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Objectives The impact of autoantibody profiles on the prognosis for idiopathic inflammatory myositis–associated interstitial lung disease (IIM-ILD) and myositis spectrum ILD with myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study examined whether serological profiles were associated with mortality or longitudinal lung function change. Methods The baseline clinical/demographic characteristics and follow-up lung function data of consecutive adult patients with IIM-ILD or interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) positive for MSAs (IPAF-MSA) were extracted from three hospitals. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to compare mortality between groups of patients with different autoantibodies. Regression models were used to analyse their lung function trends. Results Of the 430 included patients, 81% met the IIM criteria, and the remaining 19% were diagnosed with IPAF-MSA. On univariate analysis, the risk factors associated with mortality included higher age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and CRP; and lower BMI, baseline TLCO% and FEV1%. Compared with anti-MDA5 negativity, anti-MDA5 positivity (MDA5+) was associated with higher mortality in the first 3 months [hazard ratio (HR) 65.2, 95% CI 14.1, 302.0], while no significant difference was seen thereafter (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.14, 2.28). On multivariate analysis, combined anti-synthetase antibodies were associated with a reduced risk of mortality (HR 0.63), although individually, mortality was reduced in patients with anti-Jo1+ (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.4–0.87) and increased in patients with anti-PL7+ (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.44–2.99). Anti-MDA5+ was associated with slow improvement in %FVC over the first 3 years, while anti-PL7+ was linked with a slow decline from 12 months onwards. Conclusion Among the autoantibody profiles in myositis spectrum disorders, anti-MDA5+ and anti-PL7+ conferred higher mortality risks in patients with IIM-ILD. Survivors of an early peak of mortality in anti-MDA5+ disease appeared to have a favourable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of L-arginine (L-A) on cognitive hypofunctions induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG). Thirty-six male albino Wistar rats 10 weeks old (180 to 200g) were divided into 4 groups: Group I: received distilled water, group II received L-arginine (L-A) 500 mg/kg, group III received 2 mg/kg monosodium glutamate (MSG), group IV received L-arginine 500 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg monosodium glutamate by oral gavage for 10 days. Cognitive performance was assessed using novel object recognition (NOR) and Y-maze tests. The relative brain weight of experimental rats was recorded. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the brain homogenate as oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidants glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and dopamine (DA) levels were estimated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry to serotonin (S-2A) receptors and caspase-3 were performed. Results revealed that MSG can cause a decline in cognitive functions as evidenced by NOR and y-maze tests. Besides, it has a neurotoxic effect as evidenced by increasing MDA level and GPx activity, decreasing SOD and CAT activities, reduced DA level, histopathological alteration in the brain, decreased S-2A receptors, and increased apoptosis as demonstrated by promoted caspase-3. Treatment with L-A 500 mg/Kg BW ameliorated the neurophysiological effects of MSG through improving memory, decreasing MDA level, GPx activity, increasing SOD and CAT activities, increasing DA level, improving histoarchitecture of the brain, improving S-2A receptors and decreasing apoptosis ameliorating caspase-3 protein in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Teacher Education students' perceptions of Open Education Resources (OER), specifically, textbooks in language/literacy courses. Participants in the study are two-hundred and eleven pre-service teachers and undergraduate students at a university in the western United States that admits 46% first-generation college students. The pre-service teachers completed a presurvey about OER, studied in language/literacy courses using an Open Textbook (OTB), and completed a post-survey about their use of OER in the courses. Over the past two decades, the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing OER have been explored in research. Yet, there is a lack of research pertaining to language/literacy development courses in Teacher Education programs. Key findings of this study indicate that utilizing OER is new for many of the participants, the OTBs did assist them financially, and though some students chose not to read the text, the perceptions of OER were positive. The conclusion includes possible areas for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was attempted to figure out the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of cinnamon (CIN) and sesame oil on rats fed high-fat diet (HFD). It was conducted on 36 rats, divided into control (12) and high fed diet (24) for 7 weeks, and then 6 animals from each group were killed for collection of samples. The remaining rats of HFD group (18) were subdivided into three subgroups (6 rats for each): recovery (fed standard diet only), Cinnamon (CIN) group and sesame group. Lipid profile and glucose hemostasis, TNF-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected in all groups. The histology and immunohistochemistry of liver with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), in addition to DNA fragmentation assay were carried out. High fat diet (HFD) rats showed an increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, glucose, insulin resistance. Also, CRP and TNF-α in serum and immuneexpression of NF-kB in liver were elevated. Both CIN and sesame were completely restored LDL-c, glucose, HOMA -IR, CRP and TNF-α and partially restored cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and insulin resistance. CIN enhances HDL-C level. Histologically, lipid droplets, inflammatory and Kupffer cells were increased in HFD. The histological and immunohistochemical profiles were improved in CIN group and sesame group but CIN was much better than sesame. No DNA fragmentation was observed in any of the five groups, which indicated hypolipidemia however; CIN improves the histological profile more than sesame oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid complexes of trans-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane-N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid with Cr(III), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic measurements, IR, UV-Vis and mass spectroscopy. A detailed study of their thermal analysis was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To see the effects of age, gender and diabetes on serum lipid levels. Study type, settings and duration: Cross sectional analytical study conducted at PMRC Research Centre, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore from Jun-Dec 2011. Materials and Methods: One hundred type 2 diabetes mellitus and equal numbers of gender matched healthy controls were randomly selected for the study. After an overnight fasting, blood specimens were drawn for lipid profile where total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were measured by standard enzymatic endpoint methods and LDL-cholesterol by Friedweld's formula. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-15. Results Odd ratios of age for total cholesterol (OR 1.198); high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1.144); and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1.576) revealed that subjects aged 45 years or more had greater risk of having deranged lipid levels. Female gender had higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p 0.000); and triglycerides (p 0.001). Odd ratios of men for total cholesterol (OR 0.775); high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.183); and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.683) illustrated that men were significantly less prone to dyslipidemia than women. Odd ratio of diabetes for high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1.802) suggested that diabetics had 1.8 times more risk of having low high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions: Diabetic females over 45 years of age have significantly high chances of having disturbed or high lipid profile. Policy message: All persons in general and diabetics in particular over the age of 45 years should be screened for dyslipidemia and informed using behavior change communication to prevent disease complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]