Membrane Lesions Research Articles

Complete genome sequence of local Malaysian Fowl adenovirus serotype 8b UPM T221 strain

Recently, Fowl adenovirus serotype 8b (FAdV-8b) infection has emerged as a serious threat to Malaysia’s poultry industry, acting as a causal agent of Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) with a mortality rate of 10-30% among chickens. In this study, we isolated an FAdV strain from the liver of an IBH-positive dead commercial broiler chicken in Tawau, Sabah, and subjected it to pathogenicity analysis and Whole genome sequencing (WGS). Upon inoculation of UPM T221 isolate into Specific pathogen-free chicken embryonated eggs, slow mortality pattern of 6- to 12-days post-infection (dpi) was recorded, with nil gross lesions of both chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and liver observed during harvesting. Upon subjection to WGS, the genome of UPM T221 was found to be 44722 bp in length with 58.1% GC content, 37 coding sequence (CDS), identifying the isolate as a strain from FAdV-8b of the FAdV-E. Interestingly, the left ORF regions and central genes showed a higher potential for significant genetic divergence with Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and InDels gaps. These variants are displayed in the within the structural capsid of UPM T221, such as hexon and penton, as well as in virion replication processes such as DNA polymerase and pTP. These findings of less virulence, non-pathogenic UPM T221 profile proposed the strain as a suitable live attenuated candidate vaccine, also contributing to the current understanding of the genetic diversity of FAdV for developing autogenous vaccines or diagnostic materials especially against local strain infections.

Collagenous enteritis as a rare cause of exudative enteropathy in a child. Case report

Exudative enteropathy (EE) syndrome can be associated with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is manifested by edematous syndrome, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, lymphocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and an increase in the level of α-1-antitrypsin in the feces. More than 60 medical conditions are associated with loss of protein through the gastrointestinal tract, including erosive-ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, non-erosive lesions of the mucous membrane causing an increase in the permeability of the intestinal wall, as well as disorders with an increase in pressure in the lymphatic system. Correct diagnosis and timely replacement and pathogenetic therapy are essential for the rapid cessation of pathological losses, the recovery of the proteinogram, and the prevention of life-threatening complications. Collagenous enteritis is one of the rare diseases of the small intestine associated with EE syndrome. The article presents a clinical case of a young child with EE and collagenous enteritis. The stages of the diagnostic workup in detecting EE syndrome in the child are discussed, and the pathogenetic factors that determined the development of this disorder are considered.

Mechanosensitive fluorescence lifetime probes for investigating the dynamic mechanism of ferroptosis

Deciphering the dynamic mechanism of ferroptosis can provide insights into pathogenesis, which is valuable for disease diagnosis and treatment. However, due to the lack of suitable time-resolved mechanosensitive tools, researchers have been unable to determine the membrane tension and morphology of the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope during ferroptosis. With this research, we propose a rational strategy to develop robust mechanosensitive fluorescence lifetime probes which can facilitate simultaneous fluorescence lifetime imaging of the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy using the unique mechanosensitive probes reveal a dynamic mechanism for ferroptosis: The membrane tension of both the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope decreases during ferroptosis, and the nuclear envelope exhibits budding during the advanced stage of ferroptosis. Significantly, the membrane tension of the plasma membrane is always larger than that of the nuclear envelope, and the membrane tension of the nuclear envelope is slightly larger than that of the nuclear membrane bubble. Meanwhile, the membrane lesions are repaired in the low-tension regions through exocytosis.

Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Class V Membranous Nephropathy (Pure and Mixed Form) in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract Background Renal disease is a frequent and severe cause of morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus membranous nephropathy (LMN), which is an uncommon subtype of lupus nephritis, is usually associated with nephrotic syndrome and can have a variable course; some patients maintain stable kidney function or show a slow progression, while others can have renal flares and transformation to more severe proliferative forms eventually leading to ESRD or to life-threatening extrarenal complications, including thrombotic events, cardiovascular disease (CVD), or infections. In many cases, a combination of membranous and proliferative lesions may be seen in renal biopsies. Objective To study the clinical presentation, course, outcome and prognostic factors of class V membranous nephropathy (pure and mixed) in a cohort of Egyptian patients with SLE. Methods This was an observational study which was conducted on ninety six (96) adult Egyptian patients diagnosed with LMN recruited from the outpatient clinic and inpatient department of rheumatology, at Ain Shams university hospitals, during a period of 12 months. Results In this study, the univariate logistic regression analysis shows that (low level of WBCs, low level of hemoglobin, high level creatinne, high level of urine, Protein / Cr ratio, low level of Creatinine clearance) were found significantly associated with poor outcome in patients with mixed type. Also, the multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the most important factors associated with poor outcome in patients with mixed type was found WBCs level ≤3. WBC of urine analysis>10, that ESR >28, partial remission and SLEDAI score >13 were found significantly associated with poor outcome among patients with pure MLN. Also, the multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the most important factor associated with poor outcome in patients with pure type was found partial remission. Conclusion The present study can burden the knowledge and shed some light on future prospective studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow up to reassess our findings.

A Novel Deep Learning Approach for Analyzing Glomerular Basement Membrane Lesions in a Mouse Model of X-Linked Alport Syndrome

Alport syndrome is a rare kidney disease typically more severe in males due to its X-linked inheritance. However, female patients with heterozygous X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) can develop renal failure over time, necessitating accurate pathologic assessment for effective therapy. A key pathologic finding in female patients with XLAS is the mosaic pattern of partial loss of α5 chains of type IV collagen (COL4α5). This study, using a mouse model of XLAS with a nonsense mutation (R471∗) in the Col4a5 gene, analogous to human XLAS, aimed to examine the consistency of this pattern with the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) structure. A modified periodic acid-methenamine silver staining method was developed for clearer GBM visualization. The integrated images from COL4α5-stained fluorescence, periodic acid-methenamine silver, and low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy into a single-slide section and applied supervised deep learning to predict GBM lesions. Results showed significant individual variability in urinary protein levels and histologic lesions. Pathologic parameters, including crescent formation, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and the COL4α5/α2 ratio, correlated with clinical parameters like urinary protein and plasma creatinine levels. Integrated low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed dense GBM regions corresponded to areas where COL4α5 was preserved, whereas coarse GBM (basket-weave lesions) occurred in COL4α5-deficient regions. These advanced techniques can enhance biopsy-based diagnosis of Alport syndrome and aid in developing artificial intelligence diagnostic tools for diseases involving basement membrane lesions.

The Prevalence of Chronic Interosseous Membrane Lesions Following Mason II and III Radial Head Fractures in Complex Elbow Instability-A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

The primary aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of chronic lesions of the central band of the interosseous membrane (cbIOM) in complex elbow instability (CEI) in a consecutive series of patients who had previously undergone surgical treatment for Mason II and III radial head (RH) fractures. The secondary aim was to define its clinical significance. We performed a retrospective study on a prospective database. Our study population comprised 93 patients affected by CEI with type II or III RH fractures according to Mason's classification who were analyzed in the chronic setting. All patients were treated according to the current therapeutic algorithms. At the last follow-up, the "muscular hernia sign" was investigated by means of a bilateral ultrasonographic examination to assess any chronic cbIOM lesions; the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was used to evaluate the clinical significance of these lesions. All 93 patients were assessed after a mean time of 7.3 years (range: 2-12). No positive "hernia signs" were found, while five patients (5.4%) displayed an increased laxity of the cbIOM when compared with the contralateral side despite a negative "hernia sign". The clinical outcome in all five patients was excellent with a mean MEPS of 96 (range, 90-100). Chronic cbIOM lesions are very rare in CEI with RH fractures. No patients in this large sample displayed a cbIOM complete lesion; in cases with increased laxity, satisfactory mid-term clinical results were observed. Considering that previous studies reported (1) a high prevalence of cbIOM lesions in patients with Mason II and III RH fractures and (2) the current expert opinion about the scarce healing potential of the cbIOM, this study also suggests that the IOM may heal better than previously believed when RH fractures are treated appropriately in the acute setting.

