Is cholic acid responsible for embryo-toxicity of the post-receptive uterine environment?

HPLC analysis of the embryo-toxic fraction of human uterinefluid, collected between the 22nd and 25th days of the menstrualcycle, revealed the presence of cholic acid at high concentrations.It is suggested that cholic acid could be responsible for theembryo-toxicity of the uterine environment, which follows thereceptive period for implantation.     

Glucocorticoids potentiate kainic acid-induced seizures and wet dog shakes

Glucocorticoid effects on kainic acid-induced motor seizures and wet dog shakes in rats were investigated by adrenalectomy and dexamethasone treatment. One-day adrenalectomy attenuated kainic acid-induced wet dog shakes and seizure activity. These effects were restored by dexamethasone. Administration of dexamethasone to non-adrenalectomized rats potentiated kainic acid-induced wet dog shakes and severity of seizure activity. These results suggest that glucocorticoids may play an important role in modulating the severity of kainic acid-induced seizures and wet dog shakes.     

Pesticide assessment: Protecting public health on the home turf

Pesticide regulation is examined in the context of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s assessment of the chlorophenoxy herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for turf. 2,4-D is the most common herbicide used to kill weeds in grass.The medical literature does not uniformly indicate harms from herbicides. However, the balance of epidemiological research suggests that 2,4-D can be persuasively linked to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems. These may arise from 2,4-D itself, from breakdown products or dioxin contamination, or from a combination of chemicals.Regulators rely largely on toxicology, but experiments may not replicate exposures from 2,4-D application to lawns because environmental breakdown products (eg, 2,4-dichlorophenol) may not accumulate and selected herbicides are possibly less contaminated. Dioxins are bioaccumulative chemicals that may cause cancer, harm neurological development, impair reproduction, disrupt the endocrine system and alter immune function. No dioxin analyses were submitted to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and the principal contaminants of 2,4-D are not among the 17 congeners covered in pesticide regulation. Independent assessment of all dioxins is needed, in tissues and in the environment.The 2,4-D assessment does not approach standards for ethics, rigour or transparency in medical research. Canada needs a stronger regulator for pesticides. Potentially toxic chemicals should not be registered when more benign solutions exist, risks are not clearly quantifiable or potential risks outweigh benefits. Until landscaping pesticides are curtailed nationally, local bylaws and Quebec’s Pesticide Code are prudent measures to protect public health. Physicians have a role in public education regarding pesticides.     

Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex of the lizardPodarcis hispanica

An antibody against the calcium binding protein parvalbumin selectively labels a set of neurons in the cerebral cortex of lizards. Golgi-like immunostained bipolar, multipolar and pyramid-like neurons appear mainly located in the inner plexiform layers. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PARV-IR) puncta are concentrated in the cell layer of the dorsal and dorsomedial cortices showing a basket-like distribution. The morphology and distribution of PARV-IR neurons and puncta overlap GABA-immunostaining in the cerebral cortex of lizards. Thus, it is likely that PARV-IR neurons are a subset of the cortical GABAergic neurons of lizards.     

Comparison of assays for determination of peptide content for lyophilized thymalfasin*

Abstract: Precise determination of the peptide content in drug substance samples depends highly upon the particular peptide compound and methodology used. Four independent methods were evaluated and compared to determine which would produce the best experimental precision for analysis of thymalfasin (thymosin α‐1). Four different methods were evaluated including elemental analysis (CHN), quantitative amino acid analysis (AAA), high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Kjeldahl. This study demonstrates that the AAA method is highly variable in one laboratory while quite precise in another laboratory. Similarly, HPLC results depended on the laboratory conducting the study with more precise values obtained under cGMP. On the contrary, the CHN method yielded highly precise [i.e. <2% coefficient of variation (CV)] values. As precise knowledge of protein content is fundamental for the compounding of final pharmaceutical product of a specific potency, the CHN analysis is recommended for peptide content determination of the drug substance thymalfasin.     

恒定分压CO2对羟基磷灰石溶解度的影响

[目的]应用固体滴定技术监测羟基磷灰石(Hydroxyaptite,HA)的溶解平衡过程,观察组织液生理浓度CO2对羟基磷灰石溶解度的影响.[方法]在恒温水浴系统中以HA为固体滴定物.测试液为KCl溶液(0.1 mol/L),并引入恒定分压的CO2(占空气体积比为3.5%±0.1%).半导体二极管激光为发射光源,散射光源探测器用于监测HA的溶解平衡过程并判断超越溶解平衡点所出现的沉淀(合共17次滴定终点).固体滴定总量用于代表溶解度等温线上的数据点.[结果]引入恒定分压CO2后测定的HA在KCl溶液中的溶解度高于其在KCl溶液中所得50倍以上.[结论]固体滴定技术利于监测HA的溶解平衡过程.溶液体系中CO2增加HA的溶解度.推测该现象与CO2-3形成的复合物密切相关.     

超声引导下犬肝注射醋酸高渗氯化钠混合液对射频消融毁损体积的影响

目的探讨超声引导下活体犬肝注射不同剂量的醋酸高渗氯化钠液(acetic acid hypertonic saline solution,AHS)后行射频消融(RFA),观察犬肝一次性毁损体积的变化。方法使用LDRF-120S多极RFA系统联合AHS对活体犬肝行RFA。健康成年杂种犬30只,随机分为5组(n=6)。A组:注射2ml AHS后立即行RFA;B组:注射2ml AHS后延时5min行RFA;C组:注射4ml AHS后立即行RFA;D组:注射4ml AHS后延时5min行RFA;E组:注射6ml AHS后立即行RFA。结果5组间平均起始阻抗差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);5组间平均消融时间差异有统计学意义(F=83.831,P<0.001),LSD-t检验分析各组间两两比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),在观察范围内E组平均消融时间最长;5组间平均毁损直径差异有统计学意义(F=53.488,P<0.001),在观察范围内E组平均毁损直径最大,LSD-t检验分析除D与E组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)外,其余各组间两两比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.001);网状纤维染色显示凝固坏死区及其邻近的正常肝组织均可见血管内血栓形成;E组在AHS注射过程中出现不同程度的外溢;A、B、C及D组14d内无动物死亡,E组死亡4只。结论活体犬肝局部注射AHS4ml后延时5min行RFA即可达到较理想的毁损体积。     

腹外侧视前区GABA能神经元对大鼠睡眠-觉醒周期的影响

目的 研究腹外侧视前区(VLPO）γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)能神经元对大鼠睡眠—觉醒周期的影响。方法 采用脑立体定位、核团微量注射和多导睡眠描记技术。结果 VLPO双侧分别微量注射GABA合成关键酶(谷氨酸脱羧酶，GAD)抑制剂3-巯基丙酸(3-MP，5μg，0．1μl)，与对照组相比，注射后当日对大鼠睡眠—觉醒周期无影响；注射后第1天大鼠睡眠量减少，觉醒时间增加；第2、3天恢复正常。结论 GABA能神经元在VLPO参与大鼠睡眠—觉醒周期调节且有促睡眠作用。     

高原红细胞增多症患者血清尿酸水平分析

目的研究高原红细胞增多症患者(HAPC)血清尿酸(uric ac id,UA)的水平及其临床意义。方法选择HAPC患者78例,采集患者静脉血检测血清中尿酸的含量,并与80例高原健康人作对照研究。结果HAPC组血清尿酸的含量显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05)。结论在治疗高原红细胞增多症时应关注患者血尿酸水平。