Propolis alleviates aluminium-induced lipid peroxidation and biochemical parameters in male rats

Aluminium is present in many manufactured foods and medicines and is also added to drinking water during purification purposes. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) on biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of male Wistar Albino rats. Animals were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: control; 34 mg AlCl₃/kg bw; 50 mg propolis/kg bw; AlCl₃ (34 mg/kg bw) plus propolis (50 mg/kg bw), respectively. Rats were orally administered their respective doses daily for 70 days. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was increased, and the activities of glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased in liver, kidney and brain of rats treated with AlCl₃. While, TBARS was decreased and the antioxidant enzymes were increased in rats treated with propolis alone. Plasma transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, total lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-c were increased, while total protein, albumin and high HDL-c were decreased due to AlCl₃ administration. The presence of propolis with AlCl₃ alleviated its toxic effects in rats treated with AlCl₃. It can be concluded that propolis has beneficial influences and could be able to antagonize AlCl₃ toxicity.     

血清总胆汁酸,前白蛋白及乳酸脱氢酶在病毒性肝炎的变化及其临床意义

对136例各型病毒性肝炎进行总胆汁酸（TBA）、前白蛋白（PA）及乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）测定,其中急肝100例,重症肝12例,慢活肝8例,慢迁肝16例,与正常对照组比较经统计学分析处理,结果发现：各组与对照组的均数差异有显著性。表明：TBA测定可作为了解肝细胞损害程度的一个敏感指标,可作为划分慢活肝与慢迁肝的重要指标。PA、LDH能真实反映各型肝炎早期肝细胞损害程度,对临床病毒性肝炎的早期诊断和治疗监测有重要意义。     

血清前白蛋白和总胆汁酸联合检测在慢性肝病中的临床价值

目的 研究血清前白蛋白总胆汁酸联合检测在慢性肝病中的临床价值。方法 分别采用免疫浊度法、酸循环法检测慢性肝病患者血清前白蛋白(PAB)和总胆汁酸(TBA)水平。结果 肝硬化组、肝炎组血清PAB水平较对照组均明显下降(P<0.01,P<0.05),而血清TBA较对照组均明显升高(P<0.01,P<0.05),肝炎组与肝硬化组血清PAB和TBA水平也均有显著差异(P<0.05,P<0,05),肝炎组内重度患者血清PAB水平较轻、中度明显降低(P<0.05)而血清TBA水平较轻中度患者明显升高(P<0.01,P<0.05);结论 血清PAB、TBA变化能敏感地反映肝脏合成和代谢功能及肝实质的损害程度,联合检测血清二者的变化,有助于慢性肝病的病情判断,更有利于指导临床治疗。     

改良固定反式双阻板矫治器矫治成人前牙反[牙合]对颅面软组织的影响

目的探讨临床应用改良固定反式双阻板矫治器（twin-block appliance，TBA）联合方丝弓技术治疗成人AngleIH类前牙反[牙合]的临床应用效果。方法应用改良固定反式TBA联合方丝弓技术矫治成人前牙反[牙合]18例，对治疗前后临床表现及X线软组织测量进行分析，评价其临床矫治效果。结果下颌软组织的变化十分明显，较快改善了侧貌外形。上颌前牙适度的唇倾也对软组织侧貌改善起了一定的作用。随访病例最长的3年，无复发。结论改良固定反式TBA联合方丝弓技术，可快速有效矫治成人前牙反[牙合]，对下颌软组织的影响较大。     

Critical Study on a Method for the Determination of Plasma Lipid Peroxides with Report of Normal Plasma Value in Healthy Adults

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Revised assays for the investigation of congenital lactic acidosis using 14C keto acids, eliminating problems associated with spontaneous decarboxylation

Improved methods using 14C keto acids for the investigation of patients with congenital lactic acidoses are described. The addition of rat serum to assay media reduces the spontaneous decarboxylation of [1-14C] and [2-14C] pyruvate and alpha-[1-14C]ketoglutarate to low levels. A study of the stability of pyruvate dehydrogenase in fibroblasts has shown that the activity is rapidly lost when cell membranes are broken unless homogenisation is done gently at -15 degrees C. Under these conditions broken cell preparations may be stored for up to 3 hours without loss of activity. Freezing and thawing results in unpredictable changes in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. A quality control solution containing pyruvate dehydrogenase activity has been prepared which is stable for at least 6 months (coefficient of variation = 7.7%). Normal values for pyruvate dehydrogenase in fibroblasts range from 0.59 to 1.26 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 protein (mean = 0.98, n = 8) and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficient fibroblasts can be detected with confidence.     

