Galactocerebroside mediates Ca2+ signaling in cultured glioma cells.

Expression of galactocerebroside (GalC) was detected in human glioma cell line (U-87 MG). Exposure of cells to antibody against GalC and fluoresceinated second antibody showed intense fluorescence on the plasma membrane. Possible involvement of GalC in receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling was explored in this cell line. Antibodies raised against GalC were used as ligands. Binding of anti-GalC to these cells caused a transient increase in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i). The response was observed both in the presence and absence of extracellular calcium demonstrating that the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by anti-GalC was due to an influx of Ca2+ through plasma membrane as well as the release of Ca2+ from intracellular pools. Ca2+ influx was blocked by verapamil, indicating that influx is mediated by voltage-sensitive channels. Our results suggest that GalC can play a role in transmembrane signaling by modulation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.     

Renal Transplantation in Indo-Asian Patients in the UK

Membership of some ethnic groups has an effect on renal transplant outcome but little is known about the impact of Indo-Asian ethnicity, despite this group's high incidence of renal disease. We compared outcomes in Indo-Asians and Caucasians at the Hammersmith Hospital (Indo-Asians, N = 46; Caucasians, N = 90), in the Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Surveillance (LOTESS) database of cyclosporin-treated renal transplant recipients (Indo-Asians, N = 254; Caucasians, N = 4262) and the National Transplant Database held by UK Transplant (Indo-Asians, N = 459; Caucasians, N = 4831). The baseline demographic and co-morbid characteristics of the two ethnic groups were comparable, save for more diabetes in the Indo-Asian community. Following transplantation, the incidence of delayed graft function and steroid-resistant acute rejection were also comparable, as were graft and patient survival (out to 5 years) and graft function. In addition, post-transplant blood pressure, levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and exposure to corticosteroids and cyclosporin were comparable. However, when patients who were not diabetic before transplantation were studied separately, there was an increased incidence of diabetes in the Indo-Asian community (Hammersmith data: Indo-Asians 10.9% vs. Caucasians 3.3%, p = 0.02; LOTESS data Indo-Asians 5.5% vs. Caucasians 1.6%, p < 0.0001). Subsequent management of this group should pursue immunosuppressive regimens less likely to impair post-transplant glucose tolerance.     

Persistence of heart reactive antibodies (HRA) in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients

Heart Reactive Antibodies (HRA) of IgG and IgM classes were investigated in 79 patients in four clinically classified groups. Group I comprised of 16 children with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Group II consisted of 15 cases with active Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). Twenty seven cases of ARF and RHD in remission and 21 adults with quiescent RHD were included in Groups III and IV respectively. Control groups comprised of 14 normal, healthy, donors and eight Post Streptococcal Acute Glomerular Nephritis (PSAGN) cases. Low levels of HRA of IgG and IgM classes were detected in control groups. The overall incidence of HRA of IgG and IgM classes was 82.28 and 39.24% respectively in the patient group. An increased frequency of HRA-IgM antibodies was observed in Groups I, III and IV (p less than 0.01, 0.001 and 0.025 respectively). All the four groups demonstrated a highly significant increase in incidence of HRA--IgG class (p less than 0.0005). Persistence of high titres of HRA-IgG class in ARF and RHD is reported in the paper.     

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II — a case report of two siblings in a family

Two children out of three siblings of a family presented with tiredness, fatigue, and breathlessness for more than 6 months. Examination of peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspirate, and a positive acidified serum test (HEMPAS) revealed these children to be a case of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II. This case is reported because of its rarity.     

Biochemical changes in the liver of fish, Tilapia mossambica (Peters), during continuous exposure to monocrotophos

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of continuous exposure to the organophosphate monocrotophos at 2.5 ppm for over a period of 2 through 45 days on protein, RNA, and DNA contents and on 5'-nucleotidase activity in the liver of Tilapia mossambica. Protein content was decreased by 45% after 5 days, returned to control levels at 10-30 days, and again decreased by 45 days. DNA content was decreased by 2 days, returned to control values by 5 days, and remained constant throughout the exposure. In contrast, RNA content was significantly lower starting from 2 through 45 days of exposure. 5'-Nucleotidase activity showed a transient increase at 5 and 30 days of monocrotophos exposure. These results indicate that monocrotophos altered the protein, DNA, and RNA contents and the 5'-nucleotidase activity levels as early as 2 and 5 days. However, these changes were reversed by 10 days and after a short period of recovery, the alterations reappeared. This supports our earlier histological observations of hepatic pathology during monocrotophos exposure.     

Clastogenic effect of fenfluramine in mice bone marrow cells in vivo

Fenfluramine, an amphetamine derivative used in the treatment of obesity, has been evaluated in vivo in the bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice using two cytogenetic endpoints for assessing its genotoxic and clastogenic potentials. Concentrations of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg b.w. were administered orally for the study of sister chromatid exchange frequencies and chromosome aberrations (CA). SCE frequencies showed a positive dose response; 1.5 mg/kg being the minimum effective concentration. Fen caused a prolongation of cell cycle at all concentrations. Except for the minimum therapeutic dose (0.75 mg), all other doses (1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 mg) showed a significant increase in the percentage of damaged cells over that of the vehicle control. The degree of clastogenicity was directly proportional to the dosage used and inversely related with the duration of treatment. A gradual reduction of the clastogenic potential was observed after 12 and 24 hr of exposure, indicating that the maximum effect occurs at the middle or late synthetic phase of the cell cycle. This study, probably the first detailed screening of the drug for its genotoxicity, shows that Fen is moderately clastogenic and a DNA damaging agent in vivo.     

Impact of nutritional status on peritonitis in CAPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of nutritional status on peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in a developing country. METHODS: 56 patients with end-stage renal disease on CAPD were randomly selected for this study. These patients were assessed for nutritional status and peritonitis episodes. Nutritional parameters were assessed by anthropometry, diet, body mass index (BMI), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), serum albumin level, and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Based on SGA, patients were categorized into either group 1 (malnutrition, n = 31) or group 2 (normal nutritional status, n = 25). Peritonitis was considered the primary outcome and was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Demographic profiles, Kt/V, creatinine clearance, and mean follow-up of the two groups were similar. Number of peritonitis episodes was significantly higher in patients with malnutrition (25/31) compared to patients with normal nutritional status (4/25) (p = 0.001). Mean peritonitis rate per patient per year was also significantly higher in patients with malnutrition (0.99 +/- 1.07) compared to patients with normal nutritional status (0.18 +/- 0.42) (p = 0.007). On univariate analysis, malnutrition based on SGA (p = 0.009), NRI (p = 0.02), serum albumin level (p = 0.005), and calorie intake (p = 0.006) was a significant predictor of peritonitis. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, only SGA (p = 0.001, odds ratio 0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.36) was found to be a significant predictor of peritonitis. On general linear model, the observed power of prediction of peritonitis was 0.96 based on SGA. On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, peritonitis-free survival in patients with normal nutrition (42 months) was significantly higher compared to patients with malnutrition (21 months) based on SGA (log rank p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: We conclude that peritonitis rate is high in patients with malnutrition and that malnutrition indices, especially SGA, can predict the peritonitis rate in CAPD patients.