110 research outputs found
Albumin to creatinine ratio as a predictor to the severity of coronary artery disease
Introduction: Microalbuminuria (MA) is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). It is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality, especially in diabetics. However, there are few data linking angiographic severity of CAD to MA.Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the albumin to creatinine ratio as a new predictor for CAD and to correlate with its severity apart from other traditional CAD risk factors.Methods: Our study included 100 patients with documented CAD by coronary angiography in Alexandria main university hospital. The severity of CAD was scored on the basis of the number and the extent of lesions within the coronary arteries by using Syntax score. Urine albumin excretion was measured for all patients in morning spot urine samples by immune precipitation technique. We correlate between MA and severity of CAD.Results: In a total of 100 patients (74 males and 26 females), (mean age 55.71± 8.99 y) MA was present in 34 patients only. Patients were divided into two groups; group I included those without MA and group II with MA. CAD occurred more frequently in males than in females and in smokers than in non-smokers. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia between the two groups. A direct relationship between MA and extension of atherosclerotic coronary lesions was noticed (P = 0.009).Conclusion: Patients with MA having more severe angiographic CAD were compared to those without MA. This relation is independent of other risk factors. MA could be utilized as an independent risk factor for CAD.Keywords: Coronary artery disease (CAD); Microalbuminuria (MA); Albumin–creatinine rati
Turmeric and Its Major Compound Curcumin on Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications
Curcumin, a yellow polyphenolic pigment from the Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) rhizome, has been used for centuries for culinary and food coloring purposes, and as an ingredient for various medicinal preparations, widely used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. In recent decades, their biological activities have been extensively studied. Thus, this review aims to offer an in-depth discussion of curcumin applications for food and biotechnological industries, and on health promotion and disease prevention, with particular emphasis on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Bioavailability, bioefficacy and safety features, side effects, and quality parameters of curcumin are also addressed. Finally, curcumin’s multidimensional applications, food attractiveness optimization, agro-industrial procedures to offset its instability and low bioavailability, health concerns, and upcoming strategies for clinical application are also covered
Estimation of the number of synapses in the hippocampus and brain-wide by volume electron microscopy and genetic labeling
Determining the number of synapses that are present in different brain regions is crucial to understand brain connectivity as a whole. Membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) are a family of scaffolding proteins that are expressed in excitatory glutamatergic synapses. We used genetic labeling of two of these proteins (PSD95 and SAP102), and Spinning Disc confocal Microscopy (SDM), to estimate the number of fluorescent puncta in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. We also used FIB-SEM, a three-dimensional electron microscopy technique, to calculate the actual numbers of synapses in the same area. We then estimated the ratio between the three-dimensional densities obtained with FIB-SEM (synapses/µm) and the bi-dimensional densities obtained with SDM (puncta/100 µm). Given that it is impractical to use FIB-SEM brain-wide, we used previously available SDM data from other brain regions and we applied this ratio as a conversion factor to estimate the minimum density of synapses in those regions. We found the highest densities of synapses in the isocortex, olfactory areas, hippocampal formation and cortical subplate. Low densities were found in the pallidum, hypothalamus, brainstem and cerebellum. Finally, the striatum and thalamus showed a wide range of synapse densities.This work was supported by grants from the following entities: the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” (Grant PGC2018-094307-B-I00 and the Cajal Blue Brain Project [C080020-09; the Spanish partner of the Blue Brain Project initiative from EPFL, Switzerland]; the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 785907 (Human Brain Project, SGA2); the Wellcome Trust (Technology Development Grant 202932); and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (695568 SYNNOVATE). L.T.-R. is a recipient of grants from the EMBO Long-term fellowship 2016–2018 and the IBRO-PERC InEurope grants programme
Blechnum Orientale Linn - a fern with potential as antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial agent
