110 research outputs found
Comparison of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Levodopa and Levodopa/COMT Inhibitor
BACKGROUND: Levodopa treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) increases in serum homocysteine levels due to its metabolism via catechol O-methyltransferase. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have the capacity to differentiate into mature endothelial cells and are markers for endothelial functions and cardiovascular risks. Along with traditional vascular risk factors, hyperhomocysteinemia is known to decrease the level of EPCs. In the present study, we hypothesized that that levodopa-induced hyperhomocysteinemia leads to a change in EPC levels. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We prospectively enrolled PD patients who had been prescribed either levodopa/carbidopa (PD-L group, nā=ā28) or levodopa/carbidopa/COMT inhibitor (PD-LC group, nā=ā25) for more than 1 year. The number of circulating EPCs was measured by flow cytometry using dual staining of anti-CD34 and anti-KDR antibodies. The EPCs were divided into tertiles based on their distributions and a logistic regression analysis was used to estimate independent predictors of the highest tertile of EPCs. The number of endothelial progenitor cells was significantly decreased in PD-L patients (118Ā±99/mL) compared with either PD-LC patients (269Ā±258/mL, pā=ā0.007) or controls (206Ā±204/mL, pā=ā0.012). The level of homocysteine was significantly increased in PD-L patients (14.9Ā±5.3 Āµmol/L) compared with either PD-LC patients (11.9Ā±3.0 Āµmol/L, pā=ā0.028) or controls (11.1Ā±2.5 Āµmol/L, pā=ā0.012). The level of homocysteine was negatively correlated with endothelial progenitor cell levels (rā=ā-0.252, pā=ā0.028) and was an independent predictor of the highest tertile of endothelial progenitor cell levels (OR; 0.749 [95% CI: 0.584-0.961]). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data indicate that a higher consumption of EPC for restoration of endothelial damage may be associated with chronic levodopa treatment in PD patients
The Presence of Two Distinct Red Giant Branches in the Globular Cluster NGC 1851
There is a growing body of evidence for the presence of multiple stellar
populations in some globular clusters, including NGC 1851. For most of these
peculiar globular clusters, however, the evidence for the multiple red
giant-branches (RGBs) having different heavy elemental abundances as observed
in Omega Centauri is hitherto lacking, although spreads in some lighter
elements are reported. It is therefore not clear whether they also share the
suggested dwarf galaxy origin of Omega Cen or not. Here we show from the CTIO
4m UVI photometry of the globular cluster NGC 1851 that its RGB is clearly
split into two in the U - I color. The two distinct RGB populations are also
clearly separated in the abundance of heavy elements as traced by Calcium,
suggesting that the type II supernovae enrichment is also responsible, in
addition to the pollutions of lighter elements by intermediate mass asymptotic
giant branch stars or fast-rotating massive stars. The RGB split, however, is
not shown in the V - I color, as indicated by previous observations. Our
stellar population models show that this and the presence of bimodal
horizontal-branch distribution in NGC 1851 can be naturally reproduced if the
metal-rich second generation stars are also enhanced in helium.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal Letter
Misdiagnosis of fetus-in-fetu as meconium peritonitis
Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a fetiform mass is detected in the host abdomen and also in other sites such as the intracranium, thorax, head, and neck. This condition has been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we report the case of a fetus presenting with abdominal cystic mass and ascites and prenatally diagnosed as meconium pseudocyst. Explorative laparotomy revealed an irregular fetiform mass in the retroperitoneum within a fluid-filled cyst. The mass contained intestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and finger. Fetal abdominal cystic mass has been identified in a broad spectrum of diseases. However, as in our case, FIF is often overlooked during differential diagnosis. FIF should also be differentiated from other conditions associated with fetal abdominal masses
Super Helium-Rich Population and the Origin of Extreme Horizontal-Branch Stars in Globular Clusters
Recent observations for the color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the massive
globular cluster Omega Centauri have shown that it has a striking double main
sequence (MS), with a minority population of bluer and fainter MS well
separated from a majority population of MS stars. Here we confirm, with the
most up-to-date Y2 isochrones, that this special feature can only be reproduced
by assuming a large variation (Delta Y = 0.15) of primordial helium abundance
among several distinct populations in this cluster. We further show that the
same helium enhancement required for this special feature on the MS can by
itself reproduce the extreme horizontal-branch (HB) stars observed in Omega
Cen, which are hotter than normal HB stars. Similarly, the complex features on
the HBs of other globular clusters, such as NGC 2808, are explained by large
internal variations of helium abundance. Supporting evidence for the
helium-rich population is also provided by the far-UV (FUV) observations of
extreme HB stars in these clusters, where the enhancement of helium can
naturally explain the observed fainter FUV luminosity for these stars. The
presence of super helium-rich populations in some globular clusters suggests
that the third parameter, other than metallicity and age, also influences CMD
morphology of these clusters.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal Letter
Disability of Hearing Impairment Is Positively Associated With Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio in Korean Adults: The 2011ā2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with hearing thresholds in the nationwide, large-scaled Korean population. Methods. This study analyzed the data of 9,798 subjects of 19 years and older (4,387 males and 5,411 females). Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was measured from first-voided spot urine samples. The air-conduction hearing threshold was measured at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz and pure tone audiogram (PTA) average was calculated as the four-frequency average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Results. Urine ACR was significantly correlated with the PTA average of better ear in both genders, especially at 3 and 6 kHz in males and at 1, 3, 4, and 6 kHz in females. After adjusting, urine ACR also increased the risk of hearing loss in female, especially if urine ACR was 30 mg/g and more (odds ratio, 1.636ā2.229. This study showed that the degree of hearing loss was significantly different according to categories of urine ACR in both genders. Hearing loss without disability was found less but that with bilateral hearing disability was found more as urine ACR increased. In generally, prevalence of hearing loss with disability was higher in males than females. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that urine ACR was significantly correlated with the PTA average of better ear in Korean adults of both genders. This study suggests that clinicians should carefully monitor the hearing level for subjects with elevated urine ACR, even though high urine ACR within the normal range
The efficacy and safety of Montelukast sodium in the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Montelukast sodium in the prevention of bronchopulmonarydysplasia (BPD).MethodsThe Interventional study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, and randomized trial, with open labeled and parallel-experimental groups, 66 infants were enrolled and allocated to either the case group (n=30) or the control group (n=36) based on gestational age (GA). Infants in the case group were given Montelukast sodium (Singulair) based on their body weight (BW). Zero week was defined as the start time of the study.ResultsThe incidence of moderate to severe BPD was not different between the groups (case group: 13 of 30 [43.3%] vs. control group: 19 of 36 [52.8%], P=0.912). Additionally, secondary outcomes such as ventilation index, mean airway pressure and resort to systemic steroids were not significantly different. There were no serious adverse drug reactions in either group, and furthermore the rate of occurrence of mild drug related-events were not significantly different (case group: 10 of 42 [23.8%] vs. control group: 6 of 48 (15.8%), P=0.414).ConclusionMontelukast was not effective in reducing moderate or severe BPD. There were no significant adverse drug events associated with Montelukast treatment
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