Effects of long-term dehydration and quick rehydration on the camel kidney: pathological changes and modulation of the expression of solute carrier proteins and aquaporins

BackgroundRecurrent dehydration causes chronic kidney disease in humans and animal models. The dromedary camel kidney has remarkable capacity to preserve water and solute during long-term dehydration. In this study, we investigated the effects of dehydration and subsequent rehydration in the camel's kidney histology/ultrastructure and changes in aquaporin/solute carrier proteins along with gene expression.ResultsIn light microscopy, dehydration induced few degenerative and necrotic changes in cells of the cortical tubules with unapparent or little effect on medullary cells. The ultrastructural changes encountered in the cortex were infrequent during dehydration and included nuclear chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic vacuolization, mitochondrial swelling, endoplasmic reticulum/ lysosomal degeneration and sometimes cell death. Some mRNA gene expressions involved in cell stability were upregulated by dehydration. Lesions in endothelial capillaries, glomerular membranes and podocyte tertiary processes in dehydrated camels indicated disruption of glomerular filtration barrier which were mostly corrected by rehydration. The changes in proximal tubules brush borders after dehydration, were accompanied by down regulation of ATP1A1 mRNA involved in Na + /K + pump that were corrected by rehydration. The increased serum Na, osmolality and vasopressin were paralleled by modulation in expression level for corresponding SLC genes with net Na retention in cortex which were corrected by rehydration. Medullary collecting ducts and interstitial connective tissue were mostly unaffected during dehydration. CKD, a chronic nephropathy induced by recurrent dehydration in human and animal models and characterized by interstitial fibrosis and glomerular sclerosis, were not observed in the dehydrated/rehydrated camel kidneys. The initiating factors, endogenous fructose, AVP/AVPR2 and uric acid levels were not much affected. TGF-β1 protein and TGF-β1gene expression showed no changes by dehydration in cortex/medulla to mediate fibrosis. KCNN4 gene expression level was hardly detected in the dehydrated camel's kidney; to encode for Ca + + -gated KCa3.1 channel for Ca + + influx to instigate TGF-β1. Modulation of AQP 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and SLC protein and/or mRNAs expression levels during dehydration/rehydration was reported.ConclusionsLong-term dehydration induces reversible or irreversible ultrastructural changes in kidney cortex with minor effects in medulla. Modulation of AQP channels, SLC and their mRNAs expression levels during dehydration/rehydration have a role in water conservation. Cortex and medulla respond differently to dehydration/rehydration.

Pulse Therapy in Rituximab Era: A Retrospective Study of 124 Patients of Pemphigus from a Tertiary Care Center of South Rajasthan

Abstract Background: Pemphigus is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease which characteristically affects skin and mucosae. Pulse therapy for the treatment of pemphigus has been in vogue for several years and considered better than conventional corticosteroids. Aims and objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulse therapy in pemphigus patients treated over a period of 10 years. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was based on medical records of Pemphigus patients treated at Department of Dermatology from January 2008 to December 2017. Diagnosis of pemphigus was made on clinical ground, Tzanck smear and histopathology of skin/mucous membrane lesions. Patients were put on DCP/DAP depending on the completion of family. Results: A total of 124 patients were included in the study. Age of patients ranged from 18 years to 72 years with mean of 41.21±12.71 years. Amongst 124 patients, 114 (92%) had pemphigus vulgaris and 10 (8%) had pemphigus foliaceous. 89 patients received DCP and 35 patients received DAP therapy. Number of pulses received by patients in phase I ranged from 4 to 27, average being 8.16±4.63. 106 patients completed the phase I of which 83 completed the phase II. 54 patients had successfully completed phase III of which 22 are currently in phase IV and 28 patients have completed their five year follow up period and considered as cured. Conclusion: Pulse therapy is a cheap and easily available mode of therapy in treatment of pemphigus in India even in the present era of modern molecules like Rituximab. With pulse therapy, it is now possible to induce and maintain remission, and achieve cure, provided the patients strictly adhere to the prescribed schedule.

