Mobilization of copper ions in human peripheral lymphocytes by catechins leading to oxidative DNA breakage: A structure activity study.

Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary consumption of plant polyphenols is related to a lower incidence of various cancers. Among these compounds catechins (present in green tea and other beverages) are considered to be potent inducers of apoptosis and cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Thus these compounds can be used as leads to synthesize novel anticancer drugs with greater bioavailability.

Targeting increased copper levels in diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells in rats by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

We have earlier elucidated a pathway for the anticancer action of plant polyphenolic compounds against malignant cells involving mobilisation of endogenous copper ions and the consequent prooxidant action. To further confirm our hypothesis in vivo, we induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). We show that in such carcinoma cells, there is a progressive elevation in copper levels at various intervals after DEN administration.

A novel multiplex assay for simultaneously analysing 13 rapidly mutating Y-STRs.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (RM-Yplex) was developed which is capable of simultaneously amplifying 13 recently introduced rapidly mutating Y-STR markers (RM Y-STRs). This multiplex assay is expected to aid human identity testing in forensic and other applications to improve differentiating unrelated males and allow separating related males. The 13 RM Y-STR markers included in the multiplex are: DYF387S1, DYF399S1, DYF403S1ab, DYF404S1, DYS449, DYS518, DYS526ab, DYS547, DYS570, DYS576, DYS612, DYS626 and DYS627.

Biallelic mutations in SNX14 cause a syndromic form of cerebellar atrophy and lysosome-autophagosome dysfunction.

Pediatric-onset ataxias often present clinically as developmental delay and intellectual disability, with prominent cerebellar atrophy as a key neuroradiographic finding. Here we describe a new clinically distinguishable recessive syndrome in 12 families with cerebellar atrophy together with ataxia, coarsened facial features and intellectual disability, due to truncating mutations in the sorting nexin gene SNX14, encoding a ubiquitously expressed modular PX domain-containing sorting factor. We found SNX14 localized to lysosomes and associated with phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate, a key component of late endosomes/lysosomes.

Preoperative cognitive intervention reduces cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after gastrointestinal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Preoperative conditions may play a significant role in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) development in elderly patients. We aimed to investigate whether preoperative cognitive training could lower the incidence of POCD one week after surgery.

Material And Methods: A total of 141 ASA I-III elderly patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery were enrolled into the study.

The effect of KETODEX on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy using sevoflurane based-anesthesia.

Background: Postoperative emergency agitation (EA) is a common problem often observed in children undergoing general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a bolus of intraoperative low-dose ketamine followed by dexmedetomidine i.v.

Perforated diverticulitis sigmoidei after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We present a case of 47-year-old healthy man who underwent an uneventful elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Despite the postoperative analgesia with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the patient developed diffuse abdominal pain culminating on the second postoperative day when the patient also had rebound tenderness. A diagnostic laparoscopy showed diverticular perforation, which was treated with laparoscopic lavage and drain.

Pro-oxidant DNA breakage induced by the interaction of L-DOPA with Cu(II): a putative mechanism of neurotoxicity.

There are reports in scientific literature that the concentration of copper ions in Parkinsonian brain is at a level that could promote oxidative DNA damage. The possibility of copper chelation by antioxidants excited us to explore the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage by the interaction of L-DOPA with Cu(II) ions. In the present manuscript, L-DOPA was tested for its ability to bind with Cu(II) and reduce it to Cu(I).

A priming dose of intravenous ketamine-dexmedetomidine suppresses fentanyl-induced coughing: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate whether a priming dose of ketamine-dexmedetomidine can effectively suppress fentanyl-induced coughing (FIC).

Methods: Altogether 400 patients of ASA I and II, aged 18-70 years, undergoing various elective surgical procedures, were randomly allocated into four groups of 100 patients each. Patients in the placebo group received volume-matched normal saline 0.

Pharmacological Intervention through Dietary Nutraceuticals in Gastrointestinal Neoplasia.

Neoplastic conditions associated with gastrointestinal (GI) tract are common worldwide with colorectal cancer alone accounting for the third leading rate of cancer incidence. Other GI malignancies such as esophageal carcinoma have shown an increasing trend in the last few years. The poor survival statistics of these fatal cancer diseases highlight the need for multiple alternative treatment options along with effective prophylactic strategies.

The clinical effects of Synsepalum dulcificum: a review.

Synsepalum dulcificum or the "miracle fruit" is well known for its taste-modifying ability. The aim of this review was to assess the published medically beneficial as well as potential characteristics of this fruit. A search in three databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, was made with appropriate keywords.

Surgeons' knowledge about the costs of orthopaedic implants.

PURPOSE. To investigate consultant surgeons' knowledge about the costs of implants for various joint surgeries. METHODS.

Recurrent spontaneous compartment syndrome of the thigh.

Acute comparment syndrome (ACS) is a surgical emergency, in which tissue pressure becomes greater than perfusion pressure leading to tissue ischaemia. It is typically a consequence of trauma. We present a case in which a patient suffers blunt trauma to the thigh, but develops ACS 2 years after this injury and consequently endures 10-episodes of ACS (no perciptating event or cause) in the same thigh over 10 years.

