In the present study, we aimed to estimate the concentrations of cytokines (interleukin 6, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α) and auto-antibodies (rheumatoid factor IgM isotype, IgM-RF, antinuclear auto-antibodies, ANA, anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies IgG isotype, IgG anti-CCP3.1, anti-cardiolipin IgG isotype, IgG anti-aCL) in serum of patients with eRA (early rheumatoid arthritis) and HCVrA (hepatitis C virus-related arthropathy) and to assess the utility of IL-6, TNF-α together with IgG anti-CCP and IgM-RF in distinguishing between patients with true eRA and HCVrA, in the idea of using them as differential immunomarkers. Serum samples were collected from 54 patients (30 diagnosed with eRA-subgroup 1 and 24 with HCVrA-subgroup 2) and from 28 healthy control persons. For the evaluation of serum concentrations of studied cytokines and auto-antibodies, we used immunoenzimatique techniques. The serum concentrations of both proinflammatory cytokines were statistically significantly higher in patients of subgroup 1 and subgroup 2, compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Our study showed statistically significant differences of the mean concentrations only for ANA and IgG anti-CCP between subgroup 1 and subgroup 2. We also observed that IL-6 and TNF-α better correlated with auto-antibodies in subgroup 1 than in subgroup 2. In both subgroups of patients, ROC curves indicated that IL-6 and TNF-α have a higher diagnostic utility as markers of disease. In conclusion, we can say that, due to high sensitivity for diagnostic accuracy, determination of serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α, possibly in combination with auto-antibodies, could be useful in the diagnosis and distinguishing between patients with true eRA and HCV patients with articular manifestation and may prove useful in the monitoring of the disease course.

The visual evoked potentials technique records the cerebral bioelectric activity generated by light stimulation. Evoked potentials is a good method of assessing the electrical response of the brain to different stimuli and has been used extensively in the study of brain disturbances. We registered VEP on 18 hyperthyroid and 18 hypothyroid patients, without other endocrine, metabolic, ophthalmologic or neurological illnesses, the 2 groups having practically identical ages, but sex repartition, illness age and treatment duration being statistically different (p[0.001). Hormonal, radiological, biochemical dosages and physiological paraclinic determinations were performed on all 36 subjects, through classical methods, and VEP recordings, with a 4 channel polygraph through pattern reversal stimulation (1 Hz), measuring all parameters (latency, amplitude, duration, surface, steepness etc.) of N75 and P100 waves. Between groups, the recorded hormone levels and other recordings showed great differences, very highly statistically significant (p[0.001), only arterial pressures being just statistically significant (p[0.05). The Pearson�s r correlation coefficients indicated extremely high correlations (r=0.90-0.98) between all parameters. Between the 2 groups, hypothyroid patients had latencies of P100 wave higher with 17.88% (p=0.0028) and of the N75 wave with 9.98% (p=0.016), and the duration of the N75 wave lower with 26.37% (p=0.026), the other parameters of VEP waves modifying up to 52.35%, not statistically sgnificant due to high standard deviations. The duration of N75 correlates with the majority of humoral-paraclinical parameters, indicating a functional interdependency between them and the function of the cortex. The ratio of the amplitudes and of the areas of P100/N75 indicate a severe inhibition to hypothyroid patients, a precisely quantified reduction of the cerebral activity.

Dyes are an important class of natural and synthetic compounds, recently studied as potential anticancer drugs. Among various natural dye molecules, Curcumin was extensively studied in treatment of malignant gliomas, a highly incurable disease. Curcumin was reported to induce cell death in malignant gliomas by induction autophagy and apoptosis. We have previously reported that Helianthin, a synthetic dye compound, also induced apoptotic cell death in high grade glioma cells. In this study we evaluated the antiproliferative and the apoptotic effect of Curcumin and Helianthin on a human low passage glioblastoma cell line. We found that both compounds displayed antiproliferative properties on glioblastoma cells, however, at equimolar concentrations, Helianthin induced more cytotoxic effect than Curcumin. IC50 value is considered a good indicator of drug efficacy. We found that Helianthin required a lower concentration to achieve IC50 (16.9.735 �14.8 mM) than Curcumin (68.5 �12.3 mM). We also found that Curcumin and Helianthin treatment induced caspase 3, 8 and 9 activation in glioblastoma cells. This study may lead to a widespread search for dye agents that may represent an untapped source of drugs for cancer treatment.

Imaging techniques play an essential role in the diagnosis, staging and establishing the treatment protocols in pancreatic cancer. Our proposed study explores and improves recent discoveries in the field of pancreatic cancer, especially relying on complex imaging techniques such as Computer Tomography (CT), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MR 3T), Ultrasonography (US) and Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS). In the case of pancreatic tumors, regardless of their origin, imaging exams also allow the evaluation of local and distant extension, with important prognostic and treatment ramifications. CT exams alongside RM and EUS offer a highly sensible and specific diagnosis of pancreatic tumors, with the added advantage of concomitant evaluation of adjacent parenchymatous abdominal organs.

Anemia associated with ribavirin (RBV) and interferon therapy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C is a hemolytic, multifactorial adverse effect, in direct correlation with the RBV dose. Additionally, the anemic syndrome is worsened by the interferon-induced bone marrow suppression of erythroid precursors. The resulting anemia is associated with low production of erythropoietin, similar to anemia seen in HIV-infected patients or in those with cancer. Our study was performed on a group of 28 patients with viral hepatitis C treated with 3 MU interferon alfa 3 times a week and RBV 1000-1200 mg/day for 12 months. A normochromic normocytic anemia was observed, requiring a reduction of the RBV dose to 600 mg/day if the hemoglobin was below 10 g/dL and interrupted if the hemoglobin level was below 8.5 g/dL. In this case, reversibility can occur within a time interval of 4-8 weeks after discontinuation of treatment.