Up-regulation of GINS1 highlighted a good diagnostic and prognostic potential of survival in three different subtypes of human cancer

Cancer is a fatal malignancy and its increasing worldwide prevalence demands the discovery of more sensitive and reliable molecular biomarkers. To investigate the GINS1 expression level and its prognostic value in distinct human cancers using a series of multi-layered in silico approach may help to establish it as a potential shared diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of different cancer subtypes. The GINS1 mRNA, protein expression, and promoter methylation were analyzed using UALCAN and Human Protein Atlas (HPA), while mRNA expression was further validated via GENT2. The potential prognostic values of GINS1 were evaluated through KM plotter. Then, cBioPortal was utilized to examine the GINS1-related genetic mutations and copy number variations (CNVs), while pathway enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID. Moreover, a correlational analysis between GINS1 expression and CD8+ T immune cells and a the construction of gene-drug interaction network was performed using TIMER, CDT, and Cytoscape. The GINS1 was found down-regulated in a single subtypes of human cancer while commonly up-regulated in 23 different other subtypes. The up-regulation of GINS1 was significantly correlated with the poor overall survival (OS) of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC), Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). The GINS1 was also found up-regulated in LIHC, LUAD, and KIRC patients of different clinicopathological features. Pathways enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of GINS1 in two diverse pathways, while few interesting correlations were also documented between GINS1 expression and its promoter methylation level, CD8+ T immune cells level, and CNVs. Moreover, we also predicted few drugs that could be used in the treatment of LIHC, LUAD, and KIRC by regulating the GINS1 expression. The expression profiling of GINS1 in the current study has suggested it a novel shared diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of LIHC, LUAD, and KIRC.

Is the Management of Rectal Cancer Using a Watch and Wait Approach Feasible, Safe and Effective in a Publicly Funded General Hospital?

AIMS

Although there is emerging evidence to suggest equivalent oncological outcomes using a watch and wait approach compared with primary total mesorectal excision surgery, there is a paucity of evidence about the safety and efficacy of this approach in routine clinical practice. Here we report the long-term outcomes and quality of life from patients managed with watch and wait following a clinical complete response (cCR) to neoadjuvant therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum with cCR following neoadjuvant therapy managed using watch and wait were retrospectively identified. Demographic data, performance status, pretreatment staging information, oncological and surgical outcomes were obtained from routinely collected clinical data. Quality of life was measured by trained clinicians during telephone interviews.

RESULTS

Over a 7-year period, 506 patients were treated for rectal cancer, 276 had neoadjuvant therapy and 72 had a cCR (26.1%). Sixty-three were managed with watch and wait. Thirteen patients had mucosal regrowth. There was no significant difference in the incidence of metastatic disease between the surgical and watch and wait cohorts (P = 0.38). The 13 patients with mucosal regrowth underwent salvage surgery. Eleven of the patients who underwent surgical resection had R0 resections. There was also a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C) trial outcome index (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that watch and wait is safe and effective outside of tertiary referral centres. It suggests that an opportunistic cCR is durable and when mucosal regrowth occurs it can be salvaged. Finally, we have shown that quality of life is probably improved if a watch and wait approach is adopted.

Infarct Growth despite Successful Endovascular Reperfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Infarct volume inversely correlates with good recovery in stroke. The magnitude and predictors of infarct growth despite successful reperfusion via endovascular treatment are not known.

PURPOSE

We aimed to summarize the extent of infarct growth in patients with acute stroke who achieved successful reperfusion (TICI 2b-3) after endovascular treatment.

DATA SOURCES

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching MEDLINE and Google Scholar for articles published up to October 31, 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies of >10 patients reporting baseline and post-endovascular treatment infarct volumes on MR imaging were included. Only patients with TICI 2b-3 were included. We calculated infarct growth at a study level as the difference between baseline and follow-up MR imaging infarct volumes.

DATA ANALYSIS

Our search yielded 345 studies, and we included 10 studies reporting on 973 patients having undergone endovascular treatment who achieved successful reperfusion.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The mean baseline infarct volume was 19.5 mL, while the mean final infarct volume was 37.5 mL. A TICI 2b reperfusion grade was achieved in 24% of patients, and TICI 2c or 3 in 76%. The pooled mean infarct growth was 14.8 mL (95% CI, 7.9-21.7 mL). Meta-regression showed higher infarct growth in studies that reported higher baseline infarct volumes, higher rates of incomplete reperfusion (modified TICI 2b), and longer onset-to-reperfusion times.

