The effect of local breast radiotherapy on circulating CD34 cells

The number of circulating CD34⁺ (hematopoietic stem) cells (HSCs) was observed to decline by 15% in breast cancer patients after starting adjuvant radiation therapy, regardless of age or preceding chemotherapy. These data demonstrate that local radiation therapy can profoundly affect HSC homeostasis, which might have a myriad of important implications.     

Perception and knowledge of a common skin disorder among university students in Jordan

Background Psoriasis is one of the most common dermatological diseases. Improving public awareness of the different aspects of psoriasis is important to improve the overall knowledge about the disease and enhance public attitude towards sufferers. A sample consisting primarily of university students was undertaken to understand public perception of this disease. Aims The objective of this investigation is to assess the level of public awareness of various aspects of psoriasis including possible risk factors, affected body areas, best persons to manage the disease, and other issues. Methods Selected individuals of the sample were interviewed by well-trained senior pharmacy students. Each individual was asked to fill in a questionnaire consisting of six sections on his/her knowledge of various aspects of psoriasis. Results Of the respondents, 63.8% agreed that psoriasis makes patients’ lives uncomfortable. One third of participants believed that the exact etiology of the disease is still unclear. A positive family history for psoriasis was selected by the highest percentage of respondents as a triggering factor for the disease and the scalp was selected as the major body site affected by psoriatic lesions. Differences in public attitude toward sufferers were detected when results were analyzed according to sample gender, age, nature of job, educational level, and ethnicity. A dermatologist was selected by a clear majority of participants as the best person to treat psoriasis. Conclusion It can be concluded that a high degree of public awareness of psoriasis exists among different ethnicities in Jordan. However, community education is needed to improve the population’s knowledge regarding the nature of psoriasis, important risk factors, and the best source of health services. This paper illuminates a perceptual gap between what people think they understand of this disease and the scientific literature.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel hydroquinone dimethyl ethers as potential anticancer and antimicrobial agents

The synthesis of two novel series of quinol dimethyl ethers linked to either various functionalities or to some biologically active nitrogenous heterocycles is described. Nine of the newly synthesized quinol dimethyl ethers 5a, b, 9b, 10a, d, 12a, b, and 13a, b were selected by the NCI and were tested initially at a single high dose (10 μM) in the full NCI 60 cell panel. Four of the screened quinol dimethyl ethers bearing unsubstituted phenylhydrazone 5a, 4-chlorophenylhydrazone 5b, 4-chlorophenyl-3-sulfanyl-1,2,4-triazole 9b, as well as 4-chloroanilino-1,3,4-oxadiazole 12b moieties satisfied the threshold antitumor screen. 4-Chlorophenylhydrazone 5b showed very promising results and accordingly was chosen for in vivo antitumor screening. Thus, compound 5b of the series could be considered as the potential lead for development of novel anticancer agents. In addition, compounds 5a–c, 6a–c, 9a–c, 10a, b, d, e, g, h, 11a–c, 12a–c, and 13a–c were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Some of the tested compounds exhibited special high activity comparable to the reference ampicillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.     

Statistical analysis of referrals by general practitioner at Health Insurance Organization clinics in Alexandria

Referral of patients generates significant economic costs for both physician fees and diagnostic tests. Variation in referral rates between general practices and between individual GPs has long been the focus of attention for policy makers. The present study aimed to analyze the referrals by General Practitioners (GP) at Health Insurance Organization (HIO) clinics in Alexandria. The study was conducted at 18 Health Insurance Organization (HIO) comprehensive clinics in Alexandria, distributed in the 6 districts of Alexandria HIO. Retrospective analysis of records and cross sectional interview to 180 GPs were carried out. Male GPs comprised 82.2% of the sample. On the average, GPs received 6.6 +/- 4.5 patients per working hour. Over the year 2002, 8.4% of consultations were referred to specialists, 5.4% referred to laboratory and only 0.09% were referred to hospital. The highest percent of referrals from GP to specialist were directed to internal medicine followed by orthopedics, general surgery, E.N.T, dermatology, neuropsychiatry, chest then urology clinics. Referral rate from GPs to specialists was found to have a 6.6-fold variation among clinics, and a 54.8-fold variation among individual GPs. Moreover, there was no homogeneity in variations in referral rates of clinics within 3 of the 6 districts. Using multiple regression analysis, the only significant factor was the indirect relation with workload. Comparison of referral rates of GPs with the limits set by HIO (8-17%) revealed that, 48.9% of GPs were within limits, 37.2% were lower and 13.9% were higher than limits. GPs who had diploma or master were average referrers in 51.5%, low referrers in 30.3% and high referrers in 18.2%, compared to 45.6%, 50.6% and only 3.8%, respectively for those with bachelor degree; the difference was statistically significant.     

Effect of low-dose acute tryptophan depletion on the specificity of autobiographical memory in healthy subjects with a family history of depression

Rationale

Low-dose acute tryptophan depletion (LD-ATD), while having no effect on mood, has been shown to reduce specificity of autobiographical memory in patients who have recovered from a depressive episode.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore if reduced specificity of autobiographical memory with LD-ATD is common to other groups of individuals at risk of depression, specifically a healthy population with a family history of depression.

Methods

Nineteen healthy young adults with at least one first-degree relative with a history of major depression were recruited. LD-ATD drinks containing 1.15?g of tryptophan (T+) or no tryptophan (T?) were administered on two separate occasions, in a double blind random order crossover design. The Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) was administered 5?h after drink administration.

Results

Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in the effects of LD-ATD drinks on plasma free tryptophan with no mood change with either drink. There was no within-subject main effect of LD-ATD on the memory task. However, there was a main effect of order of drink. Exploratory analysis of visit 1 data indicated a large between-subject effect (d?=?1.4) of LD-ATD on AMT with T? associated with less specificity in response to negative cue words (F(1, 17)?=?8.71, p?=?0.009).

Conclusions

Similar to findings following recovery from depression, LD-ATD can reduce specificity of AMT in the absence of lowered mood in healthy individuals with a strong family history of depression. These findings may reflect a 5-HT-dependent cognitive vulnerability to depression in different populations and warrant further research.     

Reactivity of chloronitrobenzenes towards glutathione under physiological conditions: The relationship between structure and reaction rate

An excellent quantitative structure—reactivity correlation between the structural features of CDNB analogues (as expressed by their electronic substituent constants) and the non-enzymic reactivity of these analogues with GSH has been discovered.