Relevance of marrow fibrosis in bone marrow transplantation: a retrospective analysis of engraftment

A retrospective study compared posttransplant engraftment parameters in 203 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) with those in a population of 203 matched controls without MF. There were no significant differences between these groups in the proportions of patients who died without achieving engraftment and in the disease-free survival distributions. Furthermore, comparisons between the two groups of patients reaching the respective endpoints showed no differences in the time distributions for reaching 0.5 or 1.0 x 10(9)/L granulocytes, but the time to platelet transfusion independence was 3 days longer in patients with MF. In further analysis, results for 33 patients with severe MF were compared with those of their respective controls. The proportions of patients with severe MF who died without reaching these engraftment endpoints and the disease-free survival distributions in the two groups were similar. Among patients who reached the respective engraftment endpoints, there was no statistically significant difference in the pace of granulocyte recovery. In patients with severe MF, there was a 7- day delay in the time to reach platelet transfusion independence and a 2-day delay in the time to reach red blood cell independence, but the differences were not statistically significant. The present results do not substantiate concerns raised by earlier studies. MF may delay the time to reach platelet independence by approximately 3 days and may increase platelet transfusion requirements, but no other perturbation of hematopoietic reconstitution was apparent.     

Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertension

Hypertension (HT) is a lifestyle-related disease and dietary modifications are effective for its management and prevention. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with an oral Nigella sativa (NS) seed extract supplement in patients with mild HT. Subjects were randomized into three groups: a placebo and two test groups that received 100 and 200 mg of NS extract twice a day. After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure (SBP) values in both case groups were found to be significantly reduced when compared with the baseline values for each group. In addition, the decrease in SBP in the two case groups was statistically significant relative to the placebo group ( P  < 0.05–0.01). Meanwhile, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values in the case groups were found to be significantly reduced from the baseline and a significant reduction was also observed in these groups ( P  < 0.01) when compared with the placebo group. In addition, extract administration reduced both SBP and DBP in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, NS extract caused a significant decline in the level of total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol relative to baseline data. No complications caused by NS were observed. The results suggest that the daily use of NS seed extract for 2 months may have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild HT.     

A comparison of ELISA and histopathology for the detection of paratuberculosis in dairy cattle

Johnes disease or paratuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and has been described in numerous ruminate species. In cattle, intractable diarrhea, emaciation, and hypoproteinemia in animals older than 19 months characterize the disease. The objectives of this study were to determine the association between severity of histological enteric lesions and the serum absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody test and comparative efficacy of absorbed ELISA antibody test with histopathological finding of naturally acquired paratuberculosis in the infected dairy cattle of Iran. Fifty mature dairy cows, culled from four M. paratuberculosis-infected herds in Iran were enrolled in this study. Poor physical condition was the major criteria for selection of the cows. Prior to slaughter, blood samples were collected from jugular vein from each animal. All cattle were inspected after slaughter. and samples from 50 cases that showed thickening of different parts of the intestine and enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes were obtained for histopathological examination. At microscopic examination, specific histopathological characteristics of paratuberculosis were observed in 19 cases. Tuberculoid reactions were observed in five cases, and lepromatous reactions were observed in 14 cases out of the total. Of the total, 19 samples had histopathological finding of paratubercolosis, and only eight animals exhibited a positive antibody response when subjected to an ELISA assessment. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for absorbed ELISA was 42.1%, 100%, 100%, and 73.8%, respectively.     

Functional and biophysical analyses of the class XIV Toxoplasma gondii Myosin D

Summary The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii uses gliding motility to migrate across the biological barriers of the host and to invade cells. This unique form of locomotion requires an intact actin cytoskeleton and involves at least one motor protein (TgMyoA) that belongs to the class XIV of the myosin superfamily. TgMyoA is anchored in the inner membrane complex and is essential for the gliding motion, host cell invasion and egress of T. gondii tachyzoites. TgMyoD is the smallest T. gondii myosin and is structurally very closely related to TgMyoA. We show here that TgMyoD exhibits similar transient kinetic properties as the fast single-headed TgMyoA. To determine if TgMyoD also contributes to parasite gliding motility, the TgMyoD gene was disrupted by double homologous recombination. In contrast to TgMyoA, TgMyoD gene is dispensable for tachyzoite propagation and motility. Parasites lacking TgMyoD glide normally and their virulence is not compromised in mice. The fact that TgMyoD is predominantly expressed in bradyzoites explains the absence of a phenotype observed with myodko in tachyzoites and does not exclude a role of this motor in gliding that would be restricted to the cyst forming but nevertheless motile stage of the parasite.Both authors contributed equally to the work.     

