Clinical features and genetic biomarkers associated with different phenotypes of systemic lupus erythematosus in Paraguayan patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by a heterogeneous clinical picture that makes the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients difficult. This study aimed to identify correlations between clinical, immunological, and genetic biomarkers and clinical manifestations in SLE. A retrospective study of data from medical records and immunological and genetic studies of SLE patients in Paraguay was carried out. A descriptive analysis was performed based on the type of variable. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele frequencies (DPA1, DPB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1) were calculated, and univariate logistic regression analyses were performed between each of the explanatory variables and the presence or absence of each phenotype. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p values were recorded. Associations with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. 104 SLE patients were included: 86% were female, with a mean age of 32.80±10.36 years. An association was identified between anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) and the presence of the renal phenotype and between anti-dsDNA and the absence of the joint and hematological phenotypes. Immunoglobulin M isotype rheumatoid factor was associated with the absence of a renal phenotype. HLA-DQB1*02:02 and HLA-DRB1*07:01 were associated with the cutaneous phenotype. An association was identified between age at disease onset over 30 years and the presence of the joint phenotype. No other associations were identified. Potential clinical, immunological, and genetic biomarkers of phenotypes have been identified in SLE Paraguayan patients.

Photocatalytic remediation of methylene blue and antibacterial activity study using Schiff base-Cu complexes.

This work describes the design of novel Cu(II) complexes and their application in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The same photocatalyst exhibits antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Bacillus circulans (gram-positive). The characterisation of the photocatalysts has been done by several up-to-date physical methods. The rationale behind the photocatalysts' beneficial intervention is discussed in this study. Statistical analysis of the degradation of MB is done using a one-way ANOVA, and the significance of means is determined by a multiple comparison test using Turkey HSD. Also, the degradation of MB follows pseudo first-order kinetics with high correlation coefficient values (R2 > 0.95), making them useful as simple and low-cost organic dye degradation agents.

New approaches for the analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana small RNAs.

We are interested in the study of small RNAs (sRNAs) that over-accumulate during the plant hypersensitive response (HR), a form of programmed cell death that occurs in and around the site of infection when plants are challenged by pathogens. For this purpose, we have constructed, by subtractive hybridization, a cDNA library of Arabidopsis sRNAs that are enriched during HR. Sequencing of randomly chosen clones provided evidence for the specific accumulation of several microRNAs as well as previously unidentified sRNAs. In a second approach, we have tested the possibility to hybridize labelled cDNAs derived from sRNAs to a DNA tiling array. We could reproducibly hybridize a custom-made tiling array covering Arabidopsis chromosome 4, with small cDNAs as targets. Furthermore, we have found that the distribution of hybridized fragments with sRNAs extracted from control leaves is in good agreement with the abundance of Arabidopsis sRNAs that correspond to this chromosome as determined by massive parallel sequence signature (MPSS).

Promyelocytic blast crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia with both t(9;22) and t(15;17) in M3 cells.

A blast crisis with the features of promyelocytic leukemia (M3) occurred during the evolution of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) with the t(9;22) translocation. This rare form of transformation was confirmed by means of cytologic and electron microscopic examination. Cytogenetic studies showed two simultaneous translocations t(15;17) and t(9;22) in the promyelocytes. After intensive chemotherapy, a complete remission was obtained and only karyotypes with t(9;22) translocation were present. These data confirm the specificity of the t(15;17) translocation in malignant promyelocytic proliferation and provide evidence for a second genetic event in the genesis of blast crisis occurring in a committed cell belonging to the abnormal population defined by the Ph1 chromosome.

Comparison of remedial treatments for cursive handwriting of fourth-grade students.

Fourth-grade students participated in a study to investigate 4 methods of cursive handwriting instruction. Groups were rated by two independent raters on 5 handwriting characteristics. Poor and average writers received one of 4 taped methods. Two pretests, 8 training trials, and 1 posttest were administered. The K-sample binomial test of equal proportions and post hoc multiple comparisons in sample proportions for tests of homogeneity were used to analyze the data. Significant differences were found among the methods on 4 of the 5 characteristics among poor writers. For poor writers, the highest proportions of improvement were noted using 1 of 3 methods. Significant differences were found on 2 of the 5 characteristics for average writers.