Screening of the antiradical action of vegetable oils

Information on radical scavenging activity (RSA) and antioxidant potential of vegetable oils are not reported, or reporting has been rather limited. Such data is of importance for the evaluation of nutritional and health impact of these oils. The main objective of this short study was to compare the antiradical performance of some common and unusual vegetable oils. The described arrangement for our simple experiment uses the addition of stable radicals 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) to vegetable oils, which are decomposed by components having antioxidant properties. The order of effectiveness of oils in inhibiting free radicals was as follows: coriander>blackcumin>cottonseed>peanut>sunflower>walnut>hemp seed>linseed>olive>niger seed. This initial survey might serve as a springboard for future research into this area.     

Aptitude for physical exercise in a population of female hospital workers

Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of physical capacity in a female hospital population of Paris and its suburbs. A total of 1505 women working in the selected departments filled in a questionnaire concerning their working conditions, life habits and health and also attended a medical examination. The effort test performed consisted in flexing the legs 20 times with the chest held straigt, in 40 s. The heart rates were measured for the first, the second and the third minutes of recovery (first 15 s multiplied by 4). The blood pressure was measured just after the heart rate, for the first and the third minute. Recovery indices have been constituted from the results. The respective weights of anthropometric and sociodemographic risk factors for recovery indices were studied in multiple logistic regression models. The classification enables us to consider about 25%–30% of our population as having a satisfactory physical capacity, about 26%–27% as having an acceptable capacit, and about 24%–27% as having a weak capacity. About 21% of the population presented an excessive pressure reaction and 44% a questionable pressure reaction. Our results concerning the level of physical capacity of the female nursing staff should be taken into account especially in the future planning of work loads and architectural choices, which must avoid excessive physical burdens in relation to this level. An improvement in the level of physical capacity could be envisaged as well.     

Serum levels of interleukin-6 and tumour-necrosis-factor-alpha are not correlated to disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after treatment with low-dose methotrexate

Abstract. Cytokines are major mediators of inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis. Some of them have been shown to correlate with the disease activity and thus are proposed to be used for monitoring patients. Therefore the effects of a low-dose therapy with methotrexate on serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-α) were examined in eight patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly elevated in patients compared to healthy controls. Before the onset of MTX treatment IL-6 concentrations were correlated to the c-reactive protein ( P < 0·05) but the correlation was abolished after treatment. For TNF-α no correlations neither before nor after treatment were observed. Both cytokines remained substantially elevated after MTX treatment despite a clear reduction in disease activity. Thus we suggest that one of the effects of MTX might be the inhibition of some of the actions of IL-6 and TNF-α.     

抗乙肝胎盘转移因子的特异免疫活性观察

本研究由ＨＢＶＭ－Ａｂ阳性胎盘提取的抗乙肝胎盘转移因子（ＰＳＴＦ）的特异免疫活性证明，经注射，小鼠外周血淋巴细胞明显增多，胸腺重量和指数亦显著增加，酯酶染色证明７５％属Ｔ－样淋巴细胞，２５％属Ｔｈｙ－样淋巴细胞，人白细胞或小鼠白细胞体外转移ＰＳＴＦ特异免疫活性、或豚鼠和小鼠体内转移ＰＳＴＦ特异免疫活性，再取其白细胞作白细胞粘附抑制、白细胞移动抑制、特异淋巴细胞转化、小鼠足掌注射和诱生γ－干扰素试验     

盐析法提取卵黄免疫球蛋白的研究

为了确定盐析法提取特异性卵黄免疫球蛋白的最佳盐浓度，采用SDS—PAGE鉴定IgY的纯度，用RID测定IgY含量，间接ELISA法检测特异性卵黄抗体的活性。结果表明：用饱和度50％的硫酸铵盐析一次，再用140g／L的硫酸钠溶液盐析，可以获得469，6的回收率和77％的纯度。盐析液经超滤膜包超滤后制得的冷冻干燥制品，保持了完整的抗体结构和良好的抗体活性。这一结果为IgY的进一步分离纯化奠定了基础。     

高血压病肠系膜动脉平滑肌细胞端粒酶活性表达的研究

目的 :探讨高血压病动脉平滑肌组织端粒酶活性与高血压的发病关系。方法 :采用PCR -ELISA法检测 30例高血压病患者和 2 0例血压正常者肠系膜动脉平滑肌细胞 (SMC)端粒酶活性。结果 :高血压患者端粒酶阳性表达 2 8例 (93.3% )。血压正常者端粒酶阳性表达 3例 (15 % )。差异非常显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :高血压病动脉平滑肌细胞端粒酶活性的表达升高 ,可能与高血压发病有关。     

Similarities in Skeletal Muscle Strength and Exercise Capacity Between Renal Transplant and Hemodialysis Patients

Exercise intolerance is common in hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant (RTx) patients. Aim of the study was to assess to what extent exercise capacity and skeletal muscle strength of RTx patients differ from HD patients and healthy controls and to elucidate potential determinants of exercise capacity in RTx patients. Exercise capacity, muscle strength, lean body mass (LBM) and physical activity level (PAL) were measured by cycle-ergometry, isokinetic dynamometry, DEXA and Baecke Questionnaire, respectively, in 35 RTx, 16 HD and 21 controls. VO2peak and muscle strength of the RTx patients were significantly lower compared to controls (p<0.01), but not different compared to HD patients. In RTx patients, strength (p<0.001), PAL (p=0.001) and age (p=0.045) were significant predictors of VO2peak. Muscle strength was related to LBM (p=0.001) and age (p=0.001), whereas gender (p<0.001) and renal function (p=0.01) turned out to be significant predictors of LBM. No effects of corticosteroids were observed. Exercise capacity and muscle strength seem equally reduced in RTx and HD patients compared to controls. In RTx patients, muscle strength and PAL are highly related to exercise capacity. Renal function appears to be a significant predictor of LBM, and through the LBM, of muscle strength and exercise capacity.     

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of new atovaquone derivatives

In this paper we describe the design and synthesis of 18 derivatives of the antimicrobial atovaquone which were substituted at the 3-hydroxy group by ester and ether functions. The compounds were evaluated in vitro for their activity against the growth of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria causing parasite. All the compounds showed potent activity, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.25–50 nM, comparable to those of atovaquone and much higher than chloroquine or quinine.