Activated protein C resistance and lipoprotein (a) in young adults with branch retinal vein occlusion

We investigated the effects of activated protein C resistance (APCR), Factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation, and high lipoprotein (a) levels in 32 young patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) vs 30 controls. No difference between patients with BRVO and controls was found with regard to APCR, FVL mutation, or lipoprotein (a) levels. These factors do not seem important in the etiology of BRVO. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.     

Thermal Plasma Synthesis of Different Alloys and Intermetallics from Ball Milled Al-Mo and Al-Ni Powder Systems

Lightweight alloys have great importance for car manufacturers that aim to produce safer, lighter, and more environmentally friendly vehicles. As a result, it is essential to develop new lightweight alloys, with superior properties to conventional ones, respecting the demands of the market. Al and its alloys are good candidates for reducing the overall weight of vehicles. The objective of this research was to understand the possibility to synthesize different Al alloys and intermetallics by implementing the plasma system and using two different Al-Ni and Al-Mo powder systems. This was done by separately injecting non-reacted raw Al-Ni and Al-Mo composite powder systems into the plasma reactor. In the first step, the milling parameters were optimized to generate Al-Ni and Al-Mo composite powders, with sizes over about 30 µm, having, respectively, a homogeneous mixture of elemental Al and Ni, and Al and Mo in their particles. Each of the composite powders was then injected separately into the plasma system to provide conditions for the reaction of their elements together. The obtained Al-Ni and Al-Mo powders were then studied using different methods such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Regardless of the initially used powder system, the obtained powders were consisting of large spherical particles surrounded by a cloud of fine porous particles. Different phases such as Al, AlNi₃, Al₃Ni₂, and AlNi were detected in the particles of the Al-Ni powder system and Al, Mo, AlMo₃, MoO₃, and MoO₂ in the Al-Mo powder system.     

Viral Agents as Potential Drivers of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Tumorigenesis

Among numerous causative agents recognized as oncogenic drivers, 13% of total cancer cases occur as a result of viral infections. The intricacy and diversity of carcinogenic processes, however, raise significant concerns about the mechanistic function of viruses in cancer. All tumor-associated viruses have been shown to encode viral oncogenes with a potential for cell transformation and the development of malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Given the difficulties in identifying single mechanistic explanations, it is necessary to combine ideas from systems biology and viral evolution to comprehend the processes driving viral cancer. The potential for more efficient and acceptable therapies lies in targeted medicines that aim at viral proteins or trigger immune responses to either avoid infection or eliminate infected or cancerous cells. In this review, we aim to describe the role of viral infections and their mechanistic approaches in DLBCL tumorigenesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review summarizing the oncogenic potential of numerous viral agents in DLBCL development.     

Evaluation of the information given to patients undergoing total pharyngolaryngectomy and quality of life: a prospective multicentric study

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Providing cancer patients with adequate information is essential to their confidence and satisfaction regarding medical care. The aims of this study...     

Obstructive sleep apnea causes oxidative damage to plasma lipids and proteins and decreases adiponectin levels

Pupose  

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with various metabolic disorders, and oxidative stress was suggested to play an important role. In the present study, we aimed to investigate serum adiponectin and oxidative stress markers, especially protein carbonyls, and to evaluate the correlation between these parameters and lipid, insulin and fasting glucose concentrations in OSA patients and controls.     

Evaluation of serum zonulin level in prediabetic patients

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and zonulin levels and also to show the effect of acute hyperglycemic stress induced by oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) on zonulin levels in pre-diabetic patients.MethodsFour groups were constituted according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), based on OGTT results: control group (n:40); prediabetic group (n:56), divided into two subgroups: impaired fasting glucose group (IFG) (n:36), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) + IFG group (n:20) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) group (n:45).ResultsZonulin and LPS did not significantly differ between the prediabetes and control groups, but were significantly higher in the T2DM group compared to both the prediabetic and the control group (P < 0.001). After OGTT, zonulin and LPS were significantly higher in the prediabetes group compared to the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), and significantly lower in the IFG and IFG + IGT groups compared to the T2DM group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). A positive correlation was detected between fasting zonulin and 2-hour zonulin (r = 0.727, P < 0.001) and between fasting LPS (r = 0.555, P < 0.001) and 2-hour LPS (r = 0.567, P < 0.001) in the prediabetic group. Increased zonulin and LPS levels and the positive correlation between these levels during the prediabetic period although non significant suggests onset of intestinal permeability.ConclusionsDuring acute hyperglycemia in prediabetic patients, up-regulation of zonulin and LPS may affect intestinal function. The intestines may play a key role in up-regulation of glucose and the pathogenesis of diabetes.     

