Glycopolymer Code: Programming Synthetic Macromolecules for Biological Targeting

Targeting in a cellular level is still one of the major challenges in biomedical treatments. However, new synthetic and analytical techniques now allow the development of precisely prepared macromolecules. Thus, glycopolymer chains are reported to be prepared with controlled length, monomer sequences, as well as chain‐folded structures. A high level of complexity in synthetic macromolecules also allows increased selectivity in targeting, which is a key factor in biomedical applications.     

C.T.-guided pain procedures

C.T.-guided stereotactic destructive pain procedures; percutaneous cordotomy, trigeminal tractotomy-nucleotomy and extralemniscal myelotomy are presented. All procedures were applied in 32 cases without any mispuncture or complication. Advantages of C.T. guidance are direct visualization of target electrode relations, measurements of spinal cord diameters at the lesion site, and demonstration of spinal cord displacement during the procedure.     

Evaluation of human antibody responses to diphtheria toxin subunits A and B in various age groups

This study aimed to evaluate human antibody responses to diphtheria toxin subunits in various age groups. Antibodies against the intact diphtheria toxin and the diphtheria toxin subunits A and B were evaluated in 1319 individuals using a double-antigen ELISA. Although high levels of protection (83.6%, 95% CI 79.2-87.4) were found in children and adolescents, the middle-aged adult population was less protected (28.8%, 95% CI 24.3-33.6). An increase in age was associated with a decrease in the frequency of protected individuals in the 0-39-year age group (p <0.001). Anti-subunit B levels correlated well (p <0.01) with levels of antibodies against the intact toxin. In children aged < or =16 years, the intervals at which the peaks in geometric mean titres of anti-subunit B antibodies were observed were found to correlate with the ages at which booster doses are administered. Overall, males appeared to be more protected than females (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.34-2.08, p <0.001). A small group of individuals had antibody levels of > or =0.1 IU/mL against the intact toxin, but did not have protective antibody against subunit B. Determination of anti-subunit B antibody levels should help in evaluating the effectiveness of diphtheria boosters and other aspects of diphtheria immunity.     

Rheumatoid arthritis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis: an unusual case

SUMMARY: Renal involvement is not uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many RA patients have renal dysfunction either secondary to the drugs used to treat arthritis or because of the chronic inflammation. Renal pathologies have often included amyloidosis, drug-related renal disease and mesangial glomerulonephritis. However, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis has only been rarely reported. We report a case of rheumatoid arthritis associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis that rapidly progressed to end-stage renal disease.     

SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS IN PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME

Purpose: to determine wheather an association exists between sensorineural hearing loss and pseudoexfoliation. Methods: Hearing thresholds were determined by using pure-tone au-diometry in 75 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and in the control group of 75 subjects without pseudoexfoliation The groups were sex and age matched. Results: The frequency of     

Subclinical adrenocortical insufficiency in renal amyloidosis

In order to investigate the functional significance of possible adrenal amyloid infiltration in patients with renal amyloidosis, we performed corticotrophin stimulation tests in 15 patients having renal amyloidosis with no clinical evidence of adrenocortical insufficiency and 12 controls. In 7 of the patients, the cortisol increments obtained during the test were found to be consistent with primary adrenal insufficiency due to possible amyloid infiltration of the adrenal cortex; in contrast, in all control subjects, adrenal responses to the test were regarded as sufficient for proper adrenal function.     

A quantitative study on the sacrum of the dog.

The aim of this study was to record sacral bone morphometry that may help in selection of the implant type and proper size in sacroiliac separation. For this reason, sacral lengths and width, the length of each sacral vertebrae, distances between cranial and caudal articular processes, vertical and transversal diameters of the cranial endplate, sacral tuberositas and articular surface areas were obtained from 11 dogs. Additionally, the transverse and vertical diameters of the bony structure and sacral canal were measured from six cross-sections. The data of the study were determined to be representative of the sacral values for average-sized dogs, which was confirmed statistically. The highest value was the sacral width among the linear measurements. The ventral sacral length was longer than the dorsal sacral length. The total lateral area of the sacral wing was measured as 677.46 (142.1)mm2. The transverse diameters of the first sacral vertebra important for screw implantation were 46.02 (4.33)mm and 44.18 (5.29)mm in the first and second cross-sections, respectively.     

Field evaluation of an area repellent system (Thermacell) against Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) and Ochlerotatus caspius (Diptera: Culicidae) in Sanliurfa Province, Turkey

A field evaluation of a new area repellent system, Thermacell Mosquito Repellent (TMR, cis-trans allethrin), was conducted against phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes in Cunpolat village, Sanliurfa Province, in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey, an area historically endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis and high sand fly populations. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy, duration of protection, and spatial characteristics of protection (downwind distance from point of release), of the TMR. Twelve adult volunteers (nine in the treatment and three controls) made collections from ankle to knee for 25 min every hour from 2100 to 0300 on six consecutive nights in August 2002. Treatment consisted of placing a TMR unit at the middle of the village and then placing human bait collectors at 2.3, 4.6, and 7.6 m away from the repellent unit. Results from the field tests showed highly significant protection provided by the TMR from attack by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (P < 0.001) and Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas) (P < 0.001) for up to 4 h postapplication. In the six nights that tests were done, a total of 949 sand flies and 1095 mosquitoes were collected from the untreated control sites. Only 86 sand flies and 83 mosquitoes were collected at all distances from the places treated with TMR. These results indicated that reduction in sand fly and mosquito biting rates in treated groups ranged from 87.5 to 97.7% (mean protection 92%) and 90.2-97.4% (mean protection 93%), respectively. The percentage reduction values were maintained above 90.0% for 6 h of the assessment period. Overall, the number of bites by the cutaneous leishmaniasis vector Ph. papatasi and also Oc. caspius was reduced > 11-fold and 13-fold, respectively, by the TMR.     

Effects of Different Doses of Caffeinated Coffee on Muscular Endurance,Cognitive Performance,and Cardiac Autonomic Modulation in Caffeine Naive Female Athletes

Caffeine is widely consumed among elite athletes for its well-known ergogenic properties, and its ability to increase exercise performance. However, studies to date have predominantly focused on the anhydrous form of caffeine in male participants. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of caffeinated coffee ingestion on lower-upper body muscular endurance, cognitive performance, and heart rate variability (HRV) in female athletes. A total of 17 participants (mean ± standard deviation (SD): age = 23 ± 2 years, body mass = 64 ± 4 kg, height = 168 ± 3 cm) in a randomized cross-over design completed three testing sessions, following the ingestion of 3 mg/kg/bm of caffeine (3COF), 6 mg/kg/bm of caffeine (6COF) provided from coffee or decaffeinated coffee (PLA) in 600 mL of hot water. The testing results included: (1) repetition number for muscular endurance performance; (2): reaction time and response accuracy for cognitive performance; (3): HRV parameters, such as standard deviation of normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of successive differences (SDSD), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), total power (TP), the ratio of low- and high-frequency powers (LF/HF), high-frequency power (HF), normalized HF (HFnu), low-frequency power (LF), and normalized LF (LFnu). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that 3COF (p = 0.024) and 6COF (p = 0.036) improved lower body muscular endurance in the first set as well as cognitive performance (p = 0.025, p = 0.035 in the post-test, respectively) compared to PLA. However, no differences were detected between trials for upper body muscular endurance (p = 0.07). Lastly, all HRV parameters did not change between trials (p > 0.05). In conclusion, ingesting caffeinated coffee improved lower body muscular endurance and cognitive performance, while not adversely affecting cardiac autonomic function.