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Allred Basse posted an update 3 months, 3 weeks ago
We present a rare case of Coombs-negative autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in a multiparous woman in secondary care. There were no known underlying medical or obstetric risk factors for haemolytic anaemia. Following extensive investigation and a therapeutic trial of oral corticosteroids, a diagnosis was made. Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is potentially fatal, and prompt diagnosis with haematology input is essential to ensure maternal and fetal safety in pregnancy and the puerperium. With only a small number of cases of Coombs-negative autoimmune haemolytic anaemia reported in the literature, we present this rare case for discussion. We highlight the importance of thorough investigation of refractory anaemia in pregnancy and consider the associated challenges.Glomus tumor is an uncommon, benign, soft-tissue lesion in which the cells recapitulate the structure of the normal modified smooth muscle cells of the glomus body. Glomus tumors usually occur in tissues that normally contain glomus bodies; only rarely can they develop in sites where glomus bodies are normally sparse or absent. There are three subtypes of glomus tumor, with glomangiomyoma being the rarest. No more than 10 cases of glomus tumor in female genitalia have previously been reported, involving the vulva, vaginal area, periurethral area and clitoris. Vandetanib concentration A clitoral glomangiomyoma is extremely rare. This is a case report of a glomangiomyoma in the clitoral area. Published reports of glomus tumor in the female external genitalia are reviewed.Cadmium (Cd2+) is considered a human carcinogen as it causes oxidative stress and alters DNA repair responses. However, how Cd2+ is taken up by cells remains unclear. We hypothesized that Cd2+ could be transported into cells via a membrane copper (Cu) transporter, CTR1. link2 CTR1 expression was not affected by Cd2+ exposure at the mRNA or protein level. Stable cell lines overexpressing either hCTR1, in the human liver cell line HepG2, or zCTR1, in the zebrafish liver cell line ZFL, were created to study their responses to Cd2+ insult. It was found that both HepG2 and ZFL cells overexpressing CTR1 had higher Cd2+ uptake and thus became sensitive to Cd2+. In contrast, hCTR1 knockdown in HepG2 cells led to a reduced uptake of Cd2+, making the cells relatively resistant to Cd2+. Localization studies revealed that hCTR1 had a clustered pattern after Cd2+ exposure, possibly in an attempt to reduce both Cd2+ uptake and Cd2+-induced toxicity. These in vitro results indicate that CTR1 can transport Cd2+ into the cell, resulting in Cd2+ toxicity.Phenylhydrazine (PHZ), an intermediate in the synthesis of fine chemicals is toxic for human health and environment. Despite of having severe detrimental effects on different physiological systems, exposure of erythrocytes to PHZ cause destruction of haemoglobin and membrane proteins leading to iron release and complete haemolysis of red blood cells (RBC). Involvement of oxidative stress behind such action triggers the urge for searching a potent antioxidant. The benefits of consuming olive oil is attributed to its 75% oleic acid (OA) content in average. link3 Olive oil is the basic component of Mediterranean diet. Hence, OA has been chosen in our present in vitro study to explore its efficacy against PHZ (1 mM) induced alterations in erythrocytes. Four different concentrations of OA (0.01 nM, 0.02 nM, 0.04 nM and 0.06 nM) were primarily experimented with, among which 0.06 nM OA has shown to give maximal protection. This study demonstrates the capability of OA in preserving the morphology, intracellular antioxidant status and the activities of metabolic enzymes of RBCs that have been diminished by PHZ, through its antioxidant mechanisms. The results of the present study firmly establish OA as a promising antioxidant for conserving the health of erythrocyte from PHZ toxicity which indicate toward future possible use of OA either singly or in combination with other dietary components for protection of erythrocytes against PHZ induced toxic cellular changes.Neurotoxic chemicals that pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can influence brain function. Efficient methods to test the permeability of the BBB to specific chemicals would facilitate identification of potentially neurotoxic agents. We report here a simultaneous blood and brain microdialysis in a free-moving mouse to test BBB permeability of different chemicals. Microdialysis sampling was conducted in mice at 3-5 days after implantation of a brain microdialysis probe and 1 day after implantation of a blood microdialysis probe. Therefore, mice were under almost physiological conditions. Results of an intravenous injection of lucifer yellow or uranine showed that the BBB was functioning in the mice under the experimental conditions. Mice were given phenyl arsenic compounds orally, and concentration-time profiles for phenyl arsenic compounds such as diphenylarsinic acid, phenylarsonic acid, and phenylmethylarsinic acid in the blood and brain dialysate samples were obtained using simultaneous blood and brain microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Peak area-time profiles for linalool and 2-phenethyl alcohol (fragrance compounds or plant-derived volatile organic chemicals) were obtained using simultaneous blood and brain microdialysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in mice given lavender or rose essential oils intraperitoneally. BBB function was confirmed using lucifer yellow in these mice, and results indicated that the phenyl arsenic compounds, linalool and 2-phenethyl alcohol, passed through the BBB. The present study demonstrates that simultaneous blood and brain microdialysis in a free-moving mouse makes it possible to test the BBB permeability of chemicals when coupled with appropriate chemical analysis methods.COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies are mainly based on social distancing measures and healthcare system reinforcement. However, many countries in Europe and elsewhere implemented strict, horizontal lockdowns because of extensive viral spread in the community which challenges the capacity of the healthcare systems. However, strict lockdowns have various untintended adverse social, economic and health effects, which have yet to be fully elucidated, and have not been considered in models examining the effects of various mitigation measures. Unlike commonly suggested, the dilemma is not about health vs wealth because the economic devastation of long-lasting lockdowns will definitely have adverse health effects in the population. Furthermore, they cannot provide a lasting solution in pandemic containment, potentially resulting in a vicious cycle of consecutive lockdowns with in-between breaks. Hospital preparedness has been the main strategy used by governments. However, a major characteristic of the COVID-19 selective social distancing measures (instead of horizontal lockdowns), represents the only viable and realistic long-term strategy for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation.
