Category: Nevin Manimala

Turk J Haematol. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2021.2021.0607. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) have a high propensity for thrombosis, which has been attributed to the increased blood counts, endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, and inflammation. The presence of the JAK2V617F mutation in the ECs of MPN patients has been confirmed, but the consequences of EC involvement by JAK2V617F in the pathogenesis of thrombosis are unclear. Endothelial microparticles (EMPs) released from EC play an important role in endothelial dysfunction and also for the intercellular exchange of biological signals and information. Several studies have revealed that the patients with JAK2V617F and a thrombosis history have an increased number of microparticles in their circulation. The current study utilized a lentiviral transduction model of JAK2 wild type (JAK2wt) or JAK2V617F encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the human umbilical vein EC to determine the effect of the JAK2V617F on EC. The proteins of ECs that potentially play a role in the development of thrombosis, including endothelial protein C receptor, thrombomodulin, and tissue factor, were detected between JAK2617F, JAK2wt, and GFP-only ECs with no statistical significance after two days infection with flow cytometry analysis. Increased annexin- V uptake of JAK2617F and JAK2wt ECs compared to GFP-alone EC were detected. The EMP production in the supernatants of the EC culture was investigated. Genotyping of EMP revealed the presence of genomic DNA and RNA fragments in the EMP cargos from the cell of origin in which JAK2V617F EC released EMPs with JAK2V617F DNA fragments-a result that reveals that EMPs might regulate distant and neighboring cells via their cargo materials. This novel finding provides the first evidence for the direct effect of JAK2V617F on the ECs and their functions and suggests the role of other mechanisms in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in MPNs.

PMID:34981912 | DOI:10.4274/tjh.galenos.2021.2021.0607

Microsc Res Tech. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24052. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of self-assembling peptide (P11-4) diffusion, assembly, and remineralization to effect artificial secondary caries-like lesions in human primary teeth in vitro. Enamel-dentin blocks obtained from extracted human primary molars were embedded into epoxy resin blocks. Cavities (approximately 1 × 1 × 2 mm) were prepared on the surface using a high-speed diamond bur under constant water cooling and filled with composite restorative material (Filtek Z250; 3 M ESPE). The samples were immersed in demineralizing solution (20 ml) for 96 h to produce secondary caries lesions and divided into two groups according to the testing materials: fluoride varnish (Duraphat; Colgate, UK) and P11-4 (Curodont Repair; Credentis, Switzerland). Except for the control areas, all samples were remineralized for 3-5 min using the remineralizing agents, and then all the sections were placed in a pH-cycling system for 5 days at 35°C. The pH cycling procedure was followed by micro-CT analysis for the qualitative evaluation of surface changes. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two independent groups. In the comparison of more than two dependent groups, Bonferroni smoothed pairwise analyses were used to determine the source of the Kruskal-Wallis H test difference. The results of the study revealed that the remineralization depths of the peptide group were higher than those of the fluoride group (p < .01). There was a statistically significant difference in remineralization effects between the fluoride and peptide groups. P11-4 can be considered as an effective remineralizing agent for secondary caries lesions.

PMID:34981866 | DOI:10.1002/jemt.24052

J Mother Child. 2021 Jan 29;22(2):128-134. doi: 10.34763/devperiodmed.20182202.128134.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Fatty acids are some of the most important components of human milk. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients required for the optimal growth and development of infants, especially the central nervous system, brain and retina.

AIM: To determine the conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) and vaccenic acid (VA) content of human breast milk from mothers consuming different diets, and to compare the results with CLA and VA levels in infant formulas (IF) and follow-up formulas (FF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty healthy mothers were classified according to their diet status into one of two groups: diet low in dairy products and conventional diet without limiting the intake of dairy products. Dietary intake of dairy fat was determined based on 3-day food diaries. Fatty acid (FA) composition in samples were analyzed by High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HR-GC).

RESULTS: In the group of 20 mothers whose diets were deficient in dairy products, the average CLA content of breast milk fat was determined to be 0.27% of total FA, the VA 0.36%. In the group of 30 women consuming dairy products, the average content of CLA and VA in breast milk fat was statistically significantly higher: 0.49% and 0.69% of total FAs, respectively. In the fat of the IF and FF tested (n=11) only trace amounts of both FA were found.

CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that CLA and VA concentrations of human milk can be influenced by diet. It is recommended that the source of these FAs in the diet of breastfeeding women are natural products and not dietary supplements. The majority of commercially available IF and FF do not contain sufficient amounts of CLA and VA, and that their FA composition is deficient in comparison with breast milk fat.

PMID:34981910 | DOI:10.34763/devperiodmed.20182202.128134

Proteins. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1002/prot.26296. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We compare the sequences of folded and intrinsically disordered proteins, using bioinformatic methods recently developed to study protein dynamic properties. We demonstrate that the two classes of sequences are organized in diametrically opposite ways with respect to long-length-scale dynamic properties. We further demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the amino acid compositions of folded and disordered proteins which is expressed in dynamic properties. Our results indicate that the long-length-scale properties of sequences are critical in determining whether proteins are able to fold, and, more generally, that they are central to an understanding of protein physics. They further provide a physical basis for the empirically observed differences in amino acid composition between folded and intrinsically disordered proteins. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34981860 | DOI:10.1002/prot.26296

J Card Surg. 2022 Jan 3. doi: 10.1111/jocs.16192. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

One-year outcomes of Ticagrelor Antiplatelet Therapy to Reduce Graft Events and Thrombosis (TARGET), a randomized double-blinded clinical trial comparing post-coronary artery bypass surgery antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor versus aspirin are published in this issue of the Journal. Although the authors did not detect statistically significant differences in their primary outcome (saphenous vein graft patency at 1 year) and major adverse cardiovascular events, their findings must be interpreted with caution given important limitations in the design and execution of the trial.

PMID:34981862 | DOI:10.1111/jocs.16192

Public Health Nurs. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1111/phn.13043. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the foot health and health behavior and the characteristics of outdoor footwear among minority ethnic groups.

DESIGN AND MEASURES: A cross-sectional study design using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire: foot pain, foot function, shoe, general foot health, general health, physical activity, social capacity, and vigor. Outcomes included the self-reported type of outdoor footwear and clinical characteristics by sex were collected in 2019-2020.

SAMPLE: A total of 78 Roma participants self-identified as members of this ethnic minority and 72 participants non-Roma were assessed (n = 150).

RESULTS: The lower score values was recorded in the footwear and general foot health domains in Roma population. General population obtained higher scores in general health domains. The most common outdoor footwear types were running shoes and walking shoes in non-Roma population, versus flip flops and slippers in Roma population. Clinical characteristics did not show any statistically significant differences (p < .05).

CONCLUSION: Roma people wear flip flops and slippers and non-Roma people running shoes and walking shoes. These findings reveal cultural differences that make it easier for the Roma population to experience a greater burden of foot health problems. General foot health and foot pain dimensions show statistically significant differences among ethnicity.

PMID:34981857 | DOI:10.1111/phn.13043

Anal Methods. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1039/d1ay01940f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

An increasing amount of evidence has proven that serum metabolites can instantly reflect disease states. Therefore, sensitive and reproducible detection of serum metabolites in a high-throughput manner is urgently needed for clinical diagnosis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is a high-throughput platform for metabolite detection, but it is hindered by significant signal fluctuations because of the “sweet spot” effect of organic matrices. Here, by screening two transformation methods and four normalization techniques to reduce the significant signal fluctuations of the DHB matrix, an integrated MALDI-MS data processing approach combined with machine learning methods was established to reveal metabolic biomarkers of lung cancer. In our study, 13 distinctive features with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) between 34 lung cancer patients and 26 healthy controls were selected as significant potential biomarkers of lung cancer. 6 out of the 13 distinctive features were identified as intact metabolites. Our results demonstrate the potential for clinical application of MALDI-MS in serum metabolomics for biomarker screening in lung cancer.

