Inequality of handwashing practice using antimicrobial agents in Bangladesh: a household level analyses.

OBJECTIVES: About 2.3 billion individuals worldwide are still deprived of the amenity of handwashing with antimicrobial agents. The progress of handwashing with antimicrobial agents in Bangladesh is relatively slower than in many developing countries. The objective of this study was to capture the inequality of the prevalence of handwashing with antimicrobial agents and to identify the factors that are potentially contributing to socio-economic inequalities of handwashing practice in Bangladesh. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The present study used the nationally representative cross-sectional data from the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-18. A total of 19,457 households were included in the analysis of this study. A regression-based decomposition method was applied to assess the socio-economic contributors of inequality. RESULTS: This study showed that only 38% of Bangladeshi households wash their hands with antimicrobial agents while a pro-rich socio-economic inequality was observed. Household's wealth index was responsible for about 46% of the overall inequality of handwashing with antimicrobial agents while the type of place for handwashing variable contributed 38% of total inequalities. Hygienic toilet facilities (12%) and exposure to mass media (7.4%) are other determinants of total inequalities of handwashing with antimicrobial agents. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent declines in attributable mortality, handwashing with antimicrobial agents remains an important determinant of public health problems in many developing countries like Bangladesh. The regular programs aimed at promoting best hand hygiene practices and ensuring the availability of the necessary infrastructure at the community level will be important measures to eliminate this inequality at the population level.

Determinants of adolescent maternal healthcare utilization in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors associated with adolescent maternal healthcare utilization in Bangladesh. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis was undertaken using the latest data set from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2014). Data were collected from the cross-sectional survey carried out from June to mid November 2014. In total, 17,863 ever-married women aged 15-49 years were interviewed. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, 2029 of these women were adolescents and therefore eligible for inclusion in this study. METHODS: Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors influencing adolescent pregnancy, use of contraception, use of antenatal care services, facility-based delivery and presence of a skilled birth attendant at the last birth. The results are presented in terms of adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Maternal age, education, knowledge of menstrual regulations i.e. any procedure which disrupts the intra uterine environment, awareness of community clinic, household size, socio-economic status and administrative division were found to have a significant effect on adolescent pregnancy in Bangladesh. Sexual knowledge has a significant positive role in the use of modern contraceptives. Adolescents of low socio-economic status are significantly more likely to deliver at home compared with adolescents in the richest quintile (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.15-0.47; P < 0.001). The likelihood of delivering at a health facility was higher among adolescents who had knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.28-2.65; P < 0.001) and menstrual regulations (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.04-1.91; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent maternal healthcare utilization was associated with a number of factors including low socio-economic status, limited reproductive knowledge (e.g. menstrual regulations, sexually transmitted infections) and geographical region. The study findings will serve to inform policy and would be beneficial for introducing need-based adolescent maternal health programmes by targeting a range of maternal health services and opportunities that contribute to better health and development for adolescent mothers in Bangladesh.

Current Trend of Using Anti-Hypertensives in Pregnancy and Postpartum Period in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

Hypertensive disorders are one of the most common disorders in pregnancy. They are amongst the major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Incidence is increasing in developing countries like Bangladesh. This cross sectional descriptive study has done to observe the utilization of antihypertensive drugs in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and conducted from January 2016 to December 2016 in the department of Pharmacology in collaboration with department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Non random purposive sampling technique was used. Total of 300 patients participated in the study, 281 anti partum and 19 postpartum. Age distribution showed 42% patients were in 21-25 years age group. Majority of the participants (91%) were housewife and majority (79%) came from poor socioeconomic status with below SSC education (68%). About 82% patients lived in rural area. Trimester and gravida wise distribution showed most of the participants were 3rd trimester (61%) and primigravida (57%) and only 6% patients belong to postpartum period. In this study preeclampsia was highest (63.8%) among all other types of hypertensive diseases in pregnancy. Majority of the patient were preferred for dual therapy (53%), mono therapy was used in 29% of cases. Most frequently given drug in pregnancy associated hypertension was methyldopa that is 88.33% (single 22.3%, combination 66%). Second most commonly used drug was nifidipine consisting of 47.6% but used in combination in all cases. Average number of anti hypertensive drugs prescribed per prescription was 1.87 and majorities (92%) were from essential drug list but used as trade name. Preeclampsia and eclampsia were more common among the hypertensive disorders in tertiary level hospital cases. Methyldopa was found to be the commonest prescribed antihypertensive in monotherapy and in combination.

