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PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the presence of bcl-2 protein in the serum of patients with viral hepatitis and to find out if there is any correlation between bcl-2 protein levels and cellular oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis. METHODS: This study was carried out on 130 patients with viral hepatitis, 70 with chronic hepatitis, 30 with liver cirrhosis and 30 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in addition to 20 healthy persons as the control. Serum bcl-2 protein was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant enzymes (GSH, GSH-px, GR and SOD) were measured using spectrophotometric analysis. RESULTS: bcl-2 protein level was significantly elevated in the serum of HCC, cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis groups as compared to control group. There were significant positive correlations between higher bcl-2 protein level and viral hepatitis markers (HBsAg, anti-HCV antibodies) in HCC and cirrhotic patients as compared to chronic hepatitis group. An increase in oxidative stress markers (MDA, NO) and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH and GSH-px) were observed. However, there was a negative correlation between bcl-2 levels and GR in all studied patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: The release of oxidative free radicals, deficiency in antioxidant enzymes and the expression of bcl-2 protein might play a role in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis. The ability to measure bcl-2 protein in the serum could be useful as a prognostic marker of cancer patients.

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Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing technique was used to label and localize motor and sensory neurons innervating tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus muscles of the anterior leg compartment of the rat. The tibialis anterior sensory neurons were located in the ipsilateral L4 and L5 spinal ganglia. Cells of origin of tibialis anterior motor endings were also found in the ipsilateral ventral horn of the same cord segments as the labeled sensory ganglia. Extensor hallucis longus sensory neurons were located in L4 to L6 spinal ganglia, while its labeled motor neurons were located in L4 and L5 spinal cord segments. The motor neurons innervating the extensor digitorum longus muscle were located in L4 to L6 spinal cord segments; its sensory neurons were previously localized. All labeled motor and sensory neurons were present on the ipsilateral side. Almost all motoneurons innervating the 3 muscles were present in the dorsolateral nucleus of the ventral horn.

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The formation of the oesophageal hiatus was studied in 50 human diaphragms in which crura and the median arcuata ligaments were carefully dissected and their fibres were carefully traced to the central tendon. In 98% of the cases the right crus was divided into a medial, a middle and a lateral bundle. In 90% the left crus was divided into a medial and a lateral bundle. The medial bundle of the right crus was a constant component in bounding the hiatus. The undivided crura did not contribute to the borders of the hiatus. 5 variations in the formation of the hiatus were observed. In 62% the hiatus was bounded by the 2 crura mainly the right; the left crus shared only in the formation of the posterior border. In 10% the 2 crura contributed equally to the formation of the hiatus; the hiatus was formed by the medial bands. In 10% the hiatus was formed exclusively by the right crus. In 2% the hiatus was formed exclusively by the left crus. In 16% crura had no direct relation to the hiatus except posteriorly and the hiatus was bounded by a V-shaped band from the median arcuate ligament, this finding has not been previously reported. The functional significance of these variations was discussed.

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The acidic ether extract of leaves collected in October from dormant strawberry plants outdoors at Invergowrie inhibited coleoptile growth in germinating wheat embryos. On paper chromatograms developed either with isopropanol: ammonium hydroxide: water (10:1:1) or isopropanol: 1% ammonium hydroxide (4:1), the zones possessing inhibitory activity had Rf's 0.6-0.7 and 0.6-1 respectively. Fractions possessing comparable activity were eluted from granular animal charcoal columns by 10% and 20% acetone in water, and, on further purification, eluted only by 10% ethyl acetate in chloroform from columns of celitesilicic acid (2:1). The inhibitor in this fraction was identified as (+)-abscisic acid (abscisin II, dormin) by spectropolarimetry.