Permselectivity and pH-dependence of Plasmodium falciparum-induced anion currents in human erythrocytes

Intraerythrocytic survival of the malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum requires delivery of nutrients and disposal of waste products across the host erythrocyte membrane. Recent patch-clamp experiments have demonstrated inwardly and outwardly rectifying anion conductances in infected but not in control erythrocytes. A ClC-2-generated fraction of the inwardly rectifying current is activated by cell swelling and presumably subserves host cell volume regulation. In contrast, the outwardly rectifying current is insensitive to cell volume but allows the passage of lactate and is involved in the transport of nutrients. The present study was performed to characterize the permselectivity and pH sensitivity of the anion conductances using whole-cell recording. The outwardly rectifying and the inwardly rectifying currents exhibited permselectivities of Cl^–Br^–I^–>SCN^– and SCN^–>I^–>Br^–>Cl^–, respectively, as evident from the reversal potentials recorded under biionic conditions. While the inwardly rectifying current was not affected significantly by alterations of pH between 6.0 and 8.4, the outward rectifier was inhibited strongly by alkalinization to pH7.8. Fluxes of ¹⁴C-lactate and parasite growth were decreased markedly by the increase of bath pH, an effect that may at least in part be due to inhibition of the outward rectifier and subsequently impaired transport across the erythrocyte membrane.     

Apoptosis and loss of adhesion of bronchial epithelial cells in asthma

BACKGROUND: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease associated with infiltration of T cells and eosinophils, increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and shedding of bronchial epithelial cells (EC). We have recently shown that T cells and eosinophils cooperate in inducing bronchial EC apoptosis in asthma through secretion of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Since EC shedding is a histologic hallmark of asthma, the intercellular junction of EC may be a target of pro-inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: Bronchial EC, cultured and exposed to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, were studied for the expression of adhesion molecules and apoptosis. In addition, the epithelial layer of bronchial biopsies from asthma patients was evaluated for apoptosis, shedding, and expression of adhesion molecules. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the induction of EC apoptosis is accompanied by loss of E-cadherin. In situ examination of E-cadherin in asthma revealed a reduction in its expression on EC membranes. In contrast, the in vitro and in vivo expression of beta1-integrins and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) increased on EC during asthmatic airway inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion and apoptosis could account for fragility and shedding of EC in asthma, especially since this occurs between columnar and basal EC.     

Beneficial effect of myricetin on renal functions in streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Myricetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid that is known to decrease plasma glucose levels in diabetes; however, its influence on renal functions has not yet been determined. This study investigated the effect of myricetin on structural and functional changes occurring in diabetic nephropathy. Male Albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups: normoglycemic, diabetic and myricetin-treated diabetic. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of streptozotocin (50?mg/kg), and rats having fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels greater than 200?mg/dl were included in the study. Treatment of myricetin (6?mg/day ip) was initiated 16?weeks after diabetes was confirmed. Light microscopy was performed on hematoxylin-eosin- and Masson's trichrome-stained sections to evaluate the effect of myricetin on structural changes in the kidney, while creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), kidney weight, urine volume and protein were measured to assess kidney functions. Activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and xanthine oxidase (XO) were also measured in renal tissues obtained from all experimental groups. Myricetin treatment significantly decreased glomerulosclerosis and reduced BUN, urinary volume and protein excretion, which was profoundly increased in diabetic rats. Decreased creatinine clearance measured in diabetic rats was significantly increased following myricetin treatment. Myricetin also restored altered renal activities of GPx and XO, which were decreased and increased in diabetic rats, respectively. In conclusion, myricetin improved altered renal functions and restored renal activities of GPx and XO in diabetic rats. Obtained data suggest that myricetin could be of therapeutic potential in diabetic nephropathy.     

Expanding the clinical spectrum of mitochondrial 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase deficiency with Turkish cases harboring novel HMGCS2 gene mutations and literature review

Mitochondrial 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase (mHS) deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive inborn error of ketone body synthesis and presents with hypoketotic hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, lethargy, encephalopathy, and hepatomegaly with fatty liver precipitated by catabolic stress. We report acute presentation of two patients from unrelated two families with novel homozygous c.862C>T and c.725‐2A>C mutations, respectively, in HMGCS2 gene. Affected patients had severe hypoketotic hypoglycemia, lethargy, encephalopathy, severe metabolic and lactic acidosis and hepatomegaly after infections. Surprisingly, molecular screening of the second family showed more affected patients without clinical findings. These cases expand the clinic spectrum of this extremely rare disease.     