Effect of Serum Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in Menopausal Women.

The behavior of LP during the menopausal trinities and their relationship with sex hormones and body fat distribution is still unclear. The aim of this case control study was to estimate the serum lipoprotein (a) in postmenopausal women and women in reproductive age group and comparison of the above mention serum lipids between the two groups and was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College (DMC), Dhaka, in co-operation with the Department of Immunology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka from July-2005 to June 2006. A total number of 70 women were selected. Selected women were grouped as Group A and Group B. In Group A 30 postmenopausal women were selected with age range 55-70 years. In Group B, 40 women within reproductive age were selected. Group B was again divided into two groups - Group B1 & Group B2 according to their ages. In Group B1 20 women were selected with age range 25-35 years, and in Group B2 another 20 women were selected with age range 36-45 years. Serum lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) and lipid profile of all groups were measured. Mean sLp(a) concentration were compared between groups by" Mann Whitney U" test. Mean concentrations of every individual components of lipid profile (sTAG, sTc, sLDL & sHDL) were compared with different groups. sLp(a) concentration of Group A compared to Group B1 was found to be significantly higher (p<0.001). In the same way mean serum Lp(a) concentration of Group A compared to Group B2 was also significantly higher (p<0.001). Mean sLp(a) concentration of B1 compared B2 did not differ significantly. Mean values of lipid profiles were slightly elevated in Group A compared to Group B1 and Group B2 except sHDL-c level. Mean concentrations HDL-c was significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B1 and Group B2. Thus the present study has revealed that there is increased Lp(a) in menopause & decreased HDL in menopause.

Detection of Cervical Cancer through Visual Inspection of Cervix with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Colposcopy at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality in women with 50% mortality rate. It is preventable if cervical cellular changes are detected and managed at early stage. This was a retrospective study conducted at VIA center of outpatient department and Colposcopy clinic at in-patient department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh covering a period from September 2013 to November 2014. Objective of this study was detection of cervical cancer and precancerous condition amongst patients reported to VIA center and Colposcopy clinic. In primary screening at VIA Center, total respondents were 3604, their mean age was 35.9 and highest were in the age group 31 to 40 years. At VIA center, 110(3.05%) were found positive and highest were between 31 to 40 years. In Colposcopy Clinic, out of 700 patients, 51.7% were CIN 1, 4.9% CIN 2, 1.4% CIN 3, invasive carcinoma was 0.3% and unsatisfactory or inconclusive were 34.3%. Most of the respondents were housewives and majority had poor monthly income. Amongst respondents, 72.1% were from rural area and Colposcopic findings revealed in 62.5% abnormal cervical changes, 46.5% were from rural area. Mean age at marriage or age at first coitus was found 16.25 years and 92.7% were in 11 to 20 years. Maximum abnormal cervical findings including CIN were between the ages ranged from 11 to 20 years of marriage age. In patients having 1 - 5 number of child having abnormal (58%) cervical changes, 48% were CIN 1. Histopathology reports found 19.6% CIN 1 (Total CIN 20.7%), cervical carcinoma 1.3%, inflammatory 7.0% and 0.42% cases were reported normal. Amongst 438 histopathology advised cases, 230 respondent's reports with patients were not available. VIA followed by Colposcopy has been a feasible, easy and reliable tools for screening cervical cancer in Bangladesh.

Role of ultrasonography in diagnosis of solid space occupying lesion in the liver correlation with FNAC.

This cross sectional study was carried enrolling 47 subjects with suspected solid liver mass, in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, over a period of twelve months. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of solid SOL in the liver. Majority of the respondents (42.55%) were found between 41-60 years of age. Five (10.63%) subjects were found below 20 years of age. There were 31 men (65.95%) and 16 women (34.05%). Majority of the metastasis were multiple (85%), hypoechoic (35%) and only 15% had internal calcifications. HCC was single lesion (61.53%) with hyperechoic (38.35%) echogenicity, with a central halo (76.92%) and 15.38% had internal calcifications. Majority of the cholangiocarcinoma were solitary (80%), hypoechoic (60%) and 60% had internal calcifications. Hepatoblastoma were solitary and had calcifications (60%) with mixed echogenicity (60%). Majority of the adenomas were solitary (80%), hypoechoic (60%) and only 20 % had internal calcifications. The validity of transabdominal sonography for the diagnosis of metastasis was confirmed by calculating sensitivity (100%), specificity (96.42%), accuracy (97.87%), positive (95%) and negative predictive (100%) values by using the standard formula given. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values for HCC were 92.3%, 97.05%, 95.74%, 92.3% and 97.05% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values for cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma were 80%, 97.61%, 95.74%, 80% and 97.61% respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values were 80%, 100%, 97.87%, 100% and 97.67% respectively for adenoma. From the study result it was concluded that transabdominal ultrasonography could be reliable, non- ionizing and relatively cheap procedure for diagnosis solid hepatic mass lesion.

