Effect of alcohol administration on plasma growth hormone response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Plasma growth hormone (HGH) response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was assessed in a group of normal adult volunteers, with and without prior consumption of ethanol. A significant difference was found in peak HGH concentrations on the two occasions, indicating that prior consumption of ethanol attenuates the normal HGH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. It is suggested that ethanol may deplete catecholamine stores in the neurons of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and may thereby impair secretion of growth hormone releasing factor. Under certain circumstances this could be of importance in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced hypoglycemia.     

Electrophysiologic demonstration of bilateral anomalous pathways in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (type B preexcitation).

Pre- and postoperative electrophysiologic studies are described that were suggestive of two (right- and left-sided) anomalous atrioventricular (A-V) connections in a patient with type B Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and intractable arrhythmias, who underwent epicardial mapping and successful surgical ablation of the right-sided anomalous pathway. The presence of the right-sided anomalous pathway capable of both antegrade and retrograde conduction was suggested by the following observations: (1) Type B preexcitation on the surface electro-cardiogram; (2) maximal preexcitation and minimal stimulus-delta with low lateral right atrial pacing; (3) epicardial mapping of the atria and ventricles; and (4) disappearance of ventricular preexcitation after surgical ablation of the right-sided anomalous pathway. The presence of an additional left-sided anomalous pathway capable of only retrograde conduction (concealed on the surface electrocardiogram) was sugg-sted by the following observations: (1) Left to right retrograde atrial activation sequence during reentrant tachycardia and ventricular pacing at rapid rates and with coupled ventricular pacing postoperatively; (2) spontaneous conversion of wide ORS tachycardia utilizing the anomalous pathway for antegrade conduction to narrow QRS tachycardia with significant slowing in rate; and (3) smooth antegrade A-V nodal conduction curves with echo zone postoperatively. The demonstration of bilateral anomalous pathway in patients with preexcitation has important electrophysiologic and surgical implications.     

Efficacy of acetaminophen versus ibuprofen for the management of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: Randomized open-label study

BackgroundShoulder pain related to the rotator cuff (RC) is one of the most common and bothersome musculoskeletal complaints. Pharmacologic treatment most often includes acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. However, data allowing comparison of the efficacy of these two drugs are very limited. We compared the therapeutic outcomes of acetaminophen and ibuprofen in the management of RC-related pain.MethodsThis was an open-label, two-center, active-control, prospective randomized clinical trial. Participants were assigned randomly to acetaminophen or ibuprofen treatment groups. The acetaminophen dose was 500 mg every 6–8 h, and it was 400–800 mg every 6–8 h for ibuprofen. The impact of the treatment was measured by Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick-DASH) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires at baseline and after 6 weeks of therapy.ResultsThirty-three patients completed the study; 20 treated with ibuprofen and 13 with acetaminophen. Patients in both groups were comparable at baseline with regard to SPADI, Quick-DASH, and WHOQOL-BREF scores. After 6 weeks of treatment, patients receiving ibuprofen, but not acetaminophen, reported an improvement in pain severity and functional activity (as measured by SPADI and Quick-DASH). Patients taking acetaminophen, but not ibuprofen, reported improvement in the physical and environmental domains of WHOQOL-BREF scores.ConclusionsIbuprofen and acetaminophen provide benefits to patients suffering from RC-related pain. However, the type of improvement perceived by patients differed between these two medications.     

Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxic activity of naturally isolated naringin-metal complexes

High-purity naringin was isolated from the fruit peels of Citrus maxima and characterized by various spectroscopic methods like UV and NMR. The isolated compound ligand (HL) was used as ligand-metal complexes synthesis after using Ag (I), Y (III) and Ru (III) metals. These ligand-metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV–VIS, TGA, molar conductance and magnetic properties. Cytotoxic activity of the isolated naringin and its metal complexes were investigated against two human cancer cell lines namely, white breast Adenocarcinoma (MCF7) and Lung carcinoma (A549) using cell viability assay. Transition metal increased the cytotoxic activity of naringin when they were conjugated. LC50 of Ag ligand complex demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and A549 cell line that was found higher active more than three and four times the strength, respectively when compared to LC50 of Adriamycin. While LC50 of Adriamycin compound was slightly more active only about 30% and twice the strength of the Ru ligand complex against MCF-7 and A549 cell line, respectively.     