Effect of relaxation on the level of nursing internship students' stress

Objective: To explore how relaxation reduce the effect of stress in Iranian nursing students.Methods: A total of 40 nursing students were randomly selected and divided into two groups of test and control each with 20 students.An exam questionnaire consisting of the stress test of Spilberger and control of physiological determinants(blood pressure,pulse respiration,temperature) was performed to two groups.The practice of relaxation continued for two weeks and three times a day.Data were collected and analysed using t-test and Chi-square.Results: Two groups did not show any difference in relation to the average of physiological determinants before and after investigation.However,pulse was significantly different between the two groups.The average scores of stress before and after relaxation were significantly differed between the two groups investigation so that the level of stress was reduced in the test group(t= 2.5,df =39,P= 0.02).Conclusion: To alleviate stressors associated with clinical practice and create a healthy work environment for practice it is recommended that nursing students have some relaxation before entering practical environments.     

The effects of fresh garlic on the serum concentration of total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissues of broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of garlic on total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissues in chickens, since garlic is typically used as a dietary supplement in broilers' diets. One hundred male broiler chicks were divided randomly into two groups. From the day after they were born, group one received standard feed plus 20 kg/ton dried fresh garlic and group two received just standard feed without added garlic. On day 50, the chickens were individually weighed and slaughtered. Carcasses and adipose tissues were weighed out separately. During the slaughtering process, blood samples were collected to provide serum samples. The sera were used to measure total cholesterol and total triglyceride using routine laboratory methods. All samples were analysed and the results assessed statistically using the t test method. The results showed no significant changes in chicken weights or in chicken carcass weights. However, the results indicated significant decreases in total cholesterol, total triglyceride and adipose tissue, in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p?<?0.001). The results suggest that fresh garlic may reduce total cholesterol, total triglyceride and the amount of carcass adipose tissue in chickens.     

Neuroanatomical relationships of substance P‐immunoreactive intrapulmonary C‐fibers and nicotinic cholinergic receptors

Previous studies have suggested that sensory mechanisms may be important components of addiction to, and withdrawal from, cigarette smoking. The sensory and respiratory responses to nicotine are mediated, in part, by bronchopulmonary C‐fiber afferents. Nicotine has a direct stimulatory effect on pulmonary sensory neurons, and nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) composed of various combinations of α and β subunits are known to be present in pulmonary ganglia. At the subcellular level, however, little is known about expression of nAChRs on sensory fibers in the intrapulmonary airways. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the expression of nAChRs on a subset of intrapulmonary sensory nerve endings known to exhibit immunoreactivity for substance P (SP). The presence of nAChR subunits was first confirmed at the mRNA and protein levels in rat lung tissues by using RT‐PCR and Western blot techniques. Then, double labeling of SP‐immunoreactive (‐IR) C‐fibers and different nAChR subunits was performed. α2, α3, α4, α5, α7, and β2 subunits were detected at all levels of the intrapulmonary airways; including bronchi, terminal and respiratory bronchioles, alveolar walls, and alveolar macrophages. None of the nAChR subunits studied was expressed by the SP‐IR C‐fibers. However, SP‐expressing C‐fibers were observed in close proximity to and intermingling with nAChR‐expressing airway epithelial cells. The close proximity of C‐fibers to nAChR‐expressing airway epithelial cells suggests that a component of nicotinic stimulation of SP‐IR C‐fiber afferents may be mediated by endogenous chemical substances released by nAChR‐expressing epithelial cells. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Neonatal cholestasis and hypopituitarism

The diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia and hypopituitarism must be entertained in infants who present for evaluation of cholestatic jaundice, particularly if there is associated hypoglycaemia and wandering nystagmus. Although the hepatic dysfunction seems to resolve, the long term prognosis of liver disease in optic nerve hypoplasia remains unknown.