Common presentation of amebic liver abscess - a study in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.

Amebic liver abscess is a tropical disease. It is not uncommon in Bangladesh. Given the often nonspecific nature of complains related to amebic liver abscess, this study was carried out to identify the most common presentation. This hospital based cross sectional study was carried out in 30 cases of amebic liver abscess in the Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comilla Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Clinical and laboratory informations were recorded including symptoms, signs, location and number of abscess. Among 30 patients, 27 were male (90%) and 3 female (10%), mean age of male and female were 42±11 and 52±8 respectively. Common clinical symptoms were fever (93%) and abdominal pain (93%). Common signs were right upper quadrant tenderness (60%), hepatomegaly (67%). Most of the patient had single abscess (80%) and location of abscess was predominantly in the right lobe (77%). Radiological abnormality on x-ray chest was present in 30% cases. Common clinical presentation of amebic liver abscess patients were fever and right upper abdominal pain. Duration of symptoms was more than two weeks in most cases.

Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Progression of Hematoma in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh and also worldwide. Secondary brain injury from progressive intracerebral hematoma, increasing cerebral edema, raised intracranial pressure and subsequent cerebral ischemia is the main cause for morbidity and mortality following TBI. Secondary brain injury is worsened by post-traumatic coagulopathy, which occurs in brain injured patients and is associated with increase in risk of death and morbidity. The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces the hematoma expansion and demonstrated improved clinical outcome also reduced the mortality and morbidity. This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) done in the Department of Neurosurgery, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Included patients were randomized to get either the intravenous tranexamic acid (Group A) or placebo (Group B) treatment based on a computer-generated code list (50 patients in each group) along with usual medical management for traumatic brain injury. The extent of contusion expansion (hematoma plus perihematomal oedema) as the primary outcome at 48 hour after admission and was measured by brain CT scan. The contusion and oedema volume were calculated both the times (on admission and after 48 hours). Glasgow coma scale (GCS) after 48 hours and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) after 7 days were observed. In this study showed increase in hematoma volume in both groups (p<0.05). But the increased hematoma volume in the Group A was significantly less than that in the control group. The mean total hemorrhage expansion was (1.5±1.1) ml and (4.6±1.9) ml in the Group A and Group B, respectively. In Group A- 02(4.0%) patients required operation, whereas in Group B- 11(22.0%) patients required operation. The result was significant (p=0.023) between groups. Therefore use of tranexamic acid is associated with lesser hematoma volume progression. Mean GCS (after 48 hours), mean GOS (after 7 days) result were significantly better in Group A (p<0.001). This study concluded that tranexamic acid has beneficial effect on the patient with significant traumatic brain injury. Tranexamic acid helps in reduction of intracerebral progression of contusion and improvement of clinical outcomes in patients with TBI.

Paraumbilical Perforator Flap: A Reliable Option for Coverage of Soft Tissue Defects of Forearm and Hand.

Soft tissue injuries of the hand or forearm often results in exposure of tendon or bone which needs coverage with a suitable flap. This prospective observational study was carried out in National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka, Bangladesh from February 2019 to January 2020, to evaluate the use of the pedicled paraumbilical perforator flaps as a reliable flap to cover such defects. Total 34 patients having soft tissue defects in the hand and forearm with exposed tendons, bones or implant were included in this study. All the defects were covered by paraumbilical perforator flap. The defects were caused by road traffic accident (n=22), machinery injury (n=10) and burn injury (n=2). Sixteen patients had defects involving the forearm, six over dorsum of hand, another two over first web space and the rest had defects over two or more areas of forearm, hand and wrist. Lateral extent of flaps was upto anterior axillary line in 41.18% cases and upto mid-axillary line in 55.88% cases. Flap division and final inset was done in second stage after 3 weeks. Donor site closed primarily in all cases, except in two cases where it was covered by skin graft. All the flaps survived with no incidence of flap necrosis, dehiscence or infection after first stage. However, after the division of the flap, two patients developed marginal necrosis of the proximal margin which healed spontaneously by conservative treatment. The mean flap surface area utilized was 108 cm2. Donor area healed well without any major complications. Three patients developing scar hypertrophy were treated with intra-lesional triamcinolone injections. The paraumbilical perforator flap is a reliable option to cover soft tissue defects of hand and forearm due to easier planning and harvesting of the flap, adequate skin paddle and minimum donor site morbidity.

