Improvement of epileptic seizure control with treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea

Modified LDL, caused by many factors, is associated with increased atherogenisity. In many modified LDLs, it is recognized that LDL oxidation occurs in vivo, and oxidized LDL demonstrates enhanced cellular uptake by macrophage scavenger receptor, foam cell formation. In vitro, iron and zinc are necessary for oxidized LDL and lipid peroxisides, and considering these elements to participate in vivo, particularly hyperlipidemia. In fact, hyperlipidemia with high serum levels iron or zinc concentration is a risk factor of coronary heart disease. Further, the possibility of selenium insufficiency accelerated lipid peroxisides in vivo, because glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), the antioxidant effect, includes selenium, and GSHPx hyperproduction are recognized in atherosclerotic lesion. It is known that oxidized LDL are more excessive in hyperlipidemia, so hyperlipidemia may suffer more from trace element status in vivo. Enzymes and hormones, influencing lipid metabolism, are necessary for many trace elements their activation. Trace elements may therefore, be important in several stage of lipid metabolism.     

Hyperexpression of the multiple drug resistance gene (MDR-1) in chronic myeloleukemia patients

AIM: To elucidate prognostic value of MDR-1 gene expression in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MDR-1 gene expression was studied by in situ hybridization in hemopoietic cells of 63 Ph-positive CML patients in different phases of the disease. The survival of the patients and duration of the chronic phase (CP) were evaluated using the Caplan-Meyer method. RESULTS: MDR-1-positive patients had a shorter survival (p < 0.01) and CP (p < 0.05) than negative ones. MDR-1 gene overexpression has no impact either on the survival or duration of AP and BP (p < 0.05). Moreover, the MDR-1 gene overexpression is not dependent either on the previous treatment or other prognostic markers. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of MDR-1 gene is an independent prognostic factor and an additional parameter to Sokal's scores.     

Comparative nutritive value of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC) and other legumes grown in Tanzania

BACKGROUND: In order to assess the efficiency of flow-controlled shunts in reducing shunt failure in the treatment of adult hydrocephalus (with a special focus on overdrainage complications), a series of 289 patients was analyzed through a retrospective and comparative study performed in three neurosurgical departments. METHODS: A group of 142 adult patients suffering from hydrocephalus were operated on using a conventional differential pressure (DP) shunt and compared with a group of 147 adult patients operated on using flow-controlled (FC) system (Orbis-Sigma, Cordis). Only the first complication, which required a surgical revision within the first 2 years after shunt implantation, was taken into account for each patient and analyzed using life-table methods. RESULTS: The actuarial risk of shunt infection in the two groups is respectively 8.3% and 10.9% at 1 year (nonsignificant difference). The actuarial risk of mechanical complications at 1 year is 38% for the DP patients and 10% for the FC patients (p = 0.0001); this difference is largely due to a decrease of complications related to overdrainage phenomenon (14/142 subdural collections were observed in the DP group versus 1/147 in the FC group) (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this cooperative and retrospective study is that the use of a flow-controlled system decreases the risk of mechanical complications related to the hydrodynamic properties of the shunts used in the treatment of adult hydrocephalus, especially those related to overdrainage.     

Isolation of Sinorhizobium meliloti Tn5 mutants with altered cytochrome terminal oxidase expression and improved symbiotic performance

OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate whether, in humans, the timing and incidence of a relapse of atrial fibrillation (AF) during the first month after cardioversion indicates the presence of electrical remodeling and whether this could be influenced by prevention of intracellular calcium overload during AF. BACKGROUND: Animal experiments have shown that AF induces shortening of the atrial refractory period, resulting in an increased vulnerability for reinduction of AF. This electrical remodeling was completely reversible within 1 week after cardioversion of AF and was presumably related to intracellular calcium overload. METHODS: Using transtelephonic monitoring in 61 patients cardioverted for chronic AF, we evaluated the daily incidence of recurrence of AF and determined, by Cox regression analysis, the influence of patient characteristics and medication on relapse of AF. RESULTS: During 1 month of follow-up, 35 patients (57%) had a relapse of AF, with a peak incidence during the first 5 days after cardioversion. Furthermore, in patients with a recurrence of AF, there was a positive correlation between the duration of the shortest coupling interval of the premature atrial beats after cardioversion and the timing of the recurrence of AF (p = 0.0013). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of intracellular calcium-lowering drugs during AF was the only significant variable related to maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The daily distribution of recurrences of AF suggests a temporary vulnerable electrophysiologic state of the atria. Use of intracellular calcium-lowering medications during AF appeared to reduce recurrences, possibly due to a reduction of electrical remodeling during AF.