Stimulation by octanoate of insulin release from isolated rat pancreas

Using pieces of rat pancreas incubated in Krebs-bicarbonate buffer containing 0.6 mg. glucose/ml., it has been found that addition of 3.0 mM. octanoate to the incubation medium significantly (p < .001) increased insulin release above control levels by 4.94 +/- 0.89 [mu]U. insulin/mg. of pancreatic tissue. Increasing the glucose concentration in the incubation medium to 3.0 mg./ml. without addition of octanoate produced a slightly smaller though significant (p < .05) increase in insulin release (2.96 +/- 0.96 [mu]U./mg.) above control levels. In conclusion, octanoate is capable of directly stimulating additional release of insulin by the beta-cells of the pancreas.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33336/1/0000733.pd

Isolation and characterization of antineoplastic alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus l. Don. cultivated in Egypt

Vinblastine and vincristine (the antileukemic agents) were isolated, in a pure form, from Catharanthus roseus L. Don., cultivated in Egypt, by several chromatographic techniques. Five modified methods for the preparation of total alkaloids were carried out. All the isolated mixtures were evaluated by HPLC and HPTLC analyses. The antineoplastic alkaloids; vinblastine and vincristine, were isolated by the use of vacuum liquid chromatographic column on silica gel : aluminium oxide (1:1) mixed bed vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC), Charcoal column, and finally purified by centrifugally accelerated radial chromatography (Chromatotrone).Key words: Catharanthus roseus L., Apocyanaceae, Vinblastine, Vincrisitine, Antileuckemic alkaloids, VLC, HPLC, HPTL

Chemical Investigation of Some Capparis Species Growing in Egypt and their Antioxidant Activity

Capparis cartilaginea and C. deserti growing in Egypt were investigated for their glucosiolates and rutin content. From Capparis cartilaginea four isothiocynates were isolated and identified using GC and EI/MS techniques. These compounds were butyl isothiocyanate (1), 6-methylsulphonylhexyl isothiocyanate (2), 7-methylsulphonylheptyl isothiocyanate (3) and 5-benzylsulphonyl-4-pentenyl isothiocyanate (4). In addition to compounds (1) and (2), two other compounds were isolated and identified from Capparis deserti. These compounds are 3-methylthiopropyl isothiocyanate (5) and [11-(2-butenylthio)6-undecenyl isothiocyanate] (6). Compounds (1), (2), (5) and (6) are reported in this study for the first time from Capparis deserti. The main flavonoid component in the studied species was isolated and identified as rutin by comparing the data with those reported. Also, quantitative evaluation of rutin in the two species was carried out by TLC-densitometric analysis. The antioxidant activity was done using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. The butanol fraction from C. cartilaginea and C. deserti showed the highest antioxidant properties

IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE ON PLATELET ADHESIVENESS IN HUMAN BLOOD

Intravenous infusion of 500 ml. 6% polyvinylpyrrolidone (P.V.P. (Mw 40,000) in isotonic saline solution over a 2-hour period significantly diminished platelet adhesiveness in eight subjects from 27% before infusion to as low as 10% at the end of the infusion. 5 hours after the end of the infusion, platelet adhesiveness was still significantly reduced (16%). The addition of P.V.P. to citrated blood in vitro significantly decreased platelet adhesiveness. Both in vivo and in vitro, the platelet-count was not significantly altered by P.V.P. The in-vivo change in platelet adhesiveness is similar to that reported by others with dextran-a plasma expander that differs chemically from P.V.P.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33274/1/0000666.pd

Clinical observations on a new antihypertensive drug, 2-(2,6-dichlorphenylamine)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride

The drug 2-(2,6-dichlorphenylamine)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride, available as Catapres, was given to 16 patients with established hypertension. Six patients were studied for one month to detect abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism. None were found. Ten severely hypertensive patients were maintained for from 5 to 11 months on Catapres and diuretics.In a single dose, Catapres invariably lowered the blood pressure significantly, but without producing orthostatic hypotension. The maximum effect occurred between 2 and 3 hours after ingestion of the drug. The duration of drug action was 4 to 6 hours.In long-term treatment of ten patients, Catapres, combined with a diuretic, proved to be as effective as a diuretic plus guanethidine or Aldomet, which the patients had previously been taking. A dose of 0.400 to 1.200 mg. of Catapres was equivalent to 1.5 to 2.0 Gm. of Aldomet or 50 to 100 mg. of guanethidine.The chief side effect of the drug was drowsiness, but this was not incapacitating, it did not require cessation of treatment, and it became less prominent with the passage of time. In patients who had experienced severe orthostatic hypotension on other drug regimens, the condition was considerably relieved by Catapres. No signs of toxicity were noted, as judged by carbohydrate tolerance, BUN, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase, and hematologic determinations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32994/1/0000378.pd

Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Volunteer-Operated Field Medical Tents During Civilian Protests in Beirut, Lebanon: Challenges and Lessons

In October 2019, the worsening political, economic, and perceived corruption in Lebanon led to civil unrest. In anticipation of injuries, a group of healthcare professionals and social activists summoned paramedics, nurses, and physicians through social media, to provide medical assistance in the protest area. These volunteers established a physician-led advanced first-aid tent, whose aim was to reduce the patient load on Emergency Departments in local hospitals. We present the experience of volunteers, lessons learned, and challenges faced during the establishment of the physician-led first aid tent. In this manuscript, we discuss the following aspects of our efforts that can serve as relevant lessons we learned about medical volunteerism: spontaneity in volunteerism, operations, location and storage, supplies, roaming team, coordination with emergency services, safety, documentation, communication, special situations, and transition from acute to primary care

Oxidative coupling of methane over a Sr-promoted La<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> catalyst supported on a low surface area porous catalyst carrier

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to higher hydrocarbons over Sr-promoted La<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> supported on commercial low surface area porous catalyst carriers (containing mainly alumina and silica) at 800 and 850&#176;C and a space velocity of 102 000 cm<SUP>3</SUP>.g<SUP>-1</SUP>.h<SUP>-1</SUP> has been thoroughly investigated. Effects of support, catalyst particle size, linear gas velocity (at the same space velocity), Sr/La ratio, CH<SUB>4</SUB>/O<SUB>2</SUB> ratio in the feed, and catalyst dilution by inert solid particles on the conversion, yield, or selectivity and product ratios (C<SUB>2</SUB>H<SUB>4</SUB>/C<SUB>2</SUB>H<SUB>6</SUB> and CO/CO<SUB>2</SUB>) in the OCM process have been studied. The catalysts have been characterized for their basicity, acidity, and oxygen chemisorption by the TPD of CO<SUB>2</SUB>, ammonia, and oxygen, respectively, from 50 to 950&#176;C and also characterized for their surface area. The supported catalysts showed better performance than the unsupported one. The best OCM results (obtained over Sr-La<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>/SA-5205 with a Sr/La ratio of 0.3 at a space velocity of 102 000 cm<SUP>3</SUP>.g<SUP>-1</SUP>.h<SUP>-1</SUP>) are 30.1% CH<SUB>4</SUB> conversion with 65.6% selectivity for C<SUB>2+</SUB> (or 19.7% C<SUB>2+</SUB>-yield) at 800&#176;C (CH<SUB>4</SUB>/O<SUB>2</SUB> = 4.0) and 12.8% CH<SUB>4</SUB> conversion with 85.1% selectivity for C<SUB>2+</SUB> (or 10.9% C<SUB>2+</SUB>-yield) at 850&#176;C (CH<SUB>4</SUB>/O<SUB>2</SUB> = 16.0). The basicity is strongly influenced by the Sr/La ratio; the supported catalysts showed the best performance for their Sr/La ratio of about 0.3. The methane/O<SUB>2</SUB> ratio also showed a strong influence on the OCM process. However, the influence of linear gas velocity and particle size is found to be small; it results mainly from the temperature gradient in the catalyst. The catalyst dilution has little or no effect on the conversion and selectivity. However, it has beneficial effects for achieving a higher C<SUB>2</SUB>H<SUB>4</SUB>/C<SUB>2</SUB>H<SUB>6</SUB> ratio and also for reducing the hazardous nature of the OCM process because of the coupling of the exothermic oxidative conversion reactions and the endothermic thermal cracking reactions and also due to the increased heat transfer area