Examination of Ulcero-Proliferative Lesions of Oropharynx and Oral Cavity- A Clinical Perspective

 Introduction Patients often present with ulcero-proliferative lesions of the oropharynx and oral cavity in the outpatient department (OPD). These lesions have a negative impact on the patients' health, so it's critical to make an accurate diagnosis and administer the right care.  Aim of the Study: To determine the proportion of patients who exhibit different ulcero-proliferative lesions clinical characteristics in the oropharynx and oral cavity.  Patients and Methodology: This is prospective study done at Department of ENT, Guntur Medical College, spanning a period of 18 months. This study included patients with ulcero- membranous lesions in the oropharynx and oral cavity, regardless of age. This study excluded Patients who had radiation therapy soon before developing the illness and who had traumatic injuries but no infection. Detailed history including personal, family and medical history were noted. Local and general examination was done. Selected patients were subjected to investigations like routine blood investigations, gram stain, albert’s stain, KOH mount, culture and sensitivity, peripheral smear, serology, FNAC, HPE, USG, chest x ray, CT neck, MRI.  Results In the current study, men dominated women (65.69%) and the most prevalent age group participating was 41–60 years old (45.09%). The most typical symptoms of the throat were odynophagia, burning sensation, dysphagia, and throat pain. 5.9% of the patients had nose issues and 14.7% had associated ear complaints. General symptoms included fever in 10.7% of cases, weight loss in 23.5%, general weakness in 15.6% of cases, and skin lesions in 6.9% of cases. Systemic disorders such as HIV was present in 3.9%, hypertension in 25.4%, and diabetes in 34.3% of cases. Risk factors include chewing tobacco (17.6%), drinking alcohol (14.7%), smoking (43.1%), and having previously been exposed to radiation (0.9%). The tongue was the most frequently afflicted site in this study (44.1%), followed by the palate (29.4%), the buccal mucosa (15.6%), the tonsils (8.8%), the lips (7.8%), the alveolus (2.9%), and the RMT (1.9%). Neoplastic etiology accounted for 41.1% of the total etiology discovered. It was followed by inflammatory (31.3%), infectious (20.5%), and miscellaneous (6.8%) etiologies. 52.9% of patients had conservative care, 36.2% had oncosurgery team treatment through surgery, and 10.7% had radiation therapy. Of the patients with neoplastic etiology, 10.7% had radiation therapy.  Conclusion: The incidence of cancers rises in the adult population with increased habits like smoking and chewing nicotine in any form. A high degree of suspicion is required when treating oral ulcers, particularly those that are chronic. The gold standard for confirming the diagnosis is always a biopsy and a histopathological examination.

Graphical models for identifying pore-forming proteins.

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are proteins that form lesions in biological membranes. Better understanding of the structure and function of these proteins will be beneficial in a number of biotechnological applications, including the development of new pest control methods in agriculture. When searching for new pore formers, existing sequence homology-based methods fail to discover truly novel proteins with low sequence identity to known proteins. Search methodologies based on protein structures would help us move beyond this limitation. As the number of known structures for PFTs is very limited, it's quite challenging to identify new proteins having similar structures using computational approaches like deep learning. In this article, we therefore propose a sample-efficient graphical model, where a protein structure graph is first constructed according to consensus secondary structures. A semi-Markov conditional random fields model is then developed to perform protein sequence segmentation. We demonstrate that our method is able to distinguish structurally similar proteins even in the absence of sequence similarity (pairwise sequence identity < 0.4)-a feat not achievable by traditional approaches like HMMs. To extract proteins of interest from a genome-wide protein database for further study, we also develop an efficient framework for UniRef50 with 43 million proteins.

Low level of the dental health as an indicator of malignant of the oral mucosa

Introduction. The manifestation of oncological alertness during dispensary observation by a dentist is very important. The most accessible options for preventing malignancy of the oral mucosa are sanitation, regular professional oral hygiene, as well as educational work among doctors and the population. However, despite the visual accessibility of tissues and organs of the oral cavity, there is an annual increase in malignant neoplasms in this area. In this case, most patients are diagnosed with a tumor process of the last stage. malignant neoplasms of the head and neck organs require special attention due to high risk of disability even at an early stage. Aim. To evaluate a correlation between malignancy of the oral mucosa and the burdened dental status of patients. Materials and methods. A controlled study was conducted which included 142 patients with cancer of the oral mucosa without sequential or parallel inclusion of patients in groups. Dental status was assessed at help-seeking stage or during clinical examination, as planned, by evaluation of main dental indices. The morphological diagnosis was established using histological verification. Results. The majority of patients with oral tumors had hard dental plaque (81.7 % of cases). The condition of the soft tissues, in addition to presence of the mucous membrane lesion, was characterized by bleeding (69 % of cases). moderate periodontal pathology was detected (19 % of cases). patients with the cavity tumors had an acute traumatic edge of hard tissues (70 % of cases), extensive caries (26 % of cases) and the presence of removable dentures (82 % of cases). Conclusion. The values of parameters evaluated in patients in the study with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa show its relation to aggravation of general somatic status. All patients in the study required dental treatment and training in oral hygiene care.

