Inactive Research Articles

Designing CO 2 Absorption Columns with Activated Amine Solutions

CO2 absorption into chemical solvents has been a growing industrial market for decades. Currently, activated methyldiethanolamines (aMDEAs) in aqueous solutions are quite often used as solvents. There are several amine compositions available on the market, and most often these solvents are activated. For designing a CO2 absorption tower with activated amine, the chemical reaction in the liquid phase must be considered properly. At the column top, the fully reactive amine enters the column, whereby at the column bottom, the solvent is almost inactive. The highly exothermic CO2 reaction with the activated amine generates heat in the solvent, leading to temperature peaks along the tower. This paper will discuss especially structured and random packings used in industrial CO2 chemisorption columns. It will disclose information about packing characteristics and parameters to look at for selecting the preferred device. The paper will also discuss prediction models recommended for use with such processes.

ACM USF: determined students revitalize an inactive chapter

ACM USF: determined students revitalize an inactive chapter

Activated Duodenal Eosinophilia Is Associated with Dysbiosis in Functional Dyspepsia Patients

Introduction: Functional Dyspepsia (FD) is unexplained epigastric discomfort, early satiety or post prandial distress for three months. FD affects up to 50% of care-seeking Veterans in the United States and causes morbidity and economic loss. The pathophysiology of FD is poorly understood. A close interplay between immunity, neurology and host stress has been purported to contribute to FD. How the microbiome differs among FD patients and if duodenal eosinophilia and inflammation influences the genetic diversity seen in the microbiome of these patients is not known. Methods: This is a cross-sectional cohort study from the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Exclusion criteria were prior or current malignancy, significant liver disease, major stroke, H pylori, celiac disease, parasite infection and eosinophilic gastroesophagitis. FD was defined by Rome II symptom criteria and derived from surveys. The presence and activity of duodenal eosinophils were determined by histologic review. Stored tissue was sent for mucosal adherent microbiome analysis using 16S rDNA sequence testing and QIIME vl.8 for taxonomic classification and calculation of diversity indices. Results: 242 patients were included and patient characteristics are in Table 1. Rich samples were obtained with a mapping average of 60 OTUs. The microbiome diversity and taxa was similar between patients regardless of FD symptoms, medications, BMI or smoking. Plots of the alpha diversity between patients with active duodenal eosinophils (degranulation) vs those with quiescent eosinophils (containing granules) are included in Figure 1. The alpha diversity as it relates to eosinophil activity was significantly different (p=0.017) between these groups. Differences in abundance of certain organisms are in Figure 2. There was less abundance of Firmicutes and higher abundance of Proteobacteria in patients with active vs inactive duodenal eosinophils regardless of symptoms. At the taxa level, Moraxella was more abundant while Blautia and Abiotrophia were less abundant in those with active vs inactive duodenal eosinophils.471_A Figure 1. Patient characteristics471_B Figure 2. Alpha diversity between patients with activated (no granules) vs inac tive (granules) duodenal eosinophilsConclusion: This is the first study to evaluate the role of duodenal eosinophils and their influence on the microbiome of FD patients. Immune activation is associated with a less diverse duodenal microbiome and with taxa associated with an unhealthy gut when present in less abundance. Whilst causality needs to be determined by prospective studies, this may have therapeutic implications for FD in the future.471_C Figure 3. Relative abundance of bacteria between patients with activated (no granules) vs inactive (granules) duodenal eosinophils

Inactive hepatitis B carriers: outcomes of patients followed at Hôpital Principal de Dakar, Senegal.

