Interaction Between Val158Met Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase Polymorphism and Social Cognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia: Pilot Study

The Val158Met catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) functional polymorphism may influence social cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Aspects of social cognition were evaluated with the Facial Expression Recognition Test, the Voice Emotion Recognition Test, and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. The Short Recognition Memory Test for Faces was used as a control measure. The Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Schedule for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, and Beck Depression Inventory were used to rate of patient symptoms. There were 100 patients with the following genotypes: Val/Val (21), Met/Met (30), and Val/Met (49). The genotype distribution of polymorphism of Val158Met COMT did not differ between the patient and control groups. Schizophrenia carriers of the Val/Val genotype performed worse in social cognitive measures, in comparison with the other groups. No statistically significant correlations were recorded between age at schizophrenia onset and polymorphism of Val158Met COMT. There was an influence of genotype in the control group: the Met homozygotes performing better. Schizophrenia patients homozygous for the Val allele showed significant disadvantages over patients homozygous or heterozygous for the Met allele in social cognitive processes. The COMT genotype may not, however, contribute to the age of onset of schizophrenia.     

The size does not matter - the presence of microvascular obstruction but not its extent corresponds to larger infarct size in reperfused STEMI

Background

Microvascular obstruction (MVO) is a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) marker of no-reflow in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It remains unresolved whether the infarct size corresponds only to the presence of MVO or also to its extent.

Methods

The study included 53 patients with first STEMI (median age 61.5 years, 77% male) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who underwent CMR after median 5 days from PCI. Small MVO was defined as patchy, non-confluent spots of dark areas of absent contrast surrounded by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Large MVO was defined as confluent areas of MVO comprising a large amount of the infarct zone.

Results

Microvascular obstruction was observed in 32 patients (60%) including 18 patients with small MVO (36%) and 14 patients with large MVO (24%). Patients with MVO were more likely to have TIMI 0/1 grade flow on initial angiogram, higher levels of necrotic markers, larger infarct size, larger left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume and lower ejection fraction in comparison to patients without MVO. These differences were not observed between patients with large and small MVO.

Conclusions

The presence of MVO but not its extent corresponds to larger infarct size in STEMI.     

Seasonal profile of calcium-phosphate metabolism in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Sunlight UV plays an important role in synthesis of active vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 concentration depends on seasonal sunlight exposure. It was not state, whether these changes may act on secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of our analysis was to assess the relationship between seasons and parameters of Ca-P metabolism in HD patients with SHP. We studied 30 pts (F = 17, M = 13), aged 20-72 years (mean 49 +/- 13), duration of HD therapy 3-132 months (mean 54.4 +/- 43.7), treated with alphacalcidol (1 alpha OHD3) due to SHP. Blood was collected for PTH, Ca, P concentrations in January (1), April (IV), July (VII) and October (X); also doses of CaCO3 and 1 alpha OHD3 were analyzed. The day duration was: 7 hours and 51 minutes (I), 12.53 (IV), 16.37 (VII) and 11.39 (X), respectively. PTH concentration was significantly higher in I vs IV (882 +/- 588 vs 691 +/- 511 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and higher in X vs VII (831 +/- 600 vs 701 +/- 525 pg/ml, p < 0.05), despite drug dosage did not differ. Calcium concentration was lower in I vs IV and X, and phosphate concentration was lower in I compared to IV, VII i X. These changes suggest presence of seasonal rhythm of PTH concentration in HD patients with SHP. When assessing the effectiveness of SHP therapy, the season of the year when PTH concentration was tested should be taken into account.     

