Dielectric behavior of pulmonary edema induced in the rat lung

The dielectric properties (conductivity, kappa and relative permittivity, epsilon) of excised rat lung are modified by lung air and water content. The measurements of these quantities were made over the frequency range of 10 kHz to 100 MHz with an open-ended coaxial probe. The following relationships were analyzed in an oleic acid-induced pulmonary edema model using 18 animals: the spectra of kappa, epsilon and the loss tangent as a function of lung air and water content. Secondly, an isolated-perfused lung system was produced to induce a gradual increase in lung water. The time course of kappa, epsilon and the loss tangent for one excised lung was analyzed. The principal findings were: (i) a decrease in kappa and epsilon with increasing air content, (ii) an increase in kappa and epsilon with increasing water content, and (iii) a good correlation between lung water content and maximum loss tangent that was insensitive to changes in air content. We conclude that this technique could provide a quantitative assessment of lung water during pulmonary edema formation.     

Effect of cerebral ischemia on acute convulsions and chronic epileptogenesis

The pharmacological kindling with corazol was used as a model of chronic cerebral epileptization. In contrast to sham-operated rats or rats with unilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries, bilateral occlusion of these vessels moderated acute seizures provoked by a single administration of the convulsant corazol and abated the enhanced cerebral seizure readiness induced by its repeated administration. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 30–33, July, 1998     

Role of group A streptococcal IgG-binding proteins in triggering experimental glomerulonephritis in the rabbit

Our previous studies have indicated that the IgG-binding M-family proteins (IgGBP) of group A streptococci may be involved in eliciting experimental acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in the rabbit. These surface proteins were also found to trigger production of anti-IgG, which might conceivably act to enhance renal deposition of immune complexes (IC). In the present study, a clinical isolate of serotype M22 (strain AL168), an isogenic double mutant deficient for both the IgGBPs Mrp and Emm, as well as mutants deficient in only one of the proteins were tested for capacity to induce glomerulonephritis. Streptococci to be used for injecting rabbits were heat-killed. Surface-bound IgG was removed by 1 M KSCN and cells were then repeatedly washed in PBS before use. Rabbits were injected intravenously with 109 cells three times a week for 8 weeks and, following one month of rest, for another 6 weeks. Deposits of IgG and C3 as well as induced chemokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were traced in cryostat sections using specific antibodies and appropriate peroxidase-labelled anti-antibodies. In four rabbits immunized with the double mutant strain, no deposits were found, and as examined by TEM, only subtle and transient renal changes were observed. In contrast, the original strain AL168 induced pronounced inflammatory and degenerative glomerular changes in all four rabbits injected, and deposits of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were found in mesangial and endothelial cells. Similar deposits and glomerular changes were seen in all eight rabbits injected with the mrp-emm+ mutant and in four out of seven animals receiving the mrp+emm- mutant. There was a highly significant correlation between high levels of circulating anti-IgG and development of APSGN. These results confirm an important role of streptococcal IgGBP in triggering experimental APSGN as earlier proposed by our group.     

High serum level of soluble CD30 in acute primary HIV-1 infection

CD30 has been suggested to play a role in HIV infection. In this study the serum concentration of soluble CD30 (sCD30) was determined by an ELISA essay on samples collected from patients with acute primary HIV-1 infection during the acute phase (n = 17) and after seroconversion (n = 13). sCD30 during acute infection was consistently elevated (137.58 ± 120.33 versus 6.4 ± 5.4 U/ml (mean ± s.d.) in normal controls; P < 0.0001) and decreased after seroconversion (49.1 ± 66.17 U/ml; P = 0.0018 compared with acute infection). This trend mirrored the disappearance of detectable levels of HIV antigen in the blood, resulting in a direct correlation between sCD30 and HIVAg values (P = 0.002). These data suggest that the high levels of sCD30 observed during the peak concentration of HIVAg in acute primary HIV infection might reflect the high rate of viral replication.     

Assessing the Impact of Salt Reduction Initiatives on the Chronic Disease Burden of Singapore