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Blechnum orientale </it>Linn. (<it>Blechnaceae</it>) is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various skin diseases, stomach pain, urinary bladder complaints and sterilization of women. The aim of the study was to evaluate antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial activity of five solvent fractions obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves of <it>Blechnum orientale </it>Linn.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five solvent fractions were obtained from the methanol extract of <it>B. orientale</it> through successive partitioning with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. Total phenolic content was assessed using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity of DPPH radicals. Cytotoxic activity was tested against four cancer cell lines and a non-malignant cell using MTT assay. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Standard phytochemical screening tests for saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids were also conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions possessed strong radical scavenging activity (IC<sub>50 </sub>8.6-13.0 μg/ml) and cytotoxic activity towards human colon cancer cell HT-29 (IC<sub>50 </sub>27.5-42.8 μg/ml). The three extracts were also effective against all Gram-positive bacteria tested: <it>Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus</it>, methicillin-susceptible <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MSSA), methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) and <it>Stapylococcus epidermidis</it>(minimum inhibitory concentration MIC 15.6-250 μg/ml; minimum bactericidal concentration MBC 15.6-250 μg/ml). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids and tannins. Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed highest total phenolic content (675-804 mg gallic acid equivalent/g).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate that this fern is a potential candidate to be used as an antioxidant agent, for colon cancer therapy and for treatment of MRSA infections and other MSSA/Gram-positive bacterial infectious diseases.</p
HIV Delays IFN-α Production from Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells and Is Associated with SYK Phosphorylation
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the major producers of type I interferons (IFNs) in humans and rapidly produce IFN-α in response to virus exposure. Although HIV infection is associated with pDC activation, it is unclear why the innate immune response is unable to effectively control viral replication. We systematically compared the effect of HIV, Influenza, Sendai, and HSV-2 at similar target cell multiplicity of infection (M.O.I.) on human pDC function. We found that Influenza, Sendai, HSV-2 and imiquimod are able to rapidly induce IFN-α production within 4 hours to maximal levels, whereas HIV had a delayed induction that was maximal only after 24 hours. In addition, maximal IFN-α induction by HIV was at least 10 fold less than that of the other viruses in the panel. HIV also induced less TNF-α and MIP-1β but similar levels of IP-10 compared to other viruses, which was also mirrored by delayed upregulation of pDC activation markers CD83 and CD86. BDCA-2 has been identified as an inhibitory receptor on pDC, signaling through a pathway that involves SYK phosphorylation. We find that compared to Influenza, HIV induces the activation of the SYK pathway. Thus, HIV delays pDC IFN-α production and pDC activation via SYK phosphorylation, allowing establishment of viral populations
Pediatric multiple sclerosis: update on diagnostic criteria, imaging, histopathology and treatment choices
Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) represents less than 5% of the MS population, but patients with pediatric-onset disease reach permanent disability at a younger age than adult onset patients. Accurate diagnosis at presentation and optimal long-term treatment is vital to mitigate ongoing neuroinflammation and irreversible neurodegeneration.
However, it may be difficult to early differentiate pediatric MS from acute disseminated
encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) as they often have atypical presentation that differs from that of adult-onset MS. The
purpose of this review is to summarize the updated views on diagnostic criteria, imaging, histopathology and treatment choices
Mildly elevated lactate levels are associated with microcirculatory flow abnormalities and increased mortality: a microSOAP post hoc analysis
This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordBACKGROUND: Mildly elevated lactate levels (i.e., 1-2 mmol/L) are increasingly recognized as a prognostic finding in critically ill patients. One of several possible underlying mechanisms, microcirculatory dysfunction, can be assessed at the bedside using sublingual direct in vivo microscopy. We aimed to evaluate the association between relative hyperlactatemia, microcirculatory flow, and outcome. METHODS: This study was a predefined subanalysis of a multicenter international point prevalence study on microcirculatory flow abnormalities, the Microcirculatory Shock Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients (microSOAP). Microcirculatory flow abnormalities were assessed with sidestream dark-field imaging. Abnormal microcirculatory flow was defined as a microvascular flow index (MFI) 1.5 mmol/L was independently associated with a MFI < 2.6 (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: In a heterogeneous ICU population, a single-spot mildly elevated lactate level (even within the reference range) was independently associated with increased mortality and microvascular flow abnormalities. In vivo microscopy of the microcirculation may be helpful in discriminating between flow- and non-flow-related causes of mildly elevated lactate levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01179243 . Registered on August 3, 2010
The association between lactate, mean arterial pressure, central venous oxygen saturation and peripheral temperature and mortality in severe sepsis: a retrospective cohort analysis
Kinetics and Performance of Raw and Torrefied Biomass in a Continuous Bubbling Fluidized Bed Gasifier
- …