Plasma iron status and lipid peroxidation following thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Summary— Free radical species have been implicated as important agents involved in myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injuries. Superoxide is capable of mobilizing iron from ferritin and the released iron can cause hydroxyl formation from H₂O₂. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation assessed by plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the relationship between lipid-peroxidation and the iron status. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from 17 men with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before thrombolytic treatment (T0***) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 48 hours after commencing fibrinolytic treatment. The concentration of TBARS, the parameters of iron metabolism, serum myoglobin, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-MB were measured. Early reperfusion was judged by regression of sinus tachycardia (ST) elevation and reduction of chest pain. Recanalization of coronary artery was evaluated by a late coronary angiography 24–96 hours after thrombolysis. After thrombolytic therapy, the TBARS level was raised from 2.98 ± 0.80 (T0***) to 4.57 ± 1.24 (peak), and decreased to 2.96 ± 0.40 nmol/mL plasma at T48 (T0 vs peak: P < 0.001, peak vs T48: P < 0.001, TO vs T48: NS). The mean time of the peak was observed at 9.7 ± 7.5 hours. The iron increased significantly from 0.67 ± 0.34 (T0) to 1.15 ± 0.52 mg/L (peak), and returned to the pre-reperfusion to levels: 0.53 ± 0.28 UI/L at T48 (T0 vs peak: P < 0.001, peak vs T48: P < 0.001, TO vs T48: NS). The mean time of the peak was observed at 9.4 ± 7.3 hours. In return, no correlation was found between the increase of plasma creatine-kinase activity, myoglobin and iron or between the biochemical markers and time of fibrinolytic therapy. The results confirmed the importance of the temporal relationship between lipid peroxidation and iron status after thrombolytic therapy. Our results are in agreement with the concept that antioxidant agents used in association with thrombolytic therapy might be useful.     

Update on implementation of GHS in Korea and revision of Industrial Safety and Health Act in relation to GHS

To implement the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) in Korea, an inter-ministerial GHS committee, involving 8 ministries and an expert working group composed of 9 experts from relevant organizations and one private consultant, have made some progress towards implementation by 2008. As such, the first revision of the official Korean translated version of the GHS in accordance with the GHS purple book revision 1 in 2005, including annexes, started in August, 2006, was completed in December, 2006. The Ministry of Labor also finally revised the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) relating to the GHS and the detailed notification was announced on Dec 12, 2006 and became effective immediately. The revised ISHA will allow continued use of the existing hazard communication system until Jun 30, 2008. Other revisions of chemical-related regulations will follow soon to facilitate the implementation of the GHS by 2008. Besides, inter-ministerial collaborative efforts on harmonizing regulations and disseminating the GHS in Korea will continue to avoid any confusion or duplication and for the effective use of resources.     

Use of Bacteria to Activate Ground-Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBFS) as Cementless Binder

Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) can be used as a cementless binder after activation. Recent approaches to activate GGBFS have focused on chemical methods that use NaOH, KOH, and CaO. This study introduces the use of bacteria to activate GGBFS as a biological approach. The presence of bacteria (volumetric ratio), curing temperature (23 °C and 60 °C), and number of curing days (3, 7, and 28 d) are investigated. The use of urea is considered owing to the possibility of calcium carbonate formation. The activated GGBFS is evaluated in the form of a cube (5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm) for its strength, mineral identification, and pore size distribution. A brick (19 cm × 9 cm × 5.7 cm) is prefabricated to see the feasibility of commercializing bacteria-activated GGBFS based on water absorption and strength measurements. All results are compared with those of water-activated GGBFS. The results indicate that the use of urea inhibits the strength improvement of bacteria-activated GGBFS. Bacterial suspension enhances the GGBFS strength at a curing temperature of 60 °C. Mineral identification tests show that the strength increase is primarily due to the formation of calcite. The compressive strength satisfies the commercial standard of concrete bricks; however, the water absorption rate must be resolved.     

Deposition of autofluorescent eosinophil granules in pathologic bone marrow biopsies

Eosinophil granules are intensely autofluorescent when excited by green light. To determine if eosinophils degranulate in the bone marrows of patients with a variety of diseases, we used green light epifluorescence microscopy to examine deparaffinized and dezenkerized sections of 49 bone marrow core biopsies. In 14 of the biopsies, there was striking extracellular deposition of intensely autofluorescent eosinophil granules in addition to numerous intact eosinophils. Among the 14 specimens with extracellular autofluorescence were seven cases of leukemia, four cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, two cases of myelofibrosis, and one case of pancytopenia with eosinophilia. In the remaining 35 specimens, only intact eosinophils were identifiable. There was no extracellular autofluorescence in three normal marrows, four marrows from AIDS patients, or three biopsies from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We conclude that green light epifluorescence microscopy identifies extracellular deposits of eosinophil granules in bone marrow biopsies of some neoplastic disorders and in diseases associated with reticulin fibrosis.     

Toxicity of sodium pentafluorostannite. A new anticariogenic agent. III. 30-Day toxicity study in rats.

For 30 days, groups of 12–19 Wistar rats (divided according to sex) were dosed daily by gavage with distilled water or with 20, 100, or 175 mg/kg sodium pentafluorostannite. On Days 14 and 29, blood was collected from five rats in each group to determine hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume. On Days 15 and 30, rats were sacrificed, blood collected, and serum urea nitrogen (BUN), direct and total bilirubin, SGOT activity, inorganic phosphorus, calcium and glucose concentrations were determined. A necropsy was performed on each rat, its organs weighed, and sections prepared for microscopic examination. After 15 and 30 days, growth was depressed in a dose-related manner. Serum glucose concentration was also lowered. Microscopic findings in organs were generally unremarkable except for degenerative changes of the proximal tubular epithelium of the kidneys in 15–20% of the animals in the 175-mg/kg groups. Animals that died spontaneously displayed signs suggestive of cardiac failure, including congestion of the liver, spleen, lungs and/or kidneys. In addition, most had moderate to severe renal tubular necrosis.