Galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) has an increased tendency to form immunocomplexes with IgG in the serum, contributing to IgAN pathogenesis by accumulating in the glomerular mesangium. Several ...studies showed that glomerular IgG deposition in IgAN is an important cause of mesangial proliferation and glomerular damage. This study aims to determine the association of the positivity of IgG and the intensity of IgG staining with a poor renal prognosis.
A total of 943 IgAN patients were included in the study. Glomerular IgG staining negative and positive patients were compared using Oxford classification scores, histopathological evaluations, proteinuria, eGFR, albumin, blood pressures. IgG positive patients were classified as (+), (++), (+++) based on their staining intensity, and the association with the prognostic criteria was also evaluated.
81% (n = 764) of the patients were detected as IgG negative, while 19% (n = 179) were positive. Age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure, proteinuria, eGFR, uric acid values were similar in IgG positive and negative patients who underwent biopsy (p > 0.05). Intensity of glomerular IgG positivity was not found to be associated with diastolic and systolic blood pressure, urea, uric acid, age, eGFR, albumin, proteinuria (p > 0.05 for all, r = - 0.084, r = - 0.102, r = - 0.006, r = 0.062, r = 0.014, r = - 0.044, r = - 0.061, r = - 0.066, r = 0.150, respectively). There was no difference for histopathological findings between IgG (+), IgG (++), IgG (+++) groups (for all, p > 0.05).
Glomerular IgG negativity and positivity detected by routine IFM in IgAN patients is not associated with poor renal prognostic risk factors.
Renal involvement in leprosy has previously been described in the literature and can include amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, and granulomas.
To ...evaluate renal involvement in Turkish patients with leprosy.
In total, 32 patients with lepromatous leprosy but without any co-morbidities and 35 healthy control subjects were evaluated for renal involvement at the Elazig Training and Research Hospital in Turkey. The laboratory tests and radiological results concerning renal function were taken from both the patients' medical records and from current examinations.
The levels of creatinine, urea, and leukocyturia in the lepromatous leprosy patients were significantly higher than in the controls (
< 0.001,
< 0.001;
= 0.001,
< 0.01;
= 0.036,
< 0.05, respectively). No significant differences in the proteinuria, hematuria, sodium, or potassium levels were found between the leprosy and control groups (
> 0.05). On ultrasonographic examination, the prevalence of renal cortical cysts and renal cortical echogenicity in the leprosy patients was significantly higher than in the controls (
= 0.020,
< 0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in terms of nephrolithiasis, parapelvic cysts, or hydronephrosis between the leprosy and control groups (
> 0.05).
Evaluating the renal function in all leprosy patients is important to detect abnormalities and to prevent renal failure, which remains a potential cause of death in this disease.
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 2.5 mg/kg/day cyclosporin (CsA) treatment in patients with severe chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) and the impact of CsA treatment ...on several cytokines involved in the etiopathogenesis of CIU. Twenty‐seven CIU patients and 24 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The autologous serum skin test (ASST) for autoantibodies and urticaria activity scoring (UAS) were measured for the evaluation of the clinical severity and the response to therapy, and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, IL‐2 receptor, IL‐1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and IL‐5 were measured. The mean UAS score was 32.07 ± 7.05 and 6.22 ± 3.84 before and after CsA treatment, respectively. The serum IL‐2 receptor, TNF‐α and IL‐5 levels of patients before CsA treatment were statistically higher than those of the control group (P = 0.001), and after 4 weeks of CsA therapy the mean IL‐2R, TNF‐α and IL‐5 levels were significantly decreased. The data from this study demonstrate that CsA therapy is efficient and safe for CIU patients. Increase in clinical efficacy and marked decreases in serum cytokine levels suggest that inhibition of cytokine generation is involved in the action of the drug in this clinical setting.
•Combined effects of extruded brick compositions with paper sludge and expanded perlite were characterized.•The use of additives in bricks has significantly affected their thermo-physical and ...mechanical properties.•The effects of process parameters on brick properties were investigated with a new mathematical modeling approach.•Fired brick samples showed good thermal insulation performance.•Produced exruded bricks have good potential for energy saving.
