Phytosterols protect against diet-induced hypertriglyceridemia in Syrian golden hamsters

Background

In addition to lowering LDL-C, emerging data suggests that phytosterols (PS) may reduce blood triglycerides (TG), however, the underlying mechanisms are not known.

Methods

We examined the TG-lowering mechanisms of dietary PS in Syrian golden hamsters randomly assigned to a high fat (HF) diet or the HF diet supplemented with PS (2%) for 6 weeks (n?=?12/group). An additional subset of animals (n?=?12) was provided the HF diet supplemented with ezetimibe (EZ, 0.002%) as a positive control as it is a cholesterol-lowering agent with known TG-lowering properties.

Results

In confirmation of diet formulation and compound delivery, both the PS and EZ treatments lowered (p?<?0.05) intestinal cholesterol absorption (24 and 31%, respectively), blood non-HDL cholesterol (61 and 66%, respectively), and hepatic cholesterol (45 and 55%, respectively) compared with the HF-fed animals. Blood TG concentrations were lower (p?<?0.05) in the PS (49%) and EZ (68%)-treated animals compared with the HF group. The TG-lowering response in the PS-supplemented group was associated with reduced (p?<?0.05) intestinal SREBP1c mRNA (0.45 fold of HF), hepatic PPARα mRNA (0.73 fold of HF), hepatic FAS protein abundance (0.68 fold of HD), and de novo lipogenesis (44%) compared with the HF group. Similarly, lipogenesis was lower in the EZ-treated animals, albeit through a reduction in the hepatic protein abundance of ACC (0.47 fold of HF).

Conclusions

Study results suggest that dietary PS are protective against diet-induced hypertriglyceridemia, likely through multiple mechanisms that involve modulation of intestinal fatty acid metabolism and a reduction in hepatic lipogenesis.     

Evaluation of Eravacycline: A Novel Fluorocycline

Eravacycline (ERV), formerly known as TP-434, is a novel tetracycline (TET) antibiotic that exhibits in vitro activity against various gram-positive, gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic pathogens, including those exhibiting TET-specific acquired resistance mechanisms. Similar to other TETs, it inhibits protein synthesis through binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. Eravacycline was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2018 for the treatment of complicated intraabdominal infections (cIAIs) in adults following the Investigating Gram-Negative Infections Treated with Eravacycline (IGNITE)1 and IGNITE4 phase III trials. In these two, double-blind, multicenter clinical trials, ERV was proven noninferior in terms of clinical response in comparison to ertapenem and meropenem, respectively. Eravacycline was well tolerated with nausea, vomiting, and infusion site reactions being the most commonly reported adverse reactions. Clinicians now have ERV as a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of adults with intraabdominal infections, allergies to β-lactam agents, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, or if tolerability to other agents is a concern.     

The detection of rotavirus antigen in faeces of asymptomatic children from two different communities in Zimbabwe

A study of the existence in Zimbabwe of Rotavirus asymptomatic infection was conducted. Rectal swabs were collected from children aged between one month and two years, who were attending health clinics at Chiweshe Hospital (rural area) and Rujeko (a Harare high density suburb) in Zimbabwe. These infants were tested for the presence of Rotavirus antigen, using the ELISA test. Out of 292 specimens collected during a period of one year, 6.9 pc were found positive for Rotavirus antigen although none of the infants had symptoms of Rotavirus infection. Our results show no significant difference (x2 = .357, P = .55) between the prevalence of Rotavirus in children, 1-12 months old from Rujeko and Chiweshe. Likewise, there was no significant difference (x2 = 1.52, P = .281) in the 13-14 months children. It was however shown that a significant difference (x2 = 9.28, P = 0.0096) appeared between winter months versus dry or wet months. We, therefore, conclude that Rotavirus antigen is prevalent in asymptomatic children, and that it is more frequent during winter months.     

Fructose breath hydrogen tests

Fructose absorption was studied by the breath hydrogen test in 114 healthy children aged 0.1-6 years, given either 2 g/kg or 1 g/kg of fructose. All 57 children given 2 g/kg had peak breath hydrogen excretions > or = 20 ppm. At 1 g/kg only 25/57 (44%) showed incomplete absorption and the percentage incompletely absorbing fructose and the peak breath hydrogen value were significantly higher in children aged 1-3 years. Interestingly, this age distribution correlates with that of toddler diarrhoea.     

Incidence of intramedullary nail removal after femoral shaft fracture healing

INTRODUCTION: There are limited data on hardware removal after femoral fracture healing. We determined the incidence of intramedullary nail (IMN) removal after midshaft femoral fractures. We also studied demographic factors influencing IMN removal. METHODS: The senior author reviewed all adult femoral fractures with IMN placement in the trauma practice between July 1990 and November 2003. There were a total of 74 IMNs in 68 subjects with midshaft fractures. The incidence of hardware removal was the primary outcome measure. We also analyzed age, sex, body mass index (BMI), mechanism of injury, IMN dimensions, occupation, and Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) insurance and litigation involvement. RESULTS: Overall incidence of IMN removal was 20% (15 of 74 fractures). No significant difference was found with age (p=0.965), sex (p=0.086), BMI (p=0.423), occupation (p=0.341), insurance involvement (p=0.229), WCB involvement (p=0.663) or IMN dimensions (width, p=0.752; length, p=0.312). Litigants had the highest incidence of IMN removal (p=0.004). DISCUSSION: All hardware was removed for pain or irritation. These results suggest that litigants require hardware removal more often than nonlitigants. A larger study is needed to identify specific criteria for hardware removal and to determine whether secondary gains affect the incidence of femoral removal.     

秦艽生物碱的薄层色谱扫描测定

用CS-930型双波长薄层扫描仪探讨适合秦艽生物碱定量测定条件。以乙醚—丙酮为展开剂,在硅胶GF₂₅₄板上分离了秦艽甲素和丙素,分别用荧光熄灭和荧光法检出斑点后扫描测定。扫描参数:秦艽甲素λ_s255nm,λ_R280nm;秦艽丙素λ_s300nm,λ_R330nm;反射法锯齿扫描;SX=7;外标一点法;△y=0.2。得到两条通过原点直线。秦艽甲素及丙素的回收率分别为102.75%及100.42%,变异系数分別为2.48%及0.22%。用此法测定了中药秦艽中甲素和丙素的含量;对比了不同产地、同一产地野生和种植、地上和地下部分药材的生物碱含量,为开发秦艽资源提供信息。     

EXTRAPERITONEAL ‘LAPAROSCOPIC’ ADRENALECTOMY

The technique of extraperitoneal ‘laparoscopic’ adrenalectomy is described in two cases, a left sided 1 cm Conn's tumour and a right sided 3.5 cm incidental non-functioning tumour. The extraperitoneal approach has the advantage of direct access to the adrenal gland without the need to mobilize abdominal organs, while maintaining all the advantages of minimal access surgery.