Assessing levels of uric acid and other cardiovascular markers in prehypertensive and hypertensive adults.

INTRODUCTION: Although some studies have reported the association between uric acid (UA) and hypertension, evidence on prehypertension is still lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the levels of UA and other cardiovascular markers among prehypertensive and hypertensive patients and assess their risk for developing arterial hypertension. METHODS: 157 individuals were recruited: 67 normotensive, 23 pre-hypertensive and 67 hypertensive. Blood samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were evaluated. We calculated the product of lipid accumulation and the visceral adiposity index to assess cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Our data showed an increase in UA levels in normotensives (4.9±1.3mg/dL), prehypertensives (5.2±1.3mg/dL) and hypertensives (5.9±1.6mg/dL) (p=0.004). We found a higher frequency of hyperuricemia in the hypertensive group (34.3%) than in the normotensive group (13.4%, p<0.05). Hypertensive volunteers had lower levels of HDL-C (p=0.004 and p=0.003) and higher body mass indexes (p<0.001 and p=0.007), glucose (p<0.001 and p=0.033), triglycerides (p=0.001 and p=0.005), visceral adiposity index (p<0.001 and p=0.002) and lipid accumulation product (p<0.001 and p=0.007) than normotensive and prehypertensive participants. We also observed that individuals with UA≥6.2mg/dL had an increased risk of hypertension of 4.77 (p=0.003) compared to individuals with levels≤4.3mg/dL. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that UA is associated with increased blood pressure and unfavorable changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters, which represent risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Association of Lower Age and Cardiorespiratory Events during Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in childhood. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is becoming the standard of care for both first-line and rescue therapy, thus improving survival rates and decreasing the adverse effects of retinoblastoma treatment. Cardiorespiratory adverse events during general anesthesia for intra-arterial chemotherapy, including decreased lung compliance and bradycardia, have been described, but data regarding associated factors are still lacking. We aimed to assess the characteristics of patients and procedures associated with cardiorespiratory events during intra-arterial chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective monocenter observational study in children diagnosed with retinoblastoma undergoing intra-arterial chemotherapy under general anesthesia. The occurrence of cardiorespiratory events was registered. We also assessed clinical and procedural characteristics potentially associated with these events. RESULTS: A cardiorespiratory event was observed in 22 (12.5%) procedures, predominantly a decrease in tidal volume observed in 16 (9%) procedures. The median age was lower in the procedures with a cardiorespiratory event (20.43 [SD, 11.76] months versus 30.11 [SD, 24.17] months) (P < .05). Other variables such as bilateral disease or a previous intra-arterial chemotherapy treatment were not associated with the occurrence of a cardiorespiratory event. CONCLUSIONS: In children undergoing intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma treatment, cardiorespiratory events were observed in 12.5% of procedures. Lower age was associated with this complication. Although predominantly mild, these events should have prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent further deterioration and worse outcomes.

Impact of endostatin gene therapy on myeloid-derived suppressor cells from a metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

AIM: To evaluate the role of endostatin (ES) gene therapy on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in a metastatic model of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balb/C mice bearing orthotopic Renca tumors were treated with NIH/3T3-LendSN or, as a control, with NIH/3T3-LXSN cells. At the end of in vivo experiment, plasma and tissue lung samples were collected. Plasma ES and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels were measured by ELISA and Milliplex, respectively. Quantification of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells and their subsets was performed by flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured in CD11b+Gr-1+ MDSC using the DCFDA marker by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Metastatic RCC (mRCC) induced expansions of CD11b+Gr-1+ MDSC and promoted accumulation of these cells and their subtypes in lymphoid organ and metastases. ES treatment promoted low G-CSF plasmatic levels which were produced by the tumor microenvironment, reflecting the reduced metastatic accumulation of CD11b+Gr-1+ MDSC in the lungs. However, the therapy was selective for granulocytic cells, thus reducing the production of ROS. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the expansion of MDSC during metastatic progression of RCC and indicate the important role of ES in reducing MDSC and possible use of ES therapy in combined anticancer treatment.

The pulp switch flap: an option for the treatment of loss of the dominant half of the digital pulp.

