Staining of Fasciola hepatica by natural herbal dyes

The plant kingdom is a valuable source of new medicinal agents. Traditional synthetic dyes used for staining worms may have some carcinogenic effects; therefore, the use of herbal dyes as an effective alternative may be interesting. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the staining effect of herbal dyes on Fasciola hepatica. Powdered alizarin, henna and curcuma in concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 g/100 mL of distilled water were used to stain a F. hepatica worm according to the carmine staining method. Our criteria for evaluation were the extent of staining on different parts of the worm such as suckers, intestine, testes, spines, ootype, vitelline duct, vitellaria, ovary, uterus and eggs. The results showed that alizarin (10 g/100 mL; 10%, w/v) was a better dye than henna (20 g/100 mL; 20%, w/v) and curcuma (20 g/100 mL; 20%, w/v) for the staining of suckers, branched intestine, vitelline duct and ootype. Although henna stained the whole body of the worm better than curcuma, curcuma had a better staining effect on surface spines, eggs and especially branched testes. In comparison with carmine, the present herbal dyes (alizarin and henna) are cheap and safe and could be potential alternatives for staining F. hepatica and other trematodes.     

Prognostic Values of Fluctuations in Serum Levels of Alanine Transaminase in Inactive Carrier State of HBV Infection

Background:

Current guidelines introduce periodic monitoring of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) as the first-line modality in follow-up patients, with a hepatitis B virus (HBV) inactive carrier state.

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the incidence rate and patterns of ALT fluctuations and prognostic values for the development of chronic HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B (CHB), HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, and liver-related complications.

Patients and Methods:

Treatment-naïve patients with a chronic HBV infection, HBeAg(-)/HBeAb(+), normal ALT levels, and HBV DNA < 2000 IU/mL, were followed-up every 6-12 months by assessing serum ALT levels. Serum HBV DNA was measured in cases of elevated ALT levels.

Results:

A total of 399 patients were followed-up for 8.9 years; ALT > upper limit of normal (ULN, i.e. 40 IU/L) was detected in 103 (25.8%) patients, with an annual incidence rate of 2.9%. ALT elevation was associated with; male gender, age, and higher serum ALT levels at study entry. Among the cases of ALT elevations, 16 (15.5%) patients had ALT levels > 2 × ULN. There were 38 (36.9%) patients who had ALT levels that remained > ULN over six months, and 21 (20.4%) patients experienced at least two episodes of ALT elevations. In 15 (14.6%) patients, elevated ALT levels were associated with increased HBV replication (i.e. HBV DNA > 2 000 IU/mL) and these were considered as CHB. However, elevation of ALT levels, even in the absence of HBV replication, increased the risk for the development of CHB up to 8-fold in prospective follow-ups. HBsAg seroclearance, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma were detected in 43 (10.8%), 4 (1%), and 1 (0.25%) patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

Fluctuations in serum ALT levels may change the prognosis of a HBV inactive carrier state.     

盐酸普鲁卡因胺渗透泵片剂的研究

本文研究了盐酸普鲁卡因胺(PA·HCl)渗透泵片的处方组成、制备工艺、体外溶出;建立了PA·HCl的紫外双波长分光光度法及血清和唾液中PA及其活性代谢物N-乙酰普鲁卡因胺(NAPA)共存下的高效液相色谱法,体内PA实验数据按双室模型,用电子计算机处理求得药动学参数。药动学—药效学数据显示血药浓度和唾药浓度均与药效变化规律相关。     

