Correlation between the number of apoptotic cells and expression of the apoptosis-related antigens Fas, Ley and bcl-2 protein in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The relationship between the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of apoptosis-related antigens was examined In 56 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and in 10 cases of reactive hyperplastic lymph nodes (RHL). Apoptosis was visually quantified by the in situ end-labeling (ISEL) method, and the expression of Fas, Le^y antigens and bcl-2 protein was examined by Immunohistochemistry. The expression of Le^y antigen was observed in germinal centers of RHL and 45% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The apoptotic cell count (AC) in follicular lymphomas was significantly less than that in diffuse lymphomas. The distribution pattern of apoptotic cells In follicular lymphomas was inverse to that in RHL. In follicular lymphomas, AC was lower in follicles than in inter-follicular areas. In contrast, AC was higher in follicles than in Interfollicular areas in RHL. Le^y antigen-positive lymphomas showed a significantly higher AC than the negative cases. The Fas antigen-positive lymphomas showed a higher AC than the negative cases. However, AC in bcl-2 protein-positive and negative cases was not significantly different. These results suggest that Le^y and Fas antigens appear to be involved in the apoptotic tendency of tumor cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, whereas bcl-2 does not necessarily.     

Acute hypervolemia does not improve arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses

Recently, it was reported that acute hypervolemia improves arterial oxygen tension in human athletes known to experience exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia. Since exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia is routinely observed in racehorses and is known to limit performance, we examined whether pre-exercise induction of acute hypervolemia would similarly benefit arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses. Two sets of experiments, namely, placebo [intravenous (IV) physiological saline] and acute hypervolemia (IV 7.2% NaCl, causing an 18.2% expansion of plasma volume) studies were carried out in random order on 13 healthy, exercise-trained thoroughbred horses, 7 days apart. An incremental exercise protocol leading to 120 s of galloping at 14 m s^–1 on a 3.5% uphill incline was used. Galloping at this workload elicited maximal heart rate and induced pulmonary hemorrhage in all horses in both treatments. In the placebo study, arterial oxygen tension decreased to 76.1 (2) mmHg (P<0.0001) at 30 s of maximal exertion, but further significant changes did not occur as exercise duration increased to 120 s [arterial oxygen tension 72.4 (2) mmHg]. A significant arterial hypoxemia also developed in galloping horses in the acute hypervolemia study [arterial oxygen tension at 30 and 120 s was 76.7 (1.7) and 71.9 (1.6) mmHg, respectively], but significant differences between treatments could not be demonstrated. In both treatments, a similar desaturation of arterial hemoglobin was also observed at 30 s of maximal exercise, which intensified with increasing exercise duration as hyperthermia, acidosis and hypercapnia intensified. Thus, acute expansion of plasma volume did not benefit arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses.     

Therapeutic drug levels and toxicology screen

Toxicologic analysis cannot supplant physician skills in the diagnosis and management of poisoning; however, it is a useful adjunct when properly used. Laboratory use should reflect critical consideration of clinical contribution as well as insight into institutional capability. A detailed historic review and interview of multiple sources may provide more useful and expeditious information than the blind "drug screen." Test ordering should be limited to that which directly contributes to clinical patient management.16 Similarly, test results must be interpreted in the clinical context of patient presentation. The reported units of measurement must be carefully scrutinized; and the potential for laboratory error must be appreciated. Most importantly, communication and cooperation must be maintained between the physician and laboratory personnel if the resource is to be optimally used.     

Structure-intestinal transport and structure-metabolism correlations of some potential cancerostatic pyrimidine nucleosides in isolated rat jejunum

Summary Both transport and biotransformation processes for a series of pyrimidine nucleobases, ribonucleosides, 2-deoxyribonucleosides, and acetyl and 5-substituted derivatives of the cancerostatic agent araC were studied in the isolated everted rat jejunum with a continuous perfusion technique. Metabolic alterations during penetration were assessed by HPLC. 5-Halogeno and 5-deoxy derivatives of cytosine nucleosides exhibited higher transport rates and higher stability towards the deamination reaction than did unsubstituted derivatives. Octanol-buffer partition coefficients were estimated for the study compounds, and fragmental constants for the sugar moieties of nucleosides were assessed. With the present study compounds there was no correlation between lipophilicity and transport rate, as previously reported, but there was a correlation between lipophilicity and metabolic alteration of araC derivatives (r=0.99, n=5).     

