Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL-10, IL-12p40, and IL-13 Genes and Susceptibility to Glioma.

Glioma is one of the most aggressive and most common tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) in humans. The exact causes of glioma are not well known, but evidence suggests the involvement of genetic factors in addition to environmental risk factors. The present study aimed to determine whether polymorphisms in IL-10-1082A/G, IL-12p40 1188C/A, and IL-13+2044G/A (rs20541) are associated with the incidence of glioma in Iraqi patients. Ninety-six patients with different grades of glioma and 40 apparently healthy individuals were recruited. A blood sample and genomic DNA were collected from all subjects. The amplification refractory mutation system and sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for genotyping of IL-10-1082A/G and IL-12p40 1188C/A, respectively; whereas, the IL-13+2044G/A was detected by DNA sequencing after amplification of the genes by PCR. All SNPs were within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and each appeared in three genotypes in patients and controls. In IL-10-1082A/G, these genotypes frequencies were AA (75%), AG (22.93%) and GG (2.07%) in patients as compared to similar frequencies (62.5%), (27.5%) and (10%) respectively, in controls. The variant IL-12p40 1188C/A genotype was AA (72.92%), AC (23.96%), and CC (3.13%%) in patients as compared to 65%, 30%, and 5%, respectively, in controls. The frequencies of IL-13+2044G/A genotypes (GG, GA, and AA) were 89.58%, 9.37%, and 1.04% among patients versus 47.5%, 32.5% and 20%, respectively, among controls. These results suggest a protective role of mutant alleles G and A in IL-10-1082A/G and IL-13+2044G/A against gliomas. Further studies with more rigorous parameter designs will be needed to confirm the current findings.

Comparison of C4d detection on erythrocytes and PTC-C4d to histological signs of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplantation.

C4d on erythrocytes (EC4d), C4d peritubular capillary deposition (PTC-C4d) staining and histology were compared in a cross-sectional cohort of 146 renal allograft biopsies (132 patients). EC4d levels paralleled PTC-C4d staining, but were more predictive of peritubular capillaritis (PTC). Donor-specific antibodies (DSA), PTC-C4d, EC4d and PTC were analyzed in an independent longitudinal follow-up cohort (96 biopsies, 76 patients). Seventy-six samples were PTC and EC4d concordant, 11 positive and 65 negative, 7 PTC-EC4d+ and 13 PTC+EC4d-. EC4d levels were related to DSA occurrence. With ABMR defined by PTC and DSA, all apparently discordant patients, EC4d negative, were correctly reassigned comparing EC4d level curves with rejection kinetics, with positive EC4d samples predating biopsy or late biopsies compared with ABMR flare-ups. All EC4d-positive patients without PTC or DSA had permanent high EC4d levels unrelated to rejection. EC4d was more abundant in PTC-positive (mean = 108.5%± 3.4; n = 50) than PTC-negative samples (mean = 88.1%± 1.3; n= 96; p < 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PTC-C4d and EC4d for PTC were, respectively, 75%, 79%; 64%, 76% (p < 0.05); 28%, 46% (p < 0.05) and 93%, 94%. Values were similar for DSA. A noninvasive blood test, EC4d, and particularly longitudinally monitoring EC4d levels, may increase surrogate ABMR testing options.

Improving the performance of air conditioning unit by using a hybrid technique.

An Air Conditioning Unit with magnetic field and different tubes was designed, fabricated and evaluated in this study. The Effect of magnetic field and different types of tubes on the performance of Air Conditioning was studied experimentally. A testing system of Air Conditioning Unit was developed as the test rig. The modified tubes as a straight tube before the condenser and after the evaporator were replaced by a finned bended tube with five bends and a coil finned tube with five turns. The experimental results for the temperature of refrigerant and the coefficient of performance for an air conditioning unit were presented. Changing the tubes and introducing electric charging has a significant effect on the performance of the unit. The electric charging has a positive effect of the performance of the system. The electric charging enhanced the performance by 76% in case of bent tube and by 177% in case of coil tube. The bent pipe increases the refrigerant temperature between 50% and 200%, while the coil pipe increases the temperature between 18 % and 190 %. • This method increases the refrigerant temperature for Air Conditioning system. • This method provides simple technical testing of Air Conditioning Unit with magnetic field and different tubes • This method can be useful to enhance the performance of Air Conditioning Unit.

