Nutritive value and haemolytic properties (in vitro) of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina on human erythrocyte

BACKGROUND: Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) is popularly consumed in many homes in Nigeria as a vegetable in soup preparation, while the infusion is used in folk medicine in the treatment of malaria fever. In this study, fresh leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were subjected to abrasion (to remove the bitter taste) as is normally done in soup preparation, subsequently the nutrient, anti-nutrient and zinc bioavailability of the processed and unprocessed leaf were determined. The heamolytic effect of the leaf infusion on human erythrocytes (Genotype-SS, AS, AA) was also determined. RESULT: The study revealed that Vernonia amygdalina leaf has high protein (33.3%), fat (10.1%), crude fibre (29.2%), ash (11.7%), mineral (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn & Fe), phytate (1015.4mg/100g) and tannin (0.6%) content, while it contain low cyanide (1.1mg/kg). Abrasion of the leaf caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in both the nutrient and antinutrient content of the leaf except in carbohydrate where there was a significant increase (P<0.05) and Mg where there was no significant change (P>0.05). The result of the calculated [Ca][phytate]/ [Zn] molar ratio (the best index for the prediction of Zn bioavailability) indicated that the phytate content of both the processed and unprocessed Vernonia amygdalina leaf will not reduce the Zn content to a critical level (0.5mol./kg). Further studies on the leaf revealed that the infusion induced the haemolysis of human erythrocyte (In vitro). Human genotype-SS (1024) were highly susceptible to haemolysis induced by Vernonia amygdalina infusion, genotype-AS moderately susceptible (512) while genotype-AA (256) is highly resistant to haemolysis induced by the same infusion. CONCLUSION: Bitter leaf has high nutrient and antinutrient content, however, abrasion will bring about a significant decrease (P<0.05) in both. The infusion of the Vernonia amygdalina leaf induces the haemolysis of mammalian erythrocyte in vitro, with Human-SS having the highest susceptibility.     

Behavior of Lead and Zinc in Plasma,Erythrocytes, and Urine and ALAD in Erythrocytes following Intravenous Infusion of CaEDTA in Lead Workers

To evaluate the effect of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaEDTA) on concentrations of lead and zinc in plasma, erythrocytes, whole blood, and urine, we administered CaEDTA by intravenous infusion for 1 hr to seven lead workers with blood lead concentrations of 46-67μg/100 g (mean 54 μg/100 g). The plasma lead concentration (PPb) and the mobilization yield of lead in urine by CaEDTA were highest during the period between 1 and 2 hr after the infusion was started. In contrast, the lead concentration in erythrocytes (EPb) and in whole blood (BPb) remained unchanged during the 24 hr following infusion. Plasma zinc concentration (PZn) also fell rapidly following CaEDTA infusion; the decline was followed by a gradual rise in the zinc concentration in erythrocytes (EZn) without alteration in the zinc in whole blood. The mobilization yield of zinc in urine by CaEDTA (MZn) reached its highest level within 1 hr after the start of the infusion. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in erythrocytes gradually increased for 5 hr following CaEDTA infusion. These observations suggest that (1) PPb concentration is a more sensitive indicator of the body burden of chelatable lead than is either BPb or EPb; (2) MZn is mobilized mostly from plasma during the first several hours following the start of CaEDTA infusion, and the fall in PZn concentration following infusion is compensated first by a rise in EZn concentration and then by an immediate redistribution of zinc in other organs to the blood; and (3) Pb-inhibited ALAD activity is reactivated by the increased EZn during and shortly after CaEDTA infusion.     

