Reduced expression of the CXCR4 receptor mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma and lack of inducibility of its ligand alpha-chemokine hIRH/SDF1alpha/PBSF in vitro

Differential cDNA displays between hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent non-malignant tissues have previously detected a PCR product, hIRH (human intercrine reduced in hepatomas), equivalent to SDF1alpha/PBSF whose mRNA was lost from human hepatocellular carcinoma and other malignant and pre-malignant samples and malignant cell lines. There are no reports to date of the mRNA status of the receptor for hIRH/SDF1alpha/PBSF, CXCR4 in malignant tissues. We report here that there is a reduction in the mRNA expression of CXCR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma as estimated by Northern blot and RT-PCR and compared to the adjacent non-malignant tissue. The average (mean SD) tumor/normal ratio for CXCR4 mRNA expression, determined by RT-PCR, was 0.65 0.36 in 10 pairs of hepatocellular carcinomas. There was no consistent loss of CXCR4 mRNA expression in a range of malignant cell lines. The 3'-non-coding region of hIRH, had typical early response gene element sequences. Despite the presence of these 3'-elements there was no induction of hIRH gene expression in human lung carcinoma A549 cells by tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-2, lipopolysaccharide or phorbol myristic acetate, nor in human melanoma cell line SB-2 by uv irradiation, under conditions which induced the homologue CXC intercrine IL-8 expression. Furthermore, there was no induction of hIRH gene expression, but rather a suppression, upon serum or cytokine addition to serum-deprived fibroblast cell lines, to an in vitro mouse bone marrow preparation, and to monocytic cell line THP-1.     

Evaluation of the antimycobacterium activity of the constituents from Ocimum basilicum against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ocimum basilicum belongs to the genus Ocimum (Lamiaceae). Many species of this genus including O. basilicum have been traditionally used for the treatment of a variety of diseases including respiratory diseases and symptoms of tuberculosis.     

Female-male differences at various clinical steps of tuberculosis management in rural Bangladesh

A registry data-based study of 3,600 patients systematically drawn from out-patient clinic, laboratory and tuberculosis (TB) treatment registers (1200 from each) examined female-male differences at various clinical steps of TB management and compared selective indicators with published results. Female-to-male ratios (FMR) declined at the following clinical steps: respiratory patients seeking out-patient care (0.81), TB suspects submitting sputum for testing (0.52) and smear-positive test results (0.38), but the decline ceased at treatment initiation (0.41). Compared to 1997, the FMR in 2000 had decreased for out-patient clinics and sputum submission for testing, but had increased for smear-positive test results and treatment initiation. More female than male patients who underwent treatment achieved cure (93% vs. 89%). Lower female representation at the different clinical steps of TB management persists.     

Differential effects of diabetes on adipocyte and liver phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine phosphatase activities.

We examined the activities of particulate and cytosolic phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) and phosphoserine phosphatase (PSPase) in adipocytes and livers of diabetic rats. PTPase activity was assessed with [32P]tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor (IR), whereas PSPase activity was assayed with [32P]serine-phosphorylated glycogen synthase. Diabetes increased adipocyte particulate PTPase activity and enhanced IR dephosphorylation by 75% on the 2nd, 93% on the 14th, and 108% on the 30th day. In contrast, cytosolic PTPase activity decreased by 78% on the 14th and 45% on the 30th day (no change on the 2nd day). Similar changes were observed with PSPase (increased activity in particulate and decreased in cytosolic). Insulin therapy for 14 or 30 days restored PTPase and PSPase activities in both fractions. Vanadate, despite rapid normalization of glycemia, restored these activities only after 30 days of therapy. Diabetes-related changes in liver PTPase activity were observed on the 14th day only. At this time, it was increased in both particulate and cytosolic fractions. There was spontaneous normalization of the liver PTPase activity at 30 days of diabetes. In contrast, liver cytosolic PSPase activity was significantly inhibited and not normalized by the 30th day of disease without therapy. In summary, diabetes appears to induce tissue-specific changes in PTPase and PSPase activities resulting in significant alterations in dephosphorylation of IR and glycogen synthase. Moreover, there appears to be a differential regulation of PTPase and PSPase activities in diabetes, particularly in the liver.     