Late results of percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy compared to patients with 'de-novo' stenosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: The outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (BMC) has been reported as poor in patients with prior surgical commissurotomy. The study aim was to evaluate immediate and long-term follow up results of BMC in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy compared to patients with 'de-novo' mitral stenosis. METHODS: Between October 1988 and September 1999, a total of 1,027 patients underwent BMC. Of these patients, 169 (16.5%) were examined at 17+/-7 years (range: 2-33 years) after surgical commissurotomy (group 1), and 858 (83.5%) had de-novo mitral stenosis (group 2). RESULTS: Group 1 patients were older than group 2 patients (49.4+/-9.3 versus 47.3+/-9.6 years; p <0.05), and atrial fibrillation was seen more often in group 1 (53.9% versus 32.4%; p <0.005). Before BMC, mitral valve area (MVA) was similar in both groups (1.18+/-0.27 and 1.15+/-0.26 cm2 in groups 1 and 2 respectively; p = NS); following BMC, MVA was 1.82+/-0.3 and 1.93+/-0.40 cm2 respectively (p <0.05). Four patients (2.4%) from group 1, and 24 (2.8%) from group 2 required mitral valve replacement due to severe regurgitation (p = NS). Annual clinical and echocardiographic evaluation was completed for 950 patients (mean follow up 56.2+/-31.1 months (range: 12-132 months). Cardiac events defined as death, valve surgery or repeat BMC occurred in 16.0% of patients in group 1, and in 9.6% of those in group 2. At follow up of three, five and 10 years, actuarial event-free survival was 85.7+/-2.9%, 79.8+/-3.8% and 65.2+/-7.5% respectively in group 1, and 93.4+/-0.9%, 90.1+/-1.1% and 72.7+/-3.9% respectively in group 2 (log rank test, p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed MVA <1.5 cm2 after BMC, mitral regurgitation grade >2/4, Wilkins score >8, and mean transmitral gradient and left atrial mean pressure post BMC to be independent predictors of an adverse event occurring during follow up. CONCLUSION: BMC in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy is an effective method of treatment, and may help to avoid valve surgery in most patients.     

Characteristics of phenotypic specific and intraspecific features of fungal strains isolated from the organ ontocenoses in patients after renal transplantation

Characteristics of phenotypic specific and intraspecific features of fungal strains isolated from the organ ontocenoses in patients after renal transplantation. The aim of present study was to describe 60 specific and intraspecific features of fungal strains isolated from the organ ontocenoses: oral cavity, rectum and genital organs in 32 patients undergoing permanent immunosupression after renal transplantation. Fungal strains identified using API 20 C and API 20 C AUX (bioMérieux). The activity of 19 hydrolases was investigated using API ZYM. Among 41 strains of fungi the following were found: Candida albicans (31 strains), C. glabrata (5), C. guilliermondii (2), C. krusei (2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1). The number of fungal strains isolated from the oral cavity was the highest (21), less numerous from rectum (12) and the least from the genital organs (8). The enzymograms were described for all strains and the highest activity was noted in case of: e6 - leucine arylamidase, e11 - phosphatase acid, e3 - esterase (C4), e12 - naphtol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. The activity of these enzymes is connected with higher pathogenicity of C. albicans strains.     

Blood transfusion: Yesterday,today, and tomorrow

The evolution of blood transfusion practice into modern transfusion medicine is reported. The impact of great wars on the technique of blood storage and organization of blood supply is discussed. The progress of immunotechnology and fractionation of plasma contributed greatly to contemporary transfusion medicine and the implementation of blood and plasma component therapy. Three basic indications for use of blood in surgery are summarized: restoration of acute loss of circulating blood volume, improvement of oxygen transport, and delivery and correction of coagulation disorders. Some factors arising from storage lesion of blood (citrate intoxication, 2,3-DPG depletion, cellular aggregates) are described. The recent research in blood transfusion refers particularly to red cell substitutes. The oxygen-carrying solutions, perfluorocarbons, stroma-free hemoglobin, and current research on artificial red cells are discussed. The in vitro culturing, recombinant DNA technology, and the practical application of monoclonal antibodies in clinical practice are emphasized. The advent of great technological advances in transfusion medicine makes it possible to predict several future developments. Blood will be substituted by oxygen carriers, human protein and cells by biotechnological and genetic engineering. The education of tomorrow's surgeons must be adapted to the recent progress and advances of transfusion medicine.

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Resumen Se informa la evolución de la práctica de transfusión sanguínea hacia la moderna medicina de transfusiones. El impacto de las grandes guerras sobre las técnicas de almacenamiento y la organización de la distribución de sangre es revisado. El progreso de la inmunotecnología y el fraccionamiento del plasma ha contribuído grandemente al desarrollo de la moderna medicina de transfusiones y al perfeccionamiento de la terapia con componentes de plasma y de sangre. Se resumen 3 indicaciones básicas para el uso de sangre en cirugía: restauración de la pérdida aguda de volumen circulatorio, mejoramiento del transporte de oxígeno, y corrección de alteraciones de la coagulación. Se describen algunos factores derivados de la lesión de la sangre por almacenamiento (intoxicación por citrato, depleción de 2,3-DPG, agregados celulares). La investigación reciente en transfusión se refiere principalmente a los sustitutos de glóbulos rojos. Se discute el desarrollo de las soluciones capaces de transportar oxígeno, los perfluorocarbonos, la hemoglobina libre de estroma y la investigación contemporánea sobre células artificiales, con énfasis en los cultivos in vitro, la tecnología de DNA recombinante, y la aplicación práctica de anticuerpos monoclonales en la práctica clínica. El advenimiento de grandes avances tecnológicos en la medicine de transfusiones hace posible predecir algunos desarrollos futuros. La sangre será sustituída por sustancias transportadoras de oxígeno, la proteína humana y las células mediante ingeniería biotecnológica y genética. La educación de los cirujanos del mañana debe ser adaptada a los progresos y avances recientes de la medicina de transfusiones.

