Interleukin-11 Overexpression and M2 Macrophage Density are Associated with Angiogenic Activity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the expression of IL-11 and its receptor IL-11Rα and to quantify density of CD163⁺ M2 macrophages in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).     

TCRBV3S1 and TCRBV18 gene segment polymorphisms in Brazilian Caucasoid and Black populations.

The T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire plays an important role in shaping specific immune responses. Genetic polymorphisms at the TCR locus, in both constant and variable regions, seem to represent an important mechanism for generating inter-individual and inter-population differences. Considering the scarcity of immune parameters characterized for normal human populations, we decided to determine the frequency of two TCRBV polymorphisms (located in the TCRBV3S1 and TCRBV18 gene segments) in two ethnically distinct groups of the general Brazilian population. Both polymorphisms are related to the expression of these segments at the T-cell surface and can consequently modulate the T-cell repertoire, potentially modifying the capacity of a given individual to develop an immune response. These DNA polymorphisms were analysed in material obtained from adult, normal South-American Caucasoid and Black individuals. A total of 139 individuals were analysed for the TCRBV3S1 and 141 for the TCRBV18 gene segment polymorphisms. The data indicated statistically significant differences in allelic frequencies for the two ethnic groups analysed, suggesting that any correlation between TCR usage or T-cell repertoire and development of a given disease should take in account the ethnic origin of the population studied.     

Lecithin: cholesterol-acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in alcoholic liver disease

The activity of LCAT (the controlling enzyme for cholesterol esterification in plasma) is known to be reduced in alcoholic cirrhosis, while little is known about early stage (liver steatosis) alcoholics. In this study, LCAT activity was assayed by Stokke and Norum's method, before and after a 15-day sobriety period, in liver steatosis and in cirrhosis alcoholics. Before alcohol withdrawal, LCAT activity was depressed in both groups. After the sobriety period, LCAT activity was significantly raised in liver steatosis patients, but was still lower than in controls; in cirrhosis patients, it was increased, but not significantly. According to our results, LCAT activity impairment in alcoholic liver disease is sustained by both the hypothesized mechanisms, alcohol-related metabolic disorders and lowered LCAT-enzyme production, but to different degrees, depending on the stage of the disease. In liver steatosis, metabolic disorders play a major role, as a liver-impairment-induced decrease in LCAT production seems rather unlikely, and increased LCAT activity is more likely to be sustained by metabolic normalisation than by any recovery of the damaged liver. However, the lack of improvement in about 20% of patients, and the fairly wide scattering of individual data, suggest a minor LCAT production impairment in liver steatosis too. In cirrhosis, the major role seems to be played by a permanent decrease in LCAT production, as no significant rise in LCAT activity was observed after alcohol withdrawal. However the restored LCAT activity observed in some patients could be related to improvement in the metabolic disorder, thus confirming the effectiveness of this mechnism in cirrhosis too.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Carcinoma of the male breast. Our experience

A case series of 5 male patients afflicted with breast carcinoma is reported. The Authors describe symptomatology, diagnostic iter, principles of surgical treatment and results. Underlined is the wider surgical demolition in male breast cancer in comparison with females, even if natural history and biological conduct are comparable. This is because in male breast carcinoma the local and remote infiltration is more rapid than female for the less development of breast gland. Finally, indications for radiochemotherapy are comparable to female breast cancer.     

Nursing Assessment of Altered Sexuality: A Review of Salient Factors and Objective Measures

TOPIC. Nursing assessment of altered sexuality.
PURPOSE. To review salient factors affecting assessment and objective measures available for use in assessment.
SOURCE. Literature specific to nursing assessment of sexuality and to instruments measuring altered sexuality.
CONCLUSIONS. Many standards of care include the assessment of sexuality, and nurses believe it to be an important aspect of care. However, the assessment of altered sexuality does not often occur in actual practice. The use of an objective measure of sexuality is recommended for both initial and on-going assessments in acute-care and community-based settings.     

Advantages of topical marcaine during spinal surgery. Technical note

Marcaine applied to irritated nerve roots during extradural spinal surgery may attenuate sympathetically mediated and somatosensory (pain)-related hypertensive and tachycardic crises.