Nutritional and haemolytic properties of eggplants (Solanum macrocarpon) leaves

Solanum macrocarpon (eggplant) leaves are used as soup condiment in Nigeria either in their processed or unprocessed forms. In this study, fresh leaves of eggplant were subjected to different conventional food processing techniques: soaking, blanching, abrasion with or without salt. The nutrients, antinutrients (phytate and cyanide), minerals (Ca and Zn), zinc bioavailability and haemolytic properties of the leaves were subsequently determined. The result of the study revealed that the unprocessed eggplant leaves had 4.3% protein, 0.6% fat, 1.4% crude fibre, 1.3% ash and 89.7% moisture content. The cyanide (2.0 mg/kg), phytate (40.4 mg/100 g), Ca (32.6 mg/kg) and Zn (8.2 mg/kg) were low. The various conventional food processing techniques cause a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the protein (3.2–3.9% ), fat (0.2–0.4%), cyanide (0.7–1.2 mg/kg), phytate (27.1–37.2 mg/100 g), zinc (3.4–5.7 mg/kg), calcium (12.0–18.2 mg/kg), the calculated [Ca]/[phytate] and [Ca][phytate]/[Zn] molar ratios, except soaked eggplant leaf, where there was no significant change in the protein, fat and phytate content. However, there was a significant increase (P>0.05) in the calculated [phytate]/[Zn] molar ratio of the processed eggplant leaf. The infusion of the eggplant leaf induced the haemolysis of human erythrocytes; blood type-SS (2048) were more susceptible to haemolysis than either AA (128) and AS (256). It was therefore concluded that the various conventional food processing techniques will significantly reduce the nutrient and antinutrient content of eggplant leaves, without adversely affecting the estimated Zn bioavailability to a critical level. Furthermore, the leaf infusion had high haemolytic effect on genotype-SS in vitro.     

Duplicate diet study on fishing communities in the United Kingdom: mercury exposure in a "critical group"

Duplicates of a week's diet of 119 individuals from fishing communities in the areas around the northeastern Irish Sea, an area affected by the industrial discharge of mercury, have been examined for their total concentrations of mercury and selenium. (Fish consumption varied from 10–225 g/day with approximately 50% of each population having a consumption greater than 50 g/day.) Total weekly intakes of mercury varied between 4 and 443 μg/70 kg body wt, compared with intakes varying from 4 to 560 μg/70 kg body wt in 55 individuals from fishing communities in the southern reaches of the English Channel who acted as a reference group. Total weekly selenium intakes varied from 171 to 1272 μg/70 kg body wt in the northeastern Irish Sea, compared with 127 to 1685 μg/70 kg body wt in the reference area. The concentrations of total mercury in whole blood in the communities around the Irish Sea ranged from 0.04 to 2.58 μg/100 ml, compared with concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 1.21 μg/100 ml in the reference group. Concentrations of mercury in hair ranged from 0.1 to 11.3 mg/kg in the northeastern group (with the exception of a contaminated sample with a concentration of 60 mg/kg) and from 0.4 to 5.8 mg/kg in the reference group. On the basis of these studies it is concluded that there are unlikely to be any consumers of fish in the United Kingdom who are adversely affected by the presence of methyl mercury in fish.     

三唑磷杀虫剂的亚慢性毒性研究

[目的]研究三唑磷杀虫剂对大鼠的亚慢性毒性作用。[方法]设4组，每组13只雌性和13只雄性别大鼠连续13周分别以含三唑磷0、1、20、400mg/kg摄食染毒，观察大鼠一般状况、体重及饲料、水消耗状况，并于第7和13周分别取大鼠的尿分析尿常规指标，于第13周取大鼠的血分析血常规和生化指标；于染毒后第2、4、6、13周分别取大鼠的血液分析其全血胆碱酯酶活性；于染毒后第13周处死全部大鼠，取其脏器称重计算脏器系数，并通过病理组织检查分析对脏器的损害情况。[结果]各剂量组大鼠13周内均无死亡。400mg/kg剂量组大鼠的体重明显低于对照组，肝脏脏器系数以及血碱性磷酸酶、甘油三酯指标明显高于对照组。20、400mg/kg组的红细胞数和血红蛋白数明显低于对照组。胆碱酯酶活性4周时400mg/kg剂量组雌鼠抑制率37．1％，雄鼠抑制串29．2％；20mg/kg剂量组雌鼠抑制率15．7％，雄鼠抑制率13．2％；6周时1mg/kg剂量组雌鼠抑制率12％，雄鼠抑制率6．9％。[结论]大鼠13周连续摄入400mg/kg剂量的三唑磷对体重和肝脏有轻微影响。三唑磷最低观察到毒作用剂量为20mg/kg，最大未观察到毒作用剂量为1mg/kg。     