Effects of gliclazide add on metformin on serum omentin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Omentin is a newly identified adipokine that has beneficial influence against cardiovascular disorders. Hence, considering the impact of anti-diabetic drug on omentin levels may provide an adjuvant strategy to protect diabetic patients against valuable clinical hazards. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the influence of metformin alone or in combination with gliclazide on the level of serum omentin among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 newly diagnosed patients with T2DM were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind prospective study, and divided into two equal groups based on treatment regimen in which Group 1 treated with metformin (1000 mg) and Group 2 treated with metformin (1000 mg) plus gliclazide (80 mg). Blood glucose levels, HbA1C, insulin levels, and serum omentin-1 were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULT: Use of gliclazide as an add-on therapy to metformin in patients with T2DM result in better glycemic control evidenced by significant reductions in the levels of blood glucose levels and HbA1C and much more improvement in insulin sensitivity evidenced by significant decreased in insulin resistance index, whereas it has adverse impact on serum omentin-1 levels evidenced by significant decrement in omentin-1 level in comparison to their pretreatment levels among Group 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adding of gliclazide to metformin in treatment of patients with T2DM might extend the therapeutic action of metformin in regarding much better controlling of glycemic indices, but, at the same time, it might attenuate the cardioprotective effects of metformin by its adverse influence on serum omentin-1 levels.

[Maternal educational level: correlation with obstetric indicators]. / Escolaridade materna: correlação com os indicadores obstétricos.

The aim of this study was to estimate associations between level of maternal education as the dependent variable and several variables present in birth certificates under the official Brazilian Ministry of Health model. A total of 3,843 birth certificates were analyzed from Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State, for singleton hospital deliveries in 1998. Statistically significant associations were found between low maternal educational level and low birth weight, 3 or more live births, history of stillbirth, and prenatal care including up to 6 visits. No association was found between abortions and preterm delivery as described in other studies, perhaps due to insufficient information. Maternal educational level can thus be considered an obstetric marker for some risk factors for the mother and infant.

Co-morbidity and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Saudi Arabia.

To review the experience of a child psychiatric clinic regarding co-morbidity and treatment characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a retrospective study was done on patients under 19 years who were attending the clinic and were diagnosed with ADHD. Co-morbidity and treatment characteristics were also studied. ADHD was diagnosed in 25.5% of the patients. Of these, 28.3% had coexistent expressive language disorder and 38.7% coexistent mild mental retardation. A psychostimulant (methylphenidate) was prescribed to 23.6% while antidepressants (primarily imipramine) were prescribed to 35.9%. Behavioural therapy was the most commonly offered psychotherapy. Antidepressants were used more than psychostimulants. Psychotropics had a more beneficial effect than psychotherapy.

Inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric referrals in Saudi Arabia: clinical profiles and treatment.

A retrospective review was made of the case records of inpatients referred to the psychiatric consultation-liaison service of King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia over a 6-year period. For the 109 patients under 18 years old, the study noted both the medical or surgical diseases diagnosed as well as psychiatric disorders and the treatment approaches used by psychiatrists. Depressive and adjustment disorders were the most often diagnosed psychiatric illnesses. The most common medical diagnoses were epilepsy, drug overdose, ambiguous genitalia, orthopaedic injuries and diabetes mellitus. Young people with these medical problems are in real need of psychological assessment and intervention.

A retrospective audit of electroconvulsive therapy at King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

The case records of patients receiving ECT at King Khalid University Hospital over a 10-year period were reviewed for all aspects of ethical and technical administration of ECT. The audit of 127 patients showed some deficiencies in the early years: no seizure monitoring, no training or education for staff (particularly psychiatrists and anaesthetists), and the use of atropine as a premedication for all patients. Recently, regular education and staff training have been organized and seizure timing regularly monitored. Use of an ECT machine with EEG monitoring and the systematic and scaled monitoring of complications is recommended. Results show the necessity of ECT auditing, including an unbiased external audit for effective monitoring of the practical administration of ECT. Similar audits in other mental health institutions in Saudi Arabia are recommended.

Polyarteritis nodosa masquerading as temporal arteritis.

The unusual occurrence of polyarteritis nodosa presenting as non-giant cell temporal arteritis and a clinical picture suggestive of acute cholecystitis is reported.