Contraceptive prevalence: experience from rural areas of Mymensingh

Contraceptive prevalence although increased over the last decade but has not yet achieved the desired level. The present descriptive type of cross-sectional study aimed at exploring the status of Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) along with relevant issues in two rural areas in Mymensingh. A total 223 respondent was interviewed. Majority respondents were females and young aged 36 years or below. Around a half of the respondents were illiterate while more than half was earning less than 3000 taka a month. Majority women were married earlier than the legal age of marriage with 15.92 years. Around two third (63%) respondents were found using any contraceptives while female partners' shyness and male partners' disliking were reported as reasons for non-use. Increase in female literacy and involvement of family planning worker in motivational programme at individual level could help in improving the situation.

Nematicidal natural products from the aerial parts of Lantana camara Linn

Lantanilic acid, camaric acid and oleanolic acid possessing nematicidal activity were isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Lantana camara Linn. through bio-assay guided fractionation. These compounds exhibited 98%, 95% and 70% mortality respectively against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita at 0.5% concentration. Conventional nematicide furadan showed 100% mortality at this concentration.

Redox options in two-dimensional electrophoresis

Two-dimensional electrophoresis is usually run on fully reduced samples. Under these conditions even covalently bound oligomers are dissociated and individual polypeptide chains may be fully unfolded by both, urea and SDS, which maximizes the number of resolved components and allows their pI and M(r) to be most accurately evaluated. However, various electrophoretic protocols for protein structure investigation require a combination of steps under varying redox conditions. We review here some of the applications of these procedures. We also present some original data about a few related samples -- serum from four species: Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Bos taurus -- which we run under fully unreduced and fully reduced conditions as well as with reduction between first and second dimension. We demonstrate that in many cases the unreduced proteins migrate with a better resolution than reduced proteins, mostly in the crowded 'alpha-globulin' area of pI 4.5-6 and M(r) 50-70 kDa.

Sleep deprivation-induced protein changes in basal forebrain: Implications for synaptic plasticity

The need to sleep is universal and lack of sleep often results in decreases in alertness and cognitive function. Data suggest that sleep-related mechanisms and deficits resulting from loss of sleep are associated anatomically with the basal forebrain. Long-term effects of sleep deprivation, those lasting a day or more, likely require transcriptional changes leading to changes in protein synthesis, whereas short-term effects may be mediated by rapid changes in the functional status of proteins. To understand sleep deprivation-induced changes in proteins in the wake-promoting area of the basal forebrain in rat, proteomic analysis was carried out by a combination of 2D gel electrophoresis to separate and visualize proteins and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry for protein identification. Among 969 protein spots that were compared, 89 spots showed more than a twofold difference between 6-hr sleep-deprived rats and undisturbed sleeping controls. We have identified 11 of these proteins to be either cytoskeletal or associated with synapses. The changes in four of these proteins were analyzed further by Western blots of 1D and 2D. Two proteins associated with the cytoskeleton, tubulin and GAP43, show posttranslational modifications. Increased tyrosination of alpha tubulin isoforms and increased phosphorylation of GAP43 was observed after 6-hr sleep deprivation when compared to that in sleeping controls. The synaptic protein synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP25) is decreased whereas amphiphysin is phosphorylated after sleep deprivation. These changes in proteins in the basal forebrain during short-term sleep deprivation are suggestive of changes in the substrate for neuronal transmission and plasticity.

Hepatic manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Hepatic manifestations in autoimmune disease include chronic active hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia. These diseases are rare and may occur concomitantly or serially. Clinicians must be aware of the possibility of liver disease so that it can be treated as soon as possible.

Prevalence, patterns of disease and outcome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who develop severe haematological problems

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of major haemolytic disease-severe autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia-and to assess when these features develop. We also sought to analyse the clinical and serological outcomes of patients with haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as compared with patients without these cytopenias.

METHODS

We reviewed retrospectively all the available case notes from our lupus cohort of 305 patients followed up between 1978 and 2000 (mean follow-up 7 yr). We identified 30 patients with SLE (9.8%), of whom 20 (6.6%) had severe haemolytic anaemia and 10 (3.3%) had severe thrombocytopenia. Each patient was matched for age, sex and ethnicity with two control patients.

