ZSCAN25 methylation predicts seizures and severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Currently, clinicians use their judgement and indices such as the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Scale (PAWSS) to determine whether patients are admitted to hospitals for consideration of withdrawal syndrome (AWS). However, only a fraction of those admitted will experience severe AWS. Previously, we and others have shown that epigenetic indices, such as the Alcohol T-Score (ATS), can quantify recent alcohol consumption. However, whether these or other alcohol biomarkers, such as carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), could identify those at risk for severe AWS is unknown. To determine this, we first conducted genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of subjects entering and exiting alcohol treatment to identify loci whose methylation quickly reverted as a function of abstinence. We then tested whether methylation at a rapidly reverting locus, cg07375256, or other existing metrics including PAWSS scores, CDT levels, or ATS, could predict outcome in 125 subjects admitted for consideration of AWS. We found that PAWSS did not significantly predict severe AWS nor seizures. However, methylation at cg07375256 (ZSCAN25) and CDT strongly predicted severe AWS with ATS (p < 0.007) and cg07375256 (p < 6 × 10-5) methylation also predicting AWS associated seizures. We conclude that epigenetic methods can predict those likely to experience severe AWS and that the use of these or similar Precision Epigenetic approaches could better guide AWS management.

Protein conjugation with PAMAM nanoparticles: Microscopic and thermodynamic analysis

PAMAM dendrimers form strong protein conjugates that are used in drug delivery systems. We report the thermodynamic and binding analysis of polyamidoamine (PAMAM-G4) conjugation with human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and milk beta-lactoglobulin (b-LG) in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Hydrophobicity played a major role in PAMAM-protein interactions with more hydrophobic b-LG forming stronger polymer-protein conjugates. Thermodynamic parameters showed PAMAM-protein bindings occur via hydrophobic and H-bonding contacts for b-LG, while van der waals and H-bonding interactions prevail in HSA and BSA-polymer conjugates. The protein loading efficacy was 45-55%. PAMAM complexation induced major alterations of protein conformation. TEM images show major polymer morphological changes upon protein conjugation.

Incidence of bleeding in 8172 percutaneous ultrasound-guided intraabdominal diagnostic and therapeutic interventions - results of the prospective multicenter DEGUM interventional ultrasound study (PIUS study)

PURPOSE

To analyse the incidence of bleeding after percutaneous ultrasound guided diagnostic and therapeutic intraabdominal interventions in a prospective multicentre study (DEGUM percutaneous interventional ultrasound study).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Within a time period of 2 years diagnostic and therapeutic intraabdominal interventions (with the exclusion of ascites paracentesis) performed percutaneously under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance were prospectively assessed using a pseudonymized standardized web site entry form. Number and type of intervention, operator experience, patient characteristics, medication, lab data as well as technical aspects of the procedure and bleeding complications were analysed according to the interventional radiology standards.

RESULTS

8172 US-guided intraabdominal interventions (liver n = 5903; pancreas n = 501, kidney n = 434, lymph node = 272, biliary system n = 153, spleen n = 63, other abdominal organs and extra-organic targets n = 999) were analysed in 30 hospitals. The majority were diagnostic biopsies including 1780 liver parenchyma, 3400 focal liver lesions and 404 pancreatic lesions. 7525 interventions (92.1 %) were performed in hospitalized patients (mean age 62.6 years). Most operators were highly experienced in US-guided interventions (> 500 interventions prior to the study n = 5729; 70.1 %). Sedation was administered in 1131 patients (13.8 %). Needle diameter was ≥ 1 mm in 7162 punctures (87.9 %) with main focus on core needle biopsies (18 G, n = 4185). Clinically relevant bleeding complications with need of transfusion (0.4 %), surgical bleeding control (0.1 %) and radiological coiling (0.05 %) were very rare. Bleeding complications with fatal outcome occurred in four patients (0.05 %). The frequency of major bleeding complications was significantly higher in patients with an INR > 1.5 (p < 0.001) and patients taking a medication potentially interfering with platelet function or plasmatic coagulation (p < 0.0333).

CONCLUSION

This prospective multicentre study confirms the broad spectrum of percutaneous US-guided intraabdominal interventions. However diagnostic liver biopsies dominate with the use of core needle biopsies (18 G). Percutaneous US-guided interventions performed by experienced sonographers are associated with a low bleeding risk. Major bleeding complications are very rare. A pre-interventional INR < 1.5 and individual medication risk assessment are recommended.

Adjustment of the myelin sheath to axonal atrophy in the rat spinal root by the formation of infolded myelin loops

Atrophy of the L4 dorsal and ventral spinal roots was experimentally induced by unilateral sciatic neurectomy in groups of young (2 and 4 months) and older (12 months) albino rats. During the 4 months following neurectomy, the occurrence of infolded myelin loops (IMLs) was quantitatively examined in transverse sections prepared using perfusion fixation with glutaraldehyde and embedding in epoxy resin. The number of IMLs was higher on the operated side and increased with the time of survival and the age of the animals. The formation of IMLs is a characteristic early response of a large-caliber myelin sheath to axonal atrophy, probably reflecting the presence of redundant myelin.

Evaluation of skin carcinogenicity of technical 2,2-bis-(p-glycidyloxyphenyl)-propane in CF1 mice

The carcinogenic potential of a technical-grade epoxy resin, Araldite GY 250, of which the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBPA) is the main component, was investigated in CF1 mice. Groups of 50 male and 50 female mice were treated for 2 yr by repeated epidermal application of a 1 or 10% (v/v) solution in acetone. The controls, 50 mice of each sex, were treated with acetone alone. The treatment had no effect on survival and no excess incidence of skin tumours occurred. A positive control group of 50 male and 50 female CF1 mice was treated by epidermal application of 2% (v/v) beta-propiolactone in acetone. In this group there was a high incidence of malignant skin tumours at the site of application and, consequently, increased mortality. Treatment with neither DGEBPA technical nor beta-propiolactone induced systemic neoplasia.