Bio-sourced phosphoprotein-based synthesis of silver-doped macroporous zinc phosphates and their antibacterial properties

The usual sources of phosphorus for metal phosphates are obtained from phosphate rocks, of which resources are depleted. As a substitute for these mineral sources, an original method of synthesis has been developed to prepare macroporous zinc phosphates using casein phosphoprotein. This bio-sourced reactant plays during the synthesis the roles of both a phosphorus source and a reducing agent for silver nanoparticles. Thus, zinc phosphates loaded with different Ag contents (up to 6.4 wt%) are prepared via hydrothermal treatment at 100 °C. Silver nanoparticles co-crystallized with hopeite, Zn₃(PO₄)₂ and/or Zn₂P₂O₇. In addition, casein induces porosity within the zinc phosphate framework and provides macropores (diameter of >50 nm) during calcination. The antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli K12 bacteria of Ag-containing and Ag-free porous zinc phosphates (calcined at 750 °C) were also tested for the first time.

Phosphoproteins as key reactants in an original method of synthesis of silver-doped macroporous zinc phosphates with antibacterial properties.     

Toxicological aspects of trans fat consumption over two sequential generations of rats: Oxidative damage and preference for amphetamine

Chronic consumption of processed food causes structural changes in membrane phospholipids, affecting brain neurotransmission. Here we evaluated noxious influences of dietary fats over two generations of rats on amphetamine (AMPH)-conditioned place preference (CPP). Female rats received soybean oil (SO, rich in n-6 fatty acids (FA)), fish oil (FO, rich in n-3 FA) and hydrogenated vegetable fat (HVF, rich in trans fatty acids (TFA)) for two successive generations. Male pups from the 2nd generation were maintained on the same supplementation until 41 days of age, when they were conditioned with AMPH in CPP. While the FO group showed higher incorporation of n-3 polyunsaturated-FA (PUFA) in cortex/hippocampus, the HVF group showed TFA incorporation in these same brain areas. The SO and HVF groups showed AMPH-preference and anxiety-like symptoms during abstinence. Higher levels of protein carbonyl (PC) and lower levels of non-protein thiols (NPSH) were observed in cortex/hippocampus of the HVF group, indicating antioxidant defense system impairment. In contrast, the FO group showed no drug-preference and lower PC levels in cortex. Cortical PC was positively correlated with n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, locomotion and anxiety-like behavior, and hippocampal PC was positively correlated with AMPH-preference, reinforcing connections between oxidative damage and AMPH-induced preference/abstinence behaviors. As brain incorporation of trans and n-6 PUFA modifies its physiological functions, it may facilitate drug addiction.     

Shared decision-making in gout treatment: a national study of rheumatology provider opinion and practice

Clinical Rheumatology - To assess rheumatologists’ views and practices related to shared decision-making (SDM) in gout treatment. We performed a cross-sectional electronic survey of...     

Urolithiasis in HIV-positive patients treated with atazanavir.

Among protease inhibitors, atazanavir has not been associated with urolithiasis in clinical studies. We describe 11 cases of atazanavir-associated urolithiasis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Patients with low water intake, high urinary pH, and a prior history of urinary stones may have a higher risk of atazanavir-associated urine crystallization.     

Effect on blood pressure of lumiracoxib versus ibuprofen in patients with osteoarthritis and controlled hypertension: a randomized trial

OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs vary in their impact on blood pressure and the effect of lumiracoxib 100 mg once daily has not been studied previously. To examine whether lumiracoxib 100 mg once daily would result in lower 24-h mean systolic ambulatory blood pressure than ibuprofen 600 mg three times daily in osteoarthritis patients with controlled hypertension, a 4-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was conducted in 79 centres in nine countries. METHODS: Hypertensive osteoarthritis patients of 50 years at least whose office blood pressure was less than 140/90 mmHg on stable antihypertensive treatment were randomized to lumiracoxib (n = 394) 100 mg once daily or ibuprofen 600 mg three times daily (n = 393) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed at baseline and end of study. The primary outcome measure was a comparison of the change in 24-h mean systolic ambulatory blood pressure from baseline to week 4. Secondary analyses included other blood pressure-related endpoints and efficacy (pain) measurements. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the 24-h mean systolic ambulatory blood pressure (least square mean) decreased in lumiracoxib-treated patients (-2.7 mmHg) and increased in ibuprofen-treated patients (+2.2 mmHg) at 4 weeks, estimated difference -5.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval -6.1 to -3.8) in favour of lumiracoxib. The 24-h mean diastolic ambulatory blood pressure changes were -1.5 mmHg (lumiracoxib), +0.5 mmHg (ibuprofen), difference -2.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval -2.7 to -1.3). Efficacy results were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with lumiracoxib 100 mg once daily resulted in clinically significant lower blood pressure compared with ibuprofen 600 mg three times daily in osteoarthritis patients with well controlled hypertension.     

