Chronic inflammatory diseases increase the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical management of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is centered around their risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). While chronic inflammatory disease (CID) has been established as a risk factor of (recurrent) VTE, research about its potential impact on PTS is lacking. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the risk of PTS in patients with CID, stratifying for the use of anti-inflammatory treatment. PATIENTS/METHODS: Consecutive patients with proximal DVT and no active cancer between 2003 and 2018 received a two-year prospective follow-up. CID included inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic diseases, and gout. Residual venous obstruction (RVO) was assessed by compressive ultrasound after 3-6 months. PTS was diagnosed using the Villalta score after 6-24 months. Hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for patient characteristics. The medical ethics committee approved this study. RESULTS: In total 82 of 801 patients had CID (10.2 %). PTS more often developed in patients with CID (35.4% vs. 18.9 %, p < 0.001) than in those without CID (HR 1.72 [1.15-2.58]). The prevalence of RVO was similar in patients with and without CID (36.8% vs. 41.4 %), and RVO was strongly associated with PTS in patients with CID (OR 3.21 [1.14-9.03]). Moreover, patients with untreated CID (44 %, n = 36) more often had RVO than those with treated CID (51.6% vs. 26.7 %, p = 0.027), and accordingly had a higher risk of PTS (HR 2.18 [1.04-4.58]). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CID had an increased risk of developing PTS, especially those without anti-inflammatory treatment, possibly due to an unfavorable impact on RVO-related venous pathology.

Low liquid ammonia treatment of wheat straw increased enzymatic cell wall polysaccharide degradability and decreased residual hydroxycinnamic acids.

Ammonia treatment of lignocellulose improves carbohydrate degradability, however, low ammonia dose treatment effects and mechanisms are hardly considered. This study describes low dose ammonia treatment of wheat straw in a statistical design of experiments (Taguchi design) to evaluate the effects of ammonia concentration, treatment time and the Solid:Liquid ratio on structure, composition and enzymatic degradability of the residual fractions. The results showed that low ammonia concentration (≤2 w/w % NH3) resulted in a high carbohydrate recovery (>80%) coupled enzymatic hydrolysis of 50% of xylan and 40% of glucan of the treated material using a (hemi-) cellulase enzyme cocktail. This effect coincidences with the relative decrease in ferulic acid by 10% and coumaric acid by more than 50% analysed via pyrolysis-GC-MS, measured as 4-vinyl-phenol and 4-vinyl-guaiacol, respectively. Our findings show that lowering ammonia concentration increased the effect of treatment time on the enzymatic degradability of the residual fraction.

Potential of a gypsum-free composting process of wheat straw for mushroom production.

Wheat straw based composting generates a selective substrate for mushroom production. The first phase of this process requires 5 days, and a reduction in time is wished. Here, we aim at understanding the effect of gypsum on the duration of the first phase and the mechanism behind it. Hereto, the regular process with gypsum addition and the same process without gypsum were studied during a 5-day period. The compost quality was evaluated based on compost lignin composition analysed by py-GC/MS and its degradability by a commercial (hemi-)cellulolytic enzyme cocktail. The composting phase lead to the decrease of the pyrolysis products 4-vinylphenol and 4-vinylguaiacol that can be associated with p-coumarates and ferulates linking xylan and lignin. In the regular compost, the enzymatic conversion reached 32 and 39% for cellulose, and 23 and 32% for xylan after 3 and 5 days, respectively. In absence of gypsum similar values were reached after 2 and 4 days, respectively. Thus, our data show that in absence of gypsum the desired compost quality was reached 20% earlier compared to the control process.

Visual exploration of objects and scenes in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have shown that they are able to detect briefly displayed objects and scenes with high accuracy (above 80%). However, in everyday life we explore our environment to search and to recognize objects. We assessed visual exploration in people with AMD during the identification of objects and scenes. METHOD: Twenty patients with AMD, fifteen age-matched and twelve young controls participated. We used colored photographs of isolated objects, natural scenes and objects in scenes, displayed centrally on a monitor. Participants were asked to name the objects and scenes. Ocular movements were recorded during the identification task. Scan paths, saccades, fixations, and accuracy were also recorded. RESULTS: People with AMD exhibited lower accuracy (by about 30%). Eye movement parameters were impaired with a larger number of saccades, shorter fixation durations and a larger scan path than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with studies on artificial scotoma in normally sighted people showing that a central scotoma impairs oculomotricity. In contrast to detection tasks, people with central vision loss exhibit impaired performance in identification of objects and scenes (62 to 66%). Eye movement studies suggest that the lower accuracy in patients is likely due to the use of peripheral vision and instability of fixation.

