DNA of Helicobacter spp. and common gut bacteria in primary liver carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastric and enteric Helicobacter species have been associated with the pathogenesis of some extragastric diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the presence of DNA of Helicobacter species in samples of the cancer and the surrounding tumour-free liver tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n=12) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC, n=13). The patients were from an area with low liver cancer incidence and with low hepatitis B and C prevalence. Patients with a benign liver disease (n=24) were included as controls. Paraffin-embedded liver samples were examined by a Helicobacter genus-specific PCR assay as well as group-specific PCR assays for Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. PCR products of positive samples were characterised by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: PCR assay detected Helicobacter DNA in seven of 12 (58%) and eight of 13 (62%) normal liver tissue specimens from HCC and CC patients, respectively. Two cancer samples from HCC patients were Helicobacter-positive but none of the CC cancers. In the control group, three of 24 (12.5%) patients with a benign liver condition were positive for Helicobacter species (p<0.01 compared to results of tumour-free liver tissue from the cancer patients). DGGE and DNA sequence analysis showed that 90% of the detected PCR products were "H. pylori-like". DNA of some other enteric bacteria was detected in the liver of one cancer patient and one control (4% of all patients). CONCLUSION: The presence of DNA of Helicobacter species in liver specimens, but not of other common gut bacteria, was associated with human hepatic carcinogenesis.     

Monitoring recovery from diaphragm paralysis with ultrasound

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic paralysis is an uncommon, yet underdiagnosed cause of dyspnea. Data regarding the time course and potential for recovery has come from a few small case series. The methods that have been traditionally employed to diagnose diaphragmatic weakness or paralysis are either invasive or limited in sensitivity and specificity. A new technique utilizing two-dimensional, B-mode ultrasound (US) measurements of diaphragm muscle thickening during inspiration (Deltatdi%) has been validated in the diagnosis of diaphragm paralysis (DP). The purpose of this study was to assess whether serial US evaluation might be utilized to monitor the potential recovery of diaphragm function. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with clinically suspected DP were referred to the pulmonary physiology laboratory. Sixteen patients were found to have DP by US (unilateral, 10 patients; bilateral, 6 patients). Subjects were followed up for up to 60 months. On initial and subsequent visits, Deltatdi% was measured by US. Additional measurements included upright and supine vital capacity (VC), maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax), and maximal expiratory pressure. RESULTS: Eleven of 16 patients functionally recovered from DP. The mean (+/- SD) recovery time was 14.9 +/- 6.1 months. No diaphragm thickening was noted in those patients who did not recover. Positive correlations were found between improvement in Deltatdi% and interval changes in VC, Pimax, and end-expiratory measurements of diaphragm thickness. CONCLUSIONS: US may be used to assess for potential functional recovery from diaphragm weakness or DP. As in previous series, recovery occurs in a substantial number of individuals, but recovery time may be prolonged.     

Losartan-induced attenuation of blood pressure in L-NAME hypertensive rats is associated with reversal of the enhanced expression of Gi alpha proteins

OBJECTIVE: We have previously reported that hearts from N-[omega]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats exhibited an enhanced expression of Gi proteins. Since, losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, has been shown to attenuate the L-NAME-induced increase in blood pressure, we undertook the present studies to evaluate whether losartan-induced decreased blood pressure in this model of hypertension is associated with attenuation of enhanced expression of Gi proteins and adenylyl cyclase signalling. METHODS: L-NAME (70 mg/kg body weight) and losartan (10 mg/kg body weight), alone or in combination, were given orally to Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks. The control rats received only plain tap water. The levels of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3) and stimulatory (Gs alpha) proteins and Gi alpha mRNA in hearts were determined by immunoblotting and Northern blotting, respectively. Adenylyl cyclase activity was determined by measuring [32P]cAMP formation from [32P]ATP. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure was enhanced in L-NAME-treated rats compared to control rats (164 +/- 5.2 versus 105 +/- 2 mmHg; n = 30), and was significantly attenuated by losartan treatment (164 +/- 5.2 mmHg versus 120 +/- 2.5 mmHg; n = 30). The expression of Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3 proteins and their mRNA, which was enhanced in L-NAME-treated rats, was reversed by losartan treatment. However, losartan alone did not alter the levels of Gs alpha or Gi alpha proteins. In addition, the stimulatory effects of guanosine 5'-gamma-thiotriphosphate (GTPgammaS), isoproterenol, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA), glucagon, forskolin (FSK) and sodium fluoride (NaF) on adenylyl cyclase, which were diminished in L-NAME-treated rats, were reversed by losartan treatment. Furthermore, the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity by low concentrations of GTPgammaS (receptor-independent Gi functions), which was significantly enhanced in L-NAME-treated rats, was attenuated by losartan treatment. In addition, losartan was able to reverse the attenuated receptor-mediated inhibitions of adenylyl cyclase by oxotremorine and angiotensin II towards control. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the implication of AT1 receptors in enhanced expression of Gi alpha proteins and increased blood pressure in L-NAME-induced hypertension.     

Efficacy of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir/ribavirin in management of HCV genotype 4 and end-stage kidney disease

Background

Till now, pooled data about the safety and efficacy of different direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) regimens in different renal situations are still under evaluation.

