A Rare Case of Stridor with a Right Sided Aortic Arch in a Libyan Patient.

A rare case of stridor with a right sided aortic arch is presented showing minimal or no change in circulatory pattern excepting for noisy breathing.

A2B Adenosine Receptors in SH-SY5Y Cells-Functional Approaches.

The diversity in intracellular signalling downstream of adenosine receptors is dependent on the receptor subtype activated by adenosine. A1 and A2A are considered high affinity receptors while A2B and A3 are considered as low affinity receptors. Despite the apparent widespread distribution of A2B in every cell of every species, the receptor number and low affinity for adenosine and its analogue, makes it the least wellcharacterised adenosine receptor. A2B adenosine receptors are classically coupled to Gs protein and elevation of cAMP levels in target cells, although, A2B have also been known to couple to Gq and not just Gs proteins, and also to couple to Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK). In the present study, changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and MAPK phosphorylation following subtype-specific and non-specific agonists and antagonists stimulation were investigated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. In conclusion, our results indicate that SH-SY5Y cells express A2B adenosine receptors that are coupled to stimulation of Extracellular regulated kinase (ERK1/2) mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases.

Serum high sensitive c-reactive protein and anticardiolipin antibody level in cad patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The increased incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is not fully explained by the conventional risk factors. Our aim was to determine the association of biomarkers, high sensitive CRP and anticardiolipin antibody (acL) with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with and without type 2 DM. In our study, hsCRP level was significantly high in CAD with DM and found to be positively correlated with severity (p<0.01) while anticardiolipin antibody does not show any significant change among the two groups. Our study concluded that increased risk of CAD in type 2 DM patients is not only because of dyslipidemia but inflammatory events also play a major role. hsCRP was found to be a valuable predictor for CAD in type 2 DM.

Apo B/Apo A-I Ratio A Better Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with or Without Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

The increasing disease burden due to coronary artery disease (CAD) can be minimized by an early detection using a valid risk factor. Aim of this study was to determine the level of apolipoprotein AI(ApoAI), apolipoprotein B(ApoB) and ApoB/ApoAI ratio in CAD patients with or without type II diabetes mellitus(DM) and to analyze whether these parameters can be used as a more accurate lipid risk factor than the conventional ones. Fasting blood samples were collected from angiographically determined coronary artery disease patients with or without type II DM and control subjects. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG),and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C)were measured enzymatically ,low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was determined using Friedewald's formula ,Apo AI and Apo B were analyzed by immunoturbidimetric method. Plasma values of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, were not significantly different in the groups with normal coronary arteries and CAD. Level of ApoB was significantly higher and the level of Apo AI was significantly lower in CAD patients when compared to normal coronary artery group. In the study, ratio of Apo B to Apo AI (Apo B/ Apo AI) was found to be markedly high in CAD patients ( p<0.001) when compared to the control . As the ratio covers both atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipid risk factor, it can be used as a better predictor than conventional risk factor.

Interventions in reproduction.

Assisted reproductive technology has helped many childless couples. It has also raised questions about how appropriate the technology might be in different situations. How we understand parenthood is crucial in taking a stand on such scientific intervention. It is suggested that physicians should decide on offering artificial insemination, surrogacy and in-vitro fertilisation only after considering if the child will have good parents and if there will be legal complications from the use of the technology.

Effect of gossypol on tissue levels of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive products in rats.

Gossypol was administered in pubertal and adult rats and lipid peroxide formation and GSH levels were estimated in different tissues like liver, testis, heart and kidney. Gossypol caused low generation of lipid peroxides, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive products (TBAR), without causing significant changes in tissue glutathione (GSH) levels. This effect was more pronounced in liver and testis as compared to other tissues. In vitro effect of gossypol to inhibit lipid peroxidation as observed in vivo suggested that binding of gossypol to plasma membranes may result in inhibition of lipid peroxide generation.

Evaluation of semen quality in a local Libyan population.

Semen analyses was carried out in a population of 1250 randomly selected Libyan males. Two semen samples collected from each volunteer were subjected to the routine analyses following the World Health Organization recommendations. The Libyan population had a higher percentage of men with sperm density in the range of 40-60 millions/ml. The percentage of men with sperm counts above 100 millions/ml is comparatively lower than that is reported by MacLeod and Gold (9). The seminal plasma transferrin levels showed a positive correlation with sperm density and alpha-glucosidase activity with sperm motility.