The fingertip has an important role in bi-digital pinch quality, and pulp loss is common and difficult to solve. The pulp switch consists of a pulp island flap with a homodigital neurovascular pedicle, vascularized by the palmar digital artery of the non-dominant pulp transposed to the dominant pulp side. We report the results in 16 patients treated for loss of the dominant half of a digital pulp from January 2000 to December 2008. On review after a minimum of 6 (range 6-18) months, the Weber's test demonstrated an average of 8 mm in static 2 point discrimination test for all digits, except the ring finger. In the monofilament Semmes-Weinstein test, we obtained a score of 3.61 for the thumb and little fingers, and 4.31 for the other fingers. We did not find partial or total necrosis of the flap. The pulp switch flap gave satisfactory functional results for viability, sensitivity, and digital mobility providing a sensate bi-digital pinch with acceptable aesthetic results in a single surgical procedure.

Differentiation of environmental and clinical isolates of Vibrio mimicus from Vibrio cholerae by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.

In this study, we demonstrated that analyzed strains of Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio cholerae could be separated in two groups by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) data from 14 loci. We also showed that the combination of four enzymatic loci enables us to differentiate these two species. Our results showed that the ribosomal intergenic spacer regions PCR-mediated identification system failed, in some cases, to differentiate between V. mimicus and V. cholerae. On the other hand, MEE proved to be a powerful molecular tool for the discrimination of these two species even when atypical strains were analyzed.

Cell surface analysis of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum isolated from bats.

Two stocks (M5, M29) of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum were isolated from the bat Phyllostomus hastatus and analyzed for cell electrophoretic mobility (EPM) and lectin binding surface sites. Epimastigotes from the M5 and M29 stocks presented a mean EPM of around -0.57 and -0.56 microns. s-1.V-1.cm respectively. Differences in the agglutination profiles were detected between epimastigotes or trypomastigotes from the two parasite populations using lectins with specificity for D-GlcNAc, D-GalNAc, D-Gal and D-Man as probe. Major variation was observed between epimastigote forms. Additionally, the D-GlcNAc binding lectins WGA and BS II strongly interacted with the trypomastigote from both M5 and M29 stocks; this fact is evidence that these trypanosomes are distinct from Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi.

Relationship between alignment and kinematic and kinetic measures of the knee of osteoarthritic elderly subjects in level walking.

Eleven osteoarthritic elderly subjects were tested to analyse the relationships between static radiographic alignment and dynamic kinematic and kinetic measures at the knee in gait. A standard precision radiograph procedure (QPR) was used to measure the static lower limb alignment in two planes and a 3D optoelectronic system was used to measure the biomechanical performance of the knee in level walking. Relationships were calculated between the static radiographic angular measures and the dynamic knee angular measures, dynamic knee joint forces, and dynamic knee moments of force during gait. The results indicated that there was not a close relationship between lower limb alignment and the force estimates in gait. However, a closer relationship was observed between QPR parameters, dynamic knee joint angles, and joint moments in gait, implying that complex interrelationships may exist between static alignment, dynamic alignment, and dynamic kinetic measures. These findings suggest that the static alignment measures associated with both the kinematic and kinetic measures should be combined to better explain the biomechanical changes at the knee joint. RELEVANCE:--Values for radiograph alignment and dynamic variables obtained during walking for a group of elderly subjects with moderate osteoarthritis are provided. Joint forces obtained during walking were not related to static radiographic alignment. The findings indicate that both the coronal and sagittal plane measures were associated with the magnitude of joint moments, joint angles, and timing of the events.

Schizodeme and zymodeme analysis of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum from the bat.

Two stocks and nine clones of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum were analyzed based on their electrophoretic pattern of EcoR1 digestion products of kinetoplast DNA (k-DNA) minicircles (schizodeme) and isoenzymes (zymodeme). The trypanosome stocks were isolated from Phyllostomus hastatus bats collected in different locations in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The k-DNA pattern showed major variations between stocks and microvariations among the clones. Furthermore, in one of several cloning attempts, two different populations could be isolated. Among the six enzymes studied, glucose phosphate isomerase presented different patterns for stocks and clones. No similarity was found among bat trypanosomes and Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi standard zymodemes. This shows that bat trypanosomes are distinct from T. (S.) cruzi.