Serum contents of E-selectin,sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with acute coronary syndrome

AIM:To explore the serum levels of certain adhesion molecules and its significance in acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS:The subjects included 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Among the 80 patients, 60 patients accepted a follow-up 4 months. At the same time we selected 40 controls from people who attended a routine health check in the university. Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the ACS group(AMI or UAP) than in the control group. Four months later, the levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 became significantly lower in the follow-up group than in the ACS group, while sVCAM-1 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 may have certain diagnostic value for ACS, and can be a useful marker reflecting the stability of the disease.     

Marked hyperphosphatasemia associated with an acute leukemia in a Great Dane

This is the report of a 5‐year‐old male neutered Great Dane with an extreme leukocytosis (544.9 × 10⁹ cells/L; RI 5.2–13.9 × 10⁹ cells/L) characterized by highly atypical round cells. Cellular morphologic features such as cytoplasmic membrane blebs, a high nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratio, and nuclear indentations and irregularities and large nucleoli, as well as immunocytochemistry for CD3 and CD79, myeloperoxidase cytochemistry, and clonality testing were not conclusive for myeloid or lymphoid origin. Marked alkaline hyperphosphatasemia was present at the first visit (2783.0 U/L; RI 6–80.0 U/L), followed by a 5‐fold increase (14,000 U/L) a week later, identified as being mostly contributed by the bone‐ALP isoform (11,062 U/L; RI 0–30 U/L). In addition, the atypical leukocytes were strongly positive for cytoplasmic ALP activity. In vitro lysis of a heparin blood sample resulted in a 1.7‐fold increase of ALP activity, supporting the origin of the hyperphosphatasemia at least in part from the leukemic cell population. To the authors’ knowledge, this is a unique case of alkaline hyperphosphatasemia, due at least to a leukemic cell population producing a bone‐ALP isoform, regardless of the exact nature of the leukemia.     

Serum C-reactive protein concentration as an indicator of remission status in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in humans with various neoplasias, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if CRP could be used to detect different remission states in dogs with lymphoma. ANIMALS: Twenty-two dogs with untreated multicentric lymphoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, before each chemotherapy session, and at follow-up visits, resulting in 287 serum samples. RESULTS: Before therapy, a statistically significant majority of the dogs (P = .0019) had CRP concentrations above the reference range (68%, 15/22). After achieving complete remission 90% (18/20) of the dogs had CRP concentrations within the reference range, and the difference in values before and after treatment was statistically significant (P < .001). CRP concentrations of dogs in complete remission (median, 1.91; range, 0.2-103) were significantly different (P = .031) from those of dogs with partial remission (median, 2.48; range, 0-89), stable disease (median, 1.77; range, 1.03-42.65), or progressive disease (median, 8.7; range, 0-82.5). There was profound variation of CRP measurements within each dog. CONCLUSIONS: CRP is useful in determining complete remission status after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. However, the individual variation between dogs means CRP concentration is not sufficiently different in other remission states to permit its use in monitoring progression of the disease. Greater reliability in determining remission status might be achieved by combining CRP concentration with other serum markers.     

新饲料添加剂N，O-羧甲基壳聚糖的急性毒性研究

【目的】研究N,O-羧甲基壳聚糖对鸡的急性毒性,评价该药的安全性;【方法】以最大浓度的N,O-羧甲基壳聚糖(10.5%),按20ml/(kg·bw)(2.1g/(kg·bw)/次)剂量24h内给鸡灌服;【结果】给药后连续观察7天,各组试验鸡全部存活,临床、剖检均未见到异常变化,测不出LD50,根据新药审批办法中关于急性毒性的要求,进行最大耐受量的测定。鸡灌服给予N,O-羧甲基壳聚糖的最大耐受量为10.5g/(kg·bw),相当于临床拟用量的3500倍;【结论】N,O-羧甲基壳聚糖毒副作用很小,临床可以安全应用。     

水环境中Ni~(2+)对鲤鱼鳃和肝脏的组织损伤

为研究水环境中Ni~(2+)对鲤鱼鳃和肝脏的组织损伤,将鲤鱼(Cyprinuscarpio)暴露在Ni~(2+)浓度为0、0.55、0.62、0.72、0.83、0.96、1.09、1.25mmol/L的水环境中进行急性毒性试验,并通过组织切片观察鳃和肝脏的组织病理变化。结果显示,Ni~(2+)对鲤鱼的96h半数致死浓度(LC_(50))为0.72 mmol/L,安全浓度(SC)为0.007 2 mmol/L。高浓度Ni~(2+)(1.25 mmol/L)试验组鲤鱼的鳃小片呼吸上皮细胞坏死、脱落,肝血窦淤血,肝细胞核固缩;中低浓度Ni~(2+)(0.72～1.09mmol/L)试验组鲤鱼的鳃小片呼吸上皮水肿浮离、细胞增生,血窦充血,肝细胞胞浆空泡化。表明水环境中的Ni~(2+)浓度高于0.007 2mmol/L时会对鲤鱼的鳃和肝脏造成急性毒性,导致鳃和肝脏出现明显的组织病理变化。     

Semi-Synthesis,Cytotoxic Evaluation,and Structure—Activity Relationships of Brefeldin A Derivatives with Antileukemia Activity

Brefeldin A (1), a potent cytotoxic natural macrolactone, was produced by the marine fungus Penicillium sp. (HS-N-29) from the medicinal mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius. Series of its ester derivatives 2–16 were designed and semi-synthesized, and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods. Their cytotoxic activities were evaluated against human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line in vitro, and the preliminary structure–activity relationships revealed that the hydroxy group played an important role. Moreover, the monoester derivatives exhibited stronger cytotoxic activity than the diester derivatives. Among them, brefeldin A 7-O-2-chloro-4,5-difluorobenzoate (7) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on the proliferation of K562 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.84 µM. Further evaluations indicated that 7 induced cell cycle arrest, stimulated cell apoptosis, inhibited phosphorylation of BCR-ABL, and thereby inactivated its downstream AKT signaling pathway. The expression of downstream signaling molecules in the AKT pathway, including mTOR and p70S6K, was also attenuated after 7-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, molecular modeling of 7 docked into 1 binding site of an ARF1–GDP-GEF complex represented well-tolerance. Taken together, 7 had the potential to be served as an effective antileukemia agent or lead compound for further exploration.