Abomasal lesions found in postmortem examination of fattening Holstein-Friesian bulls from central Poland

The health of the gastrointestinal tract in cattle is one of the factors influencing adequate nutrient absorption and body weight gain. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lesions found in the abomasum of Polish fattening Holstein-Friesian bulls. A total of 149 abomasa from adult bulls from two voivodeships of central Poland were inspected for pathologicalanatomic position (displacement, volvulus), impaction, mucosal membrane lesions (inflammation, hyperplasia), and signs of parasite infestation(Moroccan leather, worm nodules) in one of the Polish abattoirs just after slaughter. Among all the examined males no lesions were observed in only 8 individuals. The most common findings were erosions (75.8%) and type 1 ulcerations (48.3%) of the body, pylorus, or both locations. Signs of parasite infestations were observed in 78.5% of the inspected animals. Significant differences correlated with age were found in the prevalence of healed ulcers, and between voivodeships in the prevalence of type 2 ulcers. The findings of this study indicate that most fattening bulls in Poland suffer from subclinical forms of abomasa inflammation (both diffuse and focal) and middle-large abomasum parasites invasions, which can influence the economics and profitability, as well as welfare, of livestock production.

Exploring Trauma Patterns and Contributing Factors With Slim Straight Electrode Array After Cochlear Implantation.

To assess trauma patterns associated with the insertion of lateral wall electrode arrays. The study focused on 3 categories-scala tympani (ST), intermediate, and scala vestibuli (SV)-to identify traumatic patterns and contributing factors. Retrospective study. Data from 106 cochlear implant recipients at a tertiary otologic center. Demographic and surgical data were collected from recipients who underwent cochlear implantation manually and with RobOtol®. Measurements included cochlear dimensions, angular depth of insertion, and position of the first electrode. Three-dimensional reconstructions were used to analyze the electrode array location relative to the basilar membrane, categorized into ST, intermediate, and SV electrodes. Nontraumatic insertion was defined as all electrodes in the ST, while traumatic insertions had 1 or more electrodes in intermediate or SV locations. Out of 106 cases, 44% had nontraumatic and 56% had traumatic insertions. Demographic and surgical characteristics showed no association with traumatic insertions. A deeper position of the first electrode, relative to the round window, was associated with traumatic insertions (P = .03). Three trauma patterns were observed: distal (facing the apical electrodes), proximal (facing the middle electrodes around 180°), and distal/proximal. This study considers the intermediate position which could be associated with basilar membrane lesions. Risk zones for intracochlear trauma with lateral wall arrays were identified distally and proximally. Traumatic insertions were independently linked to deeper array placement. Future studies should explore whether gentler insertion, without insisting on further electrode array insertion depth, could reduce the trauma during cochlear implantation.

INTRAOPERATIVE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OBSERVATION WITH PERFLUOROCARBON TAMPONADE FOR SUBRETINAL MEMBRANES IN PROLIFERATIVE VITREOUS RETINOPATHY.

To report the efficacy of intraoperative optical coherence tomography in locating proliferative membranes or strands subretinally or preretinally during pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy or old rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. After removing the vitreous and apparent epiretinal membranes, vitreous fluid was exchanged for perfluorocarbon. Lesions of the retinal folds or persistently detached retinas, suspected to be subretinal membrane lesions, were examined using intraoperative optical coherence tomography in three eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography showed subretinal or preretinal structures in all three patients. A subretinal structure with underlying fluid was removed through an intentional hole in a patient. In another patient, a subretinal structure without underlying fluid was not removed. In the remaining patient, the preretinal membranes detected with intraoperative optical coherence tomography could be peeled successfully. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography examination with perfluorocarbon tamponade effectively identified the correct location of proliferative membranes or strands, namely, preretinal or subretinal. This imaging technique helps surgeons determine whether an intentional hole should be made to remove the subretinal structure during vitrectomy. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography, combined with perfluorocarbon tamponade, leads to safer and more effective surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

