Estimated prevalence of potentially damaging variants in the leptin gene

Mutations in the leptin gene (LEP) can alter the secretion or interaction of leptin with its receptor, leading to extreme early-onset obesity. The purpose of this work was to estimate the prevalence of heteroz...

Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure in an infant (body weight 6.4 kg) using the GORE CARDIOFORM septal occluder (GCSO)

Transcatheter closure has become the treatment of choice for secundum atrial septal defects (ASD II), but particularly in small children, there is concern regarding procedure-related complications.

Not Really a Market Without Limits

Person to Person: A Note on the Ethics of Commodification

An overview of cytokines and heat shock response in polytraumatized patients

Abstract

Early after injury, local tissue damage induces a local and systemic inflammatory response that activates the immune system and leads to the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This post-traumatic response often results in uncontrolled release of inflammatory mediators and over-activation of the immune system, which occasionally results in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). In parallel, a state of immunosuppression develops. This counter-regulating suppression of different cellular and humoral immune functions has been termed "compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS)." Both SIRS and CARS occur simultaneously even in the initial phase after injury. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been suggested to play a major role in development of SIRS, although the degree of involvement of the different cytokines is quite disparate. While TNF-α and IL-1β are quite irrelevant for predicting organ dysfunction, IL-6 is the parameter that best predicts mortality. The hyperinflammatory state seems to be the cause of post-traumatic immunosuppression and heat shock proteins (HSPs), which have been proposed as one of the endogenous stimuli for the deterioration of the immune system acting as danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Extracellular HSPA1A released from injured tissues increase up to ten times immediately after trauma and even more in patients with MODS. It has powerful immune properties that could contribute to post-traumatic immunosuppression through several mechanisms that have been previously described, so HSPs could represent trauma-associated immunomodulatory mediators. For this reason, HSPA1A has been suggested to be a helpful early prognostic biomarker of trauma after severe injury: serial quantification of serum HSPA1A and anti-Hsp70 concentrations in the first hours after trauma is proposed to be used as a predictive biomarker of MODS and immunosuppression development in polytraumatized patients.

Extirpación eco-guiada mínimamente invasiva del tumor glómico digital

Publication date: Available online 3 November 2017
Source:Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
Author(s): J. Domínguez-Cruz, A. Ortiz-Prieto, P. Martín-Carrasco, J. Conejo-Mir

Dermatitis alérgica de contacto por acrilatos en esmaltes permanentes

Publication date: Available online 3 November 2017
Source:Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
Author(s): M.E. Gatica-Ortega, M.A. Pastor-Nieto, J.F. Silvestre-Salvador
Los primeros casos de dermatitis alérgica de contacto por acrilatos en procedimientos de manicura se describieron hace décadas en relación con la aplicación de uñas de porcelana. Recientemente se ha incrementado la frecuencia de sensibilización secundariamente a la implantación de los llamados esmaltes permanentes que contienen acrilatos UV curables, predominantemente entre las esteticistas que los aplican y en menor medida en usuarias. La reciente comercialización de kits de uso doméstico podría precipitar un aumento en la frecuencia aún mayor. En este artículo describimos su técnica de aplicación, la clínica, el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la prevención. Los acrilatos están presentes en una amplia variedad de fuentes, incluidos múltiples materiales médicos. Una sensibilización desencadenada por un procedimiento puramente estético podría llegar a tener una importante repercusión en la salud, por lo que se imponen políticas restrictivas por parte de las autoridades que limiten su uso a profesionales cualificados y prohíban la venta indiscriminada de kits caseros.The first reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis from acrylates in manicure procedures in relation to the application of porcelain nails were published decades ago. The frequency of sensitization has increased due to the introduction of the so-called permanent nail polish containing photo-bonded acrylates, mainly involving the beauticians who apply them, and to a lesser extent, the consumers. The recent commercialized permanent polish kits for domestic use could trigger even higher degrees of sensitization. In this article, the clinical features, diagnostic procedures, treatment and preventive measures are described. Acrylates are present in a wide range of sources including multiple medical materials. Sensitization caused by a merely aesthetic procedure might end up having an eventual important impact in the future consumer's health which is why restrictive policies should be implemented limiting its use to qualified professionals and banning the indiscriminate sale of domestic kits.