PMID:34981796 | DOI:10.1039/d1ay01940f

Prenat Diagn. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1002/pd.6083. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a review of the literature on foetal volvulus with emphasis on prenatal imaging, pregnancy characteristics and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: A review of all published cases of foetal volvulus diagnosed prenatally and indexed in Medline, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, SOCIndex and Healthy Policy Reference Centre. Studies without antenatal sonographic signs of foetal volvulus and without a postpartum surgical diagnosis were excluded. Data were analysed for frequencies and distributions and tested for statistical significance.

RESULTS: Eighty-eight cases of foetal volvulus were identified from 58 published case reports/series. The most common ultrasound findings were dilated bowel/stomach (77.3%), polyhydramnios (30.7%) and whirlpool/snail sign (28.4%). Median gestation at diagnosis was 31.9 weeks (IQR 27-34) and mean gestation at delivery was 34.5 weeks (SD 2.8). Underlying aetiology included intestinal malrotation (15.9%), cystic fibrosis (14.8% of all cases, 32.5% of tested cases) and abnormal mesenteric fixation (12.5%). Complications included intestinal atresia (36.4%) and foetal anaemia (9.1%). The overall perinatal mortality rate was 14.5%.

CONCLUSION: Foetal volvulus is a rare condition with high rates of preterm birth and perinatal mortality. Intestinal malrotation and cystic fibrosis are common predisposing causes, although the majority are idiopathic. Bowel and/or gastric dilatation is by far the most common sonographic finding.

PMID:34981841 | DOI:10.1002/pd.6083

Biomed Environ Sci. 2021 Dec 20;34(12):952-962. doi: 10.3967/bes2021.131.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding the relationship between glucocorticoids and hypertension. Here, we aimed to explore the characteristics of glucocorticoids in participants with dysglycemia and hypertension, and to analyze their association with blood pressure indicators.

METHODS: The participants of this study were from the Henan Rural Cohort study. A total of 1,688 patients 18-79 years of age were included in the matched case control study after application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical methods were used to analyze the association between glucocorticoids and various indices of blood pressure, through approaches such as logistic regression analysis, trend tests, linear regression, and restricted cubic regression.

RESULTS: The study population consisted of 552 patients with dysglycemia and hypertension (32.7%). The patients with co-morbidities had higher levels of serum cortisol ( P = 0.009) and deoxycortisol ( P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for dysglycemia with hypertension were 1.55 (1.18, 2.04) for the highest tertile of Ln-cortisol compared with the lowest tertile. Additionally, the highest Ln-deoxycortisol levels were associated with increased prevalence of dysglycemia with hypertension by 159% (95% confidence interval: 122%, 207%).

CONCLUSIONS: Serum deoxycortisol was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, mean blood pressure, and mean proportional arterial pressure. Glucocorticoids (deoxycortisol and cortisol) increase the risk of hypertension in people with dysglycemia, particularly in those with T2DM.

PMID:34981718 | DOI:10.3967/bes2021.131

Exp Clin Transplant. 2022 Jan 3. doi: 10.6002/ect.2021.0252. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant recipients are among the high-risk groups for severe COVID-19. To date, no specific antiviral agent has proved uniformly effective against SARS-CoV-2. Favipiravir, the recommended drug by the Turkish Ministry of Health, was uniformly supplied to all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by a positive nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction test. The aim of our study was to retrospectively compare our kidney transplant recipients treated with favipiravir who developed COVID-19 infection versus those not treated with favipiravir during the clinical course of the disease, with a special emphasis on the occurrence of side effects and adverse events.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 37 consecutive kidney transplant recipients with a median age of 46 years (62.2% women). Recipients included 8 with deceased donors and 29 with living related donors; median posttransplant survival was 8.0 years (IQR, 5.5-12.5 years).

RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (70.3%) received favipiravir, and 11 (29.7%) did not. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for baseline demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory data, except that the favipiravir-treated patients were older and had a higher requirement of oxygen treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups for the course and outcome of COVID-19 infection with regard to adverse side effects/events associated with favipiravir. Laboratory data at baseline, day 7, and day 30 were also comparable between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the efficacy of favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 infection remains controversial, favipiravir is safe for kidney transplant recipients.

PMID:34981711 | DOI:10.6002/ect.2021.0252