Evaluation of capillary pathologies by nailfold capillaroscopy in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: study protocol for a prospective, controlled exploratory study

IntroductionPsoriasis vulgaris was shown to be an independent factor increasing the risk of several comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes and dyslipidaemia with an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. We hypothesise that early endothelial dysfunction, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, may be detected by digital video nailfold capillaroscopy (DVNC) at the level of the dermal capillary microvasculature as a surrogate parameter. Nailfolds represent the only body site allowing for a non-invasive assessment of the capillary microvasculature at a horizontal plane. DVNC is a well-established diagnostic tool for in vivo assessment of the peripheral microcirculation by evaluating the morphology of dermal papillary capillaries. To date, reports on morphological changes of the non-lesional nailfold capillaries in patients with psoriasis vulgaris are scarce and the existing data are not conclusive.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, single-centre, non-randomised, controlled, exploratory study assessing the capillary patterns in 100 subjects affected by psoriasis vulgaris. Non-lesional nailfold capillaries will be imaged by means of DVNC (Optilia Digital Capillaroscopy System, Optilia Instruments AB, Sollentuna, Sweden) in 50 patients affected by psoriasis vulgaris and 50 healthy controls. Assessments will include a qualitative, descriptive analysis of the nailfold capillaries’ morphology, as well as a quantitative investigation (frequency, extent) of changes in capillary patterns. Moreover, patients’ characteristics associated with the manifestation of nailfold capillaries’ pathologies including well-known cardiovascular risk markers will be studied.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was provided by the ethic committee of the medical faculty of the University of Heidelberg (Ethics approval number S-447/2017). The design and the final results of the study will be published and made available to the public.Trial registration numberDRKS00012856.

Download Full-text

A methodological survey on reporting of pilot and feasibility trials for physiotherapy interventions: a study protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020580 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. e020580

Author(s):

Luiz Felicio Cadete Scola ◽

Anne M Moseley ◽

Lehana Thabane ◽

Matheus Almeida ◽

Lucíola da Cunha Menezes Costa

Keyword(s):

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Reporting Quality ◽

Estimating Equation ◽

Primary Analysis ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Evidence Database ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Full Trial ◽

Completeness Of Reporting

IntroductionPilot and feasibility trials aim to test whether a full trial can be conducted or if any procedures must be changed for the full trial. Pilot trials must be reported in a transparent, accurate and complete way. In this report, we present a protocol for a methodological survey with the following aims: (1) to determine the percentage of physiotherapy trial reports which claim to be pilot or feasibility trials that evaluate feasibility, (2) to determine the aspect of feasibility evaluated in the primary objectives of the pilot or feasibility trials, (3) to describe the completeness of reporting of abstracts and full articles of pilot or feasibility trials using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials and (4) to investigate factors associated with completeness of reporting of pilot or feasibility trials.Methods and analysisReports of randomised controlled trials indexed in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) that claim to be pilot or feasibility trials and published in 2011–2017 will be included. Two independent reviewers will confirm eligibility and classify the aspect of feasibility being evaluated in the objectives of the included pilot or feasibility trials. Completeness of reporting of both the abstract and the full article will be evaluated using the CONSORT extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials. The primary analysis will be a descriptive analysis about the reporting quality of abstracts and full texts of pilot and feasibility trials. We will use generalised estimating equation analysis to explore factors associated with completeness of reporting.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this study will be disseminated by presentation at conferences and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Ethical approval is not necessary for this study.

Download Full-text

Risk of infection associated with intravenous iron preparations: protocol for updating a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024618 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e024618 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akshay Shah ◽

Anita Sugavanam ◽

Jack Reid ◽

Antony J Palmer ◽

Edward Dickson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intravenous Iron ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Assessment Development ◽

Evaluation Approach ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Registration Number ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionThe benefits and risk of intravenous iron have been documented in previous systematic reviews and continue to be the subject of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). An ongoing issue that continues to be raised is the relationship between administering iron and developing infection. This is supported by biological plausibility from animal models. We propose an update of a previously published systematic review and meta-analysis with the primary focus being infection.Methods and analysisWe will include RCTs and non-randomised studies (NRS) in this review update. We will search the relevant electronic databases. Two reviewers will independently extract data. Risk of bias for RCTs and NRS will be assessed using the relevant tools recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration. Data extracted from RCTs and NRS will be analysed and reported separately. Pooled data from RCTs will be analysed using a random effects model. We will also conduct subgroup analyses to identify any patient populations that may be at increased risk of developing infection. We will provide a narrative synthesis on the definitions, sources and responsible pathogens for infection in the included studies. Overall quality of evidence on the safety outcomes of mortality and infection will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review will only investigate published studies and therefore ethical approval is not required. The results will be broadly distributed through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration numberPROSPERO (CRD42018096023).

