Genotoxicity studies of glycidol fatty acid ester (glycidol linoleate) and glycidol

Glycidol fatty acid esters (GEs) are found in refined edible oils. Safety concerns have been alleged due to the possible release of glycidol (G), an animal carcinogen.     

Enrichment of Dystrophy-Associated Antigen from Erythrocyte Membranes of Mice with Muscular Dystrophy

Summary

In a previous report, it was shown that erythrocyte membranes from mice with muscular dystrophy of strain 129/ReJ-dy manifest a unique antigen. In the current study, this antigen was enriched from solubilized membranes by a two-step solid phase immunoadsorbent. The enriched fraction retained antigenicity as well as a reduced set of electrophoretic forms of protein over that seen in solubilized membranes. The enriched fraction contained no novel molecular weight species but several were noticeably enriched, particularly at 54,000 daltons.     

The Natural Course of Serum D-Dimer,C-Reactive Protein,and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Levels After Uneventful Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the baseline levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and monitor the natural course of these serum markers after uneventful primary total joint arthroplasty.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled 81 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. The level of serum D-dimer, CRP, and ESR was measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 15, and 45. Mean peak values, peak times, and distribution were compared between D-Dimer, CRP, and ESR.ResultsThe mean preoperative serum D-dimer, CRP, and ESR level was 412 ± 260 (range 200-980) ng/mL, 2.93 ± 2.1 (range 1-18) mg/L, and 22.88 ± 17.5 (range 3-102) mm/h, respectively. The highest mean peak for D-dimer, CRP, and ESR was at postoperative day 1, 3, and 5, respectively.ConclusionD-dimer levels reached peak levels on postoperative day 1 and then declined rapidly to a plateau level by postoperative day 3. A second, albeit small, peak in the level of D-dimer occurred on postoperative day 15. The level of CRP and ESR remained elevated for much longer with CRP returning to baseline on postoperative day 45 and the level of ESR had not returned back to normal on postoperative day 45.     

Safety assessment and toxicological profiling of a novel combinational sunprotective dermal formulation containing melatonin and pumpkin seed oil

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure has been known to cause irreparable damages to human skin. The daunting risk of UV radiation exposure faced by military personnel led to the development of a sunscreen formulation which has superior sun protection factor combined with the ability to counteract reactive oxygen species. The present work deals with the preclinical safety evaluation of the sunscreen formulation comprising of four US FDA approved UV filters; namely avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide along with melatonin and pumpkin seed oil, via OECD protocols of assessing acute oral and dermal toxicity; skin sensitizing; skin irritating; ocular irritating and genotoxic potential. Both oral and dermal LD₅₀ values were found to be ˃2000 mg/kg body weight in adult Wistar albino rats using acute dermal and oral toxicity tests. The sunscreen formulation was found to be non-sensitizing to the skin of guinea pigs and non-irritating to both skin and eyes of rabbits. The sunscreen formulation was also found to be non-mutagenic which was affirmed by a battery of genotoxicity and muagenicity assays. The results obtained from this preclinical study indicated that the sunscreen formulation is non toxic and safe in animal models. This study along with additional preclinical evaluations may serve as a basis for considering the formulation as a potential candidate for further trials to establish its efficacy, tolerability and applicability.     

XC-A30A型全自动血沉分析仪的应用评价

目的探讨XC-A30A型全自动血沉分析仪测定红细胞沉降率(ESR)的重复性、准确性及影响因素。方法抽取高、中、低三组血沉值共27份进行重复性试验,对做血沉检查的198例患者,采用两法测定,以统计学方法分析仪器法的准确性,抽取10例贫血患者标本(压积<0.30)和10例压积正常且魏氏法ESR值在21～100 mm/h的标本对照,分析贫血标本用仪器测定的可行性。结果重复性:除1例(CV为16.1%)外,其余26例CV均<5%。准确性:ESR值在2～100 mm/h各组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但ESR值>100 mm/h者两组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。贫血标本采用两法测定的差值与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 XC-A30A型全自动血沉分析仪具有良好的重复性,准确性较高,贫血标本用该仪器测定准确性也较高,适合医院快速准确的报告血沉结果。但对于ESR>100 mm/h时建议用手工法复查。     

