Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer's disease

正Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease(AD):Alongside the increase in life expectancy,the prevalence of age-related disorders,such as neurodegenerative diseases,is on the rise.For example,AD,the most common form of dementia in the elderly,accounts for 60–80%of all dementia cases.     

Development, cell differentiation, angiogenesis--microparticles and their roles in angiogenesis

Cells of various types release small membrane vesicles called microparticles (MP) on their activation, as well as during the process of apoptosis. The properties and roles of MP generated in different contexts are diverse and are determined by their parent cell and the pathway of their generation, which affects their content. MP are involved in multiple cellular functions, including immunomodulation, inflammation, coagulation, and intercellular communication. MP are able to deliver molecular signals in the form of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, or functional transmembrane proteins from the parent cell to distantly located targets. In this review, we summarize some of the current knowledge regarding MP and their functional roles in transfer of proteins, nucleic acids, and signal transduction stimulators between cells of different origins in different settings. We will focus on the ability of MP to mediate angiogenesis-related signals and their effect on cell development. The investigation of MP could elucidate new cellular communication pathways and may lead to better understanding of pathophysiological processes. From a clinical point of view, MP may serve as biomarkers for disease status and may be found useful for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting angiogenesis-related conditions.     

Retrieval of immature oocytes from unstimulated ovaries followed by in vitro maturation and vitrification: A novel strategy of fertility preservation for breast cancer patients

Background

We report a novel fertility preservation strategy that may be useful for young breast cancer patients who present with time constraints or concerns about the effect of ovarian stimulation.

Methods

The protocol involves retrieval of immature oocyte from unstimulated ovaries followed by in vitro maturation (IVM), and vitrification of oocytes or embryos.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (age 24-45 years) underwent vitrification of oocytes (n = 18) or embryos (n = 20). The mean ages were 33.1 ± 5.0 years and 34.7 ± 4.8 years, respectively. The mean days required to complete the egg collection was 13 days. The median numbers of vitrified oocytes and embryos per retrieval were 7 (range 1-22) and 4 (range 1-13), respectively.

Conclusions

The strategy of immature oocyte retrieval without ovarian stimulation followed by IVM and oocyte or embryo vitrification, which does not increase the serum estradiol level and delay cancer treatment, represents an attractive option of fertility preservation for many breast cancer patients.     

Mutual cancellation between tones presented by air conduction, by bone conduction and by non-osseous (soft tissue) bone conduction

Auditory sensation can be elicited not only by air conducted (AC) sound or bone conducted (BC) sound, but also by stimulation of soft tissue (STC) sites on the head and neck relatively distant from deeply underlying bone. Tone stimulation by paired combinations of AC with BC (mastoid) and/or with soft tissue conduction produce the same pitch sensation, mutual masking and beats. The present study was designed to determine whether they can also cancel each other. The study was conducted on ten normal hearing subjects. Tones at 2 kHz were presented in paired combinations by AC (insert earphone), by BC (bone vibrator) at the mastoid, and by the same bone vibrator to several STC sites; e.g. the neck, the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle, the eye, and under the chin, shifting the phases between the pairs. Subjects reported changes in loudness and cancellation. The phase for cancellation differed across subjects. Neck muscle manipulations (changes in head position) led to alterations in the phase at which cancellation was reported. Cancellation was also achieved between pairs of tones to two STC sites. The differing phases for cancellation across subjects and the change in phase accompanying different head positions may be due to the different acoustic impedances of the several tissues in the head and neck. A major component of auditory stimulation by STC may not induce actual skull bone vibrations and may not involve bulk fluid volume displacements.     

Anesthesia management of complete versus incomplete placenta previa: a retrospective cohort study

Purpose: Placenta previa (PP) is a major cause of obstetric hemorrhage. Clinical diagnosis of complete versus incomplete PP has a significant impact on the peripartum outcome. Our study objective is to examine whether distinction between PP classifications effect anesthetic management.

Methods and materials: This multi-center, retrospective, cohort study was performed in two tertiary university-affiliated medical centers between the years 2005 and 2013. Electronic delivery databases were reviewed for demographic, anesthetic, obstetric hemorrhage, and postoperative outcomes for all cases.

Results: Throughout the study period 452 cases of PP were documented. We found 134 women (29.6%) had a complete PP and 318 (70.4%) had incomplete PP. Our main findings were that women with complete PP intraoperatively had higher incidence of general anesthesia (p?=?.017), higher mean estimated blood loss (p?p?p?p?p?=?.02), a longer median postoperative care unit (PACU) (p?=?.02), ICU (p?=?.002), and overall length of stay in the hospital (p?Conclusions: Complete PP is associated with increased risk of hemorrhage compared with incomplete PP. Therefore distinction between classifications should be factored into anesthetic management protocols.     

Risk of Hepatitis A Virus Infection among Sewage Workers in Israel

Sewage workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals and biological agents, including the hepatitis A virus. Inasmuch as Israel is an endemic area for hepatitis A, it is unclear if sewage workers are at increased risk for hepatitis A or which factors contribute to such risk. The authors compared seropositivity of hepatitis A in 100 sewage workers with that in 100 blue-collar worker controls. Hepatitis A seropositivity was highly prevalent, but nonsignificant, in both sewage workers and controls (82% and 91%, respectively). In sewage workers, the major risk for serological positivity was age (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.6, 12.4 for every 10 y). The factors associated negatively with seropositivity were years of education and years of seniority. The authors concluded that exposure to sewage is not a risk factor for hepatitis A infection in Israel, and, therefore, sewage workers do not require special attention in this regard.