Suppression of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections with Oral Lithium Carbonate—A Possible Antiviral Activity

In vitro studies have shown an inhibitory effect of lithium salts on herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication by mechanisms that interfere with viral DNA synthesis. Moreover, clinical studies have shown that oral lithium carbonate and topical lithium succinate can suppress genital HSV infections in humans. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral lithium carbonate in 11 healthy subjects age 28–65 years (mean ± SD age 38 ± 11 years) who had at least four recurrent HSV infections in the year preceding the study. Six patients completed at least 5 months of, lithium therapy at a mean (± SD) average daily lithium dose of 437 ± 185 mg (range, 150–900mg) and an average serum lithium level of 0.56 ± 0.20 mmol/L. Overall, lithium treatment resulted in a consistent reduction in the mean number of episodes/month, the average duration of each episode, the total number of infection days/month, and the maximum symptom severity. In contrast, treatment with placebo resulted in an increase in three out of the four severity measures. Although the comparisons between the treatment groups did not achieve statistical significance due to the limited sample size, there was a clear “trend” for a reduction in the total monthly duration of all HSV infections with lithium (p = 0.08). Lithium treatment was well tolerated and produced no deleterious effects on renal or thyroid function. These observations lend support to prior observations of an antiviral activity of lithium, and suggest the possibility that oral lithium may represent a safe prophylactic agent in patients with recurrent HSV infections.     

环氧司坦对胎盘滋养层、黄体细胞及胚胎与子宫内膜共培养的影响

环氧司坦(2-氰基-3,17 α-二羟基-4β,17β-二甲基-4α,5α-环氧-雄甾烯(epostane)被认为是颇有希望的止孕药物,国外已应用于临床,为了进一步探讨环氧司坦的止孕机理,我们研究了它对离体人胎盘滋养层细胞和豚鼠黄体细胞的直接作用及对hCG的促黄体激素生成作用和小鼠胚胎与子宫内膜“共培养”的影响。     

Neurilemmoma of the foot in a 7-year-old girl

We report a case of a neurilemmoma in a child's foot causing a tiptoe gait. The difficulties in diagnosis in this age group are discussed.     

山荷叶中木脂素的薄层扫描测定

在高效硅胶薄层板上,用二氯甲烷-乙醚分离了山荷叶中6种苯基四氢萘丁内酯类木脂素:鬼臼酮、异苦鬼臼酮、苦鬼臼酮、苦鬼臼素、鬼臼毒素、4’-去甲基鬼臼毒素和2种苯基萘丁内酯:去氢鬼臼素、山荷叶素。用2.5%硫酸铈铵的20%硝酸溶液喷雾显色,氨气薰数分钟后,薄层扫描法测定,各木脂素的线性范围在0.48～2.52μg,并用此法测定了不同产地的山荷叶及相近属植物鬼臼和山荷叶中木脂素的含量,方法简便、快速、灵敏度高。     

Characterization of autoreactive helper T cells in a murine model of autoimmune haemolytic disease.

Repeated immunization of mice with rat red blood cells (RRBC) results in the production of both erythrocyte autoantibodies and anti-RRBC antibodies. The manner in which erythrocyte self-tolerance is broken has been little studied. It has been assumed that help for autoreactive B cells is provided by Th cells specific for the foreign RRBC. We show here that autoreactive Th cells can be recovered from RRBC-immunized mice. The Th cells proliferate in vitro whether stimulated by self or rat erythrocytes. Analysis of the specificity of the proliferating cells revealed extensive cross-reactivity for the two types of erythrocytes. It is therefore surprising that, in initial cultures, a slower response is evident when mouse erythrocytes are used as the antigen. From cytotoxic depletion of T-cell subsets, the phenotype of the proliferating cells was identified as Thy-1.2+, Lyt-1.1+, Lyt-2.1-, L3T4+. During in vitro stimulation of the T cells, growth factors characteristic of Th cells are secreted. Finally, we demonstrate that the responding T cells are able to help primary in vitro antibody responses to self and rat erythrocytes. We conclude that autoreactive Th cells are likely to be involved in the experimental induction of autoimmune haemolytic disease in mice.     

北京老年妇女脊椎骨折的流行病学研究

北京老年妇女脊椎骨折的流行病学研究徐苓ＣｕｍｍｉｎｇｓＳＲ秦明伟，田均平ＳｔｏｎｅＫ赵熙和，陈孝曙，余卫ＪｅｒｇａｓＭ摘要：脊椎压缩性骨折是老年妇女骨质疏松常见的并发症之一，严重影响老年妇女的健康和生活质量。本研究目的是要得出我国北京地区妇女脊椎骨折...     

Evaluation of Orally Administered Highly Variable Drugs and Drug Formulations

Pharmaceutical Research -