LIMITATIONS

Significant heterogeneity among studies was noted and might be driven by the difference in infarct growth between early- and late-treatment studies.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest considerable infarct growth despite successful endovascular treatment reperfusion and call for a faster workflow and the need for specific therapies to limit infarct growth.

Genetic heterogeneity in Pakistani microcephaly families revisited

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare and heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by reduced head circumference, low cognitive prowess and, in general, architecturally normal brains. As many as 14 different loci have already been mapped. We recruited 35 MCPH families in Pakistan and could identify the genetic cause of the disease in 31 of them. Using homozygosity mapping complemented with whole-exome, gene panel or Sanger sequencing, we identified 12 novel mutations in 3 known MCPH-associated genes - 9 in ASPM, 2 in MCPH1 and 1 in CDK5RAP2. The 2 MCPH1 mutations were homozygous microdeletions of 164,250 and 577,594 bp, respectively, for which we were able to map the exact breakpoints. We also identified four known mutations - three in ASPM and one in WDR62. The latter was initially deemed to be a missense mutation but we demonstrate here that it affects splicing. As to ASPM, as many as 17 out of 27 MCPH5 families that we ascertained in our sample were found to carry the previously reported founder mutation p.Trp1326*. This study adds to the mutational spectra of four known MCPH-associated genes and updates our knowledge about the genetic heterogeneity of MCPH in the Pakistani population considering its ethnic diversity.

Degree of Collaterals and Not Time Is the Determining Factor of Core Infarct Volume within 6 Hours of Stroke Onset

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Growth of the core infarct during the first hours of ischemia onset is not well-understood. We hypothesized that factors other than time from onset of ischemia contribute to core infarct volume as measured by MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospectively collected clinical and imaging data of consecutive patients with stroke presenting between March 2008 and April 2013 with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion and MR imaging performed within 6 hours from the time of onset were reviewed. The association of time from onset, clinical, and radiographic features with DWI volume was assessed by using χ(2) and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

Of 91 patients, 21 (23%) underwent MR imaging within 0-3 hours from onset, and 70 (76%), within 3-6 hours. Median MR imaging infarct volume was similar in both timeframes, (24.7 versus 29.4 mL, P = .906), and there was no difference in the proportion of patients with large infarct volumes (≥70 mL, 23.8% versus 22.8%, P = .928). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, we detected no association between the time from onset and MR imaging infarct volume (area under the curve = 0.509). In multivariate analysis, CTA collaterals (>50% of the territory) (adjusted OR, 0.192; 95% CI, 0.04-0.9; P = .046), CTA ASPECTS (adjusted OR, 0.464; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8; P = .003), and a history of hyperlipidemia (adjusted OR, 11.0; 95% CI, 1.4-88.0; P = .023) (but not time from stroke onset to imaging) were independent predictors of MR imaging infarct volume.

CONCLUSIONS

Collateral status but not time from stroke onset to imaging was a predictor of the size of core infarct in patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion presenting within 6 hours from onset.

Techniques of EMG signal analysis: detection, processing, classification and applications (Correction)

This paper was originally published in Biological Procedures Online (BPO) on March 23, 2006. It was brought to the attention of the journal and authors that reference 74 was incorrect. The original citation for reference 74, "Stanford V. Biosignals offer potential for direct interfaces and health monitoring. Pervasive Computing, IEEE 2004; 3(1):99-103." should read "Costanza E, Inverso SA, Allen R. 'Toward Subtle Intimate Interfaces for Mobile Devices Using an EMG Controller' in Proc CHI2005, April 2005, Portland, OR, USA."

Endovascular treatment of carotid embolic occlusions has a higher recanalization rate compared with cardioembolic occlusions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Treatment of large artery cerebral occlusions is rapidly evolving. We hypothesized that patients with intracranial embolic occlusions secondary to an extracranial carotid artery stenosis or occlusion have a higher probability of successful endovascular recanalization compared with those with cardioembolic occlusions.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the databases of three institutions (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Michigan State University (MSU) and Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF)) for acute anterior circulation ischemic strokes treated with endovascular therapies from January 2006 to July 2008. After collection of demographic, radiographic and angiographic variables, two groups were identified: artery to artery embolic occlusions and cardioembolic/cryptogenic intracranial occlusions. We defined recanalization as TIMI 2 or 3 flow. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to determine which characteristics were unique to patients with carotid embolic occlusions.

