Systemic sclerosis and calcinosis cutis: response to rituximab.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Calcinosis cutis (or cutaneous calcification) is a type of calcinosis wherein calcium deposits form in the skin and frequently encountered in limited cutaneous subtype of disease. So far, no treatment has shown an explicit beneficial effect. Medical therapy for calcinosis cutis with rituximab is limited and of variable benefit. CASE SUMMARY: Our patient was 54-year-old lady, a case of limited cutaneous scleroderma with widespread progressive calcinosis cutis unresponsive to current therapy. She went under treatment with rituximab with no successful outcome. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Results of therapy with rituximab on regression/improvement of systemic sclerosis-related calcinosis are limited and non-conclusive.

Effects of different rearing systems on muscle and meat quality traits of slow- and medium-growing male chickens.

1. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of production system on the meat quality of slow- and medium-growing chickens. A total of 1075 1-d-old male chicks were equally divided into 6 experimental groups, represented by three strains (SG: TETRA-H, MG1: TETRA HB Color, MG2: Shaver Farm) and were reared in a poultry house in floor pens (12 males/m(2)). 2. On d 49, 150 healthy birds (50/genotype) were placed in a free-range family farm while the rest of the birds remained indoors. All birds were fed ad libitum and consumed the same diet. On d 70, 20 birds of each experimental group were slaughtered and muscle samples were taken from the left breast and thigh muscles. 3. Thigh muscle of SG males kept on free range was darker (L* = 75.12 vs. 78.33) with lower frying loss (45.9% vs. 55.9%) compared with the indoor group. Similar results were obtained from the MG1 group. Free-range MG2 males had lighter thigh meat (L* = 50.7 vs. 57.8) and lower frying loss compared to the indoor group. 4. In general, the indoor treatment had a lower impact on breast meat than the outdoor system. Regardless of the rearing system, genotypic differences were more pronounced in thigh than in breast muscle.

Hemospermia: long-term outcome in 165 patients.

Long-term course of hemospermia has not been addressed in the sexual medicine literature. We report our 15 years' experience. From 1997 to 2012, 165 patients presented with hemospermia. Mean age was 38 years. Mean follow-up was 83 months. Laboratory evaluation and testis and transabdominal ultrasonography was done in all. Since 2008, all sonographies were done by the first author. One patient had urinary tuberculosis, one had bladder tumor and three had benign lesions at verumontanum. One patient had bilateral partial ejaculatory duct obstruction by stones. All six patients had persistent, frequently recurring or high-volume hemospermia. All pathologies were found in young patients. In the remaining 159 patients (96%), empiric treatment was given with a fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin) plus an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Celecoxib). In our 15 years of follow-up, no patient later developed life-threatening disease. Diagnostic evaluation of hemospermia is not worthwhile in the absolute majority of cases. Advanced age makes no difference. Only high-risk patients need to be evaluated. The vast majority of cases may be safely and effectively treated with empiric therapy. Almost all patients do well in long term.

What do we need to eradicate rubella in the Islamic Republic of Iran?

To evaluate the need for congenital rubella syndrome prevention in our national health programme we aimed to determine the rate of anti-rubella positivity in umbilical cord blood samples 8 years after measles-rubella mass vaccination in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a cross-sectional study we tested umbilical cord blood samples for anti-rubella IgG and IgM by ELISA in 154 deliveries at a university hospital in Tehran. Overall 72.7% of umbilical cord blood samples were positive for anti-rubella lgG and 27.3% were negative. All of the samples were negative for anti-rubella IgM. In the samples with a history of mothers' rubella vaccination, only 87.5% were positive for anti-rubella IgG. The results suggest the need for another mass vaccination for rubella in women of child-bearing age and continuation of routine vaccination of infants, plus consideration of obligatory anti-rubella IgG testing before pregnancy in women who were not vaccinated and vaccination of women before marriage.

Metabolic enzyme activities and drug excretion in the small intestine and in the liver in the rat.

