Functional compartmentation of DNA precursors in human leukaemoblastoid cell lines

Summary . Human leukaemoblastoid cell lines were incubated with [³H]t hymidine and used to study the utilization for DNA synthesis and degradation of thymine nucleotides labelled via the salvage pathway. Three types of experiments were performed. (1) Cells were continuously labelled with exogenous [3H]thymidine at 3 7°C to compare the incorporation of label into DNA with the specific radioactivities of thymine nucleotides separated by chromatography on polyethyleneimine-cellulose. These studies demonstrated whether one or more functional pool of thymine nucleotides was present. (2) Intracellular thymine nucleotide pools were labelled with [³H]thymidine at 13°C, and the cells were subsequently incubated in unlabelled medium at 37°C in order to quantify the percentage of thymine nucleotides incorporated into DNA. The results showed that 18%, 75%, 75% and 91% of intracellular thymine nucleotides were incorporated into DNA during the chase, in Raji (B lymphoid), Nalm-6 (pre-B cell), HL60 (myeloid) and KM3 (c-ALL) cells respectively, whereas Molt4 (Thy-ALL) cells incorporated 100%. (3) In order to quantify the activity of the degradative pathway for thymine nucleotides in these cell lines, cells were labelled as described in (2) in the presence of cytosine arabinoside (an inhibitor of DNA synthesis). 100%, 90%, 65%, 38% and 20% of labelled thymine nucleotides were degraded in Raji, HL60, Nalm-6, KM3 and Molt-4 respectively. These results confirm our previous conclusion (Taheri et al, 1981a, b) that thymine nucleotides are functionally compartmentalized in human cells. If these results with cell lines can be extrapolated to apply to de novo leukaemia cases, they suggest that the degree of compartmentation differs widely between different leukaemia cell types. Thy-ALL cells utilized all their labelled thymine nucleotides for DNA synthesis, whereas B-ALL, cells utilized only 18% of their labelled thymine nucleotide nucleotides. Thy-ALL cells have the smallest degradative thymine pool and degradative capacity whereas B-ALL cells possess the largest degradative pool and capacity. AML, pre-B-ALL, c-ALL cell lines show intermediate results. If these results reflect those of the normal bone marrow cells from which each of the leukaemias arise, they suggest that with progressive B cell development in the bone marrow, degradative ability for DNA precursors increases and the efficiency of utilization of DNA precursors for DNA synthesis decreases.     

Expression analysis of mTOR-associated lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis

Metabolic Brain Disease - mTOR has been shown to be involved in the regulation of immune responses and differentiation of immune cells. This protein is a candidate molecule for unraveling the...     

The effects of aquatic exercise on body composition and nonspecific low back pain in elderly males

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aquatic exercises on nonspecific low back pain (LBP) in elderly males. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two elderly men aged 65 or older were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: aquatic training (3 d/wk for 12 wk) or a control group. Body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (PBF), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and trunk muscle mass were measured before and after training. [Results] The results suggested that all obesity variables including BMI, WHR, and PBF of the aquatic training group were decreased significantly, while the trunk muscle mass of the aquatic training group was increased significantly. Furthermore, low back pain was decreased in the subjects after the intervention. [Conclusion] The water-based program improved LBP and body composition in the elderly men.Key words: Elderly, Low back pain, Body composition     

The clinical significance of small subarachnoid hemorrhages

With advancing technology, the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) for the detection of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) continues to improve. Increased resolution has allowed for the detection of hemorrhage that is limited to one or two images of the CT exam. At our institution, all patients with a SAH require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, regardless of size. It was our hypothesis that patients with small subarachnoid hemorrhage experience favorable outcomes, and may not require the intensive monitoring offered in the ICU. This retrospective study evaluated 62 patients between 2011 and 2014 who presented to our Level I trauma center emergency room for acute traumatic injuries, and found to have subarachnoid hemorrhages on CT examination. The grade of subarachnoid hemorrhage was determined using previously utilized scoring systems, such as the Fisher, Modified Fisher, and Claassen grading systems. Electronic medical records were used to evaluate for medical decline, neurological decline, neurosurgical intervention, and overall hospital course. Admitting co-morbidities were noted, as were the presence of patient intoxication and use of anticoagulants. Patient outcomes were based on discharge summaries upon which the neurological status of the patient was assessed. Each patient was given a score based on the Glasgow outcome scale. The clinical and imaging profile of 62 patients with traumatic SAH were studied. Of the 62 patients, 0 % underwent neurosurgical intervention, 6.5 % had calvarial fractures, 25.8 % had additional intracranial hemorrhages, 27.4 % of the patients had significant co-morbidities, and 1.6 % of the patients expired. Patients with low-grade tSAH spent less time in the ICU, demonstrated neurological and medical stability during hospitalization. None of the patients with low-grade SAH experienced seizure during their admission. In our study, patients with low-grade tSAH demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes. This suggests that patients may not require as aggressive monitoring as is currently provided for those with tSAH.     