RESULTS

A total of 207 patients were identified (UPMC=100, CCF=71, MSU=36) with a mean age of 69±11 years and mean NIHSS of 17±5. Of these, 157 (75%) were due to a cardiac or cryptogenic source and 50 (25%) were from a carotid embolic source. The use of multimodal therapy (OR 2.6 (1.2-5.6), p<0.009) and the presence of a carotid embolic intracranial occlusion (OR 3.6 (1.2-7.1), p<0.012) were associated with successful recanalization, while carotid terminus occlusions were associated with unsuccessful recanalization (OR 0.35 (0.18-0.68), p<0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with intracranial occlusions secondary to an extracranial carotid stenosis or total occlusion appear to have more successful recanalization rates when treated with endovascular therapy compared with those with cardioembolic occlusions.

Detection and Processing Techniques of FECG Signal for Fetal Monitoring

Fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) signal contains potentially precise information that could assist clinicians in making more appropriate and timely decisions during labor. The ultimate reason for the interest in FECG signal analysis is in clinical diagnosis and biomedical applications. The extraction and detection of the FECG signal from composite abdominal signals with powerful and advance methodologies are becoming very important requirements in fetal monitoring. The purpose of this review paper is to illustrate the various methodologies and developed algorithms on FECG signal detection and analysis to provide efficient and effective ways of understanding the FECG signal and its nature for fetal monitoring. A comparative study has been carried out to show the performance and accuracy of various methods of FECG signal analysis for fetal monitoring. Finally, this paper further focused some of the hardware implementations using electrical signals for monitoring the fetal heart rate. This paper opens up a passage for researchers, physicians, and end users to advocate an excellent understanding of FECG signal and its analysis procedures for fetal heart rate monitoring system.

Impact of TCF7L2 rs7903146 on insulin secretion and action in young and elderly Danish twins

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the regulation and metabolic effects of TCF7L2 gene expression in human sc fat and skeletal muscle and the impact of the TCF7L2, rs7903146, T-allele on gene expression and measures of glucose metabolism including insulin secretion and peripheral and hepatic insulin action.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The rs7903146 was genotyped in 1) a population-based sample of 587 twins (55-64 yr) with glucose tolerance ranging from normal to type 2 diabetes and 2) a population of 196 nondiabetic young (22-31 yr) and elderly (57-66 yr) twins. All subjects underwent oral glucose tolerance tests, and population 2 was additionally examined with iv glucose tolerance tests and hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamps.

RESULTS

Elderly T-allele carriers had decreased plasma insulin responses and lower disposition index, whereas insulinogenic index was similar between genotype groups. Elderly nondiabetic T-allele carriers had increased peripheral insulin sensitivity (P = 0.03). Young T-allele carriers had impaired hepatic insulin sensitivity (P = 0.04) independent of plasma insulin levels. TCF7L2 gene expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was not explained by genotype, sex, aerobic capacity, birth, or adult anthropometry and was not associated with in vivo glucose metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

The rs7903146 T-allele associates with hepatic insulin resistance and diminished glucose-stimulated plasma insulin secretion. Our study does not provide evidence of a role of TCF7L2 gene expression in sc fat tissue and muscle tissue in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. This suggests that the primary defect of rs7903146 T-allele carriers is impairment of insulin secretion rather than a defect in insulin action in peripheral tissues.

Delayed migration of a self-expanding intracranial microstent

A 43-year-old patient with a basilar apex aneurysm had a 4.5-mm x 14-mm Enterprise stent placed from the midbasilar artery to the left P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery. The patient experienced vertigo 4 months after stent placement and 1 week after stopping clopidogrel. At 5 months postembolization, angiography showed stent migration into the proximal basilar artery. This is the first described case of the spontaneous delayed migration of a self-expanding intracranial microstent.

