Cyclosporin A upregulates prostaglandin E2 production in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with tumor necrosis factor alpha in vitro

The effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA) on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was studied. TNF-α (1-100 ng/ml) dose-dependently stimulated PGE₂; formation in 24 h cultures. CsA (1-100 ng/ml) did not induce PGE₂; formation itself but potentiated TNF-α induced PGE; formation in gingival fibroblasts in a manner dependent on the concentrations of both CsA and TNF-α. TNF-α (10 ng/ml) stimulated the release of [³H]-arachidonic acid (A.A) from prelabelled fibroblasts that was potentiated by CsA (100 ng/ml). Addition of exogenous unlabelled AA (5-20 μM/ml) to the cells resulted in enhanced PGE₂: formation that was not potentiated by CsA (100 ng/mi). Furthermore. CsA (100 ng/ml) did not further increase the level of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA induced by TNF-α (10 ng/ml). although PGE₂ formation was enhanced. The results indicate that CsA and TNF-α act in concert on PGE₂ formation in gingival fibroblasts. which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth induced by the drug.     

Study of the role of vitamin B12 and folinic acid supplementation in preventing hematologic toxicity of zidovudine

Abstract: A prospective, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the role of vitamin B₁₂ and folinic acid supplementation in preventing zidovudine (ZDV)-induced bone marrow suppression. Seventy-five human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CD4 + cell counts < 500/mm³ were randomized to receive either ZDV (500 mg daily) alone (group I, n = 38) or in combination with folinic acid (15 mg daily) and intramascular vitamin B₁₂ (1000 μg monthly) (group II, n = 37). Finally, 15 patients were excluded from the study (noncompliance 14, death 1); thus, 60 patients (31 in group I and 29 in group II) were eligible for analysis. No significant differences between groups were found at enrollment. During the study, vitamin B₁₂ and folate levels were significantly higher in group II patients; however, no differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and white-cell, neutrophil and platelet counts were observed between groups at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Severe hematologic toxicity (neutrophil count < 1000/mm³ and/or hemoglobin < 8 g/dl) occurred in 4 patients assigned to group I and 7 assigned to group II. There was no correlation between vitamin B₁₂ or folate levels and development of myelosuppression. Vitamin B₁₂ and folinic acid supplementation of ZDV therapy does not seem useful in preventing or reducing ZDV-induced myelotoxicity in the overall treated population, although a beneficial effect in certain subgroups of patients cannot be excluded.     

Chronic vitamin E treatment prevents defective endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetic rat aorta

Summary We examined the effect in rats of 2 months of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on relaxation and contraction of aortas in vitro. A further diabetic group was treated from time of diabetes induction with a 1% dietary supplement of vitamin E. Diabetes caused a 26.5% deficit (p<0.001) in maximum endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine in phenylephrine-precontracted aortas. This was 64.3% attenuated (p<0.01) by vitamin E treatment; maximum relaxation was not significantly altered compared to non-diabetic rats. Vitamin E treatment of non-diabetic rats did not significantly affect acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Diabetes or treatment did not significantly alter acetylcholine sensitivity. Endothelium-independent relaxation response to glyceryl trinitrate was not affected by diabetes or vitamin E treatment, indicating that vascular smooth muscle responses to nitric oxide remained unaltered. There was a 35.4% reduction in the maximum contractile response to phenylephrine with diabetes (p<0.05) which was unaffected by vitamin E treatment. The data suggest that the chronic deficit in nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetes depends largely upon excess activity of reactive oxygen species. Treatment with vitamin E to increase free radical scavenging specifically protected vascular endothelium although it had no effect on deficits in vascular smooth muscle contractile responses.Abbreviations NO Nitric oxide - ARI aldose reductase inhibitor - ACH acetylcholine - GTN glyceryl trinitrate - GSH reduced form of glutathione - EC₅₀ effective concentration for 50% of the maximal response     

Detection of IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus in serum samples from patients with hepatitis E virus infection

A newly developed assay for IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus (IgA anti-HEV) was used to study 145 serum samples collected during an outbreak of an enterically transmitted hepatitis that occurred in 3 villages in the lower Shebeli region of Southern Somalia between January, 1988 and November, 1989. A total of 52.4% of the afflicted patients were found positive for IgA anti-HEV, and 73.1% of these were also positive for IgM. Both antibodies disappeared during the convalescence period. Similar results were also seen in serum obtained from sporadic cases of acute waterborne hepatitis in Pakistan. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