全血中铟的直接稀释-纵向加热石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定

目的 建立全血中铟的直接稀释处理-纵向加热石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪测定的定量方法.方法 取100 μl全血用0.2％硝酸(含0.1％曲拉通)溶液直接稀释5倍后,以含1.5mg/ml硝酸钯和3.5 mg/ml硝酸镁溶液为化学基体改进剂,经纵向加热石墨管(LHGA)的石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪测定全血中铟的含量.结果 方法最低检出限...     

方格星虫多糖对5.0Gy ^60Coγ辐射损伤小鼠的保护作用

目的观察方格星虫多糖对亚致死剂量60Coγ射线照射小鼠的保护作用。方法将60只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组、尼尔雌醇组及低（100 mg/kg·d）、中（200 mg/kg·d）、高（400 mg/kg·d）三个剂量方格星虫多糖组,每天一次灌胃给药,尼尔雌醇组照射前一天给予尼尔雌醇3.3 mg/kg灌胃,照射后0.5 h再次给予1.67 mg/kg尼尔雌醇灌胃。灌胃2 w后,除正常对照组外,各组均以剂量率为0.8 Gy/min的60Coγ射线全身照射一次,照射剂量为5.0 Gy。于辐照后3 d、14 d测定小鼠体重、外周血WBC,辐照后14 d测定小鼠胸腺指数,脾指数,骨髓细胞和脾细胞DNA含量,血清SOD和MDA含量。结果γ射线全身照射后第3天,方格星虫多糖低、中剂量组小鼠外周血WBC数明显升高（P〈0.05）。照后第14天,低剂量组小鼠外周血WBC数显著增高（P〈0.01）,中、高剂量组脾脏重量指数明显升高（P〈0.01和P〈0.05）,中剂量组脾脏DNA含量明显增高（P〈0.01）;低、中剂量组骨髓细胞DNA含量明显增高（P〈0.05）;低、中、高三个剂量组小鼠血清SOD活力明显增强,血清MDA含量明显下降（P〈0.05）。结论方格星虫多糖对亚致死剂量γ辐射损伤小鼠具有一定保护作用。     

Effect of glucose supply on fasting nitrogen excretion and effect of level and type of volatile fatty acid infusion on response to protein infusion in cattle

Two experiments were carried out on cattle nourished entirely by intragastric infusion, to determine the extent to which glucose or a glucose precursor determines the response to protein infusion in energy-undernourished animals. In order to determine the requirement for glucose in 1-year-old fasting cattle, glucose was infused at increments to supply 0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 g/kg metabolic body weight (W0.75) and the effects on plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and N excretion were measured. At 5.5 g glucose/kg W0.75 plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate was reduced to a basal level of 1.65 mmol/l and fasting N excretion reduced from 529 to 280 mg N/kg W0.75. No further reduction was observed with the higher level of 6.5 g glucose/kg W0.75. In the second trial, three steers were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square design and infused with a volatile fatty acid mixture of 65, 27 and 8 mol acetic, propionic and butyric acids respectively/100 mol, either at an estimated maintenance energy level of 450 kJ/kg W0.75 and supplying a calculated glucose equivalent level of 13.0 g/kg W0.75 (M1A), or at 1.5 x maintenance supplying a glucose equivalent of 20 g/kg W0.75 (M1.5A). Another mixture infused at the maintenance energy level contained 49, 43 and 8 mol acetic, propionic and butyric acids respectively/100 mol but with a glucose equivalent of 20 g/kg W0.75 (M1P). Casein was infused at each of these energy treatments to supply 0, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 2500 mg N/kg W0.75 daily, and N balance and blood metabolites were measured. N retention increased linearly (r 0.98) with casein infusion. The coefficients for N retention were 0.55, 0.57 and 0.64 for M1A, M1.5A and M1P respectively. The mean efficiency of N utilization was 0.58. The results suggest that provided the glucose need is met there is no relationship between energy supply and efficiency and level of protein retention. However, the results also indicate that glucose requirement in cattle may be higher than that previously observed in sheep.     

