蓬子菜总黄酮对四氯化碳诱导的小鼠肝损伤的保护作用及机制

目的 探讨蓬子菜总黄酮（total flavonoids extracts of Galium verum L.,TFG）对CCl₄致小鼠急性肝损伤的影响及其机制。方法 60只昆明小鼠随机分成正常组、模型组、阳性对照组、TFG组。各治疗组予以相应的药物灌胃6 d后,除正常组外其余各组腹腔注射6% CCl₄造模,24 h后取样,肝组织HE染色,检测血清中谷草转氨酶（AST）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）以及肝肾组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）、丙二醛（MDA）水平,分析血清中TNF-α和IL-6水平。昆明小鼠50只,随机分成正常组、模型组、TFG组（200 mg·kg^-1）、抗IL-6单抗（40 mg·kg^-1）+TFG（200 mg·kg^-1）组、抗TNF-α单抗（5 mg·kg^-1）+TFG（200 mg·kg^-1）组,各治疗组予以相应的药物处理6 d后,除正常组外,其余各组腹腔注射6% CCl₄造模,24 h后取血清分析AST、ALT水平。结果 与模型组比较,蓬子菜总黄酮能改善肝损伤,降低血清中AST、ALT活性以及肝肾中MDA含量,提高肝肾SOD活性、GSH含量,降低血清中TNF-α和IL-6表达（P<0.05或P<0.01）。抗IL-6、TNF-α单抗能明显降低血清中AST、ALT活性（P<0.05）。结论 蓬子菜总黄酮能通过清除自由基、抑制脂质过氧化,保护细胞膜和线粒体膜的完整性。同时减少IL-6、TNF-α的释放,改善急性肝损伤。     

基于NF-κB通路探讨延龄草醇提物对急性肝损伤大鼠的保护作用

目的 基于NF-κB通路探讨延龄草醇提取物对CCl₄所致大鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及机制。方法 把48只SD大鼠,随机分为空白对照组、模型组、联苯双酯组（200 mg·kg^-1）、延龄草醇提取物低、中、高剂量组（100,500,1 000 mg·kg^-1）6组。以CCl₄诱导急性肝损伤模型,造模后灌胃给药,治疗持续一段时间后取材。称重后计算大鼠肝脏脏器系数;检测各组大鼠血清中ALT、AST的活性;利用HE染色切片观察各组肝组织形态学的变化;以RT-PCR法检测各组大鼠肝组织中TNF-α、IL-1β,IL-6的基因表达;通过western blot检测各组肝组织中NF-κB的表达量。结果 与模型组相比,延龄草醇提物各治疗组可降低肝脏脏器系数,高剂量组肝小叶结构完整,肝细胞排列规则,大小均匀;RT-PCR结果显示,延龄草醇提取物能够显著降低TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的表达。western blot结果显示,延龄草醇提物显著地降低了NF-κB的表达。结论 延龄草醇提取物能够通过抑制NF-κB的表达,保护CCl₄诱导的大鼠急性肝损伤。     

小剂量乙酰半胱氨酸治疗慢性肝损伤作用及其机制

目的 研究小剂量乙酰半胱氨酸（N-acetylcysteine,NAC）对CCl₄所致慢性肝损伤的疗效及其作用机制。方法 将大鼠分为正常对照组、模型组、小剂量NAC低、中、高剂量组和阳性对照组。小剂量NAC低、中、高剂量组分别给予45,90,180 mg·kg^-1,阳性对照组给予阿拓莫兰54 mg·kg^-1,正常对照组和模型组腹腔注射等容积灭菌生理盐水。采用CCl₄复制大鼠慢性肝损伤模型,末次给药后24 h麻醉大鼠,腹主动脉取血,检测血清ALT、AST含量以及肝组织中SOD、MDA、GSH和Hyp含量,观察肝脏组织病理学变化,免疫组化检测肝组织Nrf2、HO-1的表达。结果 与正常组比较,模型组大鼠血清ALT、AST、MDA和Hyp含量明显升高（P<0.01）,SOD、GSH虽有下降趋势,但结果无统计学差异,Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达均增加,但差异无统计学意义。与模型组比较,小剂量NAC低、中、高剂量组ALT、AST水平明显降低（P<0.01）,低、中剂量组SOD、GSH、Hyp含量差异均有显著性（P<0.01或P<0.05）,高剂量组GSH、Hyp含量差异均有显著性（P<0.01或P<0.05）,各剂量组MDA均有下降趋势,但无统计学意义,低、中、高剂量组Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达均增加,其中低剂量组差异有统计学意义（P<0.01或P<0.05）。结论 小剂量乙酰半胱氨酸对CCl₄诱导大鼠慢性肝损伤具有较好的治疗作用,其作用机制可能通过Nrf2/HO-1通路发挥抗氧化应激作用。     

