Correlation between serum ferritin and gall stones

Background: The incidence of gall stones is in increasing trend. The old axiom that a typical gall stone sufferer is a fat, fertile, female of fifty, is only partially true, as the disease is found in women soon after their first delivery, in underweight and thin people. So, while searching for other parameters, iron deficiency was found to be a new parameter of interest in the aetiology of gall stones.7Methods: 50 cases of cholelithiasis and 40 cases of anaemia with low serum ferritin levels from September 2017 to August 2019 was studied. Serum iron was estimated by carbonyl metallo-immunoassay method. Serum cholesterol was estimated by the CHOD-POD Enzymatic method. Biliary cholesterol was estimated after extraction of biliary lipids from bile from the gallbladder specimen of the patients by the method of Folch et al which was followed by the procedure similar to the analysis of serum cholesterol by CHOD-POD enzymatic method. Fischer’s chi square exact test was used as statistical method.Results: It was observed that 70% of the group A study group with cholelithiasis had normal serum ferritin levels and 30% had low serum ferritin levels. It was observed that 95% had normal sonographic findings and 5% had cholelithiasis with normal ferritin levels in group B.Conclusions: In our study low serum ferritin levels with cholelithiasis was associated with raised bile cholesterol levels and so it can be concluded that low serum ferritin level is causing biliary stasis and hence leading to increase in the incidence of cholelithiasis.

Denaturation studies on bovine serum albumin–bile salt system:Bile salt stabilizes bovine serum albumin through hydrophobicity / 药物分析学报

Protein denaturation is under intensive research, since it leads to neurological disorders of severe con-sequences. Avoiding denaturation and stabilizing the proteins in their native state is of great importance, especially when proteins are used as drug molecules or vaccines. It is preferred to add pharmaceutical excipients in protein formulations to avoid denaturation and thereby stabilize them. The present study aimed at using bile salts (BSs), a group of well-known drug delivery systems, for stabilization of proteins. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was taken as the model protein, whose association with two BSs, namely sodium cholate (NaC) and sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), was studied. Denaturation studies on the pre-formed BSA-BS systems were carried out under chemical and physical denaturation conditions. Urea was used as the chemical denaturant and BSA-BS systems were subjected to various temperature conditions to understand the thermal (physical) denaturation. With the denaturation conditions prescribed here, the data obtained is informative on the association of BSA-BS systems to be hydrophobic and this effect of hydrophobicity plays an important role in stabilizing the serum albumin in its native state under both chemical and thermal denaturation.

Dietas pós-eclosão suplementadas com fontes de gordura e acrescidas de taurina e glicina sobre a morfometria intestinal e o desempenho de frangos de corte de um a 21 dias / Post-hatch diets supplemented with sources of fat and added taurine and glycine on the intestinal morphology and performance of broilers at 1 to 21 days

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do fornecimento de dietas pós-eclosão suplementadas com diferentes fontes de gordura insaturada e adicionadas ou não de taurina e glicina sobre o desempenho produtivo, a biometria e a morfometria do intestino delgado de pintos de corte de um a 21 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 480 pintos de corte machos de um dia de idade da linhagem Cobb. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, com e sem suplementação de taurina e glicina e quatro dietas (controle, óleo de peixe, de soja e de girassol), totalizando oito tratamentos com seis repetições de 10 aves cada. As rações experimentais foram fornecidas de zero a quatro dias de idade. O desempenho zootécnico foi avaliado ao alojamento e aos quatro, sete e 21 dias de idade. Nestas mesmas datas, foram sacrificadas duas aves por unidade experimental para biometria do intestino e histomorfometria da mucosa do intestino. A adição de diferentes fontes de gordura e a suplementação de glicina e taurina às dietas de transição não influenciaram o desempenho produtivo de um a 21 dias. A suplementação das dietas com glicina e taurina alterou a morfologia da mucosa intestinal, principalmente do duodeno, resultando em maior comprimento do vilo e relação vilo:cripta. Entretanto, parte dos efeitos positivos depende do tipo de óleo adicionado, mostrando que dietas pós-eclosão acrescidas de fontes de lipídios podem ser benéficas no desenvolvimento da capacidade funcional do intestino de frangos de corte.(AU)

