RETRACTED: Synergistic effects of thymoquinone and curcumin on immune response and anti-viral activity against avian influenza virus (H9N2) in turkeys.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). The authors retract the above paper due to: 1) conflict of interest among the authors; and 2) addition of coauthor Dr. Muhammad Younus without his knowledge or permission. The authors apologize for these two grave mistakes.

Cardiovascular disease determinants in chronic renal failure: clinical approach and treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT), has a central role in everyday nephrological practice. METHODS: Consensus was reached on key points relating to the clinical approach and treatment of the main cardiovascular risk factors in RRT patients (hypertension, anaemia, hyperparathyroidism, dyslipidaemia, new emerging risk factors). In addition, the role of convective treatments on cardiovascular outcomes was examined. RESULTS: Hypertension should be managed by aiming at blood pressure values of < or =140/90 mmHg (< or =160/90 mmHg in the elderly), firstly by ensuring target dry body weight is achieved. No single class of drug has proved superior to others in RRT patients, provided that the blood pressure target is achieved, although ACE inhibitors have shown specific organ protection in high-risk patients (HOPE study) and are well tolerated. Anaemia should be managed by using erythropoietin and iron supplements, aiming at haemoglobin levels of 12 g/dl and keeping serum ferritin levels < 500 ng/ml. The management of hyperparathyroidism is currently unsatisfactory, as calcium supplements have the potential to increase cardiovascular calcification. While awaiting new calcium- and aluminium-free phosphate binders, it is essential to ensure dialysis adequacy. Clinical studies are in progress to assess the real impact of lipid-lowering drugs in RRT. In the meantime, serum LDL-cholesterol < 160 mg/dl and triglycerides < 500 mg/dl may be desirable targets. The impact of new emerging risk factors (inflammation and chronic infection, hyperhomocysteinaemia, metabolic waste-product accumulation) and their proper management are still under research. Convective dialysis treatments may confer some degree of protection from dialysis-related amyloidosis and mortality, but clinical data on this important issue are still controversial and no definitive conclusions can be drawn at present. CONCLUSION: CVD prevention and treatment is a great challenge for the nephrologist. Achieving evidence-based consensus can help in encouraging the implementation of best clinical practice in line with the progress of current knowledge.

Biochemical markers of basement membrane disturbances and occupational exposure to hydrocarbons and mixed solvents.

To investigate possible mechanisms of hydrocarbon or solvent-induced renal damage, we studied three groups of healthy men employed in a UK manufacturing plant. Group 1 (n = 111) were occupationally exposed to hydrocarbon-based paints, Group 2 (n = 100) were occupationally exposed to petroleum-based mineral oils, and Group 3 (n = 92) had low background occupational exposure to hydrocarbons. Occupational atmospheric exposure levels for toluene, xylene, butanol and oil mist around the time of this study were within UK permissible limits. Group 4 (controls) were males with no known occupational hydrocarbon or solvent exposure (n = 108). Circulating laminin antibodies and the auto-antibody implicated in Goodpasture's syndrome (anti-GBM) were measured, as were serum laminin, a basement membrane turnover marker, and soluble E-selectin, an endothelial activation marker. Group 1 had a significantly greater proportion of subjects with high levels of both anti-laminin antibodies and soluble E-selectin; Group 2 had significantly more subjects with raised anti-GBM antibodies, laminin and soluble E-selectin. Mean levels of soluble E-selectin were increased in Groups 1 and 2. In a small but significant proportion of these workers exposed to hydrocarbons/mixed solvents there are alterations both to basement membranes, resulting in auto-antibody production, and to overlying vascular endothelial cells.