Inhibition of cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation

The present study was designed to elucidate whether cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation is inhibited by probenecid, cobalt chloride and antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD). Kidney slices obtained from the renal cortex of male Wistar rats were incubated for 1 h in a cephaloridine or cefotaxime (1.25-10 mg/ml) containing medium. In another series of experiments, kidney slices were incubated with cephaloridine or cefotaxime (5 mg/ml) for different periods of time (30-120 min). Lipid peroxidation was monitored by measuring the production of malondialdehyde (MDA). Subsequently, kidney slices were incubated in both series of experiments, in a cephalosporin free medium containing tetraethylammonium (TEA). Accumulation of TEA in renal cortical slices, expressed as slice to medium ratio (S/M), was used to measure changes in the transport capacity of the kidney cells. While cefotaxime had only a slight effect, cephaloridine induced a significant time- and concentration-dependent increase of MDA production and a significant time- and concentration-dependent decrease of TEA accumulation. Inhibition of the renal uptake of cephaloridine by probenecid induced a decrease in MDA production and complete recovery of TEA accumulation. The antioxidants DPPD and alpha-tocopherol inhibited cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. Recovery of TEA accumulation accompanied the decrease in lipid peroxidation. DPPD was a more potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation than alpha-tocopherol. Cobalt chloride, known for its ability to decrease cellular concentration of cytochrome P-450, effectively decreased cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation. Thus, these findings support the concept that lipid peroxidation has an important role in the development of cephaloridine-induced nephrotoxicity.     

The effects of intermittent nitrogen dioxide exposure on vitamin E-deficient and -sufficient rats

In two separate experiments rats fed vitamin E-deficient, normal or high vitamin E-supplemented diets were intermittently exposed to 15 ppm ± 1.0 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) over a 5-week (4 days/week, total of 31.5 h exposure) or an 18-week (5 days/week, total of 93.5 h exposure) period. In the 5-week, NO₂-exposed rats, the blood methemoglobin levels were not influenced by NO₂ exposure or the level of vitamin E in the diet. Tissues of the rats exposed to NO₂ for 18 weeks showed some histological changes; in the lung, increased atelectasis and alveolar thickening and in the liver, increased granular changes, karyolysis and karyorhexis. These differences were suppressed by increasing levels of dietary vitamin E. Tissue lipofuscin pigment (LFP) concentrations were not affected by NO₂ exposure or dietary vitamin E. Fatty acid distribution of lung lipid extracts showed no changes due to NO₂ exposure; however, some effects of dietary vitamin E could be seen. The results suggest that intermittent NO₂ exposure, under the described conditions, did not cause ultimate changes of the biochemical parameters measured.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> Evaluation of Various Buccal Permeation Enhancing Systems for PACAP (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide)

Purpose Buccal administration of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) could represent a new possibility for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study the effect of various buccal permeation enhancers on PACAP and FD-4 was evaluated. Methods The permeation-enhancing properties of the well-established permeation enhancers sodium deoxycholate (Na DOC) and cetrimide on the permeation of PACAP were investigated on freshly excised porcine buccal mucosa in Ussing chambers. Furthermore, the effect of chitosan and that of chitosan-4-thiobutylamidine conjugate (chitosan–TBA) optionally in combination with reduced glutathione (GSH) on the permeation of PACAP across the buccal mucosa was studied. Results The apparent permeability coefficient (P_app) of PACAP in buffer only was 5.7 ± 3.1×10⁻⁸ cm/s. In the presence of 5% (m/v) Na DOC, the enhancement of the permeation was 18.6-fold, whereas due to the addition of 5% (m/v) cetrimide an enhancement ratio of 46.5 was obtained. In the presence of the chitosan–TBA conjugate (1%), a 38.9-fold increased permeation was achieved, whereas unmodified chitosan (1%) did not show any effect. The combination of chitosan–TBA conjugate (1%) with GSH (2%) led to an increase in P_app up to 441.7 ± 89.9×10⁻⁸ cm/s, which represents a 77.5-fold improvement. The P_app of GSH per se was only 1.0 ± 0.2×10⁻⁹ cm/s, showing that GSH remains concentrated on the surface of the buccal mucosa. Results were confirmed by additional permeation studies performed with FD-4 used as hydrophilic macromolecular test compound. Conclusions Based on their permeation-enhancing properties, chitosan–TBA conjugates represent a promising tool for the buccal administration of peptide drugs, e.g., PACAP.