Significance of Retinol-Binding Protein Expression in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of retinol-binding protein (RBP) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its related factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 123 patients with AML from October 2012 to February 2016 and 100 healthy controls were collected and the correlation of RBP expression level with sex, French-American-British (FAB) subtypes, molecular mutations, peripheral white blood cells and long-term outcomes was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with AML patients, the RBP expression level was significantly higher in healthy controls (61.02±34.97 vs 34.44±14.08 mg/L)(u=8.658, P<0.01). Patients with M3 showed higher RBP level (40.74±15.79 mg/L) compared with that of M4 (28.40±13.64 mg/L)(P<0.01) and M5 (31.97±15.31 mg/L)(P<0.05). Negative correlation was observed for RBP and white blood cells in patients with AML (r=-0.352, P<0.001), which was more remarkable in patients with M4 (r=-0.563, P<0.01) and M5 (r=-0.423, P<0.01). AML patients achieved complete remission (CR) (48.64±9.24 mg/L) showed higher RBP level than that before treatment (u=4.876, P<0.01), but lower than healthy controls (u=2.106,P<0.05). After CR, patients with M3 showed higher RBP level than that of non-M3 patients (54.91±5.25 mg/L vs 41.36±7.33 mg/L)(t=8.777,P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detecting RBP expression may provide some useful information for urderstanding the pathophysiology and improving the treatment of patients with AML.</p>

Prealbumin and Retinol Binding Proteins Are Not Usable for Nutrition Follow-Up in Pediatric Intensive Care Units / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Feeding children is a problem in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and it is difficult to know the correct amount. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if prealbumin or retinol binding proteins (RBP) are effective relative to daily enteral nutrition, without being affected by severity of diseases or infections and can be used to follow up nutritional amount. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study that includes 81 patients admitted to PICU in Akdeniz University with estimated duration >72 hours, age between 1 month and 8 years. Daily calorie and protein intake were calculated and prealbumin, RBP and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on the first, third, fifth and seventh mornings. RESULTS: We find moderate correlation between daily calorie intake and prealbumin levels (r=0.432, p < 0.001), RBP levels and daily protein intake (r=0.330, p < 0.001). When we investigated the relationship between changes of prealbumin, RBP, CRP, calorie and protein intake during intensive care stay, we found that increase of Prealbumin and RBP levels are explained by decrease of CRP levels (r=−0.546 and −0.645, p < 0.001) and not with increase of nourishment. CONCLUSION: Even adjusted for PRISM3, age and CRP, prealbumin and RBP are correlated with last 24 hours' diet. However, it is not convenient to use as a follow up biomarker because increase of their levels is related with decrease of CRP levels.

Diagnostic values of prealbumin and retinol-binding protein for liver damage caused by different degrees of neonatal asphyxia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnostic values of prealbumin (PAB) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) for liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed on 185 neonates (including 84 premature infants and 101 full-term infants) with asphyxia. Based on the Apgar score, they were divided into two groups: mild asphyxia group (n=150) and severe asphyxia group (n=35). The levels of PAB, RBP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and compared. Their diagnostic values for liver damage were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The premature infants in the severe asphyxia group had significantly higher AST level and significantly lower levels of PAB and RBP than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the severe asphyxia group had a significantly lower PAB level than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PAB level was significantly improved in the premature infants in the severe asphyxia group and in the full-term infants in both mild and severe asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the mild asphyxia groups also showed a significant improvement in AST level (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that PAB had a good sensitivity and specificity for identifying liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia in full-term and preterm infants.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PAB can be used as an indicator of liver damage caused by asphyxia in neonates, and can be used to assess the degree of asphyxia.</p>

Assessment of indicators of vitamin A status in non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C patients

