Reduced NO accumulation in arthrotic cartilage by exposure to methylene blue.

Nitric oxide (NO) appears to be a final common inflammation mediator of cartilage degradation. Halting the pathological formation of excessive NO, by suppressing the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity, may help to preserve cartilage integrity. We used fresh ex-vivo human articular cartilage explants from normal and arthrotic joints for assessment of NO levels, as determined by its nitrite degradation products and nitric oxide synthase expression.

Genetic polymorphism of delta-aminolevulinate dehydrase in several population groups in Israel.

The genetic polymorphism of red cell delta aminolevulinate dehydrase (ALADH) has been investigated in several population groups in Israel: Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews from North Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and the Balkans, and Arabs. The distribution of the ALADH genes was not homogeneous (chi 2 = 36.83; d.

Glutathione peroxidase activity in various types of blood cells in multiple sclerosis.

Previous studies demonstrated a significantly lower mean activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis than in control groups of normal subjects or patients with various neurological disorders. The present investigation has demonstrated that, in contradistinction to erythrocytes, a normal activity of GSH-Px is found in lymphocytes, granulocytes and platelets of multiple sclerosis patients. These results were obtained both with hydrogen peroxide, which serves as a specific substrate for selenium dependent GSH-Px, and t-butyl hydroperoxide which reacts both with selenium dependent and independent GSH-Px.

Phosphoglycolate phosphatase in several population groups in Israel.

The genetic polymorphism of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) found in red blood cells has been investigated in several population groups in Israel: Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews from Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Iran, Balkan, North Africa and Arabs. The distribution of the PGP genes was not homogeneous (chi 2 = 40.545; d.

Erythrocyte glyoxalase I polymorphism in several population groups in Israel.

The genetic polymorphism of red blood cell glyoxalase I (GLO) has been investigated in 9 population groups in Israel: Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews from Iran, Iraq, Balkan, North Africa, Yemen, Turkey and Egypt as well as Arabs living in Israel. The distribution of GL01 and GLO2 genes in the 9 communities was not homogeneous (x2 = 14.48; d.

Decreased erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in multiple sclerosis.

The mean activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in erythrocytes of 22 Israel-Jewish patients with multiple sclerosis (19.3 +/- 4.5 U/gHb) was significantly lower than in a control group of 30 Jewish patients with various neurological disorders (24.

Esterase D polymorphism in several population groups in Israel.

The genetic polymorphism of red blood cells esterase D (EsD) has been investigated in 9 population groups in Israel: Ashkenazi Jews, non-Ashkenazi Jews from North Africa, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Balkan, Iraq, Yemen as well as Arabs living in Israel. The distribution of EsD1 and EsD2 genes among the 9 communities was not homogenous chi2 = 42.3; d.