The role of indoxyl sulfate in the increased incidence of thrombosis formation in chronic kidney disease

The increased risk of atherothrombosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been under extensive examination for decades now. However, a treatment tailored for CKD patients is yet to be found. Current management plans can only tackle comorbidities and mostly fail. This thesis study examines the current literature related to CKD and thrombosis. The aim is to find a target suitable for therapeutic exploration. Normalizing the risk of thrombosis in CKD patients could curb a huge margin of their morbidity and mortality. In recent years, molecular biology studies attributed the extreme thrombogenicity in CKD to the retained uremic toxins. Indolic compounds are uremic toxins with a well described point of thrombotic activation. Of them, indoxyl sulfate is to be highlighted since it was shown to that it is one of the strongest pro-thrombotic uremic toxin. It is possible to therapeutically target this CKD specific cause of hyperthrombogenicity. Further research is very much needed in this area

The lectins from European mistletoe (Viscum album): Isolation and detection of binding in primary breast cancer correlated with clinical behaviour

This thesis examines the place of Mistletoe plant extracts containing carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) in cancer treatment and their use as a tissue-based predictive test for biological behaviour of breast cancer. It begins with an account of the European Mistletoe (Viscum album), its mythology, history, use as an anti-cancer drug and the isolation and identification of 3 lectins. This is followed by an account of breast cancer, its problems of management and the value of prognostic factors. A review of lectin receptors in breast cancer is included. The practical work comprises: - Isolation and identification of 3 mistletoe lectins by gel, ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Purity and molecular weight were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while major carbohydrate specificity was determined by haemagglutination inhibition. Part of this work was carried out in East Berlin/GDR. - Raising rabbit polyclonal antibodies to the lectins. Determination of specificity by Ouchterlony gel diffusion, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot- and Western type immunoblotting. - Using the 3 isolated lectins to stain paraffin sections of 234 primary breast cancers, by a histochemical method. - Correlation of clinical behaviour with staining (lectin-binding) of sections, comparing histological type and size of primary, blood group, lymph node status, disease free interval (recurrence) and survival of 234 patients followed for up to 11 years. The lectins used showed major sugar specificities as follows: Mistletoe lectin I(MLI): Galactose Mistletoe lectin II(MLII): N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine (Ga1NAc) Mistletoe lectin III(MLIII): Ga1NAc No significant correlation was seen between the binding of the 3 lectins to paraffin sections and histology type, grade, tumour size, blood group nor lymph node status. However, differences were seen between survival of stainers and non-stainers for each of the 3 lectins, especially MLIII, although this difference only just reached statistical significance (P less than 0.0441). A significant association between staining and recurrence was seen with all 3 lectins, in particular MLIII (P less than 0.0007), Having a major specificity for the sugar Ga1NAc. This result might suggest that primary breast cancers expressing this sugar are likely to metastasize sooner than cancers that do not. Detection of mistletoe lectins binding to receptors in primary breast cancer sections, and assessment of their role in behaviour of breast cancer does not appear to have been described before

Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies in Diseases of the Liver

Abstract Not Provided

Diorganotin(IV) Complexes with Methionine Methyl Ester. Equilibria and Displacement by DNA Constituents

The coordination of methionine methyl ester with dimethyltin(IV) (DMT), dibutyltin(IV) (DBT) and  diphenyltin(IV) (DPT) was investigated at 25 °C and 0.1 mol dm–3 ionic strength in water for dimethyltin(IV) and in 50 % dioxane–water mixture for dibutyltin(IV) and diphenyltin(IV). Methionine methyl ester forms1:1 and 1:2 complexes with diorganotin(IV). The corresponding formation constants were calculated by using the non-linear least-squares programMINIQUAD-75. The concentration distribution of the various complex species was evaluated as a function of pH. The displacement of coordinated methionine methyl ester with some DNA constituents was calculated based on equilibrium aspects.KEYWORDS: Dimethyltin(IV), dibutyltin(IV), diphenyltin(IV), methionine methyl ester, stability constant

The Effects of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion on Central Nervous System Apoptotic Events in Normal and Diabetic Rats

