MC3T3‐E1 Cells Behavior on Surfaces Bombarded by Argon Ions in Planar Cathode Discharge

To evaluate the effect of topography in nanoscale, titanium surfaces were bombarded by argon ions (a chemically inert gas), in an atmosphere of plasma. The effects of surface parameters on morphology, adhesion, proliferation, and MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts differentiation were analyzed. Nontreated (smooth) surfaces were used as a control. The levels of average roughness (Ra) observed in bombarded and smooth titanium surfaces were of 95 and 14 nm, respectively. The wettability increased on treated surfaces. The number of attached cells (30 and 60 min) was significantly higher on the bombarded surface. The cell proliferation after 3 and 7 days was also significantly higher on the ion‐bombarded surface. In addition, the ALP activity and expression of osteocalcin were higher in cells grown on the treated surface. The results showed that bombardment with argon ions increased the roughness and the wettability of the Ti surface, promoting a significant increase in the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of preosteoblasts.     

Juvenile dermatomyositis: A report of three cases

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), an autoimmune idiopathic myositis, is characterized by rash and proximal muscle weakness. Immunohistopathology typically shows perivascular inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of CD4+ T lymphocytes, perifascicular atrophy, and upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I. JDM has been attributed to a humoral-driven muscle microangiopathy probably implicating the type I interferon pathway. Tubulo-reticular inclusions present in endothelial cell of muscle are biomarkers of interferon exposure, and so may be an indirect data of this myopathy especially in the absence of rash and inflammatory infiltrate. We report on three patients in which electron microscopy solves the differential diagnosis among infantile myositis showing peculiar inclusions.     

Lower sperm quality and testicular and epididymal structural impairment in adult rats exposed to rosuvastatin during prepuberty

The increase of obesity, bad eating habits and the lack of physical exercises are highly related to dyslipidemias. Rosuvastatin is a lipid‐lowering drug and has been indicated to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to treat dyslipidemias due to its higher efficiency to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive adverse effects on sexual maturity due to rosuvastatin exposure in juvenile male rats during prepuberty. Three groups were randomly formed with newly weaned rats: control, whose rats received saline solution 0.9% and rosuvastatin at doses of 3 or 10 mg kg^–1 day^–1, administered orally by gavage, from postnatal day 21 until preputial separation (average of 45 days for controls and 49 days for statin‐treated animals), indicative of puberty onset. Male rats were maintained until sexual maturity and were killed on postnatal day 110. In the rosuvastatin‐treated groups, the results showed diminished follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations, increased estradiol and prolactin concentrations, histopathologic alterations on testis and epididymis and decreased sperm quality. Moreover, statin‐exposed groups showed decreased expression of androgen receptor on testis and epididymis and lower expression of aquaporin‐9 on epididymal epithelium. In conclusion, administration of rosuvastatin to prepubertal male rats provoked long‐term hormonal deregulation and impaired reproduction at adulthood.     

Pulmonary atresia with an intact septum: indications for the neonatal surgical treatment guided by 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography

Twelve neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum underwent surgical treatment based on two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Ten patients with adequate morphology of the right ventricular outflow tract portion shown by means of two-dimensional echocardiography underwent pulmonary valvulotomy and systemic-to-pulmonary shunt. Two neonates with atresia of the right ventricular infundibulum on two-dimensional echocardiography underwent systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt without valvulotomy. In all patients the qualitative and quantitative echocardiographic diagnosis was confirmed at surgery and/or with the subsequent angiocardiographic study. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography is a precise diagnostic method for planning surgical treatment in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.     

Inhibition of concanavalin A-induced acute T cell dependent hepatic damage in mice by hypothyroidism

Abstract: Aims/Background: Concanavalin A (Con A) activates T lymphocytes and causes acute T-cell-mediated hepatic injury in mice. Decreased thyroid hormonal production is associated with a variety of immunological manifestations, including inactivation of macrophages with reduced TNF production and reduced soluble IL-2 receptors in the serum. We have recently shown that hypothyroidism prevents the development of cirrhosis and also minimizes hepatic damage in rats with fulminant hepatic failure. In the present study we examined the effects of hypothyroidism on a mouse model of Con A induced T cell-mediated acute hepatitis. Methods: Hypothyroidism was induced both medically (MMI, PTU) and surgically. Eight groups of 10 mice each were studied: euthyroid controls (2 groups: water, Con A) and hypothyroid (6 groups: MMI, PTU, Surgical, MMI-Con A, PTU-Con A, Surgical-Con A). Results: Hepatic inflammation was significantly decreased in each of the Con A treated hypothyroid groups of mice. The serum transaminases, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in the Con A treated group while near normal levels were found in the hypothyroid Con A treated groups (mean±SE AST: 1499±18 vs 78±10 IU/1, p<0.001; TNF: 2500±250 vs 135± 15 pg/ml. p<0.001, IL-6: 12,200±300 vs 1260±140 pg/ml, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Hypothyroidism, independent of the mode of induction, can effectively inhibit the development of acute T cell-mediated liver damage in mice. These results suggest that some decrease in thyroid function might have a role in the prevention of immune mediated liver diseases.     

