The Level of Isoprostanes as a Non-invasive Marker for in vivo Lipid Peroxidation in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Oxidative stress leads to lipid peroxidation and may contribute to the pathogenesis of lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory as well as degenerative phenomena. Isoprostanes are prostaglandin-like compounds which are formed by free radical catalysed peroxidation of arachidonic acid esterified in membrane phospholipids. They are a new class of sensitive specific markers for in vivo lipid peroxidation. In this study 26 patients (15 females and 11 males; mean age 48.2 ± 15.2 year; mean disease duration 10.0 ± 6.5 year) with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and 12 healthy controls were enrolled. In patients with multiple sclerosis the lipid peroxidation as the level of urine isoprostanes and the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in plasma were estimated. Moreover, we estimated the total antioxidative status (TAS) in plasma. It was found that the urine isoprostanes level was over 6-fold elevated in patients with SPMS than in control (P < 0.001). In SPMS patients TBARS level was also statistically higher than in controls (P < 0.01). However, we did not observed any difference of TAS level in serum between SPMS patients and controls (P > 0.05). In patients with SPMS the lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress measured as the increased level of isoprostanes was observed. Thus, we suggest that the level of isoprostanes may be used as non-invasive marker for a determination of oxidative stress what in turn, together with clinical symptoms, may determine an specific antioxidative therapy in SPMS patients

An Intronic Variant in the GRP78, a Stress-Associated Gene, Improves Prediction for Liver Cirrhosis in Persistent HBV Carriers

Background: Our previous study indicated that a common variant (rs430397 G>A) in the intron 5 of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) gene was associated with risk and prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including HBV- and cirrhosis-related HCC. rs430397 polymorphism may be a contributing factor or biomarker of HBV infection or HBV-related cirrhosis. Methodology/Principal Findings: 539 non-HBV-infected individuals, 205 self-limited infection and 496 persistent HBV infection were recruited between January 2001 and April 2005 from the hospitals in Southern China. Genomic DNA was genotyped for rs430397. The associations between the variation and susceptibility to liver cirrhosis (LC) in persistent HBV infection were examined. We observed that individuals carrying allele rs430397A were more likely to become HBV-related LC. When persistently infected patients were divided into four subgroups, patients with phase IV had an increased allele A and genotype AG compared with phase I and/or phase III. Decreased serum albumin and prolonged plasma prothrombin time (PT) were showed in LC patients carrying genotype AA. Furthermore, rs430397 genotype had an increased susceptibility to LC with dose-dependent manners (P-trend = 0.005), and the genotype did constitute a risk factor for the development of advanced LC (Child-Pugh classification C and B, P-trend = 0.021). Conclusions/Significance: rs430397 polymorphism may be a contributing factor to LC in persistent HBV carriers. © 2011 Zhu et al.published_or_final_versio

The effects of xylazine sedation on some haematological parameters of the West African Dwarf goat

No Abstract

Abdominal Wall Hernias as seen in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

A prospective survey of Abdominal Wall Hernia patients was done in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, from November 2000 to February 2002. The objective is to determine the pattern, management and outcome in a 101 patients with 110 hernias. Males accounted for 88.1% of the patients with mean age of 51.1 ± 11.7 years and 48.5% were farmers. Benign prostatic hyperplasia coexisted with hernia in 19.8% of patients. Inguinal/inguino-scrotal was the commonest (88.1%), while femoral hernia was rare (2.7%). Hernia occurred on the right side in 49% and bilateral in 10.9%. Consultants operated on 66(65.3%) patients, while residents under supervision operated on 35(34.7%) patients 65.2% of the patients were above 50 years. Day case surgery in our series was 75.3%; Elective surgery was in 76(75.2%) patients; while emergency cases was in 25(24.8%) patients. Local, spinal and general anaesthesia were used in 54(53.5%), 27(26.7%), 20(19.8%) patients, respectively. 19.8% had benign prostatic hyperplasia with hernia, while 5% had simultaneous prostatectomy and herniorrhaphy, 11.5% had gangrenous intestine that needed resection and reanastamosis. Commonest post operative complication was wound infection 14.9%, others were scrotal oedema, wound sinus, hypertrophic scars occurred in 3(3%), 2(2%), 3(3%) patients, respectively; with mortality in 1 patient (1%) in an elderly man who had strangulated intestinal obstruction. Key Words: Abdominal wall hernias, Coexisting prostatic hypertrophy. Sahel Med. J. Vol.6(2) 2003: 44-4