The aim of this study was to assess post-hatch diets supplemented with different sources of unsaturated fat and added or not with taurine and glycine on the productive performance, biometry and morphology of small intestine of chicks from 1 to 21 days of age. Four hundred and eighty (480) one day old male broiler Cobb chicks were used. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 2 x 4, with and without supplemental taurine and glycine and 4 diets (control, fish, soy and sunflower oil), totaling six treatments with six repetitions of 10 birds each. The experimental diets were supplied from 0 to 4 days old. The performance was evaluated in housing and 4, 7 and 21 days of age. On these same dates, 2 birds per experimental unit were sacrificed for gut biometrics and histomorphometry of intestinal mucosa. The addition of different sources of fat, glycine and taurine supplementation on transition diets did not influence productive performance from 1 to 21 days. Supplementation of diets with glycine and taurine altered the morphology of the intestinal mucosa, mainly of the duodenum, resulting in greater length of villi and villi: crypt ratio. However, the positive effects depend on the type of oil added, showing that post-hatch diets increased with lipid sources may be beneficial in the development of the functional capacity of the intestine of broilers.(AU)

Bile salt derivatives with novel skeleton from sea lamprey function as putative pheromone / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE The invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) has devastated the ecosystem of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Application of pheromones to manipulate adult sea lamprey behavior is among the options considered for alternative sea lamprey control techniques. The male sea lamprey sex pheromone is hypothesized to be possess multiple functions through actions of multiple components, some of which have yet to be characterized. Our objective is to isolate and characterize the bioactive components from water conditioned with sexually mature male sea lamprey. METHODS The water conditioned with sexually mature male sea lamprey was extracted by solid phase extraction and concentrated in vacuo. The compounds were isolated by liquid chromatography and elucidated by spectrometry and spectroscopy. Their biological activities were evaluated by electro-olfactogram recordings and two-choice maze behavioral assays. RESULTS Five novel bile salts, petromyzene A and B and petromyzone A-C, have been characterized. Petromyzene A and B featured either a unique, rearranged side chain or a rare cis-11,12-diol on the steroidal B-ring. Petromyzone A-C represented three novel highly oxidized sulfated bile alcohols possessing different hydroxylation, oxidation, and double bond patterns, which exemplify the chemical diversity of bile salts. These five bile salts were potent odorants that stimulated the adult sea lamprey olfactory epithelium in a concentration dependent manner and showed detection thresholds between 10–13 mol·L-1 and 10–11 mol·L-1(paired t-test, P<0.05). Experi?ments in the two-choice maze showed that all isolated compounds induced behavioral responses in ovulated females. CONCLUSION The five novel compounds are likely additional components of phero?mones released by sexually mature male sea lamprey, and may provide useful behavioral manipulation tools to be implemented with the integrated management of the destructive and invasive sea lamprey in the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Efecto de endosporas de Bacillus subtilis E-44 con actividad probiótica sobre indicadores fermentativos en órganos digestivos e inmunológicos de pollos de engorde / Effect of Bacillus subtilis E-44 strain endospores with probiotic activity on fermentative indicators in digestive and immune organs of broilers

