Dermatomyositis Associated with Sarcoidosis: Two Cases

Dermatomyositis (DM) and sarcoidosis are two idiopathic systemic disorders. Reports of patients with both conditions are extremely rare. Here we describe two patients who presented with DM and DM-associated antibodies, and later developed biopsy-proven sarcoidosis. There are increasing reports of the occurrence of sarcoidosis in the context of autoimmune diseases. These observations might imply similarities in the pathogenetic mechanisms

The Impact of Corporate Governance and Supply Chain Management on the Accounting and Auditing Environment

Abstract- The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Corporate Governance and Supply Chain Management on the Accounting and Auditing Environment. The spatial scope of the research includes companies which are admitted to the Tehran Stock Exchange. This research is based on objective, applied and descriptive method, and the realm of time is between 2011 and 2016. Research includes two independent variables (supply chain management and corporate governance), two dependent variable (accounting and auditing environment), and control variables. Information is collected in both library and field. Assumptions were tested through linear regression. The results of the test showed that corporate governance and supply chain management affects the accounting and auditing environment. Keywords: Auditing Environment, Corporate Governance, supply chain management, Accounting, Tehran Stock Exchange

Optimization of Nano Hydroxyapatite/chitosan Electrophoretic Deposition on 316L Stainless Steel Using Taguchi Design of Experiments

The aim of this work is to determine the optimum parameters for deposition of chitosan and mixture of chitosan and hydroxyapatite (HA) layers using electrophoretic deposition.  The layers were on 316L stainless steel substrate. Taguchi approach was utilized to select the optimum parameters for both layers. The parameters used for deposition chitosan are voltage, time and temperature while the parameters used for HA and chitosan are voltage, time, concentration and temperature. Zeta potential tests were employed to measure the solutions stability.  Coating layers were characterized for thickness, porosity and nanoroughness using optical microscopy (OM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).  The results from Taguchi design of experiments demonstrated that the best conditions for deposition of chitosan and HA layers are  50 V, 5 min, 3 g HA/L and 30°C.    The corresponding thickness, % porosity, nanoroughness and microroughness for optimum conditions were 22 µm, 3.53,  4.48 nm and 3.85 µm respectively

Neuronal-glial interactions during the prenatal development of the human brain

Prenatal brain development has been the focus of many studies over the last two decades. This is so because the full understanding of the higher functions, as well as the comprehension of both normal, and the various developmental troubles of the nervous system (NS), whiwh afflict about 7% of the population, are largely dependent on that knowledge. The various optic microscope (OM), electron microscope (EM) and immunohistochemical techniques of central nervous system (CNS) exploration remain among the important sources of progress in that domain; this is due to the poverty of our present knowledge about the ontogenesis of that complex structure, and to the high degree of regional and cellular specialization of the CNS, which render modern morphogenesis of that system one of the essential bases for better comprehension of neurophysiology and a key-point in the understanding of neural function. Brain development proceeds through an orderly sequence of related but formally distinguished developmental events schematically divided into: neural induction, region-specific proliferation kinetics and early segregation of neuronal and glial cell lines, cell migration, selective aggregation of cells of like-kind and neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis, gliogenesis and myelination, and cell death (COWAN 1979, RAKIC 1984a) This series of complex cellular processes may be groupes into two broad phases (EVRARD et al. 1984, and WILLIAMS and CAVINESS Jr, 1984); The first, cytogenesis and histogenesis, in which neurons are formed, move to their ultimate positions and elaborate the primary neurotic processes. The second, growth and differentiation, is a phase in which neurons grow in size and elaborate terminal arborizations and form connections and begin myelination. Recent evidence, on the other hand, reveals that Cell-to-Cell interactions must have a crucial role throughout the ontogenesis of mammalian brain, in particular the neocortex, whether by direct intercellular contact or via diffusible substances (KATZ and LASEK 1980, CAVINESS, Jr et al. 1981, 1988, RAKIC 1984a, and RUTISHAUSER and JESSEL 1988). Neuronal organization of such a complex cellular structure, perhaps the most complex one in the universe, should, therefore, depend largely on epigenetic (or intercellular) rather than on rigid genetic developmental programs (RAKIC 1984a). A full understanding of the different interactions between the various cellular components of the developing brain is thus a major key-point for the comprehension of cerebro-cortical development and the pathogenesis of CNS malformations. Our contribution on finding out a specific glial marker that, further, has the advantage of not modifying the ultrastructural characteristics, provided us with an excellent and simple technique that permitted us to study neuron-glial relationship during the period of neuronal migration and provided us with a better understanding f the mechanisms of cell migration. Such revelations provided valuable information about cytoarchitectonic development in the brain, and would help to understand better the pathogenesis of many of the CNS malformations where these developmental processes are involved. The application of this technique thus, enabled us to define a newly recognized ontogenetic unit in the course of early brain development, namely the Radial Glial Fascicle. the description of this ultrastructural staining method, as well as the evolution of this newly described ontogenetic basic unit of cerebral cytoarchitecture and in relation to neuronal migration, together with the related process of glial transformation into astrocytes, have been the subject of part II of this work in which we discussed our personal results. In part I we tried ti shed some light on the basic neurodevelopmental events relevant to those domains as reviewed by the literatureThèse de doctorat en sciences médicales (neuroanatomie et neurologie du développement) -- UCL, 198

Immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy: implication of proinflammatory cytokines and T lymphocytes.

