Molecular cloning and immunolocalization of the 17 kDa myoglobin of Clonorchis sinensis

We purified the 17 kDa protein abundant in Clonorchis sinensis crude extracts. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein was determined and an oligonucleotide probe synthesized. Using this probe, the cDNA encoding the protein was cloned and sequenced from the C. sinensis cDNA library. It was found to consist of a total of 150 amino acids and to have 41% conserved homology with the myoglobin of the trematodes Paramphistomum epiclitum and Isoparorchis hypselobagri. The gene product over-expressed in the bacterial system was purified and identified as the same molecule in the adult worms. BALB/c mouse sera raised against the adult 17 kDa protein revealed that this myoglobin was distributed throughout the parenchymal tissues except for the eggs and reproductive organs and that the protein may be involved in the survival of C. sinensis in the oxygen-depleted environment of the host.     

Additive Effect of Vitamin C to Statin in Improving the Endothelial Function in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

Lipid lowering agents and anti-oxidants are known to improve endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic patients, respectively. The objective of this study is to investigate whether vitamin C has additional benefit on endothelial function of statin-treated hypercholesterolemic patients. The endothelial function was estimated using venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) in 13 hypercholesterolemic patients and 9 healthy volunteers. The patients in the HC group were treated with the statin, then examined again. The change of the forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured with the acetylcholine infusion through brachial artery and also with intra-arterial vitamin C. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was significantly impaired in the HC group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The FBF increased significantly after statin therapy (8.4 ± 1.3 25.2 ± 3.1 ml/min/100 mg forearm tissue, p < 0.01). Vitamin C infusion in these patients results in additional improvement in FBF (25.2 ± 3.1 31.9 ± 4.9, p < 0.05). Vitamin C seems to have additional benefit on the endothelial function of statin-treated hypercholesterolemic patients.     

Absence of postprandial surge in coronary blood flow distal to significant stenosis: a possible mechanism of postprandial angina

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate a possible mechanism of postprandial angina. BACKGROUND: Postprandial angina has been recognized for more than two centuries; however, its mechanism is still controversial. The most widely accepted mechanism involves increased myocardial oxygen demand after food intake. Recently, the redistribution in coronary blood flow (CBF) was suggested as a possible mechanism. METHODS: Twenty young, healthy volunteer controls and 20 patients with significant stenosis in the left anterior descending (LAD) or left main coronary artery were enrolled in the study. Coronary blood flow was evaluated in the distal LAD by using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography before and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after food intake. In the CBF curve, the time velocity integral of diastolic flow (Dtvi) and the product of Dtvi and heart rate (HR) were measured. In six patients, these measurements were repeated after successful coronary intervention. RESULTS: In the healthy volunteer controls, Dtvi and Dtvi x HR increased after food intake with a peak value at 15 min, which indicates the presence of postprandial surge in the CBF. Fasting values and peak values at 15 min were significantly different (Dtvi: 15.1 +/- 4.9 cm/s vs. 18.9 +/- 5.9 cm/s, p = 0.04, Dtvi x HR: 862.2 +/- 261.5 cm/min vs. 1,174.2 +/- 307.5, p = 0.002). In contrast with the controls, despite postprandial increase in double product (HR x blood pressure), Dtvi and Dtvi x HR in the patient group decreased after food intake, with a nadir value at 45 min. Fasting values and nadir values at 45 min were significantly different (Dtvi: 24.0 +/- 19.6 cm/s vs. 19.3 +/- 17.1 cm/s, p < 0.001, Dtvi x HR: 1,449.6 +/- 1,044.0 cm/min vs. 1,273.4 +/- 1,000.9 cm/min, p = 0.002). In six patients, the CBF pattern resumed the normal pattern of postprandial surge in the CBF after successful coronary intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study suggest that "steal phenomenon" may play a role in the mechanism of postprandial angina.     

