DNA repair and transcription.

The transcription factor TFIIH continues to be a subject of interest. In addition to its function as a repair and transcription factor, TFIIH includes a cyclin-dependent kinase and a cyclin, which raises the possibility that nucleotide excision repair (NER), RNA polymerase II transcription and cell cycle control are connected. Progress in mechanistic studies of NER include the identification of dual incision activities operating on either side of base damage and the isolation of a repairosome supercomplex in yeast. Additionally, NER has been demonstrated in reconstituted human and yeast systems, both of which include TFIIH.

Multiple pterygium syndrome: Challenge for anesthesiologist.

Multiple pterygium syndrome (MPS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by flexion of joint and digit contractures, skin webbing, cleft palate, deformity of the spine, and cervical spine fusion. Difficult airway is associated mainly due to micrognathia, retrognathia, webbing of the neck, and limitation of the mouth opening and neck extension. We are reporting a case of a 5-year-old female diagnosed with MPS and exhibiting a bilateral club foot and congenital vertical talus. The patient was posted for manipulation and above the knee casting under general anesthesia.

Inadvertent intrathecal injection of labetalol.

Labetalol is a combined α and ß adrenergic receptor blocker. It is used to treat hypertension, especially in pregnant patients. We report a case of a female patient who was given labetalol intrathecally in place of bupivacaine due to a similar appearance of ampoules which resulted in a drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. The patient responded to fluid resuscitation and there occurred no neurological sequelae.

Organophosphorus reagents as extractants-part 3. Synergic effect of triphenyl phosphine oxide and bis(diphenyl phosphinyl) alkanes on extraction of iron(III) from thiocyanate medium with 2,4-pentdione.

The extraction of iron(III) from thiocyanate medium was carried out with a synergic combination of 2,4-pentdione (Hacac) and either triphenyl phosphine oxide (Ph(3) PO) or bis (diphenylphosphinyl) alkanes, Ph(2)P(O)(CH(2))(n).P(O)PH(2) [ligand abbreviation, n: dpeO(2), 2; dpbO(2), 4]. Iron(III) was quantitatively separated from its binary mixture with chromium(III), manganese(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), mercury(II), lead(II), magnesium(II) and from steel samples. Copper(II) and silver(I) however, interfered. The percentage extraction was 99.0%. The respective extraction constants, K(HA), K(L) or K(syn), for the extracted species, [Fe(NCS)(acac)(2)(H(2)O)] (HA Hacac), Fe(NCS)(3)L(2) [L b Ph(3)PO, dpeO(2) or dpbO(2)], or Fe(NCS)(acac)(2)L were found to be: K(HA), 1.48 x 10(3), K(L), 1.80 x 10(2) (L Ph(3)PO), 2.02 x 10(2) (L dpeO(2) or dpbO(2)) and K(syn), 1.87 x 10(6) (L Ph(3)PO), 2.56 x 10(6) [L dpeO(2) or dpbO(2)].

Comparison of internal sphincterotomy with topical diltiazem for post-hemorrhoidectomy pain relief: a prospective randomized trial.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of internal sphincterotomy compared with application of topical 2% Diltiazem ointment after hemorrhoidectomy for pain relief. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an 18-month period, 108 subjects with uncomplicated Grade 3/ 4 hemorrhoids were enrolled in the study and were randomized into two equal groups: Subjects in Group A underwent internal sphincterotomy at time of primary surgery while those in Group B received 1 g of 2% Diltiazem ointment locally, thrice daily for seven days. Postoperative pain perception was measured using visual analog score (VAS) and on the basis of number of analgesic tablets (Tab tramadol 50 mg) required in each group. Time to discharge, time to return to work and incidence of complications measured and compared. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical techniques applied were Student T test, Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Test. RESULTS: There were 102 analyzable subjects (Group A: 50 and Group B: 52). The mean VAS score was significantly less in the internal sphincterotomy group from the fourth postoperative day onwards compared to topical Diltiazem (2.23 vs. 3.72; P =0.031). Similarly, the mean requirement of analgesic tablets [10.54 vs. 15.40; P =0.01] was much lower in Group A. There was no significant difference in terms of time to discharge and time to return to work between the two groups. The incidence of complications was more with the internal sphincterotomy group (11.5% vs. 3 %; P =0.488). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy, addition of surgical internal sphincterotomy results in lesser pain in the postoperative period as compared to those receiving topical application of Diltiazem.

Day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a feasibility study in a public health service hospital in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DCLC) has been shown to be safe in centers with adequate infrastructure for day care surgery in economically advanced countries. However, the feasibility of applying this concept in public health service hospitals in less developed and developing nation needs to studied. Unique protocols need to be developed and tested, taking into account local conditions and infrastructural constraints. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients less than 60 years old, graded I and II on the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status score, living within one hour traveling time and willing to make their own arrangements for a return to hospital in case of problems, were selected for DCLC. RESULTS: 291 cases (78%) out of 373 laparoscopic cholecystectomies done in one calendar year were found suitable for DCLC. The most common cause for omitting from DCLC was that the patient lived out of the defined area (57%). Four of 291 (1.3%) cases were cancelled due to medical condition; 270/287 (96.1%) were discharged the same evening as surgery; 6 patients were converted to open surgery; and 11 did not meet the necessary discharge criteria. Eight of 270 (2.9%) required readmission out of which 3 (1.1%) required intervention. Overall, incidence of complication rate was 3.4%. Analysis of data showed that results were comparable to previously published studies, hence extrapolating that inclusion and discharge criteria used in the study are valid. However, there are certain social constraints which hinder truly universal application of DCLC. CONCLUSIONS: DCLC is a safe and technically feasible concept, even in public health service centers without dedicated ambulatory surgery units. It has potential for much economical and social benefit in these countries.

