Prevention of recognition memory loss and moderation of mitochondrial dynamic tendency toward fusion by flavone derivatives in Aβ-injected rats: a comparison between two flavonoids with different polarity

Growing evidence sheds light on the use of flavonoids as the promising alternatives for the treatment of chronic conditions, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, in the present study, we aimed at evaluating the effects of oral intake of two structurally different flavonoids 5-hydroxy-6,7,4?-trimethoxyflavone (flavone 1) and 5,7,4?-trihydroxyflavone (flavone 2) on recognition memory, hippocampal protein level of immediate early gene cFos and mitochondrial dynamic markers in Amyloid β (Aβ)-injected rats. Recognition aspect of memory and level of proteins were measured using novel object recognition test and Western blot, respectively. Our data indicated that even though flavone 1 was more effective than flavone 2 to prevent memory impairment, feeding with both flavones alleviated memory in Aβ-injected rats. Furthermore, in flavones-administered rats, mitochondrial dynamic balancing returned to the control level by the decline in Dynamin-related protein-1 protein level, a known marker for mitochondrial fission, and elevation in protein level of mitochondrial fusion factors Mitofusins 1 and 2. In parallel with behavior results, flavone 1 was more effectual on mitochondrial dynamic moderating. The more neuroprotective effects of flavone 1 could be attributed to its methylated structure leading to crossing of the blood-brain barrier with ease and metabolic stability and bioactivity.     

Body wall and visceral nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas in children and adolescents

Background

Predictors of outcome have not been established for pediatric visceral and body wall nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS).

Methods

The study used a retrospective review of clinical features and outcome of 61 patients with visceral and body wall NRSTS evaluated at our institution between March 1962 and December 1999.

Results

Median age at diagnosis was 9.9 years (range, birth to 17.4 years). Tumors were greater than 5 cm in 43 (70%), high grade in 33 (54%), invasive in 25 (41%), and metastatic at presentation in 14 (23%) patients. Visceral tumors (n = 27) were more likely than body wall tumors (n = 34) to be greater than 5 cm (93% vs 53%; P < .001) and invasive (70% vs 18%; P < .001) and were less likely to be resected at diagnosis (44% vs 85%; P = .001). Estimated 10-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort were 45.5% ± 6.9% and 56.8% ± 6.7%, respectively. The 10-year EFS and OS were better for patients with body wall sites than for those with visceral sites (61.8% ± 8.5% and 67.5% ± 8.2% vs 24.2% ± 9.4% and 43.0% ± 10.3%; P = .004 and P = .004). The 10-year estimated cumulative incidence (CI) of local recurrence was higher for patients with visceral sites than for those with body wall sites (64.3% ± 9.8% vs 26.5% ± 7.7%; P = .004), whereas CI of distant recurrence was similar for the 2 sites (15.2% ± 7.2% vs 23.5% ± 7.4%; P = .39).

Conclusions

Pediatric patients with visceral NRSTS are more likely to have invasive, large, and unresectable tumors compared to those with body wall tumors. More than two thirds of visceral NRSTS recur locally, and fewer than half of patients with visceral tumors survive.     

Antioxidant and antiglycating activities of Salvia sahendica and its protective effect against oxidative stress in neuron-like PC12 cells

Increased oxidative stress is widely accepted to be a factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we introduced Salvia sahendica as a protective agent in differentiated PC12 cells, which are commonly considered to be a reliable model of neuronal cells. Our results demonstrated that S. sahendica has antioxidant and antiglycating properties in in vitro system and these properties are expanded into H(2)O(2)-induced model. S. sahendica inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced cell death in PC12 cells. We further showed that this plant exerts its protective effect by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, reducing lipid peroxidation and upregulating hemoxygenase-1 and glutamylcysteine synthetase proteins. This study raises the possibility of developing S. sahendica as a potential neuroprotective agent.     

Differentiating pestes des petits ruminants and rinderpest viruses by a novel monoclonal antibody

Peste des petits ruminant (PPR) is an acute, febrile, viral disease of small ruminants with great economic importance. PPR and rinderpest (RP) viruses are antigenically related and need to be differentiated serologically. The use of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in ELISA for specific diagnostics and separation of PPR and RPV is important. For this purpose, six Balb/c mice were immunized with inactivated antigen from the Nijeria strain. Fusion cloning was performed 3 months later by directly using cloning plates, selecting the hybridoma colonies at an early stage with an inverted microscope, and transferring the colonies into 96-well plates with a micropipette. From 300 wells, nearly 56 hybridoma clones were found, from which, after testing in ELISA, 11 with higher titer were selected. Among these, only two clones were placed for limiting dilution (1H1, 6A12). Only one clone (6A12L1F12) had no cross-reactivity with RP, reacted with the N protein, and was of IgG2 isotype.     

