An experimental study of the hepatoprotective properties of phytoecdysteroids and nerobol in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver lesion]

The phytoecdisteroids ecdisterone, turkesterone and cyasterone were administered in a dose of 5 mg/kg per os to rats with hepatitis induced by subcutaneous injections of CCl4. Similarly to the anabolic drug nerobol (10 mg/kg), the above agents not only interfere with the manifestation of the hepatic action of CCl4 (in this case the effect of the phytoecdisteroids is more remarkable) but also favour a more rapid normalization, as compared to the control, of functional and metabolic disorders in the liver. The phytoecdisteroids and nerobol noticeably stimulate the recovery of bile secretion, the synthesis of bilirubin and bile acids, cholesterol excretion.     

Effects of ramipril in nondiabetic nephropathy: improved parameters of oxidatives stress and potential modulation of advanced glycation end products

Enhanced oxidative stress is involved in the progression of renal disease. Since angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) have been shown to improve the antioxidative defence, we investigated, in patients with nondiabetic nephropathy, the short-term effect of the ACEI ramipril on parameters of oxidative stress, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), homocysteine (Hcy), and lipid peroxidation products. Ramipril (2.5-5.0 mg/day) was administered to 12 newly diagnosed patients for 2 months and data compared with a patient group under conventional therapy (diuretic/beta-blockers) and with age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (CTRL). Patients had mild to moderate renal insufficiency and showed, in the plasma, higher fluorescent AGE and carboxymethyllysine (CML) levels, as well as elevated concentrations of AOPPs, lipofuscin and Hcy when compared with CTRL. Basal data of the patients on conventional therapy did not differ significantly from the ramipril group, except for higher Hcy levels in the latter. Administration of ramipril resulted in a drop in blood pressure and proteinuria, while creatinine clearance remained the same. The fluorescent AGEs exhibited a mild but significant decline, yet CML concentration was unchanged. The AOPP and malondialdehyde concentrations decreased, while a small rise in neopterin levels was evident after treatment. The mentioned parameters were not affected significantly in the conventionally treated patients. Evidence that ramipril administration results in a mild decline of fluorescent AGEs is herein presented for the first time. The underlying mechanism may be decreased oxidative stress, as indicated by a decline in AOPPs and malondialdehyde.     

Serum Ornithine Carbamoyl Transferase as a Surrogate Marker in Malaria

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity and other liver function tests were studied in a total of 50 patients of clinical malaria and 15 controls. They were grouped as group I (positive for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear, n=18), group II (negative for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear (PBS) but responded to antimalarials, n=17) and group III (peripheral blood smear negative and did not respond to antimalarial therapy, n=15). The mean OCT levels were significantly raised in group I (6.79 ± 1.84 IU/L, p value = 0.006) and group II (5.0 ± 1.15 IU/L, p value = 0.014) as compared to controls (2.5 ± 1.13 IU/L) and returned to normal after treatment In contrast, group III had normal levels except in a case of kala azar and septicemia where OCT levels were high and increased further on treatment. Taking PBS positivity as a gold standard of diagnostic criteria, OCT had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 86% with a high positive predictive value of 88% as compared to ALT which had a lower sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 80%. The clinical response rate in PBS negative cases of fever having high OCT level was 83% as compared to 35% in cases with normal OCT level, making OCT a good surrogate marker of malaria. OCT levels could also be of prognostic significance as 2 cases of cerebral malaria had high OCT levels of 11.1 UAL and 10.7 IU/L, respectively.Key Words: Malaria, Ornithine carbamoyl transferase     

Experimental and clinical evaluation of the efficacy of ecdysten in the treatment of hepatitis

The properties of ecdysten, an exdysterone-based preparation, were studied under experimental (of heliotrine induced hepatitis model in rats) and clinical (chronic viral hepatitis B) conditions. A 2-week treatment with ecdysten in a daily dose of 5 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly improved the state of rat liver, as manifested by normalization of the enzymatic activity of blood serum, stimulation of the protein and glycogen synthesis, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and activation of all chains of microsomal oxidation of hepatocytes. The inclusion of ecdysten into a complex therapy scheme for patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (5-mg tablets twice per day over a period of 30 days) substantially improved the clinical and biochemical indices of the functional state of liver, positively influenced the humoral and cell immunity and the resistance factors, and normalized the course of autoimmune processes accompanying the liver pathology.     

Spectrin-alpha I/61: a new structural variant of alpha-spectrin in a double-heterozygous form of hereditary pyropoikilocytosis

Recent biochemical studies have led to the identification of abnormal spectrins in the erythrocytes of patients with hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP) and hereditary elliptocytosis (HE). In this report we describe the biochemical characterization of the erythrocytes from a proband with severe HPP who is doubly heterozygous for two mutant spectrins (Sp): Sp alpha I/74 and a new, previously undetected, mutant of alpha-spectrin designated Sp alpha I/61. The proband's erythrocytes are unstable when exposed to 45 degrees C, and her membrane skeletons exhibit instability to shear stress. The content of spectrin in the proband's erythrocyte membranes is decreased to 75% of control values. The amount of spectrin dimers in crude 4 degrees C spectrin extracts is increased (58%) as compared with control values (6% +/- 4%). Limited tryptic digestion reveals a marked decrease in the normal 80,000-dalton alpha I domain, an increase in the 74,000-dalton fragment that is characteristic of Sp alpha I/74, and an increase in a series of new fragments of 61,000, 55,000, 21,000, and 16,000 daltons. Both parents are asymptomatic, but they have increased amounts of spectrin dimers (17% to 25%). Limited tryptic digestion of the father's spectrin demonstrates the presence of a previously identified abnormal spectrin (Sp alpha I/74) that is characterized by a decrease in content of the 80,000-dalton peptide and an increase in concentration of the 74,000-dalton peptide. The mother's spectrin digests show a decrease in the amount of 80,000-dalton peptide and the formation of new peptides of 61,000, 55,000, 21,000, and 16,000 daltons. The data indicate that this severe form of HPP is due to the inheritance of two distinct abnormal spectrins, Sp alpha I/74 and a new spectrin mutant, Sp alpha I/61.