用银杏叶制剂EGB761治疗急性脑梗死的研究

目的探讨银杏叶制剂对急性脑梗死的治疗效果。方法随机选择银杏叶制剂配合治疗及常规药物治疗急性脑梗死患者各42例,对不同时期单光子发射电子计算机断层扫描(SPECT)、经颅多普勒超声检查(TCD)及血液流变学进行对比分析。结果银杏叶制剂配合治疗组治愈率及显效率明显高于常规药物治疗组(P＜0.01);银杏叶治疗组血液流变学指标全血粘度及血浆粘度均明显降低(P＜0.01);SPECT及TCD均示脑缺血病灶有不同程度改善,但常规药物治疗组血液流变学、SPECT、TCD改善均不明显。结论银杏叶制剂治疗急性脑梗死效果显著。     

仙人掌清除·OH自由基及对DNA损伤的保护作用

目的研究野生仙人掌和食用仙人掌水提物清除·OH自由基及对DNA损伤的保护作用。方法采用现代生物化学发光技术,在CuSO4-Phen-Vc-H2O2-DNA化学发光体系中测定野生仙人掌和食用仙人掌清除·OH自由基及对DNA损伤的保护作用。采用紫外分光光度计测定野生仙人掌和食用仙人掌水提物中核酸和蛋白质的OD值。结果野生仙人掌能明显清除·OH自由基,抑制DNA的氧化损伤,对DNA氧化损伤的保护作用与其浓度之间存在正比性量效关系。食用仙人掌核酸和蛋白质的OD值为野生仙人掌的2.73倍和2.58倍,但不显示清除·OH自由基作用。结论野生仙人掌对·OH自由基引起的DNA损伤有明显的保护作用。食用仙人掌有较高的营养价值,但无抗DNA氧化损伤的作用。     

复方丹参输卵管灌注液中枯矾含量的测定

目的对自制复方丹参输卵管灌注液中枯矾的含量进行测定。方法用EDTA络合滴定法对枯矾进行定量分析。结果 3批样品中含量均大于0.5mg/ml,平均回收率为98.16%,RSD为0.21%。结论本法操作简便,重复性好,能有效地控制本品的质量。     

Nutritional composition of Plantago species (P. Major L., P. Lanceolata L., and P. Media L.)

Analyses of the nutrients are given for the leaves of wild Plantago major L., P. lanceolata L. and P. media L., from different locations of the southeast of Spain. The proximate composition, mineral elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and P), fatty acids, vitamins (vitamin C and carotenes), nitrate and oxalic acid were determined. The results show the low proportion of available carbohydrates, ranging from 1.99 g (P. major) to 2.81 g (P. lanceolata) (per 100 g fresh weight). Oxalic acid was found in low amounts, between 33.5 mg (P. media) and 88.2 mg (P. lanceolata) (100 g f wt). P. major had the highest amounts of vitamin C (45.1 mg/100g f. wt.) and calcium (108mg/100g f. wt.). Polyunsaturated fatty acids were high in all species, ranging from 38.97% (P. media) to 46.07% (P. lanceolata). Nutrient ratios (K/Na; Ca/P and oxalic acid/Ca) were found to be favourable in most cases.     

Evaluation of metal concentration and antioxidant,antimicrobial, and anticancer potentials of two edible mushrooms Lactarius deliciosus and Macrolepiota procera

This study is designed for the determination of metal concentrations, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer potential of two edible mushrooms Lactarius deliciosus and Macrolepiota procera. Concentrations of nine metals are determined and all metals are present in the allowable concentrations in the tested mushrooms except Cd in M. procera. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by free radical scavenging and reducing power. M. procera extract had more potent free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 311.40 μg/mL) than L. deliciosus extract. Moreover, the tested extracts had effective reducing power. The total content of phenol in the extracts was examined using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and obtained values expressed as pyrocatechol equivalents. Further, the antimicrobial potential was determined with a microdilution method on 15 microorganisms. Among the tested species, extract of L. deliciosus showed a better antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 2.5 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL. Finally, the cytotoxic activity was tested using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method on human epithelial carcinoma HeLa cells, human lung carcinoma A549 cells, and human colon carcinoma LS174 cells. Extract of both mushrooms expressed similar cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 19.01 μg/mL to 80.27 μg/mL.     

