Potential problem with fluorescence polarization immunoassay cross-reactivity to vancomycin degradation product CDP-1: its detection in sera of renally impaired patients

During the development of a homogeneous immunoassay for the antibiotic vancomycin, we observed in certain patient samples a quantitation difference between the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) method and the comparison method, fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). This prompted us to evaluate the integrity of vancomycin in samples from renally impaired patients. Since it has been reported in the scientific literature that vancomycin degrades into an antibiotically inactive crystalline degradation product (CDP-1) in vitro, we developed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods to determine whether CDP-1 is present in patient sera. HPLC and LC/MS analysis on samples from renally impaired patients positively identified CDP-1 in fresh samples. Next, we tested the cross-reactivity of three currently available vancomycin immunoassays, radioimmunoassay (RIA) FPIA, and EMIT, to CDP-1 prepared in our laboratory. Our data suggest that CDP-1 is recognized by FPIA and RIA, both polyclonal antibody-based methods, but not by EMIT, which uses a monoclonal antibody.     

Effects of bromocriptine on hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system

We have evaluated the in vitro effects of bromocriptine (Br), on the hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system of rats pretreated with saline phenobarbitone (PB) and beta-naphthoflavone (BNF). Br inhibited ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD) activity in liver microsomes of rats pretreated with saline and PB but not in BNF pretreated animals. Maximum inhibition of EROD activity by Br in the microsomes of saline and PB pretreated rats were 50%-60% of the control. In contrast, a dual effect was observed on aminopyrine N-demethylase activity (APD) by Br in microsomes of saline, PB and BNF pretreated rats. At a low concentration (25 microM), Br inhibited the activity of APD to a similar extent in all pretreatment groups; however, with higher concentrations of Br (50 microM to 300 microM), enhancement of APD activity was observed. Br (300 microM) increased the APD activity to 2-3 times the control level in microsomes of rats pretreated with saline, PB or BNF. Spectral studies revealed a Type II binding of Br to cytochrome P-450 from microsomes of saline and PB pretreated rats. A reverse type I binding was observed for BNF induced microsomes. In addition, Br also enhanced NADPH cytochrome c (P-450) reductase activity to a similar extent in all pretreatment groups. These results suggest that the inhibition of EROD activity may be due to direct binding by Br to certain isozymes of cytochrome P-450 and that the enhancing effect of Br on APD activity may be in part due to the activation of the NADPH cytochrome c reductase component of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system.     

川芎挥发油化学成分研究

采取闪蒸气相毛细管色谱法和气相毛细管色谱—质谱法研究了宁夏六盘山区产川芎的挥发油化学成分,色谱分离出50多个峰,质谱鉴定了24个成分,主要是川芎酜内酯(46.37％)、丁基酞内酯(13.87％)、新蛇床内酯(6.98％)和丁烯基酜酯(4.8％)。红外光谱图中有较强的内酯特征吸收峰,为质谱所鉴定的以上主要成分提供了佐证。将闪蒸气相色谱法与蒸气蒸馏提取气相色谱法进行对照,二者的色谱图基本相符,前者是分析天然产物挥发性成分更加简便、迅速的微量方法。     

1-Methylnicotinamide stimulates cell growth and inhibits hemoglobin synthesis in differentiating murine erythroleukemia cells

Exposure of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELCs) to nicotinamide (NA) or its synthetic analog N′-methylnicotinamide (N′-MN) reduces cell growth and induces terminal differentiation, marked by increased heme and globin accumulation. On the contrary, 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MN), the primary metabolite of excess NA, was found to stimulate cell growth and reduce spontaneous differentiation of cultured MELCs. Log phase MELCs exhibited up to 50% higher cell density above untreated cells when cultured for up to 96 h with 2.5 mM 1-MN. When combined with NA or several chemically-unrelated inducers of hemoglobin synthesis in cultured MELCs, 1-MN reduced the globin mRNA levels and heme accumulation by 40–80%. 1-MN was able to inhibit heme production if present during only the first 24–48 h after NA exposure. Pre-treatment with 1-MN could not confer resistance of cells to effects of NA, suggesting the inhibition is reversible. Commitment to differentiate in semisolid medium by the most potent inducer, 5 mM N′-MN, was inhibited up to 95% by 2.5 mM concentrations of 1-MN. It appears that 1-MN has opposing effects on growth and induction of differentiation than those seen in MELC cultures exposed to NA or N′-MN.     

