Comorbidities and side effects of the imunomodulatory treatment in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, that affects the young adult and is associated with a high degree of disability. Physical and mental comorbidity and adverse health behaviors are common in patients with MS. Comorbidities and health behaviors are associated with adverse outcomes in MS and should be considered in the assessment and management of patients with MS. We have studied a group of 150 MS patients treated with immunomodulators inside the Romanian national MS treatment programme. The patients we analysed corresponded to the available literature in matters or number, age and sex. We searched for associated pathology and side effects of the treatment. After selecting and statistically analyzing the data we concluded that dyslipidemia was the most common comorbidity, followed by hyperglicemia and vertebral hernia. The presence or not of a comorbidity before the treatment does not relate to the EDSS score (

Kondo effect in spin-orbit mesoscopic interferometers

We consider a flux-threaded Aharonov-Bohm ring with an embedded quantum dot coupled to two normal leads. The local Rashba spin-orbit interaction acting on the dot electrons leads to a spin-dependent phase factor in addition to the Aharonov-Bohm phase caused by the external flux. Using the numerical renormalization group method, we find a splitting of the Kondo resonance at the Fermi level which can be compensated by an external magnetic field. To fully understand the nature of this compensation effect, we perform a scaling analysis and derive an expression for the effective magnetic field. The analysis is based on a tight-binding model which leads to an effective Anderson model with a spin-dependent density of states for the transformed lead states. We find that the effective field originates from the combined effect of Rashba interaction and magnetic flux and that it contains important corrections due to electron-electron interactions. We show that the compensating field is an oscillatory function of both the spin-orbit and the Aharonov-Bohm phases. Moreover, the effective field never vanishes due to the particle-hole symmetry breaking independently of the gate voltage.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Facile Method to Prepare Superhydrophobic and Water Repellent Cellulosic Paper

Silica nanoparticles (7 nm) were dispersed in solutions of a silane/siloxane mixture. The dispersions were applied, by brush, on four types of paper: (i) modern, unprinted (blank) paper, (ii) modern paper where a text was printed using a common laser jet printer, (iii) a handmade paper sheet detached from an old book, and (iv) Japanese tissue paper. It is shown that superhydrophobicity and water repellency were achieved on the surface of the deposited films, when high particle concentrations were used (≥1% w/v), corresponding to high static (θS ≈ 162°) and low tilt (θt < 3°) contact angles. To interpret these results, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the surface morphologies of the siloxane-nanoparticle films. Static contact angles, measured on surfaces that were prepared from dilute dispersions (particle concentration <1% w/v), increased with particle concentration and attained a maximum value (162°) which corresponds to superhydrophobicity. Increasing further the particle concentration did not have any effect on θS. Colourimetric measurements showed that the superhydrophobic films had negligible effects on the aesthetic appearance of the treated papers. Furthermore, it is shown that the superhydrophobic character of the siloxane-nanoparticle films was stable over a wide range of pH

Преклинический атеросклероз: эндотелиальная дисфункция, комплекс интима-медиа, сосудистая жесткость

Preclinical atherosclerosis is an acute problem of contemporary medicine with significant effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Targeting strategy to tackle atherosclerotic disease at incipient clinical stages is undertaken to achieve a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events and reliance on an early assessment of serum markers of endothelial dysfunction and other noninvasive indicators of asymptomatic atherosclerotic arterial disease, such as the intimae-media thickness and arterial stiffness.Преклинический атеросклероз является острой проблемой современной медицины и обладает значительным влиянием на сердечно- сосудистую заболеваемость и смертность. Ориентация стратегии борьбы с атеросклеротической болезнью на преклинических стадиях нацелена на достижение значительного снижения основных сердечно-сосудистых осложнений и основана на ранней оценке сывороточных маркеров эндотелиальной дисфункции и на других неинвазивных показателях бессимптомного атеросклеротического поражения артерий, таких как толщина комплекса интима-медиа и жесткость сосудистых стенок

Cryptands and bismacrocycles with cyanuric and isocyanuric units: synthesis and structural investigations

Hay synthesis of cryptands and bismacrocycles starting from tripodands with cyanuric and isocyanuric cores is reported. The structure of the compounds is revealed by X-ray diffraction, NMR spectrometry and MS investigations. DNMR experiments carried out with bismacrocycles indicated the flipping of the rings and the free-energy barrier for the conformational process could be determined in one case. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Approximate probabilistic verification of hybrid systems

Hybrid systems whose mode dynamics are governed by non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are often a natural model for biological processes. However such models are difficult to analyze. To address this, we develop a probabilistic analysis method by approximating the mode transitions as stochastic events. We assume that the probability of making a mode transition is proportional to the measure of the set of pairs of time points and value states at which the mode transition is enabled. To ensure a sound mathematical basis, we impose a natural continuity property on the non-linear ODEs. We also assume that the states of the system are observed at discrete time points but that the mode transitions may take place at any time between two successive discrete time points. This leads to a discrete time Markov chain as a probabilistic approximation of the hybrid system. We then show that for BLTL (bounded linear time temporal logic) specifications the hybrid system meets a specification iff its Markov chain approximation meets the same specification with probability $1$. Based on this, we formulate a sequential hypothesis testing procedure for verifying -approximately- that the Markov chain meets a BLTL specification with high probability. Our case studies on cardiac cell dynamics and the circadian rhythm indicate that our scheme can be applied in a number of realistic settings