Difference in Clinical Patterns between COVID-19 Affected Children and Adults.

Coronavirus has created a major global health problem since December 2019. People of all age groups were affected by this virus though children showed milder clinical characteristics and initially less number of children was affected by this virus. It is very important to know the difference in clinical patterns between COVID-19 affected children and adults. This cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka from April to September 2020 to compare the clinical pattern and laboratory findings between COVID-19 positive children and adults. Total 150 COVID-19 positive patients were enrolled in this study, among them 100 patients were adults (>18 year) mean±SD age (49.9±14.33) and 50 patients were children (Day 1-18 year) mean±SD age (8.7±4.79). The adult group had 66 males and 34 females and the pediatric group had 27 males and 23 females. No significant sex difference was seen between the two groups (0.153). Most of the children were affected by family contact and they showed a mild type of illness but adult patients had contact from different sources. Fever and cough were the main symptoms of both groups but fever was more common in adults (81%) than children (36%), p-value (0.001). In children no severe or critical cases were found. But asymptomatic cases were 8%, mild cases (68%) and moderate cases (24%) in children. In adults no asymptomatic patients were found. Moderate cases were 72%, severe 14% and critical 5% (p value 0.001). Leucopenia, Lymphopenia and raised CRP and increased ferritin were found more in adults than children. Chest X-ray showed 42% of children had pneumonia and 83% adults had pneumonia. There was significant difference between the two groups (p value 0.0001). This study concludes that corona virus affects children like adults but their presentation is not so severe and children show mild clinical symptoms in comparison with adults.

Surgical Outcome of CSF Drainage in Paediatric Obstructive Hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus (HCP) is occurred when there is inequality in the formation and absorption of CSF to such a level which causes accumulation of fluid and causing raised intracranial pressure. Hydrocephalus is the most frequent neurosurgical problem encountered in the paediatric age group. CSF diversion surgically is needed as treatment for certain condition. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) are most widely used CSF diversion procedure. Therefore, this study was conducted for comparing the surgical outcome of ETV and VP shunt in obstructive hydrocephalus. This is a prospective experimental study conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2017 to December 2019. Paediatric patients of both sex and 6 months to 18 years of age with obstructive hydrocephalus undergone endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) or ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VP shunt) were included after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients divided into two groups (Group A and Group B). The Group A included 30 patients who treated by Endoscopic third ventriculostomy and the Group B include 30 patients, who was treated by Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Surgical outcome was analyzed in two procedures separately. In Group A (ETV group) symptomatic improvement, GCS score improves earlier and post-operative complications relatively less than Group B (VP shunt group). But in VP shunt group 3 months follow up reveals- improvement of papilledema, Occipital frontal circumference (OFC) regression and fontanelle size improvement was more than that of ETV group. This study concluded with suggesting that Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is technologically superior surgical technique than VP shunt. Though ETV showed relatively more immediate procedural failure and intraventricular hemorrhage but long-term outcome is better and also associated with lower incidence of infection and re-operation in comparison to VP shunt.

Capturing the Patient's Perspective: a Review of Advances in Natural Language Processing of Health-Related Text.

