Urinary bisphenol A concentrations in girls from rural and urban Egypt: a pilot study

Abstract Background Exposure to endocrine active compounds, including bisphenol A (BPA), remains poorly characterized in developing countries despite the fact that behavioral practices related to westernization have the potential to influence exposure. BPA is a high production volume chemical that has been associated with metabolic dysfunction as well as behavioral and developmental effects in people, including children. In this pilot study, we evaluate BPA exposure and assess likely pathways of exposure among girls from urban and rural Egypt. Methods We measured urinary concentrations of total (free plus conjugated) species of BPA in spot samples in urban (N = 30) and rural (N = 30) Egyptian girls, and compared these concentrations to preexisting data from age-matched American girls (N = 47) from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We also collected anthropometric and questionnaire data regarding food storage behaviors to assess potential routes of exposure. Results Urban and rural Egyptian girls exhibited similar concentrations of urinary total BPA, with median unadjusted values of 1.00 and 0.60 ng/mL, respectively. Concentrations of urinary BPA in this group of Egyptian girls (median unadjusted: 0.70 ng/mL) were significantly lower compared to age-matched American girls (median unadjusted: 2.60 ng/mL) according to NHANES 2009-2010 data. Reported storage of food in plastic containers was a significant predictor of increasing concentrations of urinary BPA. Conclusions Despite the relatively low urinary BPA concentrations within this Egyptian cohort, the significant association between food storage behaviors and increasing urinary BPA concentration highlights the need to understand food and consumer product patterns that may be closing the gap between urban and rural lifestyles.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112495/1/12940_2011_Article_523.pd

Usefulness of serum lipid peroxide as a diagnostic test for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in the full-term neonate

Objective:To evaluate the usefulness of serum lipid peroxide (LPO) for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in full-term neonates.Study Design:Diagnostic test evaluation forming three groups: (1) healthy full-term neonates (n=59), (2) at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (n=57) and (3) at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (n=57). HIE diagnosis was made using the Finer clinical classification at 48 h after birth. Serum LPO was taken at 4 h after birth and determined by spectrophotometry.Result:One hundred seventy-three full-term neonates were studied. Fifty-one of the at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (51/57) had high serum LPO and two of the at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (2/57) (P<0.001). Serum LPO level had 89% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 96% positive predictive value, 90% negative predictive value, 24 positive probability ratio, 0.11 negative probability ratio and 92% diagnostic usefulness.Conclusion:Serum LPO level could be a useful test for early diagnosis of HIE in full-term neonates. � 2013 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved

Evaluation and effects of the Omron 725 CIC device for measuring blood pressure in a hypertension clinic

BACKGROUND: We compared the Omron 725 CIC device (Omron Healthcare Inc., Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA), which is designed to register the blood pressure on the arm, with a mercury sphygmomanometer. In addition, we evaluated the possible impact that this device might have on the decisions made in a hypertension clinic. METHODS: Patients (n=183) older than 18 years (range 18-84 years) with a wide range of systolic (87-197 mmHg) and diastolic (48-108 mmHg) blood pressures were included. Some of the standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and of the British Hypertension Society were used to evaluate the results of the automated device in clinical practice. RESULTS: Using Bland-Altman analysis, an underestimation of both measures was observed with the automated Omron 725 CIC device; the systolic pressure was 3.6±8.8 mmHg too low with a very wide range of -13.7 to 20.9 and the diastolic pressure was also 4.4±6.3 mmHg too low with a range of -8.1 to 16.9. Clinical decisions could have been changed in 24 of the 116 hypertensive patients (20.6%) if the readings of the automated device had been used instead of using the readings of a mercury sphygmomanometer. These could have included modifying the dosage or changing the medicine used. CONCLUSION: The blood pressure measurements by Omron 725 CIC are different from those of blood pressure readings taken with a mercury sphygmomanometer and this could affect clinical decisions in the diagnosis and follow-up of a hypertensive patient in an office environment. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc

Expression of HIF-1?, VEGF and EPO in peripheral blood from patients with two cardiac abnormalities associated with hypoxia

Objectives: HIF-1? (hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha) mediates the responses of mammalian cells to hypoxia/ischemia by inducing the expression of adaptive gene products (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO)). Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) are common neonatal diseases considered as paradigms of hypoxemia. Since the expression HIF-1?, VEGF and EPO in newborns diagnosed with these diseases has yet to be studied, we set out to define the expression of these genes in peripheral blood from newborn infants diagnosed with PPHN and CCHD. Design and methods: The mRNA transcripts encoding HIF-1?, VEGF and EPO were measured by RT-PCR in healthy newborn infants and infants diagnosed with PPHN and CCHD. Results: An important increase in HIF-1? expression was observed in both pathological conditions, accompanied by significant increases in VEGF and EPO expression when compared to healthy infants. Conclusions: HIF-1? mRNA expression increases in newborn infants with PPHN or CCHD, as does the expression of its target genes VEGF and EPO. © 2009 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