Subjects with chronic liver disease are susceptible to hypovitaminosis A due to several factors. Therefore, identifying patients with vitamin deficiency and a requirement for vitamin supplementation is important. Most studies assessing vitamin A in the context of hepatic disorders are conducted using cirrhotic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 43 non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C to evaluate markers of vitamin A status represented by serum retinol, liver retinol, and serum retinol-binding protein levels. We also performed the relative dose-response test, which provides an indirect estimate of hepatic vitamin A reserves. These vitamin A indicators were assessed according to the stage of liver fibrosis using the METAVIR score and the body mass index. The sample study was predominantly composed of male subjects (63%) with mild liver fibrosis (F1). The relative dose-response test was <20% in all subjects, indicating vitamin A sufficiency. Overweight or obese patients had higher serum retinol levels than those with a normal body mass index (2.6 and 1.9 µmol/L, respectively; P<0.01). Subjects with moderate liver fibrosis (F2) showed lower levels of serum retinol (1.9 vs 2.5 µmol/L, P=0.01) and retinol-binding protein levels compared with those with mild fibrosis (F1) (46.3 vs 67.7 µg/mL, P<0.01). These results suggested an effect of being overweight on serum retinol levels. Furthermore, more advanced stages of liver fibrosis were related to a decrease in serum vitamin A levels.

RBP urinária e sérica: associação com doença renal crônica e fatores de risco cardiovascular / Urinary and serum RBP: relationship with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risk factors

A RBP urinária tem seu papel bem definido como marcador de progressão de doença renal em tubulopatias, em glomerulopatias e em pacientes transplantados. No entanto, seu papel em DRC lato senso foi pouco estudado. Por sua vez, a dosagem de RBP sérica, caracterizada recentemente como biomarcador de resistência insulínica, também não teve seu papel esclarecido em população portadora de DRC. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a relação entre a RBP (urinária e sérica) e a função renal, assim como sua relação com fatores de risco cardiovascular em população de DRC. Para tanto, foram analisados os dados da linha de base da Coorte PROGREDIR, constituída por 454 participantes portadores de DRC, oriundos do Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo. Inicialmente, além de estar inversamente relacionada às medidas de depuração de creatinina, a RBP urinária mostrou-se relacionada a diversos fatores de risco cardiovascular e variáveis associadas à função renal, como proteinúria, metabolismo ósseo, anemia, acidose, albumina, RPB sérica, Hb glicada, HOMA, lípides, velocidade de onda de pulso (VOP), átrio esquerdo (ECO AE), diâmetro diastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (ECO-Ddve), diâmetro sistólico do ventrículo esquerdo (ECO-Dsve) e fração de ejeção (ECO-Fe). Entretanto, após diversos modelos de regressão, permaneceram como variáveis independentemente associadas à RBP urinária a função renal, a pressão arterial sistólica, a albuminúria, a acidose e a medida do AE. Esse resultado se manteve quando o modelo foi repetido mediante estratificação por albuminúria, sugerindo que mesmo em população normoalbuminúrica a RBP urinária correlacione-se inversamente com função renal. Além disso, a relação inversa de RBP urinária com dilatação cardíaca sugere que, em população com DRC já estabelecida, a RBP urinária possa ter um papel em identificar mecanismos etiológicos, possivelmente por distinguir mecanismos hemodinâmicos daqueles onde há uma patologia renal intrínseca. Por sua vez, a...

The role of urinary RBP as a biomarker of tubular injury and CKD progression in tubulopathies, glomerulopathies and in transplantation is well established. However, its role in CKD is less studied. In addition, serum RBP has been recently characterized as an insulin resistance marker, but controversial results have been shown. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of both urinary RBP and serum RBP with kidney function and other variables related to the uremic syndrome and cardiovascular risk in a CKD population. We used the baseline data from the PROGREDIR Cohort, which comprehends 454 participants with CKD, recruited from Hospital das Clínicas, Sao Paulo. In univariate analysis, urinary RBP was inversely related to renal function. In addition, it was also related to albuminuria, SBP, anemia, mineral metabolism, acidosis, albumin, serum RPB, glycated hemoglobin, HOMA, lipids, pulse-wave velocity, left atrium diameter, left ventricle diastolic diameter, left ventricle systolic diameter and ejection fraction. However, in the multivariate analysis, only SBP, albuminuria, acidosis, left atrium diameter and renal function remained significantly associated to urinary RBP. After stratification for albuminuria levels, the same relationship was observed, suggesting that even in the normoalbuminuric population urinary RBP is significantly related to renal function. Interestingly, the inverse association between urinary RBP and cardiac dilation suggests that urinary RBP may play a role in identifying mechanisms related to CKD, by differentiating vascular/cardio-renal conditions versus more intrinsic kidney disease and possibly tubule-interstitial fibrosis. The serum RBP was positively related to renal function, triglycerides, albumin, age and potassium, but not to measurements of carbohydrate metabolism. No relationship between urinary or serum RBP and coronary calcification or carotid thickness was found. Our results suggest that urinary...

