Muckle-Wells syndrome: a treatable cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.

Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) is a rare autosomal dominant condition with variable expression. It is a subset of auto-inflammatory diseases characterised by recurrent inflammatory crises and is associated with chronic recurrent urticaria, sensorineural deafness, periodic arthritis and secondary amyloidosis. The diagnosis of MWS is a clinical one with sufferers classically presenting in childhood with a moderate fever and non-pruiginous urticaria. We describe a case of a six-year-old girl who was successfully diagnosed and treated with Anakinra. Muckle and Wells originally described this syndrome in 1962; however, only recently was it discovered to be genetically linked to chromosome 1q44 and subsequently to missense mutations in the CIAS1/NALP3/PYPAF1 gene. Since then, treatment has evolved and it remains one of few treatable causes of congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Ellagic acid inhibits cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophy and hyperlipidaemia during myocardial infarction in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the protective effect of ellagic acid against experimentally induced cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophy and its association with altered lipid metabolism during myocardial infarction in rats. METHODS: Rats were treated with ellagic acid (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) orally for a period of 10 days. After 10 days of pretreatment, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously at an interval of 24 h for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction. On the 12th day, the cardiac rhythm was observed. The rats were sacrificed and the heart was isolated from each rat. Ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial necrotic scores were analysed in the myocardium. Lipid peroxidation products in the plasma were analysed. Changes in the lipid profile were measured using the plasma and heart tissue homogenates of normal and experimental rats. RESULTS: Isoproterenol-induced rats showed arrhythmias, hypertrophy and increased levels of myoglobin, creatine kinase-MB, lipid peroxidation products compared to the normal control rats. Ventricular hypertrophy and increased myocardial necrotic scores were observed in isoproterenol-induced rats. Oral pretreatment with ellagic acid restored pathological arrhythmias, ventricular hypertrophy, lipid peroxidation, altered lipid profile and myocardial necrosis in the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. CONCLUSIONS: Oral pretreatment with ellagic acid was safe and effective in cardio protection against ISO-induced arrhythmias, hypertrophy and myocardial necrosis. Anti lipid peroxidation property and anti hyperlipidaemic activity through 3-hydroxy-3 methyl glutaryl CoA reductase inhibition by ellagic acid may be the reasons for the beneficial action of ellagic acid against experimentally induced myocardial infarction.

Protective efficacy of ellagic acid on glycoproteins, hematological parameters, biochemical changes, and electrolytes in myocardial infarcted rats.

The cardioprotective property of ellagic acid in rats has been reported previously. The present study reveals the protective role of ellagic acid in biochemical parameters including serum iron, plasma iron binding capacity, uric acid, glycoprotein, and electrolytes along with hematological parameters. Rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (ISO) (100 mg/kg) for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction. ISO-induced rats showed a significant increase in their levels of serum iron, serum uric acid, and blood glucose, and a significant decrease in their levels of plasma iron binding capacity, serum total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, and heart glycogen, when compared with normal control rats. The altered hematological parameters were also observed in ISO-induced rats when compared with normal control rats. Pretreatment with ellagic acid at doses of 7.5 and 15 mg/kg produced significant beneficial effect by returning all the above-mentioned biochemical and hematological parameters to near normal levels.

Transfer from residential aged care to emergency departments: an analysis of patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In order to design optimal systems to meet the acute healthcare needs of the frail elderly living in residential care, good clinical information is essential. The aims of this study were to analyse the casemix and outcomes of patients transferred from residential aged care facilities to public hospital emergency departments in New South Wales. METHODS: Individual patient data from six hospital emergency departments and inpatient wards were obtained from merged databases and analysed using descriptive and comparative statistics. RESULTS: Outcomes in 4680 patient transfers over a 12-month period in 2006-2007 were analysed. Transfers occur mostly in high-acuity patients, with approximately three of every four transfers admitted; one in every 12 dying; and admitted patients undergoing an average of 2.4 interventions or procedures during each hospital stay. Several variables are associated with prolonged length of emergency department stay including triage urgency, type of hospital and transfers occurring in winter or out of hours. CONCLUSIONS: Patients transferred from aged care facilities to emergency departments are predominantly high-acuity patients with a substantial likelihood of hospitalisation, intervention and death. Nevertheless, scope exists for some episodes of acute care, in both discharged and admitted patients, to be provided outside a hospital setting.

Mechanistic clues in the protective effect of ellagic acid against apoptosis and decreased mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activities in myocardial infarcted rats.