Effect of spatial attention on human sensorimotor integration studied by transcranial magnetic stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Recent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies showed that the sensory input can decrease the motor cortex excitability (afferent inhibition). To clarify the effect of attention on sensorimotor integration, we investigated the effect of spatial attention on afferent inhibition. METHODS: Right median nerve electrical stimulation followed, at variable delays (10-300 ms), by TMS over the left motor cortex was applied to 9 subjects, during 3 conditions; spatial attention to the right and left hand, and control (no attention) tasks. RESULTS: Inhibition of the motor evoked potential occurred at inter-stimulus interval of 20 and 100 ms, which was more was marked during spatial attention to the right than to the left hand. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancement of the afferent inhibition induced by spatial attention to the stimulated side is likely to reflect the interaction between attention and sensorimotor integration. SIGNIFICANCE: The spatial attention may modulate the sensorimotor integration studied by afferent inhibition of the MEP.     

Effect of trifluoperazine on the action of insulin in rat adipocytes

Trifluoperazine (TFP), a potent inhibitor of calmodulin action, at a concentration of 12 microM decreased the stimulating effects of insulin on 1) fat cell pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation, 2) generation/action of PDH activator by adipocyte plasma membranes, and 3) insulin-induced loss of insulin receptors, without altering spermine-induced activation of fat cell PDH or preventing insulin stimulation of glucose oxidation. In addition to these effects on insulin action, TFP abolished several biological actions of the insulin-generated PDH stimulator from liver particulate fractions. These actions include fat cell PDH activation and decrease in receptors. These data indicate that TFP inhibits both membrane-associated and intracellular components of insulin action. The results suggest involvement of calcium-binding protein (calmodulin) and/or phospholipid dependent-calcium activated protein kinase C in some of the actions of insulin in fat cells. The insulin effect on glucose oxidation appears to be less dependent on these mediators.     

Menstrual regulation training and service programs in Bangladesh: results from a national survey

Using nationally representative sample survey data collected in 1986, this study evaluates the training and service programs for menstrual regulation (MR), and estimates the number of MR procedures performed during 1986, in Bangladesh. The results show that most of the MR providers, who received either formal or informal training, were physicians and family welfare visitors (paramedics) employed by the government. They were trained in various aspects of MR performance, including contraindications and complications associated with MR, the techniques of MR performance and follow-up procedures, and maintenance and sterilization of MR equipment. Averages of 20.5 and 13.0 MR procedures were performed by formally and informally trained physicians, respectively, in the three-month period preceding the date of interview. The corresponding average numbers for formally and informally trained family welfare visitors were 11.6 and 9.1, respectively. A total of 241,442 MR cases were estimated to have been performed between August 1985 and July 1986.     

Patterns of occurrence and concordance between subjective and objective hot flashes among Muslim and Hindu women in Sylhet,Bangladesh

This study examined the pattern of occurrence and the rate of concordance between objective hot flashes measured by sternal skin conductance and the subjective experience of “gorom vap laga” (feeling steaming hot) among Muslim and Hindu women living in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Participants were aged 40–55, not pregnant or lactating, not using hormone therapy, and with no history of hysterectomy. Thirty women wore an ambulatory hot flash monitor for 8 h on average, from mid‐morning to early evening. True positive, false negative, and false positive measures of hot flashes were examined in relation to demographic, reproductive, and lifestyle variables. On body diagrams, women were most likely to indicate hot flashes on the top of their head (64%) and upper chest (68%). The greatest number of objective hot flashes occurred during the hour of 17:00, perhaps due to the heat of the day, and the clothing and activity associated with prayer. Muslim participants demonstrated more objective hot flashes per woman than Hindu participants (1.5 vs. 0.1, P < 0.05), and Muslims had more false positive measures (86%) compared with Hindu participants (0%, P = 0.06). Among all women who reported subjective hot flashes (n = 19), the proportion of true positive scores was 19%. Overall, the frequency of objective hot flashes was low compared with reports from studies in the United States. The pattern of sweating assessed by body diagrams was not associated with variation in hot flash experience. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Age changes in some somatometric characters of the Assamese Muslims of Kamrup district, Assam.

Growth in weight, stature, sitting height, lower extremity length, head circumference and girth of biceps, chest and calf were studied in a cross-sectional sample of Assamese Muslims in Kamrup district, Assam, India. The sample comprised 835 boys and 894 girls, aged 3-20 years. The average growth pattern for the linear body dimensions was analysed by fitting Preece Baines model I to the mean values. The other dimensions were analysed in terms of simple line charts. Average final size and age at peak velocity of the linear dimensions were derived from the fitted curves. The data for height and weight were compared with other samples of the same district, with national urban and rural growth data for India, and with the NCHS growth standards. Mean height and weight of Assamese Muslim children fluctuates between the 5th and 10th centile of the NCHS standards up to approximately 15 years in boys and 13 years in girls. Thereafter, average length and weight lags behind the American standards, ending up below the 5th centile. The differences between the growth of Assamese Muslims and other populations are discussed.