The role of non-coding RNAs in the diagnosis of different stages (HCC, CHB, OBI) of hepatitis B infection

Despite the availability of an effective hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and universal immunization schedules, HBV has remained a health problem in various stages such as occult hepatitis B infection (OBI), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is considered one of the possible phases during chronic HBV infection. OBI is defined as the persistence of HBV genomes in hepatocytes of patients with a negative HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) test and detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the blood. OBI is occasionally associated with infection caused by mutant viruses that produce a modified HBsAg that is undetected by diagnostic procedures or with replication-defective variations. Many aspects of HBV (OBI more than any other stage) including prevalence, pathobiology, and clinical implications has remained controversial. According to a growing body of research, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to the development and progression of a number of illnesses, including viral infectious disorders. Despite a shortage of knowledge regarding the expression and biological activities of lncRNAs and miRNAs in HBV infection, Hepatitis B remains a major global public health concern. This review summarizes the role of lncRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of different stages of hepatitis B infection.

The effect of noise exposure on mental workload, noise sensitivity and general and mental health of overhead crane operators in one of the Steel Industries in south of Iran

Introduction: Overhead cranes play a vital role in guiding steel industries and maintaining their normal condition. These machines are operated by humans and pose a great risk of accidents that may occur due to mistakes made by operators. According to the mentioned contents, the non-negligible effects of noise on the physical and mental health of people in the work environment, the complexity and sensitivity of overhead crane operators, as well as the serious injuries caused by the error of this task, this study aimed at the effect of exposure to noise on mental workload, noise sensitivity and general and mental health of overhead crane operators in one of the steel industries in southern Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the worker's exposure to the sound level was carefully evaluated. In this way, the sound pressure leveling was done during the operator's duty and in the crane cabin according to the recommendation of ISO 9612. In the second phase of the research, after determining the level of exposure of overhead crane operators to noise, noise sensitivity questionnaires, mental assessment of exposure to noise conditions, and general health questionnaires were distributed and subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS version 22 software. Using a one-way analysis of variance, independent t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, the relationship between different factors was investigated. In this study, a significance level of 5% was considered. Results: The average equivalent level of exposure of overhead crane operators for 8 hours is 76.4 dB and the maximum and minimum equivalent levels of 8-hour exposure, respectively; 84 and 68.2 dB were obtained. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the variables of gender, marital status, and working hours with noise sensitivity and the variables of gender, education, a mental crisis in the last month and second job with mental load, and the variable of mental crisis in the last month with general health (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between noise sensitivity, mental load, and general health with sound. The results showed, there is no significant relationship between noise sensitivity, mental load, and general health with sound (P> 0.05). There is a negative or inverse relationship between noise sensitivity and general sound health. This means that with the increase in volume, sensitivity to sound and general health will decrease and vice versa. Conclusion: The results of this research can provide the necessary platform to improve the working conditions of overhead crane operators to prevent the occurrence of inconveniences and problems of inaudible noise in values ​​less than 85 dB.

Radiation-induced Non-targeted Effect and Carcinogenesis; Implications in Clinical Radiotherapy

Bystander or non-targeted effect is known to be an interesting phenomenon in radiobiology. The genetic consequences of bystander effect on non-irradiated cells have shown that this phenomenon can be considered as one of the most important factors involved in secondary cancer after exposure to ionizing radiation. Every year, millions of people around the world undergo radiotherapy in order to cure different types of cancers. The most crucial aim of radiotherapy is to improve treatment efficiency by reducing early and late effects of exposure to clinical doses of radiation. Secondary cancer induction resulted from exposure to high doses of radiation during treatment can reduce the effectiveness of this modality for cancer treatment. The perception of carcinogenesis risk of bystander effects and factors involved in this phenomenon might help reduce secondary cancer incidence years after radiotherapy. Different modalities such as radiation LET, dose and dose rate, fractionation, types of tissue, gender of patients, etc. may be involved in carcinogenesis risk of bystander effects. Therefore, selecting an appropriate treatment modality may improve cost-effectiveness of radiation therapy as well as the quality of life in survived patients. In this review, we first focus on the carcinogenesis evidence of non-targeted effects in radiotherapy and then review physical and biological factors that may influence the risk of secondary cancer induced by this phenomenon.

Basophils exhibit antibacterial activity through extracellular trap formation

Basophils are primarily associated with immunomodulatory functions in allergic diseases and parasitic infections. Recently, it has been demonstrated that both activated human and mouse basophils can form extracellular DNA traps (BETs) containing mitochondrial DNA and granule proteins. In this report, we provide evidence that, in spite of an apparent lack of phagocytic activity, basophils can kill bacteria through BET formation.

Cologne burn centre experience with assault burn injuries

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with assault burn injuries.

