The -174G/C interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism influences the development of macular oedema following uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery

AIM: To determine whether the functional -174 G/C interleukin-6 gene polymorphism is a risk factor for the development of cystoid macular oedema (CMO) following routine uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery in patients with no established risk factors. METHODS: A total of 40 patients who underwent routine phacoemulsification surgery as part of a randomised controlled trial comparing the use of postoperative steroid drops against a single sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism. All patients underwent fluorescein angiography at 30 days and anterior chamber flare measurements pre-operatively and at day 1, 7, and 30. RESULTS: Angiographic CMO developed in 14 patients of the 40 studied. 9 out of the 14 patients carried the GG genotype (Fisher's exact test P=0.05, Hazard ratio for GG genotype; 4.05 (1.02-16.00)). There was no difference in flare measurements between the GG and Non-GG (GC/CC) group. The two groups were otherwise well matched in terms of age, sex, phacoemulsification energy used intraoperatively, and proportion of patients receiving postoperative triamcinolone or steroid drops. CONCLUSION: The -174G/C interleukin-6 promoter gene variant appears to modulate the response to phacoemulsification surgery and to influence the development of postoperative CMO. These data suggest a genetic predisposition to this complication.     

Risk factors for breast cancer in Pakistani women aged less than 45 years

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in previously low-risk Asian countries. It is important to identify the risk factors for Asian women, as little information currently exists for this population. AIM: The objective of the study was to determine risk factors for breast cancer among Pakistani women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 498 cases younger than 45 years were interviewed from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1998 at two major cancer hospitals. Age-matched population-based controls were selected from two cities and two villages to represent urban and rural areas. For the variables under study, cases and controls were compared by t-test. Conditional multiple logistic regression models were applied to the data set. RESULTS: Women with BMI >or= 30, with a family history of breast cancer and who were parous were at increased risk. Among parous women risk factors included BMI >or= 30, being in a consanguineous marriage, later age at menarche, later age at first full-term pregnancy, high parity and a history of abortion. CONCLUSION: The risk factors identified for Pakistani women below 45 years were similar to those observed in other studies. However, obesity in pre-menopausal women and late menarche were not protective and consanguinity was identified as a risk.     

Role of adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol in reversal of effects of encainide in supraventricular tachycardia

Reversal of the electrophysiologic effects of oral encainide with isoproterenol was evaluated in 16 patients with atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry (group A) and in another 16 patients with WolffParkinson-White syndrome (group B). Sustained AV nodal reentry was induced in all group A cases before administration of encainide, in 2 cases after oral encainide, and in 12 patients during infusion of isoproterenol. Among group B cases, 14 of 16 had sustained AV reentry during control, 6 of 16 after receiving encainide, and 8 of 16 with addition of isoproterenol.

During a mean follow-up of 19 ± 10 months in group A and 17 ± 9 months in group B, clinical tachycardia recurred in 8 patients (4 from each group). These 8 patients were among the 20 patients who demonstrated (1) isoproterenol-induced reversibility of encainide-suppressed tachycardia, or (2) acceleration of tachycardia rate slowed by encainide. No recurrences were seen among any of the 12 cases in which isoproterenol failed to reverse the encainide-induced tachycardia suppression. Patients with clinical recurrences were controlled with a variety of means, which included β blockers in 3 and nonpharmacologic methods in the remaining 5.

In patients with AV junctional tachycardia treated with oral encainide, our findings suggest that lack of tachycardia inducibility with isoproterenol predicts freedom from clinical recurrences. Furthermore, addition of a β blocker to oral encainide may prevent clinical recurrence in some who demonstrate adrenergic reversal of encainide effect.     

Use of specific acupuncture techniques in lingering nummular eczema: A case report

Background: Nummular eczema (NE) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic coin-shaped lesions and a long-lasting and easy-relapsing course, whi...     

Effects of myofascial release with tennis ball on spasticity and motor functions of upper limb in patients with chronic stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Background:Impaired motor function and upper extremity spasticity are common concerns in patients after stroke. It is essential to plan therapeutic techniques to recover from the stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of myofascial release with the tennis ball on spasticity and motor functions of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke.Methods:Twenty-two chronic stroke patients (male-16, female-6) were selected to conduct this study. Two groups were formed: the control group (n=11) which included conventional physiotherapy only and the experimental group (n=11) which included conventional physiotherapy along with tennis ball myofascial release – in both groups interventions were performed for 6 sessions (35 minutes/session) per week for a total of 4 weeks. The conventional physiotherapy program consisted of active and passive ROM exercises, positional stretch exercises, resistance strength training, postural control exercises, and exercises to improve lower limb functions. All patients were evaluated with a modified Ashworth scale for spasticity of upper limb muscles (biceps brachii, pronator teres, and the long finger flexors) and a Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for upper limb motor functions before and after 4 weeks. Nonparametric (Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test) tests were used to analyze data statistically. This study has been registered on clinicaltrial.gov (ID: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT05242679","term_id":"NCT05242679"}}NCT05242679).Results:A significant improvement (P < .05) was observed in the spasticity of all 3 muscles in both groups. For upper limb motor functions, significant improvement (P < .05) was observed in the experimental group only. When both groups were compared, greater improvement (P < .05) was observed in the experimental group in comparison to the control group for both spasticity of muscles and upper limb motor functions.Conclusion:Myofascial release performed with a tennis ball in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy has more beneficial effects on spasticity and motor functions of the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke compared to conventional therapy alone.     

