Vitamin D supplementation in primary hyperparathyroidism: effects on 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D and FGF23 levels.

PURPOSE: In patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) vitamin D deficiency has been associated with more severe presentations. Our aim was to investigate the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on mineral homeostasis and related hormones in individuals with and without PHPT. METHODS: Individuals with and without PHPT (CTRL) received 14,000 IU/week of oral vitamin D3 for 12 weeks. At baseline and endpoint, blood samples were collected to measure 1,25(OH)2vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), intact Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23), 25OHD, Parathormone, and other biochemical markers. The 1,25(OH)2D measurement was performed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: 70 PHPT patients and 75 CTRL were included, and 55 PHPT and 64 CTRL completed the 12-week protocol. After the intervention, there were significant increases in the FGF23 levels (PHPT: 47.9 ± 27.1 to 76.3 ± 33.3; CTRL: 40.5 ± 13.9 to 59.8 ± 19.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and significant decreases in 1,25(OH)2D levels (PHPT: 94.8 ± 34.6 to 68.9 ± 25.3; CTRL: 68.7 ± 23.5 to 56.4 ± 20.7 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The reduction of 1,25(OH)2D was inversely associated with the increase of FGF23 in both the PHPT (r = -0.302, p = 0.028) and CTRL (r = -0.278, p = 0.027). No changes in plasmatic or uninary calcium concentrations were observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: The weekly administration of 14,000 IU of Vitamin D3 was safe and efficient to increase in 25OHD levels in both groups. However, a paradoxical decrease in 1,25(OH)2D levels measured by LC-MS/MS was associated with a significant increase in FGF23 levels in both groups. This phenomenon might represent a defense against hypercalcemia after vitamin D supplementation and paves the way for new studies in this regard.

Following the Nonthermal Phase Transition in Niobium Dioxide by Time-Resolved Harmonic Spectroscopy.

Photoinduced phase transitions in correlated materials promise diverse applications from ultrafast switches to optoelectronics. Resolving those transitions and possible metastable phases temporally are key enablers for these applications, but challenge existing experimental approaches. Extreme nonlinear optics can help probe phase changes, as higher-order nonlinearities have higher sensitivity and temporal resolution to band structure and lattice deformations. Here the ultrafast transition from the semiconducting to the metallic phases in polycrystalline thin-film NbO_{2} is investigated by time-resolved harmonic spectroscopy. The emission strength of all harmonic orders shows a steplike suppression when the excitation fluence exceeds a threshold (∼11-12 mJ/cm^{2}), below the fluence required for the thermal transition-a signature of the nonthermal emergence of a metallic phase within 100±20 fs. This observation is backed by full ab initio simulations as well as a 1D chain model of high-harmonic generation from both phases. Our results demonstrate femtosecond harmonic probing of phase transitions and nonthermal dynamics in solids.

Cumulant expansion for the treatment of light-matter interactions in arbitrary material structures.

Strong coupling of quantum emitters with confined electromagnetic modes of nanophotonic structures may be used to change optical, chemical, and transport properties of materials, with significant theoretical effort invested toward a better understanding of this phenomenon. However, a full theoretical description of both matter and light is an extremely challenging task. Typical theoretical approaches simplify the description of the photonic environment by describing it as a single mode or few modes. While this approximation is accurate in some cases, it breaks down strongly in complex environments, such as within plasmonic nanocavities, and the electromagnetic environment must be fully taken into account. This requires the quantum description of a continuum of bosonic modes, a problem that is computationally hard. We here investigate a compromise where the quantum character of light is taken into account at modest computational cost. To do so, we focus on a quantum emitter that interacts with an arbitrary photonic spectral density and employ the cumulant, or cluster, expansion method to the Heisenberg equations of motion up to first, second, and third order. We benchmark the method by comparing it with exact solutions for specific situations and show that it can accurately represent dynamics for many parameter ranges.