The evolutive profile of inactive HBV carriers is variable. Patients can remain inactive, or may evolve into chronic active hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Aim: to describe the long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis B inactive carriers followed at Hôpital Principal de Dakar. This is a retrospective study including all inactive HBV carriers, followed since 2001, and with regular monitoring of at least 5 years. Transaminases, viral load and screening for hepatocellular carcinoma were performed every 6 to 12 months. We included 52 patients. The mean follow-up was 76.2 months (60-162), the mean age 36 years (13-62 years) and the sex ratio 0.93 (25 men, 27 women). Four patients (7.7%) had an ALT above the normal. Eleven patients (21.1%) had persistently elevated viral load greater than 2000 IU/ml, while in three cases (5.8%), this increase was transient. Twenty-six patients (50%) had a detectable viral load, but still below 2000 IU/ml. Twelve patients (23.1%) had an undetectable viral load for the duration of monitoring. Eleven patients (21.2%) underwent liver biopsy. The activity or fibrosis were minimal in all cases (A or F = 1) or absent (A or F = 0). Only four patients (7.7%), had HBs seroconversion after a follow-up of six, seven and ten years. There was no focal lesion or cirrhosis detected during the follow-up. After a follow-up of at least 5 years, inactive HBV carriers remain inactive in 92.3% of cases. Their evolutive profile is characterized by an absence of elevated liver enzymes but with fluctuations of the viral load. HBs seroconversion rate is low and the risk of progression to hepatocellular carcinoma almost nil.

Preclinical markers of atherosclerosis in acromegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Multiple studies investigated preclinical markers of peripheral vascular damage in acromegaly (ACRO) reporting discordant results. The aim of this study was to run a meta-analysis to examine whether intima media thickness (IMT), flow mediated dilation (FMD) and arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) are affected in acromegalic patients and to assess the impact of effective treatment of growth hormone excess on these outcomes. Twenty-seven studies comparing ACRO vs control (CON) populations and active (ACT) vs inactive (INACT) ACRO were included in the meta-analysis. ACRO compared to CON have higher IMT (ES = 0.83, 95% C.I. 0.35-1.30), p = 0.001, impaired FMD (ES = - 1.59, 95% C.I. - 2.33 to - 0.85, p < 0.0001) and higher PWV (ES = 0.76 95% C.I. 0.37-1.16, p = 0.0001). When patients with ACT vs INACT disease were considered IMT was higher (ES = 0.43, 95% C.I. 0.02-0.84, p = 0.041) and FMD was impaired (ES = - 0.66, 95% C.I. - 1.28 to 0.04, p = 0.038) in ACT patients. Meta-regression analysis of studies comparing IMT in ACT vs INACT acromegalic patients showed a significant and inverse association between the effect size and the percent of hypertensive (p = 0.025) and diabetic (p = 0.041) patients. IMT, FMD and arterial stiffness are impaired in acromegaly showing that these patients may be at increased risk of atherosclerosis. In patients with active disease these preclinical markers of atherosclerosis are worse compared to patients with inactive disease but the role of diabetes and hypertension is prevailing on growth hormone excess.

The Inactive X Chromosome Is Folded Like Origami By SMCHD1

The Inactive X Chromosome Is Folded Like Origami By SMCHD1

Waste recycling by gut symbionts

![Graphic][1] Hibernators, or animals that ‘sleep’ through the winter to conserve energy, have always fascinated scientists. To date, researchers have studied the adaptations that allow these animals to be inactive for so long and their ability to come back from their slumber at the

Quantitative study on grading activity of Crohn disease with CT enterography

Objective To explore the feasibility and the value of CT enterography (CTE) in the quantitative evaluation of Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Retrospectively analyzed 49 patients diagnosed as CD by clinical, enteroscopy, pathology, and imaging from April 2016 to June 2017 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. All patients underwent routine enteroscopy and standardized CTE. The interval between the two examinations was less than 2 weeks. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured at intervals. The ESR ranged from 2.0 to 97.0 mm/1 h, with an average of (30.6±26.5) mm/1 h, CRP from 0.3 to 143.3 mg/L, and a median of 27.7 mg/L. CD patients were classified into inactive, mild and moderate-severe according to Crohn's disease simplified endoscopic activity score(SES-CD) after enteroscopy. CTE evaluated the site of lesion, the thickness and enhanced patterns of the most severe lesions of the bowel wall, mural enhanced CT value in the portal vein phase, ΔCT value, stenosis, perienteric inflammation, mesenteric hypervascularity (comb sign), enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal abscesses, fistulas, etc. The Chi-square test was used to compare the differences of enhanced patterns among different groups. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used to compare the differences in bowel wall thickness, plain CT values, mural enhanced CT value in the portal vein phase and ΔCT values among different groups. The correlation between CTE parameters and SES-CD or laboratory data was analyzed by Pearson (normal distribution data) or Spearman (skewed distribution data). Results SES-CD ranged from 1 to 15, with an average of 5.1±2.6. Among 49 cases, 13 were inactive, 19 were mild, and 17 were moderate-severe. There were 25 cases of intestinal obstruction or stenosis, including 24 cases in the active group and 1 case in the non-active group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=13.3, P 0.05). Bowel wall thickness, mural enhanced CT value in the portal vein phase and ΔCT values were all moderately correlated with SES-CD (r were 0.564, 0.585, 0.533, respectively; P all 0.05). Conclusion The bowel wall thickness, mural enhanced CT value in the portal vein phase and the ΔCT value can be used to accurately assess the activity of CD lesions. Key words: Crohn disease; Tomography,X-ray computed; Simplified endoscopic activity score for Crohn disease

