Detection of dermatophytes in human nail and skin dust produced during podiatric treatments in people without typical clinical signs of mycoses

Pedicures are the most common cosmetic foot treatment. Many pedicurists and podiatrists suffer from respiratory infections and diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, chronic cough and bronchitis. Skin and nail dust may play an important role in the development of occupational diseases and the transmission of mycosis to other clients. To examine the presence of dermatophytes in nail and skin dust produced during podiatric treatments of people without typical symptoms of mycosis and to assess the epidemiological hazards of tinea pedis for podiatrists as well as other clients. Seventy‐seven samples underwent direct microscopy and culture. The results of direct microscopy were positive in 28/77 samples (36.36%) and doubtful in 3/77 (3.9%). Fungi were cultured from 36/77 samples (46.75%), including 8/77 (10.3%) positive for dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum‐6 isolates and Trichophyton mentagrophytes‐2). Material collected during podiatric treatments is potentially infected by pathogenic fungi; thus, there is a need to protect both workers who perform such treatments, as well as other clients, to prevent the transmission of pathogens in the Salon environment. Exposure to this occupational hazard may increase not only the risk of respiratory infections but also increase asthmatic or allergic reactions to Trichophyton.     

Using extremity magnetic resonance imaging to assess and monitor early rheumatoid arthritis: the optimal joint combination to be scanned in clinical practice

OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal combination for detecting erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis using extremity magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI). METHODS: In 44 patients, eMRI of 1 hand identified 77% who were erosive, 2 hands 89%, and 2 hands and feet 91%. RESULTS: eMRI identified 4 times as many erosions as radiography. At 6 months, eMRI of 1 hand identified an increase in erosions in 50% subjects, 2 hands in 55%, and 2 hands and feet in 55%. When only subjects with a change in erosion score above the smallest detectable difference were considered, these numbers were 30%, 25%, and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: eMRI provides superior erosion identification compared to radiography. Imaging 2 hands can be used as a screening tool and 1 hand to monitor erosions over time.     

Clenbuterol enhances the production of kynurenic acid in brain cortical slices and glial cultures

The effect of a beta(2)-adrenergic agonist, clenbuterol on the production of a glutamate receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid was studied in vitro. Clenbuterol enhanced the production of kynurenic acid in brain cortical slices (0.1-1.0 mM) and in glial cultures (1-50 muM). Timolol, a non-selective beta-adrenergic antagonist prevented this effect. The presented data indicate a novel mechanism of action of beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonists and suggest that an increased formation of the endogenous glutamate receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid could partially contribute to their neuroprotective activity.     

Effect of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue treatment on a cytokine profile in prostate cancer patients

The aim of the study was to test serum concentrations of the chosen cytokines in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with an luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue. We tested interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (INF)-gamma in blood at three time points; I - before the injection, II - 10 days and III - 20 days after the injection in 14 men with PCa. Patients had one depot injection of the LHRH analogue monthly. The cytokine concentrations in serum samples were determined by ELISA method. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was examined before and after six months of the LHRH analogue treatment. After six months of the therapy, we observed normalization of serum PSA value from 16.48 ng/ml to 1.45 ng/ml. LHRH analogue injection resulted in a significant drop of the IL-2 concentration, and the value gradually returned to normal in the next 20 days. IL-10 concentration transiently increased and then was down-regulated. Serum TNF-alpha and INF-gamma concentrations in PCa patients were significantly lower compared to controls and were not affected by the treatment. LHRH analogue treatment in PCa patients modulates concentrations of the chosen cytokines which may result both in antitumor and a transient immunosuppressive effect.     

1-Methylnicotinamide (MNA) prevents endothelial dysfunction in hypertriglyceridemic and diabetic rats

For many years, 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), a primary metabolite of nicotinamide, has been considered inactive. Recently however, it has been discovered that MNA possesses anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study we investigated whether chronic administration of MNAto hypertriglyceridemic or diabetic rats would reverse endothelial dysfunction characterized by the impairment of nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilatation. Hypertriglyceridemia in rats was induced by fructose-rich (60%) diet, while diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (70 mg/kg). After eight weeks, in hypertriglyceridemic or diabetic rats treated or non-treated with MNA(100 mg/kg), we analyzed the magnitude of endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent vasodilatation in aorta induced by acetylcholine or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicilamine (SNAP), respectively, as well as plasma concentration of: cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, HbA(1c), fructosamine, peptide C, endogenous MNAand its metabolites (M2PY, M4PY). In diabetic rats plasma concentration of glucose, HbA(1c) and fructosamine was elevated (402.08 +/- 19.01 vs. 82.06 +/- 5.41 mg/dl, p < 0.001; 9.55 +/- 0.56 vs. 4.93 +/- 0.24%, p = 0.052 and 2.53 +/- 0.10 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.06 mmol DTF/mg protein, p < 0.001 in diabetic and control rats, respectively). In hypertriglyceridemic rats plasma concentration of triglycerides was elevated (4.25 +/- 0.27 vs. 1.55 +/- 0.12 mmol/l, p < 0.001 in hypertriglyceridemic and control rats, respectively). In both models the NO-dependent vasodilatation in aorta induced by acetylcholine was significantly impaired as compared to control rats, while the response to SNAP was largely preserved. In hypertriglyceridemic rats, 4 weeks of treatment with MNA(100 mg/kg, po) resulted in a three to six-fold increase in endogenous levels of MNA and its metabolites (M2PY and M4PY), the fall in triglycerides concentration in plasma (from 4.25 +/- 0.27 to 2.22 +/- 0.14 mmol/l, p < 0.001), and the preservation of the NO-dependent vasodilatation. In diabetic rats chronic treatment with MNAalso prevented the impairment of NO-dependent vasodilatation, while it displayed only a mild effect on hyperglycemia and did not lower triglycerides concentration. In summary, MNAtreatment decreased plasma triglycerides concentration in hypertriglyceridemic, but not in diabetic rats, while it prevented the development of endothelial dysfunction in aorta in both of these models. Accordingly, the ability of MNAto reverse endothelial dysfunction seems to be independent of its hypolipemic activity.