Background: Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods are increasingly being utilized to mine knowledge from unstructured health-related texts. Recent advances in noisy text processing techniques are enabling researchers and medical domain experts to go beyond the information encapsulated in published texts (e.g., clinical trials and systematic reviews) and structured questionnaires, and obtain perspectives from other unstructured sources such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and social media posts. Objectives: To review the recently published literature discussing the application of NLP techniques for mining health-related information from EHRs and social media posts. Methods: Literature review included the research published over the last five years based on searches of PubMed, conference proceedings, and the ACM Digital Library, as well as on relevant publications referenced in papers. We particularly focused on the techniques employed on EHRs and social media data. Results: A set of 62 studies involving EHRs and 87 studies involving social media matched our criteria and were included in this paper. We present the purposes of these studies, outline the key NLP contributions, and discuss the general trends observed in the field, the current state of research, and important outstanding problems. Conclusions: Over the recent years, there has been a continuing transition from lexical and rule-based systems to learning-based approaches, because of the growth of annotated data sets and advances in data science. For EHRs, publicly available annotated data is still scarce and this acts as an obstacle to research progress. On the contrary, research on social media mining has seen a rapid growth, particularly because the large amount of unlabeled data available via this resource compensates for the uncertainty inherent to the data. Effective mechanisms to filter out noise and for mapping social media expressions to standard medical concepts are crucial and latent research problems. Shared tasks and other competitive challenges have been driving factors behind the implementation of open systems, and they are likely to play an imperative role in the development of future systems.

Purification and characterization of an AP endonuclease/DNA 3' repair diesterase from mouse ascites sarcoma cells.

Purification and characterization of a DNA repair enzyme having 5' apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease activity are reported. The enzyme extracted from mouse ascites sarcoma (SR-C3H/He) cells with 0.2 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) was purified by successive chromatographies on phosphocellulose, DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose (a second time) and single-stranded DNA cellulose, and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The purified enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. It was shown to have nicking activity on acid-depurinated DNA but not on intact DNA, and to have priming activities for DNA polymerase on acid-depurinated DNA and bleomycin-treated DNA. The results indicate that it is a multifunctional DNA repair enzyme having 5' AP endonuclease and DNA 3' repair diesterase activities. The enzyme activity is dependent upon the presence of a divalent cation such as Mg2+. Its amino-terminal amino acid and internal amino acid sequences are determined.

Cloning and characterization of a mouse homologue (mNthl1) of Escherichia coli endonuclease III.

Endonuclease III (endoIII; nth gene product) of Escherichia coli is known to be a DNA repair enzyme having a relatively broad specificity for damaged pyrimidine bases of DNA. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of the cDNA and the gene for a mouse homologue (mNthl1/mNth1) of endoIII. The cDNA was cloned from a mouse T-cell cDNA library with a probe prepared by PCR using the library and specific PCR primers synthesized based on the reported information of partial amino acid sequences of bovine NTHL1/NTH1 and of EST Data Bases. The cDNA is 1025 nucleotides long and encodes a protein consisting of 300 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 33.6 kDa. The amino acid sequence exhibits significant homologies to those of endoIII and its prokaryotic and eukaryotic homologues. The recombinant mNthl1 with a hexahistidine tag was overexpressed in a nth::cmr nei::Kmr double mutant of E. coli, and purified to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme showed thymine glycol DNA glycosylase, urea DNA glycosylase and AP lyase activities. Northern blot analysis indicated that mNthl1 mRNA is about 1 kb and is expressed ubiquitously. A 15 kb DNA fragment containing the mNthl1 gene was cloned from a mouse genomic library and sequenced. The gene consists of six exons and five introns spanning 6.09 kb. The sequenced 5' flanking region lacks a typical TATA box, but contains a CAAT box and putative binding sites for several transcription factors such as Ets, Sp1, AP-1 and AP-2. The mNthl1 gene was shown to lie immediately adjacent to the tuberous sclerosis 2 (Tsc2) gene in a 5'-to-5' orientation by sequence analysis and was assigned to chromosome 17A3 by in situ hybridization.

Genomic structure and sequence of a human homologue (NTHL1/NTH1) of Escherichia coli endonuclease III with those of the adjacent parts of TSC2 and SLC9A3R2 genes.