Apoptosis and neural degeneration are characteristics of cerebral ischemia and brain damage. Diabetes is associated with worsening of brain damage following ischemic events. In this study, the authors characterize the influence of focal cerebral ischemia, induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, on 2 indexes of apoptosis,TUNEL(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick end-labeling) staining and caspase- 3 immunohistochemistry. Diabetes was induced in normal rats using streptozotocin and maintained for 5 to 6 weeks. The middle cerebral artery of both normal and diabetic rats was occluded and maintained from 24 or 48 hours. Sham-operated normal and diabetic animals served as controls. Following 24 to 48 hours of occlusion, the animals were sacrificed and the brains were removed, sectioned, and processed for TUNEL staining or caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. Middle cerebral artery occlusion in normal rats was associated with an increase in the number of both TUNEL-positive and caspase-3– positive cells in selected brain regions (hypothalamic preoptic area, piriform cortex, and parietal cortex) when compared to nonoccluded controls. Diabetic rats without occlusion showed significant increases in both TUNEL-positive and caspase-3–positive cells compared to normal controls. Middle cerebral artery occlusion in diabetic rats resulted in increases in TUNEL-positive as well as caspase-3–positive cells in selected regions, above those seen in nonoccluded diabetic rats. Both TUNEL staining and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of apoptotic cells in diabetic animals tended to be greatest in the preoptic area and parietal cortex. The authors conclude that focal cerebral ischemia is associated with a significant increase in apoptosis in nondiabetic rats, and that diabetes alone or diabetes plus focal ischemia are associated with significant increases in apoptotic cells

Effect the concentration of NH3 gas adsorbed on the graphene sheet on the electrical and thermal properties: A theoretical study

To differentiate the potential of graphene sensors, research into how the grafted particles interact with the graphene sheet is essential. We employed calculations based on the "density functional theory DFT,”to analyze the characteristics of native and Pt-grafted graphene sheets with NH3 gas adsorption on their surface. Our goal is to determine how will the material may serve as a gas sensor. Increased charge transfer was seen after NH3 gas molecules were adsorbed on the surface of Pt-decorated graphene that was significantly larger, smaller intermolecular distance, and had higher orbital hybridization as compared to virgin graphene. also, that they showed excellent sensitivity to ammonia (NH3) at room temperatures

The post-mortem interval: a study of the body cooling rate and steroid degradation after death

In Part I, the most useful methods for the estimation of the time of death are reviewed, with special emphasis being placed on the post-mortem rate of cooling because this method is commonly used for estimating the interval after death. Theories and models of the post-mortem loss of heat from the human body are summarised and discussed. The Microwave Thermography System, a new device which is applied to this field for the first time, is described and its mode of operation is discussed. Using this device, it is possible to measure temperatures of internal organs of the body by placing the sensory elements on the skin. The reliability of the system and factors affecting the accuracy of temperature measurements made with the device are assessed and discussed. Results of a study of the cooling rate of 117 fatalities are given. All cases were studied under controlled conditions and two groups were collected in which the bodies were monitored either naked or covered with blankets. In each case, the environmental temperature as well as the temperatures at three body sites were continuously monitored over a period beginning shortly after death and ending up to 60 hours post-mortem or more. Rectal and environmental temperatures were measured with thermocouples while the temperature of the brain and liver were measured using microwave probes, therefore by non-invasive and ethically acceptable methods. The data were recorded on tape following Analogue to Digital (AD) conversion using a BBC Microcomputer. These data were processed and temperatures at the moment of death for the three body sites were estimated by extrapolation backwards. Processed data were transferred to a mainframe computer where sophisticated curve-fitting procedures were performed. These indicated that the cooling curves were adequately represented by three-term exponential equations containing six empirically derived parameters. Statistical analysis of the parameters yielded average formulae and the use of these formulae to improve the ease and accuracy of the estimation of the time of death is discussed. Lastly, suggestions for future work are given. In Part II, biochemical methods of estimating the time of death are reviewed and limitations of their use are duscussed. Steroids were selected as potential indicators of the post-morem interval by virtue of their metabolism and degradation after death. Aspects of steroid biochemistry are summarised. Various methods of steroid analysis were assessed using radioassays and thin layer chromatography. Three reversed phase chromatography systems were evaluated for separation and recovery of steroids extracted from blood, tissues and faeces. The use of different numbers of Sep-Pak C18 cartridges for the purification of steroid extracts was examined and steroid recoveries were measured and compared. The results indicated that recoveries were best when 4-6 cartridges were used. Rapid and slow procedures of enzymatic hydrolysis and acidic solvolysis of steroid conjugates were compared. A new and relatively rapid method for analysis of steroid profiles in biological samples was developed. Assessment of this method showed that steroid recoveries were improved compared to existing methods. A pilot study of the post-mortem changes in the steroid profiles of blood, tissues and faeces was carried out using the rat as a suitable and convenient animal model. Liver and adrenal tissues, faeces and blood samples collected from 30 rats either at the moment of death or 24 hours after death were analysed and their steroids were studied qualitatively and quantitatively using selctive ion monitoring GC-MS techniques. Thus chromatographic peaks were identified by comparison of their retention times and mass spectrometric characteristics with those of standards and quantitative analysis was performed. The occurrence of significant steroid changes was difficult to ascertain but some changes in the steroid profiles of the biological samples were shown to have occurred. Lastly, the practicability of this method for the estimation of time of death is discussed