ITGAM-mediated macrophages contribute to basement membrane damage in diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) and atherosclerosis (AS) are prevalent and severe complications associated with diabetes, exhibiting lesions in the basement membrane, an essential component found within the glomerulus, tubules, and arteries. These lesions contribute significantly to the progression of both diseases, however, the precise underlying mechanisms, as well as any potential shared pathogenic processes between them, remain elusive.MethodsOur study analyzed transcriptomic profiles from DN and AS patients, sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. A combination of integrated bioinformatics approaches and machine learning models were deployed to identify crucial genes connected to basement membrane lesions in both conditions. The role of integrin subunit alpha M (ITGAM) was further explored using immune infiltration analysis and genetic correlation studies. Single-cell sequencing analysis was employed to delineate the expression of ITGAM across different cell types within DN and AS tissues.ResultsOur analyses identified ITGAM as a key gene involved in basement membrane alterations and revealed its primary expression within macrophages in both DN and AS. ITGAM was significantly correlated with tissue immune infiltration within these diseases. Furthermore, the expression of genes encoding core components of the basement membrane was influenced by the expression level of ITGAM.ConclusionOur findings suggest that macrophages may contribute to basement membrane lesions in DN and AS through the action of ITGAM. Moreover, therapeutic strategies that target ITGAM may offer potential avenues to mitigate basement membrane lesions in these two diabetes-related complications.

Ocular Lichen Planus: A clinicopathologic review.

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that can affect the skin, mucous membranes and nails. Cutaneous lichen planus lesions are best described by the "six Ps" - purple pruritic polygonal planar papules and plaques. Mucous membrane lesions are commonly associated with cutaneous lichen planus. Ocular involvement with lichen planus is rare and conjunctival involvement usually predominates, it can however be visually devastating. Ocular lichen planus often progresses to extensive conjunctival scarring which can be impossible to distinguish clinically from other cicatrising conjunctivitis, requiring histopathological confirmation. Here we review the ocular pathology of this condition.

Clinical Aspects of Somatic Comorbidities in Gas and Electric Welders

Introduction: Health effects of welding fumes in workers are not limited to fibrosis and irritation of the respiratory tract. Inhalation of a complex mixture of particles and gases from the workplace air can cause damage to the central nervous system and higher incidence of nonoccupational diseases attributed to toxic, allergic, and carcinogenic effects of this risk factor. Objective: To study characteristics of somatic comorbidities in welders with occupational diseases of the respiratory system. Materials and methods: The study involved 140 male patients aged 48 to 60 years suffering from occupational respiratory diseases. The main (first) group included gas and electric welders while the reference group consisted of miners and millers with silica-related lung diseases. The mean occupational exposure to industrial aerosols in the groups was 22.8 ± 6.7 and 22.3 ± 6.9 years, respectively. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey and clinical laboratory testing of the workers. The intergroup differences were considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05. Results: We established that lesions of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum were the most prevalent comorbidities in the electric welders (72.7 %), followed by dyslipidemia (47.3 %), stage I hypertension (36.4 %), liver diseases (31.8 %), kidney damage (31.1 %), stage II and III hypertension (27.8 %). Coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus were much less frequent and observed in only 4.5 % of the welders. Mucosal lesion of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver diseases were more prevalent in the welders compared to the reference group. Study limitations: Statistical analysis was carried out using a nonparametric test to compare two independent samples. Conclusions: Exposure to welding fumes inducing occupational respiratory diseases increases the frequency of a combination of such nonoccupational diseases as lesions of the mucous membrane of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver damage.

Dynamics of cell membrane lesions and adaptive conductance under the electrical stress.