BACKGROUND

Assault by burning demonstrates a rare but severe public health issue and accounts for unique injury characteristics in the burn intensive care unit (BICU).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients with thermal injuries admitted to the BICU of a university hospital. The patient cohort was divided into two groups (ABI group: patients with assault burns, n=41;

CONTROL GROUP

population of all other burned patients admitted to the BICU, n=1202). Bivariate and multivariate analyses including demographic and socioeconomic data were used to identify factors associated with assault burns.

RESULTS

Forty-one assault-related burn victims were identified in the study period. This represents 3.3% of all significant burns admitted. Comparing battery victims with the control population, assault patients were more likely to be young (mean age 36.2 years vs. 42.2 years) and immigrants (41.5% vs. 15.1%). Furthermore, marital status (65.9% vs. 40.8% singles), employment status (36.6% vs. 9.7% unemployed) and insurance status (41.5% vs. 12.3% social insurance) were significantly different in the bivariate analysis. Logistic regression evaluation identified three variables that were independently associated with assault burns: younger age (< or =25 years) (odds ratio, 2.54 [95% confidence interval, 1.29-5.02]; p=0.007), ethnic minority (odds ratio, 3.71 [95% confidence interval, 1.91-7.20]; p<0.001) and unemployment (odds ratio, 4.02 [95% confidence interval, 2.03-7.97]; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The high incidence of youngsters, unemployment and the great proportion of immigrants in victims of assault might provide several opportunities for community-based psychosocial and occupational programs. A multidisciplinary approach targeting issues specific to the violent nature of the injury and the socioeconomic background of the victims may be of benefit to improve their perspectives for rehabilitation.

[The oculocardiac reflex in blepharoplasties]

The oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is a well-known phenomenon in ophthalmic surgery, but is rarely described in aesthetic blepharoplasty surgery. It was first mentioned in 1908 by Ascher and Dagnini. Since then, ophthalmologists and anaesthesiologists have regarded the onset of the oculocardiac reflex as a significant intraoperative problem, which is undermined by several case reports that describe dysrhythmias which have haved caused morbidity and death. Per definition the OCR is caused by ocular manipulation and involves intraoperative bradycardia by a change of 20 beats/minute compared to the preoperative heart rate or any dysrhythmia during the manipulation via a trigeminal-vagal-mediated reflex arc. Having operated on a 48-year-old, healthy woman in our clinic, who underwent a cardiac arrest during the blepharoplasty procedure, followed by a successful resuscitation, we investigated the onset of the OCR in our blepharoplasty patients within the last 3 years. The onset of the OCR was noted in 22 of 110 (20 %) blepharoplasty patients, mainly affecting younger, low-weighted patients operated under local anaesthesia. Awareness and treatment of this potentially life-threatening oculocardiac reflex are necessary. In most cases the onset of the reflex may be avoided by a gentle operation technique and by refraining from severe traction to the muscle or fat pad. The best treatment of a profound bradycardia caused by the OCR is to release tension to the muscle or fat pad in order to permit the heart rate to return to normal. Intraoperative monitoring is of utmost importance.

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on microcirculation in patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic polyneuropathy is a serious complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. In addition to the maintenance of a sufficient metabolic control, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) (Thioctacid, Asta Medica) is known to have beneficial effects on diabetic polyneuropathy although the exact mechanism by which ALA exerts its effect is unknown. In order to study the effect of ALA on microcirculation in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy one group of patients (4 female, 4 male, age 60+/-3 years, diabetes duration 19+/-4 years, BMI 24.8+/-1.3 kg/m2) received 1200 mg ALA orally per day over 6 weeks (trial 1). A second group of patients (5 female, 4 male, age 65+/-3 years, diabetes duration 14+/-4 years, BMI 23.6+/-0.7 kg/m2) was studied before and after they had received 600 mg ALA or placebo intravenously over 15 minutes in order to investigate whether ALA has an acute effect on microcirculation (trial 2). Patients were investigated by nailfold video-capillaroscopy. Capillary blood cell velocity was examined at rest and during postreactive hyperemia (occlusion of the wrist for 2 minutes, 200 mmHg) which is a parameter of the perfusion reserve on demand. The oral therapy with ALA resulted in a significant decrease in the time to peak capillary blood cell velocity (tpCBV) during postocclusive hyperemia (trial 1: 12.6+/-3.1 vs 35.4+/-10.9 s, p<0.05). The infusion of ALA also decreased the tpCBV in patients with diabetic neuropathy (trial 2: before: 20.8+/-4,5, ALA: 11.74+/-4.4, placebo: 21.9-5.0 s, p<0.05 ALA vs both placebo and before infusions) indicating that ALA has an acute effect on microcirculation. Capillary blood cell velocity at rest (rCBV), hemodynamic parameters, hemoglobinA1c and local skin temperature remained unchanged in both studies. These results demonstrate that in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy ALA improves microcirculation as indicated by an increased perfusion reserve on demand. The observed effects are apparently acute effects. With the restriction of the pilot character of this investigation the findings support the assumption that ALA might exert its beneficial effects at least partially by improving microcirculation which is likely to occur also at the level of the vasa nervorum.