El objetivo de este trabajo fue emplear endosporas de Bacillus subtilis con actividad probiótica sobre indicadores fermentativos en órganos digestivos e inmunológicos de pollos de engorde. Se estudiaron tres cepas de B. subtilis obtenidos en trabajos previos (C-31, C-34 y E-44). Las tres cepas resistieron condiciones de pH ácido y sobrevivieron a la presencia de sales biliares. La cepa E-44 tuvo mayor capacidad de crecimiento y producción de endosporas, escogiéndose para la realización de los estudios posteriores. Se realizó un experimento con pollos de engorde y tres tratamientos con endosporas: control sin endosporas; baja dosis con 1,0x10(6); dosis media con 1,0x10(7) y dosis alta con 1,0x10(8) UFC.mL-1.kg de alimento. En el ciego de los pollos, la cepa E-44 a la dosis alta produjo mayor acidez y mayores contenidos de ácidos láctico, butírico, propiónico, acético y ácidos grasos de cadena corta totales. El peso relativo de la bolsa de Fabricio y el bazo, así como la inhibición de la hemaglutinación, fueron mayores en los animales que recibieron endosporas con la dosis media a los 42 días. Se concluye que se produjo una mejoría en la respuesta del sistema inmune de los pollos con el empleo del cultivo de endosporas de B. subtilis E-44 evaluado.

The aim of this study was the use of endospores of Bacillus subtilis with probiotic activity on fermentative indicators in digestive and immune organs of broilers. Three B. subtilis strains isolated from previous studies (C-31, C-34 and E-44) were used. The three strains resisted acid pH conditions and survived the presence of bile salts. E-44 strain had greater capacity for growth and endospore production was chosen to carry out further studies. An experiment with broilers and three treatments were performed with endospores at different concentrations administered with food. Control: without endospores; low dose: 1.0x10(6); medium and high dose 1.0x10(7) and 1.0x10(8) CFU/mL per Kg of food respectively. Results showed that strain E-44 at high dose, in the ceca of the chickens produced higher acidity and higher content of lactic, butyric, propionic, acetic and total short chain fatty acids. The relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius and spleen, as well as hemagglutination inhibition, after 42 days of treatment, were greater in animals receiving endospores at the medium dose. We concluded that there was an improvement in the immune response of chickens with the use of endospores of B. subtilis E-44 strain at the given dose.

Obtención de sales biliares de magnesio mediante secado por aspersión / Magnesium bile salts obtained from spray drying

INTRODUCCIÓN: la industria farmacéutica cubana, desde la década del 60 del siglo XX, tiene entre sus líneas básicas de producción la obtención de ácidos biliares y sus derivados salinos a partir de la bilis bovina. Este proceso consiste en la saponificación de la bilis y la posterior precipitación del ácido cólico, el cual es transformado en la sal de magnesio mediante un proceso de reacción con hidróxido de magnesio. La materia prima activa obtenida es utilizada como ingrediente farmacéutico activo en la elaboración de tabletas para el tratamiento de desordenes gastrointestinales, así como en los síntomas producidos por un mal funcionamiento de la vesícula biliar. OBJETIVO: modificar el proceso de secado empleado en la actualidad mediante una variante de secado por aspersión. MÉTODOS: se estableció un procedimiento para el secado; se realizaron los estudios a escala de banco. Se compararon los resultados con el proceso tradicional; se realizaron evaluaciones química, física y tecnológicas; entre ellas por microscopia electrónica y espectroscopia infrarroja. RESULTADOS: al aplicar el procedimiento de secado por aspersión se obtuvo una materia prima similar en su composición a la obtenida en el procedimiento tradicional, pero con mejores características físico-químicas, lo que favoreció el proceso posterior de elaboración de la forma terminada. CONCLUSIONES: partiendo de los resultados podemos afirmar que el proceso tecnológico de secado por aspersión desarrollado para la elaboración de las sales biliares de magnesio garantiza la calidad del producto final y mejora las condiciones de trabajo y condiciones ambientales(AU)