Globally, many countries are facing an increasing burden of chronic disease due to ageing populations, of which cardiovascular disease forms a large proportion. Excess dietary sodium contributes to cardiovascular disease risk and requires intervention at a population level. This study aimed to quantify the impact of several salt reduction initiatives on population health over a 30-year horizon using GeoDEMOS, a population model from Singapore. Four interventions were modelled in four demographic groups in 2020 for a total of 16 intervention scenarios. The effect of 0.5, 2.0, and 4.0 g/day reductions in daily salt consumption, along with adherence to the World Health Organization guidelines of a maximum of 5.0 g of salt each day, was modelled in the entire population, including the overweight and obese, the elderly, and diabetics. In each scenario, the number of averted incident cases of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, along with the disability-adjusted life years up to 2050, was monitored. We found 4.0 g/day reductions in salt consumption were the most effective when implemented across the entire population, resulting in 24,000 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 215,000 disability-adjusted life years over 30 years. This is a large figure when compared with the 29,200 projected annual incident cases of cardiovascular disease in 2050. When targeted at specific high-risk demographic groups, the largest effects were observed in the overweight and obese, with the same intervention yielding 10,500 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 91,500 disability-adjusted life years. Quantifying the benefits of salt reduction initiatives revealed a significant impact when administered across the entire population or the overweight and obese. Health promotion efforts directed toward sustainably reducing salt consumption will help to lower the chronic disease burden on the healthcare system in years to come.     

Effects of Daily Matcha and Caffeine Intake on Mild Acute Psychological Stress-Related Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Matcha, a type of green tea, has a higher amino acid content than other types of tea. We previously examined the ability of matcha to improve cognitive function in older adults and determined that continuous matcha intake improves attention and executive function. This study aimed to compare the effects of matcha and caffeine and clarify the differences between these effects. The study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000036578). The effect of single and continuous intake was compared, and the usefulness of continuous intake was evaluated under the stress condition. The Uchida–Kraepelin test (UKT) was used to induce mild acute stress, and the Cognitrax was used to evaluate cognitive function. A single dose of caffeine improved attentional function during or after stress loading. The reduced reaction time in the Cognitrax, observed following a single dose of matcha, was likely due to caffeine. The matcha group showed an increase in the amount of work after continuous intake, whereas the caffeine group only showed an increase in the amount of work for the UKT after a single dose. Ingesting matcha with caffeine improves both attention and work performance when suffering from psychological stress compared with caffeine alone.     

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults after Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection,Japan

In Japan, a 51-year-old man had minimally symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome was diagnosed ≈5 weeks later; characteristics included severe inflammation, cardiac dysfunction, and IgG positivity. Clinicians should obtain detailed history and examine IgG levels for cases of inflammatory disease with unexplained cardiac decompensation.     

Risk for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers,Turin, Italy

We measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein subunits S1/S2 antibodies by using capillary electrophoresis and a chemiluminescence immunoassay for 5,444 active healthcare workers in Italy. Seroprevalence was 6.9% and higher among participants having contact with patients. Seroconversion was not observed in 37/213 previously infected participants.     

四种祛风类中药治疗原发性肾小球肾炎的临床研究

目的 :评价口服火把花根、祖师麻、清风藤碱和雷公藤多甙单独与联合用药治疗原发性肾小球肾炎的效果。方法 :选择 6 5 6例经单味或两味祛风类中药治疗的原发性肾小球肾炎患者 ,观察不同治疗患者的临床表现、尿蛋白定量、尿常规、肝肾功能等指标变化。结果 :单味药治疗肾炎的缓解率为 2 4.0 %～ 44 .5 % ,两味药联合治疗肾炎的缓解率为 5 1.9%～ 5 9.2 % ;清风藤碱治疗的各种临床表现的肾炎缓解率均低于其他治疗组 ,单味药火把花根、祖师麻和雷公藤多甙对单纯性蛋白尿的缓解率为 5 0 .0 %～ 6 9.7% ,对单纯性血尿的缓解率为 36 .0 %～ 5 0 .0 % ,对蛋白尿合并血尿的缓解率为 19.5 %～ 2 2 .7% ,联合用药对各种表现的缓解率均高于单味药组 ,对单味药未缓解的部分病例两味药治疗仍有一定效果 ,复发率低于单味药组 ;联合用药组消化道反应、肾功能损害、停经和白细胞减少发生率与单味药组均无明显差别 ,转氨酶增高发生率增加 ,但谷丙转氨酶 >10 0 U /L者少见。结论 :四种祛风类单味药对肾小球肾炎均有一定疗效 ,联合治疗能够显著增加对肾小球肾炎的疗效     

Necrotizing pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is primarily caused by gallstone disease and excessive alcohol use. The clinical course is varied and those with severe disease may develop pancreatic necrosis and localized collections. Up to 30% of patients with pancreatic necrosis develop infection. This is difficult to diagnose but requires prompt treatment with antibiotics and often percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical intervention. The imprudent use of antibiotics risks the overgrowth of antibiotic-resistant organisms and makes the treatment of subsequent infections more challenging. Advances in biomarkers and imaging may improve the detection of infection, but the optimal timing of antibacterial and antifungal initiation and duration remain unresolved. Clinical trials are required to address these questions.