MicroRNA-181c provides neuroprotection in an intracerebral hemorrhage model

Apoptosis is an important factor during the early stage of intracerebral hemorrhage.MiR-181 c plays a key regulatory role in apoptosis.However,whether miR-181 c is involved in apoptosis of prophase cells after intracerebral hemorrhage remains unclear.Therefore,in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis.In vivo experiments:collagenase type VII was injected into the basal ganglia of adult Sprague-Dawley rats to establish an intracerebral hemorrhage model.MiR-181 c mimic or inhibitor was injected in situ 4 hours after intracerebral hemorrhage.Neurological functional defects(neurological severity scores)were assessed 1,7,and 14 days after model establishment.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling and western blot assay were conducted 14 days after model establishment.In vitro experiments:PC12 cells were cultured under oxygen-glucose deprivation,and hemins were added to simulate intracerebral hemorrhage in vitro.MiR-181 c mimic or inhibitor was added to regulate miR-181 c expression.3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay,luciferase reporter system,and western blot assay were performed.Experimental results revealed differences in miR-181 c expression in brain tissues of both patients and rats with cerebral hemorrhage.In addition,in vitro experiments found that miR-181 c overexpression could upregulate the Bcl-2/Bax ratio to inhibit apoptosis,while inhibition of miR-181 c expression could reduce the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and aggravate apoptosis of cells.Regulation of apoptosis occurred through the phosphoinositide 3 kinase(PI3 K)/Akt pathway by targeting of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN).Higher miR-181 c overexpression correlated with lower neurological severity scores,indicating better recovery of neurological function.In conclusion,miR-181 c affects the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage by regulating apoptosis,and these effects might be directly mediated and regulated by targeting of the PTEN\PI3 K/Akt pathway and Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Furthermore,these results indicated that miR-181 c played a neuroprotective role in intracerebral hemorrhage by regulating apoptosis of nerve cells,thus providing a potential target for the prevention and treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage.Testing of human serum was authorized by the Ethics Committee of China Medical University(No.2012-38-1)on February 20,2012.The protocol was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(Registration No.ChiCTR-COC-17013559).The animal study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of China Medical University(approval No.2017008)on March 8,2017.     

Utilizing the McGill Thyroid Nodule Score to compare between hemithyroidectomy cases who required completion thyroidectomy and cases of hemithyroidectomy alone

ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate whether the McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS) accurately helps to decide the extent of surgery (hemithyroidectomy versus total thyroidectomy) based on the malignancy risk and to assess whether its use lowers the rate of completion thyroidectomy in cases of indeterminate thyroid nodules.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study comparing MTNS results of patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy in King Abdulaziz Medical City, NGHA, Jeddah from the period of January 2013 to December 2017. We divided the cases into hemithyroidectomy who required completion and hemithyroidectomy who did not need completion surgery. The pre-operative indeterminate FNA biopsy subgroup comprised of Bethesda type III (atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance) and Bethesda type IV (follicular neoplasm/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm/Hurthle cell neoplasm). Post-operative histopathology was divided into benign or malignant groups.ResultsOf the 501 patient charts reviewed, 111 (22.2%) had an indeterminate FNA biopsy. 97 (87.4%) patients were females and 14 (12.6%) were males. In the hemithyroidectomy group, the pre-operative mean of the MTNS was 6.65, while in the completion thyroidectomy the mean was 11.47. The median MTNS was 7 (32% risk of malignancy) for the hemithyroidectomy group and 11 (63% risk of malignancy) for the completion thyroidectomy group (p < 0.001).ConclusionsBased on the MTNS the risk of malignancy in cases of hemithyroidectomy who required completion surgery was significantly higher than those who underwent hemithyroidectomy only. The MTNS can be of value to thyroid surgeon in the pre-operative decision-making when dealing with an indeterminate thyroid nodule on FNA biopsy.     