Plasma fibrinogen level, bleeding, and transfusion after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients with increased risk of excessive bleeding and transfusion after cardiac surgery offers the possibility to initiate countermeasures. Fibrinogen is a key protein in the coagulation cascade and thus a potential biomarker for bleeding. We investigated the relationship between preoperative fibrinogen plasma concentration and postoperative bleeding and transfusion after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 170 patients (mean age, 67 ± 9 years; 75% men) undergoing isolated CABG were included in a prospective observational study. Patient variables (age, sex, operation time, anticoagulation therapy), preoperative laboratory variables (platelet [PLT] count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and fibrinogen), postoperative bleeding volume, and transfusions during hospital stay were registered. Independent predictors of bleeding volume and transfusion were identified with multiple regression models. RESULTS: Postoperative bleeding volume correlated univariately with preoperative fibrinogen concentration (r = ?0.53, p < 0.001) and PLT count (r = ?0.26, p = 0.001) but only preoperative fibrinogen concentration was an independent predictor of postoperative bleeding volume. Twenty‐nine of the 170 patients (17%) received transfusions with blood products. Independent predictors of transfusion were preoperative fibrinogen concentration (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐3.7 per 1‐unit decrease; p = 0.027), female sex (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.8‐14.7; p = 0.002), and aortic cross‐clamp time (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.06 per minute; p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that preoperative fibrinogen concentration (even within the normal range) is a limiting factor for postoperative hemostasis. Preoperative measurement of fibrinogen concentration provides information about bleeding volume and transfusion requirements after CABG.     

Adjustment process in Iranian women with breast cancer

Breast cancer is a devastating event for a woman. Physical changes and psychological problems, treatment to improve the patient's condition, and increased survival rates compared with other cancers manifest the importance of quality of life in these patients. This quality of life is affected by how the patients adjust to their situation. Hence, to understand adjustment to breast cancer, this research aimed to investigate the experience from the patients' perspective and how they interact with others and interpret their experiences in adjusting to the disease. A qualitative research approach based on grounded theory was used. The data were the result of 45 interviews with patients in different phases of their illness trajectory during 1 year, 6 interviews with families, and 10 observation sessions. The main categories that emerged were perceived threat to live, religious aspects, supportive dimensions, will to recover, increase in endurance, barriers to efforts leading to health, living with the disease with tolerance, and inhibitors and facilitators of tolerance. These main categories were understood as passages to reach evolutionary peaceful coexistence. Adjustment to breast cancer has positive evolutional process, and its direction is toward better adjustment. By positive mental reconstruction, the patients feel that they can live with their disease.     

High prevalence of goiter in an iodine replete area: do thyroid auto-antibodies play a role?

INTRODUCTION: Despite long standing iodine supplementation in Iran the prevalence of goiter remains high in some areas. This may suggest that causes other than iodine deficiency, such as autoimmune thyroid diseases, should also be considered. We therefore assessed the prevalence of anti-thyroid antibodies in children living in an inland area in Iran and correlated these findings with prevalence of goiter within this region. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 1948 students were selected by multistage random cluster sampling from the 108 primary schools (age, 7-13 year-old) of the urban and rural areas of Semirom. After obtaining written consent from their parents, the children were examined by endocrinologists for goiter grading. Grade 2 goitrous children (108 cases) were compared with non-goitrous children (111 children as control group) for anti-thyroid antibodies. RESULTS: Overall, 36.7% of 1948 students had goiter. The mean urinary iodine excretion level was 1.49+/-0.7 micromol/L. This was within normal limits. Of 219 children studied, 4.3% presented with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 7.3% had positive anti-thyroid antibodies. There was non-significant difference of positive thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPO) (Odds Ratio= 3.2, p= 0.13) but significant difference of anti Tg between goitrous and non goitrous children (Odds Ratio: 5.6, 95% CI: 1.18-26.0, p: 0.015). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that autoimmunity may be one of the mechanisms responsible for goiter persistence after iodine replenishment in this iodine deficient region, but the role of other factors should also be considered.