The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass in open-heart surgery

OBJECTIVE: Haemolysis has long been recognized as one of the responses to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, has been known for many years for its haemorrheological properties. In this prospective, randomized study, we investigated whether a PTX treatment would reduce the haemolysis during CPB. METHODS: The effect of PTX treatment on haemolysis during CPB was studied in 25 patients (PTX group). Oral PTX (1200 mg/day in 3 divided doses) treatment for 3 days was followed by 300 mg i.v. PTX administration after anaesthesia induction.The control group consisted of 25 patients with equivalent surgery but no PTX treatment. Blood samples were collected at seven time points: prior to CPB, at 5 and 10 min of CPB and 5, 10 and 15 min after removal of cross clamping and 10 min after weaning from bypass in order to measure the haemolysis parameters, which included free haemoglobin and haptoglobin. RESULTS: PTX-treatment caused statistically significant decrements in plasma free haemoglobin levels during CPB. On the other hand, plasma haptoglobin levels stayed higher in PTX-medicated patients during the CPB as compared to control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that PTX may be an effective agent in reducing the haemolysis during CPB.     

Prevalence of virulence genes and cytolethal distending toxin production in Campylobacter jejuni isolates from diarrheal patients in Bangladesh

From 300 stool samples, 58 Campylobacter strains were isolated by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Of these, 40 strains were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 5 as Campylobacter coli. The presence of flaA (100%), cadF (100%), racR (100%), dnaJ (100%), pldA (100%), ciaB (95%), virB11 (0%), ceuE (82.5%), cdtA (97.5%), cdtB (97.5%), cdtC (97.5%), and wlaN (7.5%) genes was detected in C. jejuni by PCR. All C. jejuni strains but one produced cytolethal distending toxin in a HeLa cell assay.     

The Brugada syndrome revisited

The Brugada syndrome is a rare but well-defined cause of sudden cardiac death. The key underlying abnormality is a decrease in net depolarising current due to a genetic defect, though recent evidence also implicates structural abnormalities in some patients. Diagnosis requires a Brugada-type ECG as well as typical clinical features: such clinical considerations are currently key in guiding risk stratification and hence management. Whilst pharmacological therapies are under investigation, the only intervention with a robust evidence base remains insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Further research will be required to allow more effective risk stratification and hence more rational therapy.     

Health effects of pesticides in the flower-bulb culture in Holland

In a comprehensive project the health risk for workers using pesticides in the flower-bulb culture was addressed in several studies regarding biological monitoring, occupational hygiene and health effects. With respect to biological monitoring, methods were developed for the analysis of metabolites in urine of captan, pirimicarb, zineb and maneb and the soil fumigant dichloropropene. For dichloropropene in a field study a clear relationship was found between the external personal exposure and the excretion of two metabolites (mercapturic acids) in urine. The application technique distinctly influenced the extent of exposure. For the other substances preliminary measurements were performed in the urine of exposed workers; for captan and pirimicarb the methods are promising for further studies of the uptake of these substances under working conditions. In an occupational hygiene study, the dermal exposure due to different application techniques used in crop protection and bulb disinfection was investigated. This resulted in method specific exposure values (grams/field area of bulbs) that showed large differences between the techniques. These exposure values in combination with information on the type of techniques used, the treated area and the frequency of application were used to calculate a personal exposure index (grams/working life); this is an estimate of the potential (external) exposure of individual workers. In an effect study 137 workers who applied pesticides for more than 10 years (average 20 years) in at least bulb disinfection and crop protection (the most important area's of exposure for the growers) were compared to 73 controls. Tests for autonomic and peripheral nerve functions including the distribution of conduction velocities and refractory periods, were applied as well as computerized neurobehavioral tests and electro-encephalography. Significant effects were found on peripheral nerve function parameters, on measures of attention and perceptual coding and on the amount of beta-activity in the EEG; the data suggest that for the majority of subjects these effects are small. No effects were found on liver and renal function and no difference in the prevalence of symptoms that might be ascribed to the usage of pesticides. In a number of exposed workers a cutaneous allergy to pesticides was found. Based on this study, measures are recommended to diminish effectively the exposure to pesticides in this culture.     

天山假狼毒的化学成分研究(Ⅱ)

目的系统研究天山假狼毒Stelleropsis tianschanica的化学成分。方法采用柱色谱技术对天山假狼毒的甲醇提取物进行分离纯化,用波谱技术结合化学方法进行结构鉴定。结果从天山假狼毒甲醇提取物中分离得到了12个化合物,包括5个木脂素类,3个二苯基戊醇衍生物,分别鉴定为kusunokinin(1)、pluviatolide(2)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(3)、邻苯二甲酸二丙酯(4)、对二苯酚(5)、瑞香酮(6)、2(S)-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-5-phcnyl-1-pentanone(7)、(2R,3R)-1,5-diphenylpentane-2,3-diol(8)、落叶松树脂醇(9)、异落叶松树脂醇(10)、马台树脂醇(11)、4α,5βH-guai-9,7(11)-dien-12,8-olide-12,8α-diol(12)。结论化合物1~12均为首次从该属植物中分离得到。