Functional and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatic patients’ quality of life in Saudi Arabia

Quality of Life Research - The COVID-19 pandemic might add to the stressors experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases. This study aimed to examine rheumatic patients’ functional...     

Histomorphologic Characterization of Noncarious and Caries-Affected Dentin/Adhesive Interfaces

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the dentin/adhesive interfacial characteristics when bonding to noncarious as well as caries-affected dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven extracted, unerupted, third molars were sectioned into halves. Artificial caries was created on one-half of each tooth, leaving the other half as a control. Dentin surfaces were treated with UNO adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions for the wet-bonding technique and under environmental conditions present in the oral cavity. Dentin/adhesive interface sections of each half-tooth were stained with Goldner's trichrome, a classic bone stain, and examined using light microscopy. The width of exposed collagen was measured directly from photomicrographs, and adhesive penetration was analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: The degree and extent to which the adhesive encapsulated the demineralized dentin matrix were reflected in the color difference in the stained sections with the noncarious dentin sections showing a degree of collagen encapsulation superior to that of the caries-affected dentin sections. The overall mean widths of exposed collagen were significantly (p < or = .05) greater at the caries-affected dentin/adhesive interface, 8.6 (1.7) microm, as compared with those at the noncarious dentin/adhesive interface, 6.0 (1.5) microm. CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic characteristics of the caries-affected dentin/interface suggest an increase in the exposed collagen zone and a decrease in the quality of the adhesive infiltration when compared with noncarious dentin. The evidence suggests that dentin substrate characteristics have a significant effect on the dentin/adhesive interface structure.     

Regulation of IL-2 beta receptor expression and beta-chain mRNA by human thymocytes.

The high affinity form of the human IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) has two known components, the IL-2R alpha (p55) and the IL-2R beta chain (p75). We have previously shown that recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) could induce the expression of the alpha-chain (p55) on T cells and thymocytes, and increase this expression following suboptimal activation with concanavalin A (Con A) in combination with IL-2. An increase in the accumulation of IL-2R alpha-specific mRNA induced by rIL-2 in T cells and thymocytes had also been documented. We report here that the expression of IL-2R beta on the cell surface can be demonstrated on human thymocytes by the binding of Mik beta1, a MoAb directed against an epitope of the beta-chain. The IL-2R beta chain is constitutively expressed on freshly isolated thymocytes; this expression can be increased in thymocytes activated with Con A in combination with IL-2 or tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Blocking the formation of high affinity receptors with a MoAb directed against the alpha-chain of the receptor results in an increase in the display of IL-2R beta as evidenced by binding of MoAb Mik beta1. The accumulation of IL-2R-beta-specific mRNA is observed in freshly isolated thymocytes and it is increased in thymocytes cultured with rIL-2 alone, with Con A, and further enhanced by the addition of rIL-2 in combination with Con A or with TPA. Cyclosporine (CsA), which inhibits the accumulation of lymphokine-specific mRNA of thymocytes, does not inhibit the induction of the accumulation of IL-2R beta-specific mRNA. This is analogous to its effect on the expression of the alpha-chain (p55), and the accumulation of alpha-chain-specific mRNA.     

New approaches for diagnosis of dry eye disease

We reviewed the literature for different diagnostic approaches for dry eye disease (DED) including the most recent advances, contradictions and promising diagnostic tools and technique. We performed a broad literature search for articles discussing different methods for diagnosis of DED including assessment of tear osmolarity, tear film stability, ocular biomarkers and others. Articles indexed in PubMed and google scholar were included. With the growing cosmetic industry, environmental pollution, and booming of digital screens, DED is becoming more prevalent. Its multifactorial etiology renders the diagnosis challenging and invites the emergence of new diagnostic tools and tests. Diagnostic tools can be classified, based on the parameter they measure, into tear film osmolarity, functional visual acuity, tear volume, tear turnover, tear film stability, tear film composition, ocular biomarkers and others. Although numerous methods exist, the most accurate diagnosis can be reached through combining the results of more than one test. Many reported tests have shown potential as diagnostic/screening tools, however, require more research to prove their diagnostic power, alone or in combination. Future research should focus on identifying and measuring parameters that are the most specific to DED diagnosis.     