维生素E对老年小鼠脾细胞转化反应及心,脑脂褐质含量的影响

目的探讨维生素Ｅ对老年小鼠细胞免疫功能及心、脑脂质过氧化反应的影响。方法３月龄幼年小鼠和１８月龄老年小鼠各饲以含维生素Ｅ（ＶｉｔＥ）５００×１０－６和３０×１０－６饲料８周后，测定血清ＶｉｔＥ水平、脾细胞转化反应和心、脑脂褐质含量。结果饲以含５００×１０－６ＶｉｔＥ饲料的老年小鼠脾细胞对刀豆蛋白Ａ（ＣｏｎＡ）和脂多糖（ＬＰＳ）的反应及血清ＶｉｔＥ水平均较饲以含３０×１０－６ＶｉｔＥ饲料者显著增高（Ｐ值＜０．０１）；心、脑组织中脂褐质含量则明显降低（分别为Ｐ值＜０．０１及０．０５）。结论膳食中补充较高剂量ＶｉｔＥ后，能显著提高老年小鼠血清ＶｉｔＥ水平，增强脾细胞转化反应，并明显抑制心、脑脂质过氧化，减少脂褐质形成     

Influence of age on faecal carriage of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli and other gram-negative bacteria in hospitalized neonates

The aerobic faecal flora of 953 infants aged over 5 days was studied on discharge from 22 neonatal wards in Swedish hospitals. Klebsiella/enterobacter was isolated from 74% of infants and dominated the aerobic gram-negative flora in 19 wards. Escherichia coli was carried by 42% and showed a slight dominance in two wards. Initially klebsiella/enterobacter dominated the flora but became increasingly mixed with and taken over by E. coli, carriage increasing from 21% in infants discharged after 5-7 days to 57% after 3 weeks or later. Among infants with E. coli, P-fimbriated strains were demonstrated in 23% (range 0-67) and were independent of age. Occasional clustering of such strains was observed in 3/22 wards during the study period. It is postulated that the general and local colonization patterns observed reflect differences between individual strains of E. coli and klebsiella in both their capacity for transmission and their persistence in the newborn gut. The role of P-fimbriae in intestinal colonization of neonates by E. coli was, however, not supported.     

比色法测定维生素B1片含量的研究

本文实验比较了某些现有光度测定ＶＢ１方法，提出用盐酸苯肼－亚硝酸钠试剂与维生素Ｂ１反应生成橙红色溶液，进行光度测定，对比度△λ为９１ｎｍ，灵敏度，ε（４９７ｎｍ）＝１．１×１０４Ｌ·ｍｏｌ（－１）·ｃｍ（－１），在０～１０μｇ／ｍｌ范围内线性关系良好。用本法测定维生素Ｂ１片的含量，标准加入回收率范围为１００％～１０３％，片剂测定与中国药典１９９０年版紫外分光光度法测定结果一致。     

健康人血清叶酸和维生素B_(12)水平的测定

本文对14岁以下健康小儿171名,成人30名及初生儿脐带血30份进行了血清叶酸和维生素B_(12)含量测定,171名小儿于采血前均经补足叶酸和维生素B_(12)。结果:血清叶酸(nmol/L)的正常值低限,<4岁者为6.1,4～14岁为8.4,成人为5.0;血清维生素B_(12)(pmol/L)的正常值低限,<1岁为459,1岁～成人为107。     

前列腺素E1对尸体肾移植术后肾功能延迟恢复的影响

目的探讨前列腺素E1(PGE1)应用于尸体肾移植术后肾功能延迟恢复(DGF)患者对移植肾功能恢复的影响.方法回顾性分析因急性排斥(AR)和急性肾小管坏死(ANT)导致DGF的127例临床资料,其中应用PGE1治疗56例(PGE1组),未用PGE1者71例(对照组).比较两组在出现DGF后的透析治疗时间、肾功能恢复情况、彩超的移植肾血流阻力指数(RI)及6个月内AR发生率.结果与对照组比较,PGE1组透析治疗时间明显缩短(P＜0.05),移植肾的血肌酐下降速度快(P＜0.05),RI及6个月内AR发生率低(P＜0.05).结论PGE1有利于尸体肾移植术后DGF患者移植肾功能的早期恢复,并能降低AR的发生率.