IL16 and IL18 gene polymorphisms in women with gestational diabetes

Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate intolerance that occurs during pregnancy. Various inflammatory mediators are considered to be risk factors leading to GDM development. Among them are pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL16 and IL18. The aim of this study was to examine the association between IL16 and IL18 polymorphisms and GDM. Material and methods: This study included 204 pregnant women with GDM and 207 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). All samples were genotyped in duplicate using allelic discrimination assays with TaqMan® probes. Results: We observed that there was a decreased frequency of IL16 rs4778889 CC genotype carriers among women with GDM (CC vs. CT + TT: OR = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.02–1.15; p = 0.034). However, there was no significant difference in the distri­bution of alleles (C vs. T: OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.54–1.21; p = 0.30). There was a decreased frequency of the IL18 rs187238 G allele among GDM women (G vs. C: OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.53–0.96; p = 0.027). We also observed a decreased frequency of the IL18 rs1946518 T allele among women with GDM; however, this difference had only borderline statistical significance. We observed an association between IL18 rs187238, rs1946518 and BMI in pregnant women. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that IL18 rs187238 and rs1946518 polymorphisms may be associated with an increased risk of GDM as well as with BMI in pregnant women

Effects of common functional MMP12 gene polymorphisms on PD in a Polish population

The present study investigated associations of two functional MMP12 polymorphisms with PD risk and cognitive impairment in PD. A total of 478 study subjects (241 PD and 237 age and sex matched controls) were included in the study. UPDRS score, Hoehn–Yahr staging and Schwab–England scale were used to assess motor abilities and activity during daily life. All patients were classified into groups with dementia (PDD, n=72) and without dementia (nPDD, n=159) based on the neuropsychological assessment. The two most common functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP12 gene were determined using TaqMan real-time PCR assays. Frequencies of evaluated MMP12 rs2276109 alleles and genotypes were similar in PD and the controls, whereas rs652438G allele genotypes were significantly more frequent among healthy individuals (p=0.013, OR 0.47 (0.26–0.85). The rs2276109 and rs652438 allele and genotype frequencies were not associated with dementia in PD patients. The current results suggest that MMP12 rs652438 but not MMP12 rs2276109 may affect the risk for PD, as the minor G allele genotypes might be a protective factor

Higher perfusion pressure and pump flow during cardiopulmonary bypass are beneficial for kidney function–a single-centre prospective study

Background: Kidneys play an essential role in the circulatory system, regulating blood pressure and intravascular volume. They are also set on maintaining an adequate filtration pressure in the glomerulus. During the CPB, a decrease in systemic blood pressure and hemoglobin concentration may lead to renal ischemia and subsequent acute kidney injury.Methods: One hundred nine adult patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. The intervention in this study was increasing the flow of the CPB pump to reach the target MAP of > 90 mmHg during the procedure. The control group had a standard pump flow of 2.4 L/min/m2.Results: Standard pump flow of 2.4 L/min/m2 resulted in mean MAP < 90 mmHg during the CPB in most patients in the control group. Maintaining a higher MAP during CPB in this study population did not affect CSA-AKI incidence. However, it increased the intraoperative and postoperative diuresis and decreased renin release associated with CPB. Higher MAP during the CPB did not increase the incidence of cerebrovascular complications after the operation; patients in the highest MAP group had the lowest incidence of postoperative delirium, but the result did not obtain statistical significance.Conclusion: Maintaining MAP > 90 mmHg during the CPB positively impacts intraoperative and postoperative kidney function. It significantly reduces renal hypoperfusion during the procedure compared to MAP < 70 mmHg. MAP > 90 mmHg is safe for the central nervous system, and preliminary results suggest that it may have a beneficial impact on the incidence of postoperative delirium

Favipiravir in Therapy of Viral Infections

Favipiravir (FPV) is a novel antiviral drug acting as a competitive inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), preventing viral transcription and replication. FPV was approved in Japan in 2014 for therapy of influenza unresponsive to standard antiviral therapies. FPV was also used in the therapy of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic parameters, toxicity, and adverse effects of FPV, as well as clinical studies evaluating the use of FPV in the therapy of influenza virus (IV) infection, EVD, and SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its effectiveness in treating other human RNA infections

Favipiravir in Therapy of Viral Infections

Favipiravir (FPV) is a novel antiviral drug acting as a competitive inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), preventing viral transcription and replication. FPV was approved in Japan in 2014 for therapy of influenza unresponsive to standard antiviral therapies. FPV was also used in the therapy of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic parameters, toxicity, and adverse effects of FPV, as well as clinical studies evaluating the use of FPV in the therapy of influenza virus (IV) infection, EVD, and SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with its effectiveness in treating other human RNA infections

The Effectiveness of Supportive Psychotherapy in Weight Loss in a Group of Young Overweight and Obese Women

Overweight and obesity are among the most widespread health problems worldwide. The primary cause of obesity is an inability to control overeating. Therefore, today, obesity needs to be treated more as an eating disorder, i.e., a mental disorder, and thus, it should be approached as such. Taking the above together, this study aimed to assess the impact of supportive psychotherapy on reducing body weight in young overweight and obese women who attempted slimming therapy and, additionally, the possibility of maintaining the weight-loss effect in the long term. Sixty young women aged 20–30 were randomized into three groups that differed in therapeutic management. With the help of an individually selected diet plan, the highest effectiveness in weight loss was demonstrated in people whose weight reduction was supported by goal-oriented psychotherapy. In this group, a sustained effect of slimming and even further weight loss were observed six months following the discontinuation of the therapy. In conclusion, traditional slimming therapies using an individual diet plan and a dietitian’s care are effective; however, supportive psychotherapeutic work provides more beneficial results and maintains the change from a long-term perspective