Antioxidant,hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects of methanolic root extract of Cassia singueana in rats following acute and chronic carbon tetrachloride intoxication

ObjectiveTo evaluate in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the methanolic extract of the root of Cassia singueana in rats following acute and chronic carbon tetrachloride intoxication.MethodsMalondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin as indices of liver damage and lipid peroxidation were detected in rats after intraperitoneal administration of extract (5 mg/kg).ResultsThe liver, kidney and heart showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in the levels of MDA from (0.18±0.04), (0.23±0.07) and (0.26±0.10) nmol/mg respectively in the CCl₄ control to (0.15±0.03), (0.17±0.04) and (0.17±0.07) nmol/mg protein in groups pre-treated with the extract for three days at 5 mg/kg). Similarly, compared to the CCl₄ control, significant reduction (P<0.05) in serum AST, ALT and bilirubin as well as in level of total cholesterol and MDA with concomitant increase in HDL cholesterol, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels when CCl₄-intoxicated rats were treated with Cassia singueana root extract for two weeks.ConclusionsThese results suggest that methanolic extract of Cassia singueana contain potent antioxidant compounds that can offer significant protection against hepatic and oxidative injuries.     

Moderate renal failure in association with prolonged acquired hypothyroidism in children

We evaluated five children with prolonged primary hypothyroidism and noted a significant reduction in renal function (40%), which was reversible with hormonal replacement. This decline was higher than reported in adults and was of sufficient magnitude to warrant altering drug-dosing schedules. Furthermore, patients with moderately reduced renal function should be carefully evaluated for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.     

In situ saphenous vein bypass grafts: angiographic evaluation and interventional repair of complications

In situ saphenous vein grafts are being used with increasing frequency for bypass procedures involving the femoral and popliteal arteries. Complications of these procedures include anastomotic stenoses and persistent arteriovenous fistulae that may result in failure of the graft. Balloon angioplasty and embolotherapy with detachable balloons were employed successfully in three or four recent cases of patients with complications from in situ grafts. Tailored angiography is essential for evaluating in situ grafts, and interventional techniques are extremely useful for managing complications.     

Elevated plasma glycocalicin levels and decreased ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination in hemodialysis patients

A bleeding diathesis caused by platelet dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with uremia. Platelet adhesion to vascular subendothelium is defective in uremia and depends on the interactions of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX complex with the vascular wall. We measured levels of platelet surface GPIb, platelet surface GPIX, plasma glycocalicin (a product of enzymatic cleavage of GPIb), and ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination (RIPA) in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis compared with patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and healthy controls. Patients undergoing chronic maintenance hemodialysis have higher levels of platelet surface expression of GPIb (187+/-10 fluorescent units; P < 0.001) than either healthy controls (120+/-4 fluorescent units; P < 0.001) or patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (127+/-5 fluorescent units; P < 0.001). Similar changes were observed in platelet surface GPIX. Plasma glycocalicin levels were elevated in chronic hemodialysis patients (71+/-5 nmol/L) compared with healthy controls (36+/-3 nmol/L; P < 0.001). Plasma glycocalicin levels also increased progressively throughout the hemodialysis procedure. The slope of RIPA was significantly lower in chronic hemodialysis patients (46+/-3) than in either healthy controls (67+/-4; P < 0.05) or peritoneal dialysis patients (62+/-2; P < 0.05). In conclusion, patients undergoing chronic maintenance hemodialysis have increased plasma glycocalicin levels and decreased RIPA, which may contribute to diminished platelet adhesion to vascular subendothelium and increased bleeding associated with uremia.     

Bony fish neurophysins Identification of MSEL- and VLDV-neurophysins of the pollack (Pollachius virens)

The two types of neurophysins known in vertebrate species, namely MSEL-neurophysin (vasopressin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) and VLDV-neurophysin (oxytocin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) have been purified from the pollack (Pollachius virens) pituitary through a combination of molecular sieving and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Homogeneity has been checked by gel electrophoresis and rerun in HPLC. The apparent molecular masses measured by SDS-electrophoresis are near 12 kDa, significantly higher than those found for their mammalian homologues (10 kDa). The two types of neurophysins have been recognized through their N-terminal amino acid sequences. The primary structure of MSEL-neurophysin has been partially determined using automated Edman degradation applied on native and reduced-alkylated protein, as well as peptides derived by trypsin or staphylococcal proteinase hydrolyses. Comparison of pollack MSEL-neurophysin with ox, goose and frog counterparts reveals that particular positions in the polypeptide chain are subjected to substitutions and that the numbers of substitutions do not seem closely related to the paleontological times of divergence between the different vertebrate classes.     

A gene transfer strategy for making bone marrow cells resistant to trimetrexate

Trimetrexate (TMTX) is an anticancer drug with potential advantages over the more commonly used antifolate, methotrexate (MTX); however, its use has been limited by severe myelosuppression. Retroviral vectors containing mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genes have been used to protect bone marrow cells from MTX, suggesting a similar approach could be used for TMTX. We first screened six variants of human DHFR to determine which allowed maximal TMTX resistance in fibroblasts. A variant enzyme containing a Leu-to-Tyr mutation in the 22nd codon (L22Y) was best, allowing a 100-fold increase in resistance over controls. Murine hematopoietic progenitor cells transduced with an L22Y- containing retroviral vector also showed high-level TMTX resistance in vitro. Mice reconstituted with L22Y-transduced bone marrow cells were challenged with a 5-day course of TMTX to determine whether hematopoiesis could be protected in vivo. Transfer of the L22Y vector resulted in consistent protection from TMTX-induced neutropenia and reticulocytopenia at levels that correlated with the proviral copy number in circulating leukocytes. We conclude that the L22Y vector is highly effective in protecting hematopoiesis from TMTX toxicity and may provide a means for increasing the therapeutic utility of TMTX in certain cancers.     

Effect of an armed conflict on relative socioeconomic position of rural households: case study from western Côte d'Ivoire

Background  

Current conceptual frameworks on the interrelationship between armed conflict and poverty are based primarily on aggregated macro-level data and/or qualitative evidence and usually focus on adherents of warring factions. In contrast, there is a paucity of quantitative studies about the socioeconomic consequences of armed conflict at the micro-level, i.e., noncommitted local households and civilians.