Clinical and biochemical spectrum of metabolic cardiomyopathy in Egyptian children

BackgroundInborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) commonly present with pediatric cardiomyopathy. Identification of the underlying cause is necessary as it may lead to improved outcomes.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the diagnostic rate, the clinical, and biochemical spectra of IEMs among Egyptian pediatric patients presenting with cardiomyopathy, and their outcome measures.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical, biochemical, and radiological data of 1512 children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at Cairo University Children''s Hospital over a 5-year duration.ResultsTwo hundred twenty-nine children were clinically suspected as IEMs and underwent metabolic workup. Nineteen different IEMs were confirmed in 57 (24.4%) of the suspected children. Their median age at presentation was 2.6 years and the majority had extra-cardiac manifestations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy represented 43/57 (75.4%) of confirmed cases, while dilated cardiomyopathy represented 13/57 (22.8%), and one patient presented with a mixed phenotype. Twenty- six patients (45.6%) survived, while 31 patients (54%) either died or were lost to follow up and assumed deceased.ConclusionsWe developed for the first time a database and a diagnostic scheme for metabolic cardiomyopathies in Egyptian children. With the recent introduction of enzyme replacement therapy, many metabolic disorders became treatable, thus establishing an early and accurate diagnosis is extremely important.     

Preparation,Characterization, Wound Healing,and Cytotoxicity Assay of PEGylated Nanophytosomes Loaded with 6-Gingerol

Background: Nutrients are widely used for treating illnesses in traditional medicine. Ginger has long been used in folk medicine to treat motion sickness and other minor health disorders. Chronic non-healing wounds might elicit an inflammation response and cancerous mutation. Few clinical studies have investigated 6-gingerol’s wound-healing activity due to its poor pharmacokinetic properties. However, nanotechnology can deliver 6-gingerol while possibly enhancing these properties. Our study aimed to develop a nanophytosome system loaded with 6-gingerol molecules to investigate the delivery system’s influence on wound healing and anti-cancer activities. Methods: We adopted the thin-film hydration method to synthesize nanophytosomes. We used lipids in a ratio of 70:25:5 for DOPC(dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine): cholesterol: DSPE/PEG2000, respectively. We loaded the 6-gingerol molecules in a concentration of 1.67 mg/mL and achieved size reduction via the extrusion technique. We determined cytotoxicity using lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer cell lines. We performed gene expression of inflammation markers and cytokines according to international protocols. Results: The synthesized nanophytosome particle sizes were 150.16 ± 1.65, the total charge was −13.36 ± 1.266, and the polydispersity index was 0.060 ± 0.050. Transmission electron microscopy determined the synthesized particles’ spherical shape and uniform size. The encapsulation efficiency was 34.54% ± 0.035. Our biological tests showed that 6-gingerol nanophytosomes displayed selective antiproliferative activity, considerable downregulation of inflammatory markers and cytokines, and an enhanced wound-healing process. Conclusions: Our results confirm the anti-cancer activity of PEGylated nanophytosome 6-gingerol, with superior activity exhibited in accelerating wound healing.     

Effects on physiologic measures of appetite from intragastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: results of a prospective study

Background:Endoscopic bariatric therapies can help address widening management gaps in obesity. Their ability to facilitate weight loss is largely tied to influences on appetite through perturbations of gastric emptying and accommodation. As these tools gain traction in obesity therapy, their physiologic underpinnings require exploration, which may enhance efficacy, tolerance, and patient-tailored care.Methods:We prospectively assessed consecutive subjects with fluid-filled intragastric balloons (IGBs) (n = 18) placed between October 2016 and June 2017 or underwent endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) (n = 23) from March 2018 to June 2018. Patients underwent physiologic appraisal at 3 months with ¹³C-spirulina-based gastric emptying breath test to determine time to half emptying (T50), as well as maximum tolerated volume (MTV) of a standard nutrient drink test. Changes in T50 and MTV at 3 months were compared with percent total body weight loss (%TBWL) at 3 and 6 months using best-fit linear regression.Results:The change in T50 at 3 months correlated with %TBWL at 3 months for IGB (P = 0.01) and ESG (P = 0.01) but with greater impact on %TBWL in IGB compared to ESG (R² = 0.42 vs. 0.26). Change in T50 at 3 months was predictive of weight loss at 6 months for IGB (P = 0.01) but not ESG (P = 0.11). ESG was associated with greater decrease in MTV compared to IGB (340.25 ± 297.97 mL vs. 183.00 ± 217.13 mL, P = 0.08), indicting an enhanced effect on satiation through decreased gastric accommodation. Changes in MTV at 3 months did not correlate with %TBWL for either IGB (P = 0.26) or ESG (P = 0.49) but trended toward significance for predicting %TBWL at 6 months for ESG (P = 0.06) but not IGB (P = 0.19).Conclusion:IGB and ESG both induce weight loss but likely through distinct gastric motor function phenotypes, and gastric emptying may predict future weight loss in patients with IGB.