Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

A combination of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay and the detection of adenosine deaminase improves the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion

The differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains difficult despite the availability of numerous diagnostic tools. The current study aimed to evaluate the performance of the whole blood QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay and conventional laboratory biomarkers in differential diagnosis of TPE and MPE in high tuberculosis prevalence areas. A total of 117 patients with pleural effusions were recruited, including 91 with TPE and 26 with MPE. All of the patients were tested with QFT-GIT, and the conventional biomarkers in both blood and pleural effusion were detected. The level of antigen-stimulated QFT-GIT in the whole blood of TPE patients was significantly higher than that of MPE (2.89 vs 0.33 IU/mL, P<0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of QFT-GIT for the diagnosis of TPE were 93.0% and 60.0%, respectively. Among the biomarkers in blood and pleural effusion, pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA) was the most prominent biomarker, with a cutoff value of 15.35 IU/L. The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TPE were 93.4% and 96.2%, respectively. The diagnostic classification tree from the combination of these two biomarkers was 97.8% sensitive and 92.3% specific. Ultimately, the combination of whole blood QFT-GIT with pleural ADA improved both the specificity and positive predictive value to 100%. Thus, QFT-GIT is not superior to pleural ADA in the differential diagnosis of TPE and MPE. Combined whole blood QFT-GIT and pleural ADA detection can improve the diagnosis of TPE

Minimum 10 years follow-up surgical results of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients treated with TSRH instrumentation

Last two decades witnessed great advances in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. However, the number of studies evaluating the long-term results of these treatment methods is relatively low. During recent years, besides radiological and clinical studies, questionnaires like SRS-22 assessing subjective functional and mental status and life-quality of patients have gained importance for the evaluation of these results. In this study, surgical outcome and Turkish SRS-22 questionnaire results of 109 late-onset adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients surgically treated with third-generation instrumentation [Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) System] and followed for a minimum of 10 years were evaluated. The balance was analyzed clinically and radiologically by the measurement of the lateral trunk shift (LT), shift of head (SH), and shift of stable vertebra (SS). Mean age of the patients was 14.4±1.9 and mean follow-up period was 136.9±12.7 months. When all the patients were included, the preoperative mean Cobb angle of major curves in the frontal plane was 60.8°±17.5°. Major curves that were corrected by 38.7±22.1% in the bending radiograms, postoperatively achieved a correction of 64.0±15.8%. At the last follow-up visit, 10.3°±10.8° of correction loss was recorded in major curves in the frontal plane with 50.5±23.1% final correction rate. Also, the mean postoperative and final kyphosis angles and lumbar lordosis angles were 37.7°±7.4°, 37.0°±8.4°, 37.5°±8.7°, and 36.3°±8.5°, respectively. A statistically significant correction was obtained at the sagittal plane; mean postoperative changes compared to preoperative values were 7.9° and 12.9° for thoracic and lumbar regions, respectively. On the other hand, normal physiological thoracic and lumbar sagittal contours were achieved in 83.5% and 67.9% of the patients, respectively. Postoperatively, a statistically significant correction was obtained in LT, SH, and SS values (P<0.05). Although, none of the patients had completely balanced curves preoperatively, in 95.4% of the patients the curves were found to be completely balanced or clinically well balanced postoperatively. This rate was maintained at the last follow-up visit. Overall, four patients (3.7%) had implant failure. Early superficial infection was observed in three (2.8%) patients. Radiologically presence of significant consolidation, absence of implant failure, and correction loss, and clinical relief of pain were considered as the proof of a posterior solid fusion mass. About ten (9.2%) patients were considered to have pseudoarthrosis: four patients with implant failure and six patients with correction loss over 15° at the frontal plane. About four (3.7%) patients among the first 20 patients had neurological deficit only wake-up test was used for neurological monitoring of these patients. No neurological deficit was observed in the 89 patients for whom intraoperative neurological monitoring with SSEP and TkMMEP was performed. Overall, average scores of SRS-22 questionnaire for general self-image, function, mental status, pain, and satisfaction from treatment were 3.8±0.7, 3.6±0.7, 4.0±0.8, 3.6±0.8, and 4.6±0.3, respectively at the last follow-up visit. Results of about 10 years of follow-up these patients treated with TSRH instrumentation suggest that the method is efficient for the correction of frontal and sagittal plane deformities and trunk balance. In addition, it results in a better life-quality

An overview of magnetic material: Preparation and adsorption removal of heavy metals from wastewater

The issue of wastewater impurities along harmful heavy metal ion is rather critical. In this matter, there is a necessity for developed techniques to wastewater treatment. Recently, magnetic-based carbon materials application for the metal ion removal from water has significantly gotten attention. For years, researchers design techniques that emphasize on the magnetic material, in order to attain comprehensive benefit. This paper provided detailed review on the synthesis of magnetic materials. In addition, compressive review on heavy metal was narrated. Hence, magnetic-based material has proven excellent adsorption capacity for waste treatment