Age-related variations in gene expression patterns of renal cell carcinoma

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is known to occur across the adult lifetime traversing the spectrum of age-related organismal changes. Little is known as to how the aging process may affect the course of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the repertoire of genes involved.

Diabetes mellitus. II: Routine chest radiography.

Chest radiographs of 43 consecutive diabetic patients were evaluated with a view to determine their role as a routine investigation of patients with diabetes mellitus. 22 (51.2%) patients had normal chest radiographs. The remaining 21 patients had 61 abnormalities found in their chest radiographs. 26 (42.6%) of these were significant abnormalities while 35 (57.4%) were non-significant. Of the former, 42.3% were due to cardiomegaly while in the latter group, aortic unfolding was the main finding. Radiological abnormalities were more commonly observed in patients aged 40 years and over, than in those below, with a ratio of 3:1. Chest radiographs corroborated clinical diagnosis in 19 of the 21 cases in whom abnormalities were observed. This study shows that routine chest radiograph in diabetic patients is useful in those with clinical symptoms and in older diabetics above the age of 40 years.     

Successful response of metronidazole-resistant trichomonal vaginitis to tinidazole. A case report.

Treatment of metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis infection is complicated by the lack of an effective alternative therapeutic regimen. Data on the susceptibility of the organism to metronidazole and other nitroimidazoles are important in managing intractable cases. A case of trichomonal vaginitis with true resistance to metronidazole that responded to treatment with tinidazole is reported.     

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF PALPABLE BREAST LESIONS

Fine needle aspiration cytology is a safe diagnostic technique for breast cancer and can identify certain benign lesions, which can be excised without affecting surrounding tissue. The combination of experienced operator and cytologist can yield high sensitivity and specificity, together with important prognostic information.     

Routine chest radiographs in psychiatric patients

The routine chest radiographs of 178 psychiatric patients were reviewed. 67 patients had abnormalities found on their chest radiographs. 22 (32.8 pc) of these were significant abnormalities while 45 (67.2 pc) were non-significant. There was no significant abnormality detected on the chest radiographs of any patient in whom abnormality had not been suspected clinically. No significant abnormality was found in patients below the age of 40 years. This study suggests that chest radiography should be performed only on psychiatric patients who are above the age of 40 years and especially those who have clinical evidence of chest disease.     

Requirements for the development of IL-4-producing T cells during intestinal nematode infections: what it takes to make a Th2 cell in vivo

Summary: Components of the type 2 immune response may mediate host protection against both helminthic parasites and harmful allergic responses. A central player in this response is the T‐helper 2 (Th2) effector cell, which produces interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, and other Th2 cytokines during the primary and memory response. Specific aspects of the parasite that trigger Th2‐cell differentiation are not yet defined. Furthermore, the cell types and cell surface and secreted molecules that provide the immune milieu required for the development of Th2 effector cells and also Th2 memory cells are not well understood. They will probably vary with the particular helminth or other antigen inducing the Th2 response. We have used third stage larvae of intestinal nematode parasites as adjuvants to promote naïve nonparasite antigen‐specific T cells to differentiate into Th2 cells. This model system avoids possible parasite antigen‐specific T‐cell clones or cross‐reactive memory T cells that may preferentially differentiate into Th2 effector cells during the course of infection and confound the stereotypical components of parasite‐induced Th2 cell differentiation. We have found that these parasites have a potent adjuvant effect and have used our model system to begin to investigate the events that lead to the development of polarized Th2 cells in vivo.     

The Effect of Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbations of COPD in the Emergency Department: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are serious complications that often require immediate intervention in an emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intravenous magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant in the treatment of AECOPD in the ED.MethodsIn a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, a total of 60 patients with AECOPD presenting to the ED of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, Iran, were included. The study was conducted between September 2016 and February 2018. Eligible patients were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. Patients in the intervention and control groups received intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate (2 gr) or normal saline over 30 minutes, respectively. For all patients, Borgdyspnea score, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) result and clinical variables of interest were evaluated before the beginning of the intervention, and also 45 minutes and 6 hours after the commencement of intervention.ResultsRegardless of time of evaluation, pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR) and Borg score in intervention group was lower than control group. Also, FEV1 and SPO2 were greater in intervention group compared to control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant (between-subject differences or group effect) (p<0.001). The trends of FEV1, SPO2, PR, RR and Borg score were similar between two groups of study (no interaction effect; P>0.05).ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, it seems that using intravenous magnesium sulfate has no significant effect on SPO2, FEV1, RR, and PR of patients with AECOPD who presented to ED.     

HAART and anti-Koch’s impair sexual competence,sperm quality and offspring quality when used singly and in combination in male Wistar rats

This study investigated the impact of the administration of HAART and anti-Koch's, singly and in combination, on sexual competence and birth statistics. Adult male Wistar rats were randomised into distilled water-treated control, HAART-treated, anti-Koch's-treated and HAART + anti-Koch's-treated groups. The 56-day oral treatment led to impaired sexual competence evident by significantly reduced motivation to mate, prolonged latencies of mount, intromissions, ejaculations and post-ejaculatory interval, as well as reduced frequencies of mount, intromissions and ejaculations. This was accompanied by significant reductions in penile erection reflex and penile grooming. HAART and anti-Koch's, when administered singly or in combination, also led to significant reductions in the circulatory follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone and intratesticular testosterone, but a significant rise in prolactin. Also, HAART and/or anti-Koch's significantly reduced sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and spermatozoa with normal morphology. Furthermore, HAART and anti-Koch's, separately or in combination, significantly lowered fertility capacity, litter size and litter weight and offspring survival. The deleterious effects of these drugs were more pronounced when combined. Findings of the present study revealed that HAART and/or anti-Koch's impair sexual competence via a testosterone-dependent hyperprolactinemia-mediated mechanism. These events are associated with reduced fertility capacity, poor sperm quality and lowered offspring survival.