解酒饮对小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用

目的 探讨解酒饮对小鼠急性四氯化碳（CCl₄）肝损伤的保护作用。方法 将60只小鼠分为正常组、联苯双酯组、模型组（0.3% CCl₄腹腔注射）和解酒饮组（按剂量分为25,12.5,6.25 g·kg^-1组,灌胃25 ml·kg^-1,连续灌胃8 d）,每组各10只。造模12 h后,用全自动生化仪测定血清丙氨酸转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸转移酶（AST）、白蛋白（ALB）、球蛋白（GLB）、总蛋白（TP）的活性。肝组织匀浆测定丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽（GSH）活性。并对肝组织进行组织形态学检查。免疫组化方法检测肝脏MnSOD、bcl-2、caspase-3的表达情况。结果 解酒饮能降低CCl₄诱导的急性肝损伤小鼠升高的血清ALT、AST水平。解酒饮25 g·kg^-1降低肝匀浆升高的MDA水平,同时升高肝匀浆中的SOD和GSH酶活性,改善肝组织的病理形态。免疫组化结果显示,解酒饮25 g·kg^-1可以上调MnSOD、bcl-2表达水平,下调caspase-3表达水平。结论 解酒饮可能通过提高肝脏抗氧化能力,抑制肝细胞凋亡,对小鼠急性CCl₄肝损伤有一定的保护作用。     

梓醇对尘肺大鼠运动能力及骨骼肌功能改善作用研究

目的 探讨梓醇对尘肺模型大鼠运动能力及骨骼肌功能的改善作用。方法 通过气管注射石英粉尘建立大鼠慢性尘肺模型,造模3个月后,取造模大鼠30只随机分为3组：模型组、梓醇100mg·kg^-1组、梓醇50mg·kg^-1组,每组10只,另取10只正常大鼠作为对照组。大鼠ig给药,每天1次,每周给药6d,连续给药8周。观察大鼠一般状况及体质量变化;采用小动物跑台检测大鼠的1次力竭运动时间;采用抓力测定仪进行大鼠骨骼肌力量检测;解剖大鼠取同一位置肺叶,HE染色用于观察肺组织基本结构及炎症反应等状态,Masson染色用于观察肺组织胶原沉积和纤维化情况;取双侧后肢的腓肠肌和比目鱼肌,称质量,计算质量指数（肌肉质量/体质量）;试剂盒法检测腓肠肌组织线粒体膜电位（△φ_m）和腺嘌呤核苷三磷酸（ATP）水平;试剂盒法检测腓肠肌组织超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、丙二醛（MDA）水平及琥珀酸脱氢酶（SDH）活性;实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）法检测过线粒体生物发生相关基因——氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅激活因子1α（Pgc-1α）、核呼吸因子1（Nrf1）、线粒体转录因子A（Tfam）的mRNA表达水平。结果 与模型组比较,梓醇100、50mg·kg^-1对尘肺大鼠肺部炎症和纤维未见显著改善;梓醇100、50mg·kg^-1均能显著延长尘肺大鼠跑动力竭时间（P＜0.05、0.01）;梓醇可显著增加尘肺大鼠的肌肉抓力,其中100mg·kg^-1组差异显著（P＜0.05）;梓醇100mg·kg^-1组尘肺大鼠的腓肠肌和比目鱼肌质量指数显著增加（P＜0.05、0.01）,50mg·kg^-1组的比目鱼肌质量指数显著增加（P＜0.05）;梓醇可明显升高尘肺大鼠腓肠肌ATP水平和△φ_m,其中100mg·kg^-1组差异显著（P＜0.05）;梓醇100mg·kg^-1显著增加腓肠肌SDH和SOD活力、同时降低MDA水平（P＜0.05、0.01）,梓醇50mg·kg^-1显著增加腓肠肌SDH活力、同时降低MDA水平（P＜0.05、0.01）;梓醇100、50mg·kg^-1显著上调腓肠肌中线粒体生物发生相关基因表达（P＜0.05、0.01）。结论 梓醇可以调节尘肺模型大鼠骨骼肌线粒体功能,减轻肌肉萎缩并增强运动能力,此作用可能通过PGC-1α/NRF1、TFAM途径促进线粒体生物发生而介导。     

