Effect of cross exercise on quadriceps acceleration reaction time and subjective scores (Lysholm questionnaire) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background  

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or reconstruction can cause knee impairments and disability. Knee impairments are related to quadriceps performance – accelerated reaction time (ART) – and disability to performance of daily living activities which is assessed by questionnaires such as the Lysholm knee score. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of cross exercise, as supplementary rehabilitation to the early phase of ACL reconstruction: a) on quadriceps ART at the angles 45°, 60° and 90° of knee flexion and, b) on the subjective scores of disability in ACL reconstructed patients.     

Soluble transferrin receptors and tissue oxygenation in non anaemic cystic fibrosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pulmonary disease and progressive tissue hypoxia are major causes of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Normally the body adapts to tissue hypoxia by increasing the red cell mass and decreasing the Hb-O(2) affinity. These adaptations are commonly observed in patients with cyanotic heart disease and individuals living at high altitude. However, patients with CF not only have an impaired erythroid response to hypoxia, but also are frequently anaemic. METHODS: In order to evaluate erythroid marrow activity and tissue oxygenation in 37 patients with CF we measured: the haematological and blood chemistry parameters; including red cell indices, ferritin, erythropoietin (Epo) and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) levels; arterial blood gases, P(50) and oxygen release to the tissues (O(2)(R)) and the 2,3-BPG levels. RESULTS: The main results showed that a) patients with CF have a mild degree of tissue hypoxia which is expressed by the moderately decreased of P(50) and O(2)(R) values and the relative increase of Epo level, b) 2,3-BPG synthesis in patients with CF is normal and c) sTfR levels are significantly increased (3-fold normal) in patients with CF compared to normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: The above observations indicate that erythroid marrow activity in patients with CF is increased.     

Pregnancies following blastocyst stage transfer in PGD cycles at risk for beta-thalassaemic haemoglobinopathies.

BACKGROUND: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) usually involves blastomere biopsy 3 days post-insemination (p.i.), followed by genetic analysis and transfer of unaffected embryos later on day 3 or 4. We evaluate a strategy involving embryo biopsy on day 3 p.i., genetic analysis on day 4 and, following culture in blastocyst sequential media, transfer of unaffected embryos on day 5 p.i. METHODS: PGD cycles were initiated in 15 couples at risk of transmitting beta-thalassaemia major. Oocyte retrieval and ICSI were performed according to standard protocols. Embryo culture used blastocyst sequential media. Embryos were biopsied on day 3 p.i. using acid Tyrode's for zona drilling, and the single blastomeres were genotyped by a protocol involving nested polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. RESULTS: Forty of 109 (37%) embryos biopsied on day 3 p.i. developed to blastocysts by day 5 p.i., with at least one blastocyst available for transfer in 12 cycles (80%). Genotype analysis characterized 51/109 (47%) embryos unaffected for beta-thalassaemia major, of which 28 were blastocysts. Transfer of 37 day 5 p.i. embryos (blastocysts and non blastocysts) initiated eight clinical pregnancies. Implantation rate per embryo transferred was 12/37 (32%). CONCLUSIONS: Embryo biopsy on day 3, followed by delayed transfer until day 5 p.i. offers a novel and effective strategy to overcome the time limit encountered when performing PGD, without compromising embryo implantation.     

Allelic imbalance in hMLH1 or BRCA2 loci associated with response of cervical and endometrial cancer to radiotherapy

Effectiveness of radiotherapy is influenced by several genetic properties of the targeted cells. The aim of this study was the identification of prognostic indicators of tumor response to radiation in cervical and endometrial cancer. Using microsatellite DNA analysis, we investigated 31 markers, located on 1p, 2p, 2q, 3p, 9p, 9q, 13q, 17p and 17q for genomic alterations in 37 cervical and 21 endometrial cancer cases, with complete follow-up data. Genetic alterations of the initial tumor genotypes were observed after radiation in 86.5% of cervical and 81.0% of endometrial cases. Reversions to the original normal genotype were observed in 40.5 and 28.6% respectively, predominantly in cured patients rather than in recurred cases. Survival curves by the Kaplan-Meier method showed a worse prognosis for cervical cancer patients whose tumors harbor allelic imbalance (AI) on 3p or 13q, and for endometrial cancer patients whose tumors harbor AI on 13q. Our data suggest a possible association of the hMLH1 or BRCA2 genes, implicated in distinct DNA repair pathways and located on 3p and 13q respectively, with response of cervical and endometrial cancer to radiotherapy. Moreover, microsatellite DNA analysis before and after radiation treatment could be used as a marker of the clinical outcome of patients.     

Birth of a healthy infant following trophectoderm biopsy from blastocysts for PGD of beta-thalassaemia major

PGD is a well accepted reproductive choice for couples at genetic risk and involves the diagnosis and transfer of unaffected IVF embryos. PGD for monogenetic diseases is most commonly accomplished by the biopsy of one or two blastomeres from cleavage stage embryos, followed by PCR-based protocols. However, PCR-based DNA analysis of one or two cells is subject to several problems, including total PCR failure, or failure of one allele to amplify. Trophectoderm biopsy at the blastocyst stage enables the removal of more than two cells for diagnosis while being non-invasive to the inner cell mass which is destined for fetal development. The aim of this study was to develop a safe, reliable technique for the biopsy of trophectoderm cells from human blastocysts. This case report demonstrates that removal of trophectoderm cells prior to blastocyst transfer is compatible with implantation and development to term. Here we report successful PGD for beta-thalassaemia following trophectoderm cell biopsy from blastocysts and the birth of a healthy infant.     