Use of spectrocolorimetry for study of lipid consumption by Trichothecium roseum.

Studies were carried out by means of spectrocolorimetry in order to determine the consumption of total lipids in cultures of Trichothecium roseum. This technique has the advantage of requiring very little specimen preparation.

X-ray scanning microanalysis of Sporothrix schenckii.

X-ray scanning microanalysis was applied to the study of fungal samples such as Sporothrix schenckii. This technique is sufficiently sensitive to detect many elements in the periodical classification of Mendeleev.

Lasers as tools for mycology.

Methods of preparing fungal samples for chemical analysis are briefly considered. The basic principles employed in laser microscopy are outlined. The applications of the technique to mycology and to plant biology are discussed. Such a method allows chemical information to be obtained on the same sample and permits the detection of 74 elements in the periodic system of Mendeleev from lithium (3) to uranium (92). The preparative procedures are evaluated according to general histochemical principles. This technique requires little specimen preparation and has the advantage of not requiring large masses of tissue.

Observations on the chemical composition of Trichothecium roseum link determined by X-ray microanalysis and by laser microscopy.

In order to increase our understanding of pathogenic fungi for humans, small pieces extracted from Trichothecium roseum Link were studied, on the one hand, by X-ray microanalysis and, on the other hand, by laser microscopy. The application of these techniques in medical Mycology provides further evidence that they can be used to characterize some elements of Mendeleev's classification.

The application of laser microscopy to the spectrochemical analysis of fungal tissues.

Spectroscopic analysis by means of a laser microscope was employed to detect, in fungal tissue, some elements of Mendeleev's classification. Such a method allows all the necessary information to be obtained from the same sample, and permits the detection of 74 elements in the periodic system.

Observations on the chemical compositions of some pathogenic fungi for humans determined by X-ray microanalysis.

The electron microprobe analyzer was used to study the chemical compositions of some pathogenic fungi for humans. Elementary analysis was based on the characteristic X-ray spectra generated by the electrons passing through the specimens. This is a non-destructive method allowing to perform multiple elementary analysis in the same tissue. In order to increase our understanding of pathogenic fungi, small pieces of fungi tissue were analyzed. The species examined were Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

Application of the laser to the study of pathogenic fungi.

Laser microanalysis has been applied to the study of pathogenic fungi. Such a method allows chemical information to be obtained and permits the detection of 74 elements in the periodic system of Mendeleev from lithium (3) to uranium (92).

Study of allergenic fungi by means of a laser beam.

Laser microscopy was employed to detect some elements of Mendeleev's classification in allergenic moulds for humans. It permits the detection of 74 elements in the periodic system, from lithium (3) to uranium (92). This method requires little specimen preparation and has the advantage of not requiring large masses of tissue.

A microanalysis approach to investigate problems encountered in mycology.

X-ray microanalysis has been applied to the study of pathogenic fungi for the acquisition of chemical information. The technique of combined scanning electron microscopy and wavelength dispersive spectrometry is described. The chemical analysis depends on the characteristic x-ray spectrum excited by the electrons passing through the sample. This spectrum is analyzed by x-ray wavelength dispersion using crystal spectrometers. All the elements of the periodic system above beryllium can be detected with good sensitivity.

X-ray microanalysis as applied to fungal tissues.

Analytical electron microscopy combines the techniques of high-resolution electron microscopy and high-sensitivity X-ray microanalysis of samples. Spectrometry of the elements (characteristic X-rays produced by a scanning electron microprobe) was employed to detect some elements of Mendeleev's classification in pathogenic fungi for humans. X-ray microanalysis applied in wavelength dispersive spectrometry was used to study Coccidioïdes immitis, Paracoccidioïdes brasiliensis and Trichosporum cutaneum.

Advantages of x-ray microanalysis in the field of medical mycology.

A new apparatus, which combines an electron microprobe and a scanning electron microscope, has been used. This apparatus enabled to conduct a systematic elemental analysis of two species among Aspergillaceae. All elements in the periodic table whose atomic numbers lie between boron and uranium can be detected.

The use of analytical electron microscopy in the study of three species of Aspergillaceae.

The combination of electron beam scanning and X-ray detection allows to use the scanning electron probe microanalyzer as a sensitive microscope to elemental constitution. This made it possible to investigate three species of the Aspergillus nidulans group: A. nidulans, A. unguis, A. variecolor. Qualitative differences were found between the three species. The application of microanalysis is regarded as a useful addition to more conventional methods used in histochemical studies. The advantages of examining specimens which have not been submitted to fixation, dehydration and embedding are briefly discussed.