The simultaneous assay of emetine and cephaeline in ipecacuanha and its preparations by spectrofluorimetry

A rapid assay is described for the simultaneous determination of emetine and cephaeline in ipecacuanha and its preparations, based upon the different fluorescence intensities of the alkaloids at pH 1 and pH 12. The assay involves the measurement of fluorescence at 317 nm of dilutions of the sample in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (pH 1) and 0.01 M sodium hydroxide (pH 12) with an excitation wavelength of 283 nm. Concentrations of the individual alkaloids are calculated using two simultaneous equations derived from the experimentally determined coefficients of fluorescence of solutions (1 μg/ml) of emetine and cephaeline at pH 1 and pH 12. The procedure, which has been shown to be accurate, precise and sensitive, requires only 1 ml of a liquid sample and less than 0.5 g of powdered root. There was reasonable agreement between the total concentrations of alkaloids in tinctures and liquid extracts of ipecacuanha determined by the spectrofluorimetric method and by the titrimetric procedure of the British Pharmacopoeia. The fluorimetric procedure gave higher levels of alkaloids in the powdered root than did the B.P. method; this difference is explained by incomplete extraction of the alkaloids in the B.P. procedure for powdered ipecacuanha root.     

Depression,sleeping pattern,and suicidal ideation among medical students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional pilot study

Journal of Public Health - Depression is a major morbidity and the most common mental disorder among the medical students in medical schools globally. Undergraduate students suffer stress more due...     

Association of obesity with illness severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundAlthough recent studies have shown an association between obesity and adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient outcomes, there is a paucity in large studies focusing on hospitalized patients. We aimed to analyze outcomes associated with obesity in a large cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study at a tertiary care health system of adult patients with COVID-19 who were admitted between March 1 and April 30, 2020. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2) and non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m 2) cohorts. Primary outcomes were mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, and 30-day readmission.ResultsA total of 1983 patients were included of whom 1031 (51.9%) had obesity and 952 (48.9%) did not have obesity. Patients with obesity were younger (P < 0.001), more likely to be female (P < 0.001) and African American (P < 0.001) compared to patients without obesity. Multivariable logistic models adjusting for differences in age, sex, race, medical comorbidities, and treatment modalities revealed no difference in 60-day mortality and 30-day readmission between obese and non-obese groups. In these models, patients with obesity had increased odds of ICU admission (adjusted OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07?1.76; P = 0.012) and intubation (adjusted OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04?1.80; P = 0.026).ConclusionsObesity in patients with COVID-19 is independently associated with increased risk for ICU admission and intubation. Recognizing that obesity impacts morbidity in this manner is crucial for appropriate management of COVID-19 patients.     

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Micro- and Macro-Nutrient Intakes and Trajectories of Macro-Nutrient Supply in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is experiencing a nutrition transition, characterized by the emergence of overnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. No previous study has comparatively examined nutrient intake in adults across countries in the EMR. This review examined the adequacy of nutrients in adults living in the EMR. Moreover, it analyzed the food balance sheets (FBS) for 1961–2018 to identify the trajectory of energy supply from macro-nutrients in the EMR. A systematic search was conducted from January 2012 to September 2020. Only observational studies were retained with a random sampling design. An assessment of the methodological quality was conducted. Levels of nutrient daily intake and their adequacy compared to the daily reference intake of the Institute of Medicine were reported across the region. No studies were identified for half of the region’s countries. Although nutrient energy intake was satisfactory overall, fat and carbohydrate intake were high. Intake of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium were below that recommended. The analysis of the FBS data allowed for the identification of four linear patterns of trajectories, with countries in the EMR best fitting the ‘high-energy-supply from carbohydrate’ group. This systematic review warrants multi-sectorial commitment to optimize nutrient intake.