蝎毒的热增敏研究

目的探讨蝎毒对热疗的增敏作用及作用机理。方法将Ｌｅｗｉｓ肺癌细胞接种在ＮＩＨ小鼠的右后大腿皮下，当肿瘤平均直径达到６ｍｍ时开始实验，观察蝎毒（０．６ｍｇ／ｋｇ）、热疗（４３℃２５分钟）及其联合治疗组的肿瘤直径倍增时间（ＭＤＤＴ）、生存时间（ＡＳＴ）、病理改变和细胞凋亡变化。结果对照组、蝎毒组、热疗组和蝎毒热疗组的ＭＤＤＴ分别为１０．２±０．３４天、１１．５±０．３８天、１２．７±０．４１天和１４．１±０．４２天，各治疗组均能延长荷瘤小鼠的生存期，引起肿瘤坏死，诱发细胞凋亡，尤以联合治疗效果明显。结论蝎毒不仅有抗肿瘤作用，而且对热疗有增敏作用，诱发细胞凋亡是其抗肿瘤的主要机制之一。     

慢性肺心病急性发作期血清酶的变化

目的：研究慢性肺心病急性发作期患者谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、羟基丁酸脱氢酶（HBDH）、磷酸肌激酶（CPK）的变化。方法：采用酶催化L－丙氨酸与α－酮戊二酸法测定ALT；采用酶催化天冬氨酶与α－酮戊二酸法测定AST；采用酶催化α－丁酸与NADH的反应法测定HBDH；采用酶催化磷酸肌酸与ADP反应法测定CPK；采用Bayer550血气分析仪测定动脉血氧分压。结果：肺心病急性期患者血氧分压显著低于肺心病缓解期患者（P＝0．0001）。肺心病急性期患者血清ALT、AST、LDH、HBDH均显著高于肺心病缓解期患者（P＝0．026，P＝0．040，P＝0．003，P＝0．0001），而CPK差异无显著性（P＝0．107）。结论：肺心病的急性发作可能造成机体ALT、AST、LDH、HBDH的升高。血氧分压的降低可能是这些指标升高的原因。     

Platelet transfusions in the neonatal intensive care unit:factors predicting which patients will require multiple transfusions

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that recombinant thrombopoietin (rTPO) will increase platelet production in thrombocytopenic neonates. However, the target populations of neonates most likely to benefit should be defined. Studies suggest that rTPO will not elevate the platelet count until 5 days after the start of treatment. Therefore, the neonates who might benefit from rTPO are those who will require multiple platelet transfusions for more than 5 days. This study was designed to find means of prospectively identifying these patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A historic cohort study of all patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the University of Florida who received platelet transfusions from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1998, was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 1389 patients admitted to the NICU during the study period, 131 (9.4%) received platelet transfusions. Seventeen were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 114 patients, 55 (48%) received one transfusion and 59 (52%) received more than one transfusion (21 had >4). None of the demographic factors examined predicted multiple platelet transfusions. However, two clinical conditions did; liver disease and renal insufficiency. Neonates who received one platelet transfusion had a relative risk of death 10.4 times that in neonates who received none (p = 0.0001). Neonates who received >4 platelet transfusions had a risk of death 29.9 times that in those who received no transfusions (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: NICU patients with liver disease or renal insufficiency who receive one platelet transfusion are likely to receive additional transfusions. Therefore, these patients constitute a possible study population for a Phase I/II rTPO trial.     

Pathogenic molecular mechanisms in an animal model of fulminant hepatic failure: rabbit hemorrhagic viral disease

In this study we sought to determine whether molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatic failure are present in rabbits experimentally infected with rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as bilirubin concentration, were found to be significantly increased 36 hours after infection. Infected animals also demonstrated significant decreases in factor VII activity, in the Fischer index, and in the deterioration of prothrombin time. The concentration of reduced glutathione was significantly decreased 36 hours after infection, and we noted a marked increase in the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione. Infected animals showed progressive decreases in liver activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and c-met was found to be progressively reduced from 24 hours after infection, during which time we detected no modification in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha. TFG-beta 1 was overexpressed 24 and 36 hours after infection, and 36 hours after infection we detected a significant increase in TNF-alpha mRNA levels. Experimental RHDV infection also induced marked activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and a significant increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels from 24 hours after infection. Data obtained from this animal model support its usefulness in the investigation of potential novel therapeutical modalities aimed at neutralizing reactive oxygen species and hepatocyte growth inhibitors or enhancing hepatocyte responsiveness to mitogens.     