Serum levels of retinol binding protein 4 in women with different levels of adiposity and glucose tolerance / Níveis séricos da proteína carreadora do retinol 4 em mulheres com diferentes níveis de adiposidade e tolerância à glicose

Objective Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipokine responsible for vitamin A (retinol) transportation. Studies associated RBP4 increased levels with severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR). The study aimed to quantify RBP4 serum standards in women with a wide range of body mass index (BMI) and glucose tolerance level. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study was performed with 139 women divided into three groups: Group 1 (lean-control, n = 45) and Group 2 (obese, n = 53) with normal glucose tolerance and group 3 (obese with T2DM, n = 41), called G1, G2 and G3. Were assessed clinical, biochemical, anthropometric and body composition parameters. Results According to data analysis, we obtained in G1 higher RBP4 levels (104.8 ± 76.8 ng/mL) when compared to G2 (87.9 ± 38 ng/mL) and G3 (72.2 ± 15.6 ng/mL) levels. Also, were found: in G1 positive correlations of RBP4 with BMI (r = 0.253), glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.378) and fasting insulin (r = 0.336); in G2 with glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.489); in G3 with glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.330), fasting glucose (r = 0.463), HOMA-IR (r = 0.481). Conclusions Although RBP4 have shown lower levels in diabetic and obese, a strong correlation with HOMA-IR index highlights that, in our study, there is growing IR when there is an increasing in RBP4 levels. .

Objetivo A proteína carreadora do retinol 4 (RBP4) é uma adipocina responsável pelo transporte de vitamina A (retinol). Estudos associam os níveis aumentados de RBP4 com a gravidade do diabetes melito tipo 2 (DM2) e resistência à insulina (RI). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar como esses níveis se comportam em mulheres com ampla variação do índice de massa corporal (IMC) e tolerância à glicose. Sujeitos e métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 139 mulheres, divididas em três grupos: Grupo 1 (controles-magras; n = 45) e Grupo 2 (obesas; n = 53), com tolerância normal à glicose; Grupo 3 (obesas DM2; n = 41), denominados G1, G2 e G3. Foram avaliados parâmetros clínicos, bioquímicos, antropométricos e composição corporal. Resultados De acordo com a análise dos dados, obtivemos em G1 maiores níveis de RBP4 (104,8 ± 76,8 ng/mL) em comparação ao G2 (87,9 ± 38 ng/mL) e G3 (72,2 ± 15,6 ng/mL). Também foram encontradas correlações positivas entre RBP4 e IMC (r = 0,253), hemoglobina glicada (r = 0,378) e insulinemia de jejum (r = 0,336); em G2 com hemoglobina glicada (r = 0,489); G3 com hemoglobina glicada (r = 0,330), insulinemia de jejum (r = 0,463) e HOMA-IR (r = 0,481). Conclusões Embora a RBP4 tenha apresentado níveis menores em pacientes diabéticas e obesas, a forte correlação com o índice HOMA-IR deixa claro que, em nosso estudo, há crescente RI quando os níveis dessa proteína também são crescentes. .

Assessment of adiponectin as a marker for severity of pulmonary tuberculosis

To evaluate the serum levels of adiponectin in patients with both active and old pulmonary Tuberculosis [TB] and their possible relation with the severity of the disease, forty patients of both sexes suffering from pulmonary TB [20 cases active and 20 cases old] were matched with 20 healthy control volunteers in this study from February 2014 to June 2014. Body mass index [BMI] and serum levels of adiponectin were measured in all subjects. Both BMI and serum levels of adiponectin were significantly different between active TB patients and control. Comparing old TB patients with controls also have the same results. No correlation between BMI and serum adiponectin level in old TB patients was found, while adiponectin levels in active TB patients show a significant negative correlation. Increased adiponectin in serum of TB patients may be a promising marker for severity of the disease independent of BMI

