Influence of the endothelium on the amplification by serotonin of vasoconstrictor responses to noradrenaline and sympathetic nerve stimulation in rabbit isolated ear artery

The influence of the vascular endothelium on the amplifying effect of serotonin on steady-state responses to noradrenaline (NA) and sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS) has been studied in the rabbit isolated ear artery. Removal of the endothelium abolished the dilator effect of acetylcholine (ACh, 1 microM) obtained in the presence of NA (0.3 microM). Responses to NA were increased after endothelium removal; however, responses to SNS were unaffected. Serotonin in a concentration which did not itself produce vasoconstriction (100 nM) increased responses of endothelium-intact preparations to NA and SNS and of endothelium-denuded preparations to SNS but had no effect on NA responses of endothelium-denuded preparations. If neuronal uptake was inhibited with cocaine (1 microM), serotonin markedly amplified responses to NA and SNS in both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded preparations. These results suggest that the endothelium influences the amplifying effect of serotonin on responses of rabbit ear artery to NA but not to SNS. Inhibition of removal of serotonin and NA by neuronal uptake may extend the facilitatory interaction between NA and serotonin to smooth muscle cells which are not subject to the inhibitory influence of an endothelium derived relaxing factor.     

Epidemiology,aetiology and knowledge,attitudes, and practices relating to burn injuries in Palestine: A community‐level research

The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiology, aetiology as well as the knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to burn injuries in Palestine. A mixed‐method approach was used. A survey was distributed to a total of 1500 households selected by randomised approach. The survey was standardised based on World Health Organisation''s guidelines for conducting community surveys on injury. Additionally, there were 12 focus group discussions and 10 key informant interviews to collect rich qualitative data. In the West Bank and Gaza, 1.5% of Palestinians had experienced serious burn injuries in the 12 months. The total sample of 1500 yields a margin of error (plus/minus) = 2.5% at a 95% level of confidence and a response distribution (P = 50%) with 3% non‐response rate. Of the 1500 households approached, 184 reported a total of 196 burn injuries, with 87.2% occurring inside the home: 69.4% were females and 39.3% were children. The main source of reported cause of burn was heat and flame (36%), electric current (31.6%), hot liquid (28.6%), and chemicals (2.7%). The most common first aid for burns was pouring water (74.7%). People in rural, refugee, and Bedouin settings had the highest incidence of burns. This study provides the burn prevalence rate, explanatory factors that contribute to the frequency of burns in Palestine. Making burn prevention a higher priority within the national policy is crucial.     

A biaryl xanthone derivative having axial chirality from Penicillium vinaceum

A new xanthone derivative having axial chirality was isolated from Penicillium vinaceum. Owing to the axial chirality, its structure, including absolute configuration, was determined by means of extensive spectroscopic data, such as UV, IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and computational chiroptical methods. The new compound, (a R)-2'-methoxyvinaxanthone, has a structure containing two aromatic moieties with substituents hindering rotation about the biaryl axis. The compound gave positive results in a sea urchin egg test ( Paracentrotus lividus) and a crown gall tumor on potato disks test (Agrobacterium tumefaciens).