Serum salusin-β levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical Rheumatology - Endothelial dysfunction (ED) has an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Studies on other inflammatory diseases show that salusin-β...     

Opium poisoning following self‐medication of radiation‐induced dermatitis with topical use of opium latex traditional extract; a teaching case

Despite Radiation‐induced dermatitis is a self‐limiting complication, it can be complicated if inappropriate self‐medications have been used such as opium latex traditional extract.     

Gender difference in albuminuria and ischemic heart disease in type 2 diabetes

Objective

The value of urinary albumin excretion in the prediction of myocardial ischemia in men and women with type 2 diabetes is not well understood. We questioned whether gender influences the albuminuria-ischemic heart disease relationship in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We designed a matched case-control study of 926 patients with albuminuria (cases) and 926 age and body mass index matched patients without albuminuria (controls). Ischemic heart disease was defined as the presence of (1) history of angina pectoris or angina equivalent symptoms and critical care unit admission, (2) myocardial infarction and/or electrocardiographic evidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction, (3) coronary revascularization and/or stenting, (4) positive myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography scan, (5) ischemic ST-segment or T-wave changes, and (6) positive stress testing.

Results

Patients with albuminuria had a lower glomerular filtration rate and a longer diabetes duration than patients without albuminuria. In the group of cases, there were a greater number of men with ischemic heart disease (120 of 370; 32.4%) compared to women (97 of 559; 17.4%) (P<0.001). The odds ratio of having ischemic heart disease according to the presence or absence of albuminuria was 1.25 [95% CI: 1.01–1.56] (P<0.05) in all studied populations, 0.79 [95% CI: 0.51–1.21] (P=0.14) in women, and 2.84 [95% CI: 1.68–4.79] (P<0.001) in men. We showed that diabetes duration, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and hemoglobin A_1c influence albuminuria in women, while diabetes duration, fasting blood sugar, and diastolic blood pressure influence albuminuria in men.

Conclusions

Men with albuminuria are at increased risk of ischemic heart disease compared to women. This may be related to the role of high-density lipoprotein on the albuminuria-gender relationship.     

Efficacy of clove powder solution on stress mitigation in juvenile common carps, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

Effects of clove powder solution on stress response were investigated in juvenile common carp. Juvenile common carp (about 10 g in weight), reared in 3 g/L salinity, were used in this study. Blood samples were collected before stress as pre-stress values. Thereafter, fish were exposed to crowding stress (density of 25 g/L over a 45-min period) with 0, 50, 200 and 300 mg/L clove powder. Experimental treatments were 0 mg/L clove powder (C0), 50 mg/L clove powder (C50), 200 mg/L clove powder (C200) and 300 mg/L clove powder (C300). After 45-min stress, blood samples were collected from all group in order to determine the effects of stress on blood cortisol, glucose, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ levels. Results showed that clove powder significantly prevented cortisol elevation after stress in C50, C200 and C300 compared to pre-stress values. But, glucose levels were significantly high after stress in all groups compared to pre-stress values. Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations did not significantly change after stress in all groups. Results suggest that clove powder is capable of reducing cortisol elevation after stress in carp, particularly at concentrations of 300 mg/L. However, additional studies are needed to determine the effects of various clove powder concentrations on post-stress recovery period.     

Changes in the biochemical composition of fetal fluids and maternal blood serum during different days of gestation in cattle

The aim of this study was to determine the values of some metabolites, ions, and enzymes in maternal blood serum and fetal fluids in relation to gestation day in cattle. Gravid uteri of cattle were collected after slaughter. The allantoic and amniotic fluids as well as maternal blood samples were collected. Fetal ages were determined according to crown–rump length by applying the age estimation formula that previously was presented for cattle. The pregnancies were divided according to gestation days into four groups: 0–50, 51–100, 101–150, and 151–200?days. With the progress of pregnancy, the biochemical levels of fetal fluids and maternal serum changed as follows: there was a rise of total protein, urea, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase values in fetal fluids and serum; the levels of glucose in maternal serum and potassium in fetal fluids increased; cholesterol, triglyceride, phosphorus, and sodium contents of fetal fluids and serum decreased; the concentrations of glucose and calcium in fetal fluids, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum and allantoic fluid, potassium in serum, and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) in amniotic fluid and serum dropped. The values of LDH in amniotic fluid, ASAT in allantoic fluid, alanine aminotransferase in amniotic and allantoic fluids, and calcium in maternal serum remained unchanged.     

Using dual polarities of transcranial direct current stimulation in global cerebral ischemia and its following reperfusion period attenuates neuronal injury

Metabolic Brain Disease - Multiple neuronal injury pathways are activated during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). This study was designed to decrease potential neuronal injuries by using...     

The quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones skeleton: A key intermediate in drug synthesis

Quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione is a major class of N-fused heterocyclic with a wide range of biological functions, including anti-HIV, anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, antimutagenic, anticoccidial, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antimalarial, antioxidant, antileukemic, and antileishmanial activities, and other activities, has attracted high attention in organic and medicinal chemistry. As a consequence, all chemists and pharmaceutical chemists should be familiar with the various procedures for producing quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the many manufacturing methods for various biological compounds based on the quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione and 2,4-dichloroquinazoline cores.