Iron deficiency down-regulates the Akt/TSC1-TSC2/mammalian Target of Rapamycin signaling pathway in rats and in COS-1 cells

Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most commonly known forms of nutritional deficiencies. Low body iron is thought to induce neurologic defects but may also play a protective role against cancer development by cell growth arrest. Thus, ID may affect cellular pathways controlling cell growth and proliferation, the mechanism of which is still not fully understood. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt and its downstream target, the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), is known to play a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth and survival. Therefore, we hypothesized that Akt/mTOR pathway could be influenced by ID. Three-week-old male Wistar-strain rats were divided into 3 groups and the 2 groups had free access to a control diet (C group) or an iron-deficient diet (D group). The third group (PF group) were pair-fed the control diet to the mean intake of the D group. After 4 weeks, rats were killed and their brains were sampled. In separate experiments, COS-1 cells were cultured with or without the iron chelator deferoxamine. Western blots of brain samples and COS-1 lysates were used to analyze the expression and phosphorylation state of Akt, TSC2, mTOR, and S6 kinase proteins implicated in the Akt/mTOR pathway. Using 2 different ID models, we show for the first time that iron deficiency depresses Akt activity in rats and in COS-1 cells, leading to a decrease in mTOR activity.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

酸碱对药所含酸碱性成分共煎形成复合物的结构研究

目的:研究乌头碱与甘草酸、乌头碱与大黄酸、小檗碱与大黄酸、麻黄碱与甘草酸在煎煮条件下形成的大分子复合物的结构.方法:采用X-射线光谱仪测定反应物及反应产物的结合能,用量子化学密度泛函理论计算各反应产物的基态电荷分布情况.结果:4对化合物中乌头碱与甘草酸、乌头碱与大黄酸、小檗碱与大黄酸的结合能在反应前后发生了改变,酸性成分的分子结构中特征性原子有较高正电荷,碱性成分的分子结构中特征性原子有较高负电荷.结论:4对化合物中乌头碱与甘草酸、乌头碱与大黄酸、小檗碱与大黄酸结合形成复合物.麻黄碱与甘草酸未形成复合物.     

Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of pine pollen extract in vitro

To determine the medicinal properties of pine pollen, the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of pine pollen extract (PPE) were investigated. PPE displayed a strong free radical scavenger activity on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. It was observed also that the antioxidant activity, measured by the ferric thiocyanate method, increased with the addition of PPE to the linoleic acid emulsion system. PPE was also found to inhibit significantly the amount of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls formed from liver homogenate. Like the antioxidant activity, the reducing power of PPE was excellent. Thereafter, the study investigated the effects of PPE in modulating the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the effect of PPE on interleukin (IL)‐1β‐induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in the human synovial sarcoma cell line, SW982. PPE was found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor‐α, IL‐1 and IL‐6 in LPS‐activated macrophages. Treatment with PPE at 10 µg/mL significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited IL‐1β‐induced MMPs (MMP‐1 and ‐3) production in SW982 cells. IL‐1β‐induced JNK activation was inhibited by PPE (10 µg/mL), whereas p38 and ERK1/2 were not affected. These findings suggest that pine pollen is a potential antioxidant and beneficial for inflammatory conditions through down‐regulation of JNK and MMPs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Complication of Stellate Ganglion Block?

Abstract: Stellate ganglion block is commonly used to treat the sympathetically maintained pain which may occur in one‐third of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1. A complication that followed a single block and presented a diagnostic dilemma for the ophthalmologist is reported.     

Differentiation of Motor Activity of Normally Active and Hyperactive Boys in Schools: Some Preliminary Results

All non-task-related body movements during school hours were listed in 11 normally active and 12 hyperactive boys. The mean number of movements was 48 +/- 7 per 45 minutes in the normal actives and 79 +/- 16 per 45 minutes in the hyperactives. The rather monotonous increment and decrement of motor activity during the 4-hr registration period was noticed only in hyperactive boys. These results could be a consequence of a circadian rhythm, as there was independence of type of school hours and of teacher personality. The cyclical level of activity in hyperactive boys was sometimes in the range of the normal actives.     

Seasonal variation in the content of a febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixture in aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hydrangea macrophylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otaksa</Emphasis>, with special reference to its antimalarial activity

Febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixtures extracted from the leaves and buds of Hydrangea macrophylla var. Otaksa, collected during different months, in Japan, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Leaves collected during the flowering season, namely from June to August, contained 0.16–0.31 mg/g of the alkaloid mixture, whereas those collected from September to December had less than 0.03 mg/g of the mixture. However, extracts of buds harvested from October to February contained a consistently larger amount (more than 0.49 mg/g) of the alkaloids. Hot-water extracts from the leaves and buds collected during different seasons were evaluated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium yoelii 17XL in mice. The extract of leaves collected in August demonstrated high antimalarial activity, and all mice that received the extract survived the infection. In contrast, the extract of leaves collected in December showed little activity. The extract of buds collected in December cleared parasites, but with subsequent mortality to mouse. The present results show that the amount of antimalarial agent—febrifugine and isofebrifugine mixture—in H. macrophylla var. Otaksa is both part- and season-dependent, suggesting that the choice of plant parts and their harvesting season are important factors worth considering in the pharmacological use of medicinal plants.     

42例室性心动过速治疗的临床分析

本文介绍了42例室性心动过速的临床资料和特点,讨论了早期后除极与室性心动过速的关系,并探讨各型室速的治疗。     

放线菌素23-21对裸小鼠人鼻咽癌细胞系移植瘤和人胃癌细胞系移植瘤的抑制作用

放线菌素23-21属放线菌素类抗癌抗生素,由浅黄色链霉菌产生,该菌从中国福州土壤样品中分离得到。采用裸小鼠人鼻咽癌细胞系(CNE-2Z)和人胃癌细胞系(MGc-803)两种移植模型观察了放线菌素23-21的作用。放线菌素23—21 50μg/kg,对CNE-27移植瘤和MGc803移植瘤的抑制率分别为58.4%(P<0.05)和68.7%(P<0.05)。肿瘤生长曲线显示,治疗组肿瘤生长缓慢。电镜检查,治疗组瘤细胞可见核仁分离和微球体形成。提示放线菌素23-21可能有抑制核仁rRNA合成的作用。在有效剂量下,未见重要脏器病理改变。     

唾液富组蛋白5抗白念珠菌作用实验性研究

目的探讨不同浓度的富组蛋白5（histidine rich protein5，HRPs5）在体外杀灭白念珠菌孢子、芽管的作用及抑制孢子形成芽管的作用。方法将一定数量的孢子和芽管分别与不同浓度的HRPs5混合培养后，置于400倍的倒置显微下观察菌落数，得出杀孢子率、杀芽管率和抑制孢子不形成芽管率。结果当25μml或更高浓度的HRPs5和白色念珠菌孢子作用后，可使90％以上的孢子丧失活力；100μml的HRPs5和白色念珠菌芽管作用后，可使90％以上的孢子丧失活力；400μg／ml的HRPs5和白色念珠菌孢子作用后，可使100％孢子受到抑制而不形成芽管。而50μg／ml的HRPs5对白色念珠菌孢子形成芽管仅有轻微的抑制作用。结论HRPs5在体外具有较强杀灭白念珠菌孢子、芽管的作用及抑制孢子形成芽管的作用，且随着HRPs5浓度的升高其作用愈强。