The aim of these experiments was the investigation of the correlation between the metabolic enzyme activities and the intestinal and hepatic excretion of p-nitrophenol (PNP) and its metabolites (PNP-glucuronide: PNP-G and PNP-sulfate: PNP-S) in the same group of rats (n = 10). A jejunal loop was perfused with isotonic medium containing PNP in a concentration of 500 µM. The samples were obtained from the luminal perfusion medium and from the bile. For enzyme assays tissue samples were obtained from the liver and jejunum at the end of experiments. Significant differences were calculated by the Student's t-test. The activity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase and sulfotransferase was about three times higher in the liver than in the small intestine. The activity of the ß-glucuronidase was about six times higher, the activity of the arylsulfatase was approximately seven times greater in the liver than in the jejunum. No significant difference was found between the luminal appearance and the biliary excretion of PNP-G. Contrary to these findings, the biliary excretion of PNP-S was significantly higher than the luminal appearance of PNP-sulfate. It can be concluded that no direct correlation exists between the activity of metabolic enzymes and the excretion rate of PNP-metabolites in the liver and in the jejunal segment of the small intestine.

Investigation of drug metabolism in various segments of small intestine in the rat.

In the extrahepatic drug metabolism the intestinal tract can play an important role. These experiments were designed to study the biotransformation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in the small intestine in the rat. Various segments of the small intestine (proximal and distal jejunum, terminal ileum) were perfused with isotonic solution in vivo containing different concentrations of PNP (20-100-500-1000 µM) and the concentrations of metabolites (PNP-G: p-nitrophenol glucuronide, PNP-S: p-nitrophenol sulfate) were determined in the perfusion medium. It was found a decreasing tendency in the glucuronidation from the proximal to distal segment of the small intestine: e.g. 430 nmol, 240 nmol, and 100 nmol PNP-G appeared in the perfusion medium in the proximal, distal jejunum and in the terminal ileum, respectively, when 500 µM PNP was luminally perfused for 90 minutes. Similar ratio was found at the luminal perfusion of other PNP-concentrations, too. Luminal appearance of sulfoconjugate of PNP was considerably lower and no clear gradient tendency in the formation of PNP-S could be detected in the small intestine from the proximal to distal segment. Our results show that there are considerable differences in drug metabolism in various segments of the small intestine. We have found a gradient conjugating activity from proximal to distal segment of small intestine in the glucuronidation of PNP.

The persistence toxicity of four insecticides against adult Hippodamia varigata (Coleptera: Cocinellidae).

In order to investigate the effects of four insecticides on Hippodomia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the predator of Aphis fabae, an experiment was carried out using IOBC/wprs method. Persistence toxicity of insecticides has been evaluated in the greenhouse condition. The insecticides abamectin 1.8 EC, deltamethrin 2.5 EC, imidacloprid 350 SC, and proteus OD 110 were used at recommended field rates. The insecticides were applied on broad bean foliage using a hand sprayer, until run-off. Contact toxicity of aged residues of insecticides on adult predator was evaluated using the cage-method. The trials were laid out in randomized complete design (CRD) with 3 replicates and an untreated check. The arcsine transformation was used for analysis. The mortality of adult predator, after 24 h contact with fresh residues of abamectin, deltamethrin, imidacloprid and proteus were 53.4, 52.1, 63.4 and 65.1%, respectively. After 5 days the effect of residues decreased so that the adult mortality diminished to 32.4, 36.5, 56.1 and 57.5% for mentioned above insecticides. 15-day old residues lead to 8.8, 23.1, 56.3 and 57.5%; and 31-day old residues lead to 8.8, 22.7, 29.5 and 41.7% mortality for these insecticides, respectively. Based on this study, abamectin and deltamethrin with persistence less than 5 d are classified as short lived (Class A) while imidacloprid and proteus with persistence between 16 to 31d, classified as moderately persistent (Class C) compounds.

Association between C-reactive protein and coronary calcium score in coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs- CRP) and spiral computed tomography coronary artery calcium score (CCS) are valid markers of cardiovascular risk. It is unknown whether hs-CRP is a marker of atherosclerotic burden or if it reflects a process leading to acute coronary events. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the association between hs- CRP and CCS in 143 patients who were candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In our cross-sectional study, we found no significant association between hs-CRP and the CCS in bivariant (p = 0.162) and multivariant (p = 0.062) analyses. However, in patients who did not use statins, this association was significant and positive in the bivariant analysis (p = 0.001), but in the multivariant analysis it was negative and significant (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: High-sensitivity CRP was not correlated with CCS. The relationship between CRP and clinical events might not be related to atherosclerotic burden. Measures of inflammation, such as hs-CRP, and indices of atherosclerosis, such as CCS, are likely to provide distinct information regarding cardiovascular risk.

