Inhibition of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-DNA adducts by indole-3-carbinol: dose-response studies in the rat colon

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) inhibits the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci and DNA adducts in rats given heterocyclic amine colon carcinogens, such as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). Mechanism studies indicate that I3C induces cytochromes P4501A1 and 1A2 (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2), isozymes that respectively metabolize IQ via ring hydroxylation or activate the carcinogen by N-hydroxylation. The present study examined the dose-response for induction of CYP1A1 versus CYP1A2 by I3C, and compared the profiles of induction with the dose- response for inhibition of IQ-DNA adducts in the colon of the F344 rat. Dietary equivalent doses of I3C in the range 100-1000 p.p.m. increased in a dose-related manner both ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activities in the liver and colonic mucosa, and Western blots showed a corresponding induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 proteins. However, dietary equivalent doses of I3C in the range 10-25 p.p.m. (i) reduced hepatic EROD and MROD activities and CYP1A protein levels compared with controls, (ii) increased the ratio of CYP1A2 versus CYP1A1, and (iii) activated IQ to a more potent mutagen when liver microsomes from rats given I3C were used for metabolic activation in the Salmonella assay. Rats given a single oral dose of I3C shortly before administering IQ (5 mg/kg body wt, p.o.) exhibited dose-related inhibition of colonic IQ-DNA adducts in the range 25-100 p.p.m. I3C, reaching 95% inhibition at doses > or = 100 p.p.m. I3C, but IQ-DNA adducts were elevated slightly at the lowest I3C dose as compared with the controls. The possible significance of the low versus high dose effects of I3C are discussed in the context of human dietary exposures to I3C and the reported chemopreventive mechanisms of I3C in vivo.      

No association between the K variant of the butyrylcholinesterase gene and pathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease

The polymorphic K variant of the butyrylcholinesterase ( BCHE-K ) gene recently has been demonstrated to have an elevated frequency in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients carrying the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APO E) gene when compared with a control population. We therefore genotyped a large series of pathologically confirmed AD patients and controls to confirm this association. We found no change in the frequency of this genetic variant, either in the AD group as a whole or in early- or late-onset patients when compared with age- matched controls. Stratification of these groups with reference to the APO E epsilon4 allele also showed no difference between AD and control groups. To determine if a biological effect were present, we also looked at senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle densities in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices in AD patients either carrying or not carrying a copy of the K variant. We found no difference in plaque or tangle load between these two groups in either the total, late-onset or early-onset AD subjects. Stratification of the total AD group in terms of APO E epsilon4 allele possession, and further comparison of plaque and tangle load between carriers and non- carriers of BCHE-K still failed to disclose a relationship between BCHE- K and AD. We conclude that in the population studied here there is no association between BCHE-K and AD, or that if such a relationship exists it is precluded by another, as yet unknown factor.      

