Triterpenoid saponins, new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitors isolated from Pentaclethra macroloba.

We report here the antiproteolytic and antihemorrhagic properties of triterpenoid saponin inhibitors, named macrolobin-A and B, from Pentaclethra macroloba, against Bothrops snake venoms. The inhibitors were able to neutralize the hemorrhagic, fibrin(ogen)olytic, and proteolytic activities of class P-I and P-III metalloproteases isolated from B. neuwiedi and B. jararacussu venoms. Clotting and fibrinogenolytic activities induced by snake venoms and isolated thrombin-like enzymes were partially inhibited. Furthermore, the potential use of these inhibitors to complement antivenom therapy as an alternative treatment and/or used as molecular models for development of new therapeutical agents in the treatment of snake bite envenomations needs to be evaluated in future studies.     

脂质体介导NF-κB decoy ODN对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠肺炎症因子mRNA表达和肺损伤的影响

目的 探讨脂质体（liposome）介导转录因子NF—κB诱捕物（decoy）寡聚脱氧核苷酸（oligodeoxynucleotide，ODN）对重症急性胰腺炎SD大鼠肺部NF-κB活性及受其调控炎症基因mRNA表达和肺损伤的影响。方法 以牛磺胆酸钠（STC）诱导SD大鼠建立重症急性胰腺炎模型，以假手术组为对照组，于建模后1h分别静脉注射裸ODN、脂质体／decoy ODN复合物、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物和生理盐水，注射4h后应用电泳迁移率变动（EMSA）分析NF-κB的活性，利用逆转录-聚合酶链反应法（RT-PCR）检测肺组织ICAM-1、IL-1α、IL-2、TNF—α、VCAM-1mRNA表达，同时检测氧分压、肺组织湿／干重比率和肺组织髓过氧化物酶（MPO）。结果 EMSA显示脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组NF—κB活性明显低于生理盐水组、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组（P〈0.05），RT—PCR显示脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组ICAM-1、IL-1α、IL-2、TNF—α、VCAM-1mRNA表达小于生理盐水组、脂质体/scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组（P〈0．05）。与生理盐水组、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组相比，脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组动脉血氧分压升高，肺组织湿／干重比率和肺组织髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性降低（P〈0．05）、结论 NF—κB decoy ODN可特异性抑制肺NF-κB活性及其调控的炎症因子ICAM-1、IL—1α、IL-2、TNF-α、VCAM-1mRNA的表达，减轻肺损害。     

Prospective Study on Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B in Renal Allograft Recipients

The natural history of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in renal transplant recipients (RTx) is unclear, despite its increasing incidence. Twenty-nine HBsAg-positive RTx with rising HBV DNA received lamivudine therapy. The course of lamivudine-resistant HBV infection was studied prospectively. During 68.7 +/- 12.5 months of follow-up, 14 (48.3%) patients developed lamivudine resistance, at 10-35 months (mean 16.9 +/- 7.0). All showed mutant sequences at codons 552 and 528 of the YMDD motif, while 13 patients demonstrated wild-type sequence at codon 555. Lamivudine resistance was unrelated to patient demographics, HBeAg status/sero-conversion, or genotype. Following resistance, HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase showed an initial increase followed by spontaneous gradual reduction. The subsequent peak HBV DNA was lower (1.26 +/- 1.09 x 10(9) vs. 6.26 +/- 12.23 x 10(9) copies/mL, p = 0.011), while that of alanine aminotransferase was higher (196 +/- 117 vs. 77 +/- 47 imicro/l, p = 0.005), compared with pretreatment levels. Post-resistance hepatitic flare occurred in 11 (78.6%) patients. This was transient in four (36.4%), but became chronic in six (54.5%) patients. Decompensation was noted in one patient during this flare, but all survived. We conclude that drug resistance is prevalent in lamivudine-treated RTx. Despite a lower ensuing peak viremia compared with baseline, hepatitic flare is common. While most patients have spontaneous resolution, a minority may develop potentially fatal decompensation during the preceding exacerbation.     