Expression profiles of exosomal microRNA in the different phases of natural history in chronic hepatitis B patients

Objective To explore the expression profiles and their clinical significance of serum exosomal microRNA (miRNA) in the different phases of natural history in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods A total of 92 treatment-naive CHB patients in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center between January 2014 and January 2017 were retrospectively studied. The cases in immune tolerant (IT) phase, immune reactive (IR) phase, inactive carrier (IC) phase and HBeAg-negative CHB (ENH) phase were 24, 24, 24, and 20, respectively. Exosomes were isolated by ExoQuick solution from 250 μL serum.The expressions of the surface protein markers LAMP2 and TSG101 in serum exosomes were determined by Western blotting. The expressions of miRNA-122, miRNA-125a, miRNA-29c, miRNA-200c in exosomes were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to determine intergroup differences. The correlation coeffcients (r) were calculated using Spearman′s correlation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to calculate the diagnostic values. Results Western blotting showed that exosome-specific markers LAMP2 and TSG101 were positive. The levels of serum exosomal miRNA-122, miRNA-125a, miRNA-29c and miRNA-220c were significantly different in CHB patients in different phases (H=41.06, 29.31, 49.14 and 31.73, respectively, all P<0.05). Based on the results of liver function test and liver biopsy, serum exosomal miRNA-122, miRNA-29c and miRNA-200c in inflammation group were down-regulated (U=804, 317 and 574, respectively, all P<0.05), while miRNA-125a was up-regulated (U=279, P<0.01) compared with non-inflammation group. The level of exosomal miRNA-200c was negatively correlated with ALT (r=-0.3932, P<0.01), while the level of miRNA-125a was positively correlated with ALT (r=0.5981, P<0.01). AUC of the above exosomal miRNA were 0.619 3, 0.839 6, 0.824 3 and 0.688 3, respectively. The highest AUC was miRNA-125a with the sensitivity of 84.62% and the specificity of 74.47%. AUC of ALT discrimination for liver inflammation was 0.7953, with the sensitivity of 81.08% and the specificity of 70.97%. Conclusions The serum exosomal miRNA levels are significantly different among the different phases of natural history in CHB patients. Inflammation-associated exosomal miRNA is expected to be the non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of liver inflammation and is of great benefit for determining the best time for clinical medication of CHB patients. Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic; MicroRNAs; Serum exosomal

Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome in Menoufia University students

Objective The aim was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risk factors in Menoufia University students. Background MetS is a growing public health concern worldwide. The rapid sociocultural transition associated with major changes in lifestyle and eating habits has been claimed for the rising rates of MetS among young adults and children, which is the leading cause of developing type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Participants and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2016/2017 at Menoufia University on 455 university students aged 18–25 years. The students were chosen from four faculties using multistage random sample. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Blood pressure, fasting glucose level, and fasting lipid profile were also measured. MetS was diagnosed using adult treatment panel-III guidelines. Results The overall prevalence of MetS was 16.7%, which was more frequent among female students. The most prevalent MetS components were increased waist circumference (41.8%) followed by high triglyceride levels (40.2%) and reduced high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (36.3%). The predisposing factors for having MetS included the following: being female, older than 20 years, obese, physically inactive, high levels of stress, and a positive family history of hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion MetS is considered as a public health problem among Menoufia University students. These findings indicate the need for health promotion and prevention programs directed toward the screening, diagnosis, and management of MetS among university students.

