A Golgi study of neurons in the camel cerebellum (Camelus dromedarius)

Neurons in the cerebellar cortex of camels were studied using modified Golgi impregnation methods. Neurons were classified according to their position, morphology of their soma, density and distribution of dendrites, and the course of their axons. Accordingly, eight types of neurons were identified. Three types were found in the molecular layer: upper and lower stellate cells and basket cells, and four types were found in the granular layer: granule cells, Golgi Type II cells, Lugaro cells, and unipolar brush cells. Only the somata of Purkinje cells were found in the Purkinje cell layer. The molecular layer is characterized by the presence of more dendrites, dendritic spines, and transverse fibers. Golgi cells also show extensive dendritic branching and spines. The results illustrate the neuronal features of the camel cerebellum as a large mammal living in harsh environmental conditions. These findings should contribute to advancing our understanding of species-comparative anatomy in achieving better coordination of motor activity.     

Allergic rhinitis and its pharmacology

The pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis and its drug treatment is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed upon potential new treatments. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by allergen(s), symptoms (sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and nasal hypersensitivity), and signs such as invasion of nasal mucosa by inflammatory cells. Such pathological changes are due to inflammatory responses mediated by way of allergen-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-cell complex formation. The complexity of the disease and the multiple pathways involved offer many targets for drug treatment, but to date no single drug is totally effective. This review summarizes the current knowledge of allergic rhinitis, its prevalence, pathophysiology and experimental and clinical treatments. In the search for new drugs, different experimental animal models of allergic rhinitis are required. As a result the models have also been reviewed. Furthermore, particular aspects of the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis are discussed in greater detail including the immune cells involved in the mediation of the disease, chemical mediators, their actions, and the receptors on which they act. Therapy, particularly that with current drugs, targets many of the known mediators and some of the cellular processes with varying success. Other drugs, for example, vasoconstrictors given to reduce rhinorrhea, provide symptomatic relief by counteracting symptoms. Since the incidence of allergic rhinitis is prevalent and growing in many parts of the world and current treatments are not ideal, it is important to continue to study the pharmacology of this disease as part of a search for better drugs.     

Primary health care in Saudi Arabia: applying global aspects of health for all, locally

Primary health care in Saudi Arabia: applying global aspects of health for all, locally This paper describes the application of primary health care principles in the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It arose from a doctoral supervisory experience on a joint programme for women students, operating between a British and Saudi Arabian University. The research looked at nutritional advice given by diploma-level nurses to pregnant women attending primary health care centres in Saudi Arabia. The supervisor supported research that drew on internationally recognized trends in nursing research (the reflexive learner) whilst attending to local requirements and conventions of the culture. The student was encouraged explicitly to site the research within the framework of Islamic teaching and Saudi culture. The Qur'an was used as an overarching framework within which the tenets of primary health care were explored. This was seen to be crucial in addressing World Health Organisation and the International Council of Nurses' views on contextualizing nursing for the greatest benefit of the population. This was of particular relevance in Saudi Arabia where research carried out in the community by women is novel, and as yet there are no nurse theorists from within Saudi culture.     

Gold Nanoparticle Conjugation Enhances the Antiacanthamoebic Effects of Chlorhexidine

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious infection with blinding consequences and often associated with contact lens wear. Early diagnosis, followed by aggressive topical application of drugs, is a prerequisite in successful treatment, but even then prognosis remains poor. Several drugs have shown promise, including chlorhexidine gluconate; however, host cell toxicity at physiologically relevant concentrations remains a challenge. Nanoparticles, subcolloidal structures ranging in size from 10 to 100 nm, are effective drug carriers for enhancing drug potency. The overall aim of the present study was to determine whether conjugation with gold nanoparticles enhances the antiacanthamoebic potential of chlorhexidine. Gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles were synthesized. Briefly, gold solution was mixed with chlorhexidine and reduced by adding sodium borohydride, resulting in an intense deep red color, indicative of colloidal gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles. The synthesis was confirmed using UV-visible spectrophotometry that shows a plasmon resonance peak of 500 to 550 nm, indicative of gold nanoparticles. Further characterization using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry showed a gold-conjugated chlorhexidine complex at m/z 699 ranging in size from 20 to 100 nm, as determined using atomic force microscopy. To determine the amoebicidal and amoebistatic effects, amoebae were incubated with gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles. For controls, amoebae also were incubated with gold and silver nanoparticles alone, chlorhexidine alone, neomycin-conjugated nanoparticles, and neomycin alone. The findings showed that gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles exhibited significant amoebicidal and amoebistatic effects at 5 μM. Amoebicidal effects were observed by parasite viability testing using a Trypan blue exclusion assay and flow-cytometric analysis using propidium iodide, while amoebistatic effects were observed using growth assays. In contrast, chlorhexidine alone, at a similar concentration, showed limited effects. Notably, neomycin alone or conjugated with nanoparticles did not show amoebicidal or amoebistatic effects. Pretreatment of A. castellanii with gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles reduced amoeba-mediated host cell cytotoxicity from 90% to 40% at 5 μM. In contrast, chlorhexidine alone, at similar concentrations, had no protective effects for the host cells. Similarly, amoebae treated with neomycin alone or neomycin-conjugated nanoparticles showed no protective effects. Overall, these findings suggest that gold-conjugated chlorhexidine nanoparticles hold promise in the improved treatment of A. castellanii keratitis.     