Download Full-text

Inhibition of microglial GBA hampers the microglia-mediated anti-oxidant and protective response in neurons

10.1101/2021.01.20.427380 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Electra Brunialti ◽

Alessandro Villa ◽

Marianna Mekhaeil ◽

Federica Mornata ◽

Elisabetta Vegeto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Morphological Changes ◽

Neuronal Response ◽

Related Factor ◽

Gaucher's Disease ◽

Gaucher’S Disease ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Anti Oxidant ◽

The Brain ◽

Gba Mutations

AbstractHomozygotic mutations in the GBA gene cause Gaucher’s disease, moreover, both patients and heterozygotic carriers have been associated with 20- to 30-fold increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. In homozygosis, these mutations impair the activity of β-glucocerebrosidase, the enzyme encoded by GBA, and generate a lysosomal disorder in macrophages, which changes morphology towards an engorged phenotype, considered the hallmark of Gaucher’s disease. In the brain, most of the pathological effects caused by GBA mutations have been attributed to the β-glucocerebrosidase deficit in neurons, while a microglial phenotype for these mutations has never been reported. Here, we applied the bioluminescence imaging technology, immunohistochemical and gene expression analysis to investigate the consequences of microglial β-glucocerebrosidase inhibition in the brain of reporter mice, in primary neuron/microglia co-cultures and in cell lines. Our data demonstrate the existence of a novel mechanism by which microglia sustain the antioxidant/detoxifying response mediated by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in neurons. The central role played by microglia in this neuronal response in vivo was proven by pharmacological depletion of the lineage in the brain, while co-cultures experiments provided insight on the nature of this cell-to-cell communication showing that this mechanism requires a direct microglia-to-neuron contact supported by functional actin structures. Pharmacological inhibition of microglial β-glucocerebrosidase was proven to induce morphological changes, turn on an anti-inflammatory/repairing pathway and hinder the microglia ability to activate the anti-oxidant/detoxifying response, thus increasing the neuronal susceptibility to neurotoxins.Altogether, our data suggest that microglial β-glucocerebrosidase inhibition impairs microglia-to-neuron communication increasing the sensitivity of neurons to oxidative or toxic insults, thus providing a possible mechanism for the increased risk of neurodegeneration observed in carriers of GBA mutations.Graphical AbstractIn BriefMicroglia, through actin-dependent structures, contact neurons and induce a detoxification response by increasing the NFE2L2 signalling pathway. Inhibition of GCase activity by CBE treatment produces a morpho-functional change in microglia cells hampering the neuroprotective microglia-neuron communication thus inducing a phenotype in dopaminergic neurons characterized by increased susceptibility to oxidative stress or toxic insults.

Download Full-text

Ultrastructural Study of a differentiating human colon carcinoma cell line

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100158583 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 208-209

Author(s):

Sylvie Polak-Charcon ◽

Mehrdad Hekmati ◽

Yehuda Ben Shaul

Keyword(s):

Cell Line ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Secretory Granules ◽

Human Colon ◽

Cell Types ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Human Colon Carcinoma Cell ◽

Colon Cell

The epithelium of normal human colon mucosa “in vivo” exhibits a gradual pattern of differentiation as undifferentiated stem cells from the base of the crypt of “lieberkuhn” rapidly divide, differentiate and migrate toward the free surface. The major differentiated cell type of the intestine observed are: absorptive cells displaying brush border, goblet cells containing mucous granules, Paneth and endocrine cells containing dense secretory granules. These different cell types are also found in the intestine of the 13-14 week old embryo.We present here morphological evidence showing that HT29, an adenocarcinoma of the human colon cell line, can differentiate into various cell types by changing the growth and culture conditions and mimic morphological changes found during development of the intestine in the human embryo.HT29 cells grown in tissue-culture dishes in DMEM and 10% FCS form at late confluence a multilayer of morphologically undifferentiated cell culture covered with irregular microvilli, and devoid of tight junctions (Figs 1-3).