Clinical Characteristics of Gastroallergic Anisakiasis and Diagnostic Implications of Immunologic Tests

Purpose

Recent studies have used the term "gastroallergic anisakiasis" to describe incidental gastrointestinal infection with Anisakis spp. larvae, proposed as a causative agent of food hypersensitivity. However, it is unknown whether this condition represents an independent disease entity distinguishable from acute gastric anisakiasis. To better understand the role of the allergic response in Anisakis infections we examined the clinical and immunological implications of Anisakis-specific IgE.

Methods

A prospective study was performed in a geographic region where the consumption of raw seafood is common. Case subjects who had been clinically diagnosed with gastroallergic anisakiasis were selected, along with controls who frequently ate raw seafood but had never experienced gastroallergic anisakiasis-like symptoms. Clinical and immunological features were compared based on atopic status, sensitization rates to Anisakis, and serum titer of Anisakis-specific IgE.

Results

Seventeen case subjects and 135 controls were included in this study. The case subjects had experienced gastrointestinal symptoms after raw seafood ingestion, along with additional mucocutaneous, respiratory, or multisystemic symptoms. Case subjects were significantly sensitized to Anisakis excretory-secretory product and crude extract compared with controls (76.5% vs 19.3%, P<0.001, and 88.2% vs 30.3%, P<0.001, respectively). Anisakis-specific serum IgE titers were also significantly higher in case subjects than in controls. Both the results of skin prick tests and elevated Anisakis-specific IgE titers (>17.5 kU/L) were found to be reliable indicators for the diagnosis of gastroallergic anisakiasis.

Conclusions

Among patients presenting acute gastric anisakiasis-like symptoms, a diagnosis of gastroallergic anisakiasis may be strongly supported by a high Anisakis-specific IgE titer.     

Renal toxicity evaluation and comparison between visipaque (iodixanol) and hexabrix (ioxaglate) in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography: the RECOVER study: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the nephrotoxicity of iodixanol and ioxaglate in patients with renal impairment undergoing coronary angiography. BACKGROUND: Iodixanol, a nonionic, dimeric, iso-osmolar contrast medium (IOCM), may be less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) in high-risk patients. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized trial in 300 adults with creatinine clearance (CrCl) < or =60 ml/min, patients received either iodixanol or ioxaglate and underwent coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary end point was the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) (an increase in serum creatinine [SCr] > or =25% or > or =0.5 mg/dl [> or =44.2 mumol/l]). The incidence of CIN in patients with severe renal impairment at baseline (CrCl <30 ml/min) or diabetes and in those receiving large doses (> or =140 ml) of contrast medium was also determined. RESULTS: The incidence of CIN was significantly lower with iodixanol (7.9%) than with ioxaglate (17.0%; p = 0.021), corresponding to an odds ratio (OR) of CIN of 0.415 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.194 to 0.889) for iodixanol. The incidence of CIN was also significantly lower with iodixanol in patients with severe renal impairment (p = 0.023) or concomitant diabetes (p = 0.041), or in patients given > or =140 ml of contrast media (p = 0.038). Multivariate analysis identified use of ioxaglate (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.11 to 6.33, p = 0.028), baseline SCr, mg/dl (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.85, p = 0.038), and left ventricular ejection fraction, % (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99, p = 0.019) as independent risk factors for CIN. CONCLUSIONS: The IOCM iodixanol was significantly less nephrotoxic than ioxaglate, an ionic, dimeric LOCM. (The RECOVER Trial; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00247325).     

当归的等级化研究

中草药标准化是非常有必要的,需要用物理和化学的方法来建立标准.标准化的分级是每位草药生产的指标之-.中国当归的等级分为5级:大体、形状、颜色、香味及杂质是否存在.而韩国的生当归分为三级,分别是60 g以上,20～60 g之间,20 g以下.当归身的重量约占整个当归的30%,其表面颜色是浅黄棕色到褐色.-般没有次品.若有次品,多为腐烂、中空、表面色黑或中节呈褐色.提出了当归标准化的等级,并期待着进-步研究.此研究可以做为中药标准化研究的参考指标.