Our previous study described the cardioprotective effects of ellagic acid in an isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction model. In this study, we are reporting the mechanism of protective action of ellagic acid with respect to apoptosis and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes. Ellagic acid (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) was administered orally as a pretreatment for 10 days. Then, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. Myocardial infarction was quantified by planimetry. Apoptosis was measured by apoptotic gene expressions. The levels of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes were also measured. Isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats showed increased infarct size, a decrease in myocardial expression of the Bcl-2 gene and an increase in myocardial expression of the BAX gene. Fas ligand and caspases were markedly elevated along with compromised respiratory marker enzymes in isoproterenol-induced rats. Ellagic acid pretreatment reduced the infarct size, regulated apoptotic gene expressions and enhanced the activities of mitochondrial respiratory marker enzymes and cell viability, thereby protecting the myocardium against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. The decreased infarct size associated with inhibited apoptosis and increased respiratory marker enzymes provide insight on the role of ellagic acid in antiapoptotic mechanism, and it may be the reason for its cardioprotective activity.

A comparison of doctors', parents' and children's reports of health states and health-related quality of life in children with chronic conditions.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is an important outcome. Self-report is the gold standard, but in the paediatric setting we often rely on proxy reporting. Our understanding of the differences between self- and proxy reports and the factors that influence them is limited. These differences can impact on treatment choices and the patient-doctor relationship. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences between children's, parents' and doctors' perceptions of health states and health-related quality of life in children with chronic illness and explore factors which explain these differences. METHODS: Consecutive families attending eligible clinics at a tertiary paediatric centre were invited to complete the Health Utilities Index (HUI) 23 questionnaire. Percentage agreement and kappas were calculated as a measure of the agreement between pairs. Chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact test, if appropriate, were performed to determine if there was an association between level of agreement and participant variables. RESULTS: Data were collected for 130 parent-doctor pairs, 59 child-parent pairs and 59 child-doctor pairs. Overall health-related quality of life scores did not differ between responders, but there was poorer agreement for subjective domains. Doctor-child agreement was lower than parent-child agreement. Children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or chronic neurological condition were more likely to have lower inter-rater agreement for both subjective and objective domains. On the HUI2, agreement was lower for parent-child pairs when the father was the respondent. For child-doctor pairs, an increased frequency of patient-doctor visits and doctors' seniority were predictors of poorer agreement on the HUI3 and HUI2 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We identified factors associated with level of agreement for self- and proxy reporting on the HUI23. Parent-child agreement was higher than doctor-child agreement. Patients with significant pain or emotional distress and patients with a diagnosis of severe cerebral palsy or chronic neurological conditions were more susceptible to under-reporting of subjective aspects of well-being by doctors and parents and may benefit from formal assessment of health-related quality of life in the clinical setting.

Pharmacodynamics of ellagic acid on cardiac troponin-T, lyosomal enzymes and membrane bound ATPases: mechanistic clues from biochemical, cytokine and in vitro studies.

The anti lipid peroxidative and antioxidant effects of ellagic acid against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats were reported previously. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of ellagic acid on the levels of cardiac troponin-T, lysosomal enzymes, and membrane bound ATPases along with the role of pro inflammatory cytokine. Male albino Wistar rats were pretreated with ellagic acid (7.5 and 15 mg/kg body weight) daily for a period of 10 days. After the pretreatment period isoproterenol (100mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to rats twice at an interval of 24h. The protective effects of pretreatment with ellagic acid were measured by biochemical analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Evidence of myocardial infarction in isoproterenol induced rats included significant increase in the serum level of cardiac troponin-T and decreased levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in heart tissue homogenate .The pretreatment with ellagic acid restored the levels of cardiac markers in the serum and heart tissue homogenates. The activities of lysosomal enzymes (ß-d-glucuronidase, ß-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, ß-galactosidase, cathepsin-d and acid phosphatase) were increased significantly in the serum and heart tissue of isoproterenol-induced rats. The activity of Na(+)/K(+)ATPase declined while the activities of Ca(2+)ATPase and Mg(2+)ATPase were increased significantly in the heart of isoproterenol-induced rats. Pretreatment with ellagic acid restored the activities of lysosomal enzymes and membrane bound ATPases. The higher expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α in the isoproterenol-induced rats were controlled by the pretreatment with ellagic acid. Our results imply that oral pretreatment with ellagic acid protects the heart lysosomal membrane against isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage. The observed effects might be due to the free radical scavenging, membrane stabilizing and anti-inflammatory properties of ellagic acid.

