Combined Hepatic Lipase-514C/T and Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein I405V Polymorphisms Are Associated with the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

Hepatic lipase (LIPC) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) are important components of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport. Therefore, their genes are promising candidate genes for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether combined LIPC -514C/T and CETP I405V polymorphisms correlate with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD). Genotyping was performed in 317 patients who underwent clinically indicated coronary angiography. The patients were classified with significantly diseased arteries if one or more coronary arteries had a stenosis >50% and with minimally diseased arteries if there was no significant stenosis (<40%) in any artery. There were no significant associations of individual polymorphisms with the risk of significant CAD. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis including cardiovascular risk factors, simultaneous presence of both LIPC -514T and CETP 405V alleles was an independent predictor of significantly diseased arteries (odds ratio = 2.04; p = 0.022). This association was not significant in women with combined genotype who had the highest HDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, the combined T allele of LIPC -514C/T and V allele of CETP I405V are associated with the risk of CAD. Further, the higher HDL-cholesterol and female gender may reduce the effect of combined genotype on CAD risk

COMPARISON OF LEVELS OF NITRIC OXIDE, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE AND GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE OF GASTRIC JUICE IN INFECTED AND NON-INFECTED PATIENTS WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI

Helicobacter Pylori infection leads to different clinical and pathological outcomes in humans, including chronic gastritis and gastric neoplasia. It has been demonstrated that oxidative stress associated with inflammation plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. To evaluate the oxidative stress in H. Pylori infection we studied the gastric juice levels of nitric oxide and the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. A total of 43 patients suffering from H. Pylori infection were selected and 43 non-infected individuals were chosen as control group. Compared to control group, significant reduction in the mean levels of nitric oxide in the gastric juice of the patients was noticed (P = 0.0001). In the patients activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in gastric juice were markedly higher than those of control group (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). A reverse and meaningful relationship was observed between the levels of nitric oxide and the activities of superoxide dismutase in the gastric juice of patients (r = -0.35, P = 0.023). The results of this study confirm that H. Pylori has developed various mechanisms to escape the effect of immune system. H. Pylori have also developed strategies for defense against oxidative stress

Postendodontic Pain after Pulpotomy or Root Canal Treatment in Mature Teeth with Carious Pulp Exposure: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

This equivalence, randomized, clinical trial aimed to compare the postoperative pain of root canal therapy (RCT) with pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (PMTA) or calcium-enriched mixture (PCEM) in permanent mature teeth. In seven academic centers, 550 cariously exposed pulps were included and randomly allocated into PMTA (n = 188), PCEM (n = 194), or RCT (n = 168) arms. Preoperative “Pain Intensity” (PI) on Numerical Rating Scale and postoperative PIs until day 7 were recorded. Patients’ demographic and pre-/intra-/postoperative factors/conditions were recorded/analysed. The arms were homogeneous in terms of demographics. The mean preoperative PIs were similar (P=0.998), the mean sum PIs recorded during 10 postoperative intervals were comparable (P=0.939), and the trend/changes in pain relief were parallel (P=0.821) in all study arms. The incidences of preoperative moderate-severe pain in RCT, PMTA, and PCEM arms were 56.5%, 55.7%, and 56.7%, which after 24 hours considerably decreased to 13.1%, 10.6%, and 12.9%, respectively (P=0.578). The time span of endodontic procedures was statistically different; RCT = 69.73, PMTA = 35.37, and PCEM = 33.62 minutes (P<0.001). Patients with greater preoperative pain, symptomatic apical periodontitis, or presence of PDL widening suffered more pain (P=0.002, 0.035, and 0.023, resp.); however, other pre-/intra-/postoperative factors/conditions were comparable. Pulpotomy with MTA/CEM and RCT demonstrate comparable and effective postoperative pain relief

Diagnosed a Patient with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy? Now What?: Management of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

The goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the management options for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). The majority of cases of acute CSCR may be managed with observation and cessation of corticosteroids, if possible, as well as life-style modifications including stress reduction and control of hypertension. The management of chronic disease is more challenging and may include either medication or laser-based treatment. Management of CSCR necessitates an individualized and selective treatment approach. There is overall poor evidence for the use of systemic and intravitreal medications. From this class of treatments, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists appear to have the greatest potential. Although conventional thermal photocoagulation may be used in select cases, the most promising treatment options at this time for chronic CSCR are photodynamic therapy, either half-dose or half-fluence, and non-damaging (subthreshold) retinal laser therapy

Locating-Domination and Identification

International audienceLocating-domination and identification are two particular, related, types of domination: a set C of vertices in a graph G = (V, E) is a locating-dominating code if it is dominating and any two vertices of V \ C are dominated by distinct sets of codewords; C is an identifying code if it is dominating and any two vertices of V are dominated by distinct sets of codewords. This chapter presents a survey of the major results on locating-domination and on identification