Comparative Study of the Antioxidant Activity of the Plasma of Healthy Subjects and those with Uterine Myomas by Scavenging the ABTS Radical+

Introduction: The oxidative stress and the deterioration of the antioxidant system demonstrated by the dosage of antioxidant enzymes and the by-products of lipid peroxidation are involved in the occurrence of uterine myomas. Objectives: To measure the antioxidant activity of the plasma of patients with uterine myoma and that of the plasma of their age-matched controls by trapping the free radical ABTS+. The study aims to confirm by another assessment technique. Results: The anti-free radical activities of the plasmas of patients with myomas and those of their respective controls vary from 1.3 to 6%. In addition, two cases were observed: either the anti-radical activity of the control subjects turned out to be slightly higher than that of the patients; or the anti-free radical activity of patients with uterine myomas was slightly stronger than those of their controls. In addition, our results showed that the anti-free radical activity of patients aged over 40 years is slightly higher than that of patients aged less than or equal to 40 years. Finally, the anti-free radical activity decreases with an increase in BMI and increases with the number of gestities and parity. Conclusion: Assessment of the total antioxidant capacity of blood by trapping the ABTS+ radical can be used to assess, at a certain threshold, the oxidative stress involved in the development of uterine myoma. This method can also be used to assess the effect of age, BMI, pregnancy and parity on the occurrence of myomas.

Low guanine content and biased nucleotide distribution in vertebrate mtDNA can cause overestimation of non-CpG methylation

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation in vertebrates has been hotly debated for over 40 years. Most contrasting results have been reported following bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) analyses. We addressed whether BS-seq experimental and analysis conditions influenced the estimation of the levels of methylation in specific mtDNA sequences. We found false positive non-CpG methylation in the CHH context (fpCHH) using unmethylated Sus scrofa mtDNA BS-seq data. fpCHH methylation was detected on the top/plus strand of mtDNA within low guanine content regions. These top/plus strand sequences of fpCHH regions would become extremely AT-rich sequences after BS-conversion, whilst bottom/minus strand sequences remained almost unchanged. These unique sequences caused BS-seq aligners to falsely assign the origin of each strand in fpCHH regions, resulting in false methylation calls. fpCHH methylation detection was enhanced by short sequence reads, short library inserts, skewed top/bottom read ratios and non-directional read mapping modes. We confirmed no detectable CHH methylation in fpCHH regions by BS-amplicon sequencing. The fpCHH peaks were located in the D-loop, ATP6, ND2, ND4L, ND5 and ND6 regions and identified in our S. scrofa ovary and oocyte data and human BS-seq data sets. We conclude that non-CpG methylation could potentially be overestimated in specific sequence regions by BS-seq analysis.

Lack of Clinical Utility of Labeled White Blood Cell Scintigraphy in Patients with Fever of Unknown Origin

Background Labeled white blood cell scintigraphy (WBCS) has been used for over 40 years to localize an infection source in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO). It continues to be in widespread use for such patients in modern times, despite the tremendous advances in modern radiological imaging and laboratory medicine. Methods We critically evaluated the clinical contribution of WBCS performed in 132 patients with FUO at 7 hospitals from mid-2015 to the end of 2019. For each patient, all radiographic and laboratory results, and all electronic clinical notes, were carefully evaluated as many days prior to and following the scan as necessary to arrive at a final diagnosis. Results Although 50 WBCS (38%) showed positive findings, the majority of these were false positive (FP). Of the 19 true positive (TP) scans, most were already known or about to become known by tests already ordered at the time of the scan. Only 2 TP scans (1.5%) contributed to the final diagnosis, and these did so only indirectly. FP scans led to 7 unnecessary procedures. Conclusions In FUO patients for whom an infection source is not discovered following an appropriate radiographic and laboratory workup, WBCS is not a useful procedure.