INTRODUCTION: since the 60's, the Cuban pharmaceutical industry has as one basic production line the obtaining of the bile acids and its saline derivatives from bovine bile. This process consists of bile saponification and further precipitation of the cholic acid that changed into magnesium salt through a reaction process with magnesium hydroxide. The final active substance is used as active pharmaceutical ingredient to produce tablets for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and of malfunctioning of the gallbladder. OBJECTIVE: to change the drying process currently in use by a spray drying variant. METHODS: a technological drying process was set. Bench scale studies were conducted. The results were then compared to those of the traditional process. Chemical, physical and technological evaluations were carried out, for example electronic microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: the results showed that the product obtained by spray drying was similar to that of the traditional process but with better physical and chemical characteristics. This helped in the further process of production of the finished form. CONCLUSIONS: based on the results, one may state that the technological process of spray drying for production of magnesium bile salts assures the quality of the final product and improves the work and environmental conditions(AU)

Virulence Characteristics of Sucrose-fermenting Vibrio vulnificus Strains / 대한진단검사의학회지

We identified 6 sucrose-fermenting Vibrio vulnificus strains and examined their virulence characteristics. They were all encapsulated, motile, capable of producing toxins and utilizing transferrin-bound iron, cytotoxic to cultured cells, and virulent enough to kill mice. They could be definitely identified only by genetic identification methods such as PCR, and not by conventional culture-based identification methods such as API 20E (bioMerieux, France). These results indicate that it is essential to adopt genetic approaches as early as possible in order to avoid misdiagnosis of such strains, especially in clinical situations.

Bile reflux and its' injury on esophageal mucosal epithelial cells / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

There are also many unanswered questions on the duodenogastroesophageal reflux(DGER),though it has been studied for more than 100 years.Based on the references and our studies,we reviewed the bile' injury on esophageal mucosal epithelial cells,the diagnosis and treatment of bile reflux into esophagus.The relationships of the biles with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma were elucidated especially.

Interactions of Unconjugated Bilirubin with Bile Acid by Rapid Solvent Partition / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Our previous studies of ionization and solubility of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) yielded inappropriately large differences between the two carboxylic pK'a values of UCB. These data, however, were not ideal due to crystal effects, matastability, impurities of the bilirubin, and imprecision of analyses at low UCB. METHODS: The sodium salt of taurocholate (TC) was purified and dissolved in water to 100 mM. Chloroform (CHCl3) was purified by vacuum distillation. Buffers used were: citrate from pH 4 to 6, phosphate from pH 6 to 8, and borate above pH 8. All had an ionic strength of 0.10. The problems were minimized by rapid solvent partition of UCB from CHCl3 into buffered aqueous NaCl, and a new, accurate assay of low UCB in the aqueous phase which was achieved by concentrating the UCB through back extraction into small volumes of CHCl3. RESULTS: In contrast with the crystal dissolution studies, the two pK'a value were similar. H2B0, not HB-, was the dominant UCB species in the pH range of bile (6.0 to 8.0). The aqueous solubilities of UCB were 90 to 98% less. Less than 0.01% of the bile salt partitioned into the CHCl3 phase and self-association of B= was negligible. UCB solubilities in 50 mM TC were 2 to 10% of those obtained by crystal dissolution, and, up to pH 7.9, were below the maximum UCB concentration in normal human bile. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the markedly increased binding of UCB with each ionization step is due to the disruption of the internal hydrogen bonds of the ionized carboxyl groups on interaction with the bile salt. We propose to extend the study of partition to determine the activity and the degradation products of calcium salts of unbound bilirubin fractions.

Alpha-tocopheryl acetate hydrolase in chicken liver. Characterisation and properties.

An enzyme catalysing the hydrolysis of a-tocopheryl acetate was characterised in chicken liver. The enzyme was localised in the microsomes, had an optimum pH 8·6 and a Km value of 0·5 mM. The enzyme did not hydrolyse retinyl acetate, cholesteryl acetate and ethyl acetate, thus indicating a high degree of specificity. a-Tocopheryl acetate hydrolase required bile salts as a specific cofactor. The results suggested a role for this enzyme in the absorption of vitamin E.