Effect of N-acetylcysteine on blood and tissue lipid peroxidation in lipopolysaccharide-induced obstructive jaundice.

In obstructive jaundice, free radical production is increased and antioxidative activity is reduced. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has a beneficial effect with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, acting as a free radical scavenger. NAC inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase, suppresses cytokine expression/release, and inhibits adhesion molecule expression and nuclear factor kappa B. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NAC on liver/renal tissue and serum lipid peroxidation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced obstructive jaundice. We randomized 60 rats into 6 groups: group 1, Sham; group 2, obstructive jaundice (OJ) induced after bile-duct ligation; group 3, OJ + NAC (100 mg kg- 1 subcutaneously); group 4, OJ + LPS (10 mg kg-1); group 5, OJ + NAC + LPS; and group 6, OJ + LPS + NAC. For each group, the biochemical markers of lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant products were measured in serum and liver/renal tissue after sacrifice. Almost all lipid peroxidation products levels were increased and antioxidant products levels were decreased in groups who received LPS (groups 4, 5, and 6), but the effect was less remarkable when NAC was administered before LPS (group 5). The same trend was seen for groups with OJ +/- LPS who did not received NAC or received it after induced toxemia (groups 2, 4, and 6) as compared to groups 1 and 3. Moreover, in the case of OJ + LPS, rats treated with NAC before LPS (group 5) had lower lipid peroxidation products levels and higher antioxidant products levels as compared to those who did not received NAC (group 4). This phenomenon was not reproducible with NAC administered after LPS (group 6). Thus, results of this study showed that NAC prevents the deleterious effects of LPS in obstructive jaundice by reducing lipid peroxidation in serum and liver/renal tissue if administered before LPS. Nonetheless, NAC failed to prevent the lipid peroxidation in the case of established endotoxemia in obstructive jaundice.     

Novel murine clonal cell lines either express slow or mixed (fast and slow) muscle markers following differentiation in vitro

We have investigated whether the phenotype of myogenic clones derived from satellite cells of different muscles from the transgenic immortomouse depended on muscle type origin. Clones derived from neonatal, or 6- to 12-week-old fast and slow muscles, were analyzed for myosin and enolase isoforms as phenotypic markers. All clones derived from slow-oxidative muscles differentiated into myotubes with a preferentially slow contractile phenotype, whereas some clones derived from rapid-glycolytic or neonatal muscles expressed both fast and slow myosin isoforms. Thus, muscle origin appears to bias myosin isoform expression in myotubes. The neonatal clone (WTt) was cultivated in various medium and substrate conditions, allowing us to determine optimized conditions for their differentiation. Matrigel allowed expressions of adult myosin isoforms, and an isozymic switch from embryonic alpha- toward muscle-specific beta-enolase, never previously observed in vitro. These cells will be a useful model for in vitro studies of muscle fiber maturation and plasticity.     

Photoprotective effects of some quinoxaline 1,4-dioxides in hairless mice

2-benzoyl-3-phenylquinoxaline 1,4-dioxide (BPQ) and other substituted quinoxaline 1,4-dioxides (QdO) were tested for their ability to inhibit the stimulations of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme activity and DNA synthesis, two biochemical markers linked to skin tumour promotion by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Topical application of BPQ on the dorsal skin of hairless mice was found to inhibit in a dose-dependent manner UVB-induced ODC activity and DNA synthesis. When applied 20 min before UVB radiation, a dose of 17 mg BPQ applied in 0.4 ml of vehicle inhibited UVB-induced ODC activity and DNA synthesis by 95% and 85%, respectively. This inhibitory effect is dependent on the time of administration of BPQ relative to UVB radiation, with a generally greater inhibition observed when this compound is applied before rather than after UVB treatment. The inhibitory abilities of the other QdO on the ODC and DNA responses induced by UVB radiation greatly varied and appear to be dependent on the structure of the compounds and their metabolic activation in the skin following irradiation. The remarkable effectiveness of BPQ against the ODC and DNA markers of UVB promotion is also observed following multiple applications of this agent. These results suggest that QdO, in particular BPQ and certain derivatives of it, may be useful in protecting the skin against UVB-induced skin damage.     

Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among women in a suburban Sudanese community

338 women with age ranging from 15 to 69 years in a suburban Sudanese community were randomly selected and studied. Urine sample, high vaginal swabs and blood samples were investigated for bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. The sensitivity and specificity of some laboratory tests were evaluated. Bacterial vaginosis was found in 17.2% of the subjects, candidiasis in 10.1%, trichomoniasis in 7.7%, gonorrhoea in 1.2%, HIV in 1.2% and syphilis in 0.9% of the subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of amine test as a criterion for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis was 58.6% and 73.2%, respectively. The respective values of clue cells in wet preparation were 43.1% and 99.6%. The vaginal discharge in women with bacterial vaginosis lacked pus cells unless associated with concurrent infection.     

维药神香草挥发油化学成分的研究

目的分析神香草药材中挥发油的化学组分。方法用气相色谱-质谱联用技术系统分析神香草中挥发油的成分,每一组分根据峰面积归一法计算其含量。结果共鉴定出36种成分,占总油量的96%,其中D-大叶香根烯的含量最高,达18.67%。结论D-大叶香根烯可作为同属植物鉴别的依据。     

Lophirones B and C prevent aflatoxin B1-induced oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation in rat hepatocytes

Context Despite the reported anticarcinogenic activity of lophirones B and C, no scientific information exists for its activity in rat hepatocytes.

Objective Effect of lophirones B and C on aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-induced oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation in rat hepatocytes was investigated.

Materials and methods Wistar rat hepatocytes were incubated with lophirones B and C (1?mg/mL) or sylimarin (1?mg/mL) in the presence or absence of AFB₁. For an in vivo study, rats were orally administered with lophirones B and C, and/or AFB₁ (20?μg/d) for 9 weeks.

Results Lophirones B and C lowered AFB₁-mediated increase in nitric oxide, superoxide anion radicals, caspase-3 and fragmented DNA. Lophirones B and C attenuated AFB₁-mediated decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and reduced glutathione. Also, lophirones B and C attenuated AFB₁-mediated increase in conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde in rat hepatocytes. Furthermore, AFB₁-mediated alterations in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin and globulin in rat serum were significantly annulled in lophirones B and C-treated rats.

Conclusion This study revealed that lophirones B and C prevented AFB₁-induced oxidative damage in rat hepatocytes.     

Pregnancy outcome in patients with previous uterine rupture

BACKGROUND: To review the outcome of subsequent pregnancies in conservatively managed cases of uterine rupture. METHODS: Charts of patients with full thickness uterine rupture in the past 25 years were reviewed and information on subsequent pregnancies was extracted from maternal and neonatal charts. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients with uterine rupture were identified; the uterus was scarred in 62.2%. Ruptures were repaired in 26 (70.3%). Twelve patients subsequently conceived (24 pregnancies), with recurrence in 8/24 (33.3%) pregnancies or 5/12 (41.7%) patients. Patients with recurrence had a shorter median interval from previous rupture (2 versus 5 years), a higher incidence of previous longitudinal ruptures (60.0% versus 0.0%), and the median gestational age at the preceding rupture was lower without reaching statistical significance (34 versus 38 weeks; p = 0.209). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal ruptures and short intervals between rupture and subsequent pregnancy predispose to recurrence of uterine rupture.