Plasma-Derived Hemopexin as a Candidate Therapeutic Agent for Acute Vaso-Occlusion in Sickle Cell Disease: Preclinical Evidence.

People living with sickle cell disease (SCD) face intermittent acute pain episodes due to vaso-occlusion primarily treated palliatively with opioids. Hemolysis of sickle erythrocytes promotes release of heme, which activates inflammatory cell adhesion proteins on endothelial cells and circulating cells, promoting vaso-occlusion. In this study, plasma-derived hemopexin inhibited heme-mediated cellular externalization of P-selectin and von Willebrand factor, and expression of IL-8, VCAM-1, and heme oxygenase-1 in cultured endothelial cells in a dose-responsive manner.

Achieving coronal plane alignment in total knee arthroplasty through modified preoperative planning based on long-leg radiographs: a prospective study.

Purpose: This prospective study was undertaken to examine whether the desired coronal plane alignment of limb and prosthetic components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) could be achieved precisely using conventional jig-based methods by modifying the preoperative planning of bone resection utilizing long-leg radiographs (LLRs).

Methods: The study included consecutive 245 TKA procedures. Pre- and postoperative radiological variables, i.

HIV-1 gp120 induces expression of IL-6 through a nuclear factor-kappa B-dependent mechanism: suppression by gp120 specific small interfering RNA.

In addition to its role in virus entry, HIV-1 gp120 has also been implicated in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for gp120-mediated neuroinflammation remain undefined. In view of increased levels of IL-6 in HIV-positive individuals with neurological manifestations, we sought to address whether gp120 is involved in IL-6 over-expression in astrocytes.

Effect of alcohol on drug efflux protein and drug metabolic enzymes in U937 macrophages.

Background: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes regulate the bioavailability of HIV-1 antiretroviral therapeutic drugs, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and protease inhibitors (PIs). They are also involved in regulating, and responding to, oxidative stress in various tissues and organs including liver. This study is designed to assess the effect of alcohol on the ABCC1 and CYP enzymes involved in the metabolism of NNRTIs and PIs (CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4) and oxidative stress (CYP1A1, CYP2A6, and CYP2E1) in U937 macrophages.

Cerebellar ataxia following prolonged use of metronidazole: case report and literature review.

Cerebellar toxicity is a rare adverse event in patients treated with metronidazole. Here, we present a patient who developed cerebellar toxicity accompanied by objective abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging, and review the literature on this unusual reaction. Discontinuation of metronidazole almost always results in resolution of symptoms and structural lesions.