Genomic cloning and sequencing of a human homologue (the gene name, endonuclease III-like 1; gene symbol, NTHL1 or NTH1) for Escherichia coli endonuclease III, that is involved in pyrimidine base excision repair, were performed. The sequence covered the entire NTHL1 gene consisting of six exons and five introns spanning 8kb with 5' flanking (8kb) and 3' flanking (3.8kb) regions. Southern blot analysis suggested that the NTHL1 gene exists as a single copy in a haploid genome. The sequenced 5' flanking region lacks typical TATA and CAAT boxes, but contains a CpG island having putative binding sites for several transcription factors such as Ets1 and Sp1. The NTHL1 gene lies immediately adjacent to the tuberous sclerosis 2 (TSC2) gene on chromosome 16p13.3 in a 5'-to-5' orientation. Transcription initiation sites of both NTHL1 and TSC2 genes were suggested to be multiple by 5' RACE experiments. The northern hybridization experiment suggested that both genes are expressed in all tissues, but at different levels. Downstream of the NTHL1 gene, the gene for the regulatory factor 2 (SLC9A3R2/E3KARP; also called OCTS2, TKA-1 and SIP-1) of the solute carrier family 9 (sodium/hydrogen exchanger), isoform A3, lies in a 3'-to-3' orientation. This paper demonstrates for the first time the spatial relationship of these three genes (TSC2, NTHL1 and SLC9A3R2) at the nucleotide level, and the presence of multiple transcription initiation sites of the NTHL1 and TSC2 genes.

Bauhinia purpurea lectin (BPA) binding spectra in hyperplastic human tonsil and in peripheral blood: immunohistochemical, immunoelectron microscopic, and flow cytometric analyses.

We studied the binding of Bauhinia purpurea lectin (BPA) to human tonsils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by immunohistochemical, immunoelectron microscopic, and flow cytometric techniques. The effect of several fixatives (acetone, ethanol, buffered and non-buffered formalin, B5, Bodian 11, Bouin's, Carnoy's, Zenker's, and glutaraldehyde) was also examined. BPA was reactive with germinal center lymphocytes, macrophages/histiocytes, follicular dendritic cells, squamous epithelial cells, and a subset of endothelial cells. Mantle zone and paracortical lymphocytes were non-reactive with BPA. The profile of the specific binding characteristic of BPA lectin was found to be influenced by the fixatives. Most significantly, formalin fixation greatly reduced overall binding intensity, particularly making germinal center lymphocytes totally non-reactive. The reaction intensity was most prominent in frozen sections or those fixed in Carnoy's or ethanol solution. The combination of heavy metal salt-containing fixatives with acetic acid usually did not enhance BPA binding. Glutaraldehyde solution used for immunoelectron microscopic study also preserved BPA receptors fairly well, and BPA was confined to the membrane in lymphocytes and to both the membrane and cytoplasm in macrophages/histiocytes and follicular dendritic cells. Neuraminidase treatment of tissues resulted in binding of BPA to lymphocytes that were non-reactive before treatment. Double-staining studies on cell suspensions from tonsils with FITC-BPA and PE-conjugated anti-CD3 or SIg reagents revealed that 28.4% of CD3+ cells and 61.3% or SIg+ cells were BPA reactive. In PBL, 65.6% and 81.4% of CD3+ and SIg+ cells, respectively, were BPA reactive. Neuraminidase treatment also increased the percentage of BPA-reactive lymphocytes. In conclusion, BPA is a marker for macrophages/histiocytes and germinal center lymphocytes, provided that the tissues are unfixed or fixed with suitable fixatives such as ethanol or Carnoy's solution.

Oxygen radical-induced single-strand DNA breaks and repair of the damage in a cell-free system.

Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe(3+)-NTA) catalyzes hydrogen peroxide-derived production of hydroxyl radicals, which are known to cause DNA damage. In the present work, Fe(3+)-NTA plus hydrogen peroxide-induced single-strand DNA breaks and repair of the DNA damage were studied in vitro by monitoring DNA damage- and DNA repair-dependent conformational changes of pUC18 plasmid DNA. Single-strand DNA breaks were induced in the pUC18 DNA by Fe(3+)-NTA plus hydrogen peroxide in a dose-dependent fashion. Induction of the DNA damage was inhibited by deferoxamine mesylate (an iron chelator) and by hydroxyl radical scavengers such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), D-mannitol and ethanol indicating that the DNA damage was caused by hydroxyl radicals which were generated by reaction of Fe(3+)-NTA with hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen radical-induced single-strand DNA breaks were repaired partly (more than 50%) by incubating the damaged DNA at 37 degrees C for 3 h with a partially purified preparation of APEX nuclease (a multifunctional DNA repair enzyme), DNA polymerase beta, four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, T4 DNA ligase and ATP. Analyses of the partially purified preparation of APEX nuclease revealed that a 45-kDa protein as well as APEX nuclease in the preparation were involved in the repair of the single-strand DNA breaks. APEX nuclease was suggested to initiate the repair by removing 3' termini blocked by the nucleotide fragments and also by incising the 5' side of AP sites. The 45-kDa protein was suggested to be required for removal of the 5' tags such as 5'-terminal deoxyribose phosphate residues produced by the action of APEX nuclease on AP sites.

