Predictors of tuberculosis treatment success among HIV-TB co-infected patients attending major tuberculosis treatment sites in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Introduction: tuberculosis (TB) is the commonest opportunistic infection and cause of death in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in developing countries. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 85% treatment success rate for all TB cases as an indicator of TB control. The study aimed at determining TB treatment success rate among TB-HIV co-infected patients and identifying predictors of successful treatment among patients in TB treatment sites in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Nicotine alters progesterone and estradiol levels during the first trimester of pregnancy in Wistar rats.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of nicotine on serum progesterone and estradiol levels as possible cause of abortion during first trimester of gestation in female Wistar rats.

Methods: Fourteen female rats with regular estrous cycles in the same phase of cycle were divided into two groups (Control and Nicotine-treated) with each group receiving 1ml of distilled water and 1mg/kg of nicotine respectively for the first seven days of pregnancy (GD1-7). The animals were sacrificed on the 8th day and blood samples were collected for hormonal analyses.

Dynamic interactions between L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel Cav1.2 subunits and ahnak in osteoblastic cells.

Voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels (VSCCs) mediate Ca(2+) permeability in osteoblasts. Association between VSCC alpha(1)- and beta-subunits targets channel complexes to the plasma membrane and modulates function. In mechanosensitive tissues, a 700-kDa ahnak protein anchors VSCCs to the actin cytoskeleton via the beta(2)-subunit of the L-type Ca(v)1.

High extracellular calcium attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

We studied the effect of extracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](e)) on adipocyte differentiation. Preadipocytes exposed to continuous [Ca(2+)](e) higher than 2.5 mmol/l accumulated little or no cytoplasmic lipid compared to controls in 1.

Rodent osteoblastic cells express voltage-sensitive calcium channels lacking a gamma subunit.

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) open in response to external stimuli, including calcitropic hormones, that alter plasma membrane calcium (Ca2+) permeability. Ca2+ that enters the cell through these channels serves a second messenger function, eliciting cellular responses that include secretion and changes in gene expression. In osteoblasts, VSCCs serve as key regulators of Ca2+ permeability and are a major class of calcitropic hormone-sensitive Ca2+ channels present in the plasma membrane.

Expression of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, perlecan, during mouse embryogenesis and perlecan chondrogenic activity in vitro.

Expression of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), perlecan (Pln), mRNA, and protein has been examined during murine development. Both Pln mRNA and protein are highly expressed in cartilaginous regions of developing mouse embryos, but not in areas of membranous bone formation. Initially detected at low levels in precartilaginous areas of d 12.

Calcium signals and calcium channels in osteoblastic cells.

Calcium (Ca2+) channels are present in non-excitable as well as in excitable cells. In bone cells of the osteoblast lineage, Ca2+ channels play fundamental roles in cellular responses to external stimuli including both mechanical forces and hormonal signals. They are also proposed to modulate paracrine signaling between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts at local sites of bone remodeling.

Down-regulation of L-type Ca2+ channel transcript levels by 1,25-dihyroxyvitamin D3. Osteoblastic cells express L-type alpha1C Ca2+ channel isoforms.

Osteoblast Ca2+ channels play a fundamental role in controlling intracellular and systemic Ca2+ homeostasis. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction strategy was used to determine the molecular identity of voltage-sensitive calcium channels present in ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells.

Beta-adrenergic receptors in porcine adipocyte membranes: modification by animal age, depot site, and dietary protein deficiency.

Adipocyte lipid metabolism is primarily regulated by insulin and the catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine. Stimulation of the beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) by catecholamines causes an increase in the rates of adipocyte lipid degradation and a decrease in the rates of lipid synthesis. These catabolic effects are in opposition to insulin, which causes net anabolic effects.

Effect of sera from lean and obese pigs on the differentiation of porcine adipose stromal-vascular cells in culture.

Primary cultures of stromal-vascular (S-V) cells from adipose tissue of new-born pigs were used to evaluate the characteristics of four sera obtained from male and female genetically lean or obese pigs weighing 50-60 kg. (2) Lean pig sera (LPS) stimulated greater levels of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity in cultured cells than obese sera (OPS). Male LPS tended to promote higher GPDH specific activity than female LPS or male and female OPS.

Effect of age on the differentiation of porcine adipose stromal-vascular cells in culture.

Stromal-vascular (S-V) cells isolated from adipose tissue of newborn pigs (NBPC) and mature pigs (MPC) by collagenase digestion were used to evaluate differences in preadipocyte culture and development. Cells were seeded at a density of 3 x 10(4) cells/cm2 on six-well (35-mm) tissue culture plates in 3 mL of DMEM/HAM's F12 medium plus 10% fetal calf serum and cultured at 37 degrees C under a humidified atmosphere of 95% air:5% CO2 for 24 h. Cells were then washed thoroughly in DMEM/HAM's F12 medium without fetal calf serum and maintained in serum free (SF) medium or SF medium supplemented with 2.

Binding of agonists and antagonists to the porcine adipose tissue beta-adrenergic receptor(s).

1. Affinities of agonists for porcine adipose tissue beta-adrenergic receptors, determined by competitive ligand binding with 3H-dihydroalprenolol to crude adipose tissue membranes in vitro, varied from 50 times > to 25 times < than isoproterenol. Affinities for antagonists varied from 8 times > to 1000 times < propranolol.

Effect of dietary cimaterol on Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity in rabbit tissues.

Cimaterol, a catecholamine analog that acts as a beta-adrenergic agonist, has been shown to have a growth promoting effect in rabbits. Catecholamines are also known to stimulate ion transport in many tissues. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary cimaterol on rabbit tissue Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity.

Effect of insulin and adrenergic agonists on glucose transport of porcine adipocytes.

1. Insulin increased basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake in isolated swine adipocytes by 75%. In the absence of insulin, isoproterenol did not inhibit basal 2-deoxyglucose transport.