速激肽NK-1受体拮抗剂SR-140333对抗原引起致敏大鼠气道高反应性的影响

为观察速激肽ＮＫ１受体拮抗剂ＳＲ１４０３３３对抗原攻击引起的致敏大鼠气道高反应性的影响，测定了致敏大鼠在抗原攻击前后的基础呼吸频率，对ＭＣｈ的反应性及支气管肺泡灌洗液中的白细胞数量。实验结果显示，致敏大鼠吸入ＯＡ后６ｈ基础呼吸频率增加，并显著增加乙酰甲胆碱（ＭＣｈ）的反应性、ＭＣｈ的－ｌｏｇＰＣ３０值和支气管肺泡灌洗液中的白细胞数量。ｉｐ速激肽ＮＫ１受体拮抗剂ＳＲ１４０３３３（０１ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１）或地塞米松（０５ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１），可明显抑制上述反应，小剂量ＳＲ１４０３３３（００１ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１）仅有部分抑制作用。结果提示抗原攻击可引起致敏大鼠气道高反应性和气道炎症，速激肽ＮＫ１受体拮抗剂可抑制这些反应     

速激肽NK-1受体拮抗剂SR-140333对抗原引起致敏大鼠气道高反应性的影响

为观察速激肽NK-1受体拮抗剂SR-140333对抗原攻击引起的致敏大鼠气道高反应性的影响,测定了致敏大鼠在抗原攻击前后的基础呼吸频率,对MCh的反应性及支气管-肺泡灌洗液中的白细胞数量。实验结果显示,致敏大鼠吸入OA后6h基础呼吸频率增加,并显著增加乙酰甲胆碱(MCh)的反应性、MCh的-logPC₃₀值和支气管-肺泡灌洗液中的白细胞数量。ip速激肽NK-1受体拮抗剂SR-140333(0.1mg·kg^-1)或地塞米松(0.5mg·kg^-1),可明显抑制上述反应,小剂量SR-140333(0.01mg·kg^-1)仅有部分抑制作用。结果提示抗原攻击可引起致敏大鼠气道高反应性和气道炎症,速激肽NK-1受体拮抗剂可抑制这些反应。     

维拉帕米对MDR1基因转染的Swiss－3T3细胞的化疗增敏作用

为进一步了解维拉帕米对抗药性逆转作用的待征，在人ＭＤＲ１基因转染的Ｓｗｉｓｓ－３Ｔ３多药抗药性细胞，观察了维拉帕米逆转幅度与阿霉素抗性水平的关系。各个转染细胞与母细胞相比，阿霉素毒性明显降低。非毒性浓度（３Ｕｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）的维拉帕米对阿霉素毒性的增强作用，在转染细胞均高于母细胞，但逆转幅度与抗性水平成反比。Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交显示，转染细胞基因组中有ＭＤＲ１ｃＤＮＡ整合。转染细胞的阿霉素蓄积障碍可被维拉帕米纠正。讨论了药物主动转运的饱和现象在维拉帕米增强效应中的作用，以及Ｐ－糖蛋白与药物相互作用的方式。     

维拉帕米对MDR1基因转染的Swiss-3T3细胞的化疗增敏作用

为进一步了解维拉帕米对抗药性逆转作用的特征,在人MDR1基因转染的Swiss-3T3多药抗药性细胞,观察了维拉帕米逆转幅度与阿霉素抗性水平的关系。各个转染细胞与母细胞相比,阿霉素毒性明显降低。非毒性浓度(3μmol·L^-1)的维拉帕米对阿霉素毒性的增强作用,在转染细胞均高于母细胞,但逆转幅度与抗性水平成反比。Southern杂交显示,转染细胞基因组中有MDR1 cDNA整合。转染细胞的阿霉素蓄积障碍可被维拉帕米纠正。讨论了药物主动转运的饱和现象在维拉帕米增强效应中的作用,以及P-糖蛋白与药物相互作用的方式。     

脉冲电流对胰岛素经皮渗透的促进作用

实验结果表明,脉冲电流能有效地提高胰岛素的透皮扩散速率,并随着释放池中胰岛素浓度的递增,透皮扩散速率呈线性增加。同时,胰岛素在pH值偏离等电点的酸性溶液(pH3.6)中透皮速率最高,为324.2±33.4μU/(cm²·h),而在pH值高于等电点的溶液(pH7.4)中其透皮速率降至143.7±27.3μU/(cm²·h),在pH值接近等电点(pH5.3)时,胰岛素的透皮速率最低,为78.4±21.9μU/(cm²·h)。