Systemic inflammation response index predicts all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

International Urology and Nephrology - A systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) has been recently introduced as a tool for the assessment of the prognosis of several critical medical...     

ASO Author Reflections: Do Shorter Tumor-to-Nipple Distances Compromise the Local Oncologic Safety of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Differential contribution of the factors determining long-term renal function after partial nephrectomy over time

PurposeTo define how much of renal function was determined by the preserved renal parenchymal volume and the ischemic insult during partial nephrectomy (PN) long after surgery.MethodsWe analyzed the data of 530 consecutive patients who had undergone PN. For all patients, renal function was measured preoperatively and again at 3 postoperative months, then annually using ^99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid renal scan. Perioperative variables potentially affecting the long-term ipsilateral glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and their time-varying contribution were assessed using a linear mixed model.ResultsThe mean preoperative ipsilateral GFR was 42.9 ml/min, which decreased by 27.3% at 3 months but began to recover thereafter continuing until 4 years (Δ% GFR at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years: 22.3%, 18.5%, 14.7%, 10.0%, and 9.6%, respectively). Parenchymal volume reduction and ischemic time were significantly associated with postoperative ipsilateral GFR throughout observation period unvarying with time. Diabetes and proteinuria were not significant determinants of ipsilateral function at 3 months but became significant at 5 years. In multivariate analysis regarding recovery slope, volume reduction (β = ?0.026, SE 0.006, P < 0.0001), preoperative ipsilateral GFR (β = ?0.021, SE 0.007, P = 0.0012), proteinuria (β = ?0.942, SE 0.372, P = 0.0116), and diabetes (β = ?0.396, SE 0.197, P = 0.0447) were independently significant.ConclusionIpsilateral renal function continued to improve until 5 years after PN. Parenchymal volume loss was the major determinant and its impact on long-term ipsilateral renal function remained constant while ischemic time affected early GFR reduction with its impact diminishing over time. Patient-related factors including diabetes and proteinuria gained significance over time and became independent determinants of recovery slope.     

Structure activity relationship of ar-turmerone analogues

For the analysis of structure activity relationship of ar-turmerone analogues, the compounds containing the various substituents on the phenyl ring and 1(or 2)-naphthyl group in the place of phenyl of ar-turmerone were prepared and tested their cytotoxicity against HL-60, K-562, and L1210 leukemia cellsin vitro. The substituents at para position are methoxy, phenoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, and chloro. Atmeta position methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, or chloro groups and atortho position methoxy or chloro group were introduced. Against HL-60 and K-562 cells, ED₅₀ values of the analogues are ranged from 0.8 to 30.0 μg/ml. Against L1210 cell, these are located more than 20.0 μg/ml. However, 5-carboethoxy-2-methyl-6-(1-naphthyl)-2-octen-4-one (5n) possesses ED50 valuses 0.8, 2.1, 6.5 μg/ml against HL-60, K-562, L1210 cells, respectively. The electronic nature of the subsituents on phenyl ring of ar-turmerone dose not affect the biological activity. Therefore the flat structure of aromatic portion of ar-turmerone analogues is the more important factor for their activity rather than its electronic nature. The potentiation of the cytotoxicity with the enlargement of aromatic ring region also supports the importance of the plane structure of this area. The restriction of the single bond rotation between C-6 and aromatic ring through the introduction of substituents at theortho position of phenyl ring and the increment of size of alkyl group at C-6 position enhances the activity. Therefore the effective conformation should be the one having the orthogonal arrangement between the aromatic ring and the side chain.     

Optimal immobilization of penicillinase for lon-selective electrode

Penicillin sensor was prepared by immobilizing penicillinase (Pcase) on H⁺-selective carboxylated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-COOH) membrane or cellulose filter membrane. The immobilization techniques are as follows. Pcase was immobilized with GTH on H⁺-selective PVC-COOH membrane or some amount of BSA was dropped on that membrane. Another method to make immobilization is to mix type I Pcase with GTH and drop on a cellulose filter membrane. According to immobilization techniques, there were some differences in response properties of enzyme electrodes, however, all electrodes responded to Pcase-resistant penicillin derivatives. Pcase immobilized on cellulose filter membrane with H⁺-selective PVC membrane eletrode was more stable and more sensitive to penicillinase-resistant penicillin derivatives than any other immobilization techniques.     

Changes of nitric oxide synthase activity and free methylarginines contents in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy

In the present study, liver regeneration rate (%) was increased up to 70% 3 days after partial hepatectomy (PH). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in liver tissue as well as serum nitrite/nitrate content had no timed response, revealing no significant difference between shamoperated and partially hepatectomized rat liver. Contents of free methylarginines in liver tissue were increased biphasically in a time-dependent manner after PH. However, those in serum did not exhibit the same patterns as in liver. Taken together, the results suggest that N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (MMA) and N^G, N^G-dimethylarginine (DMA) play a role in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in regenerating rat liver because the increase of their contents was synchronized with NOS expression.     

Two novel abietane diterpenes from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Two new abietane-type pigments named tanshinol A (1) and tanshinol B (2) have been isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza B. (Labiatae) as minor components together with sixteen other related tanshinone pigments 3-18. The structures of the two novel components 1 and 2 were established by means of spectral analyses.     

Anti-cell adhesive effect of phenylacetylshikonin analogues related to their cytotoxicity in A549 cells

An attempt to estabilish the relationship between anti-cell adhesive action of phenylacetylshikonin anallogues and their cytotoxicity against A549 cells was done. In the one hour incubation with A549 cells, alpha-methoxyphenylacetyl-(9), alpha-acetoxyphenylacetyl-(13), 3,4-methylen-edioxyphenylacetyl-(15) and 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-phenylacetylshikonin (17) analogues showed a high anti-cell adhesive activity (IC(100) value, 4-8 mug/ml), while halophenylacetyl-and dimethoxy-or trimethoxyphenylacetyl analogues expressed no activity at 40 mug/ml, indicating that the presence of a bulky group at C'-alpha and a polar group at C-4 of phenylacetyl moiety may be important. A similar structure activity relationship exists for the 48 hr cytotoxocity (ED(50)) of phenylacetylshikonin analogues in A 549 cells, but not in either K562 or L1210 cells. Furthermore, the difference between IC(100) values for anti-cell adhesive activity and ED(50) values for cytotoxicity of potent compound in A549 cells was not so great (1.5 to 3 times). Based on these observations, it is proposed that the anti-cell adhesive action of phenylacetylshikonins might be responsible for their cytotoxicity in A549 cells.     

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of dianemycin isolated fromStreptomyces sp. MT 2705-4

In order to develop new anti-inflammatory agents having different action mechanisms compared with nonsteroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the culture broths of various actinomycetes isolated from soil were screened using anin vivo mouse ear edma assay and one strain (Streptomyces sp. MT 2705-4: KCTC 8651P) was selected. Activity-guided purification led to the isolation of a polyether compound, dianemycin. Topically, dianemycin showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity in mouse ear edema induced by croton-oil or arachidonic acid. ED(50) value of dianemycin was found to be 0.8 mg/ear compared to 0.4 mg/ear of prednisolone in croton-oil ear edema. However, dianemycin did not show the inhibitory activity in UV-erythema and delayed hypersensitivity reaction. These results indicate that dianemycin is a potential topical anti-inflammatory agent.