Use of past care markers in risk-adjustment: accounting for systematic differences across providers

The European Journal of Health Economics - Risk-adjustment models are used to predict the cost of care for patients based on their observable characteristics, and to derive efficient and equitable...     

MAT2A Inhibition Blocks the Growth of MTAP-Deleted Cancer Cells by Reducing PRMT5-Dependent mRNA Splicing and Inducing DNA Damage

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Accuracy of three-dimensional virtual simulation of the soft tissues of the face in OrtogOnBlender for correction of class II dentofacial deformities: an uncontrolled experimental case-series study

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - To assess whether virtual simulations of the projection of the soft tissues of the face after class II bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, generated from 3D...     

Effects of Passiflora nitida Kunth leaf extract on digestive enzymes and high caloric diet in rats

The present study investigated inhibition of pancreatic lipase and metabolic effects of high caloric diet in rats. The Passiflora nitida hydroethanol leaf extract (PNE) was used in in vitro assays or administered to rats to study dyslipidemia. Inhibition of lipase in vitro was studied by a spectrophotometric assay using orlistat as the positive control. The effects of PNE on reduction of postprandial triglyceride were studied by oral fat-overloading in rats. Metabolic alterations were induced using the cafeteria diet and 4 weeks post-treatment with PNE or orlistat and blood samples were collected and biochemical analyses were performed. Liver and retroperitoneal fat tissues were obtained to analyze weight and steatosis. IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values for pancreatic lipase inhibition were 21.2 ± 0.8 and 0.1 ± 0.01 for PNE and orlistat, respectively. Oral administration of lipid emulsion resulted in postprandial hypertriglyceridemia at 3 h postadministration and when rats were then administered PNE and orlistat there was decreased of triglyceride levels by 15 % compared to control. Although the energy consumption by the cafeteria diet had been higher, there was no significant weight gain observed in the study groups. The cafeteria diet resulted in a significant increase of weight in the retroperitoneal fat and hypertriglyceridemia levels that could be significantly reduced by PNE and orlistat treatment. We hypothesized that PNE administration prevented the hypertriglyceridemia in rats with a high caloric diet, possibly owing to reduction of lipid absorption and pancreatic lipase inhibition.     

Correlation Between Post Over Preoperative Surrogate Insulin Resistance Indexes’ Ratios and Reversal of Metabolic Syndrome After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is strongly linked to insulin resistance and has a high resolution rate after bariatric surgery. This study aims to determine whether post over preoperative ratios of surrogate insulin resistance markers (HOMA, TyG, and TG/HDL-c) are associated to postsurgical MetS reversal. This is a retrospective cohort study which involved 96 subjects with MetS who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Post over preoperative ratios of TyG and TG/HDL-c indexes were statistically associated to MetS resolution. The use of these ratios as a way to assess postsurgical insulin sensitivity response appears to be a simple and useful tool in clinical practice.     

3-Phenylcoumarin derivatives selectively modulate different steps of reactive oxygen species production by immune complex-stimulated human neutrophils

Immune complex (IC) deposition in tissues triggers the release of harmful oxidant and lytic compounds by neutrophils. We examined how ten 3-phenylcoumarin derivatives affect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by IC-stimulated human neutrophils. Most of the 3-phenylcoumarins inhibited the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL-lum) more strongly than they inhibited the lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL-luc), without clear signs of toxicity. The most effective CL-lum inhibitors, 6,7-dihydroxy-3-[3′,4′-methylenedioxyphenyl]-coumarin (5) and 6,7-dihydroxy-3-[3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl]-coumarin (19), also inhibited myeloperoxidase activity more potently and had higher hypochlorous acid scavenging ability, but did not affect the NADPH-oxidase activity. The type, number, and position of the substituent influenced the pharmacological effects of 3-phenylcoumarins; however, the structural requirements for CL-lum and CL-luc inhibition were a little different. Compounds 5 and 19 are promising prototypes of therapeutic molecules to modulate ROS production by neutrophils in IC-mediated inflammatory diseases.     

Thanatophoric dysplasia: report of 2 cases with neuropathological study

We report two cases of thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) with detailed neuropathologic evaluation. One case was representative of TD type I and the other TD type II. The case with TD type I showed macrocephaly, narrow thoracic cage, pulmonary hypoplasia and bowed limbs. Radiological study showed flat vertebral bodies, short curved appendicular skeleton and flaring of metaphyses. The other case (TD type 2) showed macrocephaly, cleft palate, short limbs and cloverleaf skull. Radiological findings were generalized platyspondy with excessive intervertebral disc space heights and a large head. Microscopic examination of both cases revealed temporal lobe polymicrogyria, abnormalities of the hippocampus and heterotopic neuroglial tissue within the meninges. There were no noticeable differences in CNS abnormalities between TD type I and II.     

External (combination) rhinoplasty approach for trans-sphenoidal adenectomy

The external (combination) rhinoplasty approach and the sublabial approach to trans-sphenoidal adenomectomy have been used at this institution for seven years. A summary of experience with the external (combination) rhinoplasty technique in 10 patients is reported; and a comparison is made between this approach and the sublabial approach in 12 patients. Advantages unique to this approach are: the distance to the sphenoid sinus is decreased allowing greater ease of instrumentation, the Hardy speculum may be opened widely to increase exposure, uniquely this allows synchronous cosmetic or reconstructive septorhinoplasty, and this technique is also invaluable for revision surgery--especially when septal cartilage has been removed by a previous sublabial approach. Disadvantages of this technique are the external incision across the columella, which leaves an imperceptible scar of no clinical significance, and postoperative nasal tip edema, which resolves with time.     

Beauveria bassiana isolated from engorged females and tested against eggs and larvae of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro virulence of three isolates of Beauveria bassiana to eggs and larvae of the tick Boophilus microplus. The fungus tested were isolated from engorged females of B. microplus collected on the field, and identified as Bb28, Bb29 and Bb30. These isolates were evaluated by immersion of eggs and larvae in suspensions with different conidial concentrations: 10(8), 10(7), 10(6) and 10(5) conidia/ml and compared to the control groups. In the treated eggs, there was a percentage much smaller of hatching than that observed in the controls. The egg hatch was inversely proportional to the conidial concentration. In larval bioassays, all isolates resulted in a higher mortality of larvae compared to the control according to the conidial concentrations/ml, 10 days after treatment inoculation.