Graphical abstract

Antiandrogenic drugs, a therapeutic option for frontal fibrosing alopecia patients

Tofacitinib 2% ointment, a topical janus kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of alopecia areata: a pilot study of 10 patients

Subclinical Sensitization with Diphenylcyclopropenone is Sufficient for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: Retrospective Analysis of 159 Cases

Conventional diphenylcyclopropenone contact immunotherapy has been used in the treatment of extensive alopecia areata, but can be associated with severe adverse effects (AEs).Even without an eczematous reaction after sensitization, sufficient therapeutic responses were achieved without severe AEs.Sensitization to induce an eczematous reaction may not be required for successful contact immunotherapy.

A Novel, Non-Invasive Anesthetic Method for Neurotoxin Injection for Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Hydrological conditions and phytoplankton community in the Lesina lagoon (southern Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean)

Abstract

The Lesina lagoon (southern Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean) is a coastal lagoon located in a highly intensified farming and tourist area. A monthly sampling was carried out in 1998 in five stations, representative of different hydrological features, in order to analyse phytoplankton composition and its relation to environmental parameters. Our results showed high spatial variability of abiotic variables. Phytoplankton abundances and biomass trends showed marked seasonality, with annual peaks occurring in late winter–early spring and summer periods. Phytoplankton blooms were due to the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana and the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum cordatum. Statistical analyses showed that salinity and nutrients were the main factors affecting phytoplankton abundance and biomass. Phytoplankton dynamics was associated both to seasonality and the hydrodynamic regime of the system. Moreover, chemical–physical data were analysed together with those collected in the same stations in 2007, to compare their dynamics under different hydrological regimes. The two periods corresponded to the closure and opening, respectively, of canals connecting the lagoon to the sea. In general, abiotic variables (salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, phosphate and silicate concentrations) were significantly affected by the hydrodynamic regime. These data could provide a useful basis to complement the knowledge gained through current monitoring within the framework of the European Directives, as well as to implement conservation and management strategies of these transitional waters.

Synthetic olive mill wastewater treatment by Fenton’s process in batch and continuous reactors operation

Abstract

Degradation of total phenol (TPh) and organic matter, (expressed as total organic carbon TOC), of a simulated olive mill wastewater was evaluated by the Fenton oxidation process under batch and continuous mode conditions. A mixture of six phenolic acids usually found in these agro-industrial wastewaters was used for this purpose. The study focused on the optimization of key operational parameters of the Fenton process in a batch reactor, namely Fe²⁺ dosage, hydrogen peroxide concentration, pH, and reaction temperature. On the assessment of the process efficiency, > 99% of TPh and > 56% of TOC removal were attained when [Fe²⁺] = 100 ppm, [H₂O₂] = 2.0 g/L, T = 30 °C, and initial pH = 5.0, after 300 min of reaction. Under those operational conditions, experiments on a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) were performed for different space-time values (τ). TOC and TPh removals of 47.5 and 96.9%, respectively, were reached at steady-state (for τ = 120 min). High removal of COD (> 75%) and BOD₅ (> 70%) was achieved for both batch and CSTR optimum conditions; analysis of the BOD₅/COD ratio also revealed an increase in the effluent's biodegradability. Despite the high removal of lumped parameters, the treated effluent did not met the Portuguese legal limits for direct discharge of wastewaters into water bodies, which indicates that coupled chemical-biological process may be the best solution for real olive mill wastewater treatment.

