Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are very common in children and often prompt parents to seek medical advice. Increased susceptibility to ARI is caused by a number of factors, including genetically determined imbalances in cytokine production. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of 6 clinically relevant polymorphisms of proinflammatory cytokine genes in girls predisposed to recurrent respiratory infections. The study was conducted in girls aged 7–17 years who were undergoing a routine medical checkup. A group of children with frequent respiratory infections was identified. The following polymorphisms were analyzed for possible associations with predisposition to frequent respiratory infections: IL1β T-31C (rs1143627), IL1β T-511C (rs16944), IL1β C-3953T (rs1143634), IL1β G-1473C (rs1143623); IL6 C-174G (rs1800795), and TNFα G-308A (rs1800629). For polymorphism detection, PCR and gel electrophoresis were used. The following alleles were found to be associated with an increased risk for recurrent respiratory infections in girls aged 7–17 years: С-31 (rs1143627) (OR = 2.05; CI: 1.16–3.64; р = 0.013) and С-511 (rs16944) (OR = 3.11; CI: 1.25–7.76; р = 0.013) of the IL-1β gene.
VIEWS 4485
Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a pathologically confirmed intestinal metaplasia (CM) of the distal esophagus. BE is recognized as a potential complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a premalignant condition with a high risk of neoplastic progression. The aim of this study was to compare the morphology of biopsied BE segments and CM segments extending < 1 cm and > 1 cm above the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), as well as to perform the immunohistochemical analysis of biopsies with BE and CM > 1 cm above GEJ with or without dysplasia. The study recruited 92 patients with GERD: 42 patients with BE, 24 patients with CM > 1 cm above GEJ (С0М1.5–С13M14) and 26 patients with CM < 1 cm above GEJ (С0М0.3–0.8). Comparative analysis of tissue morphology revealed an association between the reactive changes in the epithelium and the severity of esophagitis in all groups. Reactive changes were detected significantly more often in BE segments than in CM segments > 1 cm (Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.05). Eight patients with BE (19.05%) were found to have low-grade dysplasia. One patient with CM > 1 cm above GEJ (4.2%) had high-grade dysplasia with cardiac-type metaplasia and immunohistochemical features of submorphological enteralization. Immunohistochemical testing for the intestinal and gastric markers of cell differentiation revealed the signs of submorphological enteralisation in all esophageal specimens with cardiac and fundic type metaplasia and in the specimens with BE in the areas lacking goblet cells.
VIEWS 4420
Melanocortins (MCs) are an increasingly studied class of regulatory peptides exerting a wide range of biological effects. All naturally occurring MCs share a His-Phe-Arg-Trp fragment (HFRW) corresponding to the sequence of amino acid residues 6–9 of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH6-9), which is also a central active component of ACTH. Attaching the Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) sequence to the C-end of the peptide extends the duration of the peptide’s effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ACTH6-9-PGP (HFRWPGP) on the spinal and supraspinal mechanisms involved in the nociceptive response in rats and to compare them to those of its structural analog ACTH4-7-PGP (MEHFPGP). ACTH6-9-PGP effects were studied following the intraperitoneal administration of the peptide at doses 0.5, 1.5, 5, 15, 50, 150, or 450 μg/kg 15 minutes before the hot plate and tail flick tests. ACTH4-7-PGP effects were studied under the same conditions at the following doses: 50, 150 and 450 μg/kg. We found that ACTH6-9-PGP administered intraperitoneally at 5 or 150 μg/kg induced a pronounced reduction in pain sensitivity 15 and 45 minutes after the injection (p = 0.04); this effect was implemented via supraspinal mechanisms. In the tail flick test, 150 μg/kg ACTH6-9-PGP increased pain sensitivity, with the participation of segmental spinal mechanisms (p = 0.04). ACTH4-7-PGP did not have any effect on the studied mechanisms of pain sensitivity. Thus, unlike ACTH4-7-PGP, ACTH6-9-PGP can both increase pain sensitivity and exert an analgesic effect.
VIEWS 4787
The uveoscleral outflow as an alternate route of aqueous drainage is of great interest in glaucoma surgical treatment. A cyclodialysis cleft allows one to create a direct connection between the anterior chamber (AC) and the suprachoroidal space (SCS) which is the key element of uveoscleral outflow. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of reverse meridional cyclodialysis ab interno (RMCai) in decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and refractory glaucoma (RG). Fourteen patients who exhibited POAG and RG (11 men and 3 women, age 77.3 ± 7.8 years) were included in the study. All patients underwent RMCai with the help of custom-designed spatula. The spatula, inserted through a clear corneal incision, was used to detach the ciliary body from the scleral spur to create a 2.0–2.5 mm wide and 6.0–6.5 mm deep cleft. Outcome measures were IOP change, use of hypotensive medication(s), complications, and need for a second surgery. Decrease in IOP by more than 20% and IOP between 6 and 21 mmHg without hypotensive medication constituted complete success. Similar changes in IOP with medication constituted partial success. Need for second surgery constituted failure. The follow-up period was >3 months. Baseline IOP and hypotensive medication use were 22.0 ± 8.5 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI), 17.6–26.4) and 2.6 ± 0.9 (95% CI, 2.2–3.1). At 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, complete success was achieved in 64.3%, 77.8%, 55.6%, 37.5%, and 40% of patients respectively; partial success — in 14.3%, 22.2%, 44.4%, 50.0%, and 60.0%. Four patients required a second surgery. Failure occurred because of cleft closure by fibrosis. It was concluded that RMCai is safe and effective in decreasing IOP in POAG and RG patients.
VIEWS 4594
The rate of mortality and disability associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is high. Patients with multiple cerebral aneurysms (MCA) require repeated surgeries more often and they are likely to develop aneurysms de novo and suffer their rupture. This study aimed to apply the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) to assess the quality of life (QOL) of MCA patients after endovascular treatment, late postoperative period. The study involved patients who underwent endovascular treatment and had multiple (>2) cerebral aneurysms (141 people). All patients underwent 1–6 endovascular surgeries; complications developed in 7.1% (10/141) of cases. The patients' QOL was assessed against the ICF 6 to 24 months post-surgery. We found that at such time points treatment results deteriorate in a number of domains, namely those associated with pain, memory, motor coordination, limb strength. Patients with ruptured aneurysms showed worse results for locomotion-related domains than patients with unruptured aneurysms (p < 0.05), in patients with aneurysms having a pseudotumor type of flow, by domains associated with dysfunction of the cranial nerves responsible for innervation of the eye muscles (p < 0.001) (p < 0.001). Patients with ruptured MCA were more active in the late post-surgery period, which was revealed by comparing that period's data to the baseline pre-surgery records (p < 0.05). The severity of activity disorders depended on surgery complications, patient age (p < 0.05), complications that developed during the acute SAH stage (p < 0.001).
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