Fcγ-RI, Fcγ-RII and IL-10 as predictive biomarkers for post-therapeutic cicatrization time in monocytes from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment is based on therapy with Glucantime® , yet, there are few laboratory methods to monitor its success. In this study, ex vivo and in vitro evaluations of peripheral blood monocytes were performed in a longitudinal study to characterize the impact of Glucantime® on overall phenotypic/functional features of these cells from CL patients to identify predictive biomarkers for post-therapeutic monitoring by flow cytometry. The ex vivo evaluation from CL patients demonstrated a modulatory profile before treatment, with a decrease in TLR-2, FcγRII, HLA-DR, CD86, IFN-γR, TNF, IL-12, NO, and an increase in FcγRIII and IL-10R. Conversely, treatment changes some of these biomarker expressions by decreasing FcγRIII and IL-10R and increasing IFN-γR, IL-12 and NO. Moreover, an in vitro analysis of these patients showed a reduced phagocytic capacity of Leishmania braziliensis and higher levels of IL-10 and TGF-ß modulating functional profile. Regardless of the compromised L. braziliensis phagocytic capacity, treatment re-established the production of IL-12, IL-10, TGF-ß and NO at the basal level. Notably, monocytes from patients with early cicatrization showed enhanced FcγRI and FcγRII expressions and reduced IL-10, which was further corroborated by a baseline fold change analysis. Finally, the logistic regression model emphasized the performance of FcγRI, FcγRII and IL-10 as robust predictive biomarkers for post-therapeutic cicatrization during cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Enhancing High-Order Harmonic Generation in Light Molecules by Using Chirped Pulses.

One of the current challenges in high-harmonic generation is to extend the harmonic cutoff to increasingly high energies while maintaining or even increasing the efficiency of the high-harmonic emission. Here we show that the combined effect of down-chirped pulses and nuclear dynamics in light molecules allows one to achieve this goal, provided that long enough IR pulses are used to allow the nuclei to move well outside the Franck-Condon region. We also show that, by varying the duration of the chirped pulse or by performing isotopic substitution while keeping the pulse duration constant, one can control the extension of the harmonic plateau.

Removal of bacteria, protozoa and viruses through a multiple-barrier household water disinfection system.

Municipal water disinfection systems in some areas are not always able to meet water consumer needs, such as ensuring distributed water quality, because household water management can be a contributing factor in water re-contamination. This fact is related to the storage options that are common in places where water is scarce or is distributed over limited time periods. The aim of this study is to assess the removal capacity of a multiple-barrier water disinfection device for protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Water samples were taken from households in Mexico City and spiked with a known amount of protozoa (Giardia cyst, Cryptosporidium oocyst), bacteria (Escherichia coli), and viruses (rotavirus, adenovirus, F-specific ribonucleic acid (FRNA) coliphage). Each inoculated sample was processed through a multiple-barrier device. The efficiency of the multiple-barrier device to remove E. coli was close to 100%, and more than 87% of Cryptosporidium oocysts and more than 98% of Giardia cysts were removed. Close to 100% of coliphages were removed, 99.6% of the adenovirus was removed, and the rotavirus was almost totally removed. An effect of site by zone was detected; this observation is important because the water characteristics could indicate the efficiency of the multiple-barrier disinfection device.

Association between primary open angle glaucoma and genetic polymorphisms GSTM1/GSTT1 in patients from Goiânia Central-West Region of Brazil.

In this study, we evaluated the genotype profile of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms in patient carriers of primary open-angle glaucoma in the population of Goiânia, GO, Brazil. This case-control study included 100 Brazilian patients with glaucoma and 53 patients without glaucoma. Blood samples were genotyped for polymorphisms in GST genes using polymerase chain reaction-based methods. Polymorphism frequencies were compared using the X(2) test and odds ratio (α = 0.05). The GSTM1-present genotype was 40% in the glaucoma group and 71.6% in the control group, while the GSTM1 null genotype was 60 and 28.3% in the same groups, respectively. The GSTT1-present genotype was 52% in the primary open-angle glaucoma group and 66% in the control group; the null genotype was 48% in the case group and 34% in the control group. The GSTM1 null genotype was more frequent in the glaucoma group than in the control group (P = 0.0004; odds ratio = 6.7; 95% confidence interval = 2.7- 20.3). The combined GSTM1 null and GSTT1-present genotypes were more frequent in the primary open-angle glaucoma group compared to the control group (P = 0.02; odds ratio = 3.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-7.9).

Association between CYP1A1m1 gene polymorphism and primary open-angle glaucoma.

The CYP1A1 gene is related to the generation of secondary metabolites that are capable of inducing DNA damage. The CYP1A1m1 polymorphism has been examined in many studies, and is located in a region near loci that have been linked to glaucoma, including the locus GLC1I. As a result, this polymorphism has been related to several diseases that are influenced by exposure to xenobiotic as well as primary open-angle glaucoma. We compared the prevalence of the CYP1A1m1 polymorphism in 152 Brazilian patients, 100 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, and 52 normal controls using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The frequency of the homozygous wild-type (w1/w1) CYP1A1 gene among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (N = 100) was 16%, for genotype w1/m1, the frequency was 77%, and for m1/m1 it was 7%. Among the control group (N = 52), the frequency of the homozygous wild-type (w1/w1) CYP1A1 gene was 54%, the frequency of w1/m1 was 46%, and the frequency of m1/m1 was 0%. The presence of the CYP1A1m1 polymorphism may interfere with xenobiotic metabolism and exacerbate direct or indirect damage to the optic nerve. These CYP1A1m1 polymorphisms may be risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma.

