Cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus as risk factors for erectile dysfunction in upper Egypt

Erectile dysfunction impairs the quality of life of millions of men worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between selected clinical risk factors and erectile dysfunction in men residing in upper Egypt. Patients were surveyed with the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] and assessed for the presence of hypertension, diabetes and smoking. Of 658 men with erectile dysfunction, 17.3% had hypertension, 21.4% had diabetes and 40.1% were smokers, whereas among 821 age-matched controls without erectile dysfunction, the corresponding figures were 2.8%, 3.7% and 28.7%. Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension [OR = 5.4], diabetes mellitus [OR = 5.4] and smoking [OR = 3.1] were significant risk factors for erectile dysfunction

Lesional skin vascular endothelial growth factor levels correlate with clinical severity in patients with cement allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis to cement is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in which cytokines interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] may be involved in persisting erythema and oedema. VEGF and IFN-gamma levels in serum and skin lesions were measured in 32 Egyptian building workers with chronic allergic contact dermatitis due to occupational exposure to cement and 20 healthy controls. Dermatitis patients had significantly higher levels of serum and lesional skin VEGF and IFN-gamma than controls. A significant positive correlation was found between tissue VEGF and the eczema area and severity index [EASI] score in dermatitis patients [r = 0.86]. VEGF and IFN-gamma may play a role in the pathogenesis of cement allergic contact dermatitis

Microbiological transformations of steroids VI Amortization of 19-hydroxyandrosta-4,7-diene-3,17-dione into equilin

Washed mycelia and nongerminating spores of Fusarium solani aromatized 19-hydroxyandrosta-4, 7-diene-3, 17-dione into equilin and equilenin. The transformation was more complex with the mycelia rather than with the other unidentified products were formed early in the transformation. Substrate transforming enzymes appear to be induced in the mycelium and constitutive in the spores

Metabolism of esters of phydroxybenzoic acid by a strain of pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abacterial contaminant identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa [No. 396] was able to grow in a carbon-free fluid mineral salts I [basal medium] supplemented with propyl - p-hydroxybenzoate or with both the propyl-and the methyl-p-hydroxybenzoates in combiration at concentrations higher than those commonly recommended for the preservation of multi-dose pharmaceutical preparations. This strain failed to grow on the basal medium when it was supple [mented with the methyl ester alone except after prolonged incubation [15 days or more] where selection of resistant cells occurred. Evidence was presented to show that the microorganism was able to utilize the propyl-but not the methylmoiety of the paraben ester for growth. The first step in the metabolism of the propyl ester by this strain involves hydrolysis into p-hydroxyberzoic acid [PHBA] by both infra and extra-cellular esterases. These enzmyes were inducible in nature and can hydrolyze the methyl ester too. The activity of these esterases were significantly affected by minor changes in the functional groups on the benzene ring as compound structurally related to parabens were not hydrolyzed. Cell suspension experiments showed that the PHBA resulting from hydrolysis underwent hydroxylation into protocatechuic acid [PCA] only after the complete disappearance of the paraben substrate. This I would involve a 4-hyaroxybenzoate -3-mono-oxygenase which was shown to be also inducible but was strictly intracellular. The propyl paraben competitively inhibited this degradative step probably because of the structural similarity with PHBA. PCA did not appear in amounts corresponding to the loss of PHBA and growth continued indicating possible further metabolism of PCA to other metabolites which were in turn utilized for growth

Physiology and kinetics of a new L-Asparaginase from arthrobacter citreus

active intracellular L-asparagnase was detected in cultures of Arthrobacter citreus. The enzyme was farmed constitutively on a variety of media irrespective to the presence of the substrate or other structurally-related compounds. Glucose severely suppressed the enzyme formation The study of the physiology of formation has revealed that this enzyme reaches the maximum level at the end of the exponential phase and the beginning of stationary phase of growth followed by a rapid decline of the enzyme level upon further aging of the culture. The enzyme, obtained from the cells by benzene extraction. exhibited optimum activity at pH 3 and had an apparent KM 1.6 x l0-2M with respect to L- asparagire substrate. A significant substrate - protective effect was noted against heat iractivation of the enzyme at least up to 70§. The enzyme showed high specificity for L- asparagire and L- glutaminc with little or no activity on other amides tested. Significant activation was noted for magnesium ion whereas ferrous exhibited strong inhibitory effect. The properties of this enzyme are discussed in the light of possible application in cancer therapy

