This preliminary study employs differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to assess alterations in human plasma composition in patients treated with cilostazol for intermittent claudication. Cilostazol, ...an antiplatelet and vasodilator agent, is commonly prescribed to moderate symptom associated with PAD caused by reduced peripheral blood flow. Patients selected according to study protocol were treated with cilostazol for a duration of three months. At the visits, subjects exercised by a standard walking test controlled by physiotherapist. The blood samples were taken on day 0 (control), day 15, 1, 2 and 3 months. Through DSC analysis, we investigate potential thermodynamic changes in plasma composition induced by cilostazol treatment. As a result of the treatment, the pain-free walking distance improved significantly in the first 3 months. The thermal unfolding of the human plasma showed a correlation with the walking improvement. Our findings provide insights into the systemic effects of cilostazol and its impact on plasma constituents in the context of PAD and intermittent claudication management.
•Maternal NLRP3 antagonist treatment counteracts autistm-like phenotype in offspring.•Maternal immune activation triggers P2X7-dependent IL-1β production.•Time-dependent induction of immune mediators ...following maternal immune activation.•Repeated P2X7 antagonist treatment reduces autism-like behavior in adult offspring.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition caused by interactions of environmental and genetic factors. Recently we showed that activation of the purinergic P2X7 receptors is necessary and sufficient to convert maternal immune activation (MIA) to ASD-like features in male offspring mice. Our aim was to further substantiate these findings and identify downstream signaling pathways coupled to P2X7 upon MIA. Maternal treatment with the NLRP3 antagonist MCC950 and a neutralising IL-1β antibody during pregnancy counteracted the development of autistic characteristics in offspring mice. We also explored time-dependent changes of a widespread cytokine and chemokine profile in maternal blood and fetal brain samples of poly(I:C)/saline-treated dams. MIA-induced increases in plasma IL-1β, RANTES, MCP-1, and fetal brain IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1 concentrations are regulated by the P2X7/NLRP3 pathway. Offspring treatment with the selective P2X7 receptor antagonist JNJ47965567 was effective in the prevention of autism-like behavior in mice using a repeated dosing protocol. Our results highlight that in addition to P2X7, NLRP3, as well as inflammatory cytokines, may also be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of social deficits and repetitive behaviors observed in autism spectrum disorder.
Purpose:
A former rodent study showed that cerebral traumatic microbleeds (TMBs) may temporarily become invisible shortly after injury when detected by susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). The ...present study aims to validate this phenomenon in human SWI.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, 46 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in various forms of severity were included and willingly complied with our strict selection criteria. Clinical parameters potentially affecting TMB count, Rotterdam and Marshall CT score, Mayo Clinic Classification, contusion number, and total volume were registered. The precise time between trauma and MRI 5 h 19 min to 141 h 54 min, including SWI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) was individually recorded; TMB and FLAIR lesion counts were assessed. Four groups were created based on elapsed time between the trauma and MRI: 0–24, 24–48, 48–72, and >72 h. Kruskal–Wallis, ANOVA, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests were used to reveal differences among the groups within clinical and imaging parameters; statistical power was calculated retrospectively for each comparison.
Results:
The Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA with Conover
post hoc
analysis showed significant (
p
= 0.01; 1−β > 0.9) median TMB number differences in the subacute period: 0–24 h = 4.00 (
n
= 11); 24–48 h = 1 (
n
= 14); 48–72 h = 1 (
n
= 11); and 72 h ≤ 7.5 (
n
= 10). Neither clinical parameters nor FLAIR lesions depicted significant differences among the groups.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrate that TMBs on SWI MRI may temporarily become less detectable at 24–72 h following TBI.
Over the past few years the number of farmers’ markets in Hungary has considerably grown what was induced both by the growing demand and the occurrence of facilitated authorization requirements. At ...the same time according both to international and Hungarian experience the dynamic increase in the number of farmers’ markets has occurred together with a notably high closure rate. Markets having characteristically small number of vendors, narrow variety of products, unsatisfactory organizing capacity and experience, as well as markets operating at an inadequate site were generally closed during the first four years. The present study aims to describe a factor system relevant for the site selection of markets that was made measurable by the adaption of a multi dimension criteria system developed in the United States of America for domestic circumstances. The final aim is the development of a toolkit that can help in the evaluation by this in the comparison of the existing and potential markets sites in Hungary.
The aim of our study was to translate the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) into Hungarian, and to investigate the validity and reliability of the Hungarian AVVQ, as well as to assess the ...health-related quality of life in patients with varicose veins of the leg.
374 adults participated in this study who were divided into two groups (varicose vein, healthy). We analyzed internal consistency, convergent validity (using the 36-Item Short Form Survey, SF-36), repeatability, and intra-class correlation coefficient of the Hungarian AVVQ. Regarding discriminant validity, we determined the scores of the Hungarian AVVQ in both groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test.
The Cronbach-alpha value was 0.890, while the correlation coefficient was R = 1.000. According to the results of the convergent validation, the scores of pain and dysfunction moderately correlated with some scores of the SF-36. The score of cosmetic appearance had a relationship with many scores of the SF-36. We registered a significant relationship between the score of extent of varicosity and some scores of the SF-36. There was significant correlation between the score of complications and numerous scores of the SF-36 (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, pain and general health). The score of pain and dysfunction, cosmetic appearance, extent of varicosity, complications and total score of the Hungarian AVVQ showed a significant difference between both groups.
