Objectives: This study investigates the in vitro effect of the antioxidant drug, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
Methods: PBMC were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque, and stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of 5 mM NAC. The cytokines produced were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Neurosciences (Riyadh)
January 2005
Objective: To explore the profile of cytosine/adenine/guanine (CAG) repeat expansion in Omani spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) patients.
Methods: Ten SCA patients attending the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital Neurologic clinics, Al-Khoud, Oman in the 3 years starting from January 2000 were recruited for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and CAG repeat expansion analysis was carried out by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, when required.