豆豉多糖对实验性糖尿病小鼠血糖的活性作用

目的:观察豆豉中的多糖类成分对正常小鼠和糖尿病小鼠血糖的影响,探讨其降血糖的活性作用。方法:实验于2006-03/06在华北煤炭医学院药学系实验室完成。选用雄性小白鼠130只,分为3部分进行实验。①治疗性给予豆豉多糖:取30只小鼠制作糖尿病模型。造模成功后随机平均分为模型组、低剂量给药组和高剂量给药组,另取10只作为空白对照组。低剂量和高剂量给药组小鼠分别灌胃豆豉多糖200mg/(kg·d)和400mg/(kg·d),模型组灌胃等体积的生理盐水,空白对照组不采取任何措施。给药4d和7d后测定各组小鼠的血糖水平。②豆豉多糖对正常小鼠血糖的影响:取30只小鼠随机平均分为对照组、低剂量给药组和高剂量给药组。低剂量和高剂量给药组小鼠分别灌胃豆豉多糖200mg/(kg·d)和400mg/(kg·d),对照组灌胃等体积的生理盐水,连续7d。末次给药2h后测定各组小鼠血糖水平。③预防性给予豆豉多糖:取30只小鼠随机平均分为对照组、低剂量给药组和高剂量给药组。低剂量和高剂量给药组小鼠分别灌胃豆豉多糖200mg/(kg·d)和400mg/(kg·d),对照组灌胃等体积的生理盐水,连续4d。灌胃结束后,腹腔注射四氧嘧啶200mg/(kg·d),3d后测定各组小鼠血糖及血清超氧化物歧化酶活性。结果:实验共纳入130只小鼠全部进入结果分析。①治疗性给予豆豉多糖对糖尿病模型小鼠血糖的影响:豆豉多糖灌胃后,模型组小鼠的血糖水平明显高于空白对照组(P<0.01)。给药4d时,高剂量和低剂量给药组与模型组比较,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01,0.05)。在给药7d后,随着多糖浓度的提高,血糖下降越明显,并呈现一定剂量-效应关系。②豆豉多糖对正常小鼠血糖的影响:豆豉多糖可明显降低正常小鼠的血糖水平(P<0.01)。③预防性给予豆豉多糖对糖尿病小鼠血糖及超氧化物歧化酶活性的影响:预防性给予小鼠豆豉多糖有明显的降血糖作用(P<0.01),说明豆豉多糖对糖尿病有一定的预防作用。与对照组比较,豆豉多糖可明显增加小鼠血清超氧化物歧化酶含量,提高超氧化物歧化酶活性。结论:豆豉多糖具有一定的降血糖作用。     

Iodine in Human Milk: Perspectives for Infant Health

Iodine is essential for normal growth, mental development, and survival of infants. The main source of iodine for breastfeeding infants is the iodine found in human milk. Despite the importance of iodine for infant health, there have been limited studies addressing human milk iodine concentrations. The newly recommended Adequate Intake of iodine for infants is 110 μg/day for infants 0–6 months and 130 μg/day tor infants 7–12 months. Further studies of human milk iodine are needed to ensure that iodine prophylaxis is providing sufficient iodine for mothers and infants worldwide.     

From optimism to pessimism. A case study of a psychiatric patient

• This article focuses on the results of a single case study which illuminates an understanding of phases in nursing care for a patient in a psychiatric setting in Sweden. • The focus of this study is a 50-year-old man who showed progressive deterioration from increased motor activity to oral, sexual, destructive and aggressive actions. • Data collection using five methods occurred during a 21-month period. Results of the content analysis processes identified four distinct but non-discrete phases of the patient's complex condition. • Medical and nursing care was categorized in three approaches: optimistic, strategic and resigned. • The results raise the question of whether there is action that is without any meaning as an expression of the patient's wishes, thoughts and feelings. • It seems clear that the patient in this study felt really angry and in despair. However, during moments of lucidity, he also indicated that he felt this was not an authentic expression of his ‘real’ self. His experience was that of a splintered world.     

Snoring Increases the Risk of Stroke and Adversely Affects Prognosis

In a case-controlled study we recruited 400 patients admittedto hospital with stroke and 400 community controls matched forage, gender and family practitioner. Snoring history was obtainedfrom 326 patients and 345 controls. Odds ratio for admissionto hospital with stroke was 3.2 (95 per cent confidence intervals2.3–4.4) for regular snorers against those who did notsnore regularly. This risk was independent for age, gender andother risk factors for stroke. Snoring did not increase thechances of stroke during sleep. Level of consciousness was reducedmore frequently in snorers (p = 0.0003). As the frequency ofsnoring increased so did the mortality to 6 months (p = 0.0006).Snoring is an important risk factor for stroke and adverselyaffects the prognosis in patients admitted to hospital withstroke.     

Psychometric properties of the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) applied to children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Background  

Cerebral palsy (CP) patients have motor limitations that can affect functionality and abilities for activities of daily living (ADL). Health related quality of life and health status instruments validated to be applied to these patients do not directly approach the concepts of functionality or ADL. The Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) seems to be a good instrument to approach this dimension, but it was never used for CP patients. The purpose of the study was to verify the psychometric properties of CHAQ applied to children and adolescents with CP.