Occurrence of papillary carcinoma in a hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule: report of a case and diagnostic considerations

HIV-infected patients commonly experience haematological disturbances including anemia, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow failure may be caused by HIV itself, or by secondary involvement by opportunistic pathogens and malignancy. The need for multiple concomitant suppressive treatments may increase the risk of cytopenias. Strategy to reduce both anemia and neutropenia as well as to improve the haematological tolerance to myelotoxic agents have been developed by using haematological growth factors. So far, erythropoietin and granulocyte(macrophage) colony-stimulating factors have been successfully used in clinical trials including HIV-patients with either zidovudine-associated anemia or severe HIV or drug-induced neutropenia. However, according to the cost of these palliative approaches, there is a need for more reliable data showing that these growth factors could really have a major impact on the patient's compliance to therapy, reduction of hospitalization and infection rate and improvement of the overall survival.     

Asymptomatic dystrophinopathy

A 4-year-old girl was referred for evaluation for a mild but persistent serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation detected incidentally during routine blood screening for a skin infection. Serum creatine kinase activity was found to be increased. Immunohistochemical study for dystrophin in her muscle biopsy showed results consistent with a carrier state for muscular dystrophy. Molecular work-up showed the proposita to be a carrier of a deletion mutation of exon 48 of the dystrophin gene. Four male relatives also had the deletion mutation, yet showed no clinical symptoms of muscular dystrophy (age range 8-58 yrs). Linkage analysis of the dystrophin gene in the family showed a spontaneous change of an STR45 allele, which could be due to either an intragenic double recombination event, or CA repeat length mutation leading to identical size alleles. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of an asymptomatic dystrophinopathy in multiple males of advanced age. Based on molecular findings, this family would be given a diagnosis of Becker muscular dystrophy. This diagnosis implies the development of clinical symptoms, even though this family is clearly asymptomatic. This report underscores the caution which must be exercized when giving presymptomatic diagnoses based on molecular studies.     

Metabolomics profiling of xenobiotics in elite athletes: relevance to supplement consumption

Background

Supplements are widely used among elite athletes to maintain health and improve performance. Despite multiple studies investigating use of dietary supplements by athletes, a comprehensive profiling of serum supplement metabolites in elite athletes is still lacking. This study aims to analyze the presence of various xenobiotics in serum samples from elite athletes of different sports, focusing on metabolites that potentially originate from nutritional supplements.

Methods

Profiling of xenobiotics in serum samples from 478 elite athletes from different sports (football, athletics, cycling, rugby, swimming, boxing and rowing) was performed using non-targeted metabolomics-based mass spectroscopy combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariate analysis was performed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Differences in metabolic levels among different sport groups were identified by univariate linear models.

Results

Out of the 102 detected xenobiotics, 21 were significantly different among sport groups including metabolites that potentially prolong exercise tolerance (caffeic acid), carry a nootropic effect (2-pyrrolidinone), exert a potent anti-oxidant effect (eugenol, ferulic acid 4 sulfate, thioproline, retinol), or originate from drugs for different types of injuries (ectoine, quinate). Using Gaussian graphical modelling, a metabolic network that links various sport group-associated xenobiotics was constructed to further understand their metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

This pilot data provides evidence that athletes from different sports exhibit a distinct xenobiotic profile that may reflect their drug/supplement use, diet and exposure to various chemicals. Because of limitation in the study design, replication studies are warranted to confirm results in independent data sets, aiming ultimately for better assessment of dietary supplement use by athletes.

     

A complete hand-drawn sketch vectorization framework

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Vectorizing hand-drawn sketches is an important but challenging task. Many businesses rely on fashion, mechanical or structural designs which, sooner or later,...     

Oxygen Radical Scavenger Activity, EPR, NMR, Molecular Mechanics and Extended-Hückel Molecular Orbital Investigation of the Bis(Piroxicam)Copper(II) Complex

The oxygen radical scavenger activity (ORSA) of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)] (HPir = Piroxicam = 4-hydroxy -2- methyl -N-2- pyridyl -2H- 1,2-benzothiazine -3- carboxamide 1,1-dioxide) was determined by chemiluminescence of samples obtained by mixing human neutrophils (from healthy subjects) and [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] (DMF = N,N -dimethylformammide) in DMSO/GLY/PBS (2:1:2, v/v) solution (DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide, GLY = 1,2,3-propantriol, PBS = Dulbecco's buffer salt solution). The ratio of the residual radicals, for the HPir (1.02.10(-4)M) and [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] (1.08.10(-5)M)/HPir (8.01.10-(-5)M) systems was higher than 12 (not stimulated) [excess of piroxicam was added (Cu/Pir molar ratio approximately 1:10) in order to have most of the metal complexed as bischelate]. In contrast, the ratio of residual radicals for the CuCl(2) (1.00.10(-5)M) and [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] (1.08.10(-5)M)/Hpir (8.01.10(-5)M)system was 5. The [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)] compound is therefore a stronger radical scavenger than either HPir or CuCl(2). A molecular mechanics (MM) analysis of the gas phase structures of neutral HPir, its zwitterionic (HPir(+-)) and anionic (Pir(-)) forms, and some Cu(II)-piroxicam complexes based on X-ray structures allowed calculation of force constants. The most stable structure for HPir has a ZZZ conformation similar to that found in the Cu(II) (and Cd(II) complexes) in the solid state as well as in the gas phase. The structure is stabilized by a strong H bond which involves the N(amide)-H and O(enolic) groups. The MM simulation for the [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] complex showed that two high repulsive intramolecular contacts exist between a pyridyl hydrogen atom of one Pir(-) molecule with the O donor of the other ligand. These interactions activate a transition toward a pseudo-tetrahedral geometry, in the case the apical ligands are removed. On refluxing a suspension of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] in acetone a brown microcystalline solid with the Cu(Pir)(2).0.5DMF stoichiometry was in fact prepared. (13)C spin-lattice relaxation rates of neutral, zwitterionic and anionic piroxicam, in DMSO solution are explained by the thermal equilibrium between the three most stable structures of the three forms, thus confirming the high quality of the force field. The EPR spectrum of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] (DMSO/GLY, 2:1, v/v, 298 and 110 K) agrees with a N2O2+O2 pseudo-octahedral coordination geometry. The EPR spectrum of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2).0.5DMF agrees with a pseudo-tetrahedral coordination geometry. The parameters extracted from the room temperature spectra of the solution phases are in agreement with the data reported for powder and frozen solutions. The extended-Hückel calculations on minimum energy structures of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)(DMF)(2)] and [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)] (square planar) revealed that the HOMOs have a relevant character of d(x) (2)-y(2). On the other hand the HOMO of a computer generated structure for [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)] (pseudo-tetrahedral) has a relevant character of d(xy) atomic orbital. A d(xy) orbital is better suited to allow a dpi-ppi interaction to the O(2) (-) anion. Therefore this work shows that the anti-inflammatory activity of piroxicam could be due in part to the formation of [Cu(II)(Pir)(2)] chelates, which can exert a SOD-like activity.     

