The Value of Lung Injury Score in Assessing the Outcome of Patients with Rib Fracture

Background and Purpose:   

Management of rib fractures constitutes a major part of the trauma workload of any unit. Rib fractures result in disrupted chest wall mechanics and ventilatory insufficiency. The ability of a lung injury scoring system to predict the degree of respiratory dysfunction after rib fractures was evaluated.     

Effect of nitration on protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity in neuronal cell membranes of newborn piglets

Protein tyrosine phosphatase predominantly determines the status of protein tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins and controls the survival and death of neurons. Previous studies have shown that protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is decreased during hypoxia in cortical membranes of the newborn piglet. We have also shown that nitric oxide (NO) free radicals are generated during hypoxia, and may result in modification of protein tyrosine phosphatase via peroxynitrite-mediated modification. The present study tests the hypothesis that the hypoxia-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is NO-mediated. To test this hypothesis, in vitro experiments were conducted by measuring protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the presence of an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or peroxynitrite. Since 3-nitrotyrosine is produced as a consequence of peroxynitrite reactions, we have also examined the effect of 3-nitrotyrosine on protein phophatase activity. Cerebral cortical P(2) membranes were prepared from seven normoxic newborn piglets and each sample was divided into three aliquots: a control group, a SNP group (exposed to 200 microM SNP), and a peroxynitrite group (exposed to 100 microM peroxynitrite). Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was determined spectrophotometrically in the presence or absence of 2 microM bpV(phen), a highly selective inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase. The protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was 198+/-25 nmol/mg protein/h in the normoxic group, 177+/-30 nmol/mg protein/h in the SNP group (p=NS versus normoxic) and 77+/-20 nmol/mg protein/h in the peroxynitrite group (p<0.001 versus normoxic). The results show that peroxynitrite but not SNP exposure results in decreased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in vitro. Furthermore 3-nitrotyrosine (100 microm), a product of peroxynitrite, decreased the enzyme activity from 926+/-102 to 200+/-77 (p<0.001). We conclude that protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation is mediated by peroxynitrite. We propose that hypoxia-induced NO production leading to peroxynitrite formation is a potential mechanism of protein tyrosine phosphatase inactivation in vivo. The NO-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity, leading to Bcl-2 protein phosphorylation and loss of its antiapoptotic activity may be a NO-mediated mechanism of programmed cell death in the hypoxic brain.     

Evaluation of cytotoxic, oxidative stress, proinflammatory and genotoxic responses of micro- and nano-particles of dolomite on human lung epithelial cells A(549)

Dolomite is a natural mineral of great industrial importance and used worldwide, thus millions of workers are at risk of occupational exposure. Its toxicity is however, meagerly documented. In the present investigation, a dolomite powder obtained from its milling unit was analyzed by some standard methods namely, optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Results showed that dolomite powder contained particles of different shapes and size both microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs), suggesting potential occupational exposure of these particles. An attempt was therefore, made to investigate dolomite toxicity in a particle size-dependent manner in human lung epithelial cells A(549). The comparative toxicity evaluation of MPs and NPs was carried out by assessing their effects on cell viability, membrane damage, glutathione, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), micronucleus (MN) and proinflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These markers of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and inflammation were assayed in cells exposed to MPs and NPs in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Invariably, their toxic effects were dose-and time-dependent while NPs in general were significantly more toxic. Notably, NPs caused oxidative stress, genotoxicity and inflammatory responses, as seen by significant induction of ROS, LPO, MN, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Thus, the study tends to suggest that separate health safety standards would be required for micrometer and nanometer scale particles of dolomite.     

Fertility profile of post Fourniers gangrene patients: Does neoscrotal environment alter fertility?

ObjectiveTo ascertain changes in fertility in post Fournier's gangrene patients on account of changed scrotal environment.MethodsSixty post Fournier's patients were as cases and 50 non Fournier's individuals aptlyserved as controls. All subjects were followed up for 1 year. Aspects of fertility were investigated by means of a seminogram at 6 months and analysis for volume, viscosity, sperm concentration, motility and morphology according to WHO guidelines was done. Ability of the couples to conceive children in 1 year was also noted. The control group was investigated similarly and values were compared for significance.ResultsThe seminogram results were found out to be highly significant as there was marked difference in values (chi-square value 6.28, P-value< 0.012) whereas there was no significant association between attaining pregnancy at 1 year in two groups.ConclusionsA readily palpable difference in the seminogram values observed in Fournier's patients is the most significant finding of this study. Also highlighted was that despite such seminogram changes the overall ability of the couple to achieve pregnancy remains unaltered.     

Development and validation of stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography method to analyze gatifloxacin in bulk drug and pharmaceutical preparations

Quantitative determination of gatifloxacin in tablets, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and eye-drops using a very simple and rapid chromatographic technique was validated and developed. Formulations were analyzed using a reverse phase SUPELCO® 516 C-18-DB, 50306-U, HPLC column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) and a mobile phase consisting of disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer:acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) and with orthophosphoric acid pH was adjusted to 3.3 The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and analyte concentrations were measured using a UV-detector at 293 nm. The analyses were performed at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C). Gatifloxacin was separated in all the formulations within 2.767 min. There were linear calibration curves over a concentration range of 4.0–40 μg.mL⁻¹ and correlation coefficients of 0.9998 with an average recovery above 99.91%. Detection of analyte from different dosage forms at the same R_t indicates the specificity and stability of the developed method.