Characteristic of drug-related problems and pharmacists’ interventions in a stroke unit in Thailand

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background Little information is available regarding pharmacist’s intervention to solve drug-related problems (DRPs) in a stroke unit. Objective...     

Defective Bone Microstructure in Hydronephrotic Mice: A Histomorphometric Study in ICR/Mlac‐hydro Mice

Chronic renal impairment can lead to bone deterioration and abnormal bone morphology, but whether hydronephrosis is associated with bone loss remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to use computer‐assisted bone histomorphometric technique to investigate microstructural bone changes in Imprinting Control Region (ICR) mice with a spontaneous mutation that was associated with bilateral nonobstructive hydronephrosis (ICR/Mlac‐hydro). The results showed that 8‐week‐old ICR/Mlac‐hydro mice manifested decreases in trabecular bone number and thickness, and an increased trabecular separation, thereby leading to a reduction in trabecular bone volume compared with the wild‐type mice. Furthermore, histomorphometric parameters related to both bone resorption and formation, that is, eroded surface, osteoclast surface, and osteoblast surface, were much lower in ICR/Mlac‐hydro mice than in the wild type. A decrease in moment of inertia was found in ICR/Mlac‐hydro mice, indicating a decrease in bone strength. In conclusion, ICR/Mlac‐hydro mice exhibited trabecular bone loss, presumably caused by marked decreases in both osteoblast and osteoclast activities, which together reflected abnormally low bone turnover. Thus, this mouse strain appeared to be a valuable model for studying the hydronephrosis‐associated bone disease. Anat Rec, 297:208–214, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Derangement of calcium metabolism in diabetes mellitus: negative outcome from the synergy between impaired bone turnover and intestinal calcium absorption

Both types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) are associated with profound deterioration of calcium and bone metabolism, partly from impaired intestinal calcium absorption, leading to a reduction in calcium uptake into the body. T1DM is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis, whereas the skeletal changes in T2DM are variable, ranging from normal to increased and to decreased BMD. However, both types of DM eventually compromise bone quality through production of advanced glycation end products and misalignment of collagen fibrils (so-called matrix failure), thereby culminating in a reduction of bone strength. The underlying cellular mechanisms (cellular failure) are related to suppression of osteoblast-induced bone formation and bone calcium accretion, as well as to enhancement of osteoclast-induced bone resorption. Several other T2DM-related pathophysiological changes, e.g., osteoblast insulin resistance, impaired productions of osteogenic growth factors (particularly insulin-like growth factor 1 and bone morphogenetic proteins), overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, also aggravate diabetic osteopathy. In the kidney, DM and the resultant hyperglycemia lead to calciuresis and hypercalciuria in both humans and rodents. Furthermore, DM causes deranged functions of endocrine factors related to mineral metabolism, e.g., parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, and fibroblast growth factor-23. Despite the wealth of information regarding impaired bone remodeling in DM, the long-lasting effects of DM on calcium metabolism in young growing individuals, pregnant women, and neonates born to women with gestational DM have received scant attention, and their underlying mechanisms are almost unknown and worth exploring.     

Comparison of the protein composition of breast milk and the nutrient intake between Thai and Japanese mothers

This study compared the protein composition of breast milk and the nutrient intake between Thai and Japanese lactating mothers. The breast milk was collected from 15 Thai and 14 Japanese mothers at the fifth day post-partum. Twenty-four-hour dietary records were performed from the second-to-the-fourth day post-partum. The nutrient intake was calculated by using the nutrient content of a food table. The protein composition of the whey was separated by gel electrophoresis and was identified by mass spectrometry and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results showed that the concentrations of the major protein types in the breast milk were not significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of the minor protein types varied markedly with the individuals, with higher concentrations in the breast milk of the Thai mothers. There were no significant differences in terms of the energy and protein intake; however, the sources of energy were different. The results indicate that the total protein and lactoferrin concentrations in the breast milk could be predicted by the maternal daily energy and fat intake.     

Enteropathogencity of Escherichia coli I. Evaluation of Mouse Intestinal Loops

A ligated mouse intestinal loop assay has been introduced to evaluate the enteropathogenicity of strains of Escherichia coli. When inoculated as whole cultures, 19 (34%) of 55 strains isolated from diarrheic infants, each of 4 strains associated with diarrhea in human adults, and 5 of 7 strains associated with porcine coli bacillosis were found capable of causing fluid accumulation in this model. In contrast, only 1 of 28 strains isolated from normal individuals was positive in this test. Sterile concentrated filtrates of positive strains cultivated in Brain Heart Infusion broth or syncase broth were also positive, whereas filtrates of negative strains did not cause fluid accumulation. All of the strains associated with diarrhea in human adults and 16 of the 19 positive strains from diarrheic children were also found capable of causing hemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes in a slide test used to evaluate the “adhesiveness” of the bacteria, a property which may enable them to stick in the small bowel and avoid the normally efficient peristaltic clearance mechanism. Few of the nonenteropathogenic strains were positive in this test. The slide hemagglutination test may be a useful, rapid means of screening potentially enteropathic E. coli strains and merits further evaluation and study. Although not ideal, the mouse intestinal loop model offers some advantages over the rabbit ileal loop assay.     

Leptospiral Acute Renal Failure: Effects of Dopamine and Furosemide

From unpublished experience of clinicians in the rural tropics, the combination of furosemide and dopamine is beneficial in the management of mild acute renal failure in tropical disease. We studied two groups of patients with leptospirosis and mild acute renal failure whose serum creatinine ranged from 2.4 to 5 mg/dL and fractional excretion of sodium varied from 1.21 to 2.08%. Group 1, consisting of 9 patients with the serum creatinine ranging from 2.4 to 5 mg/dL, served as the control. They received only penicillin G sodium and supportive treatment. Group 2, consisting of 8 patients with the serum creatinine ranging from 2.8 to 5 mg/dL, received, in addition to penicillin, dopamine (renal dose) and furosemide along with fluid and electrolyte replacement. The control group ran the usual clinical course of acute renal failure, and 3 patients required dialysis. There was profuse diuresis, and the recovery of renal function was faster in group 2 patients. Dopamine and furosemide are therefore useful in mild acute renal failure in leptospirosis. It is felt that this combination could be beneficial in the management of mild acute ischemic renal failure due to a clean single insult.     

Endochondral bone growth,bone calcium accretion,and bone mineral density: how are they related?

Endochondral bone growth in young growing mammals or adult mammals with persistent growth plates progresses from proliferation, maturation and hypertrophy of growth plate chondrocytes to mineralization of cartilaginous matrix to form an osseous tissue. This complex process is tightly regulated by a number of factors with different impacts, such as genetics, endocrine/paracrine factors [e.g., PTHrP, 1,25(OH)₂D₃, IGF-1, FGFs, and prolactin], and nutritional status (e.g., dietary calcium and vitamin D). Despite a strong link between growth plate function and elongation of the long bone, little is known whether endochondral bone growth indeed determines bone calcium accretion, bone mineral density (BMD), and/or peak bone mass. Since the process ends with cartilaginous matrix calcification, an increase in endochondral bone growth typically leads to more calcium accretion in the primary spongiosa and thus higher BMD. However, in lactating rats with enhanced trabecular bone resorption, bone elongation is inversely correlated with BMD. Although BMD can be increased by factors that enhance endochondral bone growth, the endochondral bone growth itself is unlikely to be an important determinant of peak bone mass since it is strongly determined by genetics. Therefore, endochondral bone growth and bone elongation are associated with calcium accretion only in a particular subregion of the long bone, but do not necessarily predict BMD and peak bone mass.