Association of the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) variant with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an Iranian population

In various populations worldwide, common variants of the TCF7L2 (Transcription factor 7-like 2) gene are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim was to investigate the association between rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene and T2DM in an Iranian population. 236 unrelated patients with T2DM, and 255 normoglycemic controls without diabetes were studied. The PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism, and the SPSS version 18.0 for Windows for statistical analysis. The minor T allele of TCF7L2 rs12255372 was found to significantly increase the risk of T2DM, with an allelic odds ratio (OR) of 1.458 (95% CI 1.108-1.918, p = 0.007). A significant difference in TT genotype was observed between T2DM patients and normoglycemic controls (OR 2.038, 95% CI 1.147-3.623; p = 0.014). On assuming dominant and recessive models, ORs of 1.52 [95% CI (1.05-2.21) p = 0.026)] and 1.74 [95% CI (1.01-3.00) p = 0.043] were obtained, respectively, thereby implying that the co-dominant model would best fit the susceptible gene effect. This study further confirms the TCF7L2 gene as enhancing susceptibility to the development of T2DM. © 2012, Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

Investigating Calotropis Procera natural dye extracts and PDOT:PSS hole transport material for dye-sensitized solar cells

Received: February 24th, 2021 ; Accepted: May 2nd, 2021 ; Published: May 4th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] this work, natural dye extracts from Calotropis Procera are used as the main dyesensitizer in solar cells. The Calotropis plant is a non-food item capable of surviving the harsh climate of the United Arab Emirates. Its incorporation into dye-sensitized solar cells is tested by constructing various cells, whose performance was also compared to that of more common chlorophyll-based dye extracts (i.e. spinach) as well as compared against a baseline cell sensitized with a synthetic ruthenium dye. The performance of the Calotropis-based cells was in general better than those with other natural sensitizers, but of course scored lower efficiency results when compared to cells built with synthetic dyes (0.075% compared to 5.11%). The advantage in using a natural sensitizer include facile extraction and preparation, low cost and abundance, since the Calotropis source has no competing applications in terms of food, livestock feed, etc. The figureof-merit of cell output vs. cost for such cells makes them a good contender for further research and development effort to overcome the obvious drawbacks of stability and service longevity. Adding a hole-transport material to the cells in the form of PEDOT:PSS was also attempted to assess the enhancement it could provide to the cells. This did not yield the desired results and more experiments have to be done to better understand the interaction of each added layer to the original cell design

Adénome de prostate révélé par des hypoglycémies profondes: A propos d'un cas

RésuméIntroductionEnviron 90% des patients diabétiques présentent un diabète de type 2. L'hypoglycémie constitue le principal effet indésirable des antidiabétiques oraux. Elle est d'autant plus grave qu'elle s'accompagne d'une insuffisance rénale.Cas cliniqueNous rapportons le cas d'un homme âgé de 85ans suivi pour un diabète de type 2 et une hypertension artérielle. Il a été admis via les urgences dans un tableau de trouble de conscience associé à une fièvre. Le bilan réalisé a objectivé une hypoglycémie profonde, une insuffisance rénale obstructive et un taux de PSA élevé (antigène spécifique de la prostate). Les antidiabétiques oraux ont été arrêtés et un sondage vésical a été effectué avec comme résultats une correction des hypoglycémies et de la fonction rénale. Le patient a eu une résection trans-urétrale de la prostate (RTUP) et l'examen anatomopathologique était en faveur d'un adéno-myo-fibrome. Les troubles neurologiques en rapport avec l'hypoglycémie étaient sous forme d'agitations, délire, trouble des fonctions supérieures et troubles du sommeil. Cependant notre patient n'a pas présenté de déficit neurologique. L’évolution clinique était favorable.ConclusionL'insuffisance rénale obstructive peut constituer une complication de l'adénome de la prostate à un stade ultime. Elle est responsable d'accumulation dans le sang de médicaments y compris les antidiabétiques oraux. L'hypoglycémie qui en résulte est délétère pour la qualité de vie du patient et peut être responsable d'accidents neurologiques.AbstractIntroductionApproximately 90% of patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia is the main side effect of oral antidiabetics, and it can be more serious when it is accompanied by renal failure.Clinical caseWe report the case of a man aged 85 years followed for type 2 diabetes and hypertension. He was admitted via the emergency with a disturbed level of consciousness associated with fever. The medical evaluation revealed profound hypoglycemia, obstructive renal failure and an elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen). Oral hypoglycemic agents were discontinued and catheterization was performed resulting in correction of hypoglycemia and renal function. The patient underwent a transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and pathologic examination was in favor of benign hyperplasia. Neurological disorders related to hypoglycemia were agitation, delirium, impaired higher functions and sleep disorders. However our patient did not present any neurological deficit. The clinical course was favorable.ConclusionThe obstructive renal failure can be a complication of benign prostatic hyperplasia in a final stage. It is responsible for accumulation in the blood of drugs including oral anti-diabetic agents. The resulting hypoglycemia is deleterious to the quality of life of the patient and may be responsible for neurological disorders

