Expression of p53 during apoptosis induced by D-galactosamine and the protective role of PGE1 in cultured rat hepatocytes.

p53 is a critical player in the prevention of tumor development. It can contribute directly to DNA repair and inhibition of angiogenesis and subsequently to the induction of apoptosis. The regulation of p53 expression is mediated by the transcription factor NF-kappaB. This includes regulation of p53 protein stability, control of its subcellular localization and conformational changes that allow activation of the DNA binding activity of p53. Rat hepatocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats following collagenase perfusion of liver. We examined the change in the expression level of p53 by western blotting in hepatocytes and its effect on apoptosis as a response of treatment with D-galactosamine, prostaglandin E1 and/or the Proteosome Inhibitor (PSI). A kinetic study of the extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity, NF-kappaB activation, induced nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production was carried out in hepatocytes. The addition of prostaglandin E1 to control and D-galactosamine-treated hepatocytes increased p53 expression in the cytoplasm during 24 h. While the addition of PSI in the absence of prostaglandin E1 decreased p53 expression at 5 mM D-galactosamine. This inhibition is reversed in the presence of prostaglandin E1 at 5 and 40 mM D-galactosamine. The protective action of prostaglandin E1 against the apoptotic effect of D-galactosamine is mediated by NF-kappaB activation, induced nitric oxide synthase and p53 expression.

Corrected QT dispersion improves diagnostic performance of exercise testing in diagnosing coronary artery disease

To determine the best combination of parameters that would improve the diagnostic performance of exercise testing, coronary angiography plus exercise testing were done on 112 patients with angina pectoris and normal electrocardiogram. The univariate predictors of coronary artery disease included: age >/= 40 years, male sex, hypertension, smoking, development of exertional chest pain, decrease in systolic blood pressure [BP] >/= 10 mmHg or systolic BP 3 min post-exercise > 90% of peak, heart rate drop < 12 beats/min 1 min post-exercise, exercise-induced ST-segment depression >/= 1mm. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that using either ST depression >/= 1mm or peak exercise QTDc > 70 ms significantly improved sensitivity and negative predictive value of the test without a significant decrease in specificity

Kinetics of the substitution of dehydroacetic acid in tris (dehydroacetato) Fe(III) complex by 8-hydroxyquinoline, di- and tetra-hydroxyquinone.

The ligand substitution reactions of dehydroacetic acid (Hdha) in [Fe(dha)(3)] with second ligand such as 8-hydroxyquinoline (Hquin), 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (H(2)dhaq) and 1,4,5,8-tetra-hydroxyanthraquinone (H(4)thaq) were investigated spectrophotometrically by in low polarity solvents like benzene, chloroform and dichloromethane. It is deduced that the substitution reaction takes place through one successive step. The reaction was performed at four different temperatures (5-25) degrees C, and it exhibits a first order dependence on the concentration of the starting complex. The observed rate constant depends on the concentration of both leaving and entering ligands. The evaluation of the kinetic data gives activation parameters which support an associative mechanism in the transition states and the higher rate of substitution of the dha in Fe(dha)(3) complex is due to entropy effect. The solid complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-vis spectral techniques.

Sociodemographic characteristics associated with blindness in a Nile Delta governorate of Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Globally, blindness is associated with old age and being female. Other sociodemographic and socioeconomic status characteristics associated with blindness have included educational attainment, and occupation. These factors reflect exposure to specific risk factors for blinding eye diseases and utilisation of preventive and curative services by specific sectors of the population. METHODS: A population based survey of blindness and trachoma was conducted in Menofiya governorate in Egypt. 3322 adults 50 years of age and over were sampled from throughout the governorate (population 2.7 million). Visual acuity and clinical conditions were recorded and interviews with respondents were conducted. RESULTS: Overall, blindness (<6/60 presenting vision in the better eye) was recorded in 13% of the study population. Besides age and sex, other factors associated with blindness (logistic regression) were marital status and poor sanitation in the household. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic status does not appear to be a significant factor associated with blindness in adults in this setting. Instead, sociocultural factors, in particular, characteristics associated with gender sensitive decision making within households, are likely to be more important considerations in understanding blindness in these communities. Successfully combating blindness in the Nile Delta of Egypt will require gender sensitive efforts aimed at timely and effective utilisation of eye care services.