长链非编码RNA LINC00641通过微小RNA-181d-5p靶向真核细胞翻译起始因子4A2抑制宫颈癌细胞增殖的研究

目的 观察长链非编码RNA(LncRNA)LINC00641(LINC00641)在宫颈癌细胞中的表达特征,探讨LINC00641通过微小RNA-181 d-5p(miR-181 d-5p)/真核细胞翻译起始因子4A2(EIF4A2)对宫颈癌细胞增殖的调节作用.方法 选择宫颈癌Hela细胞株,建立空白对照组,构建转染p...     

Stroke-Related Knowledge and Lifestyle Behavior among Stroke Survivors

Aims: Awareness of stroke symptoms and risk factors, and actions taken in order to reduce the risk of new stroke events, should be of great importance among stroke survivors. The aims of this study were to assess changes in stroke-related knowledge and lifestyle behavior among patients experiencing a cerebrovascular event, and to assess the agreement between the patients’ self-reported diagnosis, and the discharge diagnosis. Methods: All patients discharged with a diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack during a 1-year period, received postal survey questionnaires at 3 and 12 months after discharge. The questionnaires included questions about symptom knowledge, lifestyle behavior, and patients were asked to report on their diagnosis. Results: A total of 282 patients were included (mean age 71.8 years, 57.1% men). Self-reported symptom knowledge was increased at 3 months (P < .001), and this persisted at 12 months. There was a poor correlation (r = .082; P = .171) between increasing symptom knowledge and stated lifestyle behavior changes. In all, 63% of the respondents correctly identified their own cerebrovascular subtype. Thirty-seven percent had quit smoking after 12 months, 30% reported that they used less sugary items, and 26% used less fatty food after the cerebrovascular event. Conclusions: Stroke survivors reported increased stroke symptoms knowledge after 3 and 12 months. A proportion of patients made changes in lifestyle behavior. Only 2 out of 3 patients correctly identified their own cerebrovascular subtype, indicating room for improvement in clinical practice when informing and communicating with stroke and transient ischemic attack patients about their diagnosis.     

Rheumatoid vasculitis: Experience with 13 patients and review of the literature

Rheumatoid vasculitis is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication of RA. There are few current extensive experiences and no consensus regarding the clinical, laboratory, histologic features, and management or prognosis of rheumatoid vasculitis. We therefore reviewed selected observations in 13 patients followed over the past decade and compared them with patients reported and with results of a survey of North American Rheumatologists. Our patients were seven men and six women (age, 33 to 70 years) who had had active RA for 4 to 36 years. They exhibited sensory neuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex, Felty syndrome, cutaneous lesions, leg ulcers, gangrene, anemia, leukocytosis, eosinophilia, high titers of RF, hypocomplementemia, and CICs or cryoglobulinemia approximately as frequently as other reported patients with rheumatoid vasculitis, but they displayed constitutional symptoms, subcutaneous nodules, ischemic changes, and proteinuria rather less consistently than in other series. These observations were not necessarily as expected by survey respondents. We, as in other series and suggested by survey respondents, tended to select penicillamine or cytotoxic drugs (or plasmapheresis) for patients with mononeuritis, gangrene, or leg ulcers, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antimalarials, gold, or penicillamine for sensory neuropathy or digital lesions. Four patients died, two deteriorated, and seven were stable or improved, a finding that was also similar to the experiences of others. Rheumatoid vasculitis is an uncommon, potentially catastrophic syndrome with varying clinico-pathologic features that have different prognostic implications and should be managed individually.