High Risk First Degree Relatives of Type 1 Diabetics: An Association with Increases in CXCR3 +

We analyzed the level of (a) CXCR3+ (Th1) and CCR4+ (Th2) T memory cells (b) interferon-γ inducible chemokine (IP-10)(Th1) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)(Th2), in 51 first degree relatives (FDRs) of type 1 diabetics (T1D) (17 high risk FDRs (GADA+, IA-2+) and 34 low risk FDRs (GADA−, IA-2−)), 24 recent-onset T1D (R-T1D), and 18 healthy subjects. T memory subsets were analyzed by using four-color immunofluorescence staining and flowcytometry. IP-10 and TARC were determined by ELISA. High risk FDRs showed higher levels of CXCR3+ and lower level of CCR4+ T memory cells compared to low risk FDRs (64.98 ± 5.19 versus 42.13 ± 11.11; 29.46 ± 2.83 versus 41.90 ± 8.58%, resp., P<0.001). Simultaneously, both IP-10 and TARC levels were increased in high risk versus low risk FDRs (160.12 ± 73.40 versus 105.39 ± 71.30; 438.83 ± 120.62 versus 312.04 ± 151.14 pg/mL, P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis identified the level of CXCR3+ T memory cells as predictors for high risk FDRs, together with high levels of IP-10. The results imply that, in FDRs, the risk for T1D might be strongly influenced by enhanced activity of Th1 and diminished activity of Th2 autoimmune response

Repurposing existing medications for coronavirus disease 2019: protocol for a rapid and living systematic review

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has no confirmed specific treatments. However, there might be in vitro and early clinical data as well as evidence from severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome that could inform clinicians and researchers. This systematic review aims to create priorities for future research of drugs repurposed for COVID-19. METHODS This systematic review will include in vitro, animal, and clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of a list of 34 specific compounds and 4 groups of drugs identified in a previous scoping review. Studies will be identified both from traditional literature databases and pre-print servers. Outcomes assessed will include time to clinical improvement, time to viral clearance, mortality, length of hospital stay, and proportions transferred to the intensive care unit and intubated, respectively. We will use the GRADE methodology to assess the quality of the evidence. DISCUSSION The challenge posed by COVID-19 requires not just a rapid review of drugs that can be repurposed but also a sustained effort to integrate new evidence into a living systematic review. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020175648

Hypertension in Obese Type 2 Diabetes Patients is Associated with Increases in Insulin Resistance and IL-6 Cytokine Levels: Potential Targets for an Efficient Preventive Intervention

Increased body weight as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D) are found to be associated with increased incidence of hypertension, although the mechanisms facilitating hypertension in T2D or nondiabetic individuals are not clear. Therefore, in this study we compared the levels of insulin resistance (IR:OGIS), plasma insulin (PI:RIA) levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α: ELISA), being risk factors previously found to be associated with hypertension, in T2D patients showing increased body weight (obese and overweight, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) with hypertension (group A, N = 30), or without hypertension (group B, N = 30), and in nonobese (BMI &lt; 25 kg/m2), normotensive controls (group C, N = 15). We found that OGIS index was the lowest (A: 267 ± 35.42 vs. B: 342.89 ± 32.0, p &lt; 0.01) and PI levels were the highest (A: 31.05 ± 8.24 vs. B: 17.23 ± 3.23, p &lt; 0.01) in group A. In addition, IL-6 levels were higher in group A (A: 15.46 ± 5.15 vs. B: 11.77 ± 6.09; p &lt; 0.05) while there was no difference in TNF-α levels. Our results have shown that appearance of hypertension in T2D patients with increased body weight was dependent on further increase in IR which was associated with the rise in pro-inflammatory IL-6 cytokine. The results imply that lifestyle intervention aimed to decrease IR might be beneficial in reducing the risk for hypertension in those T2D individuals

EARLY COMPLICATIONS AFTER SECONDARY BREAST RECONSTRUCTION USING LATISSIMUS DORSI MYOCUTANEOUS FLAP AND SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS

Introduction: Secondary breast reconstruction is a multifactorial decision. It is based on the need for neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment, lifestyle and expected cosmetic outcome of the patient. Aim of this study was to show early complications related with secondary breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi miocutaneous flap and silicone breast implants. Material and methods: This retrospective study was made with 24 patients who were treated at the Institute for Oncology Vojvodina in the period from 2007 to 2013. At all patients we underwent secondary breast reconstruction using pedicle latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (LDMF) and silicone breast implant. Results: Almost at all patients we identified prolonged seroma formation like complication related to donor site (21/24 (87.5%)). Radiotherapy and chemiotherapy after first operation have statistical significance on complications after LDMF. Smoking and obesity have no influence on complications Conclusion: Breast reconstruction using LDMF is related with small number of early postoperative complications and gives acceptable aesthetic results