温阳补肾法对高原类风湿关节炎患者血清25羟维生素D3水平的影响

目的:观察温阳补肾法对高原类风湿关节炎患者血清25羟维生素D3水平的影响。方法:选取2015年7月至2017年8月青海省中医院收治的高原类风湿关节炎患者132例作为研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组,每组66例。对照组应用常规西医治疗,观察组在对照组治疗基础上应用温阳补肾法治疗,2组均连续治疗3个月。比较2组治疗后临床疗效,统计2组治疗前后主要临床症状与体征、健康状况评定量表(HAQ)评分和DAS28评分,检测2组治疗前后实验室检查指标、血清25羟维生素D3以及血液流变学指标水平。结果:治疗后,观察组临床治疗总有效率显著高于对照组(P 0. 05); 2组关节肿胀指数、关节疼痛指数、关节压痛指数、晨僵时间、关节功能分级和20 m步行时间均较治疗前显著降低(P 0. 05),且观察组均显著低于对照组(P 0. 05); 2组HAQ评分、DAS28评分、类风湿因子(RF)、C反应蛋白(CRP)和红细胞沉降率(ESR)水平均较治疗前显著降低(P 0. 05),且观察组均显著低于对照组(P 0. 05); 2组血清25羟维生素D3水平均较治疗前显著升高(P 0. 05),且观察组显著高于对照组(P 0. 05); 2组红细胞电泳指数、红细胞压积、血浆黏度、全血低切黏度、全血高切黏度水平均较治疗前显著降低(P 0. 05),且观察组均显著低于对照组(P 0. 05)。结论:温阳补肾法治疗高原类风湿关节炎,疗效满意,同时能明显增加血清25羟维生素D3水平。     

Parameterization of red blood cell elongation index – shear stress curves obtained by ektacytometry

Abstract

Measurement of red blood cell (RBC) deformability by ektacytometry yields a set of elongation indexes (EI) measured at various shear stresses (SS) presented as SS-EI curves, or tabulated data. These are useful for detailed analysis, but may not be appropriate when a simple comparison of a global parameter between groups is required. Based on the characteristic shape of SS-EI curves, two approaches have been proposed to calculate the maximal RBC elongation index (EI_max) and the shear stress required for one-half of this maximal deformation (SS_1/2): (i) linear Lineweaver-Burke (LB) model; (ii) Streekstra-Bronkhorst (SB) model. Both approaches have specific assumptions and thus may be subject to the measurement conditions. Using RBC treated with various concentrations of glutaraldehyde (GA) and data obtained by ektacytometry, the two approaches have been compared for nine different ranges of SS between 0.6–75 Pa. Our results indicate that: (i) the sensitivity of both models can be affected by the SS range and limits employed; (ii) over the entire range of SS-data, a non-linear curve fitting approach to the LB model gave more consistent results than a linear approach; (iii) the LB method is better for detecting SS_1/2 differences between RBC treated with 0.001–0.005% glutaraldehyde (GA) and for a 40% mixture of rigid cells but is equally sensitive to SB for 10% rigid cells; and (iv) the LB and SB methods for EI_max are equivalent for 0.001% and 0.003% GA and 40% rigid, with the SB better for 0.005% GA and the LB better for 10% rigid.     

Decreased Cell Membrane Magnesium in Some Essential Hypertension Patients

The concentrations of total ([T-Mg]), ultrafilterable ([UF-Mg]), and protein-bound or nonfilterable ([NF-Mg]) magnesium were measured in the plasma and in the intracellular compartment of blood from 8 essential hypertensive patients and 9 normotensive subjects. In the former, [T-Mg] was unchanged in the plasma but decreased in whole blood due to decreases of both [UF-Mg] and [NF-MG]; [UF-Mg] was increased in plasma but decreased intracellularly while [NF-Mg] was decreased in plasma and unchanged intracellularly. These concentrations correlated significantly with the average blood pressures. Decreased Mg binding to the erythrocyte membrane was also observed in 13 additional essential hypertensive patients. This decreased binding may well be responsible for the decreased intracellular [UF-Mg] in the blood of such patients. The cause of the decreased Mg binding to the erythrocyte membrane is unknown, but the binding is returned to normal by incubating erythrocytes from essential hypertensive patients with blood plasma from normotensive subjects. Decreased Mg binding to cell membranes must also occur in frankly Mg-deficient patients, some of whom, as a consequence of the primary deficiency of this mineral, are hypertensive. Normal Mg binding to erythrocyte membranes was observed in two patients with hypertension indicating that hypertension per se does not cause decreased Mg binding to cell membranes.

These observations suggest that decreased Mg binding to cell membranes may be an important contributing factor in some cases of essential hypertension.