In vitro activity of green tea extract against Leishmania major promastigotes

Background: Systemic and topical treatment options against Leishmaniasis are limited to a few drugs with inconsistent efficacy and unacceptable side effects and none of them is suitable for all forms of the disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to search the in vitro activity of green tea extract against L. major promastigotes and compare it with glucantime. Methods: Extract was prepared by percolation method. The extract was dried and dissolved in DMSO 1% solvent. Leishmania major promastigotes treated with 6 concentrations (3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 mg/ml) of the extract. As control positive group glucantime 85 mg/ml and additional untreated control group were included in this study. All cultures were performed in triplicate. The promastigotes were also counted and their flagellate's motilities were assessed microscopically. Results: Ethanolic extract of green tea showed significant leishmanicidal activity against L. major promastigotes in different concentrations. Notably there was a concordance in anti-leishmanial effect of the ethanol extract with the increasing of the dosage (3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 mg/ml). In comparison with glucantime the mean alive promastigotes in 12 mg/ml concentration of green tea was almost as same as 85 mg/ml glucantime and higher green tea extract concentrations were higher effective than glucantime. Conclusion: Our study revealed a novel pharmacological activity against promastigotes of L. major and suggests that green tea extract has the potential of being used in leishmaniasis but more studies are needed to find out its activity against amastigote and appropriate route of application.     

LDL species heterogeneity in the atherogenic dyslipidemia of polycystic ovary syndrome

One of the important risk factors for coronary heart disease is dyslipidemia. Several lipid abnormalities have been studied in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the relationship between PCOS and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclass pattern is not clear. A case-control study was designed to look into lipid differences, and LDL size was analyzed by a newly developed polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis method. Results indicated that only PCOS status and serum triglyceride levels were independently associated with LDL particle size. The apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I level was higher in PCOS patients with small dense LDL (sdLDL). PCOS seems to result in smaller LDL particle size and higher ApoA-I levels independent of triglyceride levels. After adjusting for triglyceride levels, other traits of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) were not associated with LDL size phenotype, suggesting that the IRS-related sdLDL is linked most strongly to alterations in triglyceride levels.     

An outbreak of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on a burn unit: potential role of contaminated hydrotherapy equipment

OBJECTIVE: To report a multi-institution outbreak caused by a single strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). OUTBREAK: Between September 19 and November 20, 1996 an index case and five secondary cases of nosocomial MRSA occurred on a 26 bed adult plastic surgery/burn unit (PSBU) at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Between November 11 and December 23, 1996, six additional cases were identified at a community hospital. One of the community hospital cases was transferred from the PSBU. All strains were identical by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. MRSA may have contributed to skin graft breakdown in one case, and delayed wound healing in others. Patients required 2 to 226 isolation days. CONTROL MEASURES: A hand held shower and stretcher for showering in the hydrotherapy room of the PSBU were culture positive for the outbreak strain, and the presumed means of transmission. Replacement of stretcher showering with bedside sterile burn wound compresses terminated the outbreak. The PSBU was closed to new admissions and transfers out for 11 days during the investigation. Seven of 12 patients had effective decolonization therapy. CONCLUSION: Environmental contamination is a potential source of nosocomial MRSA transmission on a burn unit. Notification among institutions and community care providers of shared patients infected or colonized with an antimicrobial resistant microorganism is necessary.     

Identification of a fourth opioid core sequence in a prodynorphin cDNA cloned from the brain of the amphibian,Bufo marinus: deciphering the evolution of prodynorphin and proenkephalin

In mammals, prodynorphin codes for three C-terminally extended forms of leu-enkephalin. This is not the case for the anuran amphibian, Bufo marinus. A combination of 3'RACE, RT-PCR and 5'RACE protocols was used to clone and characterize a prodynorphin cDNA from the brain of this amphibian that contained two met-enkephalin sequences. One met-enkephalin sequence was located at the N-terminal of Met(5)-dynorphin A(1-17), and the other met-enkephalin sequence was located in the N-terminal region of B. marinus prodynorphin in a position that aligned with a pentapeptide met-enkephalin site in mammalian proenkephalin. The latter B. marinus met-enkephalin sequence is flanked by sets of paired basic proteolytic cleavage sites. In addition to the extra met-enkephalin sequence and the Met(5)-dynorphin A(1-17) sequence, the B. marinus prodynorphin contained two C-terminally extended forms of leu-enkephalin [alpha-neo-endorphin and dynorphin B(1-13)]. In the toad precursor the alpha-neo-endorphin sequence is identical to human alpha-neo-endorphin. The B. marinus dynorphin B(1-13) sequence differs from human dynorphin B(1-13) by one amino acid (Thr(12) vs. Val(12)). Steady-state analysis suggests that dynorphin B(1-13) and possibly alpha-neo-endorphin may be cleaved to yield leu-enkephalin as an end-product in the amphibian brain. Finally, the alignment of the extra met-enkephalin sequence in the N-terminal of B. marinus prodynorphin with the corresponding met-enkephalin site in mammalian proenkephalin adds support to the hypothesis that the prodynorphin gene arose as a duplication of the proenkephalin gene.     

Clinical risk factors for gastroschisis and omphalocele in humans: a review of the literature

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are usually considered together since they are both congenital abdominal wall defects, and yet their anatomy, embryogenesis, and clinical presentation and problems are quite different. In addition, it appears that the risk factors for their occurrence differ. Etiologic factors contributing to the development of these defects are unknown. To investigate this we have reviewed reports of risk factors for each anomaly and report them here. We conducted a literature search using PubMed () for risk factors implicated in the development of gastroschisis and omphalocele. The data reviewed here from clinical studies in the literature, closely parallels the data in animal studies which we reported earlier. There is little evidence for a genetic cause in the development of gastroschisis and much evidence supporting the possibility that environmental teratogens are important contributors to the development of this defect. On the other hand, in the case of omphalocele, there was little evidence for environmental factors and substantial data indicating that genetic or familial factors may play an important role.