Zinc and cardiovascular disease

Zinc is a vital element in maintaining the normal structure and physiology of cells. The fact that it has an important role in states of cardiovascular diseases has been studied and described by several research groups. It appears to have protective effects in coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. Intracellular zinc plays a critical role in the redox signaling pathway, whereby certain triggers such as ischemia and infarction lead to release of zinc from proteins and cause myocardial damage. In such states, replenishing with zinc has been shown to improve cardiac function and prevent further damage. Thus, the area of zinc homeostasis is emerging in cardiovascular disease research. The goal of this report is to review the current knowledge and suggest further avenues of research.     

Hsp27 regulates pro-inflammatory mediator release in keratinocytes by modulating NF-kappaB signaling

Heat-shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is a member of the small Hsp family that functions as molecular chaperones and protects cells against environmental stress. Hsp27 is expressed in the upper epidermal layers of normal human skin and has been reported to play a role in keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis. In this investigation, we show an additional role of Hsp27 in the regulation of inflammatory pathways in keratinocytes. Downregulation of Hsp27 using Hsp27-specific small interfering RNA increased prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in both unstimulated and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated keratinocytes. Moreover, downregulation of Hsp27 increased the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 from TNF-alpha-stimulated and UV-irradiated keratinocytes, and this increase was inhibited by pretreatment with the NF-kappaB inhibitor BAY11-7082. Further studies showed that downregulation of Hsp27 resulted in induction of NF-kappaB reporter activity in keratinocytes. This correlated with enhanced degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein and accumulation of phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha in Hsp27 knockdown cells. Moreover, Hsp27 associated with the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex. As synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and the prostanoid PGE(2) are regulated by NF-kappaB, this could be a probable mechanism by which Hsp27 modulates the production of these inflammatory cytokines. Thus, Hsp27 plays a protective role in regulating inflammatory responses in skin.     

Avenanthramides,polyphenols from oats,exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity

Oatmeal has been used for centuries as a soothing agent to relieve itch and irritation associated with various xerotic dermatoses; however few studies have sought to identify the active phytochemical(s) in oat that mediate this anti-inflammatory activity. Avenanthramides are phenolic compounds present in oats at approximately 300 parts per million (ppm) and have been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant activity in various cell-types. In the current study we investigated whether these compounds exert anti-inflammatory activity in the skin. We found that avenanthramides at concentrations as low as 1 parts per billion inhibited the degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B-α (IκB-α) in keratinocytes which correlated with decreased phosphorylation of p65 subunit of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Furthermore, cells treated with avenanthramides showed a significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced NF-κB luciferase activity and subsequent reduction of interleukin-8 (IL-8) release. Additionally, topical application of 1–3 ppm avenanthramides mitigated inflammation in murine models of contact hypersensitivity and neurogenic inflammation and reduced pruritogen-induced scratching in a murine itch model. Taken together these results demonstrate that avenanthramides are potent anti-inflammatory agents that appear to mediate the anti-irritant effects of oats.     

Clinical outcome of patients with orbital fractures treated with patient specific CAD/CAM ceramic implants – A retrospective study

The aim of this study was to determine whether patients benefit from a secondary reconstruction since it carries the risks of no improvement or worsening of their current situation.Patients treated with individual computer-aided-design/computer-aided-manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramic implants were reviewed. To ascertain changes throughout the secondary reconstruction, the study investigators reviewed ophthalmological examinations, took volumetric measurements of the orbits and asked the patients for evaluation of their situation before and after the reconstruction. Points addressed were double vision, visual acuity, field of vision, limitations in daily life and aesthetic considerations.A total of 14 patients were reviewed and 11 answered the questionnaire. Ophthalmological examinations showed that the physical integrity of the eye was maintained. Volumetric measurements preopeatively (33.94 ± 3.24 cm³) and postoperatively (30.67 ± 2.07 cm³) showed that a statistically significant overcorrection of orbital volume leads to good functional and aesthetic outcomes. Patients’ subjective opinions were that they greatly benefitted, especially concerning limitations in daily life, which improved by 4.4 ± 2.8 points out of 10 possible points, and aesthetics, with an improvement of 5.9 ± 1.78 points.Based on these findings, we conclude that secondary reconstructions contribute to improvement of the patients’ quality of life and therefore should be considered as an option to improve patients’ condition.     

