Recently Published Articles
Relationship between Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Loads on ABPM and BMI Percentiles in Children
Abstract:
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is widely used in pediatric patients to identify hypertension and its complications. Previous studies correlating obesity and hypertension using ABPMs showed increasing blood pressure loads with increasing BMI. However, BMI percentiles are more reliable indicators of obesity in children. Our study aimed to describe the association between BMI percentiles and systolic and diastolic blood pressure load using ABPM in children and adolescents. Retrospective analysis of ABPMs (Welch Allyn) was performed on a total of 115 patients between 7 and 18 years of age who were referred for elevated BP without a diagnosis of hypertension at our institution from Jan 2011 to Oct 2013. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on BMI percentile: <94th percentile, 94–98th percentile, 98–99th percentile, and >99th percentile. Analysis between blood pressure loads and BMI percentiles revealed greater me...
Total Daily Energy Expenditure is Overestimated by Dietary References Intake Equations Compared with Doubly Labeled Water in A Sample of Brazilian Adolescents
Abstract:
This report aimed to compare the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) of adolescents measured by doubly labeled water (DLW) with the 2005 and 2023 dietary reference intake (DRI) equations proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in a sample of Brazilian adolescents. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and observational study with a convenience sample of 15 obese and eutrophic adolescents, aged between 11 and 14 years, from public schools and the obesity outpatient clinic of the Clinics Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School – University of São Paulo (HC FMRP-USP) in Brazil. Were obtained stature and weight by conventional methods and used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) to determine the nutritional status. Fat-free mass (FFM) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Energy expenditure was determined by DLW and estimated by the 2005 and 2023 DRI equations. T...
Leflunomide-Induced Cystoid Macular Edema: A Rare Case Report
Abstract:
Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a sight-threatening condition caused by fluid accumulation in the macula due to blood-retinal barrier disruption. Various factors, including drug reactions, can lead to retinal fluid leakage. Leflunomide, a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, marked significant progress in managing rheumatoid arthritis. Although effective, Leflunomide has rarely been linked to CME. This report presents a unique case of Leflunomide-induced CME, adding to the limited literature on this subject. We report the case of a 75-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Leflunomide, presenting with bilateral CME and reduced visual acuity (VA). Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations, including VA tests, fundus...
Understanding Inherited Bleeding Disorders: Genetic Mutations in Blood Coagulation Factors and Regulatory Proteins
Abstract:
Hereditary thrombotic diseases, or inherited bleeding disorders, are a group of genetic conditions that disrupt normal blood coagulation. These diseases result from mutations in genes encoding blood coagulation factors or other regulatory proteins, impairing the body's ability to regulate bleeding and clotting. The most common inherited clotting disorders are hemophilia A and B, which are associated with deficiencies in clotting factors VIII and IX, respectively. Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is another prevalent disorder characterized by a deficiency or dysfunction of the Von Willebrand factor, a protein essential for coagulation. Additionally, the Factor V Leiden mutation is linked to an increased risk of blood clots. The prevalence of inherited coagulation disorders varies significantly by region and subpopulation. It is estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 male newborns are born with hemophilia A or B each year. Von Will...
Novel Methods for Inhibiting Amyloidogenesis in the Presence of Peptides to Block Hydrophobic Interactions
Abstract:
Amyloid fibrils, which are caused by abnormal conformation and the mis-assembly of proteins, are responsible for several conformational diseases, including prion diseases. To develop methods to prevent amyloid formation, blocking peptides with hydrophilic substitutions covering the stem forming regions of barnase 1-24 were prepared and examined for their ability to block amyloid-forming fragments—prion, Amyloid β, Pmel 17—. When these fragments were mixed with the synthetic blocking peptides, the result was a decline in the intensity of fluorescence, suggesting that amyloid formation was inhibited. Therefore, amyloidogenesis appears to be specifically inhibited by disrupting the hydrophobic interactions between core amyloid regions.
The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Patterns of Nature
Abstract:
This paper addresses broadly the impact that unprecedented levels of scientific discovery can have on the emergent global patterns that we observe in nature. An essentially ubiquitous pattern that is associated with large complex discrete systems is attributable to the Conservation of Hartley-Shannon Information (CoHSI). One of the manifestations of CoHSI in the realm of protein structure is a distinctive equilibrium distribution of protein lengths that is dominated by a power-law. Here we examine the manner in which the accelerated pace of novel protein discovery during the Covid-19 pandemic affected this distribution, showing that despite an initial disruption, nevertheless the equilibrium state was reestablished.
The Chromosomes of Dictyostelium Giganteum
Abstract:
As a first step towards clarifying the basis of the cooperation and conflict seen in chimeric binary mixes of Dictyostelium giganteum, we examined the karyotype of six natural isolates. All six had 5 haploid chromosomes. No meiotic figures were seen. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization was carried out using conserved D. discoideum centromeric DNA sequences as probes. From it, we infer that two chromosomes are sub-metacentric, one is metacentric and two are telocentric.
Investigating The Connection Between X-Linked Dominant Hypophosphatemic Rickets Syndrome and Endodontic Periapical Lesions: A Case Report
Abstract:
Vitamin D deficiency is known to affect bone healing
The Dietary Cation Anion Balance Exacerbates the Effects of Inorganic Phosphates on Parameters of Phosphate Metabolism in Cats
Abstract:
Dietary intake of inorganic phosphates is linked to various adverse health effects. Excessive intake of highly soluble inorganic phosphates, which are used as feed and food additives, have been found to impair parameters of kidney health. As chronic kidney disease represents one of the most frequently occurring terminal diseases especially in cats, extensive knowledge regarding the safety of these additives is important. Other minerals, such as calcium, can modulate their effects on the phosphate homeostasis and kidney health. Therefore, it is crucial to examine further factors, such as the dietary cation-anion balance (CAB), resulting from the concentrations of major minerals in a diet. In this study, eleven healthy cats were fed a control diet and two diets with added sodium monophosphate (NaH2PO4) with either a low (-10 mmol/kg dry matter) or high (+450 mmol/kg dry matter) CAB for 28 days each. The serum concentrations o...