Impaired global and segmental myocardial deformation assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency

Background: Contrary effects of vitamin B12 deficiency have been shown on the cardiovascular system. Aim of our study was to analyze left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation, by using the two dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and normal LV ejection fraction.Methods: Twenty-five patients with vitamin B12 deficiency (B12 levels < 200 pg/mL; meanage: 29.6 ± 8.2 years, 15 female), and 27 healthy controls (B12 levels > 200 pg/mL; meanage: 30.1 ± 6.9 years, 13 female) were included in the study. 2D echocardiography images were transferred to a workstation for further offline analysis. Longitudinal peak systolic (LPSS) and global strain (LGS) was obtained from 4 chamber and apical long axis (APLAX) views.Results: Standard echocardiographic parameters and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) velocities were compared between the groups. All LPSS values in the patient group except for apical 4C septal wall longitudinal strain were significantly decreased than those in the control group. There was a positive correlation between B12 levels and strain values except apical 4C septal wall strain values.Conclusions: We found that in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, global and segmental myocardial deformation was impaired and this impairment was correlated with the levels of vitamin B12

MITF-MIR211 axis is a novel autophagy amplifier system during cellular stress

Macroautophagy (autophagy) is an evolutionarily conserved recycling and stress response mechanism. Active at basal levels in eukaryotes, autophagy is upregulated under stress providing cells with building blocks such as amino acids. A lysosome-integrated sensor system composed of RRAG GTPases and MTOR complex 1 (MTORC1) regulates lysosome biogenesis and autophagy in response to amino acid availability. Stress-mediated inhibition of MTORC1 results in the dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the TFE/MITF family of transcriptional factors, and triggers an autophagy- and lysosomal-related gene transcription program. The role of family members TFEB and TFE3 have been studied in detail, but the importance of MITF proteins in autophagy regulation is not clear so far. Here we introduce for the first time a specific role for MITF in autophagy control that involves upregulation of MIR211. We show that, under stress conditions including starvation and MTOR inhibition, a MITF-MIR211 axis constitutes a novel feed-forward loop that controls autophagic activity in cells. Direct targeting of the MTORC2 component RICTOR by MIR211 led to the inhibition of the MTORC1 pathway, further stimulating MITF translocation to the nucleus and completing an autophagy amplification loop. In line with a ubiquitous function, MITF and MIR211 were co-expressed in all tested cell lines and human tissues, and the effects on autophagy were observed in a cell-type independent manner. Thus, our study provides direct evidence that MITF has rate-limiting and specific functions in autophagy regulation. Collectively, the MITF-MIR211 axis constitutes a novel and universal autophagy amplification system that sustains autophagic activity under stress conditions.No sponso

Common variable immunodeficiency syndrome with right aortic arch: a case report

BACKGROUND: Common variable immunodificiency syndrome predominantly affects adults. It is characterized by low production of all the major classes of immunoglobulins. We report a case of common variable immunodeficiency syndrome with right aortic arch. An association of right-sided arch and common variable immunodificiency syndrome has not been previously reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old female patient presented with a history of recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media, diarrhoea, cystitis since childhood. Biochemical and immunocytochemical analysis revealed common variable immunodeficiency syndrome and radiological evaluation confirmed right aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery. CONCLUSION: Common variable immunodeficiency syndrome syndrome is a clinical entity that should be kept in mind in patients with recurrent infections of different sites

Relation of maternal vitamin D status with gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal outcome

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and glucose intolerance, and its impact on pregnant women and their newborns. Methods: A cohort of pregnant women were divided into three groups: women with gestational diabetes mellitus, ones with normal results both after the 50 gr and 100 gr OGTT (CG-1) and ones having a positive result after the 50 gr OGTT screening but negative results for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) after the 100 gr OGTT (CG-2) Results: The newborn length in CG-1 was greater than in GDM and CG-2 (p= 0.002 and p= 0.02). Fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance (IR) were negatively correlated with length of the newborns (r=-0.3, p=0.03 and r=-0.3, p=0.01). The newborns of women with GDM had lower APGAR-1 and 5 scores than those of CG-1 and CG-2 (APGAR-1 p= 0.001 and p= 0.004, APGAR-5 p=0.005 and p=0.007, respectively). APGAR scores were correlated negatively with IR (APGAR-1 r=- 0.32, p=0.01, APGAR-5 r=-0.3, p=0.03) and positively with 25OHD levels (APGAR-1 r=0.3, p=0.01, APGAR-5 r=0.3, p=0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency, gestational diabetes and insulin resistance are interrelated. Severe vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with poor pregnancy and neonatal outcome

MnFe2O4 nano spinels as potential sorbent for adsorption of chromium from industrial wastewater

