Lack of SARS transmission and U.S. SARS case-patient

In early April 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was diagnosed in a Pennsylvania resident after his exposure to persons with SARS in Toronto, Canada. To identify contacts of the case-patient and evaluate the risk for SARS transmission, a detailed epidemiologic investigation was performed. On the basis of this investigation, 26 persons (17 healthcare workers, 4 household contacts, and 5 others) were identified as having had close contact with this case-patient before infection-control practices were implemented. Laboratory evaluation of clinical specimens showed no evidence of transmission of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection to any close contact of this patient. This investigation documents that, under certain circumstances, SARS-CoV is not readily transmitted to close contacts, despite ample unprotected exposures. Improving the understanding of risk factors for transmission will help focus public health control measures.     

Radiography of soft tissue of the foot and ankle with diffraction enhanced imaging

Non-calcified tissues, including tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue and cartilage, are not visible, for any practical purposes, with conventional X-ray imaging. Therefore, any pathological changes in these tissues generally necessitate detection through magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound technology. Until recently the development of an X-ray imaging technique that could detect both bone and soft tissues seemed unrealistic. However, the introduction of diffraction enhanced X-ray imaging (DEI) which is capable of rendering images with absorption, refraction and scatter rejection qualities has allowed detection of specific soft tissues based on small differences in tissue densities. Here we show for the first time that DEI allows high contrast imaging of soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and adipose tissue, of the human foot and ankle.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 2‐piperazin‐1‐yl‐N‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐ylacetamides of cyclopenta[c]pyridines and pyrano[3,4‐c]pyridines

In this study, we report the synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new disubstituted piperazines. Thus, 3‐chlorocyclopenta[c]pyridines and 6‐chloropyrano[3,4‐c]pyridine 1 under mild reaction conditions with piperazine gave the 3(6)‐piperazine‐substituted cyclopenta[c]pyridines and pyrano[3,4‐c]pyridine 2 . Furthermore, the latter, by alkylation with 2‐chloro‐N‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐ylacetamide, led to the formation of the target compounds. The evaluation of the antibacterial activity revealed that 3k was the most potent compound. The most sensitive bacterium was found to be Listeria monocytogenes, whereas Staphylococcus aureus was the most resistant one. Three compounds, 3d , 3g , and 3k , were tested also against the following resistant strains: methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All three compounds appeared to be more potent than ampicillin against MRSA. Moreover, compound 3d showed a better activity than the reference drug ampicillin against P. aeruginosa, whereas 3g was more efficient against E. coli. The best antifungal activity was observed again for compound 3k . The most resistant fungi appeared to be Aspergillus fumigatus, whereas Trichoderma viride seemed the most sensitive one toward the compounds tested. Molecular docking studies on E. coli MurB, as well as on Candida albicans CYP51 and dihydrofolate reductase, were used for the prediction of the mechanisms of the antibacterial and antifungal activities, confirming the experimental results.     

Radiography of soft tissue of the foot and ankle with diffraction enhanced imaging

Non-calcified tissues, including tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue and cartilage, are not visible, for any practical purposes, with conventional X-ray imaging. Therefore, any pathological changes in these tissues generally necessitate detection through magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound technology. Until recently the development of an X-ray imaging technique that could detect both bone and soft tissues seemed unrealistic. However, the introduction of diffraction enhanced X-ray imaging (DEI) which is capable of rendering images with absorption, refraction and scatter rejection qualities has allowed detection of specific soft tissues based on small differences in tissue densities. Here we show for the first time that DEI allows high contrast imaging of soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and adipose tissue, of the human foot and ankle.     

Pioglitazone prevents morphine antinociception tolerance and withdrawal symptoms in rats

Long-term exposure to opiates induces tolerance to the analgesic effect and dependence. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, on the morphine-induced tolerance and dependence. Groups of rats received morphine in combination with a vehicle or pioglitazone (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) daily. Thirty minutes before pioglitazone (40 mg/kg), GW-9662, a selective PPAR-γ antagonist, (2 mg/kg) was administrated in order to evaluate the possible role of the PPAR-γ. Nociception was assessed by a tail flick apparatus, and the percentage of the maximal possible effect was calculated as well. For 9 days, rats received additive doses of morphine to induce dependence. Naloxone was administrated 2 h after the morphine last dose, and withdrawal symptoms were recorded for 45 min. Morphine administration to rats over a duration of 17 days resulted in the development of tolerance, whereas pioglitazone (40 mg/kg) delayed the day of the established tolerance for 15 days. Administration of pioglitazone also prevented morphine-induced 50 % effective dose (ED₅₀) shift to the right in the dose-response curve and increased the global analgesic effect of morphine. In addition, pioglitazone decreased the total withdrawal score significantly, whereas GW-9662 significantly reversed the pioglitazone effects on the morphine tolerance and dependence. The prevention of the morphine-induced glia activation and the proinflammatory responses were the possible mechanisms for pioglitazone effect on delaying the morphine tolerance and attenuating the dependence.     

Exploring the biological basis of haemophilic joint disease: experimental studies

Summary. Haemophilia has been recognized as the most severe among the inherited disorders of blood coagulation since the beginning of the first millennium. Joint damage is the hallmark of the disease. Despite its frequency and severity, the pathobiology of blood‐induced joint disease remains obscure. Although bleeding into the joint is the ultimate provocation, the stimulus within the blood inciting the process and the mechanisms by which bleeding into a joint results in synovial inflammation (synovitis) and cartilage and bone destruction (arthropathy) is unknown. Clues from careful observation of patient material, supplemented with data from animal models of joint disease provide some clues as to the pathogenesis of the process. Among the questions that remain to be answered are the following: (i) What underlies the phenotypic variability in bleeding patterns of patients with severe disease and the development of arthropathy in some but not all patients with joint bleeding? (ii) What is the molecular basis underlying the variability? (iii) Are there strategies that can be developed to counter the deleterious effects of joint bleeding and prevent blood‐induced joint disease? Understanding the key elements, genetic and/or environmental, that are necessary for the development of synovitis and arthropathy may lead to rational design of therapy for the targeted prevention and treatment of blood‐induced joint disease.     

Clinical advantages of improving the excessive gingival display (EGD) by surgical repositioning of the upper lip

Clinical Oral Investigations - The objective of this study is to minimize gingival display by surgical repositioning of the upper lip and to suggest this technique as an alternative treatment...     

The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on gene expression related to insulin,lipid and inflammation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: This research was conducted to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) intake on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 40 subjects diagnosed with PCOS. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either 100?mg CoQ10 (n?=?20) or placebo (n?=?20) per day for 12?weeks. Gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation were quantified in blood samples of PCOS women with RT-PCR method.

Results: Results of RT-PCR shown that compared with the placebo, CoQ10 intake downregulated gene expression of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LDLR) (p?p?=?0.01) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with PCOS. In addition, compared to the placebo group, CoQ10 supplementation downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (p?=?0.03), interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p?=?0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p?Conclusions: Overall, CoQ10 intake for 12?weeks in PCOS women significantly improved gene expression of LDLR, PPAR-γ, IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-α.