Lactose hydrolyzed milk.

Lactose intolerance is being reported in many populations. Yet, milk is highly nutritious and methods are being explored to use milk while limiting the lactose content. Thirty-two blacks 13-19 years of age were studied to determine a blood sugar rise with 8 ounces of the following test milks: 1) untreated whole milk (12 g/lactose); 2) 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk (1.2 g/lactose); and 3) 50% lactose hydrolyzed milk (6 g/lactose). In the 22 lactose malabsorbers, the peak blood sugars were: 1) untreated whole milk--4.4 mg/100 ml, 2) 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk--14.5 mg/100 ml, and 3) 50% lactose hydrolyzed milk--8.8 mg/100 ml. The 10 blacks with normal lactose absorption had a comparably high peak blood sugar on all three test milks. Differences between the blood sugar in the lactose absorbing and malabsorbing subjects when drinking untreated whole milk are significant (P less than 0.001); so are differences in the lactose malabsorbing subjects consuming untreated whole milk and 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk (P less than 0.001) as well as 50 and 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk. Symptoms were reported by three lactose malabsorbing subjects with untreated whole milk with two of the three symptomatic with 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk and none with 50% lactose hydrolyzed milk. No symptoms were reported by the lactose absorbers. Significant improvement in absorption with 90% lactose hydrolyzed milk is seen in low lactase subjects. Lactose hydrolyzed milk may serve as an important alternative for food planners wanting to provide milk to high risk populations with low lactase levels.     

奥拉西坦与血栓通注射液联合治疗脑梗死的疗效分析

目的探讨奥拉西坦与血栓通注射液联合治疗脑梗死的临床疗效。方法 80例脑梗死患者随机分组各40例,两组均使用血栓通注射液400mg加入生理盐水250ml静脉滴注,每日1次,疗程4周,阿司匹林100mg,1次/d,口服。治疗组在对照组基础上给予奥拉西坦注射液4g加入生理盐水250ml静脉滴注,1次/d,疗程4周。治疗前后分别进行神经功能缺损评分。结果治疗后神经功能缺损评分均明显低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;治疗后神经功能缺损评分,治疗组评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（χ2=3.69,P〈0.05）。不良反应无差异（χ2=0.74,P〉0.05）。结论血栓通与奥拉西坦注射液联合治疗脑梗死疗效显著,能有效改善患者的病情和生活质量,值得临床进一步推广应用。     

猕猴桃浓缩果汁中抗坏血酸在人体的利用

中华猕猴桃是我国的特产野果。鲜果中抗坏血酸含量一般在50～400mg/100g,最高可达2000mg/100g。制成浓缩汁后含量约为350～400mg/100ml。为观察其浓缩果汁中抗坏血酸的利用做了人体实验。受试者为9名男大学生,年龄19～23岁,平均体重56.0kg,身长166.6cm。实验分四期,第一及第三期为抗坏血酸饱和期;第二期为十天的对照期,食基础膳,以晶体抗坏血酸补足至每人每日摄入总量为75mg;第四期为十天的实验期,食基础膳,以猕猴桃汁补充抗坏血酸使每日每人摄入总量亦为75mg。对照期及实验期最后三天收集空腹1小时及24小时尿,最后2天取空腹血浆,皆用靛酚滴定还原型抗坏血酸含量。利用率系以实验期尿中排出率与对照期尿中排出率的比值而求得。算出猕猴桃汁中抗坏血酸利用率为94％。对照期及实验期最后三天24小时尿抗坏血酸排出分别为 20 1±1.63及18.8±1.22mg;空腹1小时尿分别为0.94±0.07及0.75±0.07mg。空腹血浆分别为0.83±0.04及0.81±0.02mg/100ml。分别作t试验,皆无显著性差异。并可看出每日供给75mg抗坏血酸可满足男大学生的需要,与以往报告基本一致。     