Exceeding physiological limits of the cell membrane potential compromises structural integrity, enabling the passage of normally impermeant solutes and disrupting cell function. Electropermeabilization has been studied extensively at the cellular scale, but not at the individual membrane lesion level. We employed fast total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging of Ca2+ entry transients to discern individual lesions in a hyperpolarized cell membrane and characterize their focality, thresholds, electrical conductance, and the lifecycle. A diffuse and momentary membrane permeabilization without a distinct pore formation was observed already at a -100 mV threshold. Polarizing down to -200 mV created focal pores with a low 50- to 300-pS conductance, which disappeared instantly once the hyperpolarization was removed. Charging to -240 mV created high-conductance (> 1 nS) pores which persisted for seconds even at zero membrane potential. With incremental hyperpolarization steps, persistent pores often emerged at locations different from those where the short-lived, low-conductance pores or diffuse permeabilization were previously observed. Attempts to polarize membrane beyond the threshold for the formation of persistent pores increased their conductance adaptively, preventing further potential build-up and "clamping" it at a certain limit (-270 ± 6 mV in HEK cells, -284 ± 5 mV in CHO cells, and -243 ± 9 mV in neurons). The data suggest a previously unknown role of electroporative lesions as a protective mechanism against a potentially fatal membrane overcharging and cell disintegration.

The Patient Experience: The Relationship Between Vocal Handicap, Congruency, Perceived Present Control, and Mood Across Four Voice Disorders.

The potential for negative sequalae in psychosocial well-being presents clinical importance to the assessment of voice disorders. Despite the impairment voice disorders cause in the psychosocial domain, the clinical assessment of these disorders relies heavily on visual perceptual judgments of the larynx, audio-perceptual, as well as acoustic and aerodynamic measures. While these measures aid in accurate diagnosis and are necessary for standard of care, they present little insight into the patient experience of having a voice disorder. Retrospective between-subject, non-experimental design. Data from 335 patients from the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center were collected from scores of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and two recent questionnaires, the Voice Present Perceived Control scale (VPPC), and the Vocal Congruency Scale (VCS). Examining how these voice-specific scales related to three mental health screeners for stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were also examined. Patient diagnoses included primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD), unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), vocal fold atrophy, and mid membranous vocal fold lesions. There were significant differences in scores from the voice-specific scales between diagnostic groups with UVFP being the highest (worst) in VHI-10 and UVFP being the lowest (worst) in VCS compared to healthy controls. There was no significant difference in VPPC scores between diagnostic groups. Results showed statistically significant inverse relationships between the VHI-10 and the VPPC and between the VHI-10 and VCS for all diagnostic groups. A significant direct relationship was found between the VPPC and the VCS for patients diagnosed with MTD, UVFP and Lesions. In sum, patients with UVFP presented with the most frequent and sometimes strongest relationships between voice and mental health measures. This study marks an initial investigation into the nuanced patient experience of having a voice disorder. Three theoretically unrelated voice constructs: handicap, perceived control, and sense of self, were measured via self-report. Results from this study describe the patient experience correlating to these constructs with weak correlations to stress, anxiety, and depression. Findings also clearly suggest that patient experience varies among diagnostic groups, as well as varying constructs. Measures of multiple constructs of patient perception provide valuable insight into a patient's experience of their voice disorder, guidance on the direction of voice treatment, and justification for such treatments.

Lesões labiais em cavalos: relato de caso

ABSTRACT The article presents the results of monitoring studies on the mucous membrane lesions in Trakehner horses. Based on clinical examination, the localization, size, and number of ulcers, as well as the inflammatory reaction to the presence of necrotic tissue, were determined. In addition to clinical examination, planimetric studies were also carried out to determine the size of the ulcers and the dynamics of their reduction during treatment with aerosol application of PVP iodine spray. To determine the nature of inflammation in the lesion focus, smears were taken from the surface of the ulcers. Microbiological and mycological studies of pathological tissues and feed samples were carried out to establish the etiological factors contributing to the ulcers. It was found that the size of the ulcers varied from 1 to 6 cm, and they were located on the upper and lower lips on both the right and left sides. Neutrophilic leukocytosis was observed in the focus of inflammation. Leukocytes actively phagocytized microorganisms present in the pathological focus. Microscopic fungi of the species A. flavus, A. fumigatus, M. species, and P. commune sprouted on Saburo medium from necrotic tissues of the pathological focus. A similar composition of fungal species was obtained by sowing feed samples fed to horses. Microbiological studies of ulcers revealed the growth of two microorganisms, S. aureus and P. vulgaris, on Baird-Parker agar. On the third day of treatment, compared to the first day, the size of the ulcers decreased by 22.8 %. It is recommended to perform primary surgical treatment of the ulcer, apply PVP iodine spray once a day, and replace the affected feed with high-quality feed to achieve a positive therapeutic effect.