Epstein Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance. Clinicians should be aware of this entity when a young patient presents with renal failure and thrombocytopenia.”
“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, of which amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a predictor. The objective of the study was to
investigate associations between NT-proBNP and age, gender, markers of inflammation, disease activity, and kidney function in RA patients, without co-morbidities potentially influencing NT-proBNP concentration. The study group consisted of 90 patients with RA, without clinically relevant coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, advanced EGFR activity chronic kidney disease. The comprehensive assessment of clinical and laboratory parameters of inflammation, disease activity, and kidney function was performed. Plasma samples were frozen for NT-proBNP analysis. Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) was determined by high-resolution B-mode
ultrasonography. The mean NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher in a group of RA patients with high disease activity (DAS28>5.1) and in a group of patients with subclinical atherosclerosis diagnosed by cIMT >= 0.6 mm. In all RA patients, NT-proBNP correlated positively with the age, C-reactive protein, learn more erythrocyte sedimentation rate, cIMT, tricipital skin fold and negatively with hand-grip strength, hemoglobin, red blood cell Nepicastat in vivo count, albumin. In the group of women with RA, we found significant positive correlation between
NT-proBNP and cystatin-C. Also, patients with NT-proBNP level >= 100 pg/ml had significantly higher cystatin-C than those with lower NT-proBNP. NT-proBNP level, in RA patients without co-morbidities potentially influencing this level, is correlated with age, disease activity markers of inflammation, and subclinical renal impairment. It means that risk of CV disorders is higher in older patients with more active RA.”
“This article reports on the removal of colloidal suspensions of kaolinite, bentonite, and alumina using chitosan sulfate (ChS). ChS was synthesized by partial introduction of sulfate groups in the chitosan (Ch) structure. The polyampholyte (chitosan sulfate) shows variable charge depending on the pH of the solution. ChS was characterized by FTIR, (13)C-NMR, elemental analysis, and potentiometric titrations. The ChS coagulation-flocculation capacity for kaolinite, bentonite, and alumina aqueous suspensions was systematically studied. The coagulation-flocculation process was carried out at various pH values and ChS concentrations. The pH range in which the largest ChS removal capacity was observed depended on particle type (4.5-5.5 for kaolinite, 4.5-7.0 for bentonite, and 7.0-8.0 for alumina).