Prevention of beta-thalassemia in a large Pakistani family through cascade testing

BACKGROUND

We report cascade testing of a large Pakistani family for beta-thalassemia alleles. The family was still practicing consanguineous marriages and was at risk of having more affected births.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to show that identification of disease carriers in families with index cases in order to create awareness about disease and provide genetic counseling would result in reduction of the frequency of beta-thalassemia in Pakistan.

METHODS

In this large family with an index case, 27 available living members were tested for beta-thalassemia. Carriers of the disease were detected by measuring hemoglobin indices, and amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction was used for mutation analysis. Genetic counseling was provided to members of this family.

RESULTS

There were already 3 marriages between the carrier members and 1 between a carrier and noncarrier in this large family; 12 (44.4%) members were found to carry the mutant gene, representing a very high carrier rate compared to the 5.4% carrier frequency of beta-thalassemia in the general population of Pakistan. The family was counseled for prevention of affected births. The initially reluctant family gradually became cooperative and seriously attended the genetic counseling sessions.

CONCLUSION

Cascade testing is more practical than general population screening in a country with limited health facilities where consanguineous marriages are practiced. This report emphasizes the need of extensive testing within families with index cases to identify the carriers of beta-thalassemia in order to reduce disease occurrence through awareness and genetic counseling.

Relationships between the functional PPARalpha Leu162Val polymorphism and obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and related quantitative traits in studies of 5799 middle-aged white people

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) is a nuclear receptor capable of regulating the expression of genes involved in peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathways. The common Leu162Val polymorphism in the gene encoding PPARalpha has inconsistently shown association with quantitative traits related to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. We genotyped the Leu162Val polymorphism in 1383 patients with type 2 diabetes and 4401 control subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) without showing any association between diabetes and genotype. In addition, the Leu162Val polymorphism was not associated with WHO-defined obesity or dyslipidaemia in case-control settings involving 961 obese and 2563 lean subjects and 1399 dyslipidaemic and 4399 normolipidaemic subjects, respectively. Quantitative trait studies of metabolic variables were carried out in 5799 middle-aged, treatment-naïve subjects showing a difference in fasting serum triglyceride concentrations among homozygous Val-carriers (Leu/Leu+Leu/Val, n=5782, 1.33+/-1.35 mmol/l vs. Val/Val, n=17, 2.22+/-2.4 mmol/l, p=0.007). Similarly, Val/Val was associated with increased fasting serum total cholesterol concentrations (p=0.01). In conclusion, in a relative large-scale study of middle-aged whites we found no evidence of association between the PPARalpha Leu162Val polymorphism and obesity or type 2 diabetes. If replicated, the Val162Val variant may, however, confer an increase in fasting levels of serum lipids.

Techniques of EMG signal analysis: detection, processing, classification and applications

Electromyography (EMG) signals can be used for clinical/biomedical applications, Evolvable Hardware Chip (EHW) development, and modern human computer interaction. EMG signals acquired from muscles require advanced methods for detection, decomposition, processing, and classification. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the various methodologies and algorithms for EMG signal analysis to provide efficient and effective ways of understanding the signal and its nature. We further point up some of the hardware implementations using EMG focusing on applications related to prosthetic hand control, grasp recognition, and human computer interaction. A comparison study is also given to show performance of various EMG signal analysis methods. This paper provides researchers a good understanding of EMG signal and its analysis procedures. This knowledge will help them develop more powerful, flexible, and efficient applications.

Comparison of 1- and 2-marker techniques for calculating system magnification factor for angiographic measurement of intracranial vessels

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Accurate estimation of an intracranial vessel size is crucial during a diagnostic or therapeutic angiography procedure. The use of 1 or 2 external markers of known size is previously proposed to manually estimate the magnification factor (MF) of an intracranial vessel. The authors evaluated the use of different external marker techniques commonly used during angiographic measurements.

METHODS

Forty-three intracranial vessels in 17 patients were measured using 1-and 2-marker techniques. To obtain the MF, 2 metallic markers were attached to the frontal-temporal regions. The MFs for the targeted vessels were obtained from the x-ray films by measuring the image sizes of the markers and their positions with respect to the target vessel.

