Metabolism of 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) in blood--mainly in vitro]

Metabolism of 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) in blood was studied mainly in vitro. When 99mTc-ECD was mixed with blood taken from 12 subjects, the octanol extraction ratio of ECD (y) decreased rapidly and the octanol extraction ratio-time profile well fitted a monoexponential curve (y = Ae-kt/1000, A, k: constant, t: time after mixing). The k value and hematocrit (Ht) were significantly correlated (k = 0.376Ht-3.27, r = 0.897, p less than 0.001), therefore, it was suggested that the majority of the enzyme which dissolves ECD exists in red blood cells. When ECD was mixed with blood, there were more hydrophilic products of ECD in plasma than those generated by the enzyme in plasma. In vivo input function of 99mTc-ECD was calculated by arterial blood sampling and octanol extraction. The duration of effective input was relatively short, which was attributed to rapid decrease of octanol extraction ratio in vivo.     

Chromosomal Mapping of Genetic Locus Associated with Thymus-size Enlargement in BUF/Mna Rats

The thymoma-prone rat of the BUF/Mna strain is a useful model for human thymoma. In this strain thymoma development is regulated by a single autosomal susceptible gene, Tsr-1. At pre-thymoma age, BUF/Mna rats have extremely large thyrauses, when compared to those of other strains of rats. Genetic studies in crosses between BUF/Mna rats with large thymuses and WKY/NCrj rats with small thymuses suggested the presence of a major autosomal gene, Ten-1 , which contributes to thymus enlargement in a backcross population. Linkage studies between Ten-1 and microsatellite markers in backcross rats of (WKY/NCrj×BUF/Mna)Fl×BUF/Mna have led to the localization of Ten-1 in chromosome 1. This result may provide an approach to clone Tsr-1 , which could be allelic to Ten-1.     

Diagnostic performance of arginase activity in colorectal cancer

Arginase activity was measured in serum and biopsy from healthy individuals and colorectal cancer patients. Arginase activity in tumor samples (87±7.7 U/g tissue) was significantly higher than in controls (40.7±3.3 U/g tissue). However, serum arginase activity did not show any significant change in both groups. Finally, the micromethod used to quantify arginase activity in this study is superior to other methods because it has increased sensitivity, requires less sample, and is less time-consuming. Arginase differences are significant, according to the t-test (P<0.05). Received: 14 September 2001 / Accepted: 6 February 2002     

Effectiveness and Safety Assessment of Mist Tonica, a Herbal Haematinic

Anaemia is a widespread public health problem, and in Ghana it is the fourth leading cause of hospital admissions and the second factor contributing to death. Mist Tonica, an herbal haematinic produced by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), Ghana, was assessed for its effectiveness and safety in humans after Ethics Committee approval. Clinically established anaemic-patients aged, 13 years and above, with haemoglobin levels less than 11.5 g/dl and 13.5g/dl for females and males respectively were treated with Mist Tonica, 8.96 g/ 40 mls three times daily for two weeks . The mean haemoglobin rise per week caused by Mist Tonica was 1.92 (0.76) g/dl, range (1.66 – 2.55) g/dl/week and over 88 % of the patients on Mist Tonica had their appetite for food improved. Haematological profile, liver and kidney functions were not adversely affected by Mist Tonica. Results of the study suggest that Mist Tonica is an effective and safe herbal haematinic.     