Significance of low molecular weight urinary protein for assessment of early renal damage in patients with multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to evaluate the clinical significance of low molecular weight urinary proteins for diagnosis of early renal damage in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Medical records of 278 patients with MM in Nanjing School of Clinical Medicine from January 2004 to May 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into 3 groups: glomerular damage group (n = 143), tubular damage group (n = 114) and normal group (n = 21). The clinical and laboratorial data were compared among them. The correlations of urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) or urinary N-acetyl-β-D-amino-glucosaminidase (NAG) with blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Scr, blood cystatin-C (Cys-C), clearance of creatinine (Ccr), 24 h protein uria and 24 h urine light chains were further analyzed, and the correlation of renal tubulointerstitial lesion scores with low molecular weight urinary proteins in 61 patients were also analyzed. The area under curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate and compare the discrimination of urinary RBP and urinary NAG. The results showed that glomerular damage group had higher urinary RBP than tubular damage group. However, glomerular damage group had lower urinary NAG than tubular damage group. The two groups had higher urinary RBP and urinary NAG than that in normal group. Urinary RBP related positively to the level of Scr, BUN, Cys-C, 24 h proteinurias and related negatively to the level of Ccr. Urinary NAG related positively to the level of 24 h proteinurias, Ccr and related negatively to the level of Cys-C. Renal tubulointerstitial lesions were significantly correlated with urinary RBP, but weakly correlated with urinary NAG. It is concluded that urinary RBP significantly correlates with renal tubular damage. Compared with urinary NAG, urinary RBP can better assess the extent of renal damage, and has higher specificity.

Diagnostic value of renal function parameter detection of early renal damage in multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

Renal damage is one of the most common complications and cause of death in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The studies have pointed out that early renal impairment is risk factor for progress of this disease, timely diagnosis and prompt intervention therapy are very important to improve the prognosis and survival of MM patients. Therefore, the diagnosis of early renal damage is crucial for clinical treatment. The progress on detection of early renal damage parameters and their value are reviewed in this article.

Analysis of clinical features of mild chronic cadmium poisoning induced by different causes / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical features of mild chronic cadmium poisoning induced by different causes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 90 patients with mild chronic cadmium poisoning, who were hospitalized in our center from 2008 to 2011 and had complete clinical data, were divided into two groups according to the causes of poisoning: environmental pollution group (n = 45) and occupational poisoning group (n = 45). The clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory indices, and treatment outcomes of all patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the environmental pollution group, the occupational poisoning group had more bone pain, less bone injury (based on imaging findings), and significantly increased abnormal rate of urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in urinary β-2 microglobulin (MG) and urinary microalbumin between the two groups (P > 0.05). Urinary cadmium, urinary RBP, and urinary β-2 MG had no linear correlation between each other in the two groups. Both groups showed significant changes in urinary cadmium levels after treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical features of mild chronic cadmium poisoning induced by various causes are different, and active nutritional support therapy plays a positive role in improving prognosis.</p>

Exploration of early assessment of renal impairment in multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of serum cystatin C (Cys-C), urinary Cys-C, urinary retinol binding protein (RBP) and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) and their characteristic changes in different pathological types of renal impairment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the patients were divided into two groups, of which marked group A with normal renal function, the other marked group B with abnormal renal function. Sixty healthy subjects were chosen as control. Detection of the serum Cys-C, urinary RBP, urinary Cys-C, urinary NGAL, serum creatinine (Scr), urinary microalbumin (MAU) and urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) were performed. Renal biopsy was carried out for patients who had abnormal serum Cys-C, urinary Cys-C, urinary RBP, urinary NGAL and were willing to accept further test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with healthy controls, the serum Cys-C, urinary RBP, urinary Cys-C, urinary NGAL of group A were significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Six group A patients received renal biopsy, and varying degrees of renal damage were discovered. The serum Cys-C, urinary RBP, urinary Cys-C and urinary NGAL positive rate were 66.7%, 66.7%, 66.7% and 83.3%, respectively. Of twenty-four cases received biopsy after abnormal examination results were shown, six turned out to be amyloidosis, twelve cast nephropathy (CN) and 6 monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD). Compared with MIDD and amyloidosis, the urinary Cys-C and NGAL of the CN group are significantly higher (P < 0.05). Compared with CN and amyloidosis, urinary RBP of MIDD is significantly higher (P = 0.043). Compared with MIDD and CN, the MAU of amyloidosis is significantly higher (P = 0.006).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the conventional indicators, serum Cys-C, urinary Cys-C, RBP and NGAL are more sensitive in early assessment of MM patients with renal damage. The MAU is higher in amyloid, the urinary Cys-C and urinary NGAL are significantly elevated in CN, the urinary RBP is significantly elevated in MIDD.</p>

