Serum folate concentration,cognitive impairment,and DNA damage among elderly individuals in Malaysia

The notion that dietary factors affect cognitive function and subsequently the risk of dementia has increased over the years from a global viewpoint. Because low folate intake has been described to impair cognitive function, we tested the hypothesis that low serum folate concentration is associated with cognitive impairment and an attenuated increase in DNA damage. We investigated the relationship between serum folate concentration, cognitive impairment, and DNA damage among elderly people attending health clinics in Klang Valley, an urban area in Malaysia. Two hundred thirty-two participants, composed of 115 men (49.6%) and 117 women (50.4%), were involved; none of the patients were diagnosed with neuropsychiatric problems, nor where they terminally ill. Sociodemography and health variables were assessed through face-to-face interview. Cognitive impairment review was conducted through an Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire. The estimation of dietary intake, serum folate concentration, and DNA damage was individually analyzed using validated Dietary History Questionnaires, immunoassay methods, and an Alkaline Comet Assay study (10 mL of peripheral venous blood), respectively. Results indicated that more men had cognitive impairment (33.0%) and DNA damage (27.0% for percentage DNA in tail, 22.6% tail moment) compared with women (25.6%, 15.4%, and 15.4%, respectively) (P < .05 for all parameters), recording an average folate deficiency value of 13.9% (0.2% higher than women). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis outlined the association of cognitive impairment with older age (odds ratio [OR], 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-5.57), smoking habits (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 2.48-10.57), poor serum folate concentration (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.26-9.52), and DNA damage (percentage DNA in tail) (OR, 13.70; 95% CI, 1.36-138.29). In conclusion, this study highlighted the important role of serum folate concentration for cognitive function and provided a concise picture regarding the elevated levels of oxidative DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes.     

Chronic Pharmacological and Safety Evaluation of Hematide™, a PEGylated Peptidic Erythropoiesis‐Stimulating Agent,in Rodents

Abstract: Hematide? is a synthetic peptide‐based, PEGylated erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent, which is being developed for the chronic treatment of anaemia associated with chronic renal failure. To support the safety of long‐term dosing of chronic renal failure patients, a comprehensive toxicology programme was implemented including rat subchronic and chronic studies. Rats were administered 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg of Hematide every 3 weeks for 3 months via subcutaneous injection or for 6 months via intravenous injection. The dosing period was followed by a 6‐week follow‐up period. The primary pharmacology of Hematide resulted in erythroid polycythemia as measured by elevated haemoglobin levels that were time‐ and dose‐dependent. The pharmacology profiles were similar regardless of administration route. For example, for male rats at Day 90, subcutaneous dosing resulted in haemoglobin increases of 2.7, 4.5 and 6.9 g/dl for 0.1, 1 and 10 mg Hematide/kg respectively, compared to 2.8, 5.7 and 7.4 g/dl increases for intravenous dosing. Histopathological changes were related to the prolonged severe polycythemia induced in normocythemic animals administered an erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent. The findings included extramedullary haematopoiesis in the spleen and liver, bone marrow hypercellularity and organ congestion. Microscopic findings were reversible, demonstrating a return towards control findings within 6 weeks following cessation of dosing. Systemic exposures, based on both area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (C_max), were substantially greater for intravenous than subcutaneous administration. No Hematide‐specific antibodies were detected. In conclusion, Hematide is a potent erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent, and the studies provide support for the safety of clinical development, including chronic dosing, for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic renal failure.     

中药内服治疗腰椎骨性关节炎近10年文献潜在用药规律探讨

目的:探讨治疗腰椎骨性关节炎的内服中药用药规律,为腰椎骨性关节炎临床中的辨证论治和遣方用药提供相应的理论依据。方法:检索近10年内服中药治疗腰椎骨性关节炎的临床文献,通过统一的纳入标准、排除标准,合并和删除重复文献,分析腰椎骨性关节炎的内服中药用药规律。结果:从693篇有效文献中总结出使用频率最多的前30味中药依次是:当归、川芎、甘草、杜仲、牛膝、熟地黄、白芍、独活、红花、茯苓、肉桂、秦艽、细辛、没药、黄芪、桑寄生、桃仁、地龙、防风、乳香、续断、党参、全蝎、鸡血藤、附子、威灵仙、赤芍、木瓜、山茱萸、丹参。结论:近10年文献中内服中药治疗腰椎骨性关节炎的功效主要以活血化瘀、补益肝肾、强筋健骨、祛风散寒除湿、补气养血为主。     

基于可降解磁性生物支架的离体三维心肌补片构建及其生物学特性分析

目的：合成可降解磁性氧化铁-壳聚糖-芦荟胶多孔支架，构建新型离体三维心肌补片，并探索其生物学特性。 方法：配置不同质量分数的磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒-壳聚糖-芦荟胶的混合溶液，通过低温梯度冷冻干燥技术制备出三维多孔支架，并通过扫描电子显微镜，动态热机械分析，孔隙率测试和体外降解实验等对其物理、生物特性进行表征。将幼稚心肌细胞消化后接种至支架混合培养一周。用荧光定量PCR技术检测离体心肌补片中，心肌细胞特异性基因及细胞凋亡基因的mRNA水平表达量。 结果：0.1% 磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒-1%壳聚糖-0.2%芦荟胶多孔支架的表面孔洞均一，孔隙率=0.93±0.017；机械拉伸强度=0.33±0.06mPa，弹性极限应变约0.12±0.01，且随支架中芦荟胶含量增加而减小（p<0.001）；体外生理条件下，7天降解率82.9±2.4%，且降解过程可被核磁共振监测。支架可促进大鼠心肌细胞（H9C2）生长增殖，无细胞毒性。复合培养形成的离体心肌补片，可在外加电场下收缩-舒张，且补片中的心肌细胞成熟相关基因表达升高（p<0.05）, 凋亡抑制（p<0.01）。 结论：可降解磁性氧化铁-壳聚糖-芦荟胶多孔支架的适合心肌组织工程应用；其构建的离体三维心肌补片可促心肌细胞成熟，具有植入心脏治疗心梗后心肌损伤的潜能。     

安宫牛黄丸中小檗碱的HPLC法测定

本文报道用HPLC法测定黄连及含黄连中成药安宫牛黄丸中小檗碱型生物碱。实验结果表明选用硅胶柱为固定相,以醋酸乙酯—甲酸—乙醇(15:3:2)为流动相,能使样品中四种小檗碱型的生物碱获得最佳分离。用此法测得不同厂家生产的安宫牛黄丸中盐酸小檗碱的含量为0.331～0.456%,平均回收率为97.23%,变异系数为1.2%。