Consanguineous marriages in the Turkish population

This study of 55 175 marriages in Turkey, conducted from 1970 to 1987, showed an overall rate of consanguineous marriage of 21.21% (mostly first-cousin liaisons) and an inbreeding coefficient of 0.0064532. However, considerable differences between areas are apparent.     

The clinical value of daily routine chest radiographs in a mixed medical–surgical intensive care unit is low

Introduction  

The clinical value of daily routine chest radiographs (CXRs) in critically ill patients is unknown. We conducted this study to evaluate how frequently unexpected predefined major abnormalities are identified with daily routine CXRs, and how often these findings lead to a change in care for intensive care unit (ICU) patients.     

Clinical features in tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical features of the tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome in Japan, especially exacerbations or recurrences of uveitis. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical features in 12 patients with TINU syndrome diagnosed by renal biopsy, who were evaluated and treated at the Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University Hospital. Visual acuity was measured using decimal visual acuity. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 10 to 33 years (mean 21 years), and females accounted for 83% of the cases. Both eyes were affected in 11 patients (92%). All 12 patients initially experienced ocular symptoms, with hyperemia being the chief complaint. We diagnosed patients as having uveitis and conducted blood tests and urinalysis. Urinalysis did show characteristic findings, most notably glucosuria, increased beta2 microglobulin that were > or = 10 times that of normal levels, and increased N-acetylglucosaminidose levels in a high percentage of patients. Recurrent or exacerbating uveitis was seen in six patients (50%). In exacerbated or recurrent uveitis, inflammation was more severe (> or = 3+ cells of the anterior eye segment). The ocular inflammation generally responded well to treatment with oral corticosteroids, and the number of recurrences was lower at corticosteroid doses of > or = prednisolone 40 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists play an important role in the initial discovery of patients with TINU syndrome. Because inflammation was more severe in exacerbated or recurrent uveitis, in instances where uveitis is refractory to local therapy, oral corticosteroids should be considered as early as possible.     

NK105, a paclitaxel-incorporating micellar nanoparticle formulation, can extend in vivo antitumour activity and reduce the neurotoxicity of paclitaxel

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most effective anticancer agents. In clinical practice, however, high incidences of adverse reactions of the drug, for example, neurotoxicity, myelosuppression, and allergic reactions, have been reported. NK105, a micellar nanoparticle formulation, was developed to overcome these problems and to enhance the antitumour activity of PTX. Via the self-association process, PTX was incorporated into the inner core of the micelle system by physical entrapment through hydrophobic interactions between the drug and the well-designed block copolymers for PTX. NK105 was compared with free PTX with respect to their in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumour activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and neurotoxicity. Consequently, the plasma area under the curve (AUC) values were approximately 90-fold higher for NK105 than for free PTX because the leakage of PTX from normal blood vessels was minimal and its capture by the reticuloendothelial system minimised. Thus, the tumour AUC value was 25-fold higher for NK105 than for free PTX. NK105 showed significantly potent antitumour activity on a human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 xenograft as compared with PTX (P<0.001) because the enhanced accumulation of the drug in the tumour has occurred, probably followed by its effective and sustained release from micellar nanoparticles. Neurotoxicity was significantly weaker with NK105 than with free PTX. The neurotoxicity of PTX was attenuated by NK105, which was demonstrated by both histopathological (P<0.001) and physiological (P<0.05) methods for the first time. The present study suggests that NK105 warrants a clinical trial for patients with metastatic solid tumours.     

Inhibition of human lanosterol synthase by the constituents of Colocasia esculenta (taro)

Ethanol extracts of lyophilized vegetables were tested for inhibition of human lanosterol synthase (hOSC) in order to find the compounds to suppress cholesterol biosynthesis. Of 130 samples tested, twelve samples showed significant inhibition. Among them, Colocasia esculenta (taro) showed the highest inhibition (55% inhibition at 300 microg/ml). Examination of activity variation among eight taro cultivars indicated that "Aichi-wase" and "Yatsugashira" had the most potent activity for hOSC inhibition. In order to identify the active constituent of taro, ethanol extracts of "Aichi-wase" were partitioned with hexane and aqueous methanol, and fractionated by silica gel column chromatography. Inhibitory activity was concentrated in two major active fractions. Further purification of these fractions by preparative HPLC gave three monogalactosyldiacylglycerols and five digalactosyldiacylglycerols as active compounds that showed 28 to 67% inhibitory activities at the concentration 300 microg/ml.