Morphometric study of foramina transversaria in Jordanian population using cross-sectional computed tomography

Anatomical Science International - Foramina transversaria are bilateral landmarks of human cervical vertebrae. Morphometric analysis of foramina transversaria is valuable in both clinical and...     

Studying host genetic background effects on multimorbidity of intestinal cancer development,type 2 diabetes and obesity in response to oral bacterial infection and high‐fat diet using the collaborative cross (CC) lines

BackgroundMultimorbidity of intestinal cancer (IC), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity is a complex set of diseases, affected by environmental and genetic risk factors. High‐fat diet (HFD) and oral bacterial infection play important roles in the etiology of these diseases through inflammation and various biological mechanisms.MethodsTo study the complexity of this multimorbidity, we used the collaborative cross (CC) mouse genetics reference population. We aimed to study the multimorbidity of IC, T2D, and obesity using CC lines, measuring their responses to HFD and oral bacterial infection. The study used 63 mice of both sexes generated from two CC lines (IL557 and IL711). For 12 weeks, experimental mice were maintained on specific dietary regimes combined with co‐infection with oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, while control groups were not infected. Body weight (BW) and results of a intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) were recorded at the end of 12 weeks, after which length and size of the intestines were assessed for polyp counts.ResultsPolyp counts ranged between 2 and 10 per CC line. The combination of HFD and infection significantly reduced (P < .01) the colon polyp size of IL557 females to 2.5 cm², compared to the other groups. Comparing BW gain, IL557 males on HFD gained 18 g, while the females gained 10 g under the same conditions and showed the highest area under curve (AUC) values of 40 000‐45 000 (min mg/dL) in the IPGTT.ConclusionThe results show that mice from different genetic backgrounds respond differently to a high fat diet and oral infection in terms of polyp development and glucose tolerance, and this effect is gender related.     

Removal of osseointegrated dental implants: a systematic review of explantation techniques

Objectives

This systematic review aims to evaluate current literature regarding available techniques for removal of osseointegrated implants in terms of explantation’s success, complications, and bone loss.

Material and methods

Two reviewers conducted a systematic literature search through electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE), complimented by manual and grey literature searches. Successful explantation was defined as the primary outcome. Complications and availability of residual bone for immediate implantation were defined as secondary outcomes.

Results

Eighteen articles, comprising 372 implants and 241 patients, were included. Five techniques were identified: reverse torque, trephines, burs, piezosurgery, and laser-assisted explantation. Peri-implantitis was the most common reason for explantation, followed by crestal bone loss, fracture, and malpositioning. The reverse torque was the most frequently reported technique (284 implants) with 87.7% success rate. Burs were used for explantation of 49 implants with a 100% success rate, while trephines were utilized for removal of 35 implants with 94% success. Piezosurgery (11 implants) and Er.Cr:YSGG laser (1 implant) showed 100% success. One study reported perforation of the sinus floor following trephine explantation, while another reported fracture of 3 implants following reverse torque application. Further analysis was hindered by the quality of the available studies and their lack of data.

Conclusions

Reverse torque seems the most conservative, and in the authors’ opinion, should be the first choice for explantation despite its inferior success rate. Additional studies with randomized controlled designs and larger sample sizes are required.

Clinical relevance

Dental implants have become the leading choice to replace missing teeth with gradually increasing numbers of complications and failures. An effective, conservative, and economic explantation technique is necessary to allow a successive implant placement.

     

Use of nanohybrid nanomaterials in water treatment: highly efficient removal of ranitidine

Entire elimination of pharmaceutical drugs from waste- and domestic-waters has attracted great attention due to their potent adverse effects on human health, particularly the human immune system. Many risks have been related to the presence of different types of drugs at different concentrations in wastewater. These risks include antimicrobial resistance (AMR), endocrine action, hormonal activation of cancers, and photodegradation of drugs. In this study, new nanohybrid materials consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and oxidized carbon nanotubes (OCNTs) were developed to remove a well-known drug, namely, ranitidine that treats stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal (GI) reflux disease from aqueous solutions. The characterization of synthesized nanohybrid GO-OCNTs was performed using spectroscopic (FTIR, and XRD), thermogravimetric (TGA) and microscopic (SEM) techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were used to investigate the technical feasibility of using synthesized GO-OCNTs for the removal of ranitidine from aqueous solutions. The effects of different operating conditions such as contact time, nanohybrid mass, solution temperature, solution pH, % crosslinking agent, and GO-to-OCNT ratio on the entire elimination of ranitidine were investigated. The experimental results indicated that the removal of ranitidine was very efficient, where 98.3% removal of the drug from aqueous solutions was achieved with a drug uptake of 97.8 mg g⁻¹. Moreover, the results indicated the optimum conditions for the removal of ranitidine, which are as follows: contact time = 140 minutes, nanohybrid GO-OCNT mass = 10 mg, solution temperature = 290 K, solution pH = 6.4, % crosslinking agent = 0.5%, and GO to O-CNT ratio = 1 : 4. The equilibrium data were fitted to different adsorption isotherms and Langmuir was found to best describe our data. Dynamic studies demonstrated that ranitidine adsorption followed pseudo-second order, and the thermodynamic parameters confirmed exothermic drug adsorption as well as the physisorption process.

Entire elimination of pharmaceutical drugs from waste- and domestic-waters has attracted great attention due to their potent adverse effects on human health, particularly the human immune system.