苦参碱联合甘草甜素在四氯化碳慢性肝损伤中的保护作用及机制

摘 要 目的：考察苦参碱联合甘草甜素在四氯化碳（CCl₄）慢性肝损伤中的保护作用,并从能量代谢及CYP酶的角度探讨其保护机制。方法: 建立CCl₄慢性肝损伤模型,通过考察血清ALT、AST观察两药及其联合用药在慢性肝损伤模型中的保护作用;检测血清谷氨酸脱氢酶（GLDH）及肝组织中肝脏腺嘌呤核苷三磷酸（ATP）、二磷酸腺苷（ADP）、腺嘌呤核糖核苷酸（AMP）含量,评价药物对肝脏能量代谢及线粒体功能的调节作用;实时定量PCR及Western Blot法检测肝脏CYP1A2、CYP2E1 mRNA及蛋白水平,评价两药及其联合用药对肝脏CYP酶的调控作用。结果: 苦参碱（72.8 mg·kg^-1）、甘草甜素（43.4 mg·kg^-1）在CCl₄慢性肝损伤模型中均可降低大鼠血清ALT、AST（P<0.05）,两药联合（36.4 mg·kg^-1 苦参碱+21.7 mg·kg^-1 甘草甜素）使用保护作用更加显著(P<0.05);其中苦参碱（72.8 mg·kg^-1）、甘草甜素（43.4 mg·kg^-1）均可降低血清GLDH,并恢复肝脏ATP含量(P<0.05);苦参碱（72.8 mg·kg^-1）对CYP1A2、CYP2E1mRNA表达水平无抑制作用,甘草甜素（43.4 mg·kg^-1）对CYP1A2、CYP2E1mRNA及蛋白表达水平均有抑制作用（P<0.05）。结论: 苦参碱联合甘草甜素在慢性肝损伤模型中具有明显的线粒功能调节和肝保护作用。     

郁杖丹的提取工艺及其保肝作用研究

目的 确定郁杖丹的最佳提取工艺,研究郁杖丹提取物对CCl₄所致小鼠急、慢性肝损伤的保护作用。方法 以川芎中的阿魏酸含量为考察指标,采用L₉（3⁴）正交试验,考察乙醇浓度、乙醇用量、提取时间及次数对醇提工艺的影响;以虎杖中的虎杖苷含量为考察指标,采用L₉（3⁴）正交试验,考察加水量、提取时间及提取次数对水提工艺的影响;以0.125% CCl₄ 10 mL·kg^-1腹腔注射制备小鼠急性肝损伤模型,检测血清ALT、AST水平,评价郁杖丹提取物对小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用;以20% CCl₄ 5 mL·kg^-1皮下注射,每5天1次,连续8周制备小鼠慢性肝损伤模型,以血清ALT、AST、肝脏病理组织学等为评价指标,评价郁杖丹提取物对小鼠慢性肝损伤的保护作用。结果 川芎等最佳醇提工艺：5倍量70%乙醇,提取1次,加热回流1.5 h;虎杖等最佳水提工艺：10倍量水,提取3次,每次1 h。郁杖丹高剂量组能显著降低急性肝损伤小鼠的血清ALT、AST（P<0.05）;郁杖丹各剂量组均能降低慢性肝损伤小鼠的血清ALT、AST（P<0.05）,减轻小鼠肝脏病理损伤程度。结论 确定的郁杖丹最佳提取工艺简便,有效成分提取率高,稳定性好。郁杖丹提取物有对CCl₄引起的小鼠急、慢性肝损伤具有一定的保护作用。     

解酒饮保护小鼠急性酒精性肝损伤的研究

目的 探讨解酒饮对小鼠急性酒精性肝损伤的保护作用。方法 将小鼠随机分为正常对照组、联苯双酯组（11.7 mg·kg^-1）、模型对照组和解酒饮低、中、高剂量（6.25,12.5,25 g·kg^-1）组6组,每组10只,每天1次,连续14 d灌服给药。末次给药后1 h,除正常对照组外按12 ml·kg^-1剂量一次性灌胃给予56°北京红星二锅头造模。12 h后处死小鼠取血标本和肝组织标本,比较各组的肝脏指数,并对肝组织进行组织形态学检查,测定血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）的活性水平。结果 解酒饮可显著降低酒精诱导的急性肝损伤小鼠的血清ALT、AST水平,可减少肝中脂肪空泡,减轻炎症表现,急性肝损伤肝脏指数明显改善。结论 解酒饮对小鼠急性酒精性肝损伤有一定的保护作用。     