Frequency of Salivary Human Cytomegalovirus in Iraqi Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which is initiated by an infection of the oral microorganisms and it involves the humoral and cellular characteristics of the host response. The periodontal disease is found to develop due to a series of interactions among the periodontotrophic herpes viruses, the periodontopathic bacteria and the host immune reactions.Recent studies have demonstrated that various human viruses, especially human cytomegalovirus seems to play a part in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infectious disease involving specific bacteria and viruses. Objectives: The present study was initiated to evaluate the percentage of human cytomegalovirus in periodontitis patients and determine the correlation between levels of human cytomegalovirus IgG and each of plaque index, gingival index and oral hygiene. Subjects and Methods: Thirty five periodontitis patients and eighteen healthy control subjects were included in this study. Saliva samples were taken from all subjects (patients and healthy). Salivary IgG agianst human cytomegalovirus was estimated by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The current study showed that the frequency of human cytomegalovirus in chronic periodontitis patients was significantly higher than in healthy control group p<0.05. On the other hand the current study failed to observe any significant correlation between salivary IgG and each of plaque index and gingival index, whereas higher significant correlation was observed with oral hygiene, (P<0.05). Conclusion: Findings of the present study suggest that the frequent present of human cytomegalovirus in saliva of chronic periodontitis patients could have a crucial role in development of this disease

The Effect of substrate temperature and the annealing time on the optical properties of the AgInS2 thin films prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis Technique

The AgInS2 thin films were prepared on a glass substrates with different substrate temperatures (623, 573, 523 and 473) K by chemical spray Pyrolysis . For annealing temperature 473 K , different time ( 2, 2.5 and 3) hours have been applied .The structure test produced by used the x-ray techniques by (Diffraction and diffractometer Philips 200) system with copper target (Cu - Kα), wavelength (0.15406 nm), the average is (2000counts/sec), the voltage is (40 KV) , the scanning average is (5 deg /min) and the angle range is (2θ =20o – 60o).The optical properties of the AgInS2 films were determined from the absorbance (A) and the transmittance (T) data , using UV-Vis. Spectrophotometer at wavelength (400 – 1000) nm at room temperature.The direct band gap of (1.87 – 2.46) eV has been found that of the AgInS2 thin films according the substrate temperature , also , it is affected by annealing time and becomes ( 1.82 – 2.15) eV . The optical constants (α , k , n ) are also changed as the substrate temperature and annealing time change .The AgInS2 films regard as active selecting films in the range (400 – 665) nm , and can be used as an absorber layers in solar cells and optoelectric devices

Improved Survival After Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Diagnosis in the Modern Era

Acute graft-versus-host disease remains a major threat to a successful outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. While improvements in treatment and supportive care have occurred, it is unknown whether these advances have resulted in improved outcome specifically among those diagnosed with acute graft-versus-host disease. We examined outcome following diagnosis of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease according to time period, and explored effects according to original graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis regimen and maximum overall grade of acute graft-versus-host disease. Between 1999 and 2012, 2,905 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (56%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (30%) or myelodysplastic syndromes (14%) received a sibling (24%) or unrelated donor (76%) blood (66%) or marrow (34%) transplant and developed grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (n=497 for 1999–2001, n=962 for 2002–2005, n=1,446 for 2006–2010). The median (range) follow-up was 144 (4–174), 97 (4–147) and 60 (8–99) months for 1999–2001, 2002–2005, and 2006–2010, respectively. Among the cohort with grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease, there was a decrease in the proportion of grade III-IV disease over time with 56%, 47%, and 37% for 1999–2001, 2002–2005, and 2006–2012, respectively (P\u3c0.001). Considering the total study population, univariate analysis demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival and treatment-related mortality over time, and deaths from organ failure and infection declined. On multivariate analysis, significant improvements in overall survival (P=0.003) and treatment-related mortality (P=0.008) were only noted among those originally treated with tacrolimus-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, and these effects were most apparent among those with overall grade II acute graft-versus-host disease. In conclusion, survival has improved over time for tacrolimus-treated transplant recipients with acute graft-versus-host disease