矽宁在人体内的药代动力学研究

建立了高效液相色谱法测定人体全血中矽宁浓度。该法最低检测浓度为０．０１ｍｇ／Ｌ，平均回收率为９６．３％±０．４％，日内及日间的精密度（ＣＶ）分别为５．９％及８．９％。全血中矽宁浓度在０．０４～１２００ｍｇ／Ｌ时呈良好的线性关系。健康男性志愿者７名，口服单剂量矽宁１００ｍｇ后，其药代动力学过程符合二室一次吸收模型。该药在消化道内吸收较快，滞后时间为０．１８８ｈ，血浆浓度达峰时间为０．６９５ｈ，全血消除相半衰期（Ｔ）为６．２６３ｈ，表现分布容积为０．３ｍＬ／ｋｇ。     

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) modulates cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-activated human blood thereby inhibiting NF-kappaB activity

Garlic is proposed to have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. This paper shows that garlic powder extracts (GPE) and single garlic metabolites modulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine levels in human whole blood. GPE-altered cytokine levels in human blood sample supernatants reduced nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity in human cells exposed to these samples. Pretreatment with GPE (100 mg/L) reduced LPS-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta from 15.7 +/- 5.1 to 6.2 +/- 1.2 micro g/L and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha from 8.8 +/- 2.4 to 3.9 +/- 0.8 micro g/L, respectively, whereas the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was unchanged. The garlic metabolite diallydisulfide (1-100 micro mol/L) also significantly reduced IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Interestingly, exposure of human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) cells to GPE-treated blood sample supernatants (10 or 100 mg/L) reduced NF-kappaB activity compared with cells exposed to untreated blood supernatants as measured by a NF-kappaB-driven luciferase reporter gene assay. Blood samples treated with extract obtained from unfertilized garlic (100 mg/L) reduced NF-kappaB activity by 25%, whereas blood samples treated with sulfur-fertilized garlic extracts (100 mg/L) lowered NF-kappaB activity by 41%. In summary, garlic may indeed promote an anti-inflammatory environment by cytokine modulation in human blood that leads to an overall inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in the surrounding tissue.     

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and fetal accretion

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22 : 6n-3) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is an essential constituent of membranes, particularly of the nervous system. Infants acquire DHA from their mothers, either prenatally via the placenta or postnatally in milk. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that maternal supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy enriches maternal and/or fetal DHA status. In a randomised, prospective, double-blind study 100 mothers received either fish-oil capsules containing 400 mg DHA/g (200 mg/d) (n 50), or placebo containing 810 mg oleic acid/g (400 mg/d) (n 50) from 15 weeks gestation until term. Venous blood samples were obtained from mothers at 15, 28 and 40 weeks, and from the umbilical cord at birth. Total fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes were analysed by GC-MS. There were no significant differences between maternal groups in baseline DHA, as a proportion of total fatty acids (g/100 g total fatty acids) or concentration (nmol/ml), in plasma and erythrocytes. DHA concentrations in plasma at 28 weeks (P=0.02) and erythrocytes at both 28 weeks (P=0.03) and term (P=0.02) were 20 % higher in supplemented mothers than the placebo group. DHA accounted for a higher proportion of total fatty acids in erythrocytes of supplemented mothers at 28 weeks (P=0.003) and term (P=0.01). There were no significant differences between groups in DHA (g/100 g total fatty acids or nmol/l) in cord blood. Maternal DHA status was maximal in mid-trimester and declined to term, at a lower rate in supplemented compared with unsupplemented mothers. Maternal DHA supplementation significantly increases maternal DHA status and limits the last trimester decline in maternal status, aiding preferential transfer of DHA from mother to fetus.     