Quantitative effects of osmotic diuresis following angiographic contrast administration

Osmotic diuresis resulting from the administration of angiographic contrast poses the potential threat of marked volume losses obligated by the renal excretion of non-reabsorbable solute. We prospectively assessed urinary excretion of solute and water following cardiac angiography in 14 euvolemic subjects without preexisting renal disease, by a protocol that allowed each patient to serve as his own control. During the initial 6 h after the beginning of angiography, contrast administration resulted in increased total osmolar excretion from a control rate of 0.79 +/- 0.09 to 1.09 +/- 0.09 mOsm/min (P less than .05) with a return to control values thereafter. Surprisingly, sodium, potassium, and chloride excretion rates did not differ significantly from control values. After subtraction of the molar contribution of electrolytes, urea, and creatinine from the total osmolar excretion rate, it was apparent that the "residual osmolar excretion rate" of 0.48 +/- 0.05 mOsm/min was markedly elevated over the control value of 0.11 +/- 0.05 mOsm/min (P less than .01), reflecting the excretion of contrast agent. Despite the marked osmotic diuresis, urine output during this period (3.9 +/- 0.2 cc/min) did not differ significantly from the control value of 4.0 +/- 0.3 cc/min. We conclude that marked volume losses are not a necessary concomitant of contrast-induced osmotic diuresis in the euvolemic cardiac patient without renal disease.     

Evaluation of the impact of Exomite Pro™ on Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) populations and honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies: efficacy,side effects and residues

In this research, we examined the application of thymol-based powder, directly over the top of the brood frames in colonies with different population in a 2-year study. The efficacy against mites, the side effects on bees and the contamination of honey were studied comparably to thymol-based gel treatment. In one-store colonies, thymol-based powder treatment gave average efficacy 64.5 % and did not differ significantly from thymol-based gel treatment (65.4 %). The natural mortality in control colonies was 41.4 % and the corrected efficacy (E _T) during 2 years was 39.4 and 40.9 %, respectively. In two-store bee colonies, the application of thymol-based powder on top of each hive body gave higher E _T (45,4 %) than on top of the double body hive (40.4 %), without statistically significant differences. The average concentration of thymol residues in honey 24 days after the application was 368 and 1,119 μg kg^?1 for the honey of colonies treated with thymol-based powder and thymol-base gel, respectively.     

Increased serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Initiation of a fibrotic process has been suggested as part of the intestinal response to chronic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. YKL-40 has been proposed as a new serum marker of fibrosis. We studied compared the serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease with inflammatory and healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: YKL-40 serum levels were measured in 179 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (94 ulcerative colitis, 85 Crohn's disease), in 23 with intestinal inflammation of other causes, and 70 matched healthy controls using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. YKL-40 levels were assessed in terms of disease activity, type and localization. RESULTS: Mean serum YKL-40 levels were 102.6+/-82.7 ng/ml in ulcerative colitis patients and 112.2+/-83.7 ng/ml in Crohn's disease patients, significantly higher than in healthy controls (64.1+/-21.4 ng/ml) but not significantly different from inflammatory controls (77.8+/-23.1 ng/ml). Disease activity and C-reactive protein levels were significantly correlated with YKL-40 levels in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease patients with ileum localization had significantly higher YKL-40 levels than those with ileocolonic or colonic disease. Patients with stenotic disease had mean YKL-40 levels not significantly different than those with nonstenotic disease. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of YKL-40 are increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and this is associated with the inflammatory process rather than with the degree of fibrosis.     

Molecular studies of beta-thalassemia heterozygotes with raised Hb F levels

Hb F levels in beta-thalassemia heterozygotes are usually less than 2%, but amongst 1,059 patients studied, 73 (7%) had Hb F levels above 2.5% (2.6-14.0%). To investigate factors that may influence the increase of Hb F levels in these heterozygotes, we characterized the beta-thalassemia mutations and their chromosomal background, gamma-globin gene promoter variations, and alpha-globin genotypes. All 73 beta-thalassemia heterozygotes carried beta-thalassemia point mutations previously observed in the Greek population; gene mapping excluded b gene cluster deletions; only two cases had an additional gamma-globin gene (gammagammagamma/gammagamma). Five alpha-globin genes (alphaalphaalpha/alphaalpha) were detected in 17/73 cases (23%) as compared to a carrier rate of 1.76% in the general population. Molecular, hematological, and biosynthetic findings in these compound heterozygotes indicated that the raised Hb F levels were caused by cell selection due to ineffective erythropoiesis. In the remaining 56 simple beta-thalassemia heterozygotes, 11 beta-thalassemia mutations were observed, each on the expected haplotype(s), and analysis of the gamma gene promoters revealed three known polymorphisms (in linkage disequilibrium), with minimal influence on gamma-globin levels. However, the overall distribution of beta-thalassemia mutations in the 56 simple beta-thalassemia heterozygotes was significantly different (P<0.0002) compared to that in 986 simple beta-thalassemia heterozygotes with <2.5% Hb F, implicating an association between beta-thalassemia mutations and moderately increased Hb F levels, most notably codon 39 (C-->T), IVS-II-1 (G-->A), codon 6 (-A), and codon 8 (-AA), which accounted for 41/56 (73%) cases with >2.5% Hb F. In the remaining 15/56 (27%) cases, no common underlying globin genotypes could explain the raised Hb F levels. Overall, this study indicates that the control of Hb F levels in beta-thalassemia heterozygotes is heterogeneous and multi-factorial.