptic foci, semiology of seizure involving dysarthria or somatosensory auras.ConclusionNovel prediction model for early identification of patients with BECTS at risk for ECSWS or LKS. This model can be used as a screening tool and assist physicians to consider special management for children predicted at high-risk. Clinical application of machine learning methods opens new frontiers of personalized patient care and treatment.     

Low serum adiponectin is independently associated with both the metabolic syndrome and angiographically determined coronary atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: We aimed at investigating serum adiponectin in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), in patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD), and in patients who had both, the MetS and CAD. METHODS: We enrolled 687 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD. RESULTS: From our patients, 178 had neither the MetS (Adult Treatment Panel III definition) nor significant CAD (MetS-/CAD-), 91 had the MetS, but not significant CAD (MetS+/CAD-), 251 did not have the MetS but had significant CAD (MetS-/CAD+), and 167 had both, the MetS and significant CAD (MetS+/CAD+). Serum adiponectin was highest (12.1+/-8.3 microg/ml) in MetS-/CAD- subjects. It was significantly lower in MetS+/CAD- (9.5+/-7.3 microg/ml; p=0.001) and in MetS-/CAD+ patients (9.2+/-5.3 microg/ml; p<0.001) and lowest in MetS+/CAD+ patients (6.7+/-3.8 microg/ml) in whom it was significantly lower than in MetS-/CAD-, MetS+/CAD-, and MetS-/CAD+ patients (p<0.001 for all comparisons). In analysis of covariance the MetS and significant CAD proved associated with serum adiponectin in a mutually independent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum adiponectin is independently associated with both the MetS and coronary atherosclerosis.     

Drying-induced hydrophobic polymer collapse

We have used computer simulation to study the collapse of a hydrophobic chain in water. We find that the mechanism of collapse is much like that of a first-order phase transition. The evaporation of water in the vicinity of the polymer provides the driving force for collapse, and the rate limiting step is the nucleation of a sufficiently large vapor bubble. The study is made possible through the application of transition path sampling and a coarse-grained treatment of liquid water. Relevance of our findings to understanding the folding and assembly of proteins is discussed.     

Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on the Markers of Oxidative Stress

Summary. The present study estimates effects of low-dose enteric coated aspirin (ECA) on oxidative stress (OS) markers in a group of middle-aged men (mean age 51.2 ± 6.9 years) free of pre-existing ischemic heart disease.Methods. Serum products of lipid peroxidation, and measures of antioxidative status were detected in 25 healthy men in baseline and after two-week treatment period.Results. In respect to serum products of lipid peroxidation and markers of antioxidant status, no statistically significant differences between the pre- and after-treatment data were observed for any measures, with the exception of values of serum antioxidative capacity (39.0 ± 2.5 and 42 ± 4.6, respectively).Conclusions. Administration of ECA does not initiate the OS in blood and improves the general antioxidative potency of blood. This may imply towards certain antiatherogenic influence of low-dose ECA, exhibited even with a short-term treatment period. Regarding OS markers, a variety of individual responses observed in the selected subgroups should be investigated and possibly taken into account while treatment with ECA is initiated for primary prevention of cerebrovascular events.     

Synergistic effects of the apolipoprotein E epsilon3/epsilon2/epsilon4, the cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB, and the apolipoprotein C3 -482 C>T polymorphisms on their association with coronary artery disease

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) apolipoprotein E (APOE) 3/2/4, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB, and apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) −482 C > T have been associated with an atherogenic lipid profile and, in some studies, with increased cardiovascular risk. However, no data exist on their combined impact on atherosclerotic disease. We therefore aimed at investigating the combined impact of these SNPs on the presence of angiographically determined coronary artery disease (CAD). Genotyping was performed in 557 consecutive Caucasian patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD.From the individual SNPs, only the APOE 34/44 genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of significant coronary stenoses with lumen narrowing ≥50% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.77 [1.16–2.71]; p = 0.008). However, the risk of CAD strongly increased when more than one of the analysed genetic variants was present: ORs were 2.74 [1.29–5.83]; p = 0.009 for patients with both the APOE 34/44 and the CETP B1B1 genotype, 1.97 [1.06–3.66]; p = 0.031 for patients with both the APOE 34/44 genotype and the APOC3 −482T allele, 2.12 [1.31–3.44]; p = 0.002 for patients with both the CETP B1B1 genotype and the APOC3 −482T allele, and 3.99 [1.57–13.79]; p = 0.029 for patients with all three variants. Multivariate analyses confirmed these results.We conclude that there are strong synergistic effects of the APOE 3/2/4, the CETP TaqIB, and the APOC3 −482 C > T polymorphisms on their association with CAD.     

Exercise-induced platelet aggregation in angina and its possible prevention by beta 1-selective blockade

Moderate exercise increased platelet aggregability of 12 middle-aged men with stable angina pectoris: the mean ADP threshold fell from 4.58 +/- 0.63 to 3.18 +/- 0.41 microM, P less than 0.01. Exercise did not, however, alter platelet aggregability in 12 healthy matched controls. Physical effort approximately doubled the plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline in patients as well as in controls. Under the same conditions the cAMP content of platelets fell in the angina group from 20.86 +/- 1.86 to 17.78 +/- 1.71 pmol 10(-9) platelets, P less than 0.01, while there was no change in control levels. The fall of cAMP could account for the observed increase in platelet aggregability. We speculate that the increased aggregability of platelets in the exercising anginal subjects represents an imbalance between prostacyclin release and haemodynamic changes. The beta 1-selective blocker metoprolol, in usual therapeutic dosages, prevented the observed platelet changes probably by minimizing the haemodynamic disturbances and stimulating release of prostacyclin.