Influence of nitrate levels in drinking water on urological malignancies: a community-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of nitrate levels in the drinking water on the incidence of urological malignancies in a German community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For 28 years (1957-86) the community of Bocholt, Germany (70,000 inhabitants) had a drinking water supply with different nitrate levels, i.e. 60 mg/L in group A (57,253 inhabitants) and 10 mg/L in group B (10,037 inhabitants). All newly diagnosed cases of urological malignancies were registered from 1986 to 1997. The incidence was calculated using an age standardization based on the German population. RESULTS: In all, there were 527 urological malignancies recorded (urothelial cancer 39.8%, renal cell carcinoma 10.8%, testicular tumours 8.0%, penile carcinoma 1.7%, prostate cancer 39.7%). The incidence per 100,000 inhabitants/year of urinary tract tumours was 33.8 in group A and only 17.1 in group B (relative risk, RR 1.98, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.10-3.54). The RR was 0.87 (0.34-2.22) for renal tumours, 0.66 (0.14-2.88) for penile cancer and 1.06 (0.76-1.48) for prostate cancer. For testicular tumours there was an inverse association with nitrate level, with a RR of 0.43 (0.21-0.90). CONCLUSION: This study showed an association of nitrate load in drinking water and the incidence of urothelial cancer in both genders, with an inverse correlation to testicular tumours and no correlation with renal, penile and prostatic tumours.     

上海居民膳食中硝酸盐摄入和排出规律的探讨

以成年男性居民为对象,初步探讨了居民硝酸盐摄入与尿中排出规律。平均摄入量为380～474mg/d,仅摄入最高的春季与摄入最低的夏季间有显著差异(P<0.05)。其中87.9～93.8%摄自食物,6.2～12.1%摄自水。尿中平均排出5.1～10.3g/gCr,超过摄入量。考虑可能来自蛋白质,计算相关系数,结果发现当能量摄入不足时,尿中硝酸盐排出量与植物蛋白、谷类蛋白摄入量密切相关(P<0.01);与硝酸盐摄入量相关(P<0.05);与抗坏血酸、蛋白总摄入量不相关。     

Effect of nitrate tolerance and dipyridamole on the response to SIN1 in the human isolated saphenous vein

The relaxant effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) and SIN1 on human vena saphena magna were studied in vitro. Nitrate tolerance was produced after incubation of the preparation with nitroglycerin (NTG 10 microM for 10 minutes). Vessels precontracted by serotonin (0.25 microM) and made tolerant to NTG exhibited a slight but significant shift (p less than 0.01) to the right of the dose-response curve to SIN1 (EC50 increased from 1.12 +/- 0.21 microM to 2.74 +/- 0.32 microM). The maximal relaxation was unaltered. On the contrary, there was a marked attenuation of the maximal relaxation to NTG in the nitrate-tolerant preparation (maximal relaxation decreased from 73 +/- 2% to 35 +/- 1%). Dipyridamole, a phosphodiesterase (PDe) inhibitor, significantly potentiated the responses to SIN1 on control rings (EC50 = 57.1 +/- 1.8 nM), and on NTG-tolerant rings it reversed the responsiveness to SIN1 (EC50 = 88.9 +/- 9.2 nM), which suggests that nitrate tolerance may be partially due to an increase in PDe activity. In conclusion we have demonstrated a slight cross-tolerance between SIN1 and NTG on human vena saphena magna. Nevertheless, after induction of in vitro NTG tolerance, the attenuation of responses to SIN1 is much less pronounced that the alteration of NTG relaxations.     

高效液相色谱法测定康泰唑冲洗液中甲硝唑、醋酸氯己定和硝酸咪康唑的含量

在ＳｐｈｅｒｉｓｏｒｂＣ８柱上，甲醇—水相（取磷酸二氢钾４ｇ、三乙胺２．５ｍＬ，辛烷基磺酸钠１ｇ，加水至１０００ｍＬ，磷酸调ｐＨ至２．５）（６６３４）为流动相，高效液相色谱法同时分离和测定复方康泰唑冲洗液中甲硝唑、醋酸氯己定和硝酸咪康唑。考察了色谱体系中各因素对色谱保留的影响。３组分的线性关系良好，回收率满意。     

Experimental and clinical studies on the absorption and toxicity of cerium nitrate

Summary In this publication we present the results of three studies concerning the toxicity and absorption of cerium. In the first experimental study in rats, following the application of a 2.2% solution of cerium nitrate on dorsal wounds for five weeks, delayed healing was demonstrated and histological examination revealed richly vascularized granulation tissue in which microcalcifications and foreign-body type giant cells were found. A high concentration of cerium was found in the liver. The second experimental study employing rat enterocytes demonstrated an immediate cellular toxicity after exposure to a 2.2% cerium nitrate solution. Correction of pH and/or osmolarity did not play a protective role. In the clinical evaluation, significant levels of cerium were found in six blood samples and four urinary specimens, following the application of a 2.2% cerium nitrate solution on burn wounds. Liver biopsies were performed in two cases. There were no abnormal histological findings, but cerium levels were elevated.     