早期大剂量维生素C对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠核因子-κB的影响

目的:观察早期大剂量应用抗坏血酸(维生素C)对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠的核因子-!B(NF-!B)的影响,研究其作用机制。方法:将72只SAP模型SD大鼠随机分成3组,每组各24只。A组:由大鼠股静脉滴注生理盐水5 ml/kg。B组:大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 15 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。C组:由大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 150 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。另取8只SD大鼠作为正常对照组。各组分别于8 h和24 h处死8只大鼠,采血测淀粉酶、脂肪酶、维生素C(PV-C)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、TNF-αI、L-6。大鼠处死时分别取胰头组织3份,一份组织HE染色,行光镜检查,按Kusske的方法,对水肿、炎症、出血和坏死分别评分;一份制成超薄切片,行电镜检查;另一份SP法进行免疫组化染色,检测NF-!B的表达。每组另外8只大鼠观察3 d内存活情况,计算3 d成活率。结果:各组大鼠3 d内的生存率为正常对照组100%(8/8),A组0%(0/8),B组12.5%(1/8),C组50%(4/8),C组的3 d生存率显著高于其他两组(P<0.05)。各组的4项病理学评分均高于正常对照组(P<0.01),C组的4项病理学评分均低于A、B组(P<0.05)。透射电镜检查示C组中分泌颗粒较少,其包膜完整、内质网轻度肿胀、线粒体清晰,未见大片坏死。SAP大鼠体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6的水平明显增高,血清SOD和P-VC降低,胰腺组织中NF-!B活化阳性胰腺细胞数明显增多。C组的血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶低于A、B组(P<0.05),SOD和P-VC水平高于A、B组(P<0.05),血清TNF-αI、L-6水平低于A、B组(P<0.05),胰腺组织NF-!B活化水平低于A、B组(P<0.05)。结论:早期大剂量应用Vit C有助于及时提高SAP大鼠的P-VC、E-SOD水平,降低体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、TNF-αI、L-6水平,其作用机制可能与大剂量Vit C抑制SAP大鼠体内NF-!B活化、在整体水平上抑制细胞因子基因表达、有助于机体免受自由基和过量细胞因子的损伤及减轻胰腺组织的病理性改变等因素有关。     

十字花科蔬菜提取物抗肿瘤作用的研究

研究了十字花科蔬菜提取物6320（主要含异硫氰酸酯）的抗肿瘤活性。体外实验应用MTT法、观察细胞形态、测定细胞生长曲线、流式细胞仪分析细胞凋亡及细胞周期观察提取物6320对不同肿瘤细胞生长的影响。并通过建立小鼠B16实体瘤模型来考察提取物6320的体内抗肿瘤作用。结果表明提取物6320在体内外均可明显抑制肿瘤的生长及增殖,并诱导细胞凋亡,但有可能对机体的免疫系统造成一定的影响。     

The participation of adenosine receptors in the adenosine 5''-triphosphate-induced relaxation in the isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum penis

AIM: To investigate the participation of adenosine receptors in the adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced relaxation in the corpus cavernosum penis (CCP) of rabbits. METHODS: The ATP-induced relaxation was assessed on the noradrenaline precontracted CCP of rabbits in the presence and absence of 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine (CSC); an adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist; alloxazine and MRS1754; adenosine A(2B) receptor antagonists; and ARL67156, an inhibitor of ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases. RESULTS: Adenosine and ATP relaxed the noradrenaline precontracted CCP of rabbits in a concentration-dependent manner. The adenosine- and ATP-induced relaxations were suppressed by alloxazine and MRS1754, but not by 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine. ARL67156 potentiated the ATP-induced relaxation but not the adenosine-induced one. MRS1754 suppressed the ATP-induced relaxation potentiated by ARL67156. CONCLUSIONS: The above results suggest that, in the CCP of rabbits, the adenosine receptor mediating adenosine-induced relaxation is of the A(2B) receptor and the ATP directly causes relaxation through the A(2B) receptor on the CCP.     

拉米夫定对慢性乙型肝炎的疗效及肝脏组织病理学改变

目的:从血清生化,病毒学,肝纤维化指标以及肝脏组织病理学改变的角度分析拉米夫定(LMD)治疗慢性乙型肝炎的疗效.方法:慢性乙型肝炎患者21例,给予口服LMD100 mg/d,连用1 a,动态观察服药0,24和48 wk肝功能、乙肝五项、HBV-DNA定量、血清肝纤维化指标透明质酸(HA)、层黏蛋白(LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原(PⅢP)和Ⅳ型胶原(ⅣC)的变化,通过肝组织穿刺活检,观察用药前后肝脏组织病理学的改变.结果:LMD治疗48 wk,可显著抑制HBV-DNA(copy/L)复制(6.13×109±4.03×105 vs 9.01×105±4.89×103,P＜0.01),使大多数患者肝功能(nkat/L,ALT:1697±907 vs550±503;AST:1787±717 vs 498±430)恢复正常(P＜0.01),显著降低血清肝纤维化指标水平(P＜0.01).减轻肝细胞坏死,汇管区炎细胞浸润及纤维化.结论:LMD是治疗慢性乙型肝炎的一种较为切实有效的措施.     