Predictive factors of GI lesions in 241 women with iron deficiency anemia

OBJECTIVES: GI blood loss is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in postmenopausal women and menstrual blood loss in premenopausal women. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of endoscopy in women with IDA and to define predictive factors of a GI lesion. METHOD: Clinical, biological, endoscopic, and histological data from patients with IDA were systematically collected on a computer. Multivariate analysis (logistic regression) was performed to determine whether these data were associated with a GI lesion. RESULTS: Between January, 1989 and June, 1999, 241 consecutive women had endoscopies for IDA (mean age = 52.3 +/- 21.8 yr). A substantial GI lesion was detected in 119 patients (49.4%). Ten patients (4%) had both upper and lower GI lesions. A source of IDA was revealed by upper endoscopy in 86 cases (35.6%) and by colonoscopy in 33 (13.7%). The most common upper lesions were peptic ulceration (42/241 [17.4%]), esophagitis (15/241 [6.2%]), and cancer (9/241 [3.7%]). Colonic cancer (15/241 [6.2%]) and polyps (10/241 [4.1%]) were the most frequent lesions detected by colonoscopy. Predictive factors (odds ratio, 95% CI) of GI lesions diagnosed by endoscopy were abdominal symptoms (8.3, 3.9-17.2), age > 50 yr (4.4, 2.1-9.2), and Hb < 9 g/dl (3, 1.5-6.1). Thirty-one women (13%) had none of these predictive factors; in this group only two lesions were identified (one esophagitis and one duodenal ulcer). The positive predictive value of these three independent predictors was 87%, and the negative predictive value was 93.5%. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy revealed a source of IDA in 49.4% of cases. Three predictive factors of GI lesion were identified. Endoscopic investigation should be avoided in women without these three predictive factors. Conversely, these factors are strongly associated with a GI lesion.     

Differing effects of prosaccades and antisaccades on postural stability

The goal of the study was to examine the effect of different types of eye movements on postural stability. Ten healthy young adults (25 ± 3 years) participated in the study. Postural control was measured by the TechnoConcept© platform and recorded in Standard Romberg and Tandem Romberg conditions while participants performed five oculomotor tasks: two fixation tasks (central fixation cross, without and with distractors), two prosaccade tasks toward peripheral targets displayed 4° to the left or to the right of the fixation cross (reactive saccades induced by a gap 0 ms paradigm and voluntary saccades induced by an overlap 600 ms paradigm) and one antisaccade task (voluntary saccade made in the opposite direction of the visual target). The surface, the length, and the mean speed of the center of pressure were analyzed. We found that saccadic eye movements improved postural stability with respect to the fixation tasks. Furthermore, antisaccades were found to decrease postural stability compared to prosaccades (reactive as well as voluntary saccades). This result is in line with the U-shaped nonlinear model described by Lacour et al. (Neurophysiol Clin 38:411–421, 2008), showing that a secondary task performed during a postural task could increase (prosaccade task) or decrease (antisacade task) postural stability depending on its complexity. We suggest that the different degree of attentional resources needed for performing prosaccade or antisaccade tasks are, most likely, responsible for the different effect on postural control.     

Increased T-Cell Activation and Th1 Cytokine Concentrations Prior to the Diagnosis of B-Cell Lymphoma in HIV Infected Patients

Background

Despite the use of combined antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected individuals have a higher risk of developing B-cell lymphoma compared to the general population. We aim to explore whether lymphocyte activation, increase in Th1 response as well as markers of EBV reactivation, may precede lymphoma diagnosis.

Methods

Thirteen cases and 26 controls matched on CD4⁺ T-cell count and HIV plasma viral load were identified. Samples were collected 0 to 5 years prior to B-cell lymphoma diagnosis. Seven out of 13 (54 %) and 16/26 (61.5 %) of cases and controls were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the time of sampling, respectively. CD8⁺ T-cell activation and Th1 cytokine concentrations were measured before lymphoma onset, together with IgG antibodies directed against viral capsid antigen (VCA) and serum levels of EBV DNA.

Results

A higher level of CD8⁺ T-cell activation was observed in patients developing lymphoma. Four out of seven Th1 cytokine serum concentrations were significantly higher in patients with lymphoma than in the control group: IL-2R, IL-12p40/70, IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and monokine induced by IFN-γ (MIG). Anti-VCA IgG level were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Four cases (30 %) but no controls had detectable EBV DNA in serum.

Conclusion

A higher level of T-cell activation, Th1 cytokine serum concentration and markers of EBV replication, preceded B-cell lymphoma diagnosis. This may suggest that viral antigen stimulation is associated with the genesis of lymphoma in HIV-infected patients.