Total lymphocyte count of 1200 is not a sensitive predictor of CD4 lymphocyte count among patients with HIV disease in Kampala, Uganda

Introduction

Total Lymphocyte Count (TLC) has been found to be an inexpensive and useful marker for staging disease, predicting progression to AIDS and death and monitoring response to ART. However, the correlation between TLC and CD4 has not been consistent. Access to HAART is expanding in Kampala, Uganda, yet there are no published data evaluating the utility of TLC as inexpensive surrogate marker of CD4 cell count to help guide therapeutic decisions.

Objective

To evaluate clinical illnesses and total lymphocyte count (TLC) as surrogate markers of the CD4 cell count in HIV infected persons being considered for ART.

Methods

A total of 131 patients were enrolled and evaluated by clinical assessment, TLC and CD4 count. Clinical illnesses and TLC dichotomized at various cut-point values were used to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for the diagnosis of CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ among 100 participants fulfilling criteria for WHO clinical stage 2 and 3.

Results

A strong correlation was observed between TLC and CD4 (r = 0.73, p<0.0001). For all clinical syndromes, except pulmonary tuberculosis, the positive predictive values (PPV) for a CD4 count <200 cells/mm³ were high (>80%) but the negative predictive values (NPV) were low. Using the WHO recommended TLC cut-off of 1200 cells/mm³ to diagnose a CD4 less than 200 cells/mm³, the PPV was 100%, and the NPV was 32%.

Conclusion

Our data showed a good correlation between TLC and CD4 cell count. However, the WHO recommended TLC cutoff of 1200 did not identify the majority of WHO stage 2 and 3 patients with CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm³. A more rational use of TLC counts is to treat all patients with WHO stage 2 and 3 who have a TLC <1200 and to limit CD4 counts to patients who are symptomatic but have TLC of >1200.     

Total ovarian volume before human chorionic gonadotrophin administration for ovulation induction may predict the hyperstimulation syndrome

Total ovarian volumes were measured before the administrationof HCG in 42 women undergoing treatment for infertility by in-vitrofertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer and considered to havean exaggerated response to stimulation (>20 follicles). Sevenwomen who subsequently developed moderate or severe ovarianhyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (n = 7; group 1) were comparedwith 35 matched controls (five matched controls per case; n= 35; group 2) of similar age, number of follicles and durationof infertility who underwent follicular stimulation, oocyterecovery, in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer duringthe same period but did not develop moderate or severe OHSS.The mean age, duration of infertility and total number of follicleswere similar but the mean total ovarian volume was significantlyhigher in the group of women who developed moderate or severeOHSS compared with controls (271.00 ± 87.00 versus 157.30± 54.20 ml; P < 0.01). We conclude that total ovarianvolume measured before HCG administration is higher in womenwho develop moderate or severe OHSS compared with controls andmay therefore be used as an additional parameter in the preventativestrategy for the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.     

Conservative surgery in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: report of a case with an eight-year follow-up

The patient described here, with malignant non-beta islet cell tumor of the head of the pancreas, was treated by resection of the tumor and metastases. Additional pathology of perforated duodenal ulcer and pyloric stenosis required vagotomy and pyloroplasty. The maintenance of normal gastrin levels after the operation indicates a good prognosis. We believe that the low-risk Zollinger-Ellison patient should be treated surgically and the tumor removed. When no tumor can be detected, parietal cell vagotomy should be performed to assist the pharmacological control of the gastric acid hypersecretion. Extensive surgery, such as total gastrectomy, is no longer the treatment of choice and is reserved for the so-called "cimetidine failure."     