Binary Binder for Cf/C-SiC Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Property

Cf/C-SiC composites have become the preferred material for high-temperature load-bearing applications because of their low density, high strength, and excellent thermal-physical properties. Due to the composite’s poor sintering performance, the sintering temperature and pressure required for the preparation of Cf/C-SiC by traditional methods are also relatively high, which limits its engineering application. Herein, based on the precursor-derived ceramic route and C/C composites material preparation process, a binary binder (coal pitch and polysilylacetylene) is developed, which combines a carbon source, SiC precursor, and semi-ceramic SiC filler organically. Then, the SiC phase was successfully introduced into C/C composites by the slurry impregnation-hot pressing sintering method. The prepared Cf/C-SiC composites showed good mechanical properties, with a density of 1.53 g/cm³ and a bending strength of 339 ± 21 MPa. Moreover, the effects of the binary binder on the microstructure, density, and mechanical properties of Cf/C-SiC composites were investigated. This work provides a novel and effective approach to fabricating Cf/C-SiC composites with low density and high strength.     

眼部中药薰蒸穴位按摩防治视频终端视疲劳

目的观察视频终端(VDT)作业时间的累计暴露剂量(ICE)与眼表条件改变的关系,评价眼部中药薰蒸穴位按摩治疗VDT视疲劳的临床疗效。方法根据ICE将30例VDT视疲劳患者分为低暴露组(4000h)与高暴露组(≥4000h),以VDT视疲劳症状积分、泪膜破裂时间(BUT)、泪液分泌试验(SIT)及角膜荧光素染色(FL)积分为观测指标,采用眼部中药薰蒸穴位按摩治疗,隔天一次,十次为一疗程,观察一疗程。结果①高暴露组的BUT、SIT、FL异常例数均明显高于低暴露组(P0.01)。②治疗后,两组患者的症状积分、BUT、SIT、FL均有改善(P0.05),低暴露组症状积分改善程度优于高暴露组(P0.05),低暴露组疗效优于高暴露组(P0.01)。结论 VDT视疲劳患者中随着ICE的增加,眼表异常例数增加;眼部中药薰蒸穴位按摩可有效改善眼表条件及VDT视疲劳症状,且对于ICE较低者症状改善更优,疗效更好。     

Detection and prediction limits for identifying highly confusable drug names from experimental data

Confusions between drug names that look and sound alike are common, costly, harmful, and difficult to prevent. One prevention strategy is to screen proposed new drug names for confusability before approving them. Widespread acceptance of preapproval tests of confusability is compromised by the lack of experimental designs and statistical methods to support valid inferences about whether a proposed new name is unacceptably confusing. One way of identifying confusing names is to conduct memory and perception experiments on a set of drug names which would include both the new name and a set of control names (e.g., names already on the market). The experiment would yield an observed error rate for every name. Inferences about the acceptability of the new name can be made by comparing the error rate of the new name to the distribution of error rates of the control names. We describe four memory and perception experiments on drug names, carried out using clinicians as participants. Each experiment included drug names designated as test and control names. We demonstrate how to use a combination of logistic regression, Poisson prediction limits, and highly assured credible intervals to identify and apply a threshold for identifying unacceptably confusing names. Our models show an excellent fit to the data. These experimental designs and analytic methods should be useful in the preapproval testing of proposed new drug names and in similar regulatory scenarios where it is necessary to draw inferences about the comparative safety or effectiveness of new vs. old products.