Application of Rhenium-186 Radiosynovectomy in Elbow Diffuse Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis. - A Case Report with Multiple Joint Involvement

After surgical therapy of diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (DPVNS), recurrence is seen in almost half of the patients. The effectiveness of radiosynovectomy (RSV) in preventing recurrence and complaints of DPVNS is well known. Elbow involvement in DPVNS is a very rare condition; therefore, RSV in elbow hasn’t been experienced widely. The aim of this case report is to show the effectiveness of RSV with rhenium-186 (Re-186) sulfide colloid. We applied Re-186 sulfide colloid to the elbow joint of DPVNS patients six weeks after arthroscopic synovectomy. As a result, the patient did not have any complaints, and our findings are compatible with residue or recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in sixth and twentieth month controls after administration. We concluded that Re-186 is an effective adjuvant therapy for the prevention of recurrence and complaints.     

Povidone iodine in the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis in infants

Context: Adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Objective: To examine the effects of conjunctival irrigation with povidone iodine in infants with adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Material and methods: An outbreak of adenovirus conjunctivitis occurred between September and December 2012 at the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital. Forty-three infants with adenoviral conjunctivitis were examined in this study. Thirty-five eyes of 35 infants who had detailed ophthalmological examination and clinical scoring were included. The conjunctiva of 15 infants (Group 1) were irrigated with povidone iodine 2.5% solution and then treated with preservative-free artificial tears and preservative-free antibiotic drops. Twenty infants (Group 2) were treated only with the same drops with the same posology, without conjunctival irrigation with povidone iodine. Patients were examined two times a week until the complete recovery. Lid edema, conjunctival chemosis, fragility of conjunctival vasculature, pseudomembrane formation, and corneal involvement were scored clinically.

Results: Twenty patients (57%) were female and 15 patients (43%) were male and mean age was 3.1 months (ranged from 1 to 4 months). No relation was found between gender and clinical scores. Statistically significant lower clinical scores were obtained from Group 1. The median recovery time was earlier in Group 1 (7?d) than Group 2 (12?d) (p?=?0.001).

Conclusion: Conjunctival irrigation with 2.5% povidone iodine is effective in the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis in infants.     

Plasma microRNA levels in childhood IgA vasculitis

Clinical Rheumatology - Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common form of childhood systemic vasculitis. It is mostly self-limiting and characterized by skin, joint, gastrointestinal...     

Antioxidant effects of vitamin D on lacrimal glands against high dose radioiodine-associated damage in an animal model

Purpose: To evaluate antioxidant effects of active vitamin D (calcitriol) against high-dose radioiodine (RAI) therapy-associated damage of lacrimal gland.

Materials and methods: Wistar albino rats were used and divided into three groups randomly (n?=?12/group). The first group was appointed as the negative control group and received no RAI or medication. The second group was appointed as the positive control group that only received 3?mCi/kg (111 MBq/kg) RAI via gastric gavage and the last group was the treatment group that received 3?mCi/kg RAI via same method and calcitriol (200?ng/kg/day) via intraperitoneal administration. Seven days after RAI administration, bilateral intraorbital (IG), extraorbital (EG) and Harderian (HG) glands were removed for the evaluations of histopathologic, tissue cytokine, total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS).

Results: RAI led to significant increase in tissue TOS, TNF-α, IL-6 levels and significant decrease in IL-10 and TAS levels (p?p?p?p?=?0.049), periductal fibrosis in EG and HG (p?=?0.049 and 0.038, respectively), abnormal cell outlines in EG and HG (p?=?0.020 and 0.011, respectively) and variation in cell size in the IG and the HG (p?=?0.003 and 0.049 respectively).

Conclusions: RAI caused significant oxidative stress and inflammation in lacrimal glands. Vitamin D demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and radio-protective effects on lacrimal glands in histopathologic, tissue cytokine and oxidant/antioxidant level evaluations.     

Longitudinal posteroanterior changes in transverse and vertical craniofacial structures between 10 and 14 years of age

Longitudinal growth changes in the transverse and vertical craniofacial dimensions occurring between 10 and 14 years of age were evaluated in 22 female and 23 male subjects. All subjects were healthy, had a clinically acceptable occlusion, and had not received orthodontic or orthopedic therapy before. Serial cephalometric radiographs were taken at ages 10, 11, 12, and 14 years. In studying the P-A cephalograms, seven transverse and five vertical measurements were used. The effects of age and sex on the transverse and vertical growth of the craniofacial structures were investigated by means of analysis of variance and Bonferroni multiple comparison test. The results of the study revealed that all measurements studied were affected by age, and cranial, facial, nasal, and maxillary widths were affected by sex. The most pronounced age-related increases occurred in the mandibular width for transverse measurements and in the total facial height for vertical measurements in both sexes during this study.     

Pilot study: awareness of university students in Jordan of the positive health effects of garlic

Background  One of the most popular herbal remedies, garlic, is used for its many medicinal applications. These historically valuable applications could be summarized by its cardiovascular, antineoplastic, and antimicrobial properties. However, public knowledge of the health benefits of taking garlic is much better known than the adverse events that may result when garlic interacts with other medications. Aim  This study aims to investigate the public’s knowledge in Jordan regarding garlic’s healthy effects as well as the possibly undesired interactions with Western-style medications that may occur. Method  This cross-sectional randomized study investigated participants’ knowledge regarding the healthy effects of garlic. Selected individuals of the sample were interviewed by 117 well-trained senior pharmacy students (4th and 5th year students). Each individual was asked to fill out a questionnaire on his/her knowledge of the beneficial effects of garlic on health and its serious drug interactions. The interviewer checked the completed form and counseled the participant on the questions which were not known or answered incorrectly. Results  Participants were found to be very aware of the healthy effects of garlic. However, a smaller percentage (19–30%) of them knew it could have significant interactions with some medications. Conclusion  Public awareness in Jordan of the beneficial healthy effects of garlic is better than the awareness of its serious interactions with some drugs.     

Control of the dual emission from a thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter containing phenothiazine units in organic light-emitting diodes

The development of single-component organic dual light-emitting molecules is of interest for a range of applications including white organic light-emitting diodes. Herein, a new thermally-activated delayed fluorescent molecule containing 4,6-bis-phenyl phenothiazine as donor units and 2-thiophene-1,3,5-triazine as acceptor unit was synthesized using a simple cost-effective method. This compound shows two stable molecular conformations due to the presence of the phenothiazine units in its molecular structure. These conformers exhibit different photophysical properties in both solution and thin films. The electroluminescence properties of this novel emitter were then examined in organic light-emitting diodes and the results provide useful insights into the influence of the device architecture on the dual emission characteristics. The experimental results were consistent with the optical simulations and the optimized architecture led to the fabrication of electroluminescent devices with an external quantum efficiency of 11.5% and a maximum luminance value of 10 370 cd m⁻².

A novel TADF emitter showing dual emission is synthesized and applied to OLEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 11.5%.