Report on Patients with Non Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia Major Being Treated with Hydroxyurea Attending the Thalassemia Research Center,Sari, Mazandaran Province,Islamic Republic of Iran in 2013

Hydroxyurea (HU) has been used to treat patients with non transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major (β-TM) at the Thalassemia Research Center, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Islamic Republic of Iran since 1996. This study was performed to summarize and to share our experience. Medical records of all patients with β-thalassemia (β-thal) attending our center were reviewed in January 2013. Definition of β-TM was based on complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis, and for some patients, by the amplification refractory mutation system-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ARMS-RFLP) method. Patients who had not been transfused before, or had only occasionally had blood transfusions, were selected. Age at first blood transfusion, initial HU therapy and time of study was extracted from the records. The lowest Hb level before using HU and the last Hb value when on the HU regimen as well as the difference, were reported. Number of saved packed red cells was calculated according to duration of HU use and the usual needs of the patients. Hydroxyurea was discontinued before a planned pregnancy and during gestation and lactation periods. Hydroxyurea was discontinued for male patients willing to reproduce. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. It was consistent with 1856 patients/year, and 3542 units of blood were saved. We found HU to be effective and safe in treating patients with non transfusion-dependent β-TM. We strongly recommend HU therapy.     

Effect of diallyl trisulfide-rich garlic oil on blood coagulation and plasma activity of anticoagulation factors in rats.

Diallyl trisulfide (DAT)-rich garlic oil was fed to Sprague-Dawley rats and the effects of this DAT-rich garlic oil on bleeding time, clotting time and anticoagulation factors were examined. Garlic oil supplement at 5 or 50mg garlic oil/kg bodyweight significantly prolonged bleeding time and thrombin time, and enhanced anticoagulation factor activity, such as antithrombin III and protein C (P<0.05). These results suggested that the anticoagulant action of DAT-rich garlic oil was due to inhibition and/or inactivation of thrombin. In addition, DAT-rich garlic oil benefits blood anticoagulation factors, which might further prevent the development of thrombus formation. However, the intake of garlic oil at high dose significantly increased plasma fibrinogen concentration (P<0.05), and affected the levels of several hematological parameters such as erythrocyte count, hemoglobin and platelets (P<0.05). The adverse effect of high doses of garlic oil might further influence the hemostatic balance. Therefore, the concentration of DAT-rich garlic oil should be carefully considered in its application. Supplementation of garlic oil at 5mg/kg bodyweight has anticoagulation effect in this animal study.     

Toxicological assessment of a particulate yeast (1,3/1,6)-beta-D-glucan in rats.

This study investigates the toxicity of WGP 3-6, a yeast-derived beta-glucan ingredient, during single-dose acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies in rats. For the acute study, Fisher-344 rats were administered WGP 3-6 via gavage at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, and any evidence of toxicity was monitored over a 14-day period. WGP 3-6 was well tolerated, indicating that the LD(50) value is greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. For the sub-chronic study, Fisher-344 rats (10/sex/group) were randomly allocated to receive daily gavage treatment with WGP 3-6 at doses of 0, 2, 33.3, or 100 mg/kg body weight. Control and high-dose satellite recovery groups of each sex also were included. Full toxicological monitoring and endpoint investigations were performed throughout and upon completion of the study. No negative effects on animal weights or food consumption attributable to WGP 3-6 were evident at any dose. In addition, no mortality, clinical pathology, functional/behavioral, microscopic, or gross observations indicating toxicity were observed. Sporadic changes in some biochemical and hematological parameters were observed; however, since the effects were within the physiological ranges in historical controls, were not dose-responsive, or were not observed in both sexes, they were determined to be of no toxicological significance. In conclusion, no adverse or toxic effects were observed after subchronic oral administration of 2, 33.3, or 100mg/kg body weight/day of WGP 3-6 in Fisher-344 rats, and therefore, a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 100 mg/kg body weight/day, the highest dose tested, was determined.     