Synthesis and photoluminescent spectroscopic analysis of lanthanum (III) coordinated with 1,10-Phenanthroline: A study of its thermally stable behavior.

A blue-emitting phosphor designed by lanthanum (III) coordinated with two 1,10-Phenanthroline and three nitrate ligands, [La(Phen)2(NO3)3], was obtained by an effective and simple precipitation method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) revealed the coordination modes in the compound and the chemical structure, crystallizing in a monoclinic system in the C2/c space group. The luminescence properties, absolute quantum yield (ϕ), and luminescence lifetime decay (τ) were determined by photoluminescence spectroscopy. Under a 350 nm excitation, the sample presents three emission bands corresponding to the π* → π transitions belonging to the organic ligand. The luminescence lifetime (τ) was determined through a monoexponentially fit, obtaining a value of 5616 ns. The [La(Phen)2(NO3)3] complex exhibits an absolute quantum yield of 3 % with the same excitation conditions. In addition, the photometric analysis shows that the luminescent response to a 350 nm excitation is that of a blue-emitting high-purity phosphor with 96 % and chromatic coordinates of 0.15, 0.05. The temperature-dependent luminescence properties revealed considerable thermal stability in the 20-150 °C range with a signal loss of 47 % and an activation energy of thermal quenching (ΔE) of 0.13 eV, the first value reported for a lanthanum complex based on 1,10-Phenanthroline.

Correlated electron and nuclear dynamics in strong field photoionization of H(2)(+).

We present a theoretical study of H(2)(+) ionization under strong IR femtosecond pulses by using a method designed to extract correlated (2D) photoelectron and proton kinetic energy spectra. The results show two distinct ionization mechanisms-tunnel and multiphoton ionization-in which electrons and nuclei do not share the energy from the field in the same way. Electrons produced in multiphoton ionization share part of their energy with the nuclei, an effect that shows up in the 2D spectra in the form of energy-conservation fringes similar to those observed in weak-field ionization of diatomic molecules. In contrast, tunneling electrons lead to fringes whose position does not depend on the proton kinetic energy. At high intensity, the two processes coexist and the 2D plots show a very rich behavior, suggesting that the correlation between electron and nuclear dynamics in strong field ionization is more complex than one would have anticipated.

Knowledge of diabetes among type 2 diabetes patients attending a primary health care clinic in Sri Lanka.

Patients' knowledge about their illness is considered important in controlling diabetes and preventing complications. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending the diabetes clinic of a primary care level hospital in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. During a 1-month period in 2009 all consenting patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who had been attending the clinic for more than 3 months were included in the study. Using an interviewer administered, structured questionnaire 150 patients (135 females, 15 males) answered 25 questions about diabetes knowledge (scored x4 to give score range 0-100). A majority of patients (70.0%) had a good score (> 65) on the knowledge test but critical gaps in knowledge were revealed, especially regarding knowledge about symptoms of poor control and importance of regular follow-up. Although patients with longer duration of diabetes had higher mean knowledge scores, they also had higher fasting blood glucose levels. Education programmes are needed to address critical gaps in patients' knowledge.

Pump-probe scheme to study the autoionization decay of optically-forbidden H2 doubly excited states.

A pump-probe scheme is proposed to investigate the autoionization dynamics of the optically forbidden Q(1)(1)Σ(g)(+) doubly excited states of the H(2) molecule. The scheme consists of a pump that contains an attosecond pulse train (APT) and an infrared (IR) pulse, which is phase-locked with the APT, and an IR probe identical to the former IR pulse. The dynamical information is obtained by analyzing the electron kinetic energy spectra (EKE) and proton kinetic energy spectra (PKE) as a function of the time delay between the pump and the probe. The essential requirement for an efficient population of the Q(1)(1)Σ(g)(+) states is that they are resonantly coupled to both the dipole-allowed Q(1)(1)Σ(u)(+) doubly excited states and the ground state of H(2) by the combined effect of the APT + IR fields.