Protein glycosylation: implications for in vivo functions and therapeutic applications.

The glycosylation machinery in eukaryotic cells is available to all proteins that enter the secretory pathway. There is a growing interest in diseases caused by defective glycosylation, and in therapeutic glycoproteins produced through recombinant DNA technology route. The choice of a bioprocess for commercial production of recombinant glycoprotein is determined by a variety of factors, such as intrinsic biological properties of the protein being expressed and the purpose for which it is intended, and also the economic target. This review summarizes recent development and understanding related to synthesis of glycans, their functions, diseases, and various expression systems and characterization of glycans. The second section covers processing of N- and O-glycans and the factors that regulate protein glycosylation. The third section deals with in vivo functions of protein glycosylation, which includes protein folding and stability, receptor functioning, cell adhesion and signal transduction. Malfunctioning of glycosylation machinery and the resultant diseases are the subject of the fourth section. The next section covers the various expression systems exploited for the glycoproteins: it includes yeasts, mammalian cells, insect cells, plants and an amoeboid organism. Biopharmaceutical properties of therapeutic proteins are discussed in the sixth section. In vitro protein glycosylation and the characterization of glycan structures are the subject matters for the last two sections, respectively.

Preliminary studies with recombinant chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit produced in Escherichia coli for use as an antigen in a birth control vaccine.

PROBLEM: Prototype human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) vaccines based on natural sources are unsuitable for widespread applications due to their complex manufacturing procedures, cost, and carrier-mediated immune suppression. METHOD OF STUDY: Wistar rats were immunized with alum-adsorbed CG beta (recombinant), CG beta-TT, and nCG beta (native CG beta)-TT, whereas Bonnet monkeys were immunized with only CG beta. The anti-hCG antibody titre in the sera obtained at different time points were quantified by radioimmunoassay. The sera of Wistar rats were characterized in terms of their affinity to hCG, bioneutralization capacity (by inhibition of hCG-induced testosterone production in Leydig cells), and cross-reactivity with human luteinizing hormone, human follicle-stimulating hormone, and human thyroid-stimulating hormone (by direct binding assays). RESULTS: Antigen-binding capacities of sera obtained upon immunization with CG beta were 3,080 +/- 943 ng/ml (n = 6) and 3,993 +/- 1,292 ng/ml (n = 4), respectively, in rats and monkeys. The analysis of data revealed that immunization of rats with CG beta produced antibodies comparable to that of CG beta-TT and nCG beta-TT. CONCLUSION: The study opens up the possibility of producing pure and highly immunogenic CG beta by a recombinant DNA route, as a consistent source of antigen for birth control vaccine.

Molecular cloning and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD28, the yeast homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome A (CSA) gene.

Cockayne syndrome patients exhibit severe developmental and neurological abnormalities. Cells derived from these patients are sensitive to killing by UV radiation and do not support the rapid repair of the transcribed strand of transcriptionally active genes observed in cells from normal individuals. We report the cloning of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of the Cockayne syndrome A (CSA) gene, which we designate as RAD28. A rad28 null mutant does not manifest increased sensitivity to killing by UV or gamma radiation or to methyl methanesulfonate. Additionally, the rate of repair of the transcribed and nontranscribed strands of the yeast RPB2 gene in the rad28 mutant is identical to that observed in wild-type cells following exposure to UV light. As previously shown for rad7 rad26 and rad16 rad26 double mutants, the rad28 null mutant shows slightly enhanced sensitivity to UV light in the presence of mutations in the RAD7 or RAD16 gene. Both rad28 and rad26 null mutants are hypermutable following exposure to UV light.

End-tidal oxygraphy and safe duration of apnoea in young adults and elderly patients.

Using an end-tidal fractional oxygen concentration of 0.9 as an end point for pre-oxygenation, we have compared the time taken to achieve this end point and the safe duration of apnoea after induction of anaesthesia following pre-oxygenation in elderly patients and young adults. The times taken to reach the end point of pre-oxygenation and for the oxygen saturation to decrease to 92% during a period of apnoea were found not to be significantly different between the two age groups. It is concluded that in spite of the physiological changes that occur with age, end-tidal oxygen concentration monitoring is as useful in the elderly population as in young adults as an end point for pre-oxygenation.

Cardiac changes in acute viral hepatitis in Varanasi (India): case reports.

Three cases of acute viral hepatitis are reported with various cardiac changes such as transient left ventricular hypertrophy, myocarditis and progressive cardiomegaly (cardiomyopathy). Extra-hepatic manifestations of acute viral hepatitis are rare but have been well documented. The aims of the present study are to highlight the cardiac involvement in acute viral hepatitis and to report the clinical implications of cardiac changes in acute viral hepatitis.