HLA class II genotypic frequencies in atopic asthma: association of DRB1*01-DQB1*0501 genotype with Artemisia vulgaris allergic asthma

Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles have been associated with the development of atopic asthma. To determine whether HLA class II alleles are associated with atopic asthma in a population from southeast Spain (Murcia region), 213 atopic asthmatic patients and 150 controls were selected for HLA typing. Significant association of the DRB1*01 and DQB1*0501 alleles was found in Artemisia vulgaris allergic patients (p(c) = 0.00052 and p(c) = 0.00023, respectively). No significant correlation was found in other atopic patients allergic to pollens (Phleum pratense, Olea europaea, and Salsola kali), house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae), molds (Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum), or animal danders (dog, cat). The results reveal that the DRB1*01-DQB1*0501 genotype is strongly associated with a positive response to Artemisia vulgaris in the population studied.     

Somatic mutations are frequent and increase with age in human kidney epithelial cells

We have used a primary cloning assay to determine the frequency of 6- thioguanine (TG)-resistant tubular epithelial cells in kidney tissue from 72 human donors ranging in age from 2 to 94 years. The frequency of TG-resistant mutants ranged from approximately 5 x 10(-5) for donors in the first decade of life to approximately 2.5 x 10(-4) for donors in the eighth and later decades of life. Two different statistical analyses indicated that this increase in mutant frequency is exponential with age. We also observed a 2-fold higher TG-resistant mutant frequency in nephrectomy kidneys containing a coincident renal carcinoma. DNA sequence analyses revealed HPRT gene mutations in each of 14 TG-resistant mutants from seven unrelated donors. Thirteen of these 14 mutants resulted from independent mutational events. These results suggest that somatic mutations are common in renal--and perhaps in other human--epithelia, and thus could play an important role in the genesis of age-associated disease.      

An Overview of Indian Novel Traditional Medicinal Plants with Anti-Diabetic Potentials

Diabetes mellitus is a global metabolic epidemic affecting essential biochemical activities in almost every age group. Indian literatures like Ayurveda have already mentioned herbal remediation for a number of human ailments. Among Indian traditional medicinal plants several potential anti-diabetic plants and herbs are being used as part of our diet since prehistoric time. India has a long list of native medicinal plants with confirmed blood sugar lowering property. Some of these have proved remarkable for cure of diabetes and its complications. The current paper is aimed at providing a review on clinical and experimental studies carried out on the most effective and commonly used hypoglycemic plants and herbs species from traditional Indian flora. This write-up includes hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activities of plants, active hypoglycemic compounds and constituents along with their available toxicity status.     

Comparison of an auditory evoked potentials index and a bispectral index versus clinical signs for determining the depth of anesthesia produced by propofol or sevoflurane

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an anesthetic depth index (ADI) obtained from auditory evoked potentials and a bispectral EEG index (BIS) in comparison with clinical assessment of anesthetic depth using the modified observer's assessment of awareness/sedation scale (MOAA/SS), for induction of anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane as the only agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ADI and BIS were recorded simultaneously in this prospective study and compared to the MOAA/SS during the anesthetic induction of 26 adults undergoing elective heart surgery. Assignment of patients to two groups was random. Group A (n = 13) patients were induced with propofol (target dose 5 micrograms.ml-1 in 5 min). Induction in group B (n = 13) was with sevoflurane (8% tidal volume). A scheme of awake-sleeping-awake-sleeping was followed. The means of the two indexes were compared (Mann-Whitney test) one minute before the patient slept (awake) and one minute later (sleeping), and the evolution of the indexes was compared during awake/sleep and sleep/awake phase changes and while the patients were in a stable sleep phase. The sensitivity and specificity of each index was analyzed in function of the MOAA/SS. We also analyzed the time elapsing from the moment the patient fell asleep (MOAA/SS 2) until the two indexes reached published reference values (ADI = 38, BIS = 60). RESULTS: After induction with propofol (group A) the ADI fell to 29.2 +/- 11.7 and the BIS fell to 63.5 +/- 13.4. After induction with sevoflurane (group B) the ADI fell to 33.8 +/- 14.9 and the BIS to 66.8 +/- 15. The ADI value that best discriminated between arousal and sleeping (sensitivity 100%) was 38; the BIS value that best discriminated was 60. The responses to sound in decibels (dB) during "awake/sleeping" and "sleeping/awake" phases were, respectively, -3.8 dB and -4.5 dB for the ADI and -1.5 dB and -0.8 dB for the BIS. With the patient in stable sleep, response to the two indexes was at -0.79 dB. In group A, the ADI detected MOAA/SS 2 significantly earlier (ADI 13.1 +/- 30 s; BIS 56 +/- 36 s; p < 0.05). No patient reported remembering the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring anesthetic depth with the ADI or BIS was technically easy and effective for detecting whether patients were awake or sleeping. The ADI response was faster and identified awake/sleeping and sleeping/awake phase changes better than did the BIS.     

急性脑梗死患者血小板内钙和TXB2含量与聚集关系的探讨

目的探讨急性脑梗死急性期患者血小板内游离钙和ＴＸＢ２含量之间的相互关系及意义。方法　用Ｆｕｒａ－２／ＡＭ荧光技术测定了４６例急性脑梗死患者急性期及２５例正常对照组血小板内钙含量,用放射免疫分析法测定其血小板内血栓素Ｂ２（ＴＸＢ２）含量,用比浊法测定其血小板聚集。结果患者血小板内游离Ｃａ２＋和ＴＸＢ２含量均分别明显高于正常对照组（１４７．２６±１０．８５ ｖｓ １１９．３０±１０．９４ ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ和３．３８±０．７８ｖｓ　４．８８±０．９７ｎｇ／１０９血小板,Ｐ均＜０．０１）;在患者中,低（０．５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）和高（５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）浓度二磷酸腺苷（ＡＤＰ）诱导的血小板聚集均明显高于正常对照组（０．４４±０．１９ｖｓ　０．２６±０．１４和０．７３±０．１３ｖｓ０．３９±０．１９,Ｐ均＜０．０１）;在患者中血小板内游离Ｃａ２＋含量和ＴＸＢ２含量均分别与５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ二磷酸腺苷诱导的血小板呈明显的正相关性（ｒ分别为０．７８６和０．５９３,Ｐ均＜０．０１）,而血小板内Ｃａ２＋与ＴＸＢ２成明显的正相关性（ｒ为０．６５２,Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论 急性脑梗死患者在急性期血小板功能处于活跃状态,可能与其内 Ｃａ２＋含量增加、ＴＸＢ