RESULTS

Using a phantom, the errors resulted from (a) linear interpolation of MFs, (b) linear interpolation of inverse MFs, and (c) using the MFs of 1 marker, which were 1.23% to 2.23%, 0.8% to 1.55%, and 3.85% to 14.62%, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the measurement of cerebral arteries.

CONCLUSION

The use of 2 markers can result in a more accurate estimation of the vessel size. The use of only 1 external marker can lead to substantial error based on the location of the target vessel. Optimizing image acquisition is also crucial for accurate determination of vessel size.

Intracranial Hemorrhages Associated with Intravenous Platelet Glycoprotein IIB/IIIA Receptor Inhibitors in the United States

OBJECTIVES

To determine the rates of intracranial hemorrhages associated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in routine practice.

BACKGROUND

Rates of intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) among patients treated with platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors for coronary interventions and acute coronary syndromes have been studied within clinical trials but not in routine practice.

METHODS

We evaluated the rates of ICH in routine practice in United States (US) using national estimates of rates, in-hospital outcomes, and mortality obtained from National Hospital Discharge Survey.

RESULTS

There were 367 294 patients aged 18 years or greater who were treated with platelet GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors between 2000 and 2002 in United States. ICH was observed in 479 (0.13%) of the 367,294 patients with a 100% associated mortality. ICHs related to GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors comprised 0.12% of the total number of ICHs (n = 411 621) observed in United States between 2000 and 2002.

CONCLUSIONS

ICH related to platelet GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors is uncommon but associated with high mortality.

Paraplegia diagnosed by a new physical sign

Clinical diagnosis is a process of logical deduction from the data gathered by history and physical examination. When organic causes of an illness have been ruled out, a diagnosis of "functional disorder" or "conversion reaction" is considered. Cost of care of such patients can be enormous, especially when a large number of investigations are done to find an organic illness, which does not really exist. In such cases, a positive and early diagnosis of a conversion reaction can save needless tests and much distress to the patient. This report describes a case of paraplegia that was investigated for years before a diagnosis of conversion reaction was firmly made, based on a novel observation. We believe that we describe here a new physical sign, which can be used to diagnose "hysterical paraplegia."

Adverse drug reactions and debrisoquine/sparteine (P450IID6) polymorphism in patients with fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency of adverse drug reaction in patients with fibromyalgia in relation to medications prescribed for this condition. To evaluate the potential role of the P450IID6 phenotype in the pathogenesis of these adverse drug reactions.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with fibromyalgia were assessed using a structured questionnaire with demographic and clinical data and perceived adverse drug reactions. A sample of 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 62 patients with localized back pain served as controls. The P450IID6 phenotype was determined for each of the fibromyalgia patients.

RESULTS

Overall, 141 patients had used NSAID and 79 (56%) of them reported adverse effects. Antidepressant drugs were used by 68 patients and 35 (51%) patients had adverse effects. Muscle relaxant drugs were used by 48 patients and 15 (31%) of them reported side effects. Analgesics were used by 122 patients and 22 (18%) had experienced adverse effects. Statistical differences in the frequency of adverse effects were found with antidepressant drugs in the fibromyalgia group, compared with rheumatoid arthritis (p=0.01) and back pain (p=0.02). Four of the 35 patients (11.4%) had a metabolic ratio (M.R.) greater than 0.30 (log M.R.= -0.52) indicative of the poor metabolizers (PM) phenotype. M.R. varied from 0.005 (log M.R. = -2.30) to 4.99 (log M.R. = 0.70).

CONCLUSIONS

The problem of adverse drug reactions in fibromyalgia patients does not appear to correlate with the PM phenotype of the P450IID6 oxidative enzyme. It also is unlikely that altered xenobiotic detoxification attributable to this PM phenotype would have a significant role in the development of fibromyalgia.