Human cytomegalovirus infection and atherothrombosis

Vascular endothelium, as a key regulator of hemostasis, mediates vascular dilatation, prevents platelet adhesion, and inhibits thrombin generation. Endothelial dysfunction caused by acute or chronic inflammation, such as in atherosclerosis, creates a proinflammatory environment which supports leukocyte transmigration toward inflammatory sites, and at the same time promotes coagulation, thrombin generation, and fibrin deposition in an attempt to close the wound. Life-long persistent infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been associated with atherosclerosis. In vivo studies have revealed that HCMV infection of the vessel wall affects various cells including monocytes/macrophages, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). HCMV-infected SMCs within vascular lesions display enhanced proliferation and impaired apoptosis, which contribute to intima-media thickening, plaque formation and restenosis. Monocytes play a central role in the process of viral dissemination, whereas ECs may represent a viral reservoir, maintaining persistent infection in HCMV-infected atherosclerotic patients following the primary infection. Persistent infection leads to dysfunction of ECs and activates proinflammatory signaling involving nuclear factor κB, specificity protein 1, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, as well as expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Activation of these pathways promotes enhanced proliferation and migration of monocytes and SMCs into the intima of the vascular wall as well as lipid accumulation and expansion of the atherosclerotic lesion. Moreover, HCMV infection induces enhanced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules and modifies the proteolytic balance in monocytes and macrophages. As a consequence, infected endothelium recruits naive monocytes from the blood stream, and the concomitant interaction between infected ECs and monocytes enables virus transfer to migrating monocytes. Endothelial damage promotes thrombin generation linking inflammation and coagulation. HCMV, in turn, enhances the thrombin generation. The virus carries on its surface the molecular machinery necessary to initiate thrombin generation, and in addition, may interact with the prothrombinase protein complex thereby facilitating thrombin generation. Thus, infection of endothelium may significantly increase the production of thrombin. This might not only contribute to thrombosis in patients with atherosclerosis, but might also induce thrombin-dependent proinflammatory cell activation. This review summarizes the existing evidence on the role of HCMV in vascular inflammation.     

A novel multimeric form of FasL modulates the ability of diabetogenic T cells to mediate type 1 diabetes in an adoptive transfer model

Activation induced cell death (AICD) via Fas/FasL is the primary homeostatic molecular mechanism employed by the immune system to control activated T-cell responses and promote tolerance to self-antigens. We herein investigated the ability of a novel multimeric form of FasL chimeric with streptavidin (SA-FasL) having potent apoptotic activity to induce apoptosis in diabetogenic T cells and modulate insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes (IDDM) in an adoptive transfer model. Diabetogenic splenocytes from NOD/Lt females were co-cultured in vitro with SA-FasL, SA control protein, or alone without protein, and adoptively transferred into NOD/Lt-Rag1(null) recipients for diabetes development. All animals receiving control (Alone: n=16 or SA: n=17) cells developed diabetes on average by 6 weeks, whereas animals receiving SA-FasL-treated (n=25) cells exhibited significantly delayed progression (p<.001) and decreased incidence (70%). This effect was associated with an increase in CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and correlated with FoxP3 expression in pancreatic lymph nodes. Extracorporeal treatment of peripheral blood lymphocytes using SA-FasL during disease onset represents a novel approach that may alter the ability of pathogenic T cells to mediate diabetes and have therapeutic utility in clinical management of IDDM.