Real-time wavelet based blur estimation on cell BE platform

We propose a real-time system for blur estimation using wavelet decomposition. The system is based on an emerging multi-core microprocessor architecture (Cell Broadband Engine, Cell BE) known to outperform any available general purpose or DSP processor in the domain of real-time advanced video processing solutions. We start from a recent wavelet domain blur estimation algorithm which uses histograms of a local regularity measure called average cone ratio (ACR). This approach has shown a very good potential for assessing the level of blur in the image yet some important aspects remain to be addressed in order for the method to become a practically working one. Some of these aspects are explored in our work. Furthermore, we develop an efficient real-time implementation of the novelty metric and integrate it into a system that captures live video. The proposed system estimates blur extent and renders the results to the remote user in real-time

Analysis of a Mn&#x2013;Zn Ferrite Bundle EMI Suppressor Using Different Suppressing Principles and Configurations

A novel round cable electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressor comprising a bundle of Mn-Zn ferrite tubes was realized using different principles of suppressing, such as direct suppressing, inverting/suppressing, transform/inverting suppressing, and transform/short circuited secondary suppressing. Different primary to secondary configurations were realized for each suppressing principle and characterized in the EMI frequency region. The results obtained for different bundle configurations were compared with known commercial round cable ferrite suppressors and the initial bundle configuration made of a half turn wire through the central ferrite tube of the bundle. The results obtained for different principles and configurations were correlated in order to optimize the electromagnetic coupling between primary and secondary circuits. The values such as maximums of impedance Z(m), frequency of maximum impedance F-m and suppressing range Delta(f) around F-m calculated on 0.707 Z(m) were defined as the main parameters for each configuration. Certain correlations were noticed between impedance Z(m) and frequency F-m changes. Finally, the realized configurations were considered as devices suitable for EMI suppressing applications

Mn-Zn Ferrite Round Cable EMI Suppressor With Deep Grooves and a Secondary Short Circuit for Different Frequency Ranges

A novel Mn-Zn ferrite round cable electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressor with deep grooves and a secondary short circuit was constructed, realized and measured. Three steps were passed in novel suppressor development: from developing a suitable magnetic material, to constructing a suppressor device, to forming a new class of possible applications. Soft ferrite feedstock was formed from fine commercial Mn-Zn powder and a Solvent system binder based mainly on wax. Cylinder-shape cores with grooves were injected by powder injection molding (PIM) technology, chemically and thermally debinded and sintered at optimal conditions (1280 degrees C/2 h). The samples were aimed to serve as cores for EMI suppressors on cables. Their impedance versus frequency was measured using the core length as a parameter. After that, copper wire was placed into the grooves on the outside surface of cores to form a secondary coil and different configurations were considered. The contribution of the short circuit coil inserted into the grooves to EMI suppression was measured and analyzed also. Maximal impedance values can be achieved with a secondary short circuited winding which passes through every groove. It was also shown that ferrite cores of the same length could be used for different frequency ranges by changing the configuration of secondary short circuited windings

Relationship between Obesity, Adipocytokines and Inflammatory Markers in Type 2 Diabetes: Relevance for Cardiovascular Risk Prevention

This study aimed to analyse the impact of obesity in type 2 diabetes (T2D) on adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin and resistin) and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP) as cardiovascular risk factors. A cross-sectional study comparing the basal levels of adipocytokines and inflammatory markers was done in 18 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) (group A), 21 overweight (25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI &lt; 30 kg/m2) (group B), 25 non-obese T2D patients (group C) and 15 non-obese controls (group D). The lowest levels of adiponectin and the highest levels of leptin, resistin, TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP were found in group A. Adiponectin levels were significantly lower, and resistin, TNF-α, and hsCRP levels were elevated in group C vs. D. However, leptin and IL-6 levels differed significantly between groups A and B, but not between groups C and D. Moreover, we found a significant negative correlation between adiponectin and TNF-α, but not with other markers, which was independent of the presence of obesity. In contrast, leptin and resistin correlated with the inflammatory markers, and this correlation was obesity-dependent. Our results suggest that obesity influences cardiovascular risk primarily through changes in leptin and resistin and less efficiently at the level of adiponectin

Diagnostic criteria for Balkan endemic nephropathy: proposal by an international panel.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a familial chronic tubulointerstitial disease with insidious onset and slow progression to terminal renal failure. Diagnostic criteria for BEN have been described more than 40 years ago. Research groups on BEN use one of at least three described lists of criteria. Comparison of studies using such criteria is difficult, and a recent meeting of investigators (Zagreb, October 2006) has suggested that unified criteria have to be elaborated. In this paper, an International Panel of BEN Investigators agreed on criteria appropriate to epidemiologic studies and clinical investigations of BEN. A screening procedure of BEN in endemic settlements is proposed