Destructive skeletal lesions as the primary initial manifestation of acute childhood leukemia

Bony involvement in leukemia has been long recognized in the medical literature. However, severe osseous changes, as the sole initial manifestation of childhood leukemia is a unique feature of the case reported here.     

Assessment of the estrogenic activities of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) sprout isoflavone extract in ovariectomized rats

Aim:

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) is a traditional Uighur herb. In this study we investigated the estrogenic activities of the isoflavones extracted from chickpea sprouts (ICS) in ovariectomized rats.

Methods:

Ten-week-old virgin Sprague-Dawley female rats were ovariectomized (OVX). The rats were administered via intragastric gavage 3 different doses of ICS (20, 50, or 100 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for 5 weeks. Their uterine weight and serum levels of 17β-estradiol (E₂), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured. The epithelial height, number of glands in the uterus, and number of osteoclasts in the femur were histologically quantified, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was assessed immunohistochemically. Bone structural parameters, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) were measured using Micro-CT scanning.

Results:

Treatments of OVX rats with ICS (50 or 100 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) produced significant estrogenic effects on the uteruses, including the increases in uterine weight, epithelial height and gland number, as well as in the expression of the cell proliferation marker PCNA. The treatments changed the secretory profile of ovarian hormones and pituitary gonadotropins: serum E₂ level was significantly increased, while serum LH and FSH levels were decreased compared with the vehicle-treated OVX rats. Furthermore, the treatments significantly attenuated the bone loss, increased BMD, BV/TV and Tb.Th and decreased Tb.Sp and the number of osteoclasts. Treatment of OVX rats with the positive control drug E₂ (0.25 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) produced similar, but more prominent effects.

Conclusion:

ICS exhibits moderate estrogenic activities as compared to E₂ in ovariectomized rats, suggesting the potential use of ICS for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency.     

鹰嘴豆芽提取物对Caco-2细胞凋亡的作用

目的研究鹰嘴豆芽乙醇提取物（CSE）对人结肠腺癌Caco-2细胞增殖及细胞凋亡的影响。方法提取鹰嘴豆芽的活性成分并测定含量;MTT法观察提取物对Caco-2细胞增殖的影响;透射电镜观察细胞超微结构;琼脂糖凝胶电泳法进行细胞凋亡的DNA分析;流式细胞术检测凋亡情况。结果 CSE含23.53%皂苷、14.73%异黄酮;不同浓度的CSE对Caco-2细胞均有一定的增殖抑制作用,且呈量效和时效关系;细胞出现染色质边移和凋亡小体;DNA电泳呈现梯度条带,表明CSE可诱导Caco-2细胞凋亡;3、5、10μg/ml的CSE作用后,细胞凋亡率分别为32.6%、68.8%、73.9%,与对照组（0.9%）比较差异显著（P〈0.05）。结论 CSE可通过诱导细胞凋亡而抑制人结肠腺癌株Caco-2细胞的生长,为鹰嘴豆应用于结肠癌的临床治疗和预防提供了理论依据。     