The Hungarian AVVQ was a reliable and a valid tool to assess the health-related quality of life among patients with varicose veins and was a useful tool to justify the further treatment of the patients.
The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of a 24-week-long training program on changes in static body posture, as well as the characteristics of anterior shoulder pain in youth swimmers, ...and the relationship between changes in whole-body posture and the frequency and intensity of anterior shoulder pain. Competitive young swimmers (n = 54, 13.9 ± 1.79 years) were divided into experimental group and control group and both groups performed their usual swimming training. In addition, the experimental group performed a 24-week-long whole-body posture correction program. Before and after the implemented training, whole-body posture was analyzed using the PostureScreen (version 13.7) mobile application, and subjective intensity of pain was determined using the swimmer’s functional pain scale. Significant changes were found between the two groups in numerous measured postural parameters. A significant reduction in the prevalence of shoulder pain and score of the pain scale was observed after the posture correction program in the experimental group. Our results may imply that more optimal biomechanical conditions may indirectly reduce the incidence of swimmer’s shoulder in terms of prevention. Analysis and monitoring of body posture of swimmers using an on-field mobile application continuously, and the application of preventive training programs, may help to avoid developing injuries.
During life up to 70% of aniridia subjects develop aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). AAK is characterized by limbal stem cell insufficiency, impaired corneal epithelial cell differentiation and ...abnormal cell adhesion, which leads to centripetal spreading vascularization, conjunctivalization, and thickening of the cornea. Our aim was to examine the subbasal nerve plexus and central corneal stromal microstructure in subjects with congenital aniridia, using
confocal laser scanning microscopy CLSM.
31 eyes of 18 patients (55.6% males, mean age: 25.22 ± 16.35 years) with congenital aniridia and 46 eyes of 29 healthy subjects (41.4% males, mean age 30 ± 14.82 years) were examined using the Rostock Cornea Module of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph-III. At the subbasal nerve plexus, corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal total branch density (CTBD), and corneal nerve fiber width (CNFW) were analyzed using ACCMetrics software. Keratocyte density in the anterior, middle and posterior stroma was assessed manually.
The CNFD (2.02 ± 4.08 vs 13.99 ± 6.34/mm
), CNFL (5.78 ± 2.68 vs 10.56 ± 2.82 mm/mm
) and CTBD (15.08 ± 15.62 vs 27.44 ± 15.05/mm
) were significantly lower in congenital aniridia subjects than in controls (
< 0.001 for all). CNFW was significantly higher in aniridia subjects than in controls (0.03 ± 0.004 vs 0.02 ± 0.003 mm/mm
) (
0.003). Keratocyte density was significantly lower in all stromal layers of aniridia subjects than in controls (
< 0.001 for all). Stromal alterations included confluent keratocytes, keratocytes with long extensions and hyperreflective dots between keratocytes in aniridia.
Decrease in CNFD, CNFL, and CTBD, as well as increase in CNFW well refer to the congenital aniridia-associated neuropathy. The decreased keratocyte density and the stromal alterations may be related to an increased cell death in congenital aniridia, nevertheless, stromal changes in different stages of AAK have to be further analyzed in detail.
To examine the coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cataract in Hungary. The effects of DM on the cataract surgical results were also in the focus of analysis.
Statistical data analysis of the ...results of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness with Diabetic Retinopathy (RAAB+DR) module conducted in Hungary in 2015. This cross-sectional, population-based, national survey included 3523 people aged 50 years and over. Participants of the survey were examined on-site. Visual acuity, main cause for visual impairment (using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes), in case of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≤0.5 and blood glucose level (random test with glucometer) were examined.
The prevalence of cataract was 23.4%, and DM was 20.0%. The occurrence of cataract steadily increased with age. Among the examined participants with DM, the prevalence of cataract was significantly (
=0.012) higher (+35%) than that in non-diabetic subjects (29.5%
21.8%). Following aging (OR=15.2%,
<0.001), DM proved to be the most independent influencing risk factor (OR=49.9%,
<0.001). The presence of DM was neither an influencing factor for complications of cataract surgery, nor for postoperative visual acuity.
DM appears to be one of the main risk factors for developing cataract. Other risk factors, such as age, sex and environment also play an influencing role. Diabetes does not seem to affect the occurrence of cataract surgical complications.
To compare the effects of the four most commonly used preservation solutions on the outcome of liver transplantations.
A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and ...the Cochrane Library databases up to January 31
, 2017. The inclusion criteria were comparative, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for deceased donor liver (DDL) allografts with adult and pediatric donors using the gold standard University of Wisconsin (UW) solution or histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK), Celsior (CS) and Institut Georges Lopez (IGL-1) solutions. Fifteen RCTs (1830 livers) were included; the primary outcomes were primary non-function (PNF) and one-year post-transplant graft survival (OGS-1).
All trials were homogenous with respect to donor and recipient characteristics. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of PNF with the use of UW, HTK, CS and IGL-1 (RR = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01-0.03,
= 0.356). Comparing OGS-1 also failed to reveal any difference between UW, HTK, CS and IGL-1 (RR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.80-0.80,
= 0.369). Two trials demonstrated higher PNF levels for UW in comparison with the HTK group, and individual studies described higher rates of biliary complications where HTK and CS were used compared to the UW and IGL-1 solutions. However, the meta-analysis of the data did not prove a statistically significant difference: the UW, CS, HTK and IGL-1 solutions were associated with nearly equivalent outcomes.
Alternative solutions for UW yield the same degree of safety and effectiveness for the preservation of DDLs, but further well-designed clinical trials are warranted.
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