PATIENTS AND METHODS: PM reports from the previous 16-year period were reviewed. Cases of DRD were extracted. All available demographic, clinical, and autopsy data including laboratory analyses was retrieved.
RESULTS: 9/1376 (0.7%) DRD cases were identified. This was attributed to Diabetic Ketoacidosis in 7 and to Death in Bed Syndrome in 2. 4/9 cases were known diabetic and on insulin; whilst in 5/9 cases the diagnosis of DM was at PM. The mean age was 11.6 years (range 2.5-15). At PM, 4 cases were undernourished. The histology demonstrated pancreatic changes in keeping with DM in 3/9 and unremarkable pancreatic findings in 6/9. 3 cases also had autoimmune thyroiditis (1 also had myocarditis and Armanni-Ebstein nephropathy). Toxicological and biochemical analysis showed raised: β-hydroxybutyrate in 6, ketone bodies in 5 cases and raised HbA1c in 3c.
CONCLUSION: Type 1 DM is an infrequent but yet potentially preventable cause of death in children. Our findings highlight the value of routine biochemical and toxicological analysis in all PM examinations of infants and children dying suddenly and unexpectedly.
CASE REPORT: The patient is a 41-year-old lady who suffered first trimester miscarriages in all her thirteen pregnancies. The relevant clinical investigations revealed neither significant nor helpful findings in determining the cause of recurrent miscarriages. Histological findings in each except one of the submitted conceptual tissue showed similar features of histiocytic aggregates primarily within the intervillous spaces, a characteristic description of CHI. One of the samples showed degenerative changes.
DISCUSSION: Practicing pathologists are not familiar with the histological features of CHI and this may be a potential pitfall in routine examination of POCs. Recognising this entity allows for accurate diagnosis and hence better management. The aetiology remains unclear, although an immunopathological basis are being explored.
OBJECTIVE: Capitalizing on these therapeutic effects, this study investigated for the first time the potential of VCO on memory improvement in vivo.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats (7-8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = six per group). Treatment groups were administered with 1, 5 and 10 g/kg VCO for 31 days by oral gavages. The cognitive function of treated-rats were assessed using the Morris Water Maze Test. Brains were removed, homogenized and subjected to biochemical analyses of acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx)], lipid peroxidase [malondialdehyde (MDA)] as well as nitric oxide (NO). α-Tocopherol (αT; 150 mg/kg) was also included for comparison purposes.
RESULTS: VCO-fed Wistar rats exhibited significant (p 33%) and NO (≥ 34%). Overall, memory improvement by VCO was comparable to αT.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: VCO has the potential to be used as a memory enhancer, the effect of which was mediated, at least in part, through enhanced cholinergic activity, increased antioxidants level and reduced oxidative stress.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley female rats were ovariectomized or sham-operated and divided into four groups: sham-operated rats fed a normal diet (ND); ovariectomized rats fed a normal diet (OVX-ND); sham-operated rats fed a HFSD; ovariectomized rats fed a high-fat style diet (OVX-HFSD). Mean blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were measured on weeks 0 and 10. The rats were sacrificed 10 weeks after initiation of ND or HFSD, the kidney and liver were harvested for histological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies.
Results: HFSD-fed rats presented a significantly greater adiposity index compared to their ND counterparts. Liver index, fasting blood glucose and mean blood pressure was increased in OVX-HFSD rats compared to HFSD rats at study terminal. Histological and morphometric studies showed focal interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration in the kidney of HFSD rats with mesangial expansion being greater in the OVX-HFSD rats. Both HFSD fed groups showed increased expressions of renal inflammatory markers, namely TNF-alpha, IL-6 and MCP-1, and infiltrating M1 macrophages with some influence of ovarian hormonal status. HFSD-feeding also caused hepatocellular steatosis which was aggravated in ovariectomized rats fed the same diet. Furthermore, hepatocellular ballooning was observed only in the OVX-HFSD rats. Similarly, HFSD-fed rats showed increased expressions of the inflammatory markers and M1 macrophage infiltration in the liver; however, only IL-6 expression was magnified in the OVX-HFSD.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that some of the structural changes and inflammatory response in the kidney and liver of rats fed a HFSD are exacerbated by ovariectomy.
METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study uses data from the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) from January 2007 to December 2018.
RESULTS: Of 21 735 psoriasis patients, 34 (0.16%) had coexistent LE. The male to female ratio among psoriasis patients with coexistent LE was 1:5.8 versus 1.3:1 in patients with psoriasis but without LE. Nearly 70% presented with LE preceding psoriasis. Psoriasis patients with LE had an earlier age of psoriasis onset (27.56 ± 11.51 versus 33.31 ± 16.94 years, P = 0.006), a higher rate of psoriatic arthropathy (26.5% versus 13.0%, P = 0.02), and a significantly greater impairment of quality of life (Dermatology Quality of Life Index >10; 57.6% versus 40.3%, P = 0.04) compared with psoriasis patients without LE. The majority (87.5%) had systemic LE. The incidences of lupus nephritis (72.7% versus 40%) and hematological abnormalities (50% versus 20%) were higher among patients with LE preceding psoriasis compared with those with psoriasis preceding LE. Antinuclear antibody and double-stranded DNA were positive in 59.4% and 28.1% of psoriasis patients with LE, respectively. Hydroxychloroquine triggered the onset of psoriasis in 7 (24.1%) patients. Patients with LE were more likely to receive systemic treatment for psoriasis compared with those without LE (30.3% versus 14.2%, P = 0.008).
CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis patients with coexistent LE were uncommon, displayed a female preponderance, were more likely to have joint involvement, and had greater quality of life impairment than those without LE. LE preceded psoriasis in most of these patients, and systemic LE was the most common subtype.