Ellagic acid ameliorates isoproterenol induced oxidative stress: Evidence from electrocardiological, biochemical and histological study.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of ellagic acid against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying electrocardiography, blood pressure, cardiac markers, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system and histological changes. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with ellagic acid (7.5 and 15mg/kg) daily for a period of 10 days. After 10 days of pretreatment, isoproterenol (100mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24h for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol administered rats showed significant changes in the electrocardiogram pattern, arterial pressure, and heart rate. Isoproterenol-induced rats also showed significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of serum troponin-I, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, plasma homocysteine, heart tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydro peroxides. The activities/levels of antioxidant system were decreased in isoproterenol-induced rats. The histopathological findings of the myocardial tissue evidenced myocardial damage in isoproterenol induced rats. The oral pretreatment of ellagic acid restored the pathological electrocardiographic patterns, regulated the arterial blood pressures and heart rate in the isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats. The ellagic acid pretreatment significantly reduced the levels of biochemical markers, lipid peroxidation and significantly increased the activities/levels of the antioxidant system in the isoproterenol induced rats. An inhibited myocardial necrosis was evidenced by the histopathological findings in ellagic acid pretreated isoproterenol induced rats. Our study shows that oral pretreatment of ellagic acid prevents isoproterenol induced oxidative stress in myocardial infarction.

Increasing adherence with the use of hip protectors for older people living in the community.

UNLABELLED: For people at high risk of hip fracture living in community settings, providing hip protectors at no cost increased adherence, but the additional effect of an educational programme was limited. Overall, the level of adherence was modest. INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to increase adherence with hip protector use by older people at high risk of hip fracture. The study included two randomised controlled trials with 308 older people recruited from three hospital rehabilitation wards and 171 older people recruited from the community. METHODS: Participants were randomised into three groups. The control group received a brochure about hip protectors. The no cost group were fitted with free hip protectors and asked to use them. The combined group received free hip protectors and education sessions about their use. Adherence with the use of hip protectors at 3 and 6 months after recruitment was measured. Secondary outcomes were falls, fractures and hospitalisations. RESULTS: Very few participants in the two control groups bought a hip protector. Overall adherence in the four intervention groups was modest, but higher in the community recruitment setting (49%) than in the hospital recruitment setting (36%) at 6 months. In the community recruitment group, at 3 months of follow-up, a significantly higher number of participants in the combined group (62%) were wearing hip protectors compared to the no cost group (43%, p=0.04). Five hip fractures occurred during the study, with four sustained whilst not wearing the hip protectors. CONCLUSION: Providing hip protectors at no cost to community living older people at high risk of hip fractures modestly increases initial acceptance and adherence with hip protector use. Additional education may further increase hip protector use in people living in the community in the short term.

The benefits of using a mixed methods approach--quantitative with qualitative--to identify client satisfaction and unmet needs in an HIV healthcare centre.

Research into patient satisfaction with HIV ambulatory healthcare facilities is limited due to confidentiality restraints, the short history of the condition and the stigma attached. Furthermore, most satisfaction studies of this client group have not used mixed methods (quantitative with qualitative) despite its increasing use since the 1990s in healthcare research. This cross-sectional study demonstrates how a mixed methods approach is beneficial in assessing HIV client satisfaction and in identifying unmet needs in HIV healthcare. Conducted at the largest ambulatory HIV healthcare centre in Australia, this study consisted of two phases conducted sequentially: Phase One, a quantitative self-administered questionnaire survey, provided an overall statistical picture of satisfaction levels. This was followed by Phase Two, qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews, which enabled in-depth investigation of the reasons for satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Phase One had 166 respondents, giving a high response rate of 71%, while Phase Two had 22 participants. The study demonstrates the three advantages of using a mixed methods approach. Firstly, it increased the comprehensiveness of overall findings, by showing how qualitative data (Phase Two) provided explanations for statistical data (Phase One). Secondly, it expanded the dimensions of the research topic, as Phase Two enabled investigation of the determinants of satisfaction/dissatisfaction more broadly after assessing the client satisfaction levels in Phase One. Thirdly, it increased the methodological rigour as findings in both phases could be checked for consistency. Thus using a mixed methods approach can greatly enhance our understanding of client satisfaction in HIV/AIDS research.

Hopelessness, depression and oral health concerns reported by community dwelling older Australians.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this analysis was to explore whether, and if so to what extent, there is an association between self-reported oral and mental health problems, and if this association exists after controlling for self-rated physical health and age. RESEARCH DESIGN: A large cross-sectional population-based telephone health survey with participants selected using random stratified sampling. The response rate was 71%. Survey weights were used for estimating proportions and for all statistical inferences. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=8,881) were community-dwelling older people (65+ years) living independently in New South Wales, Australia. MEASURES AND ANALYSIS: The following measures were used in the analysis: physical health (1 item); oral health (5 items), mental health (2 items). Trends in prevalences across groups were analysed using the Cochrane-Armitage trend test. Logistic regression modelling was conducted to account for the main confounders of age and self-rated physical health, and attributable fractions calculated. RESULTS: Both measures of mental health, feeling hopeless and feeling depressed, were significantly and positively associated with increased reporting of oral health concerns in both males and females. Logistic regression modelling showed that most of the oral health items remained strongly associated with mental health after controlling for self-rated physical health and age. The attributable fractions demonstrated that a proportion of the mental health problems identified in older people would be reduced if oral health concerns were adequately addressed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the association between oral and mental health, and provide evidence to support the expansion of publicly funded dental health services.

