Interleukin 6 (IL6) as a predictor outcome in patients with compensated cirrhosis and symptomatic gall stones after cholecystectomy

Compensated cirrhosis means that the liver is heavily scarred but can still perform many important functions; many peoples with compensated cirrhosis have gall bladder stones. The advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for most patients have been extensively published. However its benefits and successful use in patients with cirrhosis are less documented. The study compromised 50 patients with symptomatic gallstone in compensated liver disease and undergone either open cholecystectomy (OC) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These patients were randomized into two groups: Group I included 24 patients who underwent OC, and group II included 26 patients who underwent LC. Patient’s age, sex, clinical presentation and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class were documented. No patients in this study had CTP class c cirrhosis. IL-6 was measured by ELISA, postoperative pain (measured by Visual analog scale), hospital stay, blood loss, recovery time (return to work), and liver function tests were documented. IL-6 was significantly lowered at 6th hour and 12th hour post operative in LC group. Mean surgical time was significantly longer in OC than LC group, (mean ±SD, 96.6 ±32 vs 58.7 ± 23.8 min, P = 0.037). No patients in group II required any blood replacement in contrast to 9 patients (37.5%) in group I. Intraoperative bleeding remained significantly higher in group I (P = 0.043). No patients in group II had wound complications compared with 5 patients (29.14%) in group I. Group I had significantly longer hospital stay than group II, mean 9.0+ 1.3 days (median 7) vs 2.3 days + 1.9 (median 2.5); P = 0.001. Our results were demonstrated that laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely in patients with CTP class A and B cirrhosis. IL-6 was more significantly, increased post operatively in open cholecystectomy than laparoscopic one and it correlated well with intensity of operative trauma. Keywords: Interleukin 6; Liver cirrhosis; Cholecystectom

Morphological and molecular characterization of somaclonal variations in tissue culture-derived banana plants

AbstractIn this study, 40000 tissue culture-derived banana plants (vitroplants) at different growth stages, i.e. acclimatization, nursery and open field of banana (Musa spp.) cultivar ‘Grand Naine’ were screened for somaclonal variations using morphological investigations and molecular characterization. The total detected variants were grouped into 25 off-types (two of them died) in addition to the normal plant. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out to study the differences among the normal cultivar ‘Grand Naine’ and its 23 variants using 17 arbitrary primers. Cluster analysis results revealed that ‘winged petiole’ and ‘deformed lamina’ were more related to the normal plant. However, ‘Giant plant’ and ‘weak plant’ related to each other and clustered with normal plant. According to principal coordinate analysis, most of the variants were aggregated nearly, whereas ‘variegated plant’ was separated apart from the other variants. This may reflect the genetic difference between ‘variegated plant’ and the other variants. The results obtained from both molecular and morphological analyses were in contiguous with better resolution when using the PCOORDA analysis than cluster analysis. Thus, it can be said that molecular markers can be used to eliminate the undesirable somaclonal variants from the lab without additional culture of the vitroplants in the field in order to save time and efforts

Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, transforming growth factor-β1 and lymphotoxin-α genes polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis

AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis is a widely prevalent autoimmune disorder with suggested genetic predisposition.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to detect the pattern of genetic polymorphism of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677 T and A1298 C), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 T869 C) and lymphotoxin-α (LT-α A252G) in patients having rheumatoid arthritis and correlate these patterns to disease activity and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF), and osteopontin.MethodsA total of 194 subjects, 90 controls and 104 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were genotyped for MTHFR C677 T and A1298 C, TGF-β1 T869 C and LT-α A252G polymorphisms using a methodology based on PCR-RFLP. Also serum levels of TNF-α, osteopontin and BAFF were measured by ELISA kits.ResultsThe CT genotype and T allele of MTHFR C677 T and GG genotype and G allele of LT-α A252G are associated with the risk of RA and with higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionOur findings suggest that there is association between MTHFR C677 T and LT-α A252G genes polymorphisms and increased risk of RA in this sample of Egyptian population

Polimorfismos dos genes metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase, fator de crescimento transformador β1 e linfotoxina‐α e susceptibilidade à artrite reumatoide

