Antibody to soluble 1,3/1,6-beta-D-glucan,SCG in sera of naive DBA/2 mice

A branched beta-glucan from Sparassis crispa (SCG) is a major 6-branched 1,3-beta-D-glucan showing antitumor activity. In the present study, we examined the anti-SCG antibody in naive mice by ELISA. Using SCG coated plate, sera of naive DBA/1 and DBA/2 mice contained significantly higher titers of antibody than other strains of mice. Anti-SCG Ab titers of each DBA/1 and DBA/2 mice were significantly varied. Using various polysaccharide-coated plate, sera of DBA/2 mice also reacted with a beta-glucan from Candida spp. (CSBG) having 1,3-beta and 1,6-beta-glucosidic linkages. The SCG specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M but G was detected in sera. The reactivity of sera to coated SCG was neutralized by adding soluble SCG and CSBG as competitor. These results suggested that DBA/1 and DBA/2 strains carry specific and unique immunological characteristics to branched 1,3-/1,6-beta-glucan.     

Colorectal tuberculosis

Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of colorectal tuberculosis in our series and to study its radiological spectrum. A total of 684 cases of proven gastrointestinal tuberculosis with positive barium contrast findings seen over a period of more than one decade were evaluated. The study did not include cases where colon was involved in direct contiguity with ileo-caecal tuberculosis. Seventy-four patients (10.8%) had colorectal tuberculosis. Commonest site involved was transverse colon, closely followed by rectum and ascending colon. Radiological findings observed were in the form of strictures (54%), colitis (39%) and polypoid lesions (7%). Complications noted were in the form of perforations and fistulae in 18.9% of cases. Colorectal tuberculosis is a very common site for gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Typical findings of colorectal tuberculosis are strictures, signs of colitis and polypoid lesions. Common complications are perforation and fistulae.     

产后出血的预防和处理指南

目的:为产后出血(PPH)的预防和临床处理作一综述,为临床医师提供预防和处理产后出血的指南。涉及方面:预防、适当干预、使其影响最小化的方法。结果:建立常规,便于临床医师鉴别可能的高危人群,一旦发生产后过多出血,可指导临床如何迅速处理。证据:遵循加拿大定期健康检查办公室制定的证据等级。评估:由产科专家完善。利弊和成本:评估子宫收缩药和其他积极处理措施的方便性、正确性、有效性和安全性。建议:根据证据的等级,本指南分等级列出了12条建议。确认:按照MeSH词表推荐的postpartum haemorrhage在medline上查询相关文献,在Cochrane图书馆查找相关研究文献,并参考the ALARMcourse Manual。发起人:由产科临床实践委员会制定和综述,并由SOGC(加拿大妇产科协会)委员会批准。     

The protective action of thymol against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in mice.

The protective action of thymol (paramethyl-isopropyl-phenol) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in male Swiss albino mice. The CCl(4)at a dose of 20 microl kg(-1)produced damage to liver cells and was followed by the significant increase (P<0.001) in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and hepatic lipid peroxidation after 24 h. The hepatocellular necrosis was further confirmed by histopathological examination of liver section. Oral administration of thymol in a single dose (300 mg kg(-1)) resulted in significant (P<0.05) amelioration of CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Thymol also inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by CCl(4)in vivo. The protection offered by thymol was also evident from histopathology photomicrograph. In a separate in vitro assay, thymol inhibited the non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of normal mice liver homogenate induced by Fe(3+)-ascorbate. The present study suggests that thymol protects the liver against CCl(4)-induced toxicity and the protection may be mediated through its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. However, other interactions between thymol and CCl(4)remains to be elucidated. 1999 Academic Press.     

Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice by thymoquinone.

The modulating effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced forestomach tumours was investigated in female Swiss albino mice, receiving oral administration of BP at a dose of 1 mg twice weekly for 4 weeks. Administration of 0.01% of TQ in drinking water 1 week before, during and after BP treatment until the end of the experiment resulted in significant suppression of BP-induced tumourigenesis when compared with the group receiving BP alone. TQ inhibited both BP-induced forestomach tumour incidence and multiplicity by 70% and 67%, respectively. Lipid peroxide accumulation and decreased glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and DT diaphorase activities were observed in the liver of BP-treated tumour-bearing mice. TQ alone showed a significant induction in the enzyme activities of hepatic GST and DT diaphorase. Mice treated with TQ along with BP showed almost normal hepatic lipid peroxides and GSH levels, and normal enzyme activities compared to the control group. The present data may indicate the potential of TQ, the main constituent of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seed, as a powerful chemopreventive agent against BP-induced forestomach tumours in mice. The possible modes of action of TQ may be through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, coupled with enhancement of detoxification processes.     

Downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in rat aorta after prolonged hypoxia in vivo

The goal of this study was to determine whether hypoxia alters expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the systemic circulation. Rats breathed either air or 10% oxygen for 12 hours, 48 hours, or 7 days. Thoracic aortas were excised and either mounted in organ bath myographs or frozen in liquid nitrogen for later extraction of protein and RNA. eNOS protein (Western blotting) was decreased (20% of normoxic control) after 12 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days of hypoxia. eNOS mRNA (ribonuclease protection assay) was similarly reduced. Acetylcholine (10(-4) mol/L) reversed phenylephrine (10(-5) mol/L) preconstriction by 53.3+/-5.6% in aortic rings from normoxic rats and 26.1+/-4.8% in rings from rats exposed to hypoxia for 48 hours (P<0.05), with comparable impairment of relaxation by the calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-5) mol/L). Responses to diethylamine nitric oxide and 8-bromo-cGMP were unaffected. Aortic cGMP levels after incubation with acetylcholine (10(-6) mol/L) averaged 14.0+/-1.8 fmol/mg in rings from normoxic rats compared with 8.7+/-1.0 fmol/mg in rings from hypoxic rats (P<0. 05). Similarly, nitrate concentration (by capillary electrophoresis) in the media in which the rings were incubated was reduced in the hypoxic group (5.6+/-0.23 micromol/L for hypoxic rats and 7.8+/-0.7 micromol/L for normoxic rats). Impaired endothelial NO release may handicap the vascular responses that defend vital organ function during hypoxia.     

The management of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults with topical fluticasone propionate

This study was designed to investigate a long-term therapeutic strategy for the management of recurring atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults using fluticasone propionate (FP) ointment (Cutivate^TM) whereby FP could help to prevent a relapse of AD once symptoms were under control. Adult patients with chronic, moderate to severe AD entered this multicentre study. All patients were initially treated with FP 0.005% (g/g) ointment in two different regimens. Patients whose AD had been completely healed by these treatments then entered a long-term treatment phase applying FP or placebo ointment once daily, two times per week for 16 weeks to 'known' healed lesions. By the end of the initial treatment period, mean SCORAD values had significantly ( P  < 0.0005) improved from baseline. Patients who entered the maintenance phase and were treated with intermittent FP for up to 16 weeks, demonstrated its superior efficacy ( P  = 0.018) over placebo, maintaining the improvements achieved after the initial treatment phase, reducing risk of relapse and delaying time to relapse ( P  = 0.013). No significant changes were detected in either treatment group in serum cortisol levels or in skin thickness measurements. Intermittent FP applied two times per week maintained a significant level of control, and delayed relapse of AD by comparison with placebo.