常规试剂中加入磷酸吡哆醛(PPA)测定天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)催化活性浓度的可行性研究

目的探讨在常规试剂中加入PfIA测定AST催化活性浓度的可行性。方法用加与不加PPA两种常规方法分别比较肝脏病人、心脏病人、透析病人及其表观健康人群血清AST活性。同时对两种常规方法在参考范围、线性范围、干扰物、精密度、试剂稳定性方面进行了比较。结果无论加与不加PPA，健康男性组和女性组相比较均有显著差别。加入PPA使健康人AST升高4．0％，与不加PPA相比没有显著差别。加入PPA，急性肝炎、慢性肝炎、肝硬化和肝癌病人的AST分别升高18．1％、23．2％、18．2％和28．3％，与不加PPA有显著差别。加入PPA，透析后病人AST升高27．6％，与不加PPA相比无显著差异。加入PfIA，心绞痛病人AST升高5．6％，与不加PPA相比没有显著差异；加入PPA，AMI病人AST升高37．2％，与不加PPA相比有显著差异。AST加与不加PPA的常规方法在参考范围、线性范围、干扰物、精密度、试剂稳定性方面无显著差异。结论无论男性还是女性，加入PPA其AST参考范围仍然在40U／L以内，与目前常规方法的参考范围无差别。因此，我们认为可以推广加PPA的常规方法。     

Comparison of biliary atresia with and without intracranial hemorrhage

Background/Purpose

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe complication of biliary atresia (BA). We aimed to compare the clinical data of BA patients with and without ICH.

Oral toxicological studies of black soybean (Glycine max) hull extract: Acute studies in rats and mice, and chronic studies in mice

Black soybean (Glycine max) has been used for traditional medicine and food in Asian countries, but safety of its hull has not been studied. We conducted acute and chronic oral toxicity studies. For the acute study, an extract of black soybean hull (BE; 2.5 g/kg body weight) was administered singly by intragastric intubation to Sprague–Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. There was no death or significant decrease in body weight in rats and mice, and the oral LD₅₀ of BE was >2.5 g/kg body weight. In the chronic study, BE was administered at dietary levels of 0% (control), 2.0%, and 5.0% to male and female C57BL/6 mice for 26 weeks. No mortality or toxicologically significant clinical changes were observed through the experimental period. Although body weights, as well as abdominal fat, blood levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in 5.0% males were significantly lower than that in control and 2.0% groups, these changes were considered not to be adverse. Hematology and histopathological observation revealed no toxicologically significant changes. The no-observed adverse-effect-level of BE was estimated to be 5.0% in the diet (5074.1 mg/kg body weight/day for males and 7617.9 mg/kg body weight/day for females).     

Hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of sun, sulphited-dried apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and its kernel against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats

The present study was carried to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of sun, sulphited-dried apricot and its kernel against ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The hepatopreventive and antioxidant potential of the plant’s supplementations were evaluated by measuring level of serum liver damage marker enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT and LDH), antioxidant defense systems (GSH, GR, SOD, GST and GPX) and MDA content in various tissues of rats. Eight experimental groups: I (control), II (20% ethanol), III (ethanol + 15% sun-dried apricot), IV (ethanol + 30% sun dried). V (ethanol + 15% sulphited-dried), VI (ethanol + 30% sulphited-dried), VII (ethanol + 15% kernel) and VIII (ethanol + 30% kernel). According to the results, the levels of serum enzymes increased significantly in the II group as compared to those of I group, but they decreased in the III, IV, V and VI groups as compared to those of II group. Also, administration of sun and sulphited-dried apricot supplementation restored the ethanol-induced imbalance between MDA and antioxidant system towards near normal particularly in tissues but not its kernel. It is concluded that apricot has a hepatoprotective effect in rats with ethanol, probably acting by promoting the antioxidative defense systems.     

One year oral Toxicity of D-004, a lipid extract from Roystonea regia fruits, in Sprague Dawley rats

D-004, a lipid extract of royal palm (Roystonea regia) fruits that contains a reproducible mixture of fatty acids, has been shown to prevent testosterone and phenylephrine-induced prostate hyperplasia in rodents. This study investigated the long-term oral toxicity of D-004 in rats. Rats from both sexes were randomized into four groups (20 rats sex/group): a control and three treated with D-004 (800, 1500 or 2000 mg/kg/day, respectively). At study completion, rats were sacrificed under anaesthesia. Determinations of blood biochemical and haematological parameters and organ weight were done. Also, necropsy and histopathological studies were performed. Four of 160 rats died before study completion. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed throughout the study. Food and water consumption, bodyweight, blood biochemical and haematological parameters, organ weight ratios and histopathological findings were similar in control and treated groups. The histological lesions found in treated animals are commonly present in this specie and strain according to literature and our historical data. In conclusion, long-term (12 months) oral treatment of rats with D-004 (800–2000 mg/kg/day) did not show evidences of D-004-related toxicity under our conditions. The highest dose tested (2000 mg/kg) was a no-observed adverse effect level in this study.