Beyond Haemostasis and Thrombosis: Platelets in Depression and Its Co-Morbidities

Alongside their function in primary haemostasis and thrombo-inflammation, platelets are increasingly considered a bridge between mental, immunological and coagulation-related disorders. This review focuses on the link between platelets and the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and its most frequent comorbidities. Platelet- and neuron-shared proteins involved in MDD are functionally described. Platelet-related studies performed in the context of MDD, cardiovascular disease, and major neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are transversally presented from an epidemiological, genetic and functional point of view. To provide a complete scenario, we report the analysis of original data on the epidemiological link between platelets and depression symptoms suggesting moderating and interactive effects of sex on this association. Epidemiological and genetic studies discussed suggest that blood platelets might also be relevant biomarkers of MDD prediction and occurrence in the context of MDD comorbidities. Finally, this review has the ambition to formulate some directives and perspectives for future research on this topic.     

Structural effect of complete [Rp]-phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate substitutions in the DNA strand of a model antisense inhibitor-target RNA complex

Chemically modified DNA oligonucleotides have been crucial to the success of antisense therapeutics. Although such modifications are ubiquitous in the clinic, high-resolution structural studies of pharmaceutically relevant derivatives have been limited to only a few molecules. We have completed a high-resolution NMR structural study of three DNA.RNA hybrids with the sequence d(CCTATAATCC). r(GGAUUAUAGG). All hybrids contain an unmodified RNA strand, whereas the DNA strand of each hybrid contains one of three different sugar-phosphate backbone linkages at each nucleotide: (1) phosphate, (2) [Rp]-phosphorothioate, or (3) phosphorodithioate. The UV and NMR melting profiles revealed that the normal hybrid is more stable than the [Rp]-phosphorothioate, which in turn is more stable than the phosphorodithioate. Homonuclear two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy and double quantum-filtered correlation spectroscopy afforded nearly complete non-labile proton assignments. The three molecules show nearly equivalent chemical shifts, with the exception of H3' protons, which are shifted downfield in a manner that appears correlated with the degree of sulfur substitution at phosphate. All three hybrids exhibit unusually broad linewidths for deoxyribose protons H2' and H2".Distance restraints were calculated from NOE cross-peak intensities via a complete relaxation matrix approach using the program RANDMARDI. Detailed comparison of interproton distances from each hybrid indicates that the three molecules share a common structure, with neither strand in canonical A or B form. Correlation of R factors, calculated using the program CORMA with DNA H2'-base and H3'-base distances, revealed a relative increase in the population of B-type sugar conformations for deoxyriboses in the A+T-rich center of the hybrid sequence. It is widely known that the activity of enzymes which act upon DNA.RNA hybrid substrates (e.g. ribonuclease H) is impacted when the hybrids contain phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate substitutions. The structural similarity of the three hybrids examined here suggests that factors other than global structure may mediate the activity of these enzymes.     

Iron-oxidizing and leaching activities of sulphur-grown Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells on other substrates: effect of culture pH

The rate of iron (II) oxidation by sulphur-grown Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells decreased when the pH of the original growth medium was lowered. This behaviour was observed even after shifting from the original growth pH to a higher pH. After being suspended in medium at a pH higher than the growth pH, sulphur-grown cells could leach covellite at a similar initial rate to iron-grown cells. Sulphur-grown cells exhibited a long lag phase when the original growth pH was low. These results were correlated with the number of protons associated with the cell surface, rather than with cell hydrophobicity or cell capacity to attach to solid particles. Sulphur-grown cells grown in very acidic media (without pH control) were not able to oxidize iron (II) or leach covellite even after shifting to a high pH.     

Assessing the discomfort of the whole-body multi-axis vibration: laboratory and field experiments

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the best procedure for predicting the discomfort caused by multi-axis vibration. In the laboratory experiment, 11 seated subjects compared single-axis vibration in one axis to single-axis vibration in another axis, and compared dual-axis vibration to single-axis vibration. In the field experiment, 22 lorry drivers rated the discomfort of 16 different rides. The results show that the best procedure for predicting the discomfort is to combine the vibration inputs by taking the square root of the sum of squares of the weighted r.m.s. values of the vibration in each axis.