Effect of diet on blood viscosity in healthy humans: a systematic review

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Relationship between cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and rheumatoid arthritis severity

Background

Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a non-collagen glycoprotein produced by the cartilage, synovium, tendon, and meniscus. Recent studies showed that COMP is a reliable factor for monitoring cartilage damage.

Objective

To determine the relationship between serum COMP concentration and the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

This cross-sectional study lasted from 2013 to 2015 at the Rheumatology Clinic of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The study population consisted of eligible patients who presented to our clinic during the study period. Four groups (150 subjects) were included as early RA (50 patients), late RA (50 patients), grades II and III OA (osteoarthritis) (25 cases, 17 grade II and 8 grade III joint destruction), and healthy controls (25 individuals). These were included consecutively. Serum COMP level was assessed by sandwich ELISA technique. In addition, ESR, hs-CRP, serum RF, and anti-CCP were assayed. X-rays of the knees (in OA) and hands (in RA) were examined for the degree of joint damage/erosion using the Short Erosion Scale (SES) in RA and Kellgren-Lawrence grading in OA. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare mean COMP level among the groups and ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis to determine the diagnostic accuracy of COMP in diagnosis of late RA were used by SPSS software (ver. 20.0).

Results

Mean (±SD) serum COMP levels were 18 (±10.6) U/L in early RA, 19.3 (±9.6) U/L in late RA, 10.9 (±4.5) U/L in OA, and 4.2 (±3.8) in controls; p<0.001. Serum COMP level was higher in RA and OA groups when compared to control group. Mean (±SD) SES score was 13.5 (±7.5) in early RA and 16.4 (±9.7) in late RA (p=0.093). There was a significant positive correlation between COMP level and disease severity in early RA (r=0.677, p<0.001) as well as in late RA (r=0.753, p<0.001). Serum COMP level at a concentration of 15.25 U/L had a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 70% to discriminate late RA from early RA (area under curve= 69% (95% CI: 58% to 79%; p=0.001).

Conclusion

COMP had positive significant correlation with early and late RA severity. This serum biomarker can be a useful and easy tool for monitoring of RA patients either at early or late stages of the disease.

Orthogonal coding methods for increasing the number of multiplexed channels in coherent beam combining

We introduce orthogonally coded modulations for active coherent beam combining (CBC), and show how using Walsh codes enables the increase of the number of combined channels. Analytical, numerical, and experimental results are presented and compared to the standard multifrequency dithering technique, demonstrating that at least 5 times more fibers can be combined using the same modulation frequency. The modulation format excluded, no particular changes in the system need to be introduced and the benefits of active coherent beam combing, such as atmospheric turbulence compensation capability, are kept unchanged. Finally, we point out that this approach can be applied in partially CBC.

Bone densitometry in patients with osteomalacia: is it valuable?

Osteomalacia is a generalized bone disorder characterized by impairment of mineralization, leading to accumulation of unmineralized matrix or osteoid in the skeleton. The clinical features of osteomalacia include musculoskeletal vague pain and muscle weakness. In its mild and early stages, osteomalacia may be misdiagnosed with variety of musculoskeletal diseases including osteopenia and osteoporosis, and for early diagnosis high rate of suspicion of osteomalacia is necessary. Our purpose was to determine the amount of bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with osteomalacia and to evaluate the efficiency of bone densitometry in these patients. Diagnosis of our patients was based on history, physical, laboratory and radiological findings and in three patients with bone biopsy and histological approval. BMD (gm/cm(2)) at the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) and femoral neck were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in 20 patients with osteomalacia (16 females and 4 males, age range 20 to 60 years, mean 39 years) before treatment, comparing with 28 matched healthy individuals, and their T scores were evaluated according to WHO criteria for the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis. 14 patients with osteomalacia (70%) had BMD in amount of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, and 12 patients with osteomalacia (60%) had BMD in amount of osteoporosis in their femoral neck. 50% of the patients had T≥ -3. We concluded that bone densitometry may detect osteoporosis in up to 70% of patients with osteomalacia. Middle aged individuals with significant osteoporosis should be evaluated for osteomalacia, beside other causes of secondary osteoporosis. Measurement of BMD in patients with osteomalacia is helpful for assessment of the severity of bone condition and following management.

Coherent beam combination of narrow-linewidth 1.5 μm fiber amplifiers in a long-pulse regime

We report what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of coherent beam combining of two fiber amplifiers in a 100 ns pulse regime using a signal leak between the pulses. Pulses of ∼100 W stimulated-Brillouin-scattering limited peak power are combined with 95% efficiency, a residual phase error of λ/27, and no significant beam quality degradation.

Surface plasmon resonance of two-segmented Au-Cu nanorods

Two-segmented gold-copper nanorods were electrodeposited inside the pores of polycarbonate track-etched membranes from two separate solutions. The PCT membranes were dissolved in dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)) and the solvent was replaced by methanol solution. Optical absorption spectra of two-segmented Au-Cu nanorods dispersed in methanol showed two peaks which were related to the transverse mode of copper and the longitudinal mode of gold. By increasing the length of the gold segment, when the total length of both metals was fixed at 1 µm, the copper and gold peaks shifted to the blue and red wavelengths, respectively. We observed that the wavelengths of the extinction peaks are not in good agreement with the expected value obtained from calculations using the nominal dielectric constant of the medium. Therefore, we suggest the effective medium dielectric constant (ε(m)(eff)) for Cu and Au segments by comparing the experimental data and calculation results. The values of ε(m)(eff) decrease by increasing the gold length.

Anniversary reactions in a five-year-old boy. Unresolved conflict, guilt, and self-identifications

This paper examines the important role of anniversary reactions in the psychological adjustment of seriously traumatized individuals. The clinical case study examines the impact of anniversary reactions on the posttraumatic symptoms and accommodation of a five-year-old boy. Unresolved conflict with the mother, an intense sense of guilt, and difficulty in self-identification were explored during subsequent sessions of psychoanalysis. The clinical significance of considering the possibility of anniversary reactions in children manifesting repetitive attempts of trauma mastering is discussed.

Baseline assessment of children traumatized by the Armenian earthquake

Assessed at baseline for longitudinal study is the impact of the Armenian earthquake on children screened through the Children's Psychotherapy Center in Kirovakan, Armenia. The earthquake caused close to 25,000 deaths, almost two thirds of which were children and adolescents. Examined herein are memory functioning and clinical data collected on a baseline level which provides a better understanding of both diagnostic indicators and trauma processing in child survivors of the Armenian earthquake. Current theory related to processing of trauma in children is reviewed as are recommendations for further research.