RESULTS

We recorded a total of 42 episodes of severe haematological events: four patients had a second haemolytic episode and eight patients had a second thrombocytopenic episode. Five patients had both thrombocytopenia and haemolytic anaemia. One per cent of patients had severe haemolytic anaemia prior to the diagnosis of SLE and 2.5% of patients presented with these haematological disorders. Haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia were associated with renal involvement (0.01>P>0.001) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) (0.01>P>0.001), but not anti-dsDNA antibodies. Calculation of the BILAG index at the time of severe haematological crisis demonstrated that renal, central nervous system involvement and general symptoms are more frequently present. Forty-one per cent of patients were already on either prednisolone (<10 mg) or an immunosuppressive agent at the onset of the event.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that both haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia are associated with ACL but not anti-dsDNA antibodies. When faced with a patient with a severe haematological manifestation of lupus, active disease in other organs is likely to be present.

Nutritional status and birth outcomes of the diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women

This cross sectional study compares the nutritional status and birth outcomes of 357 diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women (203 DM and 154 NDM as control). Uncomplicated diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women of singleton pregnancies with age range of 19-35 years were enrolled at term in BIRDEM hospital. Maternal anthropometry and neonatal anthropometric measurements were taken following standard techniques. Educational level was significantly different between the groups. The diabetic mothers were found significantly less educated (p<0.0001) compared to non-diabetic mothers. Highly significant differences were observed between the groups on mean maternal age, weight at term, height, body mass index (BMI), mid arm circumference (MAC), and hemoglobin concentration (p values for all: <0.001) with higher values for the DM group. Most of the DM pregnant mothers were either overweight (BMI: 26.0-29.0) or obese (BMI: >29.0), on the other hand most of the NDM pregnant mothers were within normal range (BMI: 19.8-26.0). DM pregnant mothers were found more anemic (45.8% vs. 23.4%; p<0.001). Mean birth weight of the infants of DM & NDM groups were 3100g +/- .500g and 2850g +/- 360g respectively. The mean chest circumference of the infants of DM mothers was found significantly higher for diabetic group (p<0.01). DM mothers delivered most of the preterm babies (16.3% vs. 5.8%; p<0.002) and macrosomy babies were found only in this group (5.9%). Significant correlation was observed between birth weight and maternal MAC (p<0.001) in both the groups. Head circumference was found significantly correlated with maternal MAC and age in the DM group only. Diabetic pregnant women were significantly different compared to the non-diabetic group by nutritional status. The DM group experienced more anemia and preterm deliveries and macrosomic babies were born only in them.

Concurrence of sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus in three patients

We present three cases of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and sarcoidosis. Although both of these conditions are thought to involve autoimmune mechanisms they occur together only rarely. Our cases suggest that their concurrence may be more common than previously thought, and raise issues regarding the management of patients with SLE. We discuss the possibility that these two diseases are either causally or mechanistically related.

Further constituents from the bark of Holarrhena pubescens

Three compounds, pubadysone [11 alpha-hydroxy-18,20-oxido-3-oxo-pregna-1,4,17(20)-triene] (1), puboestrene [3-acetoxy-17-oxo-1,3,5(10)-estratriene] (2) and pubamide [3,18-dioxo-11 alpha-hydroxycona-1,4-diene] (3), have been isolated from the bark of Holarrhena pubescens. Their structures have been established through spectroscopic studies.

Hydroxysesamone and 2,3-epoxysesamone from roots of Sesamum indicum

A red naphthoquinone, named hydroxysesamone, was isolated from the roots of Sesamum indicum together with a known yellow naphthoxirene derivative, 2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-5,8-dihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone, named 2,3-epoxysesamone. The structure of the naphthoquinone was characterized as 2,5,8-trihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone on the basis of spectral evidence. Full assignments of NMR resonances of 2,3-epoxysesamone were also confirmed by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic experiments. Chlorosesamone, hydroxysesamone and 2,3-epoxysesamone all showed antifungal activities toward Cladosporium fulvum.

