Cytoprotective Activity of Glycyrrhizae radix Extract Against Arsenite-induced Cytotoxicity

Licorice, Glycyrrhizae radix, is one of the herbal medicines in East Asia that has been commonly used for treating various diseases, including stomach disorders. This study investigated the effect of licorice on arsenite (As)-induced cytotoxicity in H4IIE cells, a rat hepatocyte-derived cell line. Cell viability was significantly diminished in As-treated H4IIE cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, results from flow cytometric assay and DNA laddering in H4IIE cells showed that As treatment induced apoptotic cell death by activating caspase-3. Licorice (0.1 and 1.0 mg ml(-1)) treatment significantly inhibited cell death and the activity of caspase-3 in response to As exposure. These results demonstrate that licorice induced a cytoprotective effect against As-induced cell death by inhibition of caspase-3.     

囊性肝包虫病自然发展规律的探讨

本文对Ｂ超诊断并经手术病理证实的９１５例共１３７２个肝包虫囊肿（简称肝包囊）进行了分类研究。分析认为：肝包囊病经历着从发生发展到死亡的自然过程，其中人体对包囊病的免疫防御和修复机能可能起着重要作用，不同类型包囊代表着肝包囊病不同的自然发展阶段。     

肝包虫囊肿超声引导抽吸硬化治疗

本研究对肝包虫囊肿超声引导抽吸硬化治疗进行了动物实验和临床观察。结果表明超声引导抽吸硬化治疗是一种安全的方法，无穿刺针孔隙的囊液溢漏和原头蚴播散。病理检查结果证实，寄生虫本体已被破坏，基质溶解，生发层上细胞核明显减少，有的生发层难以找到。临床观察结果表明，经治患者均未发生严重的合并症。１１例中９例痊愈，２例有效。研究结果提示，穿刺应经肝刺入囊腔，使肝脏对穿刺针孔形成压迫和保护，以免囊液渗漏。囊肿体积过大或已合并细菌感染者应留置引流管，同时使用有效抗菌素和肠道消毒剂，预防残腔继发细菌感染。     

肝巨大包虫囊肿超声引导下穿刺硬化治疗的方法学研究

目的 旨在对肝脏巨大包虫囊肿超声引导下穿刺硬化治疗的方法学进行探讨,以期取得更佳疗效.方法 穿刺硬化治疗中须注意选择最佳路径、进针抽吸同步、必须迅速减压、务必抽净囊液、选用无水乙醇、注入总量要多、多次硬化治疗、滞留时间须长、适当变动体位、避免气体进入及应保留硬化剂等14个技术操作的关键环节.结果 穿刺成功率100%,硬化治疗有效率100%,无并发症.结论 超声引导下穿刺是治疗肝脏巨大包虫囊肿的首选手段,注意规范技术操作中的各个环节,可显著提高疗效.     

实变型肝包虫病的声像特征及转归的研究

目的：研究实变型肝包虫病的超声图像特征及病理意义。方法：对B超诊断共最后经手术病理证实的86例共88个实变型肝包囊肿（简称肝包囊）各进行了三年的B超追踪观察。结果：此类肝包囊均具有典型的超声图像特征，其大小和声像表现相当稳定，三年中包囊直径的变化无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。包囊的图像变化只是钙化程度增强。结论：研究认为：实变型肝包囊是肝包虫自然发展的最终阶段，属自愈包虫。人体免疫、防御和修复机能在其演变过程中可能发挥着重要作用。     

肝包虫囊肿并发细菌感染的原因、声像特征及病理意义的研究

目的：探讨肝包虫囊肿（简称肝包囊）并发细菌感染的原因、超声图像特征及病理意义。方法：对B超诊断并经手术病理证实的135例共141个感染型肝包囊的超声图像特征、手术所见、病理结果及囊液性质进行归类分析。结果：包囊的胆道瘘、母囊壁穿孔破裂囊液受到胆汁及细菌的污染是此类包虫共同的特点，根据其程度和变化趋势分为感染前期、感染期、化脓期和感染后期四个阶段。结论：包囊－胆道瘘和母囊穿孔破裂是导致肝包囊感染的直接原因，而人体对包虫的免疫防御功能可能是发生胆道瘘和母囊破裂的重要因素。这类包虫是本病由生到死最后到机化自愈的转变阶段。     