Hepatitis B viral load in dried blood spots: A validation study in Zambia

BackgroundAccess to hepatitis B viral load (VL) testing is poor in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to economic and logistical reasons.ObjectivesTo demonstrate the feasibility of testing dried blood spots (DBS) for hepatitis B virus (HBV) VL in a laboratory in Lusaka, Zambia, and to compare HBV VLs between DBS and plasma samples.Study designPaired plasma and DBS samples from HIV-HBV co-infected Zambian adults were analyzed for HBV VL using the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HBV test (Version 2.0) and for HBV genotype by direct sequencing. We used Bland-Altman analysis to compare VLs between sample types and by genotype. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the probability of an undetectable DBS result by plasma VL.ResultsAmong 68 participants, median age was 34 years, 61.8% were men, and median plasma HBV VL was 3.98 log IU/ml (interquartile range, 2.04–5.95). Among sequenced viruses, 28 were genotype A1 and 27 were genotype E. Bland–Altman plots suggested strong agreement between DBS and plasma VLs. DBS VLs were on average 1.59 log IU/ml lower than plasma with 95% limits of agreement of −2.40 to −0.83 log IU/ml. At a plasma VL ≥2,000 IU/ml, the probability of an undetectable DBS result was 1.8% (95% CI: 0.5–6.6). At plasma VL ≥20,000 IU/ml this probability reduced to 0.2% (95% CI: 0.03–1.7).ConclusionsIn a Zambian laboratory, we observed strong agreement between DBS and plasma VLs and high sensitivity in DBS at plasma VL ≥2,000 IU/ml. As HBV treatment expands, DBS could increase access to HBV VL testing and care in SSA settings.     

Presence of cytomegalovirus in the perilymphatic fluid of patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Conclusion: Not all patients diagnosed with congenital infection using umbilical cord assay were found to be positive for CMV-DNA by perilymphatic fluid assay. In addition, a CMV-DNA-positive result was observed in one patient who had not been diagnosed with congenital infection. Sampling of perilymphatic fluid from a large population of patients with congenital SNHL caused by congenital CMV infection or of unknown etiology is required to determine the prevalence of CMV-related profound HL. Objectives: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most frequent manifestations in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Using dried umbilical cord, a PCR-based assay was recently developed for the retrospective detection of congenital CMV infection. This study analyzed the presence of CMV in the perilymphatic fluid and evaluated differences in the effect of cochlear implantation between CMV-positive and -negative groups. Method: Perilymphatic fluid was collected from each patient at the time of cochlear implantation and analyzed for the presence of CMV using a PCR method. Results: The perilymphatic fluid in two of the five patients suffering from congenital CMV infection and in one of the 17 patients without congenital CMV infection was found to be positive for CMV.     

Antiaging effects of bioactive molecules isolated from plants and fungi

Aging is influenced by many lifestyle choices that are under human control, including nutrition and exercise. The most effective known antiaging intervention consists of calorie restriction (CR), which increases lifespan in yeasts, worms, fruit flies, mice, and nonhuman primates. CR also improves healthspan by preventing the development of various aging-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Many compounds isolated from plants and fungi prolong lifespan and prevent age-related diseases in model organisms. These plant and fungal compounds modulate the same cellular and physiological pathways as CR, including those involving insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1, mammalian target of rapamycin, and sirtuins. Modulation of these aging-related pathways results in the activation of various cellular processes such as autophagy, DNA repair, and neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Together, these cellular processes are believed to delay aging and prevent chronic diseases by improving bodily functions and stress resistance. We review here the mechanisms of action of plant and fungal molecules possessing antiaging properties and discuss the possibilities and challenges associated with the development of antiaging compounds isolated from natural products.