Increased risk of high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive cervical cancer among African women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 infections

To assess the risk of prevalent high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) or invasive cervical cancer (ICC) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1, HIV-2, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, HIV load, and CD4 cell count, we studied 4119 women attending an outpatient clinic in Senegal. HIV infection was associated with increased rates of cervical infection with high-risk HPVs. Among women infected with high-risk HPVs, those with HIV-1 (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-4.8), HIV-2 (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 2.1-17.1), or dual HIV infection (OR, 8.0; 95% CI, 2.0-31.5) were more likely to have HSILs or ICC diagnosed than were HIV-negative women; this association was not observed among women not infected with high-risk HPVs. Among women with HIV, higher HIV plasma RNA loads and lower CD4 cell counts were associated with high-risk HPV infection and degree of cervical abnormality. Furthermore, HIV-2-positive women were more likely to have HSILs (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 0.9-12.4) or ICC (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.1-57) than were HIV-1-positive women.     

Anti-V3 loop spectrotype in HIV-infected individuals during zidovudine therapy

Summary In order to investigate the role played by zidovudine (ZDV) as immune modulator, particularly on B-cell response, the anti-V₃ loop spectrotype in 115 sera from 26 HIV-infected individuals was evaluated, prior to and during treatment with ZDV, by isoelectric focusing and reverse blotting (IEF-RB), a technique useful for indirectly measuring the activity and the number of B-cell clones. All 18 patients showing seroreactivity by IEFRB displayed a clear oligoclonal banding pattern, with no change in the spectrotype (i.e. new bands), in sequential analysis over the course of therapy. Only minor changes in band intensity were found, without any correlation with ZDV treatment or CD4⁺ cell count. In addition, among the sera reactive in spectrotypic analysis, the percentage of those with p24 antigen positivity was significantly lower than those with no detectable p24 antigen (19.8% vs 80.2%, respectively, p=<0.0001, Fisher's exact test). In conclusion, it could not be demonstrated by IEFRB that there was any effect of ZDV on the activity and the number of anti-V₃ specific B-cell clones. This data is in line with previous studies showing the constancy of anti-gp120 antibody spectrotype over the long course of the disease.

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Anti-V3-Loop Spektrotyp bei HIV-Infizierten während Zidovudin-Behandlung

Zusammenfassung Der Anti-V3-Loop-Spektrotyp wurden in 115 Seren von 26 HIV-Infizierten vor und nach Zidovudin-Therapie bestimmt, um die Rolle von Zidovudin als Immunmodulator, vor allem der B-Zell-Antwort, zu prüfen. Als Methoden wurden isoelektrische Fokussierung und reverses Blotting (IEFRB) eingesetzt, die sich für die indirekte Bestimmung der Aktivität und der Zahl der B-Zell-Klone als brauchbar erwiesen haben. Bei allen 18 seroreaktiven Patienten stellten sich eindeutige oligoklonale Bandenmuster dar. In Verlaufsanalysen während der Therapie war keine Änderung im Spektrotyp, d. h. keine neuen Banden, zu erkennen. Die Bandenintensität änderte sich nur wenig, wobei keine Beziehung zur Zidovudin-Therapie oder den CD4⁺ Zellzahlen bestand. In den Spektrotyp-positiven Seren war nur bei einem kleinen Anteil auch p24-Antigen nachzuweisen (19,8% positive gegen 80,2% p-24-Antigen negative Seren; p0,0001, Fisher's exakter Test). Zusammenfassend fand sich mit IEFRB kein Einfluß von Zidovudin auf die Aktivität und die Zahl anti-V₃-spezifischer B-Zell-Klone. Dies stimmt mit den Ergebnissen früherer Studien überein, in denen Konstanz des anti-gp120-Antikörper-Spektrotyps im Langzeitverlauf der Erkrankung festgestellt wurde.