In this study, nanospinels of MnFe2O4 were synthesized by a rapid method of microwave-assisted combustion technique for the removal of total chromium from real industrial wastewater. Nanoparticles of MnFe2O4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The removal of total chromium from real industrial wastewater, which was taken from galvanotechnic industry, using of nanospinel MnFe2O4 was investigated. The effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentrations on total chromium removal from wastewater were studied using the real wastewater. Optimal conditions were found for total chromium removal. Chromium removal and adsorption capacity of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were achieved as 59.35% and 89.18 mg/g, respectively. In addition, other optimum conditions of adsorbent dosage and contact time were found as 1.5 g/L and 120 min in this study, respectively. The removal of total chromium using MnFe2O4 NPs was fitted with Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The results indicated that MnFe2O4 nanospinels are suitable adsorbents for the removal of total chromium from industrial wastewater

The Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case report

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a serious systemic disorder in which there are fever, vesicobullous lesions involving the skin and mucous membranes. It can result as an immune response to an antigen or as a drug reaction. Most often it is considered as an allergic reaction. It is a self-limiting condition which responds to immediate management or may result in fluid loss, sepsis and death. There is no specific treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Suspected drug discontinuation and supportive therapy is the first step in treatment of Stevens-Johnson. Systemic steroid use in the treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a controversial issue. Here, we present a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome who responded well to the treatment with systemic steroids

Riga's citizens satisfaction with public transport in Ziepniekkalns neighbourhood

Bakalaura darba "Rīgas iedzīvotāju apmierinātība ar sabiedrisko transportu Ziepniekkalna apkaimē" galvenais mērķis bija izpētīt to, cik lielā mērā ar dažādiem sabiedriskā transporta aspektiem Ziepniekkalna apkaimē ir apmierināti Rīgas iedzīvotāji. Tēma tika izvēlēta, ņemot vērā to, ka sabiedriskais transports ir svarīgs elements pilsētas dzīvē, bet Ziepniekkalna apkaime robežojas ar Rīgas pilsētas robežu un tajā izbūvēts lielizmēra dzīvojamais rajons. Pētījumā tika izmantotas gan kvantitatīvās, gan kvalitatīvās metodes, kā teorētisko pamatu izmantojot mobilitātes un patērētāju apmierinātības teorijas. Ar aptaujas anketas palīdzību, kurā indivīdiem, kas izmanto sabiedrisko transportu Ziepniekkalnā, tika uzdoti jautājumi par sabiedriskā transporta izmantošanas paradumiem, apmierinātību ar dažādiem faktoriem, kas saistīti ar sabiedrisko transportu, tāpat bija jānovērtē piekrišana dažādiem ar sabiedrisko transportu saistītiem faktoriem. Kvalitatīvās metodes tika izmantotas, lai analizētu "Rīgas Satiksmes" attīstības stratēģiju. Galvenie bakalaura darba secinājumi vēsta, ka kopumā respondenti izrādīja apmierinātību ar sabiedrisko transportu Ziepniekkalna apkaimē.The main purpose of bachelor thesis "Riga's citizens satisfaction with public transport in Ziepniekkalns neighbourhood" was to define satisfaction level of Riga's citizens with different factors related to public transport in Ziepniekkalns neighbourhood. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this research. Main part of research was conducted with analysis of internet survey where participants were asked questions about their satisfaction with public transporti in Ziepniekkalns, about their habits of using the public transport and about how much they agree with different statements related to public transport in Ziepniekkalns. Qualitative methods were used to analyse a development strategy of "Rīgas Satiksme". The main conclusions of this research tells that participants of conducted survey are mainly satisfied with public transportation in Ziepniekkalns, although there were factors where there were mainly dissatisfacted participants

Synthesis, Characterization and, the Heavy Metal Removal Efficiency of MFe2O4 (M=Ni, Cu) Nanoparticles

The purpose of the study described in this paper was to compare the removal of the heavy metals zinc, nickel, and copper from synthetic wastewater by using nanoparticles of CuFe2O4 and NiFe2O4. The nanoparticles of nickel and copper ferrite (CuFe2O4 and NiFe2O4) were produced by the PEG assisted hydrothermal method. The structural and morphological characterizations were determined using XRD, FT-IR, and SEM. These nanoparticles were dispersed into synthetic wastewater contaminated with zinc, nickel, and copper. Once they had bound to the heavy metals, they were removed from the water solution using a strong magnet. The metal concentrations of the filtered samples were determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Then the heavy metal removal efficiencies and adsorption capacities of the nanoparticles (CuFe2O4 and NiFe2O4) were calculated. The removal efficiencies of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) by using CuFe2O4 nanoparticles was calculated as 83.50%, 98.85%, and 99.80%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) by using NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were calculated as 92.55%, 36.56%, and 99.91%, respectively. The measurements were repeated several times with the same sample and almost the same results were obtained each time