一测多评法测定藏茴香中异绿原酸A、新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸B、异绿原酸C

目的 建立一测多评法（QAMS）测定藏茴香中6种咖啡酰奎宁酸类成分含量,并验证该方法在藏茴香质量评价中应用的可行性与适用性。方法 取藏茴香粉末（过三号筛）0.5 g,精密加入70%甲醇 20 mL ,超声处理（250 W、频率 53 kHz）30 min,制备供试品溶液;采用Phenomenex GeminiR C₁₈（250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm）色谱柱,以乙腈-0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,检测波长为 330 nm,体积流量 1.0 mL·min^-1,柱温 30 ℃,进行专属性、供试品提取条件、检测波长选择、色谱条件、线性关系、精密度、重复性、稳定性、加样回收率方法学考察,建立异绿原酸A、新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸 B、异绿原酸 C成分含量检测的 HPLC法;以异绿原酸 A为内参成分,分别计算新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸B、异绿原酸C 5种成分的相对校正因子,分别采用3种不同色谱仪和3种色谱柱进行相对校正因子、相对保留时间耐用性考察,对藏茴香样品同时采用外标法与 QAMS 测定 6 种成分的质量分数,比较 2 种测定方法结果的差异。结果 建立的6种成分的HPLC检测方法的专属性、供试品提取条件、检测波长选择、色谱条件、线性关系、精密度、重复性、稳定性、加样回收率均符合要求;新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸B、异绿原酸C的相对校正因子平均值分别是 1.362、1.257、1.335、1.470、1.134,3种不同色谱仪和 3种色谱柱对相对校正因子、相对保留时间均无明显影响;QAMS与外标法2种方法测定3批藏茴香样品中6种成分得到的结果之间无显著差异。结论 建立的QAMS简便、准确、可靠,可用于藏茴香中6种咖啡酰奎宁酸类成分——异绿原酸A、新绿原酸、绿原酸、隐绿原酸、异绿原酸B、异绿原酸C的定量分析。     

木犀草素抑制人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖作用的研究

目的研究木犀草素(Luteolin,Lu)对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖的体外抑制作用及其机制。方法 DPPH法测定Lu抗氧化活性;MTT法测定Lu对BGC-823细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布影响及诱导凋亡的作用;倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学变化。结果 Lu清除自由基的能力与其浓度呈正相关(r2=0.979);5,10,20,40μmol/L的Lu作用48 h后对BGC-823细胞增殖抑制率分别为5.08%,7.09%,25.27%和53.77%,半数抑制浓度(IC50)为(37.88±5.81)μmol/L;Lu以浓度依赖性阻滞细胞周期在G2/M期,且S期细胞比例呈下降趋势。40μmol/L的Lu作用72 h后,BGC-823细胞凋亡率显著增高(P<0.01);镜下观察发现经Lu处理后细胞固缩并伴随细胞膜破裂的现象。结论 Lu在体外对人胃癌BGC-823细胞增殖有明显的抑制作用,且呈剂量依赖性;抗氧化、改变细胞周期及诱导细胞凋亡是其抗肿瘤作用的机制。     

鹰嘴豆豆芽降血糖功效成分纯化研究

目的研究分离纯化鹰嘴豆豆芽降血糖功效成分的工艺。方法采用聚酰胺-大孔树脂联用技术,考察了HPD100、HPD300、HPD450、HPD600、D101、D141、SA-3、FL-3等8种大孔树脂对鹰嘴豆豆芽降糖活性成分纯化的研究。结果聚酰胺与FL-3大孔树脂联用富集鹰嘴豆豆芽降糖活性成分效果最好,药材与聚酰胺比为5∶1,药材与大孔树脂比为3∶1,树脂径高比为1∶6,以4倍体积的40%乙醇洗除杂,再以70%乙醇洗脱,收集5倍体积洗脱液。富集物降糖活性成分纯度可达52%。结论聚酰胺与FL-3大孔树脂联用富集鹰嘴豆豆芽降血糖功效成分效果最佳,是理想的分离纯化介质。     

毛菊苣降糖有效部位的筛选研究

目的筛选出毛菊苣降糖有效部位并通过动物实验验证其降糖效果。方法利用蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶1B体外筛选系统,对多种毛菊苣组分进行细致筛选,观察到毛菊苣的CGSL50N组分对PTP-1B有很好的抑制作用,结合其生产工艺可行性,确定其为降糖活性部位。选取该组分灌喂由高脂饲料及链脲佐菌素(STZ)联合诱发糖尿病的雄性Wistar大鼠,来进一步验证该组分对糖尿病大鼠血脂血糖的疗效。结果连续服用100 mg/kg剂量的毛菊苣提取物可以明显降低糖尿病大鼠的血糖,并明显减少血液中游离脂肪酸含量,改善糖尿病大鼠的症状。结论毛菊苣醇提取物对高血糖高血脂有一定的治疗作用,具有降低血清游离脂肪酸和调脂的作用,对机体整体代谢有较好的调节作用。     