Effect of antimicrobial (nalidixic acid) therapy in shigellosis and predictive values of outcome variables in patients susceptible or resistant to it

We observed the clinical features and results of simple laboratory tests on stools of 33 children with bacteriologically proven shigellosis to identify features that could be used to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy. Persistence of fever (rectal temperature > 37.8 degrees C), abdominal pain/tenderness and anorexia on days 3 and 5 were significantly more common (P < 0.001) among children who received an antimicrobial to which the infecting Shigella was resistant. Similarly, a significantly higher number of children treated with an ineffective antimicrobial had faecal leucocytes of > 50/high power microscopic field (HPF), erythrocytes of > 50/HPF and macrophages of > 5/HPF on study day 5. The best predictors of ineffective antimicrobial therapy on days 3 and 5 of treatment were fever, presence of blood by naked eye examination of stool, and minimum change in stool frequencies. These observations suggest that by careful follow-up of clinical features and simple laboratory tests, such as stool microscopic examinations, it is possible to identify patients unlikely to respond to initial therapy by 72 hours permitting the start of alternative antimicrobial treatment. This may be of great help where stool culture and sensitivity facilities for Shigella spp. are not available.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for norfloxacin utilizing fluorescence detection

A rapid, sensitive and reproducible reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for the determination of norfloxacin. Following protein precipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid, norfloxacin and the internal standard enoxacin were extracted from plasma with chloroform, dried and reconstituted in the mobile phase. The chromatographic separation of norfloxacin and the internal standard enoxacin was achieved on a C8 column with fluorescence detection set at 280 and 418 nm for excitation and emission, respectively. The peaks with a resolution factor greater than 1.5 were free from interferences. Excellent linearity (r2 > or = 0.998) was observed over the concentration range 0.025-5.0 micrograms/ml in plasma. The inter-assay variability was 13.6% or less at all concentrations examined. The suitability of the assay for pharmacokinetic studies was determined by measuring norfloxacin concentration in rat plasma after administration of a single intravenous 10 mg/kg dose.

Biliary proteins from hepatic bile of rats fed curcumin or capsaicin inhibit cholesterol crystal nucleation in supersaturated model bile

Following our earlier observations that curcumin and capsaicin are antilithogenic in mice and hamsters, attempts were now made to understand the manner in which these spice principles were acting. For this purpose, the hepatic biles of rats fed a control, lithogenic, and lithogenic diet supplemented with curcumin or capsaicin were subjected to gel filtration chromatography (sepharose-4B-Cl) and the LMW protein fractions were tested for their ability to influence cholesterol crystal growth in model bile. The LMW protein fraction from the lithogenic group bile shortened the nucleation time and increased the crystal growth rate and final crystal concentration. But with the LMW protein fractions from the biles of rats on the lithogenic group supplemented with curcumin or capsaicin, the nucleation times were prolonged and the crystal growth rates and final crystal concentrations were decreased. The LMW fractions were further purified into three different sugar specific proteins by affinity chromatography. A higher proportion of LMW proteins from the lithogenic group bile was bound to Con-A whereas higher proportions of LMW proteins from the groups fed with curcumin and capsaicin were respectively bound to wheat germ agglutinin and Helix pomatia lectin. The Con-A bound fraction obtained from the lithogenic group showed a pro-nucleating effect. In contrast, the WGA-bound fraction obtained from curcumin group or the Helix pomatia lectin bound fraction obtained from capsaicin group showed a potent antinucleating activity.

Human peripheral blood lymphocyte reconstituted severe combined immunodeficient (hu-PBL-SCID) mice. A model for human islet allograft rejection

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice have become a promising tool for the development of models of human immunologic process. We report the development of a reproducible technique for engrafting SCID mice with human PBL (hu-PBL-SCID). Our results show that a booster injection of anti-CD3 antibody stimulated human lymphocytes given 2 days after the initial injection of lymphocytes will improve the efficiency of chimera establishment to 86.7% (13 out of 15). There was also good correlation among detection of human Ig, human CD3+ cells, and human DNA by polymerase chain reaction amplification in the circulation of hu-PBL-SCID mice. Questions remain concerning the immune function of the human lymphoid cells in the SCID mouse. In this study, we analyzed the ability of human T cells in SCID mice to reject human islet allografts transplanted under the kidney capsule. Human islet allograft function assessed by human C-peptide levels demonstrated failure of islet allografts within 21 days after transplantation in hu-PBL-SCID. In contrast, human islets grafted in unreconstituted SCID mice continued to function for greater than 60 days. Recovered human T cells from rejected islets of hu-PBL-SCID mice displayed specific cytolytic activity against HLA class I-matched islets, while the recovered cells from spleen of hu-PBL-SCID mice showed minimal specific cytotoxicity against islets. These results suggest that graft-infiltrating lymphocytes were activated by the engrafted islets within the hu-PBL-SCID, causing the eventual rejection of the human islet allograft. Thus, engraftment of the anti-CD3 antibody-primed human PBL results in a mouse-human chimera with a functionally competent human immune system that is capable of rejecting a human islet allograft.