H-FABP与GPBB早期诊断AMI的价值研究

目的:探讨H-FABP(心肌型脂肪酸结合蛋白)与GPBB(糖原磷酸化酶同工酶)在临床早期诊断急性心肌梗死(AMI)的应用指标及实用价值.方法:选取48例正常人与42例急性心肌梗死病人采用用双抗体夹心ELISA法对急性胸痛的病人在0～1h、1～3h、3～6h内快速检测H- FABP与GPBB.结果:本实验研究结果表明H-...     

SA/hIL21双功能融合蛋白的表达、纯化及生物学活性检测

目的 制备链亲和素(SA)标记的人白细胞介素21融合蛋白(SA-hIL-21),检测其生物学活性.方法 构建hIL21-SA-pET21及pET24a-SA-hIL21质粒,利用大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)表达两种双功能融合蛋白,并利用镍金属螯合层析柱(Ni-NTA)纯化,之后透析复性,Western blotting进行鉴定,最后利用MTT法检测hIL21-SA及SA-hIL21融合蛋白与抗CD3单克隆抗体(anti-CD3)共刺激人外周血淋巴细胞的增殖活性,流式细胞仪分析两种融合蛋白对生物素化的MB49肿瘤细胞的锚定修饰效率.结果 hIL21-SA及SA-hIL21重组融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中实现了高效表达,约占菌体蛋白的30%,经复性后hIL21-SA及SA-hlL21具有了双重活性,即不仅可以与抗CD3单抗共刺激淋巴细胞的增殖,而且具有了SA介导的高效结合已生物素化的MB49肿瘤细胞表面的功能(表面修饰效率95.18%,96.91%).结论 本实验成功研制了具有双重活性的hIL21-SA及SA-hlL21融合蛋白,两种融合蛋白的双功能活性无显著性差异,该项研究为SA/hIL21双功能融合蛋白应用于肿瘤疫苗以及肿瘤局部治疗奠定了基础.     

Dichlorvos exposure results in activation induced apoptotic cell death in primary rat microglia

Dichlorvos [2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate] is one of the most common in-use organophosphate (OP) in developing nations. Previous studies from our lab have shown chronic Dichlorvos exposure leads to neuronal cell death in rats. However, the extent of damage caused by Dichlorvos to other cells of the central nervous system (CNS) is still not clear. Microglial cells are the primary threat sensors of CNS which become activated in many pathological conditions. Activation of microglial cells results in reactive microgliosis, manifested by increased cellular damage in the affected regions. Using rat primary microglial cultures, here we show that Dichlorvos exposure can activate and induce apoptotic cell death in microglia. We observed significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory molecules like nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-1β when microglia were treated with Dichlorvos (10 μM). Significant up-regulation of CD11b, microglial specific activation marker, was also observed after 24 h of Dichlorvos treatment. The activated microglial cells eventually undergo cell death after 48 h of Dichlorvos treatment. The DNA fragmentation pattern of Dichlorvos treated microglia along with increased expression of Bax in mitochondria, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and caspase-3 activation led us to assume that microglia were undergoing apoptosis. Thus, the present study showed that Dichlorvos can induce microglial activation and ultimately apoptotic cell death. These findings gave new perspective to the current knowledge of Dichlorvos (OPs) mediated CNS damage and presents microglial activation as a potential therapeutic target for preventing the OP induced neuronal damage.     

Cerebrospinal fluid profile of amyloid β42 (Aβ42), hTau and ubiquitin in North Indian Alzheimer's disease patients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and is characterized by the degeneration of neurons and their synapses, and a higher number of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) compared with that found in non-demented individuals. Amyloid-β-peptides (Aβ) are major components of amyloid plaques in AD brain whereas NFTs are composed of Tau and associated with ubiquitin. The aim of the present study was to analyze the levels of Aβ42, hTau (total Tau) and ubiquitin in CSF of North Indian population. CSF Aβ42, Tau and ubiquitin were measured in CSF of AD patients as well as controls using ELISA assays. Here we report low Aβ42 levels in AD patients (324.24 ± 76.38 pg/ml) as compared to those in non-AD (NAD) (668.34 ± 43.13 pg/ml), neurological controls (NCs) (727.28 ± 46.49 pg/ml) and healthy controls (HCs) (976.47 ± 124.46 pg/ml). In contrast, hTau and ubiquitin levels were significantly high (568.65 ± 48.89 pg/ml and 36.82 ± 4.34 ng/ml, respectively) in AD patients compared to those in NAD, NC and HC. The hTau levels were 267.37 ± 36.64 pg/ml, 167.34 ± 44.27 pg/ml and 107.62 ± 24.27 pg/ml in NAD, NC and HC, respectively. Similarly, ubiquitin levels were 23.57 ± 2.32 ng/ml, 19.76 ± 3.64 ng/ml and 13.24 ± 4.56 ng/ml in NAD, NC and HC, respectively. In conclusion, low Aβ42 and high Tau–ubiquitin levels were found in North Indian AD patients.     

Trends in hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Kelantan, Malaysia: a retrospective study

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends in hepatitis B infection among blood donors attending the Transfusion Medicine Unit at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the results of HBsAg among blood donors for the years 2000 to 2004. During this period, 44,658 blood donors were studied. We noted that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection between regular and first time donors. There was also a decreasing trend noticed in both study groups. The mean prevalence was significantly different between first time (1.83%) and regular donors (0.45%) (p < 0.005). There is a need to improve public awareness programs to lower the incidence of hepatitis B infection in the general population and consequently first time blood donors. Future studies are also required to determine the trends and outcomes of these programs.