Dietary Fiber and Its Source Are Associated with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Korean Adults

We examined the associations of dietary fiber and its source with cardiovascular risk factors in Korean adults. This cross-sectional study involved 16,792 adults from the 2013–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Dietary data were obtained using a 24 h recall method and used to evaluate intakes of total dietary fiber and its source and fruit consumption. Cardiovascular risk factors included obesity, abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the associations of dietary fiber and its source with cardiovascular risk factors by sex. Total fiber and fruit fiber intake in men were inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (Q5 vs. Q1: odds ratios (OR) = 0.69, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.53–0.92 for total fiber; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61–0.93 for fruit fiber). Among women, a higher intake of fruit fiber was related to a reduced prevalence of obesity (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.85, p trend = 0.029) and abdominal obesity (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.82, p trend = 0.026). Total fruit and whole fruit consumption was inversely associated with obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome in men and hypertension in women. The amount and sources of fiber are associated with metabolic diseases in Korean adults and should be considered in the context of overall dietary quality.     

Dietary Habits,Selenium, Copper,Zinc and Total Antioxidant Status in Serum in Relation to Cognitive Functions of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the neurodegenerative process and can impair cognitive functions. In the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an adequate consumption of dietary antioxidants may be a major factor. The objective of the study was to estimate selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the serum of patients with AD in relation to their cognitive functions and dietary habits. A total of 110 patients (aged 54–93 years) with early or moderate AD, as well as 60 healthy people (aged 52–83 years) were studied. The severity of the disease was assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale. Food-frequency questionnaires were implemented to collect the dietary data. The concentrations of Se, Cu and Zn in the sera were determined by the atomic absorption spectrometry method. TAS was estimated spectrophotometrically using ready-made kits (Randox). Significantly lower concentrations of Se, Zn and TAS, and higher Cu:Zn ratio in the serum of patients with AD, compared to healthy people, were observed. A low correlation between the MMSE score and TAS in the serum of AD patients and significantly higher MMSE values in patients with TAS above the reference range were also noted. In patients with serum Cu concentration above the norm, significantly lower MMSE values were found. Selected dietary habits such as the frequency of consumption of various food products had a significant impact on the concentration of the assessed parameters in the serum of people with AD.     

Maternal Quercetin Consumption during Pregnancy May Help Regulate Total Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol Ratio without Effect on Cholesterol Levels in Male Progeny Consuming High-Fat Diet

Quercetin has been shown to have anti-obesity effects, but it is unknown whether these effects can be transmitted from mothers to their progeny. In this study, we investigated whether maternal quercetin consumption during pregnancy has a protective effect on high-fat diet–induced hyper lipid levels and overweight in progeny. Female mice consumed a control diet or a diet containing 1.0% quercetin during breeding. The male progeny were then divided into four groups that were (1) sacrificed at postnatal day 3; (2) born to dams fed the control diet and also fed the control diet (C-C), (3) born to dams fed the control diet and then fed a 30% high-fat diet (C-HF), or (4) born to dams fed the Q-diet and then fed the HF diet (Q-HF). Maternal consumption of quercetin did not affect body weight or blood lipid parameters in either dams or neonates at postnatal day 3. After 13 weeks, the Q-HF group exhibited greater body and liver weights, and higher blood cholesterol levels than the C-HF group. However, the total cholesterol/ high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratios in the Q-HF and C-C groups remained similar. In conclusion, maternal quercetin consumption does not appear to protect the next generation from high-fat diet–induced hyper cholesterol level in the blood and liver, and consequently overweight, but may help regulate the total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio.     

Multiple Micronutrients,Including Zinc,Selenium and Iron,Are Positively Associated with Anemia in New Zealand Aged Care Residents

Anemia is a significant comorbidity for older adults not fully attributable to iron deficiency. Low-grade inflammation and other micronutrient deficiencies also contribute. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between nutrient and non-nutrient factors with hemoglobin and anemia in 285 residents (>65 years) of 16 New Zealand aged-care facilities. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, ferritin, sTfR, hepcidin, zinc, selenium, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), (with ferritin, sTfR, zinc and selenium adjusted for inflammation). Linear regression models examined the relationships between micronutrient biomarkers (iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin B-12 and D), age, sex, and health factors with hemoglobin. Thirty-two percent of participants exhibited anemia, although <2% had either depleted iron stores or iron deficiency. Plasma zinc and selenium deficiencies were present in 72% and 38% of participants, respectively. Plasma zinc and total body iron (TBI) were positively associated (p < 0.05) with hemoglobin, while gastric acid suppressing medications, hepcidin, and interleukin-6 were inversely associated. These relationships were maintained after the application of anemia cut-offs. These findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple micronutrient deficiencies as risk factors for anemia.     

