The value of honey dressings in pilonidal cyst healing: a prospective randomized single-center trial.

Background: Honey is described as a wound healing agent. Many virtues have been attributed to it, in particular, antibacterial properties. The aim of our study was to evaluate its value in healing of wounds after wide excision on pilonidal cyst healing.

Accuracy of point-of-care HIV and CD4 field testing by lay healthcare workers in the Botswana Combination Prevention Project.

Accurate HIV and CD4 testing are critical in program implementation, with HIV misdiagnosis having serious consequences at both the client and/or community level. We implemented a comprehensive training and Quality Assurance (QA) program to ensure accuracy of point-of-care HIV and CD4 count testing by lay counsellors during the Botswana Combination Prevention Project (BCPP). We compared the performance of field testing by lay counsellors to results from an accredited laboratory to ascertain accuracy of testing.

Effect of empagliflozin on ectopic fat stores and myocardial energetics in type 2 diabetes: the EMPACEF study.

Background: Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that has demonstrated cardiovascular and renal protection in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesized that empaglifozin (EMPA) could modulate ectopic fat stores and myocardial energetics in high-fat-high-sucrose (HFHS) diet mice and in type 2 diabetics (T2D).

Methods: C57BL/6 HFHS mice (n = 24) and T2D subjects (n = 56) were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with EMPA (30 mg/kg in mice, 10 mg/day in humans) or with placebo.

In vitro dimerization of human RIO2 kinase.

RIO proteins form a conserved family of atypical protein kinases. RIO2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase/ATPase involved in pre-40S ribosomal maturation. Current crystal structures of archaeal and fungal Rio2 proteins report a monomeric form of the protein.

Active cushing syndrome patients have increased ectopic fat deposition and bone marrow fat content compared to cured patients and healthy subjects: a pilot 1H-MRS study.

Objective: Glucocorticoid excess is one of the most important causes of bone disorders. Bone marrow fat (BMF) has been identified as a l new mediator of bone metabolism. Cushing syndrome (CS), is a main regulator of adipose tissue distribution but its impact on BMF is unknown.

One-year impact of bariatric surgery on serum anti-Mullerian-hormone levels in severely obese women.

Introduction: Although bariatric surgery seems to increase spontaneous fertility by improving ovulatory function in young women, its impact on ovarian reserve remains largely unknown.

Objective: To evaluate changes in serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in reproductive-age severely obese women after bariatric surgery (BS).

Methods: AMH levels were measured retrospectively in 39 women (mean age 34.

Treatment tolerance and patient-reported outcomes favor online hemodiafiltration compared to high-flux hemodialysis in the elderly.

Large cohort studies suggest that high convective volumes associated with online hemodiafiltration may reduce the risk of mortality/morbidity compared to optimal high-flux hemodialysis. By contrast, intradialytic tolerance is not well studied. The aim of the FRENCHIE (French Convective versus Hemodialysis in Elderly) study was to compare high-flux hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration in terms of intradialytic tolerance.

Health outcomes and the transition experience of HIV-infected adolescents after transfer to adult care in Québec, Canada.

Background: Little is known on outcomes after transition to adult care among adolescents with perinatal HIV infection. Though there is data from other chronic pediatric diseases suggesting increased morbidity and mortality following transfer to adult care, this has not well been studied among the first wave of survivors of perinatal HIV infection. The primary objective of this study was to determine outcomes after transition to adult care among a cohort of HIV-infected adolescents in Québec, Canada.

Early changes in body weight and blood pressure are associated with mortality in incident dialysis patients.

Background: While much research is devoted to identifying novel biomarkers, addressing the prognostic value of routinely measured clinical parameters is of great interest. We studied early blood pressure (BP) and body weight (BW) trajectories in incident haemodialysis patients and their association with all-cause mortality.

Methods: In a cohort of 357 incident patients, we obtained all records of BP and BW during the first 90 days on dialysis (over 12 800 observations) and analysed trajectories using penalized B-splines and mixed linear regression models.

Cardiovascular risk stratification in hemodialysis patients in the era of highly sensitive troponins: should we choose between hs-troponin I and hs-troponin T?

Background: New highly sensitive (hs) assays have challenged the interpretation of cardiac troponins (cTn). The present study was designed to evaluate simultaneously conventional cTnT and cTnI together with their corresponding highly sensitive determinations in stable hemodialysis (HD) patients. Ability of cTn to stratify HD patient risk was assessed.

[Hemolytic anemia due to naphthalene poisoning].

Introduction: Naphthalene ingestion is a rare cause of hemolysis.

Case Report: We report a 33-year-old woman, originating from the Comoros, hospitalized for intense fatigue associated with delirium, fever and jaundice, three days after ritual ingestion of naphthalene. Biochemical parameters showed marked hemolysis.