Cerebrospinal Fluid Penetration and Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters of Intravenously Administered Colistin in a Case of Multidrug-Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter baumannii</Emphasis> Meningitis

Described here is a case of meningitis caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii susceptible only to colistin, which was treated successfully with intravenous colistin sulfomethate sodium (5 mg/kg/day). The levels of colistin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid and the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of colistin were determined. In this case, intravenously administered colistin penetrated cerebrospinal fluid (25% of serum levels) at levels sustaining bactericidal concentrations. Electronic Publication     

B组轮状病毒WH-2株vp7基因的原核表达与抗体的制备

目的：在大肠杆菌中表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白并制备其兔抗血清。方法：根据B组轮状病毒（GBRV）WH-2株vp7基因的全序列设计引物,用PCR的方法扩增得到vp7基因的编码区。将其克隆到原核GST融合表达载体pGEX-KG内,转化大肠杆菌E.coliDH5α,IPTG诱导表达人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白,经SDS-PAGE分离纯化表达的蛋白免疫新西兰兔,制备人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白抗血清。结果：经鉴定确认,vp7基因以正确的方式插入到载体中,此重组表达载体经IPTG诱导后,可表达相对分子量为53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白。制备的抗血清经同样诱导表达的表达载体pGEX-KG表达产物吸收后1：500倍稀释后用Western Blot分析,与53.4 kDa的GST-VP7融合蛋白获得特异性显色信号。结论：人B组轮状病毒WH-2株VP7蛋白成功在大肠杆菌中GST融合表达,所表达的蛋白和制备的抗体不但为研究结构与功能提供了物质基础,也为GBRV所引起的疾病预防、诊断和治疗等流行病学研究和临床诊断奠定了基础,具有重要实际应用价值。     

Sympathoadrenal excitation and inhibition by lower brainstem stimulation in cats

Effects of stimulation of brainstem sites on hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine levels were assessed in cats under chloralose-urethane anesthesia. Pressor areas of the dorsal medulla (DM) and ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and the depressor area of the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRN) were stimulated electrically using a monopolar electrode, or chemically using sodium glutamate microinjection. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) were measured in caval blood above the adrenal veins. Electrical stimulation of the DM and VLM produced increases in blood pressure and in plasma NE and EPI levels that were enhanced after acute vagotomies. The NE and EPI responses were attenuated after acute, bilateral adrenalectomies, confirming augmented adrenomedullary secretion, whereas the pressor responses were intact. Injection of sodium glutamate into the same pressor regions of the DM or VLM also produced pressor responses and elevated plasma catecholamine levels, indicating that the responses resulted from activation of neuronal perikarya. Stimulation of the PRN attenuated pressor and catecholamine responses during stimulation of the DM and VLM. The results indicate that pressor responses during stimulation of the DM and VLM are due at least partly to activation of perikarya in these regions, are associated with but not dependent on adrenomedullary activation, and are enhanced after vagotomy; and that neurons of the PRN exert inhibitory modulation of the pressor and adrenomedullary responses during stimulation of VLM and DM.     

Hb F-Xin-Su or A gamma I73(E17)Asp----His: a new slow-moving fetal hemoglobin variant

A slow-moving gamma chain variant was discovered in the cord blood of an infant born to parents of the Han nationality from Jiangsu. The variant, which migrated electrophoretically at alkaline pH between Hb A and Hb D, was characterized by an Asp----His substitution at gamma 73, while residues gamma 75 and gamma 136 were occupied by Ile and Ala, respectively. As the A gamma T-chain was also present, this baby has two types of abnormal gamma-chain. The variant was named Hb F-Xin-Su.     

绥芬河公路口岸附近地区鼠类EHF IgG抗体调查报告

目的 了解绥芬河公路口岸附近EHF亚在鼠类中的流行动态。方法 对鼠类进行EHF IgG抗体监测。结果 检测142只、5种鼠类的血样，检出EHF IgG抗体阳性29例，阳性率为20．42％。其中黑线姬鼠的移抗体IgG抗体阳性率较高，为30．95％。结论 EHF宿主是属于多源性动物宿主，而黑线姬鼠是主要贮存宿主和传染源，提示我们要注意防鼠、灭鼠。