Search

The cytochrome P450 superfamily consists of hemeproteins involved in the detoxication of different xenobiotics, including drugs. The CYP2 gene family is responsible for the metabolism of 80% of the drugs in clinical use. There are considerable interindividual and interethnic variabilities in the rate of drug metabolism as a result of genetic polymorphisms. The goal of our study was to determine the frequency of 10 genetic polymorphisms in CYP2 family genes to give light on the pharmacogenetic defects of the main CYPs, involved in drug metabolism, in Bulgarian individuals. We detected high allele frequency for CYP2D6*10 (0.27), CYP2D6*4 (0.22), and CYP2B6*9 (0.24), followed by CYP2C19*2 (0.14), CYP2C9*3 (0.11) and CYP2C9*2 (0.09). The genotype frequencies were also determined for all investigated variants. In total 47.2% of the analyzed individuals carried CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms – 5.6% carried a single variant and 41.6% were found to have two or more such variants. Homozygotes for CYP2D6 variants were established among 14% of Bulgarian individuals. Determination of the prevailing pharmacogenetic polymorphisms of the CYPs, most responsible for drug metabolism, will lead to a lower risk of drug toxicity, increased drug efficacy, and drug dose optimization.

Congenital heart abnormalities are rare and most often occur separately. These structural and functional disorders can cause a range of diseases that vary in severity, from mild or even asymptomatic to severe and life-threatening. Occasionally these conditions could cause no symptoms in which case they are found accidentally when the patient is examined for other reasons or during autopsy. In this article we present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with triple congenital heart anomaly detected in two consecutive tests performed in pre-hospital medical care.

Presents the main design issues of a distance learning course on Business on the Internet. The instructional design is based on a learner-centered strategy which allows learners to construct their own knowledge while solving real business problems and transferring their knowledge to other learners. (AEF)

Copyright of General Medicine / Obsta Medicina is the property of Medical University - Sofia, Central Medical Library and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper considers a method for optimization of piezoelectric voltage of vibrating microelectromechanical energy harvester with respect to the output voltage. The investigated vibrating elements are cantilevers and doubly clamped beams with piezoelectric thin film layers. Interdigitated electrodes are disposed on the top surface of piezoelectric layers in order to increase the efficiency of the energy harvester. The non-uniform distribution of piezoelectric charges along vibrating structure is a result of non-uniform distribution of bending stress. The aim of optimization method described in the paper is to determine the optimal length and position of the piezoelectric interdigitated electrodes on the surface of the elastic beam so that the maximum output voltage to be obtained at minimal possible lengths of the piezoelectric layers. The considered optimization method can be used for design of hybrid piezoelectric energy harvesters with combined vibrating and triboelectric action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the adult population in the world, and atherosclerosis is their major cause. It is due to the complexity of many endogenous and exogenous etiological (risk) factors among which CRP. Its high levels predict the risk of atherosclerosis and suggest poor prognosis. The relationship between CRP and atherogenesis is being investigated intensively but it is still debatable whether CRP is an active participant in atherogenesis or simply „witnesses“ the process. There are specific differences in the physiological functions of CRP, which make it difficult to create a suitable animal model for a detailed study of its role in atherogenesis. There are also geographical, racial and gender differences in CRP levels. Through prospective studies and detailed experiments, indisputable evidence has now been gathered that CRP is an important and proactive mediator in atherogenesis, causing numerous pro-atherogenic effects. Elevated CRP values have been associated with many other disturbance and diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, obesity, dilated cardiomyopathy and neurodegenerative diseases. The use of a number of antiinflammatory, antilipemic and antihypertensive drugs reduces CRP levels and reduces cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature dependences of the heat capacity of cobalt manganites NdM CoMnO (M = Li, Na, and K) are studied by means of dynamic calorimetry in the range of 298.15−673 K. It is found that λ-shaped effects are observed on the C ~ f ( T) curve of cobalt manganites, due probably to second order phase transitions. Based on the experimental data, equations for the temperature dependences of the heat capacity of cobalt manganite are derived with allowance for the temperatures of phase transitions. The values of thermodynamic functions Н°( T)- Н°(298.15), S°( T), and Ф( T) are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data about coffee consumed world-wide are somewhat contradictory. A conservative estimate, suggests a number of around 8 mln tones per year . Its production involves a comparable amount of by-products, mainly pulp, husks, skins and spent coffee grounds. Thus, a sustainable coffee industry requires the development of methods for utilization of coffee by-products. Among these, the preparation of renewable fuel additives (e.g. biodiesel) and carbon adsorbents is a promising alternative to the eventual dumping of biogenic substances, harmful to the environment. Extraction of coffee by-products is the first step towards their utilization. This work presents results on laboratory extraction of spent coffee grounds (SCG) with different solvents, discussed in the context of the preparation of renewable fuel additives. The aim of the present study is to develop a procedure for extraction of coffee residues, suitable for production of biofuels and adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic (Cu, Cn) and intermetallic (Cu-Sn) nanoparticles have been synthesized through a chemical reduction in water solution of corresponding chloride salts with NaBH4 as a reducing agent at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Cu and Cu-Sn nanoparticles have been also prepared by a template technique in the pores of carbon foam (C-foam) used as a support. Solutions of CuCl2.2H2O and SnCl2.2H2O salts with different concentrations have been used for the Cu and Sn nanoparticles syntheses, while for the Cu-Sn nanoparticles synthesis salt solution mixtures with a different mass ratio of Cu: Sn (60:40, 50:50, 40:60) have been used. A commercial carbon foam (C-foam) preliminarily modified with the precursor salt solutions has been used as a support. These obtained nanoparticles, including those by the template technique have been investigated by electron microscopy. The SEM images have shown the existence of particles regular and also irregular by shape. The carried out IR spectroscopy analysis has given information about the nanopatricle surface state and chemical bonds created in the atom groups formed on their surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter, which is widely distributed throughout the mammalian brain including hypothalamus. Immunohistochemical research have reported GABA-ergic neurons and GABAA-receptors on the neurons of the preoptic area of anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of GABAA-ergic substances on thermoregulation in rats. METHODS: We have studied the effects of GABAA-active agents, muscimol and diazepam on core body temperature in rats after systemic administration (intraperitoneally, i.p.). Body temperature was measured with thermistor probes (TX8) and monitored on multichannel recorder THERMEX 16. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal injection of muscimol or diazepam has produced dose-dependent hypothermia. Hypothermic effect of muscimol was inhibited by pretreatment of bicuculline, a competitive antagonist of GABAA-receptors. Diazepam induced hypothermia was antagonized by pretreatment of animals with flumazenil, a competitive antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia induced by muscimol or diazepam suggest involvement of GABAA receptors in the processes of thermoregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]