Bauhinia purpurea (BPA) binding to normal and neoplastic thyroid glands.

Biotinylated bauhinia purpurea agglutinin (BPA) was studied, using the ABC method, in different thyroid gland conditions (26 follicular adenomas, 39 papillary carcinomas, 15 follicular carcinomas, and 10 normal thyroids), to determine whether specific lectin binding patterns were developed during malignant transformation that could enable the distinction of carcinoma from adenoma. In normal thyroids, BPA was very rarely and faintly reactive with follicular cells. In neoplastic conditions, BPA binding profiles for follicular adenoma were essentially identical to those of normal follicles, whereas BPA unequivocally reacted with follicular carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. BPA reacted more strongly with cells of papillary structures than with those forming solid nests and follicles. In papillary carcinoma, BPA binding was observed mostly in the apical surface and cytoplasm of carcinoma cells, whereas a diffuse cytoplasmic binding pattern was predominant in follicular carcinoma. Neuraminidase treatment had little or no effect on either normal or adenomatous follicular epithelium, whereas in follicular carcinoma, the number of positive cells and the staining intensity was increased. These findings suggest that BPA would be useful for the differential diagnosis of papillary and follicular carcinomas, and less consistently so, for differentiating follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma. Peanut agglutinin with similar sugar specificity was not reactive with follicular cells either in normal or neoplastic glands.

Ion-induced manipulation of photochemical pathways in crown ether compounds based on fluorinated oligophenylenevinylenes: the border between ultrafast photoswitches and photoproduced nanomaterials.

The photochemical and photophysical properties of the crown ethers trans,trans-1,4-bis[2-(3',4'-benzo 15-crown 5)ethenyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene (1) and trans,trans-1,4-bis[2-(3',4'-benzo 18-crown 6) ethenyl]-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene (2) were investigated in the absence and presence of groups I and II metal ions. The photophysical methods used include steady state flurescence, uv spectroscopy, and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. Both compounds showed solvatochromic behavior, due to intramolecular charge transfer state formation, and efficient fluorescence in polar solvents. Photophysical behavior was dependent on the metal ion. The addition of metal ions that completely fit into the crown ether cavity resulted in significant blue shifts in the fluorescence emission spectra (chemosensing properties). Partially fitting ions changed the fluorescence spectra slightly. Transient absorption measurements revealed fast and slow decay components with time constants of 10-20 and 500-600 ps for all fitting ions, respectively. The latter is assigned to a trans-cis photoisomerization process, which decreased in efficiency in the presence of partially fitting ions, i.e., increasing ion size. Steady state irradiation showed clear evidence of a change in the absorption spectra. Trans-cis photoisomerization and [2 + 2] photocycloaddition were found to compete with fluorescence. The ions Li+, Na+, and Ca2+, which fit into the cavity, direct the photoisomerization. Larger ions (K+, Rb+, Sr2+ and Ba2+) that partially fit the cavity cause photocycloaddition. Quantum yields of the photoreaction are between 0.1 and 0.3. Analysis of the photo-product obtained for the 1-Sr2+ system revealed a compound with a molecular weight of nanosize dimension, which was equivalent to seven mass units of 1. The higher molecular weight product was formed due to alternately stacked supramolecular assemblies.

Histological and histochemical studies on the female reproductive system of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) after testosterone propionate treatment.

Intramuscular injections of testosterone propionate (Perandren, CIBA) at a dose level of 2.5 mg per day for 10 days into adult female parakeet caused an increment of differentiated follicles in the ovary. The histological study of the testosterone treated oviduct of the bird showed well developed villi with a significant number of tubular glands particularly in the middle and distal parts of the oviduct. The high level of alkaline phosphatase activity and ascorbic acid concentration in the distal part of the oviduct in treated birds probably increase the power of hatchable eggs which has a close relationship with the enzyme and vitamin C concentration in the uterus. The testosterone treatment causes a marked depletion of granulosal vitamins from ovary but augments the ascorbate mobilization in the thecal region to a very great extent probably due to more LH secretion from the pituitary.