HLA Class II (DRB,DQA1 and DQB1) Allele and Haplotype Frequencies in the Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris

Introduction  Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes, is associated with some human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles and haplotypes. Materials and Methods  In order to evaluate the association of HLA-DR and DQ alleles and haplotypes in Iranian non-Jewish patients with PV, 52 patients with PV and 180 normal subjects as control group were investigated in this study. Results and Discussion  HLA-DRB1*04, -DRB1*1401, -DRB4, -DQA1*0104, -DQA1*03011, -DQB1*0302, and -DQB1*0502 alleles have been significantly increased in our patients group. Moreover, the haplotypes HLA-DRB1*04/-DQA1*03011/-DQB1*0302 and HLA-DRB1*1401/-DQA1*0104/-DQB1*0502 increased significantly in our patients. In contrast, the following alleles decreased significantly in our patients: HLA-DRB1*15, -DRB1*0301, -DRB1*07, -DRB1*11, -DRB5, -DQA1*0101, -DQA1*0103, -DQA1*201, -DQA1*05, -DQB1*0201, -DQB1*0301, -DQB1*06011, and -DQB1*0602. In addition, HLA-DRB1*15/-DQA1*0103/-DQB1*06011, HLA-DRB1*0301/-DQA1*05011/-DQB1*0201, HLA-DRB1*07/-DQA1*0201/-DQB1*0201, and HLA-DRB1*11/-DQA1*05/-DQB1*03011 decreased significantly in our patients. Genetic factors are involved in the occurrence of PV; HLA-DRB1*04 and -DRB1*1401 alleles and the related haplotypes are suggestive to be two major PV susceptibility factors in our population study.     

Generation of motor neurons by coculture of retinoic acid-pretreated embryonic stem cells with chicken notochords

Understanding neuroectoderm formation and its subsequent diversification to functional neural subtypes remains elusive. We have shown here for the first time that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into neurons and motor neurons (MNs) by using a coculture embryonic notochord model in vitro. Mouse ESCs were induced to form neural precursors via timed exposure to retinoic acid (RA) using the 4-/4+ RA protocol. These cells were then cocultured with alginate bead-encapsulated notochords isolated from Hamburger and Hamilton stage 6-10 chick embryos. The use of notochord alone was not able to induce neural differentiation from ESCs, and, therefore, notochord does not possess neural inducing activity. Hence, the most successful neuronal cells and MN differentiation was only observed following the coculture of RA-pretreated ESCs with notochord. This resulted in a significantly greater number of cells expressing microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2), HB9, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and MN-specific genes. While further characterization of these differentiated cells will be essential before transplantation studies commence, these data illustrate the effectiveness of embryonic notochord coculture in providing valuable molecular cues for directed differentiation of ESCs toward an MN lineage.     

The effect of low to moderate patient volume on very low-birth-weight outcomes in a level III-B neonatal intensive care unit

We studied the effect of a low- to moderate-volume, level III-B neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on very low-birth-weight (VLBW) outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis of the King Abdulaziz Hospital (KAH) NICU electronic database. Short-term outcomes of all inborn VLBW infants (501 to 1500 g) in the well-equipped, well-staffed KAH NICU (2003 to 2008) were benchmarked with data (1997 to 2002) from the National Institute of Children Health and Human Development and Neonatal Research Network (NICHD-NRN). Survival without major neonatal morbidity was defined as survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), grade III to IV intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and Bell's stage II to III necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The survival rates of VLBW infants at the KAH NICU ( N = 250) and the NICHD-NRN ( N = 18,153) were similar (84 versus 85%). A significantly higher rate of survival without major neonatal morbidity (80 versus 70%, P = 0.002) and lower rate of BPD (14 versus 22%, P = 0.005) were observed in KAH. The rates of grade III to IV IVH, Bell's stage II to III NEC, and late-onset sepsis were comparable in both cohorts. Our low- to moderate-volume, well-equipped, well-staffed, level III-B NICU achieved outcomes similar to the NICHD-NRN. Further study is warranted to ascertain how a lower-volume NICU achieved similar outcomes, as this could then be applied to quality improvement efforts.     

Comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on glycemic control,lipid profiles,and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

This investigation was conducted to evaluate comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 53 women with PCOS, aged 18–40 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either myo-inositol (n?=?26) or metformin (n?=?27) for 12 weeks. Myo-inositol supplementation, compared with metformin, significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (β ?5.12?mg/dL; 95% CI, ?8.09, ?2.16; p=.001), serum insulin levels (β ?1.49 µIU/mL; 95% CI, ?2.28, ?0.70; p<.001), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β ?0.36; 95% CI, ?0.55, ?0.17; p<.001), serum triglycerides (β 12.42?mg/dL; 95% CI, ?20.47, ?4.37; p=.003) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (β ?2.48?mg/dL; 95% CI, ?4.09, ?0.87; p=.003), and significantly increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.006; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.01; p=.006) compared with metformin. Moreover, myo-inositol supplementation upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (p=.002) compared with metformin. Overall, taking myo-inositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks by women with PCOS had beneficial effects on glycemic control, triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol levels, and gene expression of PPAR-γ.     

High prevalence of benign mammary tumors in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome during postmenopausal period

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in reproductive-age women. Significant associations between PCOS and benign breast diseases (BBD) and a possibly potential association between PCOS and breast cancer have been reported. The etiology of these events of mammary glands in PCOS remains unclear. Animal models that show BBD and breast cancer may contribute to further understanding about these diseases. We aimed to examine the spontaneous occurrence of mammary tumors, their prevalence, and type in our rat model of PCOS. Prenatal androgen-induced PCOS rats and controls were examined in later life. Benign mammary tumors were observed in 75% and 33.33% of PCOS rats and controls during the postmenopausal period, respectively (p?=?.0158). Mammary tumors were non-invasive, margins of excision were normal and tumors were freely movable, in both groups. After microscopic evaluations of tumors, proliferative breast lesions and adenomas with a tubular growth pattern were observed in both groups. However, in PCOS rats, of benign tumors two had a mixed pattern of fibroadenoma/fibroma and cysts. High prevalence of benign mammary tumors was observed in our rat model of PCOS during the postmenopausal period, possibly due to hormonal imbalances during their reproductive lifespan; this model may contribute to current data available regarding the events of mammary glands in PCOS.     

Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among Black American Men: Moderated-Mediation Effects of Ethnicity and Self-Esteem

Discrimination is related to depression and poor self-esteem among Black men. Poorer self-esteem is also associated with depression. However, there is limited research identifying how self-esteem may mediate the associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms for disparate ethnic groups of Black men. The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic groups as a moderator of the mediating effects of self-esteem on the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms among a nationally representative sample of African American (n = 1201) and Afro-Caribbean American men (n = 545) in the National Survey of American Life. Due to cultural socialization differences, we hypothesized that self-esteem would mediate the associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms only for African American men, but not Afro-Caribbean American men. Moderated-mediation regression analyses indicated that the conditional indirect effects of discrimination on depressive symptoms through self-esteem were significant for African American men, but not for Afro-Caribbean men. Our results highlight important ethnic differences among Black men.