小鼠匹鲁卡品诱导的癫痫持续状态模型改良研究

目的 探讨小鼠匹鲁卡品癫痫持续状态模型（status epilepticus,SE）建立的优化给药策略。方法 98只ICR小鼠随机分为7组,每组14只,分别采用常规（一次量给药）或改良方法腹腔注射匹鲁卡品。改良方法为先给予150或200 mg·kg^-1匹鲁卡品,30 min内若未发作,则继续给予1~2次30~100 mg·kg^-1匹鲁卡品（给药时间间隔为30 min）。动物行为学结合海马脑电图用于评价SE成功诱导及动物猝死情况。结果 常规方法：200 mg·kg^-1组（即一次量给予200 mg·kg^-1匹鲁卡品）造模成功4例,5例未SE发作,死亡5例;250 mg·kg^-1组造模成功3例,死亡11例;300 mg·kg^-1组动物全部死亡。改良方法：（150+50）mg·kg^-1改良组（先给予150 mg·kg^-1匹鲁卡品,若未发作则追加50 mg·kg^-1匹鲁卡品1~2次）造模成功6例,2例未SE发作,死亡6例;（150+100）mg·kg^-1改良组造模成功7例,死亡7例;（200+30）mg·kg^-1改良组造模成功6例,3例未SE发作,死亡5例;（200+50）mg·kg^-1改良组造模成功9例,死亡5例。结论 常规一次量方法诱导小鼠SE模型时匹鲁卡品有效剂量较难控制,经改良后（200+50）mg·kg^-1的改良方法可能是小鼠匹鲁卡品SE模型建立的较优方法。     

C57BL/6J糖尿病小鼠模型的优化研究

目的 优化链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin,STZ）诱导的C57BL/6J糖尿病小鼠模型。方法 采用单用不同剂量STZ（180 mg·kg^-1单次给药和275 mg·kg^-1均分5次,每次55 mg·kg^-1,连续5 d）或4周高脂饮食联合不同剂量STZ（50 mg·kg^-1单次给药;100 mg·kg^-1单次给药;150 mg·kg^-1单次给药;200 mg·kg^-1均分2次给药,间隔72 h）,建立糖尿病小鼠模型,检测各组小鼠空腹血糖、体质量、日饮水量及日进食量,比较各组造模成功率及稳定性。结果 STZ 180 mg·kg^-1单次给药、高脂饮食4周+STZ 150 mg·kg^-1单次给药、高脂饮食4周+STZ 200 mg·kg^-1均分2次给药得到的糖尿病小鼠模型,其高血糖的持续时间较长且稳定。结论 STZ 180 mg·kg^-1单次给药是较为理想的1型糖尿病模型;4周高脂饮食联合STZ 150 mg·kg^-1单次给药或200 mg·kg^-1均分2次给药均是较为理想的2型糖尿病模型。     

Fullerene derivatives induce premature senescence: A new toxicity paradigm or novel biomedical applications

Engineered fullerenes (C₆₀) are extensively used for commercial and clinical applications based on their unique physicochemical properties. Such materials have also been recognized as byproducts of many industrial activities. Functionalization of C₆₀ may significantly influence the nature of its interactions with biological systems, impacting its applications and raising uncertainties about its health effects. In the present study, we compared the bioimpact of two chemically modified fullerene derivatives, hexa carboxyl fullerene adduct (Hexa-C₆₀) and tris carboxyl fullerene adduct (tris-C₆₀) to pristine fullerene C₆₀ encapsulated with gamma (γ)-cyclodextrin C₆₀ (CD-C₆₀), using human cutaneous epithelial cells (HEK) to simulate possible applications and occupational dermal exposure route. We report, for the first time, the discovery of premature senescence as a potential endpoint of nanomaterial elicited biological effects, providing a new paradigm for nanoparticle-induced toxicity in human cells. Moreover, this response appeared to be functionalization specific, in that, only tris-C₆₀ induced senescence. We investigated key biological responses, such as cellular viability, intracellular ROS generation, cell proliferation and cell cycle responses. Our results indicate that the often observed ‘anti-apoptotic’ function of fullerene derivatives may be independent of their ‘ROS scavenging’ role as previously reported. We discovered that the tris-C₆₀-induced responses were associated with G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence. On further evaluation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the senescent response, a significant decrease in the expression levels of HERC5 was noted. HERC5 is a ubiquitin ligase of the HERC family and is implicated to be involved in innate immune responses to viral and bacterial infections.     