Microbial contamination of certain non-sterile pharmaceutical raw materials II: Contamination with bacteria of potential health hazard

A total of 119 pharmaceutical raw material samples from chemical, animal, plant, or other origin were examined for the presence of bacteria of potential health hazard. Of 71 batches of raw materials of chemical origin: 12, 2, 1, 5, 5, 6, 1, 4 and 2 batches were contaminated with Sraphylococeus aureus, Micrococcus pp., E. coil, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp., Salmonella spp., Shigello spp. and Ps. aeruginosa, respectively. Of 7 batches of raw materials of animal origin: 2 batches were contaminated with S. aureus, 2 batches were contaminated with Enterobacter spp. and one batch was contaminated with Citrobacter spp. Of ?2 batches of raw materials of plant origin: 3, 2, 1, l, 4, 1, 1 and 1 batches were contaminated with S. aureus, Micrococcus spp., E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Shigella spp., Salmonella and Ps. aeruginosa,, respectively. Of nine batches of miscellaneous raw materials: one batch was contaminated with Micracoccus spp. and Proteus spp., one batch was conteaminated with Shigella spp. and Ps, aeruginosa: one batch was contaminated with S. eoielermidis, Citrobacter spp., and Ps. aeruginosa, one batch was contaminated with Micrococcus spp., Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp, and E. coli, and one batch was contaminated with S. aureus, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Prote is sp. and Ps. aeruginosa. The remaining batches were not contaminated with any of the above mentioned objectionable microorganisms

Distribution and biosynthesis requirements for L-Asparaginase activities in bacteria and yeasts

Screening of 40 bacterial cultures, belonging to 16 genera and 24 yeasts, belonging to 10 genera, for levels of L-asparaginase activities was carried using a simple medium with L-asparagine asthe major carbon and nitrogen source. Among bacteria highestenzyme levels were noted for certain cultures of Erwinia, Arthrobacter and Serratia; whereas some species of Rlhodotorula, Debaryomyces and Schwanniomyces yielded the highest L-asparaginase activities among the yeast cultures tested. The use of cells stored frozen for a few days was necessary to obtain reliable information about the enzyme levels in the surveyed cultures. Physiological studies on selected cultures have revealed that the enzyme is inducible with L-asparagine and some structurally-related metabolites in Rhodvmruia rubra and Aerobacter aerogenes, whereas in several other cultures the enzyme is formed constitutively. Ammonium ion was a potent supressor of enzyme biosynthesis. Highest enzym levels were detected in cultures during the exponential and at the beginning of the stationary phases of growth whereas a wide variation in the enzyme stability was noted in different cultures upon extended incubation

Formation and properties of L-Glutaminase and L-Asparaginase activities in pichia polymorpha

An ascogenous yeast with high potentialities for L-glutaminase and L-asparaginase formation was isolated from Egyptian soils by the application of the method of enrichment culture. The organism, identified as pichia polymorpha, was obtained through the enrichment of the soil samples with a simple medium containing 0.5% L-glutamine as a major carbon and nitrogen source at low pH values. - The amidase activities were produced constitutively on a variety of media irrespective to the presence of their substrates in the growth medium. The assays of enzyme activity have revealed that optimum pH values for L-glutamine and L-asparagine hydrolysis are 6 and 6.7 respectively. The L-asparaginase activity of the cells were heat-stable at least up to 10 min at 600. The enzyme exhibited apparent km of 1.37 x 10[-2] M and 1.95 x 10[-2] M for L-asparagine and L-glutamine respectively. No metal requirements were detected for the amidase activities of the organism under study