Pyochelin Potentiates the Inhibitory Activity of Gallium on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gallium (Ga) is an iron mimetic that has successfully been repurposed for antibacterial chemotherapy. To improve the antibacterial potency of Ga on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the effect of complexation with a variety of siderophores and synthetic chelators was tested. Ga complexed with the pyochelin siderophore (at a 1:2 ratio) was more efficient than Ga(NO₃)₃ in inhibiting P. aeruginosa growth, and its activity was dependent on increased Ga entrance into the cell through the pyochelin translocon.     

黄芩水提物对耐甲氧西林的金黄色葡萄球菌体外抑菌作用及成分研究

目的 探讨黄芩水提物治疗耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的实验室抑菌作用及有效成分.方法 采用微量半固体琼脂稀释法检测黄芩水提物对119株MRSA的MIC值,同时采用高效液相色谱检测黄芩水提物中黄芩苷含量,制备相同含量的黄芩苷碱溶液并经高效液相色谱验证其黄芩苷含量.比较黄芩水提物及黄芩苷碱溶液对28株MRSA的黄芩苷MIC值差异.结果 黄芩水提物对119例MRSA的MIC90值为7.81 mg/ml,MIC50值为1.95 mg/ml;比较黄芩苷含量相同的黄芩水提物及黄芩苷碱溶液对28株MRSA的黄芩苷MIC值差异,黄芩水提物优于黄芩苷,具有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 黄芩水提物对MRSA菌有抑菌作用,黄芩苷不是黄芩水提物抑制MRSA的主要有效成分.     

In Vivo Study of the Efficacy of the Aromatic Water of Zataria multiflora on Hydatid Cysts

Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from aromatic water (AW) of Zataria multiflora. Thymol (66.9%), carvacrol (15.2%), and carvone (7.3%) were found to be the major EO constituents. Eighty laboratory BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally by injection of 1,500 viable protoscolices and were divided into prevention (40 mice) and therapeutic (40 mice) groups. To prove the preventive effect of the Z. multiflora AW on development of hydatid cysts, the 40 infected mice were allocated into three treatment groups, including the albendazole group (10 mice that received 150 mg/kg body weight/day for 10 days), the Z. multiflora AW group (15 mice that received 20 ml/liter in drinking water for 8 months), and a control group (15 mice that received no treatment). To estimate the therapeutic effect of the Z. multiflora AW on the hydatid cyst, after 8 months of infection, the 15 remaining mice were allocated into three experimental treatment groups of five animals each, including the albendazole group (300 mg/kg/day for 20 days), Z. multiflora AW group (40 ml/liter in drinking water for 30 days), and control group (no treatment). All mice were then euthanized, and the sizes and weights of the cysts as well as their ultrastructural changes were investigated. The weights and sizes of the hydatid cysts significantly decreased upon treatment with the Z. multiflora AW in both the preventive and therapeutic groups (P < 0.05). The results of scanning electron microscopy also showed considerable damage in the germinal layer of the hydatid cysts recovered from the treated animals.     

高强度聚焦超声波杀伤小鼠体内细粒棘球绦虫棘球蚴的声像变化

目的探索高强度聚焦超声波（high intensity focused ultrasound,HIFU）对动物体内细粒棘球绦虫棘球蚴的杀伤作用。方法用采自感染包虫病羊肝内的原头节接种小鼠腹腔,建立小鼠棘球蚴病模型。用一定剂量的HIFU照射小鼠腹腔棘球蚴后,B超观察HIFU杀伤棘球蚴的破坏作用并测量照射区域灰度值。结果HIFU对棘球蚴有明显的急性杀伤作用,随着HIFU照射时间延长,HIFU治疗时B超图像改变,囊腔边界渐模糊,囊内逐渐模糊,回声增强。在一定的照射强度下,随着照射时间的延长,灰度值逐渐减少。结论高强度聚焦超声破坏小鼠体内棘球蚴,B超声像图及灰度值证明其改变。     