In vivo genotoxic effects of mercuric chloride in rat peripheral blood leucocytes using comet assay

DNA damage induced by Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in leucocytes of Wistar albino male rats has been studied in vivo. The comet assay or the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay was used to measure the DNA damage. The rats were administered orally with doses ranging from 0.0054, 0.0108, 0.0216, 0.0432 to 0.0864 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) of HgCl2. The assay was performed on whole blood at 24, 48, 72 h, 1st and 2nd week. The reason leucocytes were used was to reflect biomarker studies in humans. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at all time intervals with HgCl2 except in 2nd week post treatment when compared to controls. The mean comet tail length revealed a clear dose dependent increase from 0.0054 to 0.0432 mg/kg b.wt. A maximum increase in mean comet tail length was observed at 0.0432 mg/kg b.wt. 24 h after treatment. From 48 h post treatment, the mean comet tail lengths of all the doses gradually decreased and by week 2 of post treatment, they had approached control levels, pointing to repair of the damaged DNA. These findings suggest that the comet assay is a highly sensitive technique to study DNA damage caused by metals.

Nutritional neglect and physical abuse in children of alcoholics

OBJECTIVE

Children of alcoholics are at higher risk for physical injuries and malnutrition. In this study nutritional neglect and physical abuse in children of alcoholics has been compared with children of non-alcoholics in a General Hospital attached to a Medical College.

METHODS

72 children of alcoholics were compared with 81 normal controls. 86.1% in case group and 49.4% in control group had malnourishment of various grades.

RESULTS

45% of the children of alcoholics had physical injuries in contrast to 23.4% of children of non-alcoholics. Malnutrition co-existed in almost all injured children of alcoholics.

CONCLUSION

Alcoholism in parents of malnourished and injured children are frequently ignored in routine clinical evaluation. If the risk children are identified early some of the morbidity can be avoided.

Factor V inhibitor in neonatal intracranial hemorrhage secondary to severe congenital factor V deficiency

We report a newborn infant girl, born to consanguineous parents, with recurrent intracranial hemorrhage secondary to congenital factor V deficiency with factor V inhibitor. Repeated transfusions of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and platelet concentrates, administrations of immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone and cyclophosphamide), and intravenous immunoglobulin failed to normalize the coagulation profiles. Exchange transfusion followed-up by administrations of activated prothrombin complex and transfusions of FFP and platelet concentrates caused a temporary normalization of coagulation profile, enabling an insertion of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for progressive hydrocephalus. The treatment was complicated by thrombosis of left brachial artery and ischemia of left middle finger. The child finally died from another episode of intracranial hemorrhage 10 days after insertion of the VP shunt.

Effects of 10-hydroxycamptothecin, delivered from locally injectable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres, in a murine human oral squamous cell carcinoma regression model

This study investigated whether local delivery of 10-hydroxycamptothecin provides effective inductive chemotherapy as assessed by significant tumor reduction. Established tumorigenic human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were used for these experiments. The experimental groups were comprised of: control (blank (no drug) poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres), intraperitoneal 10-hydroxycamptothecin delivery + blank microspheres, local bolus 10-hydroxycamptothecin + blank microspheres, and PLGA controlled-release microspheres. The 10-hydroxycamptothecin dose administered was 12 mg/kg (bolus-intraperitoneal, local) or controlled-release over 10 days. Regardless of delivery route, 10-hydroxycamptothecin significantly reduces tumor volume. However, PLGA microspheres provide significantly higher intratumor-drug concentrations (approximately 10 and 100 fold higher) relative to local bolus and intraperitoneal routes, respectively. Also, only the PLGA microspheres significantly reduced tumor weights. Camptothecin clinical applications are limited by drug inactivation at physiological pH and the need for sustained infusions. However, due to their acidic, camptothecin-stabilizing microclimate, PLGA microspheres could provide a novel delivery system for camptothecin-based induction chemotherapy.