Role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in carbon monoxide-induced up-regulation of mitochondrial fusion proteins in endotoxin-challenged alveolar epithelial cells of rats

Objective To evaluate the role of 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine threonine kinase(PI3K/Akt)signaling pathway in carbon monoxide(CO)-induced up-regulation of mitochondrial fusion proteins in endotoxin-challenged alveolar epithelial cells of rats. Methods The rat alveolar epithelial cells were cultured in a 5% CO2 cell culture incubator at 37 ℃ with F12K complete medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% green chain double antibody, and divided into 10 groups (n=5 each) according to the random number table method: control group (C group), endotoxin group (L group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus exogenous CO-releasing agent CO-releasing-molecule-2 (CORM-2) group (L+ CO group), LPS plus PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (L+ LY group), LPS plus CORM-2 plus LY294002 group (L+ CO+ LY group), LPS plus inactive CO releasing agent iCORM-2 group (L+ iCO group), LPS plus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (L+ D group), CORM-2 group (CO group), LY294002 group (LY group) and CORM-2 plus LY294002 group (CO+ LY group). LPS 10 μg/ml was added to the culture medium in group L. CORM-2 100 μmol/L was added to the culture medium and 1 h later 10 μg/ml LPS was added in L+ CO group.LY294002 25 μmol/L was added to the medium, and 1 h later LPS 10 μg/ml was added in L+ LY group.In L+ CO+ LY group, 25 μmol/L LY294002 was added to the culture medium, CORM-2 100 μmol/L was added 1 h later, and then LPS 10 μg/ml was added 1 h later.iCORM 100 μmol/L was added to the culture medium and 1 h later LPS 10 μg/ml was added in L+ iCO group.In L+ D group, the equal concentration of DMSO was added to the culture medium and 1 h later LPS 1 μg/ml was added.CORM-2 100 μmol/L was added to the culture medium in CO group.LY294002 25 μmol/L was added to culture medium in LY group.LY294002 25 μmol/L was added to the culture medium, and 1 h later CORM-2 100 μmol/L was added in CO+ LY group.Cells were harvested after 24 h of incubation for measurement of the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt), mitochondrial fusion proteins mitofusion 1(Mfn1), Mfn2 and optic atrophy 1(OPA1) by Western blot. Results Compared with group C, the MDA content was significantly increased and SOD activity was decreased in L, L+ CO, L+ LY, L+ CO+ LY, L+ iCO, L+ D groups, and the expression of HO-1, Mfn1, Mfn2, OPA1 protein and p-Akt was significantly up-regulated in group L (P<0.05). Compared with group L, MDA content was significantly decreased and SOD activity was increased in group L+ CO, MDA content was significantly increased and SOD activity was decreased in group L+ LY , the expression of HO-1, Mfn1, Mfn2, OPA1 protein and p-Akt was significantly up-regulated in group L+ CO, and the expression of HO-1, Mfn1, Mfn2, OPA1 protein and p-Akt was significantly down-regulated in group L+ LY (P<0.05). Compared with group L+ CO, the MDA content was significantly increased, SOD activity was decreased, and the expression of HO-1, Mfn1, Mfn2, OPA1 and p-Akt was down-regulated in group L+ CO+ LY(P<0.05). Conclusion The mechanism by which CO up-regulates the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins in endotoxin-challenged alveolar epithelial cells is related to activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in rats. Key words: 1-phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Protein-serine-threonine kinases; Carbon monoxide; Endotoxins; Pulmonary alveoli; Epithelial cells; Mitochondrial proteins

Progress of diagnosis and predictive value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in pediatric diseases

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)is an endocrine hormone mainly derived from heart, partly from brain.During its process of secreting into blood, proBNP is decomposed into biological active BNP and biological inactive NT-proBNP.The plasma concentration of NT-proBNP is proportional to the ventricular volume and pressure, thus it is stable and has high value of quantitative analysis.NT-proBNP has strong effects on natriuresis, diuresis, dilation of blood vessels, and inhibition of renin angiotensin aldosterone system(RAAS)and sympathetic nervous system activity.The level of NT-proBNP in children′s plasma is not affected by gestational age, sex, and birth weight, mode of delivery and nutrition of children.NT- proBNP is a specific indicator for diagnosing pediatric cardiovascular system disease, respiratory system disease, neonatal diseases, infectious diseases, kawasaki disease and other diseases, and should be used as a sensitive index to monitor the condition of diseases for its good predictive value.With the development of the research, NT- proBNP will play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, risk stratification, monitoring treatment and prognostic evaluation of pediatric diseases.This article mainly reviews the biological characteristics, detective methods, normal range and diagnostic and predictive value of NT- proBNP in pediatric diseases. Key words: N-terminalpro-brain natriuretic peptide; Pediatricdiseases; Diagnosis; Prognosis value

