Monoclonal antibodies directed characterization of epidermal and hepatic cytochrome P-450 isozymes induced by skin application of therapeutic crude coal tar

A single application of crude coal tar (CCT) solution (USP) to the skin of neonatal rats was shown to induce epidermal and hepatic cytochrome P-450(P-450)-dependent monooxygenase activities. To further characterize the induction response, in this study we have utilized highly specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) 1-7-1, 2-66-3, and 1-98-1 directed against highly purified rat liver P-450s induced by 3-methyl-cholanthrene, phenobarbital and ethanol, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of hepatic microsomes prepared from CCT-treated animals showed a significant increase in the coomassie blue stainable proteins in the P-450 region; however, this was not evident in epidermal microsomes. Immunoblot analysis of epidermal and hepatic microsomes with MoAb 1-7-1 revealed strong immunoprecipitin bands in both tissues. MoAb 2-66-3 showed significant immunoreactivity only with hepatic microsomes. Interestingly, CCT treatment resulted in suppression of immunoreactivity with MoAb 1-98-1 in hepatic microsomes. MoAb 1-7-1 and 2-66-3 exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory effects in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activities induced by CCT application. MoAb 1-7-1 was substantially more effective in this respect. Epidermal and hepatic microsomes prepared from CCT-treated rats showed significantly greater metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BP). MoAb 1-7-1 and MoAb 2-66-3 inhibited BP metabolism in both the tissues. However, MoAb 1-7-1 was more inhibitory in this regard as compared to MoAb 2-66-3. These studies indicate that topical application of therapeutic CCT to the skin of neonatal rats results in induction of P-450 isozyme c in epidermis and isozymes b and c in liver, and that this induction is associated with the suppression of P-450 isozyme j in liver.     

The effect of aluminum on the stromal cells (in vitro) on bone marrow in rats.

The aim of this study was to describe the effects of aluminum on the stromal cells of rat bone marrow using a combination of in vivo exposure and in vitro culture of bone marrow. The toxic effects of aluminum are manifested by a decrease in the erythrocyte count and hemoglobin level in the peripheral blood. Aluminum stimulated an increase in the number of fibroblasts while the macrophage count dropped. The number of adipocytes remained unaffected. An increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was also found in the peripheral blood of experimental animals.     

Preliminary evidence for the presence of glutathione-s-transferase activity in mammalian and avian brain

Glutathione-S-transferase activity has been demonstrated in the brain of rabbit, guinea pig, rat, mouse, and pigeon. The activity was in the following order: rabbit > (guinea pig = mouse) > rat > pigeon. The activity of brain was about 1/3 to 1/9 of that present in liver depending upon the species. In the rat brain glutathione-S-transferase activity was found to be distributed equally in cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem and localized mainly in the organelle-free cytosol fraction.     

Assessment of the mutagenicity of dichloroacetic acid in lacI transgenic B6C3F1 mouse liver

Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is a chlorination byproduct found in finished drinking water. When administered in drinking water this chemical has been shown to produce hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in B6C3F1 mice over the animal's lifetime. In this study, we investigated whether mutant frequencies were increased in mouse liver using treatment protocols that yielded significant tumor induction. DCA was administered continuously at either 1.0 or 3.5 g/l in drinking water to male transgenic B6C3F1 mice harboring the bacterial lacI gene. Groups of five or six animals were killed at 4, 10 or 60 weeks and livers removed. At both 4 and 10 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in mutant frequency between the treated and control animals at either dose level. At 60 weeks, mice treated with 1.0 g/l DCA showed a 1.3-fold increase in mutant frequency over concurrent controls (P = 0.05). Mice treated with 3.5 g/l DCA for 60 weeks had a 2.3-fold increase in mutant frequency over the concurrent controls (P = 0.002). The mutation spectrum recovered from mice treated with 3.5 g/l DCA for 60 weeks contained G:C-->A:T transitions (32.79%) and G:C-->T:A transversions (21.31%). In contrast, G:C-->A:T transitions comprised 53.19% of the recovered mutants among control animals. Although only 19.15% of mutations among the controls were at T:A sites, 32.79% of the mutations from DCA-treated animals were at T:A sites. This is consistent with the previous observation that the proportion of mutations at T:A sites in codon 61 of the H-ras gene was increased in DCA-induced liver tumors in B6C3F1 mice. The present study demonstrates DCA-associated mutagenicity in the mouse liver under conditions in which DCA produces hepatic tumors.      