Cellular Expression of Smarca4 (Brg1)-regulated Genes in Zebrafish Retinas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In a recent genomic study, Leung et al. used a factorial microarray analysis to identify Smarca4 (Brg1)-regulated genes in micro-dissected zebrafish retinas. Two hundred and fifty nine genes were grouped in three-way ANOVA models which carried the most specific retinal change. To validate the microarray results and to elucidate cellular expression patterns of the significant genes for further characterization, 32 known genes were randomly selected from this group. <it>In situ </it>hybridization of these genes was performed on the same types of samples (wild-type (WT) and <it>smarca4^a50/a50</it>(<it>yng</it>) mutant) at the same stages (36 and 52 hours post-fertilization (hpf)) as in the microarray study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty out of 32 riboprobes showed a positive <it>in situ </it>staining signal. Twenty seven out of these 30 genes were originally further classified as Smarca4-regulated retinal genes, while the remaining three as retinal-specific expression independent of Smarca4 regulation. It was found that 90.32% of the significant microarray comparisons that were used to identify Smarca4-regulated retinal genes had a corresponding qualitative expression change in the <it>in situ </it>hybridization comparisons. This is highly concordant with the theoretical true discovery rate of 95%. Hierarchical clustering was used to investigate the similarity of the cellular expression patterns of 25 out of the 27 Smarca4-regulated retinal genes that had a sufficiently high expression signal for an unambiguous identification of retinal expression domains. Three broad groups of expression pattern were identified; including 1) photoreceptor layer/outer nuclear layer specific expression at 52 hpf, 2) ganglion cell layer (GCL) and/or inner nuclear layer (INL) specific expression at both 36 & 52 hpf, and 3) GCL and/or INL specific expression at 52 hpf only. Some of these genes have recently been demonstrated to play key roles in retinal cell-type specification, differentiation and lamination. For the remaining three retinal-specific genes that are independent of Smarca4 regulation, they all had a subtle expression difference between WT and <it>smarca4^a50/a50</it>retinas as detected by <it>in situ </it>hybridization. This subtle expression difference was also detected by the original microarray analysis. However, the difference was lower than the fold change cut-off used in that study and hence these genes were not inferred as Smarca4-regulated retinal genes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study has successfully investigated the expression pattern of 32 genes identified from the original factorial microarray analysis. The results have demonstrated that the true discovery rate for identifying Smarca4-regulated retinal genes is 90.3%. Hence, the significant genes from the microarray study are good candidates for cell-type specific markers and will aid further investigation of retinal differentiation.</p

Синдром хронической сердечной недостаточности вторичной Тетраде Фалло: клинические и диагностические аспекты на основе одного случая

Department of Pediatrics, Nicolae Testemitanu State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Congresul III al Medicilor de Familie din Republica Moldova, 17–18 mai, 2012, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, Conferinţa Naţională „Maladii bronhoobstructive la copii”, consacrată profesorului universitar, doctor habilitat Victor Gheţeul, 27 aprilie, Chişinău, Republica MoldovaThe authors present a clinical case of a 17 year old boy, which in his clinical and paraclinical data highlighted the following diagnostic: Congenital heart failure; Tetralogy of Fallot; AV Block gr. III; Mitral valve insufficiency gr. IV; Tricuspid valve insufficiency gr. IV; Heart failure NYHA functional class gr. III-IV. The case focuses on complications that may occur in late cardio surgeries and the development of AV block gr. III disorders. If complications arose during the evolution of the disease, there would have been performed multiple pacemaker reimplantations. The article insists on the way how cardiovascular complications start as much as on the importance of prompt medical supervision to ensure the patient’s quality of life.В данной статье описан клинический случай ребёнка в возрасте 17 лет, у которого по клинико-инструментальным данным был установлен клинический диагноз – врожденный порок сердца, Tетрада Фалло, aтриовентрикулярная блокада III-ей степени. Имплантация исскуственного кардиостимулятора ритма сердца (1998, 2002, 2007). Недостаточность митрального клапана IV-ой степени. Недостаточность трикуспидального клапана IV-ой степени. НК IV NYHA

Local control and possibility of tailored salvage after hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of the cavity after brain metastases resection

Source at https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.1486.In patients undergoing surgical resection of brain metastases, the risk of local recurrence remains high. Adjuvant whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) can reduce the risk of local relapse but fails to improve overall survival. At two tertiary care centers in Germany, a retrospective study was performed to evaluate the role of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HFSRT) in patients with brain metastases after surgical resection. In particular, need for salvage treatment, for example, WBRT, surgery, or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), was evaluated. Both intracranial local (LF) and locoregional (LRF) failures were analyzed. A total of 181 patients were treated with HFSRT of the surgical cavity. In addition to the assessment of local control and distant intracranial control, we analyzed treatment modalities for tumor recurrence including surgical strategies and reirradiation. Imaging follow‐up for the evaluation of LF and LRF was available in 159 of 181 (88%) patients. A total of 100 of 159 (63%) patients showed intracranial progression after HFSRT. A total of 81 of 100 (81%) patients received salvage therapy. Fourteen of 81 patients underwent repeat surgery, and 78 of 81 patients received radiotherapy as a salvage treatment (53% WBRT). Patients with single or few metastases distant from the initial site or with WBRT in the past were retreated by HFSRT (14%) or SRS, 33%. Some patients developed up to four metachronous recurrences, which could be salvaged successfully. Eight (4%) patients experienced radionecrosis. No other severe side effects (CTCAE≥3) were observed. Postoperative HFSRT to the resection cavity resulted in a crude rate for local control of 80.5%. Salvage therapy for intracranial progression was commonly needed, typically at distant sites. Salvage therapy was performed with WBRT, SRS, and surgery or repeated HFSRT of the resection cavity depending on the tumor spread and underlying histology. Prospective studies are warranted to clarify whether or not the sequence of these therapies is important in terms of quality of life, risk of radiation necrosis, and likelihood of neurological cause of death