超声引导经皮穿刺硬化治疗子囊型肝包虫囊肿

总结了实时超声引导和监视下经皮经肝穿刺硬化治疗１２例子囊型肝包虫囊肿的经验。穿刺成功率１００％，总有效率１００％。无一例出现并发症。超声随访观察平均１１个月，最长者已逾２８个月，未发现针道或腹腔种植扩散的迹象，亦无一例复发。作者认为超声引导经皮穿刺硬化治疗子囊型肝包虫囊肿简便易行、安全可靠、疗效卓著，是一种基本上可替代传统手术疗法的新途径。     

高强度聚焦超声波的两种辐照模式对棘球蚴杀伤效果的比较研究

目的比较不同高强度聚焦超声波辐照方式对细粒棘球蚴包囊的损伤作用的差异,探索高强度聚焦超声波用于治疗囊性病变的可行性。方法在声功率与辐照时间都相同的情况下,用曲线闭环扫描和直线扫描2种辐照方式处理配对分组的细粒棘球蚴包囊,从包囊囊壁组织病理学改变,囊液的温升变化以及囊内原头蚴死亡情况等方面比较2种辐照模式杀伤细粒棘球蚴包囊的效果。结果曲线闭环扫描方式能造成囊壁生发层和角质层断裂、脱落,其破坏囊壁生发层和角质层作用远比直线扫描方式强,而引起囊液的温度升高和原头蚴的死亡这两方面的效应均不如直线扫描方式。结论曲线闭环扫描方式主要破坏囊壁及生发层细胞,直线扫描方式杀伤囊内原头蚴效果优于曲线闭环扫描方式。     

Activity of Spectinomycin Against Anaerobes

The in vitro inhibitory activity of spectinomycin was tested against various anaerobic bacteria. Different results were obtained with different media and with different initial pH's of the media. The highest minimum inhibitory concentrations for Bacteroides fragilis ([Formula: see text] 128 mug/ml) were obtained with the use of Wilkins-Chalgren agar (pH 7.2) and Brucella blood agar (pH 7.0). Brucella blood agar at higher pH's (7.4 and 8.0) and Mueller-Hinton and Diagnostic Sensitivity Test agars produced lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (32 and 64 mug/ml). This same relationship between spectinomycin activity and pH of the medium was, in general, observed with these media and other anaerobes, including isolates of B. melaninogenicus, Fusobacterium, gram-positive cocci, Clostridium perfringens, and C. ramosum. The variable results observed in this study and in two others make it difficult to predict the clinical usefulness of spectinomycin in the treatment of anaerobic infections. It is probably most appropriate to be guided by results obtained with Wilkins-Chalgren agar and the method proposed as a reference to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. These results indicate that spectinomycin is not a potent inhibitor of B. fragilis or other clinically significant anaerobes.     

Ibuprofen Potentiates the In Vivo Antifungal Activity of Fluconazole against Candida albicans Murine Infection

Candida albicans is the most prevalent cause of fungemia worldwide. Its ability to develop resistance in patients receiving azole antifungal therapy is well documented. In a murine model of systemic infection, we show that ibuprofen potentiates fluconazole antifungal activity against a fluconazole-resistant strain, drastically reducing the fungal burden and morbidity. The therapeutic combination of fluconazole with ibuprofen may constitute a new approach for the management of antifungal therapeutics to reverse the resistance conferred by efflux pump overexpression.     