The Young and the Resistant: HIV-Infected Adolescents at the Time of Transfer to Adult Care.

Combined antiretroviral therapy allows children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to reach adulthood. We studied 45 adolescents at the time of transfer to adult care. Despite universal healthcare access, over two-thirds of the adolescents were failing treatment, which was manifested by detectable HIV-1 viral load, CD4 counts <200 cells/ mm(3), and/or triple-class drug resistance.

A combined index of cardiac biomarkers as a risk factor for early cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiac biomarkers, including cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been associated with poor outcome in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study was designed to evaluate these biomarkers as biological risk factors for early and late mortality in HD patients. In addition, a multimarker approach including inflammatory index was performed in order to improve the cardiovascular risk assessment of these patients.

An essential role for Clp1 in assembly of polyadenylation complex CF IA and Pol II transcription termination.

Polyadenylation is a co-transcriptional process that modifies mRNA 3'-ends in eukaryotes. In yeast, CF IA and CPF constitute the core 3'-end maturation complex. CF IA comprises Rna14p, Rna15p, Pcf11p and Clp1p.

Randomized equivalence study evaluating the possibility of switching hemodialysis patients receiving subcutaneous human erythropoietin directly to intravenous darbepoetin alfa.

Background: Darbepoetin alfa is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) used either intravenously or subcutaneously with no dose penalty; however, the direct switch from subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to intravenous darbepoetin has barely been studied.

Objective: To establish the equivalence of a direct switch from subcutaneous rHuEPO to intravenous darbepoetin versus an indirect switch from subcutaneous rHuEPO to intravenous darbepoetin after 2 months of subcutaneous darbepoetin in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: In this open, randomized, 6-month, prospective study, patients with end-stage kidney disease who were on hemodialysis were randomized into 2 groups: direct switch from subcutaneous rHuEPO to intravenous darbepoetin (group 1) and indirect switch from subcutaneous rHuEPO to intravenous darbepoetin after 2 months of subcutaneous darbepoetin (group 2).

Enzyme structural plasticity and the emergence of broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance.

The emergence of multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria is a worldwide health issue. Recently, clinical variants of a single antibiotic-modifying acetyltransferase, AAC(6')-Ib-a variant of aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase-have been identified that confer extended resistance to most aminoglycosides and, more surprisingly, to structurally unrelated fluoroquinolones. The corresponding gene is carried by mobile genetic elements and is present in most multi-resistant pathogenic strains, hence making it a serious threat to current therapies.

Fine-tuning of the prediction of mortality in hemodialysis patients by use of cytokine proteomic determination.

Background And Objectives: Inflammation-induced atherosclerosis and enhanced susceptibility to infection are linked to immune dysfunction and account for an important part of mortality in hemodialysis patients. This 4-yr prospective study aimed to use cytokine proteomic determination for predicting cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Levels of 12 cytokines were measured using a proteomic biochip system in 134 patients who were on stable hemodialysis and compared with a control group of 150 healthy volunteers.

Association of aminothiols with the clinical outcome in hemodialysis patients: comparison of chromatography and immunoassay for homocysteine determination.

Background: Controversial results on hyperhomocysteinemia and cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis (HD) could be due in part to the methodology used for homocysteine (Hcy) determination.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of the method used for Hcy determination (chromatography or immunoassay) with regard to the association of Hcy with cardiovascular mortality rate in HD patients in a 3-year prospective study.

Methods: A total of 162 patients undergoing HD were included in a cohort study.

The role of mineral metabolism and inflammation on dialysis vascular access failure.

Thrombosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the leading cause of vascular access (VA) loss usually due to silent stenosis. Therefore, assessment of relevant risk factors of VA monitoring may provide insight into potential therapeutic targets for stenosis and thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cardiovascular risk factors (including inflammation and mineral metabolism dysfunctions) on the failure of internal AVF in HD patients.

Plasma osteoprotegerin is associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Expression of bone proteins resulting from transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblasts suggests that vascular calcifications are a bioactive process. Regulating molecules such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) could play a key role in bone-vascular calcification imbalance. This study investigated the contribution of these proteins as well as mineral metabolism disorders in hemodialysis (HD) patient outcome.

Association between novel indices of malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome and cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Inflammation and malnutrition are recognized as important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Owing to substantial short-term variability of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), more reliable markers of malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome should be sought with stronger associations with the risk of CVD in HD patients. We therefore explored the clinical relevance of a composite inflammatory index (prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index [PINI]) and of muscle protein mass indicators, derived from creatinine kinetics.

Measurement of circulating troponin Ic enhances the prognostic value of C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) levels are considered an important diagnostic tool in acute coronary events. They could be of predictive value in haemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the relationship between cTnI and the HD-induced inflammatory state remains unclear.