A longitudinal assessment of aflatoxin M1 excretion in breast milk of selected Egyptian mothers.

Aflatoxins are potent toxins and carcinogens which can be excreted in the milk of exposed lactating mothers mainly in the form of aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)). We previously evaluated the level and frequency of AFM(1) in breast milk in a group of Egyptian mothers attending the New El-Qalyub Hospital, Qalyubiyah governorate, Egypt. In this study, fifty of those women who were AFM(1) positive were revisited monthly for 12 months to assess the temporal variation in breast milk AFM(1). AFM(1) was detected in 248 of 443 (56%) samples. In a multilevel model of the data there was a highly significant (p<0.001) effect of month of sampling on the frequency of AFM(1) detection with summer months having the highest frequency (>80%) and winter months the lowest frequency (<20%) of detection. AFM(1) was observed most frequently in June [OR 63, 95% CI (7.6, 522)]. The level of AFM(1) detection also followed this seasonal pattern with highest mean level in July (64 pg/ml milk, range 6.3-497 pg/ml milk) and the lowest mean level in January (8 pg/ml milk, range 4.2-108 pg/ml milk). The duration of lactation [p=0.0035, OR=1.08, 95% CI (1.02, 1.13)], and peanut consumption [p=0.06, OR=1.69, 95% CI (0.9, 2.9)] also contributed to the model. The identification and understanding of factors determining the presence of toxicants in human milk is important and may provide a knowledge driven basis for controlling the transfer of chemicals to infants.     

Nimbolide and isonimbolide

Nimbolide 1, a potent molecule of biological significance, was isolated. Attempts were made to cleave the ether linkage in nimbolide using boron trifluoride etherate in the presence of tetrabutyl ammonium bromide so as to generate a ring-opened structure akin to azadirachtins, which are known to possess excellent antifeedant properties. However, a novel rearranged product was envisaged during the course of the reaction, which was determined as isonimbolide 2—a structural isomer of nimbolide through spectroscopic methods.     

In praise of H2O2, the versatile ROS,and its vanadium complexes

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is generated in mitochondria in aerobic cells as a minor product of electron transport, is inhibited selectively by phenolic acids (in animals) or salicylhydroxamate (in plants) and is regulated by hormones and environmental conditions. Failure to detect this activity is due to presence of H₂O₂-consuming reactions or inhibitors present in the reaction mixture. H₂O₂ has a role in metabolic regulation and signal transduction reactions. A number of enzymes and cellular activities are modified, mostly by oxidizing the protein-thiol groups, on adding H₂O₂ in mM concentrations. On complexing with vanadate, also occurring in traces, H₂O₂ forms diperoxovanadate (DPV), stable at physiological pH and resistant to degradation by catalase. DPV was found to substitute for H₂O₂ at concentrations orders of magnitude lower, and in presence of catalase, as a substrate for user reaction, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and in inactivating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. superoxide dismutase (SOD) -sensitive oxidation of NADH was found to operate as peroxovanadate cycle using traces of DPV and decameric vanadate (V₁₀) and reduces O₂ to peroxide (DPV in presence of free vanadate). This offers a model for respiratory burst. Diperoxovanadate reproduces several actions of H₂O₂ at low concentrations: enhances protein tyrosine phosphorylation, activates phospholipase D, produces smooth muscle contraction, and accelerates stress induced premature senescence (SIPS) and rounding in fibroblasts. Peroxovanadates can be useful tools in the studies on H₂O₂ in cellular activities and regulation.     

Prediction of volume of distribution in preclinical species and humans: application of simplified physiologically based algorithms

1. The present study was aimed at developing simplified physiologically based semi-mechanistic algorithms to predict V_ss and interspecies scaling factors to predict tissue-K_ps which require minimum input parameters, diminish the computing complexity and have better predictability.

2. V_ss of 86 structurally diverse compounds in preclinical species and 27 compounds in humans were predicted using only lung- and muscle-K_p as inputs. Interspecies scaling factor (s) were developed based on fold-differences in individual tissue lipid contents, relative organ blood flow: relative organ weight ratio between two species. Tissue-K_ps were predicted for 34 compounds using the newly developed interspecies scaling factors.

3. The predicted-to-experimental V_ss values for all the 113 compounds was 1.3?±?0.9 with 83% values being within a factor of two. The tissue-K_ps in rat, dog and human were predicted using experimental tissue-K_p data in rodents and interspecies scaling factors and here also, 83% of tissue-K_ps were within two-fold of the experimental values.