Estimation of the surface area of a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles and cysteine using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

This work concerns with the estimation of the surface area of a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and cysteine, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Interpretation of EIS results was based on charge-transfer reactions at high frequencies, followed by diffusion through the monolayers at lower frequencies. Estimates of the electrode fractional surface coverage (?), active site radius (ra), and the distance between two adjacent sites (2rb) were obtained by assuming that charge transfer occurred at the active sites and that there were planar diffusions of redox species to these sites. Using EIS, fractional surface coverage was estimated to be around 0.467 for EC modified SPCE, 0.497 for ETSC modified SPCE, and 0.25 for ETSTSC modified SPCE. For the EC modified SPCE, the ra and 2rb were estimated to be 14.8 µm and 68 µm. For the ETSC modified SPCE, the estimated ra and 2rb were 14.3 µm and 63.6 µm. The estimated ra and 2rb for ETSTSC were 13.42 µm and 85 µm. respectively. The inactive site areas for EC, ETSC and ETSTSC modified SPCEs were 0.0587 m2, 0.0624 m2, and 0.0314 m2. The results obtained during this research work suggest that modifying SPCEs using gold and cysteine through electrodeposition of AuNPs, linking with thiourea, self-assembly of AuNPs and self-assembly of cysteine (ETSC) resulted in an electrode with sufficiently high surface area that has the potential to be used as a biosensor for skin sensitiser detection.

Case Study: Cardiac sarcoidosis resolved with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis antibiotics (MAP).

Background: The author presents a clinical history and personal case study following his diagnosis of inactive sarcoidosis in 2004, followed by an acute episode of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) in 2012 which resulted in complete heart block, cardiac myopathy, heart failure and insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pacemaker. Methods: Following a detailed review of the clinical and scientific literature he concluded that sarcoidosis may be a mycobacterial infection and could be treated with anti-MAP antibiotic regime (1) developed to treat Crohn's disease. Findings: After successful culture and identification of viable MAP in his blood, treatment with the MAP antibiotic regime for one year led to complete metabolic resolution of the previously avid cardiac sarcoidosis and no PET evidence of any metabolically active sarcoidosis anywhere. Such reversal of cardiac sarcoidosis has never previously been reported. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 171-177).

Study of Electrolyte status in patients with Thyroid dysfunction attending a tertiary care hospital of North Bengal.

Context : Thyroid disorders have widespread systemic manifestations including their effects on body mineral homeostasis in many different ways. Thyroid hormones control urinary excretion of minerals like Magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium etc and minerals like Zn helps in peripheral conversion of inactive T4 to its active T3 form. Electrolyte abnormality is a common finding in the patients with thyroid dysfunction which can effect the disease morbidity. Aims & Objective : The present study was carried out to access the importance of Electrolyte status in the study subjects and to use the information for lowering the mortality and morbidity associated with the disease process. Materials &Methods : The study population was divided into normal control group consisting of 40 healthy individuals and a test group consisting of 80 patients out of whom 40 were diagnosed to be having primary hypothyroidism and 40 to be having primary hyperthyroidism. Electrolyte status was assessed by serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum magnesium, serum zinc, serum sodium and serum potassium Results : There is a significant increase in levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in group-II (P<0.001) and significant decrease in their levels in group-I (P<0.001) compared to control. Serum Magnesium showed a significant decrease in test groups-II (P<0.001) and increase in test group-I (P<0.001) compared to controls. Serum sodium showed significant decrease in test group-I (P<0.001) and test group-II (P=0.007) but the study did not show any significant difference in level of serum zinc and potassium in test group-I and II when compared to controls. Conclusion : Thyroid dysfunction results in an array of electrolyte abnormalities which increases the morbidity and mortality of the disease process. By proper maintenance of the electrolytes within normal limit, we can employ preventive strategies for better management of the patients and thereby improve their survival.