Association between c-reactive protein and coronary calcium score in coronary artery disease : cardiovascular topics

Background : Both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and spiral computed tomography coronary artery calcium score (CCS) are valid markers of cardiovascular risk. It is unknown whether hs-CRP is a marker of atherosclerotic burden or if it reflects a process leading to acute coronary events. Methods and results : We studied the association between hs-CRP and CCS in 143 patients who were candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In our cross-sectional study; we found no significant association between hs-CRP and the CCS in bivariant (p = 0.162) and multivariant (p = 0.062) analyses. However; in patients who did not use statins; this association was significant and positive in the bivariant analysis (p = 0.001); but in the multivariant analysis it was negative and significant (p = 0.008). Conclusion : High-sensitivity CRP was not correlated with CCS. The relationship between CRP and clinical events might not be related to atherosclerotic burden. Measures of inflammation; such as hs-CRP; and indices of atherosclerosis; such as CCS; are likely to provide distinct information regarding cardiovascular risk

Effects of vitamin E administration on the hemorheological status and redox homeostasis of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda treated with phlebotomy.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results were reported about the efficacy of vitamin E (E) treatment in porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). We conducted a study in PCT patients to investigate whether E treatment has any additional beneficial effects compared with phlebotomy (P) treatment alone on rheological and oxidative stress parameters. METHODS: Twenty three patients with sporadic PCT in clinical remission and 10 healthy control patients were studied. All patients were treated with P prior to the study until clinical remission was achieved. Baseline routine laboratory [blood glucose, serum lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), iron metabolism indices, liver function tests], oxidative stress [serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), plasma H-donor activity, plasma free SH-groups, erythrocyte glutathion peroxidase activity] and rheological parameters (whole blood and plasma viscosity, cell transit time, clogging rate) were measured in both groups. Then all PCT patients received E (tocopherol acetate) 200 mg/day for 8 weeks and at the end of treatment measurements identical to those performed at baseline were repeated. RESULTS: Increased urine uroporphyrin, serum CRP, TBARS concentrations, whole blood and plasma viscosity and decreased plasma H-donor activity, free SH-group level, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity were detected in PCT patients treated with P alone compared with control group consistent with residual oxidative stress in PCT patients. E treatment decreased urine uroporphyrin and serum TBARS concentrations; increased plasma H-donor activity and did not influence whole blood and plasma viscosity compared with P treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: E treatment reduced the residual oxidative stress and did not influence increased plasma and whole blood viscosity present in PCT patients receiving P treatment prior to clinical remission.

Experimental model of faecal coliform removal in anoxic wastewater stabilisation ponds.

Wastewater stabilisation ponds are a good alternative for treating different types of wastewaters due to their simplicity, effectiveness and low cost. It has been found that the volumetric organic loading (VOL) on ponds affects pathogen removal inversely whereas temperature has a positive effect. This was confirmed in the present studies on "anoxic" ponds, which were loaded in the range between conventional organic loading levels for anaerobic and facultative stabilisation ponds. In addition, other environmental factors (light, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were also found to influence pathogen removal in the model ponds. The effects on faecal coliform removal of volumetric organic loading and temperature are represented in the form of a multiple regression model. The equation developed was found to apply at a significance level of 95% with p < 0.001.

Effect of microgravitation on the human equilibrium.

The 38-year period of human space exploration has gained for us a lot of experience in the problem of space motion sickness. The authors collected some causes of space sickness from the literature and from their research results. We collaborated with the Soviet-Russian space researchers and elaborated those vestibular research methods that were carried out by human space missions in the Soviet-Russian space station, on Earth, and after flight: spontaneous eye movement, foveal and peripheral optokinetic nystagmus, and vestibular stimulation. Using an earthly model of the effect of microgravitation on the human body, we tried to provide explanations of the origin of space motion sickness.

Antiorthostatic posture as an earth model of the effect of microgravity on the human body.

We examined the horizontal and vertical component of diagonal optokinetic nystagmus (DOKN) in sitting posture and in the last 15 minutes of antiorthostatic posture at -30 degrees lasting 3 hours. The antiorthostatic posture is suited to the earthy model of the fluid shifting observed in microgravity. We found that the frequency of the vertical component of DOKN is rarer in antiorthostatic posture than in sitting posture. Moreover, the amplitude of the vertical component of DOKN is lower in antiorthostatic posture than is the amplitude of the horizontal component. According to our examinations, we suppose that the frequency and amplitude of vertical OKN are directed by different cerebral structures. Furthermore, we found that the heart rate becomes slower and the diastolic pressure is augmented after antiorthostatic posture and visual stimulation.