Occupational stress among Swedish audiologists in clinical practice: Reasons for being stressed

Objective: The present study reports on the application of a Swedish translation of the audiologist occupational stress questionnaire (AOSQ) on audiologists working in Sweden. The relations between AOSQ scores and perceived effort, perceived rewards, coping strategies at work, demographic variables such as salary, education length, practise length, and practice type were tested. Design: A cross-sectional e-mail survey using the AOSQ, effort-reward imbalance questionnaire, and demographic questions. Study sample: Four-hundred and four Swedish licensed audiologists working with clients. Results: The Swedish AOSQ translation demonstrated high inter-item correlations and high internal consistency. Several stress factors were identified: time spent at work, accountability, leadership at the workplace, paperwork and practice demands, equipment and clinical protocols, own health concerns, and job control. The outcome on the complete AOSQ questionnaire was related to perceived effort, perceived rewards, coping strategies at work, and age. Conclusions: The Swedish AOSQ translation seems to provide a valid measure of occupational stress among audiologists.     

Potential Cardioprotective Effects of Sumac Capsule in Patients With Hyperlipidemia: A Triple-Blind Randomized,Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

Objective: Alternative medicine and herbal drugs have been taken into account for managing cardiovascular risk factors. Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is rich in biologically active ingredients known to improve cardiovascular health. We investigated the effect of sumac on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), body mass index (BMI), and serum concentrations of lipids and fasting blood sugar (FBS) in participants with hyperlipidemia in a triple-blind randomized placebo- controlled crossover trial.

Methods: Thirty adults with dyslipidemia (mild to moderate elevation of plasma total cholesterol and/or triglycerides [TG; total cholesterol ≥ 6.0 mmol/L or TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L and TG ≤ 5.0 mmol/L]) were assigned randomly to a sumac or a placebo group. Participants in the sumac group received sumac capsules (500 mg/twice daily) for the first 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks’ washout period; the patients were then switched to a 4-week interval and received placebo for 4 weeks in the second period. The placebo group received these treatments in reverse order. FMD, BMI, SBP, DBP, lipids, and FBS were measured at baseline and after each period.

Results: Differences between placebo group and sumac group (placebo-sumac) were significantly decreased for BMI (0.21 ± 0.075 kg/m²), SBP (1.87 ± 0.83 mm Hg), DBP (1.32 ± 0.46 mm Hg), and total cholesterol (14.42 ± 4.95 mmol/L) and significantly increased for FMD (?0.23% ± 0.065%). Plasma level of TG did not change significantly across the treatment.

Conclusion: Sumac consumption may decrease cardiovascular risk factors in persons with mild to moderate hyperlipidemia.     

Responsiveness of selected outcome measures of participation restriction and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Purpose: To evaluate the responsiveness of two outcome measures of participation restriction [as measured by the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ)] and quality of life [as measured by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL)] following a physiotherapy intervention in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: A sample of 265 patients completed both instruments first at the time of initial visit and then after 4–6 weeks physiotherapy. In addition, patients were asked to complete the 7-point global rating scale as an external criterion of change at the post-intervention time. The responsiveness was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) method and the correlation analysis. Two useful statistics were area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the minimally clinically important difference (MCID). The AUC and correlation coefficient greater than 0.70 were considered as acceptable responsiveness. Results: The CIQ achieved the acceptable responsiveness with an AUC of 0.81. However, the AUCs of 0.61 and 0.66 were obtained for the MSQOL physical and mental, respectively. Moreover, good correlation coefficient was obtained for the CIQ (Gamma?=?0.76) while fair correlations of 0.28 and 0.33 were obtained for the MSQOL physical and mental, respectively. The MCIDs were approximately 0.50, 1.5 and 2.5 points for the CIQ, MSQOL physical and mental, respectively. Conclusions: In contrast to the MSQOL, the CIQ was responsive outcome measure in detecting changes in participation restriction of patients with MS. Moreover, the MCID values obtained in this study will help the clinicians and researchers to determine if a patient with MS has experienced a true change following physiotherapy intervention.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• The results provide valuable information regarding to the ability of two outcome measures (i.e. the CIQ and MSQOL) to detect treatment effects in patients with MS.

• In contrast to the MSQOL, the CIQ is a responsive measure to changes in participation restriction due to physiotherapy.

• A patient with MS had to change at least 0.50 point on the CIQ, 1.5 points on the MSQOL physical and 2.5 points on the MSQOL mental to be judged as having clinically changed.