Methyl parathion induced alterations in monoaminergic system of developing rat pups

Methyl parathion induced alterations in the level of monoamines, viz. norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin were studied in discrete regions of developing central nervous system of rat pups. A significant decrease in the level of monoamines noticed in methyl parathion toxicosis may be related to the altered neuronal activity and inefficiency, leading to depression and impairment in various behavioural activities. In contrast to AChE inhibition, monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity showed an increasing trend and it could cause deamination of catecholamines and accumulation of its metabolites. This suggests that an increased AChE inhibition may indirectly stimulate MAO activity in developing rat pups exposed to methyl parathion.

Endoscopic characteristics of low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It was recently reported that low-grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) was regressed by the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to confirm the effect of H. pylori eradication on low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma and to investigate the whitish mucosa that appeared with regression of the lesions.

METHODS

Forty-seven H. pylori-positive patients with low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma were treated by using triple therapy. Biopsy specimens were histologically graded and B cell clonality was examined by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction before and after eradication treatment. The relationship between the appearance of whitish mucosa and the degree of gastric gland loss was evaluated.

RESULTS

Histologic regression was observed 2 months after eradication therapy in 42 of 47 patients. However, B cell monoclonality changed to polyclonality in only 23 patients during the follow-up period. The appearance of whitish mucosa in patients who showed histologic regression became more frequent as the degree of gastric gland loss increased (P< 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma histologically regressed after H. pylori eradication. The appearance of whitish mucosa after histologic regression reflected the degree of gastric gland loss. Whitish mucosa is an endoscopic characteristic and may be an endoscopic marker for regression of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma.

Spasmolytic constituents from Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa leaves

Phytochemical studies on the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa have resulted in the isolation of a new triterpenoid camaldulin (3beta-formyloxyurs-11-en-28,13beta-olide) (1) along with ursolic acid lactone acetate (2), ursolic acid lactone (3), betulinic acid (4), and beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). The structures were assigned on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR studies. Compounds 1-3 were tested for spasmolytic activity and were found to possess calcium antagonist activity.

Triterpenoidal constituents from Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa leaves

An investigation on the constituents of the fresh, uncrushed leaves of Ecalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa has led to the isolation of the triterpenoid amirinic acid and four known triterpenoids ursolic acid lactone, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Amirinic acid transformed into amirolide in deuterated chloroform at room temperature. The new products were characterized by exhaustive spectroscopic studies as 2alpha,3beta,7beta-trihydroxy-11alpha-methoxyurs -12-en-28-oic acid and 2alpha,3beta,7beta-trihydroxyurs-11-en-28,13beta -olide.

Age-related patterns of the clustering of cardiovascular risk variables of syndrome X from childhood to young adulthood in a population made up of black and white subjects: the Bogalusa Heart Study

The age-related patterns of clustering of cardiovascular risk variables of Syndrome X from childhood to adulthood were examined in a community-based sample of black and white children (aged 5-10 years, n = 2,389), adolescents (aged 11-17 years, n = 3,371), and young adults (aged 18-37 years, n = 2,115). In the analysis of clustering, insulin resistance index, BMI, triglycerides/ HDL cholesterol ratio, and mean arterial pressure were used either as categorical variables (age-, race- and sex-specific values >75th percentiles) to calculate risk ratios (observed frequency/expected frequency) or as continuous variables (normal scores based on ranks) to compute intraclass correlations. In the total sample, the risk ratio for clustering of adverse levels of all 4 variables was 9.8 for whites (P < 0.01) versus 7.4 for blacks (P < 0.01); the intraclass correlation was 0.33 for whites (P < 0.001) versus 0.26 for blacks (P < 0.001). Both the risk ratio and intraclass correlation were significantly higher in whites than in blacks in the total sample. The intraclass correlations of the 4 variables were significant (P < 0.001) in all race and age-groups, and they were higher during preadolescence and adulthood than during adolescence. Furthermore, unlike risk ratios, intraclass correlations showed a continuous increase with age during adulthood. When BMI was adjusted, the intraclass correlations involving the other 3 variables were reduced by approximately 50%, and the age-related pattern was no longer evident. These results suggest that the degree of clustering of risk variables of Syndrome X varies with age from childhood to adulthood and is likely influenced by the age-related changes in obesity and the attendant insulin resistance.