Multimodality imaging features of different properties in multifocal choroiditis

Objective To observe multimodality imaging features of different properties in multifocal choroiditis (MFC). Methods Twenty-eight patients (51 eyes) with MFC were enrolled in this study. There were 10 males and 18 females. The patients aged from 31 to 49 years, with the mean age of (41.5±0.8) years. There were 23 bilateral patients and 5 unilateral patients. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus colorized photography, infrared fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. The lesions were classified as active inflammatory lesion, inactive inflammatory lesion, active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and inactive CNV. The multimodality imaging features of different properties in MFC was observed. Results In fundus colour photography, the boundaries of active inflammatory lesions were blurry, while inactive inflammatory lesions had relatively clear boundaries. Secondary active CNV showed mild uplift and surrounding retinal edema; Secondary active CNV lesions showed mild uplift, retinal edema around the lesion; Secondary non-active CNV had no retinal exudate edema lesions, but had lesions fibrosis and varying degrees of pigmentation. Infrared fundus examination revealed that both active and inactive inflammatory lesions showed a uniform punctate or sheet-like fluorescence. The fluorescence of CNV lesions was not uniform; there was a bright ring around the strong fluorescence. FAF found that active inflammatory lesions showed weak autofluorescence (AF), surrounded by a strong fluorescence ring; inactive inflammatory lesions showed AF loss. Secondary active CNV lesions showed strong AF with a bright ring along the edge, and obscured fluorescence for co-occurred hemorrhagic edema; secondary non-active CNV lesions were strong AF, surrounded by a weak AF ring. FFA revealed that active inflammatory lesions showed weak fluorescence in the early stage, and fluorescence gradually increased in the late stage with slight leakage. Inactive inflammatory lesions showed typical transmitted fluorescence. Fluorescein leakage secondary to active CNV was significant; lesions secondary to inactive CNV showed scar staining. In OCT, the active inflammatory lesions showed moderately weak reflex signals in the protruding lesions under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The inactive inflammatory lesions showed penetrable RPE defects or choroidal scar, it also showed clear RPE uplift lesions with a strong reflection signal. Secondary active CNV showed subretinal fluid retention; secondary non-active CNV showed RPE defects and choroidal scarring. Conclusions Active inflammatory lesions in MFC have blurred boundary, retinal edema and fluorescein leakage in FFA; inactive inflammatory lesions have clear boundary and typical transmitted fluorescence in FFA, and no retinal edema. Secondary active CNV showed subretinal fluid in OCT; and secondary non-active CNV showed RPE defects and choroidal scarring. Key words: Choroiditis/diagnosis; Fluorescein angiography; Tomography, optical coherence

The role of microglial activation in choroidal neovascular membranes of age-related macular degeneration patients

Objective To investigate the role of microglial activation in choroidal neovascular membranes(CNM) of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Methods Paraffin-embedded sections of CNM excised from 11 patients with wet AMD were collected. The microglial of sections were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies against HLA-DR antigen, CD 45 or CD 68. CNM were also dual labeled with CD 68 and vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF). Results In inflammatory active CNM, abundant microglial cells were appeared characteristically amoeboid, with hypertrophic cell body and shorter process. In inflammatory inactive CNM, most of positive labeled microglial cells showed ramified, with small cell body and numerous nodular and slender processes. Double labeling study demonstrated that VEGF was mainly expressed in microglial cells. Conclusion Microglial are involved at different stages of the disease. Microglial activation is a prominent feature of the disease process. Key words: Neovascular, choroidal; Microglial; CD 68; CD 45; HLA-DR

Studying Tenascin-C in systemic lupus erythematosus as a new biomarker for disease activity

Background The precise etiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unclear. Unpredictable flares and remissions and diverse serological and clinical manifestations are observed among patients with SLE and the challenge for the evaluation of disease activity and administration of appropriate treatment. Assessment of Tenascin-C (TNC) may reflect disease activity and/or early tissue damage in SLE. Aim The aim of this study was to examine whether TNC levels are useful as a predictive biomarker in SLE and to reflect their activity. Patients and methods In all, 50 patients with SLE (25 patients with active SLE, 25 patients with inactive SLE), and 25 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients undergo clinical and laboratory assessment. Serum TNC was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results The results have shown that patients with active SLE had a higher TNC level compared with inactive patients and healthy volunteers. Also the study showed a statistically significant positive correlation between TNC level and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score. On the other hand, the TNC level correlated negatively with white blood cells, platelet counts, C3 and C4 levels, hemoglobin level, and disease status. Conclusion The increased serum tenascin level was found in patients with SLE and was correlated with certain clinical and laboratory immunoinflammatory parameters. So the estimation of serum Tenascin levels seems beneficial in the assessment of disease activity and progress in SLE patients as well as in the assessment of the efficacy of various treatment regimens used.

Prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media in schoolgoing children

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a major health problem throughout the world in underdeveloped and developing countries including India. The high prevalence of CSOM in school children in India has led us to undertake this study in schoolgoing children of rural and urban areas of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh and to find out the various predisposing factors for the development of CSOM. Objectives: The objective is to find out the prevalence of CSOM in schoolgoing children of the rural and urban population about age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Materials and Methods: Students were randomly selected from primary schools in rural and urban areas of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Cases selected was categorized in relation to age, sex, socioeconomic status, and prevalence of the safe and unsafe type of CSOM. Observations: In the present study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2158 school children between the age group of 5 and 15 years. A total of 1161 children belonged to urban school whereas 997 children were from three adjacent rural government schools. A total of 78 children were found to be suffering from either unilateral or bilateral CSOM. Conclusion: The prevalence of CSOM in urban school children was 2.32%, while for rural children, it was 5.11%. 42.10% of cases of CSOM belonged to upper-lower socioeconomic group followed by lower middle group (31.57%). The tubotympanic disease was present in 87.18% of CSOM cases while 12.82% had atticoantral disease. Active CSOM was found amongst 37.18% while 62.82% had inactive disease. 42.10% had smoking father, 36.84% had indoor cooking with kerosene oil exposure, and 34.21% used unhygienic ear cleaning methods. 31.58% had a history of recurrent URI, 28.95% had chronic tonsillitis, and 21.05% of children had domain name system as associated findings with CSOM.

Effects of steroids on circulating follicular helper T cell-like CD4+ T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To analyze changes in the percentages of circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and Tfh subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for better understanding their relationships with SLE, and to investigate effects of steroids on circulating Tfh cells. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 27 patients with SLE (including 10 inactive patients and 17 active patients) and 21 sex- and age-matched healthy donors were analyzed by flow cytometry to detect the percentage of CD4+ CD45RA-CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells. Disease activity and the concentration of anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody were evaluated by SLEDAI score (SLE disease activity index) and ELISA, respectively. PBMCs from healthy donors were treated with or without prednisone to evaluate its effects on circulating Tfh cells. Twelve patients with SLE were treated with high-dose steriods (200-500 mg/d, 2-3 d) and the percentages of circulating Tfh cells and Tfh subsets in them were analyzed before and after treatment. Results No significant difference in the percentage of circulating Tfh cells was observed between patients with SLE and healthy donors (P>0.05), but the percentage of Tfh17 cells in patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in healthy donors (P<0.05). Compared with patients with inactive SLE and healthy donors, patients with active SLE had a lower percentage of Tfh1 cells (P<0.05). Moreover, the percentage of Tfh1 cells was negatively correlated with SLEDAI score (r=-0.44, P<0.05). The percentage of Tfh2 cells in anti-dsDNA antibody-positive group was significantly higher than that in anti-dsDNA antibody-negative group (P<0.05). In vitro treatment of PBMCs from healthy donors with prednisone could significantly down-regulate the percentage of circulating Tfh (P<0.01), Tfh1 (P<0.05) and Tfh2 cells (P<0.01), and up-regulate the percentage of Tfh17 cells (P<0.01). In vivo treatment of patients with SLE with steriods could significantly down-regulate the percentage of circulating Tfh (P<0.01), Tfh1 (P<0.05) and Tfh2 cells (P<0.01) and up-regulate the percentage of Tfh17 cells (P<0.01). Conclusion Abnormal distribution of Tfh subsets is correlated with SLE disease activity and anti-dsDNA antibody. Steroids in the treatment of SLE could affect the percentage of circulating Tfh cells and the distribution of Tfh subsets. Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus; Follicular helper T cell; Prednisone