Geriatric-palliative care units model for improvement of elderly care

The aim of this research was to indicate the necessity of a new organizational model of health and social care system for the geriatric population in Croatia. Modern geriatrics puts special emphasis on the idea that the care of the elderly should be performed through home care or long-term care institutions, rather than in the acute care hospital departments. The social healthcare of the elderly requires a multidisciplinary approach, as well as teamwork and coordination of institutional and non-institutional departments. Founding of palliative care units is clearly absent from the existing elderly care system. 33% of the total deceased geriatric population within the target area (2000-2002) has passed away in institutions (Dubrovnik General Hospital and nursing homes), what clearly indicates a need for organized palliative care on the stationary level. Nursing homes in Croatia should accept about 4% of the total number of older population (according to the gerontology research). Nevertheless, this research shows that the available capacity of the nursing homes in the Dubrovansko-Neretvanska County is 50% of the projected percentage. The solution might be setting up of palliative-geriatric units in already existing institutions, as shown by the SWOT analysis.     

HPTLC chromatography of androstene derivates. Application of normal phase thin-layer chromatographic retention data in QSAR studies

The chromatographic behavior of seven 16-oximino derivatives of 3beta-hydropxy-5-androstene have been investigated using the normal-phase (NP) HPTLC chromatographic mode of the type silica-non-polar diluent (benzene)-polar modifier (acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, or dioxane). The linear relationship between the retention constants (R(M)) and the logarithm of the organic modifier content in the mobile phase allowed for the calculation of R(M)0 values. The influence of substituent in the molecule on extrapolated retention data is discussed. To better understand the retention mechanism in the separation of androstene compounds, the functional group contributions (tauX) were compared with Hansch substituent constants (pi). An attempt to quantitate the lipophilicity of the investigated compounds using normal phase thin-layer chromatographic R(M)0 value was made. Also, the relative lipophilicity values determined previously by RPC as well as activity were compared with NPC data.     

Suppression of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity is a major cause for high-temperature inhibition of pollen germination and tube growth in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Possible involvement of impaired polyamine biosynthesis in the poor performance of tomato pollen (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) at high temperatures was investigated. Incubation of pollen at 38 degrees C suppressed the increase of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) activity in germinating pollen with little influence on arginine decarboxylase activity. Consequently, spermidine and spermine content in the pollen did not increase at 38 degrees C, while putrescine content increased at both 25 degrees C and 38 degrees C. High-temperature inhibition of pollen germination was alleviated by the addition of spermidine or spermine but not of putrescine to the germination medium. Cycloheximide inhibited SAMDC activity in parallel with pollen germination at 25 degrees C, whereas actinomycin D had no effect on either of them, indicating that enhanced SAMDC activity is associated with de novo protein synthesis. Incubation of crude enzyme extracts at 40 degrees C for 1 h did not affect SAMDC. In addition, high temperatures did not enhance protease activity in germinating pollen. These results indicate that low activity of SAMDC, probably due to impaired protein synthesis or functional enzyme formation, is a major cause for the poor performance of tomato pollen at high temperatures.     

A novel apoptosis-inducing protein from Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infection induces apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells. Here, we report a novel apoptosis-inducing protein that functions as a leading factor in H. pylori-mediated apoptosis induction. We purified the protein from H. pylori by separating fractions that showed apoptosis-inducing activity. This protein induced apoptosis of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. The purified protein consisted of two protein fragments with molecular masses of about 40 and 22 kDa, which combined to constitute a single complex in their natural form. N-terminal sequencing indicated that both these protein fragments were encoded by the HP1118 gene. The purified protein exhibited gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, the inhibition of which by 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine resulted in a complete loss of apoptosis-inducing activity. To the best of our knowledge, the apoptosis-inducing function is a newly identified physiological role for bacterial gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The apoptosis-inducing activity of the isogenic mutant gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-deficient strain was significantly lower compared with that of the parent strain, demonstrating that gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase plays a significant role in H. pylori-mediated apoptosis. Our findings provide new insights into H. pylori pathogenicity and reveal a novel aspect of the bacterial gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase function.     

Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica: I the in vitro effects of an immunomodulator, S2-Complex

This study was undertaken to try to determine the possible anti-leishmanial activity of S2-Complex, an organic complex of copper chloride, ascorbic acid, and nicotinamide. The promastigotes, axenic amastigotes, and intracellular amastigotes of both Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica were incubated with different concentrations of S2-Complex. The EC50 for each form was calculated. Results show that all forms of the parasites were dose dependently inhibited by S2-Complex. The promastigotes of both parasites were the most resistant with highest EC50 followed by axenic amastigotes. While intracellular amastigotes were the most sensitive with the lowest EC50.These results indicate that S2-Complex has a direct anti-leishmanial effect. When mice were treated with S2-Complex or BCG for four days before harvesting the macrophages, and the macrophages infected with both L. major and L. tropica, they showed increased phagocytosis and increased parasite killing. The results of S2-Complex were not statistically different from the immunomodulating agent BCG. These results indicate that S2-Complex has an immunomodulating effect in addition to the direct anti-leishmanial effect.     

Kinetics of intermolecular interaction during protein folding of reduced cytochrome c

Kinetics of intermolecular interaction between reduced cytochrome c (Cyt c) protein and solvent during the protein-refolding process is studied by monitoring the time dependence of apparent diffusion coefficient (D) using the pulsed-laser-induced transient grating technique. The refolding was triggered by photoinduced reduction of unfolded Fe(III) Cyt c in 3.5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) solution and the change in the diffusion coefficient was monitored in time domain. The relationship between D and the protein conformations under equilibrium condition were investigated at various GdnHCl concentrations using a photolabeling reagent. The time dependence of the observed transient grating signal was analyzed using these data and two models: a continuous change model of the intermolecular interaction and a two-state model. It was found that the TG signals in various time ranges can be consistently reproduced well by the two-state model. The dynamics of D is expressed well by a single exponential function with a rate constant of 22 +/- 7 s(-1) in a whole time range. The folding process of Cyt c is discussed based on these observations.     

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity Lagerstroemia speciosa in Sprague-Dawley rats

Through the boost of the natural medicinal market, individuals began to use a variety of organic materials in the marketed herbal preparation. Lagerstroemia speciosa (LS) leaves are known as banaba. People have been using a decoction of LS leaves as antidiabetic. The study aimed to investigate the acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of LS in Sprague-Dawley rats. The acute toxicity was determined by a single oral dose of LS (2000 mg/kg). Therein animal behaviour and mortality rate were observed for 14 days. The LS (200 mg/kg) was given for 28 days daily in the sub-acute study. The body weight, organ weight, food, water intake, biochemical, haematological parameters, and histopathology were studied. The findings of this study showed no mortality or morbidity was found in acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in rats.Additionally, no significant variations were found in the respective weight of organ, haematological and biochemical parameters of treated groups with reference to the control group. Moreover, no visible histological changes were detected in the liver of treated groups with reference to the control. In conclusion, the oral administration of LS did not fabricate any major toxic effect in rats. No toxic consequences were reported during acute and sub-acute toxicity investigations. Overall, LS is a safe, natural bio-actives as studied. Further investigations of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the above drug(s) or their combinations may be executed for appreciative safety.     

Assessment of the influence of different sample processing and cold storage duration on plant free proline content analyses

Introduction – A method which is widely accepted for the analysis of free proline content in plant tissues is based on the use of 3% sulfosalicylic acid as an extractant, followed by spectrophotometric quantification of a proline–ninhydrin complex in toluene. However, sample preparation and storage may influence the proline actually measured. This may give misleading or difficult to compare data. Objective and Methodology – To evaluate free proline levels fresh and frozen strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) leaves and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] hypocotyl tissues were used. These were ground with or without liquid nitrogen and proline extracted with sulfosalicylic acid. A particular focus was the influence of plant sample cold storage duration (1, 4 and 12 weeks at ?20°C) on tissue proline levels measured. Results – The free proline content analyses, carried out in leaves of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. as well as in hypocotyls of Glycine max (L.) Merr., showed a significant influence of the sample preparation method and cold storage period. Long‐term storage of up to 12 weeks at ?20°C led to a significant increase in the measured proline in all samples analysed. Conclusion – The observed changes in proline content in plant tissue samples stored at ?20°C indicate the likelihood of the over‐estimation of the proline content if the proline analyses are delayed. Plant sample processing and cold storage duration seem to have an important influence on results of proline analyses. Therefore it is recommended that samples should be ground fresh and analysed immediately. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.