Effect on curcumin on cholesterol gall-stone induction in mice

A study was carried out on the efficacy of curcumin in reducing the incidence of cholesterol gall-stones (CGS), induced by feeding a lithogenic diet in young male mice. Feeding a lithogenic diet supplemented with 0.5 per cent curcumin for 10 wk reduced the incidence of gall-stone formation to 26 per cent, as compared to 100 per cent incidence in the group fed with lithogenic diet alone. Biliary cholesterol concentration was also significantly reduced by curcumin feeding. The lithogenic index which was 1.09 in the cholesterol fed group was reduced to 0.43 in the 0.5 per cent curcumin supplemented group. Further, the cholesterol: phospholipid (C/PL) ratio of bile was also reduced significantly when 0.5 per cent curcumin supplemented diet was fed. A dose-response study with 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 per cent curcumin supplemented lithogenic diets showed that 0.5 per cent curcumin was more effective than a diet with 0.2 or 1 per cent curcumin.

Effect of iprindole on the metabolism of trimipramine in the rat

Major metabolites of trimipramine in young male Sprague-Dawley rats are the result of alicyclic and aromatic ring oxidation. The four major urinary metabolites have been identified as 10-oxotrimipramine, 2-hydroxytrimipramine, 2-hydroxynortrimipramine, and 2-hydroxy-10-oxotrimipramine. When iprindole was administered to rats prior to trimipramine, the effect on trimipramine metabolism was profound. The formation of both 10-oxo metabolites was virtually completely inhibited; the production of 2-hydroxytrimipramine was significantly reduced while the metabolic formation of 2-hydroxynortrimipramine was increased. It is apparent from these preliminary results that metabolic alicyclic and aromatic hydroxylations are catalyzed by different cytochrome P450 isozymes and more than one P450 isozyme is involved in the aromatic ring oxidation of trimipramine and nortrimipramine.

Aromatic ring oxidation of N-n-butylamphetamine is enhanced in the rat by prior treatment with quinidine

Prior administration of quinidine is known to reduce aromatic oxidation of amphetamine and its analog methoxyphenamine by inhibiting the cytochrome P450IID6 results in isozyme. In contrast, it is now shown that prior administration of quinidine results in a significant increase in the aromatic oxidation of N-n-butylamphetamine in rat, suggesting that the P450IID6 isozyme is not involved in this metabolic reaction.

Structural characterization of the urinary metabolites of iprindole in rat

1. The in vivo metabolism of iprindole in rat is described. Each rat received a single dose of iprindole (10 mg/kg) and urine was collected for 48 h. 2. Fourteen metabolites of iprindole were isolated from rat urine after enzymic hydrolysis and their structures were determined by a computerized g.l.c.-mass spectrometric technique, before and after appropriate chemical derivatization. 3. Three concurrent metabolic pathways have been identified for iprindole in rat; aromatic ring hydroxylation is a minor pathway. 4. This is the first reported comprehensive study on the in vivo metabolism of iprindole in rat.

Metabolism of antidepressants: urinary metabolites of trimipramine in the rat

1. Studies on the metabolism of the tricyclic antidepressant trimipramine (TMP) in the rat are described. 2. Twenty metabolites of TMP were isolated from rat urine after enzymatic hydrolysis and their structures were determined by a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method. 3. Twelve TMP metabolites were the result of alicyclic (C10 or C11) oxidation in addition to the other metabolic pathways.

The metabolism of trimipramine in the rat

Studies on the metabolism of the tricyclic antidepressant trimipramine, 5-(3-dimethylamino-2-methylpropyl)-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine, in the rat are described. Many metabolites of trimipramine (TMP) were isolated from rat urine after enzymatic hydrolysis and their structures were identified by a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method, before and after appropriate chemical derivatization. Besides unchanged TMP, 20 metabolites were characterized (underivatized, and after acetylation), of which 12 had undergone alicyclic (C10 or C11) oxidation. This is a hitherto unreported metabolic pathway for TMP in the rat.