We evaluated the relationship between the timing of insulin initiation and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk in Pennsylvania Medicaid enrollees with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
We included 17,873 enrollees (age 47.4±10.3years; range 18-64years) initially treated with non-insulin glucose-lowering agents (GLAs) in 2008-2016. Based on clinical guidelines, we identified early (N=1,158; 6%; insulin initiation≤6months after first-line GLAs), in-time (N=569; 3%; 6-12months), delayed (N=2,761; 15%; >12months), and non-insulin users (N=13,385; 75%). The Prentice-Williams-Peterson (PWP) models with inverse probability weighting estimated CVD risk across the four groups and the change in risk after insulin initiation.
Regardless of time to insulin initiation, insulin users had higher CVD risks after first-line GLAs than non-insulin users (aHR early 2.0 [1.5-2.5], in-time 1.8 [1.2-2.6], delayed 1.9 [1.6-2.3]). However, we found only a borderline increase in CVD risk after insulin initiation vs. before in early (aHR 1.4 [1.1-1.8]) and delayed users (aHR 1.3 [1.0-1.7]), and no increase in in-time users (aHR 1.3 [0.9-2.0]).
We observed no gains in CVD benefits from insulin initiation in the early stages of pharmacotherapy possibly because CVD developed before insulin initiation. Additional management of hypertension and dyslipidemia may be important to reduce CVD risk in this young and middle-aged T2D cohort.
We observed no gains in CVD benefits from insulin initiation in the early stages of pharmacotherapy possibly because CVD developed before insulin initiation. Additional management of hypertension and dyslipidemia may be important to reduce CVD risk in this young and middle-aged T2D cohort.
To use linked routinely-collected health data to estimate diabetes prevalence and incidence in an Australian cohort of adults aged ≥45years, and examine risk factors associated with incident disease.
The EXamining ouTcomEs in chroNic Disease in the 45 and Up Study (EXTEND45) Study is a linked data study that combines baseline questionnaire responses from the population-based
(2006-2009,
=267,153) with multiple routinely-collected health databases up to December 2014. Among participants with ≥1 linked result for any laboratory test, diabetes status was determined from multiple data sources according to standard biochemical criteria, use of glucose-lowering medication or self-report, and the prevalence and incidence rate calculated. Independent risk factors of incident diabetes were examined using multivariable Cox regression.
Among 152,169
participants with ≥1 linked laboratory result in the EXTEND45 database (mean age 63.0years; 54.9% female), diabetes prevalence was 10.8% (95% confidence intervesents an efficient approach to assessing diabetes frequency and its risk factors in the community. The infrastructure provided by the EXTEND45 Study will be useful for diabetes surveillance and examining other important clinical and epidemiological questions.Prevalence of pelvic ectopic kidney with obstruction is not common. Associated anomalies may produce technical difficulties and surgical challenges in treatment. Diagnostic tools such as USG KUB, renal scintigraphic studies (DMSA, DTPA), MRI, and preoperative RGP are very informative examinations to properly decide the timing of the operation and method of it. The patient was under close surveillance from the detection of antenatal hydronephrosis until the development of UPJ obstruction. Herein, we report the case of a patient with this anomaly who successfully underwent laparoscopic reconstruction.Herpes zoster-associated urinary retention is a rare but acknowledged phenomenon. It is usually a bladder areflexia resulting from a viral infection in the sacral dermatomes. We describe a 57-year-old immunosuppressed male patient with delayed urinary retention, following an outbreak of shingles in the setting of supratherapeutic immunosuppressive medications and poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus. The patient received a foley catheter, failed a trial of void in the acute treatment setting, completed zoster treatment with antivirals and corticosteroids, and fully recovered bladder function 6 weeks later.