Fatty acid balance studies in term infants fed formula milk containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) are thought to be required for optimal nervous system development in the newborn. A commercial milk formula containing LCP (Aptamil-LCP) with a fatty acid profile closely resembling breast milk, has recently been introduced for term infants. The absorption of fatty acids in term infants was examined in a double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing Aptamil-LCP ( n = 20) and standard Aptamil ( n = 20). Formula-fed newborn infants were studied from birth for 14 d. Fat balances (3 d) were performed from d 10. A 3-d stool collection was performed from d 10 in a parallel breastfed group ( n = 21). Plasma samples were taken on d 6. Median fat excretion (mg kg⁻¹) was 897.1, 615.0 and 355.2 with Aptamil, Aptamil-LCP and breastfeeding, respectively. The median total fat absorption coefficient in Aptamil-LCP-fed infants was higher than in those fed standard Aptamil ( p < 0:01). These findings were accounted for by differences in the excretion and absorption of long-chain saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0). Higher fat excretion was associated with bulkier and firmer stools. Only trace amounts of LCP were detected in the stools of all groups. This accounted for less than 4% of dietary intake in Aptamil-LCP-fed infants. No differences in the utilization of LCP from Aptamil-LCP and breast milk feeding were apparent. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition data reflected differences in dietary LCP intake. Thus, PL LCP levels were highest in the breastfed infants and lowest in the Aptamil-fed infants, with values for the Aptamil-LCP-fed group falling in between.     

Maffucci syndrome: Case report and review of diagnostic signs of the rare disease

Maffucci syndrome is a non-hereditary congenital condition that affects the skin and skeleton. Enchondromas (benign cartilage enlargements), bone abnormalities, and venous anomalies (hemangiomas) are all symptoms. Enchondromas occur as a result of mesodermal dysplasia and have the potential to become cancerous. They are most commonly found on the phalanges and long bones. Venous abnormalities commonly manifest themselves as soft lumps or tumors on the distal extremities. A 19-year-old boy presented with swellings on his fingers and left foot since the age of 5, along with a few bluish soft tissue swellings on his left heel. Multiple expansile lytic lesions and soft tissue swellings with phleboliths were seen on X-ray. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of hemangiomas and enchondromas. Soft tissue swellings were found to have hyper echoic areas, as well as modest marginal blood flow on Doppler, which could indicate hemangiomas. Maffucci syndrome was identified, and treatment with a multidisciplinary approach was initiated. Maffucci syndrome is a rare genetic illness reported in the literature less than 200 times. The enchondromas and hemangiomas have a strong link to malignant changes, with chondrosarcomas accounting for 30% of the associated malignancies. On X-ray, enchondromas are easily identified as osteolytic lesions with cortex thinning and endosteal scalloping while color Doppler ultrasound detects the presence of hemangiomas. Phleboliths are easily identified as small calcifications on X-rays. Radiographic examinations should be considered in patients presenting with bone or soft tissue swellings for an early diagnosis of Maffucci syndrome.     

安徽省2007～2008年志贺氏菌流行株菌型分布及脉冲场分子分型

目的了解安徽省志贺氏菌的流行菌型,并建立脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分子分型方法,为菌痢防控提供理论基础。方法对22株志贺氏菌进行血清分型、药物敏感试验和PFGE试验。结果22株志贺氏菌血清分型：B群19株,占总数86.5%;C群1株,占总数的4.5%;D群2株,占总数的9.0%。成功建立了菌痢的PFGE分子分型方法,并将我省22株流行株分为若干带型。试验结果进一步作聚类分析。结论安徽省菌痢流行株以福氏为主;安徽省PFGE分子分型方法和初步带型数据库对提高细菌检测水平有一定意义。     

柠檬酸对分化型甲状腺癌患者首次131I治疗后唾液腺功能的保护作用

目的：探讨柠檬酸对术后首次行¹³¹I治疗（简称清甲治疗）的分化型甲状腺癌（DTC）患者唾液腺功能的影响,阐明柠檬酸对¹³¹I治疗的甲状腺癌患者唾液腺功能的保护作用。方法：经患者知情同意,随机选择准备首次行¹³¹I治疗的68例甲状腺乳头状癌患者,随机分为对照组和柠檬酸组,每组34例。对照组患者无特殊准备,柠檬酸组患者于¹³¹I治疗前1周及治疗后3周内每天含柠檬酸1 min（0.2 g/次）后吐出。2组患者分别于¹³¹I治疗前24 h及¹³¹I治疗后3个月行2次^99mTcO^4-唾液腺显像检查,计算第15分钟摄取指数（15 min UI）和排泌分数（SR）,评估唾液腺功能。结果：与¹³¹I治疗前比较,对照组患者¹³¹I治疗后右侧腮腺和双侧颌下腺15 min UI差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,左侧腮腺15 min UI降低（P<0.05）;与¹³¹I治疗前比较,柠檬酸组患者¹³¹I治疗后双侧腮腺及双侧颌下腺15 min UI差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;与对照组比较,柠檬酸组患者¹³¹I治疗前后双侧腮腺和双侧颌下腺15 min UI差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。与¹³¹I治疗前比较,对照组患者双侧腮腺治疗后SR降低（P<0.05）,双侧颌下腺SR差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,柠檬酸组患者双侧腮腺和双侧颌下腺治疗后SR差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;与对照组¹³¹I治疗后比较,柠檬酸组患者双侧腮腺SR升高（P<0.05）,双侧颌下腺SR差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：DTC患者术后首次¹³¹I治疗后唾液腺排泌功能可能受损,短期口含柠檬酸对唾液腺具有保护作用,可以减轻唾液腺的放射性损伤。