GSTM1 polymorphism in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells, optic nerve damage and irreversible loss of visual field. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It was estimated that in 2010 there were about 60.5 million glaucoma cases worldwide; among these patients, 4.5 million will become bilaterally blind. Glutathione S-transferases (GST) are a group of drug-metabolizing enzymes of phase-II that act in the detoxification of xenobiotics and inactivate end-products formed as secondary metabolites during oxidative stress. Through PCR amplification, we analyzed the GSTM1 gene in DNA samples from 25 patients with POAG and 25 controls; 14 of the patients presented the GSTM1 gene null polymorphism while only eight of the control group had this gene.Although the POAG patients had a higher frequency of GSTM1, the difference was not significant (P = 0.0874); this lack of significance could be due to the small sample size.

First molecular-based detection study of Leishmania infantum in the Tapirapé indigenous population in the Brazilian Amazon.

Species of the genus Leishmania parasitize mammals and have life cycles that alternate between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Most species develop in a hematophagous arthropod and infect a specific vertebrate host that may belong to diverse orders and families. Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic zoonosis with a wide geographic distribution, affecting 350 million people globally, mostly in areas with a high risk of infection. In Brazil, this disease not only has a high incidence but is also expanding to new areas, both in urban centers and rural areas, including territories with tribal communities, due to increasing human intervention. The objective of this study was to perform cathepsin L-like gene-based molecular diagnosis of Leishmania infantum in the indigenous Tapirapé ethnic group in the state of Mato Grosso. From the 372 individuals assessed, only 0.8% (3/372) tested positive for L. infantum, all from the same village (Urubu Branco). Despite the small number of infected individuals, this study demonstrates the first human cases of Leishmania infantum infection in this population, suggesting the need for regular monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis in the area and leading to a broad discussion on the planning and implementation of public health measures for the indigenous population, while respecting their distinctive territories and culture.

Polaritonic molecular clock for all-optical ultrafast imaging of wavepacket dynamics without probe pulses.

Conventional approaches to probing ultrafast molecular dynamics rely on the use of synchronized laser pulses with a well-defined time delay. Typically, a pump pulse excites a molecular wavepacket. A subsequent probe pulse can then dissociate or ionize the molecule, and measurement of the molecular fragments provides information about where the wavepacket was for each time delay. Here, we propose to exploit the ultrafast nuclear-position-dependent emission obtained due to large light-matter coupling in plasmonic nanocavities to image wavepacket dynamics using only a single pump pulse. We show that the time-resolved emission from the cavity provides information about when the wavepacket passes a given region in nuclear configuration space. This approach can image both cavity-modified dynamics on polaritonic (hybrid light-matter) potentials in the strong light-matter coupling regime and bare-molecule dynamics in the intermediate coupling regime of large Purcell enhancements, and provides a route towards ultrafast molecular spectroscopy with plasmonic nanocavities.

Evaluation of Cameriere and Willems age estimation methods in panoramic radiographs of Brazilian children.

The importance of age estimation in the forensic field is inherent to the process of establishing the biological profile of children, sub-adults and adults. The established profile might be useful for the identification of deceased victims or living individuals when it comes to age of legal interest. In parallel, age estimation is also investigated for clinical purposes, especially for the diagnosis of dental and bone maturation. Several studies were developed to provide accurate age estimation methods based on skeletal and dental development. This study aimed to apply and compare Cameriere's and Willems' methods for dental age estimation in a Brazilian sample. Two examiners performed image analysis and method application in 180 panoramic radiographs of Brazilian children aged 6-14 years old. The ages estimated with both methods revealed a good correlation with the chronological ages of Brazilian boys and girls. Cameriere's method showed a slight underestimation of 0.05 years for girls and 0.03 for boys. Willems' method, on the other hand, showed an overestimation of -0.47 years for girls and -0.39 for boys. Better age estimates were obtained combining the outcomes of both methods. In practice, Cameriere's and Willems' methods reached reliable outcomes and could be applied for dental age estimation purposes.

Chiggers (Acariformes: Trombiculoidea) do not increase rates of infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus in the endemic Dwarf Mexican Treefrog Tlalocohyla smithii (Anura: Hylidae).