Preventive effect of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (Alliin) on mitochondrial dysfunction in normal and isoproterenol induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats: a histopathological study.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the preventive role of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (SACS) in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Myocardial infarction was induced by subcutaneous injection of ISO (150 mg/kg) once a day for 2 days. SACS (40 and 80 mg/kg) was given as pretreatment orally daily for a period of 35 days using an intragastric tube. SACS pretreatment significantly lowered thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased the activities of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in myocardial infarcted rats. SACS pretreatment also increased significantly the levels of mitochondrial phospholipids and decreased the levels of mitochondrial cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFAs), triglycerides (TGs) and calcium, and the activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in heart. Further, the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KGDH), NADH-dehydrogenase, and cytochrome C-oxidase were significantly elevated in the mitochondrial fraction of the heart in the SACS-pretreated ISO-induced rats. Oral administration of SACS for a period of 35 days to the normal control rats did not show any significant effect. Histopathological studies of the myocardial tissue showed a protective role of SACS in the myocardial-infarcted rats. The effect at a dose of SACS 80 mg/kg was more effective than the dose 40 mg/kg. The results of the study conclude that SACS protect the mitochondria of the ISO-induced myocardial-infarcted rats.

Efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for treatment of nasal obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for the treatment of nasal obstruction. METHODS: Twenty patients awaiting submucosal diathermy to the inferior turbinates were recruited into the study. All underwent inferior turbinate coblation. Pre-operative and post-operative nasal function was investigated using posterior rhinomanometry and subjective symptom scales. RESULTS: There was no significant increase in nasal conductance two weeks after inferior turbinate coblation (p = 0.159). However, three months after inferior turbinate coblation, median nasal conductance had increased significantly, from 203 to 324 cm3/s (p = 0.004). The median increase in nasal conductance was 73 cm3/s or 43.5 per cent. Post-operative visual analogue patients' reported post-operative visual analogue scales scores for nasal obstruction decreased significantly, both two weeks (p = 0.006) and three months after inferior turbinate coblation (p = 0.001) when compared to Pre-operative values. There was no change in the reported severity of rhinorrhoea, nasal itching or sneezing. There was a significant relationship (rho = -0.57, p = 0.014) between pre-operative nasal conductance and change in nasal conductance after inferior turbinate coblation. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the short-term efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for the treatment of nasal obstruction. The benefit was greatest in patients with lower pre-operative nasal conductance. Objective measures of nasal obstruction may be important when selecting patients for inferior turbinate coblation.

Adult cystic hygroma: successful use of OK-432 (Picibanil).

OBJECTIVE: We report an adult case of cystic lymphangioma treated with OK-432 (Picibanil). METHOD: A case report and review of the literature concerning the use of OK-432 to treat cystic lymphangioma is presented. RESULTS: A 31-year-old woman developed a cystic lymphangioma four weeks post-partum. This was treated initially by aspiration, for diagnostic purposes. Investigation suggested that surgery would be challenging. A review of the literature demonstrated success with OK-432 in the treatment of this condition, although primarily in the paediatric population. This patient was successfully treated thus, and at the time of writing remained symptom free. A suggested management plan is outlined. CONCLUSION: Treatment with OK-432 is useful in the management of cystic lymphangiomas in adults and should be considered as first line treatment.

Protective effect of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (alliin) on glycoproteins and hematology in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in male Wistar rats.

The antihyperlipidemic, antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant effects of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (SACS) in myocardial infarcted rats were reported previously. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the preventive role of SACS on some biochemical parameters, glycoproteins and hematology in experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats. Myocardial infarction was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO) (150 mg kg(-1)) at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. ISO-treated rats showed a significant increase in the levels of serum iron, uric acid and blood glucose, Na(+) and Ca(2+) in the heart and a significant decrease in the levels of plasma iron binding capacity, serum total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, heart K(+) and heart glycogen. The levels/concentrations of glycoproteins in serum and the heart were increased in myocardial infarcted rats. Myocardial infarcted rats also showed a significant increase in red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophils, platelet count and fibrinogen level and a significant decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophils, lymphocytes, bleeding, clotting and prothrombin time. Oral pretreatment with SACS (40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) daily for a period of 35 days showed a positive effect on all the biochemical parameters studied in ISO-induced rats. Thus, the study showed the protective effect of SACS on ISO-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats.

