Hands and feet radiologic involvements in systemic sclerosis

AIM

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular and fibrosing involvement of the skin and internal organs. In this study, we determined the prevalence and characteristics of radiological hands and feet involvements in Iranian SSc patients to identify the associations between clinical features and radiologic findings.

METHODS

43 SSc patients (41 women and 2 men), with a median age of 44.8 years (ranges 26-70 years) and a mean disease duration of 11.8 years (ranges 2-28 years) were studied in this cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

42 patients had radiological changes both in their hands and feet. Only one patient had alteration just in hand. The most frequent changes that we found in hand were Juxta-articular Osteoporosis (93%), Acro-osteolysis (58.2%), and Joint Space Narrowing (55.8%). The prevalence of joint space narrowing or acro-osteolysis was higher in subjects with active skin involvement [modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) > 14] [16/21 vs. 4/16 for patients with inactive skin involvement (mRSS < 14); p = 0.002]. The most frequent changes that we found in the foot were Juxta-articular Osteoporosis (93%), Acro-osteolysis (46.5%), Joint Space Narrowing (58.1%), and subluxation (44.2%). The presence of anti-ccp antibody was detected in 4 (9.3%), while positive rheumatoid factor was found in 13 (30.2%) of SSc patients.

CONCLUSION

This study corroborates that arthropathy is common in SSc patients. The introduction of the specific radiological involvements of SSc needs to be confirmed by further studies, in order to define the appropriate prognosis and treatment of patients.

The Role of Immunosuppression in the Development of COVID-19 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Brief Report

Recently, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, much concern has been raised about patients with chronic diseases who may become more susceptible to the disease. The present cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In addition, a possible correlation between the immunosuppression state and the incidence of COVID-19 is investigated. In May 2020, 500 SLE patients registered in the database of Golestan Rheumatology Research Center (Golestan province, Iran) were selected for this cross-sectional study. Using a questionnaire, patients were contacted by telephone to collect data including demographic characteristics, disease status, drug use, and new clinical symptoms. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24.0. Of the 500 selected patients, 355 responded to the phone calls and subsequently enrolled in the study. Among the enrolled patients, 25 were classified as COVID-19 positive, including eight hospitalized patients, of which two required intensive care and subsequently died. COVID-19 incidence was significantly lower in the immunosuppressed patients (2.2% vs. 10%, P=0.01). There was no significant correlation between hydroxychloroquine consumption and the incidence of COVID-19 in SLE patients. Fever, fatigue, dyspnea, and dry cough were the most common clinical symptoms. Our results showed that COVID-19 incidence was lower in immunosuppressed than the non-immunosuppressed SLE patients. Further studies are required to substantiate the role of immunosuppression in the development of COVID-19. A preprint version of this study was published at https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-78704/v1 with doi: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-78704/v1.

Periodontal Condition in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effect of Anti-rheumatic Drugs

Statement of the Problem:

Rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory diseases with a possible bidirectional relationship. This link may be affected by many factors like drug consumption.

Purpose:

This study was designed to evaluate the periodontal condition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, considering the effect of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Materials and Method:

This case-control study included 25 newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients with negative history of taking anti-rheumatic drugs, 25 patients who received anti-rheumatic drugs for more than three years and 50 healthy individuals as a control group. Periodontal indices, including plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and rheumatologic indices were recorded and compared between these groups.

Results:

Rheumatoid arthritis patients were significantly more affected by periodontitis compared with healthy subjects (p= 0.006). There was no significant difference in rheumatologic indices between patients with and without periodontitis. Clinical attachment loss in old rheumatoid arthritis patients and gingival index in newly diagnosed ones were significantly more compared to the control group (p= 0.003 and p< 0.001 respectively). We could not find a linear relationship between the severity of rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis (p= 0.1, r= -0.224).

Conclusion:

Periodontitis and clinical attachment loss were more in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than the healthy group, especially in drug consumers. Gingival index in patients without the history of consuming anti-rheumatic drugs was significantly higher than those who were drug consumers, indicating the effect of the medications on the signs of inflammation.

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube- and graphene-reinforced Araldite LY/Aradur HY 5052 resin epoxy composites: a molecular dynamics study

Mechanical properties of graphene- and carbon nanotube-reinforced Araldite LY 5052/Aradur HY 5052 epoxy resins were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The COMPASS II force field was implemented in the simulations. Mechanical properties of the reinforced araldite/aradur resin epoxy system with CNT reveal the highest Young's, bulk, and shear modulus alongside the lowest Poisson ratio for 4.5% wt CNT; as Young's modulus was enhanced from 3.36 to 4.92 GPa. For values higher than 4.5% CNT, improving trend of properties ceases. This is due to the fact that in higher percentages of CNTs, agglomeration happens, which leads to the lower strength of the system. The results also indicated that by increasing weight percentage of CNT, the glass transition temperature of the system increases. Moreover, for higher diameters of CNT, not only have mechanical properties been improved but the glass transition temperature has also been enhanced. The results of the graphene-reinforced resin epoxy system imply that optimum desirable properties are acquired in lower concentrations of graphene. As in higher densities, the tendency of graphene sheets to form van der Waals bonds leads to the agglomeration in the system, worsening the properties. The sample with 8.8% graphene holds the highest values of Young's and shear modulus, whereas the highest bulk modulus and lowest density is for the sample with 4.6% graphene. Glass transition temperatures of the samples increased by adding graphene overall. However, samples with more than 8.8% did not follow the same rising trend.