Amphibian populations are globally declining at an alarming rate, and infectious diseases are among the main causes of their decline. Two micro-parasites, the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and the virus Ranavirus (RV) have caused mass mortality of amphibians and population declines. Other, less understood epizootics are caused by macro-parasites, such as Trombiculoidea chiggers. Infection with chiggers can affect frog behavior and survival. Furthermore, synergistic effects of co-infection with both macro and micro-parasites may lead to higher morbidity. To better understand these potential synergies, we investigated the presence and co-infection by chiggers, Bd and RV in the endemic frog Tlalocohyla smithii (T. smithii). Co-infection of Bd, RV, and/or chiggers is expected in habitats that are suitable for their co-occurrence; and if infection with one parasite facilitates infection with the others. On the other hand, co-infection could decrease if these parasites were to differ in their micro-environmental requirements (i.e. niche apportionment). A total of 116 frogs of T. smithii were studied during 2014 and 2016 in three streams within the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve in Jalisco, Mexico. Our results show that 31% of the frogs were infected with Trombiculoidea chiggers (Hannemania sp. and Eutrombicula alfreddugesi); Hannemania prevalence increased with air temperature and decreased in sites with high canopies and with water pH values above 8.5 and below 6.7. Bd prevalence was 2.6%, RV prevalence was 0%, and none of the frogs infected with chiggers were co-infected with Bd. Together, this study suggests that chiggers do not facilitate infection with Bd, as these are apportioned in different micro-habitats. Nevertheless, the statistical power to assure this is low. We recommend further epidemiological monitoring of multiple parasites in different geographical locations in order to provide insight on the true hazards, risks and conservation options for amphibian populations.

Primary open angle glaucoma was not found to be associated with p53 codon 72 polymorphism in a Brazilian cohort.

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. The p53 codon 72 Arg-Pro (CGC to CCC) polymorphism of exon 4 affects various biological properties; recently, it was reported that this polymorphism affects the ability to induce apoptosis in vitro. Various genotypes have been found to be significantly associated with POAG. We examined the distribution of this polymorphism in 104 unrelated POAG patients and in 58 normal healthy individuals without history of POAG at the Pronto Clínica de Olhos in Goiânia, Brazil. The controls were recruited among individuals undergoing ophthalmological examination. Their genomic DNA was analyzed for p53 gene codon 72 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. The Arg72 allele was more common than the Pro72 allele in both groups. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the codon 72 polymorphism between groups (p= 0.3311). The genotype distribution in the POAG group was 23.07 Arg homozygote, 75 heterozygote, and 1.93% Pro homozygote, while in the control group it was 31.04 Arg homozygote, 68.96 heterozygote, and 0% Pro homozygote. We concluded that the p53 codon 72 Arg/Pro polymorphism is not associated with glaucoma in Brazilian patients.

TP53 gene expression, codon 72 polymorphism and human papillomavirus DNA associated with pterygium.

Pterygium is a disease of unknown origin and pathogenesis that can be vision threatening. Several researchers believe that pterygium is UV-related and that abnormal expression of p53 protein and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) are risk factors for pterygium, but their experiments have been inconclusive. We investigated its relation with p53 protein expression, p53 gene codon 72 polymorphism and infection with HPV DNA. Pterygial samples were obtained from 36 patients; 21 normal conjunctival samples were used as controls. Expression of p53 protein was studied by immunohistochemistry, using the antibody DO-7. Analysis for the p53 genotype was made by polymerase chain reaction, using specific primers for the arginine and proline alleles, and an analysis for HPV was made of the pterygium patients and control group. Fourteen of the 36 pterygial specimens were positive for abnormal p53 expression. Thirty-one of the patients were heterozygotic and three were homozygotic for the proline allele; two were homozygotic for the arginine allele; in the control group 12 of 21 were heterozygotic and seven of these 21 were homozygotic for the proline allele; two were homozygotic for the arginine allele. Twenty-one of the pterygium patients were positive for HPV; HPV type 1 was found in nine of these, type 2 in seven and both types in five. Only two of the 21 controls had HPV; both had type 16. We suggest that abnormal expression of p53, p53 codon 72 polymorphisms and HPV DNA are required co-factors for the development of pterygium.

Quality of Life in Older Adults Attending a University Family Practice Centre in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) and identify factors influencing it in older adults attending a University Family Practice situated in a semi-urban area in Sri Lanka, a lower middle income country. OBJECTIVES: To describe the QoL among older adults attending the Family Practice Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. DESIGN: A descriptive cross sectional study. SETTING: Family Practice Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. PARTICIPANTS: 140 registered older adults >60years who attended the centre over 3 months in 2012. RESULTS: The majority of participants (51.4%) were between 60-69years, females (65%), 67.9% were married, and (88.6%) lived with their families. QoL was satisfactory, with spiritual and functional aspects being the most satisfactory and physical QoL being the least satisfactory, however latter too had a mean score (>50). Better QoL was seen in males, with better education, married and living with spouse, and perceived adequacy of income. Poorer QoL was seen in participants living alone, presence of 3 or more health problems, being admitted to hospital or, and accidents and falls in the past one year. CONCLUSIONS: QoL in this group of older adults was satisfactory with spiritual and functional aspects being the most satisfactory and the physical aspect being the least. Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and accidents could help to improve QoL in older adults.