The integrative effect of periphyton biofilm and tape grass ( Vallisneria natans ) on internal loading of shallow eutrophic lakes

Abstract

The response of periphyton biofilm and the submerged macrophyte tape grass (Vallisneria natans) to internal loading from eutrophic lake sediments were evaluated in microcosms. The sediments from the littoral zone and center of a lake were selected to carry out the microcosm experiment. To determine how the differences in the periphyton biofilm and V. natans growth alone or in combination, we measured changes in water quality, growth, and TP in the periphyton biofilm and V. natans in microcosms containing these sediments. The results showed that the average daily TN and TP removal rates were 32.6 and 35.4%, respectively, in the microcosms containing the lake center sediments by V. natans and the periphyton biofilm. The presence of the periphyton biofilm and V. natans increased the pH, dissolved oxygen, and redox potential and decreased the conductivity in the overlying water in all treatments. Compared to the state before the treatments, V. natans grew well, with a significant increase in biomass (3.1- to 5.5-fold growth) and TP amount (5.1- to 8.8-fold) in all treatments after 48 days. However, the growth of V. natans that combined with the periphyton biofilm was better than that of V. natans alone, as reflected by the dry weight, chlorophyll a content, malondialdehyde content, and TP amount. In conclusion, the periphyton biofilm was beneficial for the growth of V. natans, and the appropriate combination of V. natans and periphyton biofilm would be a potential method for the ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes.

Will elevated atmospheric CO 2 boost the growth of an invasive submerged macrophyte Cabomba caroliniana under the interference of phytoplankton?

Abstract

The growth of most submerged macrophytes is likely to be limited by the availability of carbon resource, and this is especially true for the obligatory carbon dioxide (CO₂) users. A mesocosm experiment was performed to investigate the physiological, photophysiological, and biochemical responses of Cabomba caroliniana, an invasive macrophyte specie in the Lake Taihu Basin, to elevated atmospheric CO₂ (1000 μmol mol⁻¹); we also examined the possible impacts of interferences derived from the phytoplankton proliferation and its concomitant disturbances on the growth of C. caroliniana. The results demonstrated that elevated atmospheric CO₂ significantly enhanced the biomass, relative growth rate, and photosynthate accumulation of C. caroliniana. C. caroliniana exposed to elevated atmospheric CO₂ exhibited a higher relative maximum electron transport rate and photosynthetic efficiency, compared to those exposed to ambient atmospheric CO₂. However, the positive effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on C. caroliniana were gradually compromised as time went by, and the down-regulations of the relative growth rate (RGR) and photosynthetic activity were coupled with phytoplankton proliferation under elevated atmospheric CO₂. This study demonstrated that the growth of C. caroliniana under the phytoplankton interference can be greatly affected, directly and indirectly, by the increasing atmospheric CO₂.

Hematological, hepatic enzymes’ activity and oxidative stress responses of gray mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) after sub-acute exposure to copper oxide

Abstract

Given the importance of assessing potential toxicity of heavy metals in valuable species of aquatic animals, the goal of the present research was to assess the sub-acute effects of copper oxide on hematological, enzymological, and oxidative stress responses of gray mullet to measure toxicity of copper oxide pollution in this significant fish. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value of copper oxide to gray mullet was detected at 3.15 ± 0.039 mg/L for 96 h, and 25 and 50% of the 96-h LC₅₀ values were selected as sub-acute concentrations. The fish were exposed to (0.79 and 1.57 mg/L) copper oxide for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, the results showed that hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC) count, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels were found to be decreased in copper oxide treated fish, whereas white blood cells (WBC) count increased in copper-treated fish. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased in treated groups; however, copper oxide in both groups of sub-acute exposure significantly decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity compared to the control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels significantly declined in copper oxide-treated fish. These findings indicated the deleterious effects of copper oxide on gray mullet, even at low concentrations, and offered that hematological and hepatic enzyme activity and antioxidants are suitable tools for evaluating heavy metals toxicity.