Prevalence of autoantibodies in type 1 diabetes patients and its association with the clinical presentation - UAE Eastern Region experience.

Background: Positive autoantibodies and its association with the clinical course of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been reported worldwide, however, no such data have been reported in United Arab Emirates population.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of positive autoantibodies in T1DM pediatric patients and its association with the clinical presentation.

Methods: Descriptive retrospective chart review of all new cases of pediatric T1DM at Tawam Hospital.

Pre- and post-operative values of serum CRP in patients undergoing surgery for brain tumour.

Objective: To determine the concentration of C-reactive protein in pre- and post-operative serum samples of brain tumour patients in order to detect the potential risks of post-operative infections.

Methods: Serum C-reactive protein was measured on pre- and post-operative Day 1, Day 2 and Day 7 in 18 patients who underwent surgery for brain tumours. The study was performed at the Neurosurgical Ward, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from May 2007 to April 2008.

Individual, facility, and program factors affecting retention in a national weight management program.

Background: High attrition is a common problem for weight loss programs and directly affects program effectiveness. Since 2006, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has offered obesity treatment to its beneficiaries through the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans (MOVE!). An early evaluation of this program showed that attrition rate was high.

Effect of hyperosmolar sodium lactate infusion on haemodynamic status and fluid balance compared with hydroxyethyl starch 6% during the cardiac surgery.

Background And Aim: No solution has been determined ideal for fluid therapy during cardiac surgery. Previous studies have shown that hyperosmolar sodium lactate (HSL) infusion has improved cardiac performance with smaller volume infusion, which resulted in negative fluid balance. This study compared the effects between a patent-protected HSL infusion and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 6% on haemodynamic status of the patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

26,26,26,27,27,27-Hexadeuterated-1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D-d6) As Adjuvant of Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

It has been demonstrated that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) and some of its analogues have antitumor activity. 1,25D labeled with deuterium (26,26,26,27,27,27-hexadeuterated 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, or 1,25D-d6) is commonly used as internal standard for 1,25D liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) quantification. In the present study using human breast cancer cell lines, the biological activity of 1,25D-d6 administered alone and in combination with two commonly used antineoplastic agents, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide, was evaluated.

Pro-oxidant activity of dietary chemopreventive agents: an under-appreciated anti-cancer property.

" Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" was quoted by Hippocrates more than two thousand years ago and since ancient times the health benefits of different natural agents have been exploited. In modern research, the disease preventive benefits of many such natural agents, particularly dietary compounds and their derivatives, has been attributed to their well recognized activity as the regulators of redox state of the cell. Nevertheless, most of these studies have focused on their antioxidant activity.

Gómez-López-hernández syndrome versus rhombencephalosynapsis spectrum: a rare co-occurrence with bipartite parietal bone.

Rhombencephalosynapsis (RES) is a rare hindbrain malformation that could occur in isolation or as a part of a syndrome for example, Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome (GLH) or VACTERL-H. We identified male patient with severe RES. Ventriculomegaly, agenesis of septum pellucidum, very thin corpus callosum with interhemispheric cyst were additional neuroimaging findings.

Percutaneous transcatheter embolization of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms causing massive hemoptysis: two different case scenarios.

Systemic bronchial arterial circulation is the most common source for massive hemoptysis. Rarely, the source of bleeding can be the pulmonary artery. We report 2 different case scenarios of massive hemoptysis due to different etiologies, in which the source of bleeding was the pulmonary artery.

Plant polyphenol induced cell death in human cancer cells involves mobilization of intracellular copper ions and reactive oxygen species generation: a mechanism for cancer chemopreventive action.

Scope: Anticancer polyphenolic nutraceuticals from fruits, vegetables, and spices are generally recognized as antioxidants, but can be prooxidants in the presence of copper ions. We earlier proposed a mechanism for such activity of polyphenols and now we provide data in multiple cancer cell lines in support of our hypothesis.

Methods And Results: Through multiple assays, we show that polyphenols luteolin, apigenin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and resveratrol are able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines.

Invest in adolescents and young people: it pays.

This year's Women Deliver conference made a strong call for investing in the health and development of adolescents and young people. It highlighted the unique problems faced by adolescent girls and young women-some of the most vulnerable and neglected individuals in the world-and stressed the importance of addressing their needs and rights, not only for their individual benefit, but also to achieve global goals such as reducing maternal mortality and HIV infection.In response to an invitation from the editors of Reproductive Health, we-the sixteen coauthors of this commentary-put together key themes that reverberated throughout the conference, on the health and development needs of adolescents and young people, and promising solutions to meet them.

High incidence of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The purpose of this study was to identify carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tertiary care hospital in Sharjah Emirate, to identify the plasmids carrying the carbapenemase genes and to reveal clonal relationships among the isolates. Two hundred and two clinically relevant isolates collected between September 2011 and October 2012 at Al-Qassimi hospital, Sharjah, were investigated for meropenem resistance. Strains with decreased susceptibility were further tested with the modified Hodge test, by EDTA and phenylboronic acid synergy and by E-test.