Cigarette smoking increases levels of retinol-binding protein-4 in healthy men with normal glucose tolerance / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Smoking is related with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Retinol-binding protein-4 is a new adipocytokine associated with insulin resistance. We investigated the serum levels of a series of adipocytokines including retinol-binding protein-4 in smokers and non-smokers to explore the possible roles of adipocytokines on smoking induced insulin resistance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 136 healthy male subjects (92 smokers and 44 non-smokers) with normal glucose tolerance were enrolled in the study. Adipocytokines including retinol-binding protein-4, visfatin, leptin, resistin, adiponectin were measured for the comparison between the two groups. Serum lipid profile, glucose, true insulin and proinsulin levels were measured as well in both groups. Food intake spectrum was also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both groups had similar profile of food consumption; visfatin, leptin, resistin and adiponectin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as blood pressure and body mass index, were similar in both groups. Triglycerides, retinol-binding protein-4 and homeostatic model assessment index for insulin resistance were higher in smoker group ((2.58 ± 2.53) vs. (1.60 ± 0.94) mmol/L, (26.05 ± 8.50) vs. (21.83 ± 8.40) µg/ml, and 2.25 ± 2.08 vs. 1.58 ± 1.15, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Smoking may have effect on insulin sensitivity, which is correlated with retinol-binding protein-4.</p>

Comparative study on external use of mercury-containing preparation badu shengji san in sensitive monitoring indicators of induced early renal injury / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the sensitivity of early renal injury induced by mercury-containing medicine in rats, including urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosdminidase (NAG), beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), retinol binding protein (RBP) and clusterin (CLU).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Badu Shengji San(BDSJS), a mercury-containing preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, was adopted as the mercury contact drug. The lowest effective toxic dose was used to observe its effect on serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and such early renal injury indicators as NAG, RBP, beta2-MG and CLU and compare the sensitivity of tested indicators.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared to the broken skin group, groups with administration of 60 and 120 mg x kg(-1) doses of BDSJS showed no obvious difference in SCr and BUN when kidney indicators is remarkably increased and obvious pathological changes were found in kidney tubules but with significant increase in the urinary level of CLU and the levels of NAG and RBP. H&E staining of renal tubule showed that exposure of 30 mg x kg(-1) BDSJS had no significant morphological changes, but at the same concentrations, the level of RBP was markedly increased. Urinary beta2-MG levels were markedly decreased in BDSJS 30, 60 mg x kg(-1) group rats, whereas 120 mg x kg(-1) dose group showed no obvious change in urinary beta2-MG levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Urinary RBP, NAG and CLU were more sensitive than SCr and BUN as indicators for early renal injury in the order of RBP > NAG > CLU, and urinary RBP, NAG would increase earlier than beta2-MG.</p>

Comparison of effects of badu shengji san on rats with different injured skins / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of Badu Shengji San (BDSJS) on rats with different injured skins.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The injured and ulcerous skin rat model was established to observe the renal injury induced by BDSJS, a mercury-containing external preparation of Chinese medicine, with urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinol binding protein (RBP) as indicators of renal toxicity.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared to injured skin rats with the same dose, both of high and low-dose ulcerous skin groups showed obvious increase in urinary RBP and kidney coefficients, significant pathomorphological changes in renal tubules and notable epithelial cytopathic effects. In terms of NAG, the high-dose ulcerous skin group saw no significant increase, but the low-dose group recorded sharp rise.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The renal toxicity induced by BDSJS in ulcerous skin rats was more toxic than that in injured skin ones.</p>