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Résumé L'évolution de la transfusion sanguine dans la pratique médicale moderne est rapportée. L'impact des grandes guerres sur la technique de conservation du sang et l'organisation de l'approvisionnement du sang sont discutés. Les progrès de l'immunotechnologie et du fractionnement des composants plasmatiques ont contribué à l'établisement de la transfusion moderne et à la mise en oeuvre du traitement par les constituants plasmatiques. Les indications majeures de la transfusion en chirurgie sont au nombre de trois: restauration immédiate de toute perte rapide et abondante du sang circulant, amélioration du transport de l'oxygène, correction des troubles de la coagulation. Quelques faits anormaux imputables à la conservation du sang (intoxication citratée, agrégats de cellules, déplétion du 2,3-DPG érythrocytaire) sont décrits. La recherche récente concernant la transfusion sanguine est consacrée particulièrement à l'étude des substituts érythrocytaires. Les solutions transportant l'oxygène, le perfluorocarbone, la SFHS, les hématies artificielles sont étudiées. La culture cellulaire in vitro, la technologie de recombinaison de l'ADN, l'emploi d'anticorps monoclonaux sont également analysés. Des progrès technologiques nouveaux dans la pratique de la transfusion laissent présager de futurs développements. Le sang sera remplacé par des transporteurs d'oxygène, par des protéines et des cellules fournies par les méthodes génétiques et la biotechnologie. L'éducation des chirurgiens de demain doit être adaptée en fonction de ces nouvelles données.

     

Experimental dental bio-adhesives for direct restorations: the influence of PMnEDM homologs structure on bond strength.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PMnEDM dental monomer homologs chemical structure on shear bond strength between polymer-based composite and alloy. METHODS: Four light-cured experimental universal dental bio-adhesives (group codes: A (PMDM), B (PM2EDM), C (PM3EDM), D (PM4EDM)) were preliminarily evaluated with respect to sensitivity to ambient light, curing time, depth of cure, and uncured film thickness according to standardized procedures. Appropriate tests were performed to measure shear bond strength (SBS) of polymer-based composite to cobalt-based alloy with the use of the adhesives investigated. Variability of results was evaluated by use of the coefficient of variation (CV). Results were estimated with the aid of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), performed on the logarithmic values, with alpha=0.05 significance level. RESULTS: All materials passed the requirements according to physicochemical properties. Except for formulation D, all results estimating SBS were positive with respect to standardized requirements. The uppermost mean SBS was achieved for the A adhesive (11.45 MPa) and appeared to be significantly different compared to D one (5.07 MPa) (p=0.0495). Also the B adhesive, having slightly lower mean SBS value (10.50 MPa) exhibited a significant difference in respect to D one (p=0.0455). The means for other trial pairs did not differ statistically. SIGNIFICANCE: The materials here studied might be considered to have a practical use in dental clinics, especially the formulations B and C.     

Terpolymerization of polar vinyl monomers with butadiene and styrene in the presence of Lewis acids

Terpolymerizations of polar vinyl monomers, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, or methyl methacrylate with butadiene and styrene in the presence of ethylaluminium dichloride, zinc chloride, or other Lewis acids were carried out. The yield and the contents in monomer units of the terpolymer and the yields of the polar vinyl monomer/butadiene 1,4-cycloaddition byproduct formed in these systems were determined. Butadiene conversions in the above terpolymerizations and 1,4-cycloaddition side reactions were related to those in the copolymerization and 1,4-cycloaddition proceeding in corresponding binary systems without styrene. The results are discussed in terms of a radical polymerization and a polar 1,4-cycloaddition mechanisms.