Different priorities: a comparison of parents' and health professionals' perceptions of quality of life in quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: Almost all children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) have feeding difficulties. Our aim was to identify the major determinants of feeding-related quality of life (QoL) in children with quadriplegic CP from the perspective of parents and to compare findings with the perceptions of health professionals. DESIGN: Qualitative cross-sectional study. METHODS: A trained facilitator conducted four semi-structured focus groups with parents (n = 21) of children with quadriplegic CP attending a multi-disciplinary feeding clinic at a paediatric teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, between November 2003 and February 2005. All sessions were audio- and video-taped. NVivo software was used to facilitate thematic analysis of the transcribed audiotapes and to compare them with data from focus groups conducted by the same research team with health professional participants. RESULTS: Parental perceptions clustered into the same five themes described by health professionals (parent-child interaction; delivery of health services; the child's emotional well-being; the child's physical well-being, and socialisation), but the content of the subthemes and the values attached differed, for example health professionals valued weight gain, whereas parents valued their child feeling loved. Health professionals did not consider the full range of issues important to families. The differences in priorities for treatment outcomes negatively affected the parent-health professional relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities between parents' and health professionals' perceptions provide useful insight into communication between the two, identify the range of issues important to families, and highlight the parents' expert role in assessing the child's emotional and social well-being. The five themes identified provide a framework for a comprehensive evaluation of the health status of children with quadriplegic CP and feeding difficulties.

Health professionals' perceptions of feeding-related quality of life in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to identify the major determinants of feeding-related quality of life (QoL) in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (QCP) from the perspective of health professionals to provide a framework for comprehensive clinical evaluation of health status in this group. METHODS: A trained facilitator conducted five semi-structured focus groups during September and November 2003. Participants were recruited through the two paediatric hospitals in Sydney and community-based services, and included general and specialist paediatricians (n = 18), nurses (n = 15) and allied health professionals (n = 13), with an 80% response rate. All sessions were audio- and videotaped. NVIVO software was used to facilitate thematic analysis of the transcribed audiotapes. RESULTS: Responses clustered into five themes: delivery of health services, parent-child interaction, the child's physical and emotional well-being, and social participation. Participants thought the QoL of child and parent was inseparable. Parent-child interaction, delivery of services and physical well-being were the topics which prompted most participant interaction. These findings did not vary across disciplines. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals identified five domains which provide a framework within which clinicians may comprehensively evaluate the health status of children with QCP and feeding difficulties. These five domains may also be used to inform a new feeding-related QoL instrument for use in this group of patients.

Preventive effect of S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide (alliin) on lysosomal hydrolases and membrane-bound ATPases in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats.

In this study, S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide (SACS) was used to evaluate its preventive effect in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial ischemia in male Wistar rats. Rats were pretreated with SACS (40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) orally for 5 weeks. After the treatment period, ISO (150 mg kg(-1)) was administered subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. The activities of beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase increased in serum and heart in ISO-induced rats. In addition, these rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the activities of beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin-D in serum and heart and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in their activities in lysosomal fraction of the heart. The activity of Na(+)K(+)-ATPase declined, while those of Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-ATPases significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the heart of ISO-induced rats. Pretreatment with SACS (40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect in all the biochemical parameters studied. The effect at a dose of 80 mg kg(-1) body weight was more effective than that at 40 mg kg(-1) body weight and brought back all the biochemical parameters to near normal levels. Hereby, our study shows the membrane-stabilizing as well as antioxidant effects of SACS in ISO-induced rats.

Antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant effects of S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats.

Our study evaluates the preventive effect of S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide (SACS) on lipid peroxidative products and enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction in rats. The male Wistar rats were rendered myocardial infarction by ISO (150 mg kg(-1), once a day for two days). The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides were increased in hearts from ISO-treated rats, whereas the content of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants were declined in rats administered ISO. Oral pretreatment with SACS (40 mg kg(-1) and 80 mg kg(-1) daily for a period of 35 days) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the lipid peroxidative products and significantly (p < 0.05) increased antioxidants in ISO-induced rats. Oral administration of SACS (40 mg kg(-1) and 80 mg kg(-1)) did not show any significant effect in normal rats. Thus, the present study shows that SACS exhibits antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant effects in experimental myocardial infarction.