Desferrioxamine therapy accelerates clearance of iron deposits after bone marrow transplantation for thalassaemia

We treated 18 heavily iron-loaded patients who had become ex-thalassaemics after bone marrow transplantation with subcutaneous desferrioxamine therapy for 5-20 months. As determined using serum ferritin concentration, transferrin saturation and stainable liver iron obtained in follow-up biopsies, marked decreases in body iron stores were observed with this regimen. Moreover, the liver function tests demonstrate a trend to normalization in all cases. Local skin reactions to desferrioxamine were the only toxicities observed. We conclude that pharmacological iron chelation is a safe and effective therapy in the reduction of iron deposits in this clinical situation; it therefore represents a valid alternative to phlebotomy in selected patients.     

Reduction of angiocidin contributes to decreased HepG2 cell proliferation

Background

Angiocidin plays a key role in angiogenesis and tumor progression. High angiocidin expression is detected in some kind of solid tumors and tumor vascular endothelial cells. Several reports have shown the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth caused by angiocidin. However, the role of angiocidin in liver cancers growth is still unclear.

Objectives

To examine angiocidin expression in SMMC-7221 and HepG2 cells and the role of angiocidin in liver cancer cell growth.

Methods

RT-PCR and western blot are used in this study to detect angiocidin expression. SiRNA and MTT experiments are used in exploring the role of angiocidin in tumor cell growth.

Results

Our study showed high angiocidin expression in two kinds of liver cancer cells. Angiocidin protein production in HepG2 cells were reduced significantly by siRNA. When HepG2 cells were transfected with siRNA-angiocidin, these cells showed very low proliferation activity compared with control cells. Our study suggests that reduction of angiocidin may contribute to decreased proliferation activity in liver cancer cells.

Conclusion

Angiocidin is highly expressed in liver cancer cells, and it may play a key role in tumor growth of liver cancers.     

Presentation of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) at Lions Sight First Eye Hospital in Blantyre,Malawi

Objective

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma in Africa. We carried out a study to determine the clinical presentation pattern of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) at a tertiary hospital in Malawi.

Design

A cross-sectional study

Setting

Lions Sight First Eye Hospital—a major referral and teaching state eye hospital in Blantyre, Malawi

Subjects

Study participants were newly diagnosed POAG patients at specialist eye clinic during study period.

Results

A total of 60 POAG patients were recruited into the study. The mean age was 58.7 years (SD= 16.6, range 18 - 86). There were more male (44, 73.3%) than female (16, 27.7%) patients. The majority of patients (73%) presented one year after onset of visual symptoms. Twenty-six patients (43%) had unilateral blindness (visual acuity < 3/60; WHO classification), while nine patients (15%) presented with bilateral blindness. A vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) of 0.8 or worse was seen in 92 eyes (79%). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reading was 35.5 mmHg (SD 13.30). Of the thirty-three eyes that successfully underwent visual field analysis, very advanced defects were recorded in 12 eyes (36%).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates delayed presentation and male predominance among POAG patients at a tertiary eye hospital in Malawi. Glaucoma intervention programmes should aim at identifying patients with treatable glaucoma with particular attention to women.     

雷公藤内酯醇的结构修饰

为降低雷公藤内酯醇的毒性,寻找高效低毒的抗炎免疫化合物,对雷公藤内酯醇(trip-tolide,1)的结构进行了修饰,合成了九个雷公藤内酯醇衍生物。初步活性测定显示雷公藤氯内酯(tri-pchlorolide,2)和雷公藤溴内酯醇(tripbromolide,3)的免疫抑制活性与雷公藤内酯醇近似,但毒性有所降低。其他化合物的活性大大低于雷公藤内酯醇。     

赛庚啶对离体大鼠心脏缺钙/复钙损伤(钙反常)的保护作用

离体大鼠心脏经无钙灌流(灌流液为不含Ca²⁺的K-H液,通以95%O₂和5%CO₂的混合气体)5min后,用正常K-H液进行复钙灌流20min,可导致心肌细胞内酶(CPK,LDH)及蛋白的大量漏出,心脏变苍白,甚至出现心脏挛缩,心肌组织抗氧自由基酶(SOD,GSH-Px)活性明显降低,但MDA含量无明显改变。赛庚啶(2.5～5μmol/L)能明显减少心脏Ca²⁺反常时心肌组织内酶及蛋白的漏出,显著保护心肌组织抗氧自由基酶的活性。     

复方氨基酸胶囊的稳定性研究

用优选法处理自由变温加速试验数据,研究了复方氨基酸胶囊的稳定性。试验中考查了胶囊中最不稳定的色氨酸的含量变化。结果表明,复方氨基酸胶囊的室温贮存期约为2.4年。     

商陆多糖I对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖及脾淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞分泌细胞因子的影响

商陆多糖Ⅰ(Phytolacca acinosa polysaccharides Ⅰ,PAP-Ⅰ)体外能显著促进小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖,促进丝裂原诱导的淋巴细胞转化及双向混合淋巴细胞反应。检测PAP-Ⅰ和小鼠脾淋巴细胞培养上清液发现PAP-Ⅰ可显著促进小鼠脾淋巴细胞产生白细胞介素2(IL-2)及集落刺激因子(colony stimulating factor,CSF)。PAP-Ⅰ和小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞培养上清液中也存在CSF活性及促进重组粒单系集落刺激因子诱导骨髓细胞增殖的细胞因子。PAP-Ⅰ,ip可显著促进小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖及IL-2产生。     

赛庚啶对氧自由基的清除作用

赛庚啶(Cyp)对Fenton反应生成的·OH有较强的直接清除作用(EC₅₀为54μmol/L),并明显抑制·OH的生成速率(IC₅₀为22 μmol/L),且作用明显比·OH特异性清除剂甘露醇强(其EC₅₀和IC₅₀分别为22.7 mmol/L和10.7mmol/L)。Cyp对大鼠腹腔多形核白细胞(PMNs)产生的O₂也有一定的清除作用,其IC₅₀为179 μmol/L。提示Cyp的抗心肌损伤作用可能至少部分与其清除氧自由基作用相关。