Proportion of Over-The-Counter Medicines Containing a Plant Component and Those with Synthetic Substances Administered among Children in a Bulgarian Population.

Over-the-counter medicines are intended to influence a number of symptoms and also to cure some human diseases without having to see the doctor. These medicines are used for self-medication and parents also give them to their children. The following fall within the scope of over-the-counter medicines: analgesics, antipyretics, antihistamines, decongestants, gastroprotectors, anti-cough medicines, and others. Their composition also includes one or a combination of medicinal plants. In addition to synthetic substances, some nonprescription medicines contain plant substances and their derivatives. Medicinal plants and their extracted derivatives are applicable in the therapies of a number of diseases. Considering the fact that over-the-counter medicines can be used among children from birth, the subject of our study is those whose composition includes biologically active plant substances. Within this study, we have established the number of nonprescription medicines containing a plant substance individually or in combination with another substance of the same kind and/or other substances, which have been included in a list published on the website of the Bulgarian Drug Agency. The objective of our study is to present the percentage of OTC medicines containing a plant substance intended to affect the symptoms of upper respiratory tract diseases and pain, which are used among children during different periods of their development. Some of these medicines also contain substances such as antihistamines (pheniramine maleate) and decongestants (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine hydrochloride, dimetidine) that can cause various unwanted side effects. Considering the aforementioned aspects and also the peculiarities of childhood, we recommend that self-treatment be conducted only after consulting a health specialist.

Detergent Alternatives: Membrane Protein Purification Using Synthetic Nanodisc Polymers.

The development of styrene maleic acid (SMA) and diisobutylene maleic acid (DIBMA) copolymers provides an alternative to traditional detergent extraction of integral membrane proteins. By inserting into the membrane, these polymers can extract membrane proteins along with lipids in the form of native nanodiscs made by poly(styrene co-maleic anhydride) derivatives. Unlike detergent solubilization, where membrane proteins may lose annular lipids necessary for proper folding and stability, native nanodiscs allow for proteins to reside in the natural lipid environment. In addition, polymer-based nanodiscs can be purified using common chromatography methods similar to protocols established with detergent solubilization purification. Here we describe the solubilization screening and purification of an integral membrane protein using several commercial copolymers.

Comorbidities of COPD in Bulgarian Patients - Prevalence and Association with Severity and Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: wis a disease with constantly rising economic and social burden; it is associated with multiple comorbidities which contribute to the disease severity. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of co-morbidities in COPD patients and their association with the disease severity and CRP levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study among 338 COPD patients (mean age 65.2±7.6 years) with assessment of comorbidities, spirometry measurements and serum levels of CRP. In 183 patients we found metabolic syndrome (MS) according to IDF criteria. RESULTS: We found prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) of 73.5% (hyper-tension 70.4%, CHF 47.4%, ishemic heart disease 37.5%, and cardiac arrhythmias 12.6%), with higher prevalence in patients with more severe disease. We found prevalence of type 2 diabetes of 21.1%, and 12.4% prevalence of bronchiectasis. In a subpopulation of the patients we found 48.1% prevalence of MS and the serum levels of CRP were significantly higher in patients with COPD and MS compared to those without the syndrome: 7.4 (3.14 - 11. 54) mg/ml vs 4.06 (2.64 - 6.93) mg/ml, p=0.006. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests high prevalence of CVD comorbidities in COPD patients and association with the disease severity. Metabolic syndrome is a common comorbidity and is associated with increased inflammatory response.

The role of spartin and its novel ubiquitin binding region in DALIS occurrence.

Troyer syndrome is an autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) caused by frameshift mutations in the SPG20 gene that results in a lack of expression of the truncated protein. Spartin is a multifunctional protein, yet only two conserved domains--a microtubule-interacting and trafficking domain and a plant-related senescence domain involved in cytokinesis and mitochondrial physiology, respectively--have been defined. We have shown that overexpressed spartin binds to the Ile44 hydrophobic pocket of ubiquitin, suggesting spartin might contain a ubiquitin-binding domain. In the present study, we demonstrate that spartin contributes to the formation of dendritic aggresome-like induced structures (DALIS) through a unique ubiquitin-binding region (UBR). Using short hairpin RNA, we knocked down spartin in RAW264.7 cells and found that DALIS frequency decreased; conversely, overexpression of spartin increased the percentage of cells containing DALIS. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we characterized spartin's UBR and defined the UBR's amino acids that are key for ubiquitin binding. We also found that spartin, via the UBR, binds Lys-63-linked ubiquitin chains but does not bind Lys-48-linked ubiquitin chains. Finally, we demonstrate that spartin's role in DALIS formation depends on key residues within its UBR.

Hemorheology and vascular reactivity in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

The study aimed to investigate the hemorheological parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and to estimate their relationship with the cerebral and cutaneous blood flow and their responses to postural changes. The basic hemorheological constituents: hematocrit (Ht), fibrinogen (Fib), whole blood (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) were examined in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and in 10 healthy age and sex matched controls. Blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was measured by transcranial Doppler monitoring at rest and during 5-min head-up tilt. Also laser Doppler-recorded tiptoe skin blood flow was investigated and venoarteriolar reflex perfusion responses to postural impact was monitored. Significant increase of Fib and WBV at shear rates of 0.0237 s(-1) to 128.5 s(-1) in the patients in comparison to controls was found. The postural challenge caused decrease of the cerebral blood flow velocity and increase of the resistance index (RI) in the diabetic patients. The initial mean skin perfusion values of the tiptoes and the venoarteriolar constriction response indices were significantly higher in the diabetes group. In the patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 the increased blood viscosity values were associated with impaired cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular responces.

Plasma lipids and blood viscosity in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

It is known that plasma lipids could increase the cerebrovascular risk through alteration of the hemorheological profile. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between blood viscosity parameters and plasma lipids in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The study included 43 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 53 patients with chronic unilateral cerebral infarctions (UCI) and 57 patients with risk factors (RF) for CVD. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) at different shear rates by Couette rotational viscometer Contraves Low Shear 30, plasma viscosity (PV) with capillary viscometer, hematocrit (Hct), fibrinogen (Fib), Cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (Tg) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were examined in all patients and in a control group of 56 presumed healthy subjects. The hemorheological results showed increase of Hct, Fib, WBV and PV in the patients with TIAs and UCI; it was more pronounced in the UCI patients. Significant increase of Hct and WBV in the group with RF for CVD was also found. The elevation of Chol and Tg predominated in the patients with UCI and in the subjects with RF for CVD. These lipid variables correlated significantly with PV in the TIAs and RF for CVD groups. Conclusion is drawn about the significance of plasma Tg for decrease of blood fluidity and for impairment of the cerebral circulation in CVD.