Reasons for non-vaccination in pediatric patients visiting tertiary care centers in a polio-prone country

Background

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was initiated by World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974 in order to save children from life threatening, disabling vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). In Pakistan, this program was launched in 1978 with the main objectives of eradicating polio by 2012, eliminating measles and neonatal tetanus by 2015, and minimizing the incidence of other VPDs. However, despite the efforts of government and WHO, this program has not received the amount of success that was desired. Hence, the objectives of this study were to elucidate the main reasons behind not achieving the full immunization coverage in Pakistan, the awareness of children’s attendant about the importance of vaccination, their attitudes, thoughts and fears regarding childhood immunization, and the major hurdles faced in pursuit of getting their children vaccinated.

Methods

This was an observational, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted during a one year period from 4th January, 2012 to 6th January, 2013 at the pediatric outpatient clinics of Civil Hospital (CHK) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH). We attempted to interview all the parents who could be approached during the period of the study. Thus, convenience sampling was employed. The parents were approached in the clinics and interviewed after seeking informed, written consent. Those patients who were not accompanied by either of their parents were excluded from the study. The study instrument comprised of three sections. The first section consisted was concerned with the demographics of the patient and the parents. The second section dealt with the reasons for complete vaccination or under-vaccination. The last section aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of the respondents.

Results

Out of 1044 patients, only 713(68.3%) were fully vaccinated, 239(22.9%) were partially vaccinated while 92(8.8%) had never been vaccinated. The vaccination status showed statistically significant association with ethnicity, income, residence, number of children and paternal occupation (p < 0.05 for all). The most common provocative factor for vaccination compliance was mass media (61.9%). The most common primary reason for non-vaccination was lack of knowledge (18.1%), whereas the most common secondary reason for non-vaccination was religious taboos (31.4%). Majority of the respondents demonstrated poor knowledge of EPI schedules or VPDs. However, most believed that there was a need for more active government/NGO involvement in this area.

Conclusion

The most common primary reason for non-vaccination, i.e. lack of knowledge, and the most common secondary reason, i.e. religious taboos, imply that there is dire need to promote awareness among the masses in collaboration with NGOs, and major religious and social organizations.     

The Estrogenic Activity of Isoflavones Extracted from Chickpea Cicer arietinum L Sprouts in Vitro

Isoflavones have drawn attention due to their potential therapeutic use. Isoflavones are the important chemical components of the seeds and sprouts of chickpea and higher isoflavones in sprouts than in seeds. However, there have been no previous reports of the estrogenic activity of isoflavones extracted from chickpea Cicer arietinum L sprouts (ICS) in vitro. In this study, which incorporated several in vitro bioassays methods, we systematically evaluated the estrogenic properties of ICS. MTT assay showed that ICS at the low concentration ranges (10^?3–1 mg/L) promoted MCF‐7 cell growth, while at high concentrations, (>1 mg/L) inhibited cell proliferation, indicating ICS worked at a diphasic mechanism. Flow cytometric analysis further calculated the proliferation rate of ICS at low concentration (1 mg/L). ERα/Luc trans‐activation assay and then semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis indicated that ICS at low concentrations induced ERα‐mediated luciferase activity in MCF‐7 cells and promoted the ER downstream target gene pS2 and PR trans‐activation. These effects were inhibited by ICI 182,780, a special antagonist of ER, indicating that an ER‐mediating pathway was involved. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) expression in Ishikawa cells showed that ICS at low concentrations stimulated AP expression. Our current study is the first to demonstrate that ICS has significant estrogenic activity in vitro. ICS may be useful as a supplement to hormone replacement therapy and in dietary supplements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.