EPO预处理对培养心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤TNF-α表达的影响及机制

目的 观察促红细胞生成素（erythropoietin，EPO）预处理对培养心肌细胞缺氧复氧前后TNF-α表达的影响，并进一步研究其可能的NF-kB信号机制。方法采用培养乳鼠心肌细胞建立缺氧复氧损伤模型，分为对照组、EPO组[缺氧复氧前24h，培养液中加入终浓度10U/ml的重组人促红素（recombinant human erythropoietin，RHuEPO）]、EPO＋吡咯烷二硫氨基甲酸盐（PDTC）组（缺氧复氧前24h，加入终浓度10U／ml的RHuEPO和5μg/ml的PDTC）和PDTC组（缺氧复氧前24h，加入终浓度5μg/ml的PDTC）。分别于缺氧复氧损伤前后，以RT-PCR和western blot检测各组心肌细胞TNF-α基因表达变化，同时以EMSA检测各组心肌细胞NF-kB活性变化。结果缺氧复氧损伤前，各组心肌细胞TNF-α基因表达水平差异无统计学意义，均较弱。损伤后各组心肌细胞TNF-α基因表达水平较损伤前对照组显著升高（P〈0．01），而EPO组TNF-α基因表达水平低于其他各组（P〈0．01）。缺氧复氧损伤前EPO组NF-kB活性高于其他各组（P〈0．01），损伤后各组NF-kB活性显著高于损伤前对照组（P〈0．01），EPO组NF-kB活性低于其他各组（P〈0．01）。结论EPO预处理抑制缺氧复氧后心肌细胞TNF-α基因表达升高，可能与缺氧复氧后NF-kB活性升高被抑制有关。EPO预处理可能通过NF-kB活化的负反馈机制抑制缺氧复氧后心肌细胞NF-kB活性的升高。     

人脑外伤后皮层核因子-κB的表达

目的 探讨核因子-κB（nuclear factor—κB，NF—κB）在人创伤性脑损伤（traumatic brain injury，TBI）后挫伤皮层中的表达情况，包括表达位置、表达强度和表达时相。方法 挫伤区皮层的标本来自24例TBI患者，取样时间为伤后5h-5d，利用凝胶电泳迁移分析法（electrophoretic mobility shift assay，EMSA）和免疫组化技术测定NF—κB的活性和表达强度。结果 在人TBI后的挫伤区皮层中，NF—κB表达明显上调，表达高峰为伤后48—72h，NF—κBP65主要在血管内皮细胞和神经胶质细胞中表达，NF—κBP50主要在神经胶质细胞和少量神经元中表达，NF—κBP65的表达强度高于NF—κBP50。结论 NF—κB在人TBI后的挫伤区皮层中表达上调，提示其可能在TBI后的病理生理过程中起着重要作用。     

Use of Fmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl) amino acids in peptide synthesis

The use of N, O-bisFmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl) amino acid derivatives in the synthesis of peptides with difficult sequences has already been described. With these amino acid derivatives the reversible protecting group 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl (Hmb) for the backbone amide bonds of peptide chains is introduced, and thus the aggregation due to hydrogen-bond interchain association is inhibited. This paper describes the synthesis and use of Fmoc-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)amino acid derivatives as an alternative means of introducing Hmb backbone protection. These new monoFmoc derivatives were obtained in higher yield than the bisFmoc derivatives. Coupling yields to the amino peptide resin were the same as those obtained with bisFmoc derivatives, under the TBTU/HOBt/DIEA conditions. We also compared different syntheses of a difficult peptide with the Fmoc approach [triple coupling, capping, use of chaotropic agents, backbone protection using monoFmoc (Hmb)Ala] and with optimized Boc chemistry. Both the backbone protection and optimized Boc chemistry approaches gave the desired product in excellent yield and purity. © Munksgaard 1997.