Spontaneous subarachnoidal hemorrhage in patients with Covid-19: case report

Journal of NeuroVirology - In this article, subarachnoidal hemorrhage developing in a case with Covid-19-related pneumonia was evaluated. In the presence of respiratory system infection signs such...     

Atherosclerosis in Takayasu arteritis

OBJECTIVE: Chronic inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. We hypothesised that atherosclerosis may also be increased in Takayasu arteritis. METHODS: The frequency of atherosclerotic plaques and the intima-media thickness (IMT) were investigated in 30 female patients with Takayasu arteritis (mean age (standard deviation), 35.4 (8.0) years), along with 45 sex-matched and age-matched patients with SLE (37.4 (6.8)) and 50 healthy controls (38.2 (5.7)). Plaques were scanned and IMT was measured at both sides of the common carotids, carotid bulb, and internal and external carotid arteries by B-mode ultrasonography. Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis were also assessed. RESULTS: Most of the atherosclerotic risk factors were comparable between patients with Takayasu arteritis and SLE. More atherosclerotic plaques were observed among patients with Takayasu arteritis (8/30; 27%) and those with SLE (8/45; 18%) than among the healthy controls (1/50; 2%; p = 0.005). Logistic regression analyses showed that the presence of a plaque was associated only with age in both Takayasu arteritis and SLE (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). The mean overall IMT was significantly higher among patients with Takayasu arteritis (0.95+/-0.31 mm) than among the patients with SLE (0.58+/-0.10 mm) and the healthy controls (0.59+/-0.08 mm; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with Takayasu arteritis have a high rate of atherosclerotic plaques, at least as frequent as that observed among patients with SLE.     

Cytotoxicity analysis of strontium ranelate on cultured human periodontal ligament fibroblasts: a preliminary report

Background/Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the cytotoxicity of strontium ranelate (SR) on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDL cells) in vitro. Methods: PDL cells were obtained from healthy human third molars and cultured in Dulbeccos Modified Eagles Medium. The experimental groups were: G1, cultures treated with fresh medium (control); and G2, G3, G4 and G5: treated with SR at 20, 10, 5 and 2.5 mg/mL, respectively. The experimental times were 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours (short-term) for viability, and 2, 4, 6 and 8 days (long-term) for cell survival. The cells were counted using a hemocytometer. Data were then analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p < 0.05). Results: Cultures treated with the highest SR concentrations (G2 and G3) had significantly lower cell viability and cell numbers (p < 0.05) than those in G1, G4 and G5. SR at 2.5 mg/mL was non-cytotoxic to PDL cells. Conclusion: SR was non-toxic at appropriate concentrations. Preclinical tests are needed to further assess its safety and effectiveness for tooth resorption prior to clinical use.     

Colonic delivery of compression coated nisin tablets using pectin/HPMC polymer mixture.

Nisin containing pectin/HPMC compression coated tablets were prepared and their in vitro behavior tested for colonic delivery. Nisin is a 34-amino-acid residue long, heat stable peptide belonging to the group A lantibiotics with wide antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The invention can be useful for treating colonic infectious diseases such as by Clostridium difficile, and also by colonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. In this study, each 100mg core tablet of nisin was compression coated with 100% pectin, 90% pectin-10% HPMC, 85% pectin-15% HPMC, 80% pectin-20% HPMC, 75% pectin-25% HPMC, 100% HPMC at a coat weight of 400mg. The concentration and the activity of nisin were quantified using Well Diffusion Agar Assay. Drug release studies were carried out in pH 3.3 buffer solution. System degradation/erosion experiments were carried out in pH 1.2, 3.3, and 6.8 buffers using a pectinolytic enzyme. The biological activity and NMR studies were performed to assess the stability of nisin during the processing and after the in vitro tests. It was found that pectin alone was not sufficient to protect the nisin containing core tablets. At the end of the 6h 40% degradation was observed for 100% pectin tablets. HPMC addition required to control the solubility of pectin, a 5% increase in HPMC ratio in pectin/HPMC mixture provided a 2-h lag time for nisin release. Eighty percent pectin-20% HPMC appeared to be an optimum combination for further evaluation. Tablets maintained their integrity during the 6-h dissolution test, approximating the colon arrival times. Nisin was found to be active/stable during processing and after in vitro tests. Effect of polymer hydration on pectin degradation was found to be crucial for the enzyme activity. Sufficiently hydrated pectin degraded faster. The pectin/HPMC envelope was found to be a good delivery system for nisin to be delivered to the colon.     