Incidence and Predictive Factors for Cytomegalovirus Infection in Renal Transplant Recipients

Apoptosis was followed in L5178Y lymphoma cell-bearing mice at different times after intraperitoneal injections of adriamycin (ADM). Apoptosis was determined morphologically and confirmed by DNA laddering on electrophoresis. Apoptosis was observed 36 h after injection of 5 mg/kg ADM (apoptotic cell index 64.2 5.6 vs. 1.5 2.1 from the untreated group) and confirmed by DNA electrophoresis. However, when the animals were pretreated with (+)-?-tocopherol acid succinate or superoxide dismutase before ADM administration apoptotic index significantly diminished (P<0.05) and the DNA electrophoresis did not show fragmentations. We conclude that in ADM-treated mice, tumour cell death occurs in two ways: first by necrosis, then later by apoptosis. These observations are likely to be associated with or caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species. " 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.canlet.2005.01.013",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/42151","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-24344499469&partnerID=40&md5=0a4cd78316f9c1d6518c07d6a323b0d

In vivo modification of adriamycin-induced apoptosis in L-5178Y lymphoma cell-bearing mice by (+)-α-tocopherol and superoxide dismutase

Apoptosis was followed in L5178Y lymphoma cell-bearing mice at different times after intraperitoneal injections of adriamycin (ADM). Apoptosis was determined morphologically and confirmed by DNA laddering on electrophoresis. Apoptosis was observed 36 h after injection of 5 mg/kg ADM (apoptotic cell index 64.2±5.6 vs. 1.5±2.1 from the untreated group) and confirmed by DNA electrophoresis. However, when the animals were pretreated with (+)-α-tocopherol acid succinate or superoxide dismutase before ADM administration apoptotic index significantly diminished (P<0.05) and the DNA electrophoresis did not show fragmentations. We conclude that in ADM-treated mice, tumour cell death occurs in two ways: first by necrosis, then later by apoptosis. These observations are likely to be associated with or caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

In vivo Adriamycin-induced apoptosis in peritoneal murine macrophages: Partial participation of a caspase cascade

Background: Adriamycin (ADM) is a potent antitumor drug that induces apoptosis (AP) in tumor cells. AP is modulated by caspases and by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) as well as by the mitochondrial membrane potential (??m). We studied the participation of these systems in peritoneal macrophages from ADM-treated mice. Materials and Methods: Balb/c mice were either treated with ADM (5mg/kg, i.p.) or with 0.85% NaCl solution (controls). One hour later, peritoneal cells were harvested and cultured for 28 h. AP was evaluated by ethidium bromide and acridine orange staining; im was monitored using a MitoCapture stain Kit; DNA integrity was assessed by electrophoretic analysis. Animals were treated (i.p.) 1 h before ADM administration with Z-LEHD-FMK, Z-DEVD-FMK, or Z-VAD-FMK (caspase-9, caspases-3,7,10 and general caspase inhibitors, respectively) or with PD169316 (a MAPK p38 inhibitor). Results: ADM induced a higher rate of AP and the characteristic electrophoretic DNA ladder pattern. Mice treated with caspases inhibitors plus ADM showed significant reductions in AP and DNA laddering; in contrast, no differences were observed in mice treated with PD169316 plus ADM in comparison with ADM alone. ADM also induced early loss of the ??m. Conclusion: In these experimental conditions, ADM induced AP in a mainly caspase-9-dependent manner and this was related to a reduction in the ??m

γ-irradiation induced apoptosis in peritoneal macrophages by oxidative stress. Implications of antioxidants in caspase mitochondrial pathway

The in vivo and in vitro development of apoptosis induced by γ-irradiation was studied in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The apoptosis index was measured by fluorescence microscopy and DNA electrophoresis. In vivo apoptosis was greatest eight days after 8 Gy total body γ-irradiation. A DNA ladder electrophoretic pattern was only observed in the γ-irradiated group. The participation of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis induction was investigated by pretreating mice with the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E or lipopolysaccharide before γ-irradiation. Measurement of serum lipoperoxides showed oxidative stress in the γ-irradiated mice and the protection given by the antioxidants. These results were confirmed using in vitro cultures of peritoneal macrophages: γ-irradiated groups and antioxidant-pretreated γ-irradiation groups showed results similar to those observed with in vivo irradiation. A loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was also observed by microscopy in the γ-irradiated cell cultures. Experiments with caspase inhibitors confirmed the participation of caspase 3 and caspase 9