Predictive Validity of Motor Fitness and Flexibility Tests in Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Motor fitness and flexibility have been linked to several health issues. We aimed to investigate the predictive validity of motor fitness and flexibility tests in relation to health outcomes in adults and older adults. Web of Science and PubMed databases were screened for studies published from inception to November 2020. Two authors systematically searched, evaluated, and extracted data from identified original studies and systematic reviews/meta-analysis. Three levels of evidence were constructed: strong, moderate, and limited/inconclusive evidence. In total, 1182 studies were identified, and 70 studies and 6 systematic reviews/meta-analysis were summarized. Strong evidence indicated that (i) slower gait speed predicts falls and institutionalization/hospitalization in adults over 60 years old, cognitive decline/impairment over 55 years old, mobility disability over 50 years old, disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) over 54 years old, cardiovascular disease risk over 45 years old, and all-cause mortality over 35 years old; (ii) impaired balance predicts falls and disability in IADL/mobility disability in adults over 40 years old and all-cause mortality over 53 years old; (iii) worse timed up&go test (TUG) predicts falls and fear of falling over 40 years old. Evidence supports that slower gait speed, impaired balance, and worse TUG performance are significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes in adults.

TYPES OF PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS. INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR SILANIZATION. REVIEW

Background: Dental sealants have been used to reduce the incidence and severity of dental caries in the pits and fissures of teeth for over 40 years. Since that time, numerous scientific discoveries have led to the development of multiple generations of new sealant materials. Aim: The aim of this paper is to summarize the findings of reviews regarding the types of pit and fissure sealants, indications and contraindications for their use. Methods and materials: Previous systematic reviews on this topic were used as the basis for the current review. Cochrane, MEDLINE, Embase, and a few other bibliographic databases were searched for English and Bulgarian-language articles. The year of publication of the searched articles was limited from 2000 to 2020. Only articles in English and Bulgarian languages were read in full. Results: A total of 114 articles were identified by the literature search, the title and abstract of the articles were examined. Twenty-four original research studies met the inclusion criteria. They were read in full, and evidence was extracted for types of pit and fissure sealants, as well as indications and contraindications for their use. Conclusion: Evidence derived from the literature led to the conclusion that sealants are effective in preventing pit and fissure occlusal carious. The selection of the material used for silanization is made depending on a few factors that should be considered, such as patient's and tooth age, child's behavior and ability to isolate the surfaces which are going to be sealed. Regular examinations are required to be able to determine the need for reapplication of sealants and to maximize the effectiveness and results of the treatment.

Improving Tearing Resistance of Leather - Part 2 Prevention and Treatment of Low Tearing Strength in the Tannery

An appropriate tear strength is one of the main properties that concern customers and it is also a significant source of claims. The authors make a review of the production process, focusing on each step that can either damage the natural strength of collagen fibers or improve them, and therefore, the leather. The aim of this work, divided in Part 1 and 2, is to transfer field tannery experiences collected over 40 years of activity in different tanneries, to colleagues that are looking for world class leather production. Part 1 has been published in JALCA, 116 (12), 2021.

Hats Off to the CIM Reviewers of 2021

For over 40 years the journal of Clinical and Investigative Medicine (CIM) has published articles of interest to clinician investigators in Canada and elsewhere. We strive for the highest standards and to remain relevant to our readers, but we cannot achieve this goal without the help of our reviewers, all of whom play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the scientific process. Without their efforts, academic excellence would falter.

Niemożliwa ale niezbędna? – wokół informacji historycznoliterackiej w szkole średniej

This text is about the methods, employed in schools, of putting high school students in touch with cultural tradition. My interest in this issue is connected to the recent appearance of meaning of the “historical and literary order” in the 2018 syllabus, despite the fact that since 1990, the weight attributed to that meaning in syllabi has gradually shrunk, to almost completely disappear in 2002. To answer a question: “why is the history of literature needed to be taught in schools?”, I started my analysis from pointing out the disappearing trust in historical and literary syntheses. This trust has been plummeting for over 40 years, which is connected to the so-called crisis of representation. In my view, the answer to my question may lie in the analysis of the 1949 syllabus document, in which the vision of the past is construed with a very apparent ideological intention, despite efforts to keep up the pretense of objectivity. By exposing the mechanisms that lead the authors of the 1949 document, I try to show to what extent the domination of chronological order opens up the potential of school documents to manipulate the past, which can lead to falsifying the images of cultural tradition.