Relationship between CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline and initial periodontal treatment efficacy in patients undergoing treatment for HIV infection: A retrospective observational study.

AIM: To retrospectively investigate the relationship between the CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline and the efficacy of the initial periodontal treatment of patients undergoing treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection using the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with chronic periodontitis who had undergone periodontal examination at baseline and after the initial periodontal treatment were enrolled. PISA was calculated from the periodontal probing depth and bleeding on probing, and the ratio of PISA after treatment to that at baseline (PISA response ratio) was calculated. Groups with a response ratio of <1 and ≥1 were defined as the improvement and the non-improvement groups, respectively. RESULTS: PISA after the initial periodontal treatment significantly decreased compared with that at baseline (p < .05). A weak negative correlation was found between the PISA response ratio and CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline (p < .05). The CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline were significantly higher in the improvement group than in the non-improvement group (p < .05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline was an independent factor that affects the PISA (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the CD4+ T-cell counts at baseline in patients undergoing treatment for HIV infection, the more effective the initial periodontal treatment.

Tissue Reactivity to, and Stability of, Glaucoma Drainage Device Materials Placed Under Rabbit Conjunctiva.

Purpose: To evaluate tissue reactivity to, and the stability of, glaucoma drainage device materials placed under rabbit conjunctiva in vivo. Methods: Disks (diameter, 3 mm; thickness, ∼0.3 mm) fabricated from poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS), silicone, stainless-steel, or glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen (GACLC) were inserted under rabbit conjunctiva. Conjunctival and scleral sections obtained at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery were immunostained for α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The ratio of the maximum thickness of the α-SMA-positive conjunctiva to the scleral thickness (α-SMA/S ratio) was calculated. The in vivo stability of the drainage devices at 12 weeks after insertion was evaluated. Results: The mean α-SMA/S ratios of the SIBS and silicone groups were lower than that of the stainless-steel group at 4 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05), and that of the SIBS group was lower than that of the GACLC group (P < 0.05). The ratios at 8 weeks after surgery were lower in the SIBS and silicone groups than in the GACLC group (P < 0.01). The ratios at 12 weeks after surgery were lower in the SIBS and silicone groups than in the GACLC group (P < 0.05). The surface areas of GACLC disks explanted from conjunctivae were significantly lower than that of intact disks (P < 0.01). Conclusions: SIBS and silicon were highly biostable and exhibited less tissue reactivity than GACLC in vivo. Translational Relevance: Comparisons of materials using animal models can predict the clinical stability and safety of such materials in humans.

Adiponectin is increased and correlated with the degree of proteinuria, but plasma leptin is not changed in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

AIM: Altered regulation of adiponectin and leptin may be relevant to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. METHODS: The relationship between the levels of plasma adiponectin, leptin and proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate and metabolic risk factors was investigated in 38 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin was much higher in patients with heavy proteinuria (38.8 +/- 27.8 microg/mL) than in patients with mild proteinuria (13.3 +/- 5.1 microg/mL, P < 0.001) and with moderate proteinuria (18.1 +/- 8.0 microg/mL, P < 0.01). The levels of serum leptin were not changed among these groups. Proteinuria and lipoprotein(a) were a strong and direct correlate of plasma adiponectin (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001), while serum albumin and the glomerular filtration rate correlated inversely with this protein (r = -0.56, P = 0.0002; r = 0.38, P = 0.02). Body mass index and triglyceride were direct correlates (r = 0.37, P = 0.02 and r = 0.37, P = 0.02, respectively) of plasma leptin in patients with glomerulonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma adiponectin but not plasma leptin levels correlate with proteinuria in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

Bimodal modulation of store-operated Ca2+ channels by clozapine in astrocytes.

Clozapine (Clz) and olanzapine (Olz) are second generation (atypical) antipsychotics, used widely for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These drugs share multiple sites of actions, however their mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we analyzed the effects of these drugs on primary cultures of rat cortical astrocytes and C6 glioma cells using fura-2-based Ca2+ imaging. C6 cells, but not cortical astrocytes, express the serotonin 2A receptor subtype, which couples to phospholipase C. Clz (1µM) significantly blocked serotonin-induced Ca2+ transients in C6 cells, consistent with known antagonistic actions of Clz. Interestingly, at higher concentrations (>10µM), Clz but not Olz increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in both cortical astrocytes and C6 cells. This Clz-induced Ca2+ increase was concentration-dependent and completely blocked by removal of extracellular Ca2+ using ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Furthermore, 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate or SKF-96365, blockers for store-operated Ca2+ channels, significantly inhibited the Clz-induced Ca2+ increase. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of Clz and Olz during Ca2+ re-entry through store-operated Ca2+ channels, which was maximized following depletion of internal Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin and EGTA. The results demonstrated that Clz decreased Ca2+ re-entry through store-operated Ca2+ channels in cortical astrocytes and C6 cells whereas Olz failed to modulate the Ca2+ re-entry. These results suggest Clz-specific bimodal actions via store-operated Ca2+ channels in astrocytic cells. Since intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in astrocytes is an important determinant for neighboring synaptic signal transmission, our results may explain Clz-specific adverse effects or differential actions between Clz and Olz reported in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Characteristics of the increase in plasma brain natriuretic peptide level in left ventricular systolic dysfunction, associated with muscular dystrophy in comparison with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

To determine whether the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level increases differentially in muscular dystrophy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, we investigated the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and echocardiographic parameters in patients with similarly low left ventricular ejection fraction. The plasma brain natriuretic peptide level was lower, and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was shorter in the patients with muscular dystrophy than in those with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The correlation between the plasma brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular ejection fraction was shifted downward in the patients with muscular dystrophy compared with those with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Those between the brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were superimposable, although the data from the muscular dystrophy patients were located at the shorter left ventricular end-diastolic diameter side. The plasma brain natriuretic peptide level may differentially increase in the two diseases with similar left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Differences in the left ventricular distension and in the physical activity might explain at least partially the different plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels.

Lanthanum carbonate for hyperphosphatemia in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of the phosphate binder lanthanum carbonate has been demonstrated for hemodialysis patients, but no studies have focused on patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We evaluated whether lanthanum carbonate could control phosphate levels in patients on CAPD. ♢ METHODS: In this 48-week open-label prospective study, 28 patients on CAPD with a phosphate level of 6 mg/dL or greater were given lanthanum carbonate titrated from 750 mg to 2250 mg daily to achieve a target serum phosphate level of less than 6 mg/dL. The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction of serum phosphate to less than 6 mg/dL. Serum levels of calcium and parathyroid hormone were also evaluated, as were the Ca×P product and adverse effects. ♢ RESULTS: From week 4 to the end of the study at week 48, we observed a significant reduction of serum phosphate to 5.25 ± 0.97 mg/dL from 6.88 ± 1.06 mg/dL at study start (p < 0.01). At the end of the study, 78.6% of participants had achieved the target of less than 6 mg/dL. Because no change of serum calcium occurred, the Ca×P product declined significantly during the study. Intact parathyroid hormone declined gradually over the study period, but the change had not reached significance at the end of the study (p = 0.11). The mean final dose of lanthanum carbonate was 946 mg daily. The only adverse effect reported was mild nausea in 1 patient. ♢ CONCLUSIONS: Lanthanum carbonate is an effective phosphate binder that can control serum phosphate and Ca×P product in CAPD patients with hyperphosphatemia. Lanthanum carbonate was well tolerated in our population.