Gossypol acetic acid (GAA) has been shown to have male antifertility effects, but there are pronounced differences among animal species. In the search of endogenous effector molecules, which interfere with the functions of GAA, we have studied the in vitro effect of various amino acids on the inhibition of the purified LDH-X by GAA. Histidine, cysteine and glycine were shown to block the effect of GAA. The effects of these amino acids were concentration dependent. Histidine and glycine protection was found to be complex type in which both the Km and Vmax were decreased compared to control. Arginine, glutamic acid, phenylalanine and valine were found to be ineffective against the inhibitory action of GAA.
Amino Acids/pharmacology* ; Animal ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Goats ; Gossypol/pharmacology ; Gossypol/analogs & derivatives* ; Isoenzymes ; Lactate Dehydrogenase/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Male ; Spermatocidal Agents/pharmacology* ; Testis/enzymology

A kinetic assay for total calcium in serum was developed which is based on the activation of Ca++-ATPase by free Ca++ [Ca++]f maintained by EGTA in the reaction mixture. The concentration of Caf++ was dependent on total reference calcium added or serum calcium. Ca++-ATPase activity was coupled to the reduction of NADH by pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monitored by change in absorbance at 340 nm. The calcium in normal serum was 10.08 +/- 0.24 mg/ dl (n = 35) by our method while with o-cresolphthalein complexone (CPC) method, the total calcium in the same 35 serum samples was 10.14 +/- 0.54 mg/dl. The range of within-run coefficient of variations (CVs) by this method was 0.9-2.87% at 8-12 mg/dl and day-to-day CVs were 0.72-3.17%. The presence of other ions and standard clinical interfering agents did not affect this assay system. The correlation between values obtained with our method (y) and CPC method (x) for normal serum was: y = 1.064x-0.580 mg/dl (r = 0.912, n = 59).
Adenosinetriphosphatase/metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Calcium/*blood ; Comparative Study ; Enzyme Activation ; Female ; Human ; Kinetics ; Male ; NAD/metabolism ; Pyruvate Kinase/metabolism ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Albumin is the most abundant protein in human serum. A dye-binding method is commonly used in clinical laboratories for its estimation using different types of dyes. However, all these dye methods were interfered by a variety of compounds. Here we present a method for the detection of albumin in human serum and other biological fluids. The principle is based on the fact that lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-5 (LDH-5) binds specifically to Dextran-Blue (DB). Albumin inhibits the binding of LDH-5 with DB. Absence of LDH activity in DB fraction after gel filtration indicates the presence of albumin in sample and vice versa.
Chemistry, Clinical/*methods ; Chromatography, Gel ; Human ; Isoenzymes/metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Sepharose/chemistry ; Serum Albumin/*analysis

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a renal tubular disorder of the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter, which is located in the distal tubule of the loop of Henle. We present a rare case of GS complicated by severe hyponatraemia and hypophosphataemia. A 17-year-old boy was admitted to our institution with fever and lethargy. The workup revealed typical features of GS, i.e. hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and metabolic alkalosis. In this report, we discuss the differential diagnoses and rationale for accepting GS as the most likely diagnosis. This case was complicated by severe hyponatraemia (115 mmol/L) and hypophosphataemia (0.32 mmol/L). We concluded that the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormones could not be ruled out and that respiratory alkalosis was the most likely aetiology of hypophosphataemia. This case report also generates an interesting discussion on water and electrolyte metabolism.
Adolescent ; Alkalosis, Respiratory ; diagnosis ; Electrolytes ; Fever ; Gitelman Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; complications ; diagnosis ; Hypophosphatemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; Lethargy ; Male ; Vasopressins ; secretion

BACKGROUND: We are presenting our experience in the use of locking compression plate (LCP) after juxta-articular oncological resections in addition to its use in pathologic fracture. METHODS: A retrospective audit of skeletal reconstruction using LCP in 25 cases of long bone tumors was performed from 2008 to 2010. Reconstruction following limb salvage surgery was done in 17 patients and internal fixation of pathological fracture was done in 8 patients. All patients were available for > 12 months of follow-up, and thus assessed for union at the resected ends. RESULTS: There were 8 males and 17 females in the study. The average age at the time of surgery was 30 years (range, 9 to 66 years). The minimum follow-up was 12 months (range, 12 to 32 months). All patients except three went on to heal successfully. Complications occurred in those three patients: wound infection in one, nonunion in another, and periprosthetic fracture in the other patient. In the remaining patients, union was achieved at an average of 6.5 months after reconstruction in curative resection and 4.75 months after fixation of pathological fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Joint sparing limb salvage surgery was made successfully possible after sekeletal reconstruction with LCP. Its use was also quite effective in pathological fractures with poor bone quality. Use of locking plates for musculoskeletal oncological reconstruction resulted in a good and predictable rate of union.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms/complications/radiography/*surgery ; Bone Plates ; Child ; Female ; Fractures, Spontaneous/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

AIMSTo determine when a bone scan investigation is appropriate in asymptomatic men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

METHODSBetween November 2005 and July 2006, 317 men with prostate cancer underwent a bone scan study; 176 men fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cut-offs as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using digital rectal examination finding, biopsy Gleason scores and age were performed to determine when a bone scan study is likely to be of value.

RESULTSOnly 1/61 men (1.6%) with a serum PSA 20 ng/mL had a positive bone scan. However, 2/38 men (4.7%) with a serum PSA 20.1-40.0 ng/mL, 3/20 men (15%) with a serum PSA 40.1-60.0 ng/mL, 7/19 men (36.8%) with a serum PSA 60.1-100.0 ng/mL and 19/38 men (50%) with a serum PSA > 100.0 ng/mL had positive bone scans. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were uninformative in these groups.

CONCLUSIONBased on our findings, a bone scan is of limited value in asymptomatic prostate cancer patients presenting PSA =or< 20 ng/mL. Therefore, this investigation can be eliminated unless a curative treatment is contemplated. Furthermore, digital rectal examination finding, biopsy Gleason score and age are unhelpful in predicting those who might harbor bone metastasis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; analysis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Retrospective Studies ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Whenever endodontic therapy is performed on mandibular posterior teeth, damage to the inferior alveolar nerve or any of its branches is possible. Acute periapical infection in mandibular posterior teeth may also sometimes disturb the normal functioning of the inferior alveolar nerve. The most common clinical manifestation of these insults is the paresthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve or mental nerve paresthesia. Paresthesia usually manifests as burning, prickling, tingling, numbness, itching or any deviation from normal sensation. Altered sensation and pain in the involved areas may interfere with speaking, eating, drinking, shaving, tooth brushing and other events of social interaction which will have a disturbing impact on the patient. Paresthesia can be short term, long term or even permanent. The duration of the paresthesia depends upon the extent of the nerve damage or persistence of the etiology. Permanent paresthesia is the result of nerve trunk laceration or actual total nerve damage. Paresthesia must be treated as soon as diagnosed to have better treatment outcomes. The present paper describes a case of mental nerve paresthesia arising after the start of the endodontic therapy in left mandibular first molar which was managed successfully by conservative treatment.
Burns ; Drinking ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Interpersonal Relations ; Lacerations ; Mandibular Nerve ; Molar ; Paresthesia* ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Tooth