Genetic mapping of genes regulating the thymus size in back-cross rats between the laboratory BUF/Mna strain and the MITE strain derived from the wild rat, Rattus norvegicus

The thymoma prone BUF/Mna (B) rat is a useful model for Studying the genes responsible for thymus enlargement during the stage of young growth. Among the strains of rats, B rats have the largest thymuses at al stages of life. A locus, Ten-1 , which contributes to thymus enlargement in back-cross (BC) rats between the B and WKY/NCrj (W) strains, was mapped on chromosome 1. To determine the precise location of the bus, (B×(B×MITE)F1) BC rats were generated by crossing the B strain with the Inbred MITE (M) strain, which was established from captured, Japanese wild rats, and were examined by linkage study using polymerase chain reaction with 67 microsatellite markers. Linkages with thymus enlargements were found In genotypes of seven markers, BSIS, LSN, MYL2, IGF2, PBPC2, D1Mgh11 , and D1Mit6 , by X^2-test and Student's t -test, which confirmed the presence of the genetic locus associated with thymus enlargement, Ten-1 , in this region. Paradoxically, a suppressive locus, Tsu-1 , to thymus enlargement was also found on chromosome 3, showing linkages of phenotype of the small thymus with genotypes of SCN2A, CAT D3Mit16 , and D3Mit13 . By analyses of mapmaker/exp and mapmaker/qtl, Ten-1 was mapped at 4.6 cM proximal from IGF2 locus on chromosome 1 and Tsu-1 at 4.0 cM proximal from CAT locus on chromosome 3, respectively.     

Prevalence and intensity of blood and intestinal parasites in a field population of a Mediterranean lizard, Lacerta lepida

We describe the blood and intestinal parasites in the Ocellated lizard, Lacerta lepida, examining the factors that determine the prevalence and intensity of infection of haemogregarines, and the prevalence of coccidia and nematodes. In relation to haemogregarines, no juveniles were detected as being infected, whereas 71.7 % of adults were infected. The prevalence of infection was positively related to the size of the adults. There were no differences between seasons or sexes in the prevalence or intensity of infection in adults. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of infection by nematodes between ages or sexes, nor in relation to the size of adult lizards, but adult lizards excreting coccidian oocysts tend to be smaller. During the mating period, reproductive activities lead to a decrease in the body condition. However, neither the intensity of haemogregarines infection nor the prevalence of intestinal parasites was related to the lizards body condition.     

Prevalence and intensity of haemogregarine blood parasites and their mite vectors in the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis

We describe the general field population biology of haemogregarines and mites in the wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, examining the factors that determine the prevalence and intensity of infection. The intensity of infection by haemogregarines in females was slightly lower in summer than in spring, whereas males maintained similar levels of intensity among all the seasons, probably due to immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. This is also supported because the prevalence and the infection intensity by mites were higher in males than in females. Parasite load was higher in lizards with better body condition, which could be reflecting the mortality of infected lizards with poor condition.     

A double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenge study with lyophilized larvae and antigen of the fish parasite, Anisakis simplex

BACKGROUND: The third-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex may be a hidden source of allergens in fish. The objective was to determine whether the ingestion of lyophilized A. simplex larvae, or antigen, induces clinical symptoms in a group of A. simplex-sensitized patients. METHODS: Double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were conducted in 11 individuals who had experienced allergic reactions after eating fish. Another patient had chronic urticaria unrelated to the ingestion of fish. All patients had positive skin tests and specific IgE determinations for A. simplex and negative skin tests to a battery of fish species. Conjunctival tests with A. simplex extracts were conducted in all patients and in five controls. The 12 patients received capsules containing either lactose or one, five, or 25 lyophilized larvae of A. simplex at 2-h intervals in a double-blind fashion. The highest single dose was 100 larvae. ECP and tryptase levels in serum were measured before and after the last oral challenge. Lyophilized antigen was also given to five patients. RESULTS: None of the 12 patients experienced a positive reaction after the ingestion of the placebo, the lyophilized larvae, or the antigen. Tryptase and ECP levels before and after challenges did not change significantly. Conjunctival provocation tests were positive in 11 out of the 12 patients and in none of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of 100 lyophilized A. simplex larvae, or its equivalent in antigen, does not induce clinical symptoms in individuals with a clinical history and laboratory findings of hypersensitivity to A. simplex. The data suggest that only the ingestion of live larvae may be capable of inducing allergic manifestations.