Maduramicin Rapidly Eliminates Malaria Parasites and Potentiates the Gametocytocidal Activity of the Pyrazoleamide PA21A050

New strategies targeting Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, the sexual-stage parasites that are responsible for malaria transmission, are needed to eradicate this disease. Most commonly used antimalarials are ineffective against P. falciparum gametocytes, allowing patients to continue to be infectious for over a week after asexual parasite clearance. A recent screen for gametocytocidal compounds demonstrated that the carboxylic polyether ionophore maduramicin is active at low nanomolar concentrations against P. falciparum sexual stages. In this study, we showed that maduramicin has an EC₅₀ (effective concentration that inhibits the signal by 50%) of 14.8 nM against late-stage gametocytes and significantly blocks in vivo transmission in a mouse model of malaria transmission. In contrast to other reported gametocytocidal agents, maduramicin acts rapidly in vitro, eliminating gametocytes and asexual schizonts in less than 12 h without affecting uninfected red blood cells (RBCs). Ring stage parasites are cleared by 24 h. Within an hour of drug treatment, 40% of the normally crescent-shaped gametocytes round up and become spherical. The number of round gametocytes increases to >60% by 2 h, even before a change in membrane potential as monitored by MitoProbe DiIC1 (5) is detectable. Maduramicin is not preferentially taken up by gametocyte-infected RBCs compared to uninfected RBCs, suggesting that gametocytes are more sensitive to alterations in cation concentration than RBCs. Moreover, the addition of 15.6 nM maduramicin enhanced the gametocytocidal activity of the pyrazoleamide PA21A050, which is a promising new antimalarial candidate associated with an increase in intracellular Na⁺ concentration that is proposed to be due to inhibition of PfATP4, a putative Na⁺ pump. These results underscore the importance of cation homeostasis in sexual as well as asexual intraerythrocytic-stage P. falciparum parasites and the potential of targeting this pathway for drug development.     

Activity of Antitumor Drugs Against African Trypanosomes

Of 49 compounds known to have antitumor properties, 6 were found to have significant activity against Trypanosoma rhodesiense infections in mice. Activity against the African trypanosomes has not been reported previously for any of these six compounds. In order of decreasing activity these compounds were: (i) imidazole-4-carboxamide, 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1,1-triazene), (ii) inosine diglycolaldehyde, (iii) cis-diamminedichloro-platinum, (iv) streptozotocin, (v) coralyne sulfate, and (vi) 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine. The percentage of "hits" (12.2%) from these known antitumor agents was approximately twice as great as when other means are employed for the selection of compounds for this test system.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Cefamandole Against Salmonella typhi

A patient with Salmonella typhi bacteremia was sucessfully treated with cefamandole, a new cephalosporin derivative. Infection has not recurred during 6 months of follow-up observation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of cefamandole, cephalothin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol were compared against 26 strains of S. typhi. All the strains were susceptible to cefamandole in vitro. Seven of the strains were resistant to chloramphenicol, and another seven were resistant to both chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Cefamandole appears to warrant further clinical trial for the treatment of typhoid fever.     

In Vitro Activity of Penicillins Against Anaerobes

The in vitro susceptibility of 162 anaerobic isolates from clinical material were tested to pencillin G, BL-P1654, and carbenicillin. Penicillin G and BL-P1654 showed good activity against Bacteroides fragilis, but only 60% of strains were susceptible to carbenicillin at achievable blood levels (128 μg/ml).     

Activity of Cefazolin Against Dense Populations of Enterobacteria

The in vitro activity of cefazolin was assessed by continuous turbidimetric monitoring of cultures of gram-negative bacilli and the results were compared with those previously obtained with other beta-lactam agents using the same strains and methods. Cefazolin was found to induce rapid lysis of ampicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Escherichia coli at a lower concentration than any other beta-lactam agent tested; its stability to beta-lactamase, as judged by regrowth studies, was generally considerably greater than that of other antibiotics of this group. Tested against 103 ampicillin-resistant enterobacteria, cefazolin was found to be more active than cephalothin against E. coli, but no systematic increase in susceptibility to cefazolin was seen with other species. A study of cefazolin in an in vitro model which simulates the hydrokinetic features of the urinary bladder showed it to be as active as ampicillin against ampicillin-susceptible E. coli and as active as cephalothin against ampicillin-resistant E. coli.