Download Full-text

Spectroscopic imaging of human disease

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100166889 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 884-885

Author(s):

D.J. Meyerhoff

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Field Gradient ◽

Human Disease ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Magnetic Field Gradient ◽

Spectroscopic Imaging ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Tissue Water

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) observes tissue water in the presence of a magnetic field gradient to study morphological changes such as tissue volume loss and signal hyperintensities in human disease. These changes are mostly non-specific and do not appear to be correlated with the range of severity of a certain disease. In contrast, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), which measures many different chemicals and tissue metabolites in the millimolar concentration range in the absence of a magnetic field gradient, has been shown to reveal characteristic metabolite patterns which are often correlated with the severity of a disease. In-vivo MRS studies are performed on widely available MRI scanners without any “sample preparation” or invasive procedures and are therefore widely used in clinical research. Hydrogen (H) MRS and MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI, conceptionally a combination of MRI and MRS) measure N-acetylaspartate (a putative marker of neurons), creatine-containing metabolites (involved in energy processes in the cell), choline-containing metabolites (involved in membrane metabolism and, possibly, inflammatory processes),

Download Full-text

The Anti-tumor Activity and Mechanisms of rLj-RGD3 on Human Laryngeal Squamous Carcinoma Hep2 Cells

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666191022160024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (17) ◽

pp. 2108-2119

Author(s):

Yang Jin ◽

Li Lv ◽

Shu-Xiang Ning ◽

Ji-Hong Wang ◽

Rong Xiao

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Western Blot ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Tunel Staining ◽

Dna Ladder ◽

Western Blot Assay

Background: Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with poor prognosis and its incidence rate increased recently. rLj-RGD3, a recombinant protein cloned from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica, contains three RGD motifs that could bind to integrins on the tumor cells. Methods: MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory rate of viability. Giemsa’s staining assay was used to observe the morphological changes of cells. Hoechst 33258 and TUNEL staining assay, DNA ladder assay were used to examine the apoptotic. Western blot assay was applied to detect the change of the integrin signal pathway. Wound-healing assay, migration, and invasion assay were used to detect the mobility of Hep2 cells. H&E staining assay was used to show the arrangement of the Hep2 cells in the solid tumor tissues. Results: In the present study, rLj-RGD3 was shown to inhibit the viability of LSCC Hep2 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis with an IC50 of 1.23µM. Western blot showed that the apoptosis of Hep2 cells induced by rLj- RGD3 was dependent on the integrin-FAK-Akt pathway. Wound healing, transwells, and western blot assays in vitro showed that rLj-RGD3 suppressed the migration and invasion of Hep2 cells by integrin-FAKpaxillin/ PLC pathway which could also affect the cytoskeleton arrangement in Hep2 cells. In in vivo studies, rLj-RGD3 inhibited the growth, tumor volume, and weight, as well as disturbed the tissue structure of the solid tumors in xenograft models of BALB/c nude mice without reducing their body weights. Conclusion: hese results suggested that rLj-RGD3 is an effective and safe suppressor on the growth and metastasis of LSCC Hep2 cells from both in vitro and in vivo experiments. rLj-RGD3 might be expected to become a novel anti-tumor drug to treat LSCC patients in the near future.

Download Full-text

Psychological interventions as an alternative and add-on to antidepressant medication to prevent depressive relapse: systematic review and meta-analysis

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.2020.198 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Josefien Johanna Froukje Breedvelt ◽

Maria Elisabeth Brouwer ◽

Mathias Harrer ◽

Maria Semkovska ◽

David Daniel Ebert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Intervention ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Antidepressant Medication ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Psychological Interventions ◽

Relapse Risk ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Antidepressant Use ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Risk Of Relapse

Background After remission, antidepressants are often taken long term to prevent depressive relapse or recurrence. Whether psychological interventions can be a viable alternative or addition to antidepressants remains unclear. Aims To compare the effectiveness of psychological interventions as an alternative (including delivered when tapering antidepressants) or addition to antidepressants alone for preventing depressive relapse. Method Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were searched from inception until 13 October 2019. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with previously depressed patients in (partial) remission where preventive psychological interventions with or without antidepressants (including tapering) were compared with antidepressant control were included. Data were extracted independently from published trials. A random-effects meta-analysis on time to relapse (hazard ratio, HR) and risk of relapse (risk ratio, RR) at the last point of follow-up was conducted. PROSPERO ID: CRD42017055301. Results Among 11 included trials (n = 1559), we did not observe an increased risk of relapse for participants receiving a psychological intervention while tapering antidepressants versus antidepressants alone (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.84–1.25; P = 0.85). Psychological interventions added to antidepressants significantly reduced the risk of relapse (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.97; P = 0.01) compared with antidepressants alone. Conclusions This study found no evidence to suggest that adding a psychological intervention to tapering increases the risk of relapse when compared with antidepressants alone. Adding a psychological intervention to antidepressant use reduces relapse risk significantly versus antidepressants alone. As neither strategy is routinely implemented these findings are relevant for patients, clinicians and guideline developers.

