Carnitine, valproate, and toxicity

Carnitine is an important nutrient that is present in the diet (particularly in meat and dairy products) and is synthesized from dietary amino acids. It functions to assist long-chain fatty acid metabolism and to regulate the ratio of free coenzyme A to acylcoenzyme A in the mitochondrion. Carnitine deficiency occurs in primary inborn errors of metabolism, in nutritional deficiency, and in various other disorders including antiepileptic drug therapy. Valproate therapy is often associated with decreased carnitine levels and occasionally with true carnitine deficiency. Some experimental and clinical evidence links valproate-induced carnitine deficiency with hepatotoxicity, but this evidence is limited and inconclusive. Carnitine supplementation has been useful in some studies, but these data are also limited. Young children with neurologic disabilities taking multiple antiepileptic drugs may have the greatest risk for carnitine deficiency. Measurement of carnitine levels appears warranted in these patients and in patients with symptoms and signs of possible carnitine deficiency.     

Neuroimaging in neuroendocrine diseases

The neuroimaging findings in diverse types of juxtasellar pathologic processes are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the role of CT in their diagnosis.     

Differential assessment of the health status of preschool children in risk groups]

Health status of the underschool children from the second health group, which with having some morphofunctional changes, (503 persons) was studied. The key changes were postural, cardiovascular, neuropsychic changes. The lysozyme level in saliva is the informative index related to the health status of underschool children.     

Indicators of mental and physical work capacity during reserpine treatment of patients with arterial hypertension working under neuro-emotional stress

The article deals with reserpine influence on mental and physical working capacity, psychic state and professionally relevant functions of memory and concentration in 36 male patients of 50 +/- 2.0 years of age suffering from arterial hypertension and engaged in professions characterized with extreme neuro-emotional stress conditions ( enterprise managers). It was shown that reserpine induced a stable and significant hypotensive effect, improved the physiological indices and physical working capacity, but hampered the mental and cognitive function activity, concentration and short-term memory. Reserpine cannot be recommended for drug therapy in out-patient departments in the treatment of the patient professionally engaged in stable emotional stress conditions.     

BJ-48, a novel thrombin-like enzyme from the Bothrops jararacussu venom with high selectivity for Arg over Lys in P1: Role of N-glycosylation in thermostability and active site accessibility.

BJ-48, a serine protease from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, was purified to homogeneity using affinity chromatography on p-aminobenzamidine-agarose followed by HPLC gel filtration. BJ-48 presented 52kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis and 48,036Da by electron spray mass spectrometry. The enzyme was shown to be highly glycosylated with 42% of N-linked carbohydrates composed of Fuc(1):GalN(4):GlcN(5):Gal(1):Man(2) and a high content of sialic acid residues (8-12%). BJ-48 had optimal esterase activity at pH 7.5 and displayed maximum catalytic rate at 50 degrees C. Its hydrolytic activity was strongly inhibited by aprotinin and dithiothreitol while N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, 6-aminocaproic acid, E-64 and soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) were ineffective. The kinetics of BJ-48 with chromogenic substrates revealed an unprecedented selectivity (10(4)-fold) for Arg over Lys in P1. BJ-48 proved to be a thrombin-like enzyme (TLE) with a specific fibrinogen-clotting activity of 73.4NIH units/mg. The TLE rapidly digested human fibrinogen Bbeta chain, but the Aalpha chain was cleaved specifically to release fibrinopeptide A with k(cat)/K(m)=2.1muM(-1)s(-1). The TLE showed no activity toward other thrombin substrates like protein C, protease-activated receptor-1 or inhibitors such as hirudin and antithrombin. A non-denaturing procedure using PNGase F and neuraminidase followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography was employed to obtain active BJ-48 forms with variable carbohydrate content. Compared to the native enzyme, total or partially deglycosylated BJ-48 forms presented up to 2-fold reduction in their specific activities upon heating at 55/65 degrees C or treatment with SBTI. These results point out a role for BJ-48 glycosylation in thermostability and controlling the access of some canonical protein inhibitors to the active site.     

Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Oxidative stress and increased inflammation have been reported to be increased in subjects with diabetes and to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction (MI). It is well recognized that red wine has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. We examined the effects of moderate red wine intake on echocardiographic parameters of functional cardiac outcome in addition to inflammatory cytokines and nitrotyrosine (oxidative stress marker), in subjects with diabetes after a first uncomplicated MI. Methods One hundred and fifteen subjects with diabetes who had sustained a first non‐fatal MI were randomized to receive a moderate daily amount of red wine (intervention group) or not (control group). Echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony, circulating levels of nitrotyrosine, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were investigated at baseline and 12 months after randomization. Results After 1 year of diet intervention, concentrations of nitrotyrosine (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.01), TNF‐α (P < 0.01), IL‐6 (P < 0.01) and IL‐18 (P < 0.01) were increased in the control group compared with the intervention group. In addition, myocardial performance index (P < 0.02) was higher, and transmitral Doppler flow (P < 0.05), pulmonary venous flow analysis (P < 0.02) and ejection fraction (P < 0.05) were lower in the control group, indicating ventricular dys‐synchrony. The concentrations of nitrotyrosine, CRP, TNF‐α and IL‐6 were related to echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony. Conclusions In subjects with diabetes, red wine consumption, taken with meals, significantly reduces oxidative stress and pro‐inflammatory cytokines as well as improving cardiac function after MI. Moderate red wine intake with meals may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular complications after MI in subjects with diabetes.