Rupture post traumatique de la membrane de Bruch: à propos d’un cas

Une contusion du globe peut se compliquer de rupture de la membrane de Bruch ou de la choroïde. Cette complication est observée dans 5 à 10% des cas avec une nette prédominance masculine. Nous rapportons l'observation clinique d'un patient de 26 ans, victime d'un traumatisme contusif sévère de l'oeil gauche chez qui l'examen retrouve une rupture de la membrane de bruch au fond d'oeil ; l'evolution spontanné a été marquée parune amélioration visuelle sans complications néovasculaires. Au cours des ruptures post traumatiques de la membrane de bruch le pronostic est essentiellement lié d'une part à sa localisation par rapport à la macula; et d'autre part à la survenue de complications néovasculaires (15 à 30 %des cas)

Contribution to the Optimization of the Radiation Performance of Patch Array Antenna for WiMAX Applications

The aim of this paper is to increase the operating distance of the WiMAX implementation by increasing the gain and the directivity using microstrip array antenna. We present the design of simple 2X2 microstrip array antenna operating at 5.38 GHz for WiMAX applications. The design is based on a single layer FR4 substrate, having a loss tangent o

La prise en charge d’un goitre compressif chez une femme enceinte

Introduction: Les médecins d'urgence reçoivent fréquemment des patients atteints d'une pathologie de la thyroïde. Cependant, il est rare que ces troubles mettent la vie du patient en danger. La compression des voies aériennes supérieures due à une augmentation du volume d'une tumeur bénigne de la thyroïde et peut nécessiter un traitement chirurgical urgent.But: rappeler les modalités de prise en charge d'un goitre chez une femme enceinte.Observation: nous rapportons un cas d'une femme enceinte qui a été admise pour un goitre compressif avec dyspnée laryngée, qui exigeait une thyroïdectomie totale en urgence.Conclusion: La thyroïdectomie urgente chez la femme enceinte peut être réalisée si on respecte les précautions nécessaires.Mots clés: goitre, grossesse, thyroïdectomie.Introduction: emergency physicians frequently encounter patients with thyroid disease. However, it is unusual for these thyroid disorders to create acute, life-threatening situations. Critical airway compression attributable to benign thyroid enlargement may occur suddenly and require urgent treatement.Aim: we recall making procedures in charge of a goiter in pregnant women.Case -report : We report a case of pregnant women who was admitted for compressive goiter with laryngeal dyspnea, which required emergency total thyroidectomy.Conclusion: Urgent thyroidectomy in pregnant women can be performed if we respect the precautions.Keywords: goiter, pregnancy, thyroidectomy

Transient up- and down-regulation of expression of myosin light chain 2 and myostatin mRNA mark the changes from stratified hyperplasia to muscle fiber hypertrophy in larvae of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Hyperplasia and hypertrophy are the two mechanisms by which muscle develops and grows. We study these two mechanisms, during the early development of white muscle in Sparus aurata, by means of histology and the expression of structural and regulatory genes. A clear stage of stratified hyperplasia was identified early in the development of gilthead sea bream but ceased by 35 dph when hypertrophy took over. Mosaic recruitment of new white fibers began as soon as 60 dph. The genes mlc2a and mlc2b were expressed at various levels during the main phases of hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The genes myog and mlc2a were significantly up-regulated during the intensive stratified formation of new fibers and their expression was significantly correlated. Expression of mstn1 and igf1 increased at 35 dph, appeared to regulate the hyperplasia-to-hypertrophy transition, and may have stimulated the expression of mlc2a, mlc2b and col1a1 at the onset of mosaic hyperplasia. The up-regulation of mstn1 at transitional phases in muscle development indicates a dual regulatory role of myostatin in fish larval muscle growth

Numerical Study of the Bond Strength Evolution of Corroded Reinforcement in Concrete in Pull‐Out Tests

The corrosion of rebars in reinforced concrete structures impacts their geometry (diameter and ribs) and mass, damages the concrete at the interface between the two materials, deteriorates the bond strength, and causes the cracking of the concrete cover. In the following study, a 2D numerical model of the pull‐out test is presented in order to study the impact of corrosion on the bond strength. Several parameters are investigated: the embedment depth, the rebar’s diameter, and the width of the concrete cover. The model reproduces the slip of the rebar and the failure through the splitting of concrete. It integrates an interface between the two materials and a concrete damage model that simulate the deterioration of concrete in compression and tension. The results obtained are validated with experimental data from the literature. Moreover, a parametric study is carried out to determine the impact of the embedment depth, the diameter of the rebar, and the concrete cover on the bond strength. The present study confirms that a greater embedment depth increases the pulling load. The study also confirms that the rebar’s diameter impacts highly the loss of bond between the rebar and the concrete cover. Lastly, the final main result of this paper is that the width of the concrete cover slows the loss of bond strength between the two materials

Quantum Critical Point in the Spin Glass-Kondo Transition in Heavy Fermion Systems

The Kondo-Spin Glass competition is studied in a theoretical model of a Kondo lattice with an intra-site Kondo type exchange interaction treated within the mean field approximation, an inter-site quantum Ising exchange interaction with random couplings among localized spins and an additional transverse field in the x direction, which represents a simple quantum mechanism of spin flipping. We obtain two second order transition lines from the spin-glass state to the paramagnetic one and then to the Kondo state. For a reasonable set of the different parameters, the two second order transition lines do not intersect and end in two distinct QCP.Comment: 20 pages; 1 figure; to appear in Physical Review