石墨炉原子吸收分光光度法直接测定全血中锗

目的:建立石墨炉原子吸收分光光度法测定全血中锗的方法。方法:样品无需处理,以0.1%Tri-tonX-100/0.2%HNO3(v/v)为稀释液,以0.5 mg/ml硝酸钙为基体改进剂,对血液适当稀释后,直接用石墨炉原子吸收分光光度法测定锗的含量。结果:方法最低检出限(n=10)为0.75 mg/L,线性范围为0μg/L～190μg/L,相对标准偏差0.8%～3.2%,回收率为99.5%～103.6%。结论:方法具有简便、快速、回收率高、精密度高的优点,适用于全血中锗含量的测定。     

Lymph chylomicron composition and size are modified by level of intestinally infused cholesterol and triglyceride source in rats.

Mesenteric lymph chylomicrons were characterized following acute continuous intestinal infusion of triglyceride emulsions in rats. Emulsions were prepared using corn, olive or butter oils with graded doses of cholesterol (0, 3, 10, 20, 30, 60, 100 mg/g triglyceride) added to each. Chylomicron cholesterol content varied directly with dose of cholesterol infused, ranging from approximately 1.5% (by weight) with no added cholesterol to 5-10% at 100 mg cholesterol/g triglyceride. Minimum effective dose for increasing chylomicron cholesterol content (about twofold) was 20 mg/g triglyceride regardless of the triglyceride source. Esterified cholesterol accounted for most of the increase in chylomicron total cholesterol with corn oil infusion, whereas increases in the unesterified fraction accounted for 10-30% of the increase in total cholesterol during infusion of olive or butter oils. The effect of infused cholesterol on chylomicron lipid composition was dependent on triglyceride source: no effect on phospholipid:triglyceride ratio with corn and butter oils, but increased phospholipid:triglyceride ratio with olive oil at cholesterol doses greater than 20 mg/g triglyceride. Infusion of butter emulsions produced smaller chylomicrons than those produced during infusion of corn or olive oil emulsions.     

Intravenous and intrapulmonary administration of honey solution to healthy sheep: effects on blood sugar, renal and liver function tests, bone marrow function, lipid profile, and carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury

Safety of intravenous (i.v.) or intrapulmonary administration of different concentrations of honey and their effects on blood sugar, renal and liver function tests, bone marrow function, lipid profile, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage were studied. Healthy sheep of either sex, 6-8 months old, were assigned randomly into the following groups: sheep received i.v. infusion of 5% honey in normal saline at 10-day intervals for 50 days and were compared with sheep that received 5% dextrose; sheep received higher doses of honey (50 g of honey) by i.v. infusion daily for 10 days; sheep received four higher doses of honey (80 g each dose) for 2 weeks; sheep received subcutaneous injection of CCl(4) after four doses of i.v. infusion of 80 g of honey, and estimations of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (SGGT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were performed daily for 10 days postinjection; sheep received i.v. infusion of 40 g of honey, and blood sugar estimation was performed for 3 h at 30-min intervals after infusion and compared with sheep that received 5% dextrose; sheep received rapid i.v. injection of 40% honey or 40% dextrose, and blood sugar was estimated before and after injection; sheep received various concentrations of honey in distilled water (0.5 mL/1.5 mL, 0.75 mL/1.75 mL and 1.2 mL/2.2 mL), and blood sugar estimation was performed before and after inhalation. Results showed that i.v. or intrapulmonary administration of honey did not cause any adverse effect. Intravenous delivery of honey by slow infusion caused improvement of renal and hepatic function, bone marrow function, and lipid profile. It reduced SGOT, SGPT, triglyceride, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, and blood sugar and elevated serum protein, serum albumin, hemoglobin, white blood cell, and neutrophil percentage. Similar results were obtained with the use of higher doses of honey. CCl(4) caused mild elevation of SGPT and SGGT and lowering of SGOT in sheep that received repeated i.v. administration of honey before administration of CCl(4), whereas in control sheep CCl(4) caused significant elevation of all the liver enzymes. Intravenous infusion of 40 g of honey caused elevation of blood sugar for 90 min postinfusion, whereas it decreased blood sugar at 2 and 3 h postinfusion as compared with fasting blood sugar. Dextrose caused significant elevation of blood sugar at all time intervals. Similar results were obtained with the use of 10% dextrose or 80 g of honey. Addition of honey to dextrose caused less hyperglycemia as compared with dextrose alone. Acute injection of 20 mL of 40% dextrose significantly elevated blood sugar for 3 h postinjection, whereas little elevation in blood sugar was obtained after injection of 40% honey; the difference between honey and dextrose was significant. Inhalation of honey caused significant lowering of blood sugar during and after inhalation as compared with fasting blood sugar and water inhalation. The effect was greater with a higher concentration of inhaled honey. It might be concluded that slow i.v. infusion or rapid i.v. injection of honey in different concentrations was safe and could lower blood sugar and improve renal, hepatic, and bone marrow functions and lipid profile. Intravenous honey had a hepatoprotective effect against CCl(4)-induced liver injury. Inhaled honey was safe and reduced blood sugar significantly.     