Reassessment of heavy metal pollution in riverine sediments of Hainan Island, China: sources and risks

Abstract

Riverine sediment samples from Hainan Island were collected in 2013 to assess the heavy metal pollution levels, sources, and associated environmental risks. The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb measured in this study were 31.6–128.8 mg kg⁻¹, 9.8–70.3 mg kg⁻¹, 18.3–210.8 mg kg⁻¹, 49.3–314.2 mg kg⁻¹, 2.3–69.2 mg kg⁻¹, 0.3–1.5 mg kg⁻¹, and 23.2–113.4 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The results indicate that the sediment quality of Hainan Island has been obviously influenced by heavy metals. Based on the effect range classification, the heavy metals in Hainan riverine sediments likely have adverse biological effects on local ecosystems. The enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I_geo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI) clearly reflect significant metal pollution in this region. The most significant pollution was observed in the northern and eastern parts of Hainan Island. The pollution levels of the three largest rivers on Hainan Island (i.e., the Nandu, Changhua, and Wanquan Rivers) were notably high. The results of this research will be useful in assessing and managing environmental pollution in this region. In the future, greater attention and further investigation should focus on the metal sources linked to further economic development on Hainan Island.

A two-step leaching method designed based on chemical fraction distribution of the heavy metals for selective leaching of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb from metallurgical sludge

Abstract

For selective leaching and highly effective recovery of heavy metals from a metallurgical sludge, a two-step leaching method was designed based on the distribution analysis of the chemical fractions of the loaded heavy metal. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used as a leaching agent in the first step to leach the relatively labile heavy metals and then ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was applied to leach the residual metals according to their different fractional distribution. Using the two-step leaching method, 82.89% of Cd, 55.73% of Zn, 10.85% of Cu, and 0.25% of Pb were leached in the first step by 0.7 M HCl at a contact time of 240 min, and the leaching efficiencies for Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were elevated up to 99.76, 91.41, 71.85, and 94.06%, by subsequent treatment with 0.2 M EDTA at 480 min, respectively. Furthermore, HCl leaching induced fractional redistribution, which might increase the mobility of the remaining metals and then facilitate the following metal removal by EDTA. The facilitation was further confirmed by the comparison to the one-step leaching method with single HCl or single EDTA, respectively. These results suggested that the designed two-step leaching method by HCl and EDTA could be used for selective leaching and effective recovery of heavy metals from the metallurgical sludge or heavy metal-contaminated solid media.

Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence: A National Study of School Principals' Perspectives and Practices

Violence and Gender , Vol. 0, No. 0.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Homologous and Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Treating Androgenic Alopecia

Abstract

Background

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common cause of hair loss in both sexes, accounts for 95% of all cases of hair loss. Although the literature has suggested that both nonactivated (n-PRP) and activated autologous (a-PRP) PRP can be used to treat AGA, we did not find any study investigating the use of homologous PRP (h-PRP) for this purpose. Also, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies comparing the efficacy of h-PRP, a-PRP, or n-PRP on AGA therapy.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the increase in hair density, average number of platelets, complications, preparation, and duration of application in the treatment of AGA using a-PRP, n-PRP, and h-PRP.

Methods

Between 2014 and 2015, we studied male patients who had experienced increased hair loss in the last year. Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 received n-PRP, Group 2 received active PRP, and Group 3 received h-PRP. For Group 1, PRP was prepared by a single centrifugation prepared from the patient's own blood. For Group 2, the PRP was prepared from the patient's own blood, but a second centrifugation was applied for platelet activation with calcium chloride. For Group 3, the PRP was prepared from pooled platelets with the same blood group as the patient from the blood center. PRP was injected at 1, 2, and 6 months. The hair density (n/cm²) of each patient before and after injection was calculated. Each patient was assigned a fixed evaluation point at the time of application to calculate hair density.

Results

At 2, 6, and 12 months after the first treatment, the increase in hair density was calculated as 11.2, 26.1, and 32.4%, respectively, in Group 1; 8.1, 12.5, and 20.8%, respectively, in Group 2; and 16.09, 36.41, and 41.76%, respectively, in Group 3. The increase in hair density was statistically significantly greater in Group 1 than in Group 2 and more so in Group 3 than in both groups among all controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The efficacy of both PRPs was determined in AGA treatment in our study. However, it was determined statistically that the increase in hair density with h-PRP was greater than with autologous PRP groups. We believe that h-PRP therapy can be used in patients with AGA presenting with hair loss.

Level of Evidence II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://ift.tt/18t7xNj.