An ultra-sensitive impedimetric immunosensor for detection of the serum oncomarker CA-125 in ovarian cancer patients

Effective treatment of ovarian cancer depends upon the early detection of the malignancy. Here, we report on the development of a new nanostructured immunosensor for early detection of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125). A gold electrode was modified with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and then consecutively conjugated with silica coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP@SiO2), CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and anti-CA-125 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The engineered MPA|AuNP@SiO2|QD|mAb immunosensor was characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Successive conjugation of AuNP@SiO2, CdSe QD and anti-CA-125 mAb onto the gold electrode resulted in sensitive detection of CA-125 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0016 U mL(-1) and a linear detection range (LDR) of 0-0.1 U mL(-1). Based on the high sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor, we propose this highly stable and reproducible biosensor for the early detection of CA-125.

Association of the CTLA-4 1722TC polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important negative regulator of Tcell responses. The -1722TC polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk, but related results from previous studies have been inconsistent. We carried out a metaanalysis to assess this association more precisely.

METHODS

A systematic search through PubMed, Science Direct, and OVID, Iran doc, Iranmedex and SID (Scientific Information Database) databases was performed with the last search updated on December 30, 2011. The odds of ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess the strength of the association. We evaluated both fixed and random effect models, depending on the presence of between-study heterogeneity. The analyses were conducted using STATA software, version 11.0.

RESULTS

A total of 9 independent studies on the CTLA-4 gene -1722TC polymorphism and SLE, including 1422 cases and 1417 controls were used in this meta-analysis. In the present meta-analysis, we found a significant association between -1722TC polymorphism and SLE risk in the overall analysis (TT versus

TC/CC

OR=1.18, 95%CI 0.84-1.66, p= 0.32; TT/TC versus CC: OR = 2.06, 95%CI 1.07-3.99, p= 0.03; TT versus CC: OR = 2.32, 95%CI 1.62-3.32, p< 0.001; TC versus CC: OR = 1.99, 95%CI 1.42-2.78, p<0.001; TT versus TC: OR = 1.2, 95%CI 0.86-1.66,p= 0.28; T versus C: OR = 1.22, 95%CI 0.91-1.64,p= 0.16). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, -1722TC polymorphism was significantly associated with SLE risk in Asian population.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests a significant association between -1722TC polymorphism and SLE susceptibility. Large-scale and well-designed case-control studies are necessary to validate the risk identified in the present meta-analysis.

Prevalence of Smoking among the Students resided at Dormitories in Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Introduction: Cigarette smoking leads to harmful physical and emotional problems and also is a predisposed factor for the addiction. The aim of this study was an attempt to determine the rate of prevalence and causes of smoking among the students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences who resided in the dormitories. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study conducted among the resident students of dormitories in 2010. The sample size consisted of all the university dormitory students. The data gathered using a validated and reliable questionnaire. The data analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests including Chi-square, Logistic regression and Independent t-test. Results: Of 669 students, 538 (80%) of them filled out the questionnaires completely. 67.3% (362 subjects) were female. 6.1% (33 students) were smoker and 83.5% of them had experiences of cigarette smoking. The most important reasons for the smoking tendency were “having a smoker friend in 33%, a personal interest 27% and as hobby in 24% of the cases”. There were significant relation between “age, sex, region and year of education” with smoking (P<0.05). However, we couldn’t find any significant relation between major and marital status with cigarette smoking (P>0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated low prevalence of cigarette smoking among the students. However, preventive measures should be taken to conduit youth toward healthier behaviors. It seems parental control and monitoring children’s friend finding are crucial issue.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i4.16727 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(4) 2014 p.460-465

DFT Study of NBO, NICS and 14N NQR Parameters of Guanine Tautomers in the Gas Phase

The NBO (natural bond orbital analysis), NICS (nucleus independent chemical shift) and 14N NQR (nuclear quadrupole resonance) parameters of the most stable tautomers of guanine in the gas phase were predicted using density functional theory (DFT) method. The NBO analysis indicated the π clouds in the both considered heterocyclic ring contained six electrons, and these tautomers have the aromatic character. The NICS study utilizing the gauge-invariant atomic orbital (GIAO) method showed that there are diatropic currents in the heterocyclic rings of the tautomers, so we determined the order of overall aromaticity of these tautomers. The results of NQR parameter calculations showed that the p character value of lone pair electrons of nitrogens, the related occupancies and degree of participation of lone pair electrons of nitrogens in the diatropic currents of ring or intramolecular interactions are effective on nuclear quadrupole coupling constant.