Download Full-text

Prospective associations between ECG abnormalities and death or myocardial infarction in a cohort of 980 employed, middle-aged Swedish men

The Egyptian Heart Journal ◽

10.1186/s43044-020-00114-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lennart Dimberg ◽

Bo Eriksson ◽

Per Enqvist

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Health Examination ◽

Individual Level ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Independent Association ◽

Repeat Examination ◽

Normal Ecgs ◽

Ecg Abnormalities

Abstract Background In 1993, 1000 randomly selected employed Swedish men aged 45–50 years were invited to a nurse-led health examination with a survey on life style, fasting lab tests, and a 12-lead ECG. A repeat examination was offered in 1998. The ECGs were classified according to the Minnesota Code. Upon ethical approval, endpoints in terms of MI and death over 25 years were collected from Swedish national registers with the purpose of analyzing the independent association of ECG abnormalities as risk factors for myocardial infarction and death. Results Seventy-nine of 977 participants had at least one ECG abnormality 1993 or 1998. One hundred participants had a first MI over the 25 years. Odds ratio for having an MI in the group that had one or more ECG abnormality compared with the group with two normal ECGs was estimated to 3.16. 95%CI (1.74; 5.73), p value 0.0001. One hundred fifty-seven participants had died before 2019. For death, similarly no statistically significant difference was shown, OR 1.52, 95%CI (0.83; 2.76). Conclusions Our study suggests that presence of ST- and R-wave changes is associated with an independent 3–4-fold increased risk of MI after 25 years follow-up, but not of death. A 12-lead resting ECG should be included in any MI risk calculation on an individual level.

Download Full-text

Uremic Toxins and Their Relation with Oxidative Stress Induced in Patients with CKD

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126196 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6196

Author(s):

Anna Pieniazek ◽

Joanna Bernasinska-Slomczewska ◽

Lukasz Gwozdzinski

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Uremic Toxins ◽

Water Medium ◽

Induce Insulin Resistance ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Stage Renal Disease ◽

End Stage

The presence of toxins is believed to be a major factor in the development of uremia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Uremic toxins have been divided into 3 groups: small substances dissolved in water, medium molecules: peptides and low molecular weight proteins, and protein-bound toxins. One of the earliest known toxins is urea, the concentration of which was considered negligible in CKD patients. However, subsequent studies have shown that it can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induce insulin resistance in vitro and in vivo, as well as cause carbamylation of proteins, peptides, and amino acids. Other uremic toxins and their participation in the damage caused by oxidative stress to biological material are also presented. Macromolecules and molecules modified as a result of carbamylation, oxidative stress, and their adducts with uremic toxins, may lead to cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of mortality in patients with CKD.

Download Full-text

Dental Implant Site Drilling and Induced Morphological Changes Correlated with Temperature in Pig’s Rib Used as the Human Jaw Model

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11062493 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 2493

Author(s):

Karol Kirstein ◽

Michalina Horochowska ◽

Jacek Jagiełło ◽

Joanna Bubak ◽

Aleksander Chrószcz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Tissue ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Bone Destruction ◽

Microscopic Investigation ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Drilling Speed ◽

Tissue Destruction ◽

Destruction Zone ◽

Jaw Model

The bone tissue destruction during drilling is still one of the crucial problems in implantology. In this study, the influence of drilling speed, coolant presence, and its temperature on bone tissue was tested using swine rib as a biological model of human jaws. The same method of drilling (with or without coolant) was used in all tested samples. The microscopic investigation estimated the size of the destruction zone and morphology of bone tissue surrounding the drilling canal. The achieved results were statistically elaborated. The study proved that the optimal drilling speed was ca. 1200 rpm, but the temperature of the used coolant had no significant influence on provoked bone destruction. Simultaneously, the drilling system without coolant compared to this with coolant has statistical importance on drilling results. Further in vivo studies will verify the obtained results.

Download Full-text