Cardiac and intestinal amyloidosis in a renal transplant recipient with familial Mediterranean fever.

In Turkey, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome and endstage renal disease due to renal deposition of AA type amyloid. We report a case of living-related donor renal transplant recipient with FMF and renal AA type amyloidosis, who died of progressive heart failure due to cardiac involvement. The patient also had intractable diarrhea caused by biopsy-proven intestinal amyloidosis. The patient was on 1 mg/day colchicine. Although he was attack-free throughout the post-transplant period, intestinal and clinically significant cardiac amyloidosis, which implied the presence of sustained inflammation and continuing amyloid deposition, appeared three years after renal transplantation. Cardiac deposition of AA amyloid may cause clinically significant heart disease, leading to cardiovascular mortality after renal transplantation for end-stage renal disease in FMF patients.     

An analysis of the murder of women in a 10-year period in Eskişehir Province located in western Anatolia in Turkey

Murder of women generally occurs as a result of violence by their husbands and relatives. We evaluated the female victims of murder in Eski?ehir, located in western Anatolia, where the education level is high in this study. Our aim was to assess and discuss data related to the victims and murderers.A total of 141 women's murder cases were analysed in the study. After a legal process and the results of the autopsies during 2002–2011 in Eski?ehir, 715 subjects found to have died as a result of murder were chosen. Cases were evaluated in terms of their age, marital status, education level, relationship to the murderer, reasons for violence, type of action and reasons for death.It was determined that 48.2% (n = 68) of the victims had been killed by the husband and 7.8% (n = 11) by the ex-husband. Murderers generally stated that the reason of murder was the woman's request for divorce or breaking up (n = 40, 28.4%).In compliance with the literature, the women were most commonly killed by their husbands in our study. Enhancing women's status and preventing violence against women will decrease such murders.     

Influence of preoperative coronary collateral circulation on in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with intra-aortic balloon pump support

Background Outcomes in patients requiring coronary artery bypass graft （CABG） surgery have been improved with devices such as the intra-aortic balloon pump （IABP）.Good coronary collateral circulation （CCC） has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with coronary artery disease （CAD）.We aimed to investigate whether poor preoperative CCC grade is a predictor of in-hospital mortality in CABG surgery requiring IABP support.Methods Fifty-five consecutive patients who were undergoing isolated first time on-pump CABG surgery with IABP support were enrolled into this study and CCC of those patients was evaluated.Results Twenty-seven patients had poor CCC and 28 patients had good CCC.In-hospital mortality rate in poor CCC group was significantly higher than good CCC group （14 （50％） vs.4 （13％）,P=0.013）.Preoperative hemoglobin level （OR：0.752; 95％ CI,0.571-0.991,P=0.043）,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （OR：6.731; 95％ CI,1.159-39.085,P=0.034） and poor CCC grade （OR：5.750; 95％ CI,1.575-20.986,P=0.008） were associated with post-CABG in-hospital mortality.Poor CCC grade （OR：4.853; 95％ CI,1.124-20.952,P=0.034） and preoperative hemoglobin level （OR：0.624; 95％ CI,0.476-0.954,P=0.026） were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG.Conclusion Preoperative poor CCC and hemoglobin are predictors of in-hospital mortality after CABG with IABP support.     

A case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension related with vesicoureteral reflux

Pseudotumor cerebri is idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The etiology of this syndrome has not been fully clarified. Excess cerebrospinal fluid production, scarcity of cerebrospinal fluid absorption, intracranial venous pressure elevation, increased intracranial blood volume are all thought to be responsible. The symptoms of the disease may be ordered according to prevalence as follows: headache due to increased intracranial pressure, blurred vision and diplopia. A thirteen-year-old female patient was brought in with complaints of headache, double and blurred vision. Systemic arterial hypertension (140/70 mmHg) was determined. Vesicoureteral reflux was detected as the hypertension etiology. In this article a rare pseudotumor cerebri case is presented secondary to vesicoureteral reflux which caused hypertension.