4. In conclusion, simplified physiologically based algorithms have been developed to predict both volume of distribution and tissue-K_ps, in which required input parameters as well as computing complexity have been noticeably reduced.

     

维生素D原体浓度对它的光异构反应的影响

目的：研究乙醇溶液中维生素D原体浓度对它的光异构反应产物产率的影响。方法：用两种紫外光激发光源光照不同浓度的维生素D原体乙醇溶液，使用正相HPLC系统定量测定主要光异构物在溶液中的浓度。结果：数据表明，随维生素D原体浓度的增加，速甾醇产率减少，而光甾醇产率明显增加。维生素D前体产率变化，与所用的激发光源有关。结论：维生素D原体浓度对其光异构反应产物产率的影响较大，特别对速甾醇和光甾醇，利用光自吸收效应有助于设计光化学法合成药物及制备高产率的光异构产物。     

Serotonergic approaches in the development of novel antipsychotics

Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating neuropsychological disease characterised by positive, negative, and cognitive deficits. In recent years, new pharmacological treatment strategies have been developed to treat the sequalae of schizophrenia based upon more selective receptor activity profiles in the hope that treatment efficacy can be increased without inducing the side-effect profiles seen with current available therapies. One such strategy involves the development of combined (partial) 5-HT_1A agonists and D₂ receptor (partial) antagonists such as bifeprunox, SLV313, F15063 and SSR-181507 in an attempt to increase therapeutic efficacy of all symptom domains whilst alleviating adverse side effects. Other novel drugs including SLV310 and SLV314 combine selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) functionality with D₂ receptor antagonism in an attempt to not only improve schizophrenic symptoms, but to also relieve other affective disorders intricately linked with the disorder. The main scope of this review will evaluate the major preclinical and clinical pharmacological findings concerning the aforementioned strategies and pharmacological agents, and compare their therapeutic potential with currently available antipsychotics; however, recent developments at other emerging serotonergic targets such as 5-HT_2C, 5-HT₆ and 5-HT₇ receptors will also be considered.     

Integrin antagonists as therapeutics for inflammatory diseases

Integrins are a family of heterodimeric cell surface receptors that mediate adhesion events crucial to cellular migration, proliferation and activation. Although critical to a normal immune response, integrins can also facilitate the progression of many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. As such, they have attracted the attention of the pharmaceutical industry. Several humanised monoclonal antibodies directed against integrin targets have proven to be successful in clinical trials and have been approved for use in humans. This has not only resulted in effective therapies for patients, but also has provided important proof-of-concept studies for the development of small-molecule antagonists. This review focuses on those integrin subclasses that are being evaluated for their potential role in pulmonary, dermatological, gastrointestinal or rheumatic diseases. These include the α₄ and β₂ integrins, as well as an emerging group of targets from the collagen-binding family of integrins. Interfering with integrin signalling pathways represents a future area of interest. The rationale for pursuing these targets, as well as the drugs presently under development, are discussed.     

Urinary biomarkers of aflatoxin exposure in young children from Egypt and Guinea.

Aflatoxins are a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and thus understanding the pattern of aflatoxin exposure in different regions is important in order to develop targeted intervention strategies. Given the early onset of HCC in many countries early life exposures may be important. This study investigated aflatoxin exposure in Egyptian children (n=50, aged 1-2.5 years) by assessing urinary aflatoxin metabolite (AFM(1), AFB(1), AFB(2), AFG(1), AFG(2)) levels. Samples from Guinean children (n=50, aged 2-4 years) were analyzed in parallel providing a comparison to a region of established frequent aflatoxin exposure. Aflatoxins were isolated from urine using C18-cartridges followed by immunoaffinity clean-up, and quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Overall aflatoxins were less frequently present in Egyptian (38%) than Guinean urine samples (86%) (p<0.001), which was particularly related to differences in detection rates of AFM(1) (8% compared to 64%, respectively, (p<0.001)). For AFM(1) the geometric mean level in Guinea (16.3 pg/ml; 95% CI: 10.1, 26.6 pg/ml) was 6-fold higher (p<0.001) than in Egypt (2.7 pg/ml; 95% CI: 2.5, 2.8 pg/ml). Urinary aflatoxins from healthy children in these two regions have not previously been reported, and exposure appears modest in Egypt compared to Guinea. These data suggest that measures to reduce aflatoxin exposure in both regions are important, though particularly in Guinea.