Lightweight bricks produced with addition of different additive materials such as expanded perlite (EP) and recycling paper sludge (RPS) waste have been accomplished by a pug mill. Porous fired bricks were produced by using organic and inorganic additives such as paper waste and expanded perlite as pore-makers. In the experimental study, the seventeen mixture sets were prepared with Box-Behnken experimental design procedure of two additive ratios and firing temperatures. The brick samples were produced with shaping by extrusion method and firing at 850, 950 and 1050 °C for two hours after drying. Physical characteristics such as bulk density, apparent porosity and water absorption, and also, compressive strength, thermal conductivity and microstructural properties of brick samples were studied. Influences of process parameters on brick properties were investigated with a detailed neuro-regression analysis. In conclusion, the best brick composition (10 % EP + 10 %RPS by weight) in terms of thermal conductivity corresponding to acceptable mechanical properties was optimized. Accordingly, the compressive strength values of all samples are around 10 to 27 MPa. Also, the samples with high additive content (especially 10 %RPS + 5 %EP sample) exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity value (0.432 W/mK) due to the low firing temperature.
•A new approach on the surface roughness modeling-optimization process in Si wafering.•New rational regression models and stochastic optimization methods on minimization of surface roughness.•A ...comprehensive study on cutting process design and modeling for surface roughness.
Systematic cutting process design and optimization problems are studied for surface roughness minimization by stochastic algorithms. As the experimental background of the study, n-type single crystalline silicon (Si) ingot are cut into Si wafer with a thickness of 375 µm using a wire saw machine. In order to optimize the cutting parameters successfully, a two-step study has been organized as (i) a detailed study on multiple nonlinear regression analysis of the process parameters for predicting the feed rate and wire speed effects, (ii) design and optimization steps. Regression models include linear, quadratic, trigonometric, logarithmic and their rational forms for the same surface roughness problem. In design and optimization section, four distinct stochastic optimization algorithms (Differential Evaluation, Nelder-Mead, Random Search and Simulated Annealing) have been performed systematically to avoid inherent scattering of the stochastic processes. To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the introduced mathematical processes for the similar cutting process problems, a review list are also given for the optimization on volumetric metal removal rate (VMRR), wear ratio (WR), material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) by distinguishing the modeling methodology, model types, and optimization algorithms. It is also shown that different rational regression models can be utilized with the collaboration of stochastic optimization methods successfully to minimize the surface roughness of Si wafers.
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe and rare eruption that develops mostly from factors related to drugs. It is characterized by a fever and a pustular eruption on the ...erythematous skin with an acute onset and without follicular localization. Etiopathogenesis has not yet been fully explained. Although it is similar to pustular psoriasis, its clinical, historical and histopathological characteristics are different. In this article, we present a case of AGEP associated with tigecycline that developed in a patient followed up in the intensive care unit for three months with an intra-abdominal injury after a trauma and Acinetobacter baumannii infection.
Abstract
Background: Isotretinoin affects the levels of female hormones and ovaries in patients with severe acne.
Objective: This study evaluated the effects of isotretinoin on the ovarian reserve ...and levels of female hormones in patients with severe acne.
Methods: Thirty-two female patients with severe acne were enrolled. All the patients were treated with oral isotretinoin 0.5-2 mg/kg/d. The total cumulative dose for a full course was 120-135 mg/kg. The treatment duration ranged from 5 to 8 months. The serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) levels and antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian volume (OV) were evaluated before and after treatment.
Results: After treatment, the mean FSH, LH, and E2 levels were significantly lower than before treatment. In addition, the mean AFC and OV decreased after treatment, although the difference was not significant.
Conclusion: The results of this exploratory study do not demonstrate that oral isotretinoin has an impact in ovarian function. In contrast, isotretinoin affects levels of female hormones in patients with severe acne.
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