The effect of a modified reverse headgear force applied with a facebow on the dentofacial structures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a modified reverse headgear force applied with a facebow on the dentofacial structures of patients with skeletal Class III malocclusions characterized by maxillary retrognathism. Thirty individuals before the pubertal peak and in the mixed dentition were selected. Fifteen subjects (seven males, eight females, mean age 9.2 years) who formed the treatment group were compared with a control group comprising seven males and eight females (mean age 8.6 years). Maxillary deficiency and negative overjet were noted in all individuals included in the treatment and control groups. The combination of a full coverage maxillary removable appliance and an embedded facebow was used for treatment. The outer arms of the facebow were bent to deliver the force through the approximate centre of resistance of the maxilla. Extra-oral elastics extended from the reverse headgear to the outer arms of the facebow. Statistical analysis indicated significant changes in angles SNA, NV-A, SV-ANS, SV-PNS and PP measurements, suggesting that the maxilla moved anteriorly. There was, however, no statistically significant difference in SN-MP, SN-PP and MP-PP measurements between the treatment and control groups. These results suggest that there was no maxillary or mandibular rotation, but that the molars moved mesially in the protraction group. The U6-PP(V) dimension did not display significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment measurements in the treated group. Anterior movement of the maxilla was obtained without rotation of the jaws and upper and lower maxillary heights were unaffected.     

Effect of Nifedipine on the Healing of Left Colonic Anastomoses in Rats

Purpose Ca²⁺ channel blockers inhibit collagenase production and have a vasodilatatory effect. They also restrict the formation of ischemia-reperfusion induced free oxygen radicals. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nifedipine on the healing of colonic anastomoses in a rat model.Methods Sixty Wistar rats weighing 240–290g were divided into four groups of 15 rats each: a 3rd day control group (group A), a 3rd day treatment group (group B), a 7th day control group (group C), and a 7th day treatment group (group D). The treatment groups were given Nifedipine 3mg/kg per day orally as three divided doses.Results The bursting pressure values of the anastomoses in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P 0.05). The hydroxyproline content was also significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control groups (P 0.05). Histologic examination confirmed that nifedipine treatment significantly increased collagen deposition and fibroblast ingrowth compared with controls (P 0.05).Conclusions These results clearly showed that nifedipine enhanced the stability of colonic anastomoses during the first postoperative week.     

Spinal epidural abscess associated with IgG4 deficiency

The objective is to present the possibility of an association between spinal epidural abscess and IgG deficiency. Spinal epidural abscess is a rare but potentially devastating condition. Review of the literature showed no reported acknowledgment about the relationship between spinal epidural abscess and IgG deficiency. This report discusses the case of a 16-year-old boy who developed progressive paraplegia within 24 hours. Clinical and neuroradiologic features are reported. Serum quantitative total IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations were measured by nephelometry. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging showed epidural abscess between T6 and T11 compressing the cord posteriorly. IgG subclasses (IgG ) were found abnormal. The possible importance of immunologic evaluation in the patients with spinal epidural abscess when no source of infection could be find is discussed.(4) (4) (4)     

Dissection of the ascending aorta due to metastatic carcinoma

The association of aortic dissection with a malignancy is a rare finding and previous reports are usually those of primary aortic sarcomas. In this report we present a case with typical ascending aorta dissection associated with metastatic carcinoma originating from the lungs. The metastatic infiltration of the vasovasorum of the aorta by carcinoma cells may have caused aortic dissection by decreasing medial strength and integrity. This is a mechanism of aortic dissection that we have not encountered in previous reports.     

Endothelial expression of tissue factor on saphenous vein and internal mammary artery segments

Saphenous vein grafts have significantly higher early and late occlusion rates compared to internal mammary artery grafts. This preliminary study was planned to investigate the pattern of expression of tissue factor (TF), which is the most important initiator of coagulation, in these two widely used grafts. Seven saphenous vein (SV) segments and 5 internal mammary artery (IMA) segments from patients undergoing elective coronary bypass were stained for TF using specific antibodies and immunohistochemistry methods. The results have shown that while IMA segments showed no intimal expression of TF, dilated saphenous vein segments showed significant expression of TF in the intimal layers. Intimal expression of TF in SV grafts could be due to universal preparation techniques which includes surgical extirpation and dilatation or to an inherent difference from the IMA.