Ergebnisse einer Vergleichsstudie mit einem oral und einem lokal zu applizierenden Antimykotikum bei Vaginalmykosen*

Zusammenfassung: Im Rahmen eines offenen, randomisierten klinischen Versuches wurden 140 Patientinnen mit kulturell-mykologisch bestätigten Vaginalmykosen mit einer einmaligen Gabe von 2 Gyno-Travogen®-Vaginaltabletten (à 300 mg Isoconazolnitrat) bzw. 2 Nizoral®-Tabletten (à 200 mg Ketoconazol) an fünf aufeinanderfolgenden Tagen behandelt. Kontroll-untersuchungen wurden eine Woche sowie vier und zwölf Wochen nach Therapieende durch-geführt. Bei allen drei Kontrolluntersuchungen ergaben sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede bezüglich der mykologischen Heilungsraten. Dagegen konnte festgestellt werden, daß die für die Patientinnen besonders unangenehmen subjektiven Beschwerden sowie die entzündlichen Erscheinungen im Genitalbereich wesentlich schneller unter der lokalen Therapie als unter der oralen Therapie verschwanden. Diese Unterschiede waren bei der ersten Kontrolle statistisch signifikant (p < 0,001) bzw. 0,01, Chi-Quadrat-Test). Lokale oder allgemeine Nebenwirkungen traten unter der Therapie mit den Gyno-Travogen®-Vaginaltabletten nicht auf. In der Nizoral®-Gruppe klagten 3 Patientinnen über leichte gastrointestinale Beschwerden. Summary: In an open, randomized clinical study 140 patients with mycologically verified vaginal mycoses were treated with a single application of 2 Gyno-Travogen® vaginal tablets (300 mg isoconazole nitrate each) resp. 2 Nizoral® tablets daily (200 mg ketoconazole each) on five successive days. One, four and twelve weeks after the end of therapy clinical and mycological control examinations were carried out. No significant differences were found between the two groups concerning the mycological healing rate, whereas it could be stated that the subjective complaints and the inflammatory symptoms in the genital region disappeared considerably more quickly in the group of local therapy than in the other one. At the time of the first control examination these differences were statistically significant (p < 0,001 resp. 0,01, Chi-square test). Local or general side effects did not appear after therapy with Gyno-Travogen® vaginal tablets. In the Nizoral® group three patients complained about mild gastrointestinal side effects.     

Studies of the biochemical toxicology of uranyl nitrate in the rat

High resolution ¹H NMR spectroscopy of urine and plasma, conventional clinical chemical methods and histopathology have been applied to investigate the effects of uranyl nitrate (UN) on renal function and biochemistry in the Fischer 344 (F344) rat. Administration of UN (5 – 20 mg/kg) to male F344 rats resulted in a dose-related proximal nephropathy assessed conventionally by histopathology and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), and related to changes in the patterns of low MW metabolites observed in 400 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of urine. The changes in urinary metabolite profiles included elevations in glucose accompanied by minor elevations in certain amino acids (alanine, valine and glutamate). ¹H NMR urinalysis also revealed altered excretion of low MW metabolites which are not routinely measured, such as l-lactate, acetate, citrate, succinate and 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG). In addition, the striking appearance of high concentrations of 3-d-hydroxybutyrate (HB) in the urine was noted, in the absence of acetoacetate or acetone, and it is suggested that this may provide a new marker of proximal tubular damage for certain types of nephrotoxic mechanism. Broadening of the ¹H NMR signals of citrate following 10 mg/kg UN was shown to be due to a dynamic exchange process involving chelation with urinary Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions. Conventional biochemical analysis of plasma from UN-treated rats revealed dose-related increases in creatinine, urea and HB concentrations. ¹H NMR-detected evidence of raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in rats administered the highest dose of UN was indicated by the partial deuteration of alanine in lyophilised plasma reconstituted in ²H₂O. The degree of ¹H NMR-detected abnormalities agreed well with histopathological observations and conventional biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity and more fully characterised the renal changes produced by UN. The significance of HB-uria in UN-induced proximal nephropathy is discussed in relation to biochemical observations on other proximal nephrotoxins. Received 7 June 1993/Accepted 23 August 1993     

Dentine hypersensitivity and the placebo response

Abstract A considerable number of varied agents are apparently effective in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. In particular, the literature supports the efficacy of strontium, potassium and fluoride containing toothpastes. This study was a double-blind, randomised, parallel group comparison of three products, namely strontium- and potassium-based desensitising toothpastes both containing fluoride, and a conventional fluoride toothpaste. A total of 131 subjects entered a 4-week wash-in phase using the conventional fluoride toothpaste, of whom 120 entered a 6-week treatment phase. Sensitive teeth were evaluated at wash-in baseline, treatment baseline and after 2 and 6 weeks use of the treatment pastes. Dentine hypersensitivity was assessed with tactile and cold air stimuli together with an overall subjective assessment. Analysis of the findings was performed using non-parametric statistical methods. Of the original 120 subjects, 112 completed the trial. All 3 toothpaste groups showed reductions in sensitivity over the 6 weeks; however, no significant differences were found between the three products at any given time. Interestingly, there was no significant change in sensitivity between wash-in baseline and treatment baseline for the cold air stimulus with the fluoride-only-based paste. However, for the group using the same fluoride toothpaste, there was significant improvement between wash-in baseline and week 6, and treatment baseline and week 6 for this stimulus, suggesting a substantial placebo effect occurred. There is a need for further investigation of a wash-in period and examination of the placebo effect when evaluating dentine hypersensitivity trials.     

固相胶体金法检测乙型肝炎表面抗原

本文报道了用固相胶体金法检测血清中表面抗原(HBsAg)。氯金酸经枸椽酸钠还原制成17nm左右的胶体金颗粒,与抗-HRs结合后,经双抗体夹心法检测HBsAg,最后用硝酸银溶液显影观察结果。检测78份病人血清并与酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)进行了比较,其特异性、敏感性、重复性相当于ELISA,但胶体金与抗体结合要比酶与抗体结合简单得多,而且结果可长期保存。