Generality and Mechanism of Intracellular pH Effect on Vascular Tone

Both the net effects and the mechanisms of action of intracellular pH (pHi) perturbations upon vascular tone have been investigated. pHi was modified using two procedures; NH4Cl application and withdrawal (NH4Cl pulse) and organic salt application. NH4Cl application and its subsequent withdrawal have been found to produce intracellular alkalinity and acidity, respectively, in various non-vascular (Roos and Boron, 1981; Thomas, 1984) as well as vascular tissues (Spurway and Wray, 1987). Application of weak organic salts has been found to decrease pHi in various tissues (Roos and Boron, 1981). Most experiments concerned with mechanism were carried out on one or both of two preparations: the rabbit ear vascular bed perfused through its central artery and the isolated perfused rat tail artery, each activated with NA, at about 2

RESPONSE OF THE PORTAL VEIN OF SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSIVE RATS TO INTRACELLULAR PH

Abstract: The effect of intracellular pH perturbations on the portal vein preparations of spontaneously hypertensive rats and their control Wistar Kyoto rats was investigated. Intracellular alkalinity induced by application of 20 mM NH 4 CI or 20 mM trimethylamine produced dilatation of both preparations. Intracellular acidity induced by washout of the previous ammonium and trimethylamine solutions or by application of 20 mM sodium propionate solution caused constriction of both preparations. These responses of the portal veins of both animals to intracellular pH variations were qualitatively the same in nonactivated preparations and in preparations precontracted with 26 mM K+ or 1 lJ.M norepinephrine. Recovery from acidic constrictions induced by washout of ammonium and trimethylamine solutions was significantly slower in spontaneous hypertensive rats than in Wistar Kyoto rats preparations. Conceivably, a lower intracellular pH in the vascular smooth muscle of the resistance vessels of hypertensive patients, as compared to normotensive individuals, may partly account for the hypertensive phenomena

Regulation of Apolipoprotein A-1 and Apolipoprotein B100 Genes by Thymoquinone Rich Fraction and Thymoquinone in HEPG2 Cells.

Thymoquinone (TQ) rich fraction (TQRF) extracted from Nigella sativa seeds using a supercritical fluid extraction technique was prepared. The regulatory effects of TQRF at 80 µg/mL and commercial TQ at 2 µg/mL on apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B100) and apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1) genes in the presence or absence of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OH), were investigated in human HepG2 cell line using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Incubating HepG2 cells in 10% human lipoprotein deficient serum (HLPDS) for 24 h in the presence of 2 µg/mL 25OH showed a significant increase in Apo B100 mRNA expression level by twofold compared to the control cells; on the other hand, no significant change in Apo A-1 mRNA level was observed. When cells were incubated with HLPDS in the absence of 25OH and treated with TQRF and TQ, the mRNA level of Apo B100 was down-regulated by 70 and 49%, respectively, in TQRF and TQ treated cells compared to untreated cells. Apo A-1 gene was up-regulated by four- and twofold in TQRF and TQ treated cells, respectively, compared to that observed in untreated cells. The present study clearly shows that TQRF and TQ are effective in regulating Apo A-1 and Apo B100 genes that influence cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells

Thoracoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma in patient with men I syndrome

Minimal invasive thoracic surgery is growing rapidly and may become the standard of care for certain diseases. Its benefits over traditional surgery, including reduced morbidities and hospital stay, have been well established in several reports. We herein report a case of midesophageal leiomyoma in a patient with MEN I syndrome successfully enucleated by thoracoscopy highlighting the technical details of the procedure

A survey of weeds present in AL- Qatten Diroctorate Farms Hadhramout Governorate

An exclusive study of weeds present in Alqatten Directorate farms, was carried out this study aimed to identify types and number of weeds in the farms. The study area included (20) Farms in five different regions. 39 plant species belonging to 20 plant Family have been identified. Grassy famil was the most present with 7 species. the most wide spread grass was, Cynodon dactylon and Setaria verticillata; as they were found in all studied farms. While Withania somnifera and Rhazya stricta, were less prevalent, as they were present in two farms only.The study reveals that there is defference in the number of weed plants in the farms studied. The high number of weed types was found at Hasinat1 farm in Algatten area, where (27) type were found . the minimum number of weeds was found in Alaneen area, at Achariqih farm, where (14) types only were found

Comparative study of <i>Nigella</i> <i>Sativa</i> and triple therapy in eradication of <i>Helicobacter Pylori</i> in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia

Background/Aim: A large number of diseases are ascribed to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), particularly chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Successful treatment of H. pylori infection with antimicrobial agents can lead to regression of H. pylori-associated disorders. Antibiotic resistance against H. pylori is increasing, and it is necessary to find new effective agents. Nigella sativa seed (NS), a commonly used herb, possesses in vitro anti-helicobacter activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of NS in eradication of H. pylori infection in non-ulcer dyspeptic patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 88 adult patients attending King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, from 2007 to 2008, with dyspeptic symptoms and found positive for H. pylori infection by histopathology and urease test. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups, receiving i) triple therapy (TT) comprising of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, omeprazole [n= 23], ii) 1 g NS &#x002B; 40 mg omeprazole (OM) [n= 21], iii) 2 g NS &#x002B; OM [n= 21] or iv) 3 g NS &#x002B; OM [n= 23]. Negative H. pylori stool antigen test four weeks after end of treatment was considered as eradication. Results: H. pylori eradication was 82.6, 47.6, 66.7 and 47.8&#x0025; with TT, 1 g NS, 2 g NS and 3 g NS, respectively. Eradication rates with 2 g NS and TT were statistically not different from each other, whereas H. pylori eradication with other doses was significantly less than that with TT (P &lt; 0.05). Dyspepsia symptoms improved in all groups to a similar extent. Conclusions: N. sativa seeds possess clinically useful anti-H. pylori activity, comparable to triple therapy. Further clinical studies combining N. sativa with antibiotics are suggested