A preliminary evaluation of tick cement-cone protein extract for a vaccine against Hyalomma infestation

Background:Vaccines have been widely exploited to prevent tick-borne infections in cattle. Most vaccines have faced failure in the field because of inconsistency in an immune response. It is presumed that the cement-cone proteins of ticks that participate in the acquisition of blood meal for ticks possess strong immune-stimulating properties and, hence, could be a useful candidate in vaccine development. Aims:We evaluated cement-cone proteins of tick Hyalomma anatolicum as a vaccine candidate against infestations of H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium in cattle. Methods:The cement-cone proteins were extracted from H. anatolicum to develop stage-reactive and immunogenic cross-reactive vaccine against the infestation of two species of ticks H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium. The immune response of the vaccine was tested against cement-cone proteins starved, partially fed, and richly fed ticks. Results:The findings of the present study demonstrated the cross-reactivity among the two species of ticks that belonged to the same genus (Hyalomma). The antigenic similarity between the two ticks species suggests that a common antigen may possibly be suitable for a vaccine against the two different species of ticks. The results have also indicated that the 23 kDa cement-cone protein of H. anatolicum and H. aegyptium may be responsible for the induction, or elicitation of immunogenic, common stage reactive, and cross-reactive host immune responses with consistent intensity throughout the life stages of ticks. Conclusion:The vaccine based upon cement-cone proteins of ticks may be a useful deterrent against tick-borne infections in cattle in countries like Pakistan.Key Words: Cattle, Cement-cone, Cross-reactive, Tick, Vaccine     

Localized nasopharyngeal amyloidosis: A case report

Amyloidosis is a rare condition on its own but finding localized amyloidosis of a site such as the nasopharynx is an extremely rare condition with very few cases described in the literature. The condition occurs due to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the extracellular space disrupting the cell architecture and causing eventual dysfunction. In this case report we discuss the pathophysiology, symptoms, and imaging findings of a patient initially thought to have giant cell arteritis, but who was found on CT to have a mass later determined to be localized nasopharyngeal amyloidosis. Evaluation will require biopsy as it is the gold standard, but there are many other tests and even reasons to consider the use of interventional radiology to sample other tissues rather than the primary target site for amyloid deposition in conjunction with nuclear imaging.     

The Role of Systemic Therapy in the Management of Stage I Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

Introduction

The optimal treatment strategy for resected stage I large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC) remains unknown. In this analysis, we evaluate the impact of systemic chemotherapy on patients with stage I LCNEC who have undergone surgical resection.

Phase separation kinetics of an SA liquid crystal in a reactive epoxy‐amine PDLC system: an X‐ray diffraction study

A Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal composite based upon a smectic liquid crystal and reactive crosslinkable epoxide‐amine monomers was studied. The composite material is obtained by a polymerization induced phase separation process. The polymerization and the phase separation kinetics are both monitored. The polymerization induced phase separation is detected and quantitatively monitored by X‐ray diffraction. The normalized X‐ray intensity is used to calculate a phase separation rate and to define the phase separation kinetics which is compared to the polymerization rate and to the polymerization kinetics. The rate difference accounts for changes in morphology.     

Estrogen upregulation of BRCA1 expression with no effect on localization

Alterations in the expression of the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 may contribute to the development of mammary and ovarian neoplasia. The sex-steroid estrogen modulates cell proliferation of normal and neoplastic breast and ovarian epithelial cells, but the role of estrogen regulation on the expression of BRCA1 remains to be defined. In this study, estrogen-regulated BRCA1 expression was examined in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Estrogen stimulated the proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast MCF-7, C7-MCF-7, and ovarian BG-1 cells as well as the expression of the estrogen-inducible pS2 gene. This was concomitant with upregulation of BRCA1 mRNA (2.5- to 5.0-fold) and a 3- to 10-fold induction of BRCA1 protein (230 kDa). Cell fractionation studies localized the BRCA1 protein to the nucleus in both unstimulated and estrogen-stimulated cells. The antiestrogen ICI-182780 inhibited estrogen-induced cell proliferation, BRCA1 mRNA induction, and BRCA1 protein expression in ER-positive cells. Conversely, estrogen did not influence expression of BRCA1 in HBL-100 cells that lacked the estrogen receptor, although the constitutive levels of BRCA1 mRNA (but not protein) in these cells were 5- to 30-fold higher than in other breast and ovarian cancer cells. Secretion of the BRCA1 protein into the cell medium did not account for the discrepancy between the mRNA and protein levels in HBL-100 cells. Proliferation of HBL-100 cells was not affected by either estrogen or ICI-182780. Taken together, these data support a role for the steroid estrogen and the involvement of the estrogen receptor pathway in the modulation of expression of BRCA1. We therefore propose that stimulation of cell proliferation may be a prerequisite for upregulation of BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Mol. Carcinog. 22:102–109, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.