Impact of Sarcopenia and Obesity on Gait Speed After Total Knee Replacement

ObjectivesOlder adults with sarcopenic obesity have a higher risk of experiencing mobility difficulty. Additionally, sarcopenia and obesity are closely associated with knee osteoarthritis. This study investigated the associations of sarcopenia, obesity, and in combination of both with walking disability during postoperative rehabilitation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee replacement.DesignA retrospective cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsFrom a rehabilitation center database, we retrospectively selected and investigated 482 older patients with knee osteoarthritis who had undergone total knee replacement and received postoperative rehabilitation.MethodsSarcopenia was identified in accordance with the diagnostic criteria established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m². Accordingly, patients were classified into four body composition groups, namely sarcopenic obese, sarcopenic, obese, and normal (reference group). After total knee replacement, all patients attended monthly follow-up admission during the postoperative rehabilitation. Gait speed was measured before surgery and monthly after total knee replacement. A gait speed cutoff of 1.0 m/s was used to identify postoperative walking disability. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis was performed to measure the probability of experiencing postoperative walking disability among the groups. Cox multivariate regression models were established to calculate the hazard ratios of postoperative walking disability.ResultsCompared with the reference group, the sarcopenic, obese, and sarcopenic obese groups appeared to have a higher probability of experiencing postoperative walking disability (all P < .001). The sarcopenic obese group were likely to have the highest risk of experiencing postoperative walking disability (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.89).Conclusions and ImplicationsSarcopenia or obesity alone may independently exert negative effects on postoperative gait speed. The participants with sarcopenic obesity were likely to have the highest risk of experiencing walking disability following total knee replacement. The findings may serve as a reference for clinicians developing rehabilitation strategies to optimize walking ability after total knee replacement, especially those preoperatively diagnosed as having sarcopenic obesity.     

葡萄籽提取物对四氯化碳诱导大鼠脂质过氧化反应的影响

目的 :研究葡萄籽提取物对四氯化碳 (CCl4 )引起的脂质过氧化反应和抗氧化能力的影响。方法 :通过对大鼠的体内实验 ,测定大鼠肝和脑组织中由 CCl4 诱导产生的过氧化脂质生成物丙二醛(MDA) (TBA法 )的含量、血清中的超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) (比色法 )活性和血清中总抗氧化能力(T- AOC) (比色法 )。结果 :葡萄籽提取物可明显降低大鼠肝和脑组织中 MDA的生成量 ,明显升高血清中 SOD活性和 T- AOC。结论 :葡萄籽提取物具有明显的抗氧化作用。     

肉苁蓉总苷对~(60)Coγ射线损伤小鼠免疫功能的防护作用

目的　研究肉苁蓉总苷 (GCs)对 6 0 Co损伤小鼠免疫功能及 30 d存活率的影响。方法　小鼠在不同剂量6 0 Coγ射线照射前后 ,均服以 GCs,观察辐射及 GCs对其免疫功能的改变。结果　 6 0 Co照射剂量为 2 ,4及 7Gy时 ,可造成小鼠体液免疫、细胞免疫功能和非特异性免疫功能及 30 d存活率下降 (P<0 .0 5或 P<0 .0 1) ;GCs(31.2 5 ,6 2 .5 ,12 5 m g/ kg)组可促进上述各指标的恢复 ,对 6 0 Co损伤小鼠的抗体产生、外周血 T淋巴细胞数目、迟发型超敏反应、腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬功能均有明显保护作用 (P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 5 ) ;且能提高受照小鼠的脾指数、胸腺指数及 30 d存活率 (P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 5 )。结论　 GCs对辐射损伤小鼠的免疫功能具有较强防护作用