Beyond the already known aetiopathogenic factors linked to periventricular leukomalacia, a major pathological substrate in cerebral palsy, immune-inflammatory mechanisms have recently been implicated. Thus proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to be involved very early in the course of this disorder. Additionally, markers of T-lymphocyte activation were upregulated. These findings provide new insight into mechanisms underlying neural cell death in this condition and might open new horizons for preventive and therapeutic strategies

Distinct cytokine profile in SIDS brain: a common denominator in a multifactorial syndrome?

Cytokines modify neuronal function. Dysfunction in vital centers is reported in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The authors detected high neuronal interleukin (IL)-1beta immunoreactivity in the arcuate and dorsal vagal nuclei in SIDS. This IL-1 overexpression might contribute to molecular interactions in brainstem neurovegetative centers, causing disturbed homeostatic control of cardiorespiratory and arousal responses, possibly leading to SIDS

Cytokines and brain injury: Invited review

The brain reacts to injury or disease by cascades of cellular and molecular responses. Evidence suggests that immune-inflammatory processes are key elements in the physiopathological processes associated with brain injury or damage. Cytokines are among major mediators implicated in these processes. Cytokine responses in the initial phase of brain injury might have a role in aggravating brain damage. However, in later stages, these molecular mediators might contribute to recovery or repair. Hemodynamic stabilization and optimalization of oxygen delivery to the brain remain cornerstones in the management of acute brain injury. New approaches might use anticytokine therapy to limit progression and halt or attenuate secondary brain damage. Progress toward such novel neuroprotection strategies, however, awaits better understanding of the optimal timing and dosing of those neuromodulatory therapies and better knowledge of the numerous interactions of those mediators. This also requires understanding of how and when precisely immune mechanisms shift from noxious to protective or restorative actions. © 2008 Sage Publications.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Determine an Equation to Calculate the Annual Maintenance Cost for Public Hospitals(Al Sader City Hospital as a Case Study

Maintenance of hospital buildings and its management are regarded as an important subject which needs attention because hospital buildings are service institutions which are very important to a society, requiring the search for the best procedure to develop maintenance in hospitals.The research is aimedto determine an equationto estimatethe annual maintenance cost for publichospital. To achieve this aim, Al-Sader City Hospital maintenance system in Al-Najaf province has been studied with its main elements throughsurvey of data, records and reports relating to maintenance during the years of the study 2008-2014andto identify the strengths,weaknesses, opportunities and threatpoints in the current systemthrough Swat analysis, which represents " analyzing the internal factors represented by strengths and weaknesses points and the external factors represented by opportunities and threats," [41].On the basis of that, an equation has been obtained toestimate the cost of annual maintenance. To achieve this aim,the following issues shouldbe taken intoconsideration:Studying the actual workprogramof the maintenance department in Al-Sader Hospital,Identifying the procedures used in maintenance and ways they are implemented,Studying the maintenance records and reports,Holding interviewswith the manager of maintenance and its staff to integrate the information andIntegrating theanalysis of maintenance cost by using statistical analysis system (ASA 2012).To assess the validity of the model for the annual maintenance cost, the predicted values of the equation are plotted against the actual measured (observed) values.Based on thevalidation data set,the coefficient of determination (R) wasfoundto beequal to (82.5%), therefore it can be concluded that the developed equation showedmoderate agreement with the actual measurements.Finally, it can be concluded from the studythat,the developed equationshould be applied in hospital to overcome the problems and weak points of the current system and to estimatethe annual maintenance cost for hospitals based onthe scientific method

Interleukin-2 as a neuromodulator possibly implicated in the physiopathology of sudden infant death syndrome

Dysfunction in vital brainstem centers, including those controlling cardiorespiratory- and sleep/arousal pathophysiology, is reported in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Biological mechanisms underlying SIDS, however, remain unclear. Cytokines are inter-cellular signaling chemicals. They can interact with neurotransmitters and might thus modify neural and neuroimmune functions. Cytokines could therefore act as neuromodulators. Interleukin (IL)-2 is a major immune-related cytokine. It has not been previously depicted in vital brainstem centers. We detected intense neuronal IL-2 immune-reactivity in the SIDS brainstem, namely in vital neural centers. This IL-2 overexpression might interfere with neurotransmitters in those critical brainstem centers, causing disturbed homeostatic control of cardiorespiratory and arousal responses, possibly leading to SIDS. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe