Molecular characteristics of polysulfated fractions from the green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides and actions on thrombin generation in vitro

Caulerpa cupressoides produces sulfated polysaccharides (Cc-SPs) with serpin-dependent anticoagulant effect, but their actions on thrombin generation (TG) are unknown. This study aimed to partially characterize Cc-SPs and examine their potential as modulators of TG. Infrared analysis characterized extract containing three ulvan fractions (Cc-SP1, -SP2 and -SP3) separated by DEAEcellulose chromatography, with differences in the relative proportions of sulfate (10.99-18.38%) and total sugars (46.59-51.12%), without presenting proteins. Charge density patterns and nonSPs varying from 8 to > 100 kDa on agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by sequential staining with toluidine blue and stains-all were also confirmed by gel permeation chromatography. The molecular weight of Cc-SP2 was not altered after treatment with 0.4 M HCl up to 5 h. Only Cc-SP2 altered the activated partial thromboplastin time (15 ± 0.3 IU) vs. heparin (193 IU) and abolished at high concentrations (> 4.1 μg) TG by intrinsic pathway in 60-fold diluted human plasma, while at 4.1 μg attenuated TG by 33.87% delaying the lag phase (32 min.) vs. control (28 min.). Cc-SP2 induced concentration-dependent TG in system without cephalin. Heparin abolished TG at 4.15-fold lower amount, but did not stimulate TG. Therefore, Cc-SPs express dual effects on thrombosis in vitro.

Absence seizure associated with coloprep consumption in colonoscopy / Convulsão de ausência com o uso de Coloprep em colonoscopia

Coloprep is a bowel preparatory solution given before endoscopic procedures to get a unobscured internal vision. It has among its constituent's sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate and magnesium sulphate which produce an osmotic effect in the bowel. However, the use of such agents in hyponatremic and patients predisposed to seizures can have adverse ramifications. The current case outlines manifestation of absence seizure in a 52-year-old male patient who was administered Coloprep for colonoscopy. There was absence of other predisposing factors and the symptoms were ameliorated using timely identification and rectification of the underlying derangements.

Coloprep é uma solução preparatória intestinal administrada antes de procedimentos endoscópicos, com o objetivo de se ter uma visão interna não obscurecida. Entre os constituintes de Coloprep, observa-se sulfato de sódio, sulfato de potássio e sulfato de magnésio, que provocam efeito osmótico no intestino. Mas o uso de tais agentes em pacientes hiponatrêmicos e com predisposição para convulsões pode ter ramificações adversas. O caso em tela delineia uma manifestação de convulsão de ausência em paciente do gênero masculino com 52 anos e que recebeu Coloprep para colonoscopia. Não havia outros fatores predisponentes e os sintomas melhoraram graças à oportuna identificação e correção dos transtornos subjacentes.

Estudo da variação neutropênica pelo sulfato de vincristina em cães com tvt tratados em um hospital veterinário do noroeste paulista / Neutropenic variation by vincristine sulfate in tvt dogs treated in a veterinary hospital in northwestern são paulo / Estudio de la variación neutropénica por sulfato de vincristina en perros con tvt tratados en el hospital veterinario del noroeste paulista

O presente estudo avaliou dados epidemiológicos de neutropenia induzida por sulfato vincristina em cães com Tumor Venéreo Transmissível (TVT), num Hospital Veterinário do Noroeste paulista. Para tanto, trata-se de um estudo do tipo retrospectivo de protocolos eletrônicos e formulários manuais de dados digitalizados de 51 casos de TVT. O atendimento ambulatorial e de internação desses animais foi realizado no período de setembro de 2006 a dezembro de 2009. Dentre os resultados, destaca-se que 51 animais foram diagnosticados com TVT, sendo 37 fêmeas (73%) e 14 (27%) machos; 46 animais (90,2%) foram tratados exclusivamente com sulfato de vincristina. Os cães Sem Raça Definida-SRD (n=28) foram os maiores acometidos com 54,9%; seguidos pelos Poodles com quatro cães (7,84%). Os animais com idade entre 37 e 84 meses obtiveram a maior porcentagem de acometimento pelo TVT com 20 casos (39,22%). Em doze animais (23,52%) foi observada neutropenia (valores entre 390 a 1927 cél/µL). Conclusão: a possível toxicidade medular induzida pela vincristina foi verificada pela descrição da neutropenia. Dessa forma, a identificação de quadros neutropênicos, por meio da realização de hemogramas semanais, é considerada obrigatória e de extrema relevância devido à prevalência de mielotoxicidade secundária à utilização deste quimioterápico.

The present study aims to assess epidemiological data on neutropenia induced by vincristine sulfate among dogs with Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) at a veterinary hospital in the Northwestern region in the São Paulo State. Methodology: This is a retrospective study of electronic protocols and digitalized data from manually filled form from 51 CTVT cases. These animals were treated in an outpatient care clinic and hospitalization took place from September 2006 to December 2009. Results: 51 animals were diagnosed with CTVT; among these, 37 were female (73%) and 14 were male (27%). From these, 46 animals (90.2%) were treated exclusively with vincristine sulfate. Among them, mongrels (n=28) were the most common, with 54.9%, followed by Poodles, with 4 dogs (7.84%). Animals aged from 37 and 84 months were the largest age group, with 20 cases (39.22 %). Neutropenia (390 to 1927 cells/µL) was observed in 12 animals. Conclusion: possible vincristine-induced marrow toxicity was verified by the description of neutropenia. Thus, neutropenia identification through weekly blood count cells is considered extremely important and mandatory due to the prevalence of myelotoxicity following treatment with this chemotherapeutic drug.

Este estudio busca evaluar datos epidemiológicos de neutropenia inducida por sulfato vincristina en perros con Tumor Venéreo Transmisible (TVT), en un Hospital Veterinario del Noroeste Paulista. Es un estudio del tipo retrospectivo de protocolos electrónicos y formularios manuales de datos digitalizados de 51 casos de TVT. El atendimiento de ambulatorio y de internación de esos animales se realizó en el período de septiembre de 2006 a diciembre de 2009. Entre los resultados, se destaca que 51 animales fueron diagnosticados con TVT, siendo 37 hembras (73%) y 14 (27%) machos; 46 animales (90,2%) fueron tratados exclusivamente con sulfato de vincristina. Los perros Sin Raza Definida ? SRD (n=28) fueron los más acometidos con 54,9%; seguidos por los Poodles con cuatro perros (7,84%). Los animales con edad entre 37 y 84 meses obtuvieron mayor porcentaje de acometimiento por TVT, con 20 casos (39,22%). En doce animales (23,52%0 se ha observado neutropenia (valores entre 390 a 1927 cél/µL). Conclusión: la posible toxicidad medular inducida por vincristina se ha verificado por la descripción de la neutropenia. Así, la identificación de cuadros neutropénicos por medio de realización de hemogramas semanales, es considerada obligatoria y de extrema relevancia debido a la prevalencia de mielotoxicidad secundaria a la utilización de este quimioterápico.

Efficacy of zinc therapy in prevention of crisis in sickle cell anemia: a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

145 patients were recruited in the trial while 130 completed it. Patients were randomized to receive zinc sulphate capsules. 220 mgm three times a day or identical placebo. Major outcome variable was 'Sickle cell crisis'. After a follow up of 1.5 years, the mean number of episodes of crisis was 2.46 +/- 1.04 in the intervention group and 5.29 +/- 2.58 in the control group (p < 0.025; 95% CI for difference between groups: 1.98, 3.42). Mean duration of hospital stay was 4.3 +/- 2.2 days in the intervention group and 3.9 +/- 1.6 days in the control group. The difference was not significant (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction of the mean number of infective episodes and associated morbidity in patients with sickle cell anaemia.

Changes induced by zinc on thyroxine deiodination by rat liver in vivo and in vitro

Se estudió el efecto de la administración in vivo o del agregado in vitro de zinc sobre la deiodinación 5'de la tiroxina (T4) por el hígado de rata y sobre la concentración hepática de grupos sulfhidrilos libres (NPSH). Se usaron ratas Wistar macho de 200-240g de peso corporal. A un grupo de 12 ratas se les inyectó i.p. sulfato de zinc 2mg/Kg de peso, 24h antes de iniciar el estudio. Se sacrificaron los animales por dislocación cervical y el hígado fue inmediatamente homogeneizado. Se agregó a los homogenatos dithithreitol (DTT) (0,2.5,5 o 10mM concentración final) y 1µCi de 125I-T4. Para los estudios in vitro en animales sin tratar, se agregó al homogenato de hígado sulfato de zinc o cloruro de cadmio (2.5 o 5mM) más DTT y T4 marcada. Todos los homogenatos fueron incubados durante 90 min a 37ºC y luego cromatografiados en papel Whatman 1. Las ratas inyectadas con zinc tuvieron una disminución significativa (p<0.01) de la deiodinación de T4, de la producción de 125 iodo (P<0.02) y de triiodotironina (T3) (P<0.05). En los estudios in vitro, el agregado de zinc o cadmio disminuyó significativamente la degradación de T4 (P<0.02) y la producción de iodo (P<0.02 para el zinc y P<0.05 para el cadmio) y de T3 (P<0.05). La concentración hepática de NPSH en los animales inyectados con zinc fue normal. La concentración sérica de T4 y T3 en los animales inyectados con zinc fue normal pero en los inyectados con cadmio se redujo significativamente (P<0.01 para T4 y P<0.02 para T3). Los resultados indican que el zinc inhibe la actividad de la 5'-deioidnasa hepática, por um mecanismo probablemente relacionado con la unión del metal a los grupos sulfhidrilos de la enzima

A study of the effect of oral zinc supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome.

Women in different trimesters of pregnancy (Group B; n = 106) were administered 200 mg zinc sulphate (elemental Zn 45 mg) orally/day from the day of reporting till delivery. Untreated group of 62 served as control. Levels of zinc in maternal serum, umbilical cord blood serum, and urine were estimated. Pregnancy outcome was assessed in terms of incidence of prematurity, IUGR, birth weight; apgar score and gestational age. Serum zinc levels in Gp. A declined significantly from 113.00 +/- 2.80 ug/dl in I trimester to 83.78 +/- 2.20 ug/dl in III (P < 0.001). Following zinc supplementation (Gp. B) serum zinc levels increased significantly from 109.70 + 3.23 micrograms/dl to 205.40 +/- 4.47 micrograms/dl (P < 0.001). Urinary excretion of zinc in Gp. A declined significantly with increase in the period of gestation. However in Gp. B, elimination of Zn increased significantly in proportion with the serum levels (P < 0.001) cord blood serum zinc level was normal irrespective of maternal serum Zn levels. Following oral Zn supplementation, levels increased significantly from below 127.0 micrograms/dl to above 158.0 micrograms/dl in Gp. B (P < 0.001). Maternal serum and cord blood serum zinc ratios were fairly constant in Gp. A as well as in Gp. B. Birth weight of babies born with Zn supplementation was significantly higher than control and was related to duration of oral zinc supplementation (P < 0.001). Gestational age of babies in Gp. B was significantly higher than respective controls when Zn supplementation was given for more than 3 months (P < 0.01), and was related to duration of zinc therapy (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of dietary methionine and inorganic sulfate with and without calcium supplementation, on urinary calcium excretion of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).

Supplementation of sodium sulfate and DL-methionine along with the standard diet to guinea pigs nearly doubled the urinary calcium in 6 weeks. This was probably due to decreased tubular reabsorption of calcium which was complexed with sulfate in the tubular lumen. A mild calcium load didn't further enhance calcium excretion in sodium sulfate supplemented group, but did so in methionine supplemented group. It may be due to methionine which might have increased the intestinal absorption of calcium. Both of these compounds increased citric acid excretion and decreased magnesium excretion.

Absence of zinc cytotoxicity: Effect of short-term zinc oral administration on rat gastric mucosa

Zinc ions have been reported to stabilize cellular membranes, protecting the gastric mucosa against a wide variety of ulcerative agents. The treatment with zinc sulfate intragastrically administered as one dose (20 mg/Kg body weight) daily for 30 consecutive days did not modify the normal aspect of rat gastric mucosa as observed by electron sanning microscopy. Furthermore, the X-ray microanalysis of the lysosome content performed on different gastric mucosa cells did not show the zinc element. These results suggest that zinc ion is a relatively nontoxic element for the rat gastric mucosa

Effect of oral zinc sulphate on serum lipids and lipoproteins in human subjects.

A controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of zinc. Ten stabilized patients of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) were given 200 mg of zinc sulphate orally thrice a day for one month (Test group). Ten other patients were given a placebo (Control group). Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, alpha-lipoproteins and beta-lipoproteins were measured before and after the treatment period. Test group showed a significant decrease in serum cholesterol and beta-lipoproteins, a significant increase in alpha-lipoproteins and no significant change in triglycerides. Control group showed no significant change in any parameter. These results show the potential value of zinc sulphate in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and IHD.