ResumoAntecedentesA artrite reumatoide é uma doença autoimune amplamente prevalente com sugerida predisposição genética.ObjetivosDetectar o padrão de polimorfismo dos genes metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase (MTHFR C677T e A1298C), fator de crescimento transformador β1 (TGF‐β1 T869C) e linfotoxina‐α (LT‐α A252G) em pacientes com artrite reumatoide e correlacionar esses padrões com a atividade da doença e os níveis séricos de fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF‐α), fator ativador de linfócitos B (BAFF) e osteopontina.MétodosForam genotipados 194 indivíduos – 90 controles e 104 com artrite reumatoide – à procura de polimorfismos dos genes MTHFR C677T e A1298C, TGF‐β1 T869C e LT‐α A252G com uma metodologia baseada na PCR‐RFLP. Mensuraram‐se também os níveis séricos de TNF‐α, osteopontina e BAFF com kits de Elisa.ResultadosO genótipo CT e o alelo T do MTHFR C677T e o genótipo GG e alelo G do LT‐α A252G estão associados ao risco de AR e a níveis mais elevados da citocina pró‐inflamatória TNF‐α em pacientes com artrite reumatoide.ConclusãoOs achados do presente estudo sugerem que há associação entre os polimorfismos dos genes MTHFR C677T e LT‐α A252G e um risco aumentado de AR nessa amostra da população egípcia.AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis is a widely prevalent autoimmune disorder with suggested genetic predisposition.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to detect the pattern of genetic polymorphism of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1 T869C) and lymphotoxin‐α (LT‐α A252G) in patients having rheumatoid arthritis and correlate these patterns to disease activity and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), B‐Cell Activating Factor (BAFF), and osteopontin.MethodsA total of 194 subjects, 90 controls and 104 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were genotyped for MTHFR C677T and A1298C, TGF‐β1 T869C and LT‐α A252G polymorphisms using a methodology based on PCR‐RFLP. Also serum levels of TNF‐α, osteopontin and BAFF were measured by ELISA kits.ResultsThe CT genotype and T allele of MTHFR C677T and GG genotype and G allele of LT‐α A252G are associated with the risk of RA and with higher levels of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine, TNF‐α in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionOur findings suggest that there is association between MTHFR C677T and LT‐α A252G genes polymorphisms and increased risk of RA in this sample of Egyptian population

Is Materialism All That Bad? Effects on Satisfaction with Material Life, Life Satisfaction, and Economic Motivation

The literature in economic psychology and quality-of-life studies alludes to a negative relationship between materialism and life satisfaction. In contrast, the macroeconomic literature implies a positive relationship between material consumption and economic growth. That is, materialism may be both good and bad. We develop a model that reconciles these two contrasting viewpoints by asserting that materialism may lead to life dissatisfaction when materialistic people evaluate their standard of living using fantasy-based expectations (e. g., ideal expectations), which increases the likelihood that they would evaluate their standard of living negatively. In turn, dissatisfaction with standard of living increases the likelihood that they would evaluate their life negatively. However, materialistic people who evaluate their standard of living using reality-based expectations (e. g., ability expectations) are likely to feel more economically motivated than their non-materialistic counterparts, and this economic motivation is likely to contribute significantly and positively to life satisfaction. Survey data were collected from seven major cities each in a different country (Australia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Germany, Egypt, Korea, Turkey, and the USA) using a probability sample (cluster sampling method involving income stratification). The results provide support for the model. The economic public policy implications concerning how people evaluate their standard of living using ability-based expectations are discussed in the context of the ideals of meritocracy. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Linking Advertising, Materialism, and Life Satisfaction

This paper develops theory related to advertising, materialism, and life satisfaction by formally testing explanations related to the antecedents and consequences of materialism. Survey data were collected from seven major cities each in a different country (Australia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Germany, Egypt, Korea, Turkey, and the USA) using a probability sample (cluster sampling method involving income stratification). The results showed that the extent to which advertising is perceived to be materialistic contributes to materialism. Materialism, in turn, leads to the frequent use of various standards of comparison in making judgments about standard of living. As judgments about standard of living increase, standard of living is evaluated more negatively. In turn, negative self-evaluations contribute significantly to dissatisfaction with life. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V