Interleukin-1beta increases urine flow rate and inhibits protein expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in the rat jejunum and kidney.

The effect of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on urine flow rates and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity and expression was studied in rat intestinal and renal epithelia. The cytokine produced a significant diuretic effect and increased urine flow rate by around 10-fold compared with the control. This effect was considered to be secondary to the well-documented natriuretic effect of the cytokine described in the literature. On the other hand, we have shown previously that IL-1beta inhibits glucose absorption from the jejunum. As sodium excretion and glucose absorption are both dependent on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, the effect of the cytokine on the renal and intestinal pump was investigated. IL-1beta inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the activity of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in villus and crypt jejunal cells and in medullary and cortical kidney cells. Western blot analysis revealed a decrease in the protein expression of the enzyme, which was confirmed by the radiolabeled ouabain binding assay. The results suggest that the diuretic and natriuretic effect of IL-1beta and its inhibitory effect on glucose absorption are all due to downregulation of the Na(+)/K(+) pump in the kidney and jejunum.     

Potato Disc Bioassay for Some Jordanian Medicinal Plants

Fifteen different plants representing different species, genera and families were used to test the effect of their aqueous extracts on tumor inhibition with a rapid, inexpensive, safe, animal sparing technique, and statistically reliable prescreen for in vivo murine leukemia antitumor activity, which is known as potato disc technique. The inoculum used contains the extract with the bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) that was known to cause crown gall tumor to different plant species especially dicotyledons and some gymnosperms. After 12 to 21 days of incubation the tumors appeared and were counted, and the maximum inhibition was then calculated. Thirteen species out of fifteen showed a good antitumor effect, and three of them showed a maximum inhibition of 80%. More experiments are necessary to determine the exact mechanism of action.     

Frequency of Mammary Artery Coiling in Single-Ventricle Patients and Future Coronary Artery Grafting

Pre-Fontan coil closure of aorto-pulmonary collaterals decreases single-ventricle volume load and improves outcome. Coiling of right and left internal mammary arteries may present a challenge to cardiothoracic surgery teams caring for these patients when future coronary artery bypass grafting is needed for SV patients. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of internal mammary artery coil closure in SV patients in a single tertiary care center. A retrospective review of all pediatric single-ventricle patients who underwent cardiac catheterization between March 2009 and October 2015 at Rush Center for Congenital Heart Disease was performed. Fifty-one patients’ charts were reviewed. Twenty-five patients received coil closure of one or more internal mammary artery (coil group) and 26 received no coil closure (no-coil group). In the coil group, 21 (84 %) had their collateral vessels coiled in the pre-Fontan period and 4 (16 %) had their vessels coiled in the post-Fontan period. In the coil group, 18 (72 %) had their right internal mammary artery coiled and 7 (28 %) had both right and left internal mammary arteries coiled. None of the coil group had isolated coil closure of the left internal mammary artery. This study is the first to verify the frequency of right and/or left internal mammary artery coil closure in SV patients and the potential impact on future coronary artery bypass grafting. Extensive peri-Fontan coiling of the internal mammary arteries presents a significant potential challenge for subsequent management of SV patients as older adults.     

Accessibility to biologics and its impact on disease activity and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Kuwait

Clinical Rheumatology - Biologics are indicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in case of persistent high disease activity despite conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) or...     

Patient compliance with Hawley retainers fitted with the SMART® sensor: A prospective clinical pilot study

Objective:To evaluate the compliance of patients while wearing maxillary Hawley retainers embedded with SMART microsensors.Methods:The sample population consisted of 22 patients who were divided into an experimental (group A) and a control group (group B). Group A was informed that they would be monitored through the use of SMART microsensors, while group B was not informed that they would be monitored. After the delivery of the retainers (T0), the patients were evaluated at T1 and T2, represented by 6- and 12-week follow-up visits, respectively. At T1, group B was informed of our ability to monitor their compliance. Both groups continued wearing their retainers during T1 to T2.Results:During T0–T1, Group A wore their retainers for an average of 16.3 hours (SD 4.39), while group B wore their appliances for an average of 10.6 hours (SD 5.36, t  =  2.426, P  =  .027). Although group B increased their retainer wear by 0.5 hours/day from T1 to T2, this increase was not statistically significant.Conclusions:Despite significant differences being noted between the two groups at T1, group B did not show significant mean changes in their wear time before and after becoming aware of the use of the SMART microsensor.     

Ultra-fast,low dose high-pitch (FLASH) versus prospectively-gated coronary computed tomography angiography: Comparison of image quality and patient radiation exposure

Background

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is increasingly being used for the evaluation of coronary artery disease; however, radiation exposure remains a major limitation of its use.