Factors related to haemolysis in the extraction of blood samples

The choice of a venous access system to provide safe blood collection and reliable analytical results for that sample is of paramount importance in any accident and emergency department. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with haemolysis in venous blood samples, where the variables studied were: type of venipuncture (needle and catheter), type of catheter (3 catheters of 3 different materials) and diameter of the catheter. The sample was obtained from all patients who required a blood test in the accident and emergencies department of the Virgen del Camino Hospital over 34 days, collected in 3 different periods (September-November), involving a total of 1.933 procedures. Positive haemolysis determined by laboratory technicians was found in 2% (7/348) of samples obtained by needle compared to 14% (222/1585) obtained by catheter. We observe an 8% (39/475) of haemolysis in the samples taken by protective Teflon catheter, 18% (77/426) by Protectiv plus polyurethane and 15% (106/684) by BD-Nexiva Vialone. The haemolysis index fell with an increase in the size of the catheter, those of 18G showing 13% (115/867) and those of 20G showing 15% (107/708). The combination of catheter type and size maintains the smallest percentages of haemolysis in Teflon catheters and high diameters of 18G with 6% (19/301), less than half the haemolysis of the polyurethane catheters and a third of that for Vialone catheters respectively.     

抗菌药物治疗链球菌的蒙特卡洛模拟研究

目的 借助全国血流感染耐药监测联盟(BRICS)平台收集的链球菌属细菌,评价头孢曲松、左氧氟沙星及莫西沙星给药方案,以期为临床医生合理用药提供依据.方法 采用琼脂稀释法测定头孢曲松、左氧氟沙星及莫西沙星药物敏感情况,应用蒙特卡洛模拟方法研究三种药物不同给药方案的达标概率和累计反应分数(CFR).结果 最低抑菌浓度(MI...     

Hemoglobin repletion in anemic rats fed a new bean cultivar (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as source of iron.

Utilization of iron from a new cultivar of dry bean (Carioca 80 SH) was estimated using anemic rat by two methods: the slope ratio and the hemoglobin regeneration methods. The bean was incorporated into the diet in the form of whole bean flour (WBF) 7.45 mg Fe/100 g or as partially decorticated bean flour (DBF), 8.57 mg Fe/100 g. Hemoglobin concentration in the rats' blood at the beginning of the experiment averaged 13.79 +/- 0.33 g Hb/dl; at the end of the depletion period it ranged from 5.62 +/- 0.38 to 6.30 +/- 0.39 g Hb/dl blood, difference which was not statistically significant (p < or = 0.05). The bean iron relative biological value (RBV, relative to FeSO4 = 100) evaluated by the slope ratio method, was 74% for the WBF and 77% for the DBF. The hemoglobin regeneration efficiency was 60.4 +/- 6.5, 50.8 +/- 3.2, and 52.7 +/- 5.7%, respectively, for the iron sulfate (reference source), the WBF, and the DBF.