补肾生血颗粒治疗慢性肾功能衰竭肾性贫血临床研究

肾性贫血是慢性肾功能衰竭（chronic renal failuer，CRF）的常见并发症之一。属继发性贫血，严重影响患者生存质量。一般认为其发生机理与肾脏分泌促红细胞生成素（EPO）减少及尿毒症毒素潴留有关。而营养不良、铁缺乏、炎症、脂质过氧化反应、铝中毒等亦与肾性贫血相关。其治疗目前主要是依靠补充外源性EPO治疗。     

One-year chronic toxicity of madder color in F344 rats – Induction of preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions in the kidney and liver

To evaluate chronic toxicity of madder color (MC), a natural food colorant extracted from the roots of Rubia tinctorum L., F344 rats were fed diet containing 0%, 0.2%, 1.0% or 5.0% MC for 53 weeks. Hematological changes including anemia and serum biochemical alterations indicating hepatotoxicity were demonstrated at 5.0% in both sexes. Relative weights of the liver were significantly increased from 1.0% in both sexes, and those of the kidney were significantly increased from 1.0% in males and from 0.2% in females. Histopathologically, atypical renal tubule hyperplasias were increased at 1.0% or higher in both sexes in association with increase of cell proliferative activity in the tubules. A renal cell adenoma was observed in a male rat receiving 5.0% MC. In addition, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive liver cell foci were significantly increased at 5.0% in both sexes. These results indicate that MC has chronic toxicity targeting kidney, liver and blood cells. Moreover, the results strongly suggest that MC may have the carcinogenic potential in the kidney and the liver.     

Significance of inspecting serum VEGF during therapy of tumor

Neovascularization has been shown to be essential for the growth of solid tumor. Several angiogenic factors have been identified, such as transforming growth factors, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived endothelial cell factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Because of its ability to increase the permeability of microvasculature to circulating macromolecules and to stimulate tumor angiogenesis. VEGF is considered to play important role in neovascularization and distant…     

景蜂胶囊对小鼠的耐缺氧作用

目的研究景蜂胶囊对小鼠耐缺氧作用的影响。方法连续给予小鼠不同剂量的景蜂胶囊10 d,末次给药1 h后,进行密闭缺氧、亚硝酸钠中毒缺氧和急性脑缺血性缺氧实验。以存活时间、血红蛋白(Hb)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性为指标,观察景蜂胶囊对小鼠耐缺氧作用的影响。结果景蜂胶囊可延长小鼠在不同缺氧条件下的存活时间,增加小鼠Hb的含量,抑制脂质过氧化反应并增加血清中SOD活性。结论景蜂胶囊具有提高小鼠耐缺氧能力的作用。     

新生儿贫血的多因素分析

目的探索新生儿胎龄、抽血量、出生血红蛋白（Hb）值对新生儿贫血的影响。方法收集该院妇儿科2002年9月~2004年9月出生且出现贫血的新生儿81例，排除一些相关因素的影响后，用多元回归方法分析贫血新生儿最低Hb与胎龄、抽血量、出生Hb的关系。结果贫血新生儿最低Hb与胎龄、出生Hb存在正相关，相关系数分别为3．648、0．061，P均〈0．05；新生儿最低Hb与抽血量成负相关，相关系数一0．263。P〈0．05。结论胎龄愈小、出生Hb愈低，则新生儿贫血程度愈严重；抽血量愈多，贫血愈严重。     

用回归法消除溶血对总蛋白测定的影响

目的溶血对总蛋白（TP）测定结果有正干扰作用，但干扰的具体情况及干扰有无规律性目前还没有多少人研究，该文旨在探讨出溶血对总蛋白测定的影响规律。方法用正常人混合血清将血红蛋白（Hb）标准液配制成系列标准溶血标本和一个非溶血标本（即混合血清标本），用双缩脲法测定这些溶血标本和非溶血标本的血清总蛋白，得出不同浓度溶血标本的TP增高值，然后用回归法对数据进行处理。结果发现不同程度的溶血对总蛋白测定结果的影响呈明显的正比例关系．相关系数r=0．9998。结论在日常工作中，碰到溶血标本．就可以用回归法很方便地消除溶血对总蛋白测定的影响，无需重新抽血测定。     

Hb Leiden-beta (0) thalassemia in a Chinese with severe hemolytic anemia

The first case of Hb Leiden (alpha2beta2 6 or 7 Glu---O)-beta (0) thalassemia in a young patient with chronic severe hemolytic anemia, which improved after splenectomy, is described. His parents were Chinese. The patient's blood showed no Hb A or normal beta chains when no blood transfusion was given. His mother was heterozygous for beta(0) thalassemia, and his father and brother had a trait for the unstable Hb Leiden. The Hb Leiden level of the father was 22.6% and that of the brother was 19.3%. It is probable that the abnormal hemoglobin in this Chinese family resulted from an independent gene mutation, unrelated to the one found in 2 Caucasian families reported earlier.