Plasma chemistry and urine analysis in Salmonella-induced polyuria in racing pigeons (Columba livia)

Polyuria-polydipsia is a frequent observation in pigeons with salmonellosis. These are accompanied by a decreased albumin/globulin ratio, increased creatinine and haptoglobin concentrations, and decrease in the chloride concentration in the blood plasma. The urine was found to have a low density with red and white blood cells frequently present in the sediment. A water deprivation test was conducted on three animals: polyuria disappeared and plasma urea increased significantly.     

Organization of secondary lymphoid tissue and local IgE formation to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins in nasal polyp tissue

BACKGROUND: Bilateral nasal polyposis (NP) is characterized by high concentrations of IgE in NP tissue, which show no relation to the atopic status. We aimed to study the relationship between systemic and local IgE formation, nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and nasal polyposis. METHODS: In serum and nasal tissue homogenates from 24 NP patients and 12 controls, we determined concentrations of total IgE and IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens and S. aureus enterotoxins (SAEs; A,B,C,D,E,TSST) by ImmunoCAP. Tissue cryosections were stained for CD3, CD20, CD38, CD23, FcepsilonRI, IgE and SEA/SEB. RESULTS: We demonstrated a higher incidence of S. aureus colonization (17/24) and IgE antibodies to SAEs in NP tissue (12/24) compared with controls (3/12 and 0/12, respectively). Total IgE and IgE antibodies in serum and NP tissue were dissociated because of local polyclonal IgE formation in NP tissue. Staining of NP tissue revealed follicular structures characterized by B and T cells, and lymphoid accumulations with diffuse plasma cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the organization of secondary lymphoid tissue in polyp tissue and a polyclonal hyper-immunoglobulinemia E associated with the presence of IgE antibodies to SAEs, colonization with S. aureus, and tissue eosinophilia in a relevant subgroup of polyp patients.     

Macrophage mannose receptor in chronic sinus disease

BACKGROUND: The role of infectious agents in the onset and maintenance of chronic sinus disease is still not fully understood. Macrophage mannose receptor (MMR), an innate pattern recognizing receptor, capable of phagocytosis of invaders and signal transduction for proinflammatory mechanisms, might be of importance in immune interactions in chronic sinus disease. OBJECTIVE: We examined the MMR in sinonasal airway mucosa to evaluate its possible role in chronic rhinosinusitis (CS) and nasal polyposis (NPs). METHODS: Surgical samples from patients with sinonasal disease were investigated with real-time RT-PCR for quantification of MMR mRNA expression, and the presence and location of MMR-positive cells was analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Quantification of MMR mRNA showed a statistically significant higher expression in NPs compared to CS without NP and controls. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of MMR in all tissue samples; however, in NP we found an enhanced positive cellular staining including cell aggregates. CONCLUSIONS: We could demonstrate for the first time that the expression of MMR is significantly upregulated in NP compared to patients with CS without NP or turbinate tissue of controls. Macrophages expressing MMR, accumulated in cell aggregates in NPs, play a possible key role in pathogen-macrophage interaction in NP disease.     

Medical Treatment in Coronary Patients: Is there Still a Gender Gap? Results from European Society of Cardiology EUROASPIRE V Registry

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - This study is aimed at investigating gender differences in the medical management of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Analyses were based on the ESC...     

The Selvester 32-point QRS score for evaluation of myocardial infarct size after primary coronary angioplasty

In patients treated successfully with primary angioplasty for a first myocardial infarction, the Selvester 32-point score correlates well with infarct size measured with quantitative thallium-201 perfusion imaging. Therefore, it is a useful parameter for infarct sizing, particularly in patients with anterior infarction or reduced ejection fraction at discharge.     

TIMI risk score underestimates prognosis in unstable angina/non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: To determine the value of the TIMI risk score in the individual risk stratification of patients with unstable angina/non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI). BACKGROUND: TIMI risk score is a validated tool to identify groups of patients at high risk for major cardiac events. Its prognostic value in individual patients with current diagnostic tools and therapy is unknown. METHODS: TIMI risk score was assessed in patients with UA/NSTEMI admitted to six Belgian hospitals and related to clinical outcome at 30 days. RESULTS: Of the 500 patients enrolled, 49.4% were placed in the low TIMI risk group (score = 0-3) and 50.6% in the high-risk group (score = 4-7). Multivariate analysis identified raised cardiac markers and invasive strategy, but not high TIMI risk score as independent predictors of death and new myocardial infarction (MI). Moreover, the incidence of death and MI in the low TIMI risk group with positive cardiac markers was not lower than in the high TIMI risk group with positive markers: 15.1% versus 17.8% (P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: TIMI risk score is of limited value for individual risk stratification. The presence of positive cardiac markers (troponin) appears to be a more powerful prognostic marker.     

The 3D printing of gelatin methacrylamide cell-laden tissue-engineered constructs with high cell viability

In the present study, we report on the combined efforts of material chemistry, engineering and biology as a systemic approach for the fabrication of high viability 3D printed macroporous gelatin methacrylamide constructs. First, we propose the use and optimization of VA-086 as a photo-initiator with enhanced biocompatibility compared to the conventional Irgacure 2959. Second, a parametric study on the printing of gelatins was performed in order to characterize and compare construct architectures. Hereby, the influence of the hydrogel building block concentration, the printing temperature, the printing pressure, the printing speed, and the cell density were analyzed in depth. As a result, scaffolds could be designed having a 100% interconnected pore network in the gelatin concentration range of 10–20 w/v%. In the last part, the fabrication of cell-laden scaffolds was studied, whereby the application for tissue engineering was tested by encapsulation of the hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2). Printing pressure and needle shape was revealed to impact the overall cell viability. Mechanically stable cell-laden gelatin methacrylamide scaffolds with high cell viability (>97%) could be printed.     

Severe spontaneous epistaxis: retrospective study in a tertiary ENT centre

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - To investigate the clinical profile and outcomes of different treatment strategies in patients hospitalized for spontaneous severe epistaxis. This is a...