Effect of zhuhong ointment on renal antioxidant capability in skin ulcer model rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of repeated administration of Zhuhong ointment on renal antioxidant capability of ulcerous skin in rats, in order to further discuss the mechanism of mercury contained in Zhuhong ointment on the antioxidant capability of kidney in skin ulcer rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: Zhuhong ointment A, B, C, D, E (1.219, 0.609, 0.305, 0.152, 0.76 g x kg(-1)) groups, the vaseline group, the ulcer model group and the impairment control group. The levels of NAG and RBP of toxicity for early kidney tubular injury and T-AOC, SOD, GSH-PX and GSH in kidney were determined after consecutive administration for 14 days.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with ulcer model group, the levels of RBP in groups A, B, C and D increased, while the levels of NAG increased only in the group A. The level of T-AOC increased in groups A, B and C. The level of T-SOD increased in the group E, while it dropped down greatly in the group A. The level of GSH-PX increased in groups A, B and C. The content of GSH increased in every dose groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Antioxidant capacity in rats can be increased in a reasonable dose of Zhuhong ointment, but some antioxidant activity can be notably inhibited by with the increase of dose.</p>

Effects of zhuhong ointment on mercury cumulation and renal organization modality in skin-impaired model rat / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Zhuhong ointment on accumulation in the body of mercury and the pathological morphology changes of kidney, via the measurement of related indicators of the skin-impaired model rat.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Eighty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into the impairment control group, and high-, middle-, low-dose Zhuhong ointment groups. Each group was treated by corresponding methods for 4 weeks, and recovering for 4 weeks. Urinary potein (PRO), pH, Beta N-acetyl aminoglycosidase enzymes (NAG) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) contents in urine were taken as monitoring indexes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) in blood and the levels of mercury in urine, blood and kidney were tested, and the pathological morphology changes of kidney were observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After treatment for 4 weeks, compared with impairment control group, the levels of mercury in urine, blood and kidney in every dose group increased significantly (P < 0.01). And the relation exists between toxicity and dose on Zhuhong ointment. After recovery for 4 weeks, the levels of mercury in urine and blood in every dose group restore normal, while the level of mercury in kidney in high- dose group still increased (P < 0.01). The level of NAG increased only in high-dose group. There was no significant difference in NAG contents between Zhuhong ointment groups and the impairment control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Excess using Zhuhong ointment repeatedly may lead to accumulation of mercury and pathological morphology changes of kidney. So the levels of mercury in the body and related indicators of renal functions should be tested in clinical when long-term using Zhuhong ointment.</p>

Maturation-Resistant Dendritic Cells Ameliorate Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis

BACKGROUND: Endogenous uveitis is a chronic inflammatory eye disease of human, which frequently leads to blindness. Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is an animal disease model of human endogenous uveitis and can be induced in susceptible animals by immunization with retinal antigens. EAU resembles the key immunological characteristics of human disease in that both are CD4+ T-cell mediated diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that are uniquely capable of activating naive T cells. Regulation of immune responses through modulation of DCs has thus been tried extensively. Recently our group reported that donor strain-derived immature DC pretreatment successfully controlled the adverse immune response during allogeneic transplantation. METHODS: EAU was induced by immunization with human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) peptide(1-20). Dendritic cells were differentiated from bone marrow in the presence of recombinant GM-CSF. RESULTS: In this study, we used paraformaldehyde-fixed bone marrow-derived DCs to maintain them in an immature state. Pretreatment with fixed immature DCs, but not fixed mature DCs, ameliorated the disease progression of EAU by inhibiting uveitogenic CD4+ T cell activation and differentiation. CONCLUSION: Application of iBMDC prepared according to the protocol of this study would provide an important treatment modality for the autoimmune diseases and transplantation rejection.

Alternative PCR protocol using a single primer set for assessing DNA quality in several tissues from a large variety of mammalian species living in areas endemic for leishmaniasis

The aim of this work was to establish a modified pre-diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol using a single primer set that enables successful amplification of a highly conserved mammalian sequence in order to determine overall sample DNA quality for multiple mammalian species that inhabit areas endemic for leishmaniasis. The gene encoding interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), but not other conserved genes, was efficiently amplified in DNA samples from tail skin, ear skin, bone marrow, liver and spleen from all of the species tested. In tissue samples that were PCR-positive for Leishmania, we found that DNA from 100 percent, 55 percent and 22 percent of the samples tested resulted in a positive PCR reaction for the IRBP, beta-actin and beta-globin genes, respectively. Nucleotide sequencing of an IRBP amplicon resolved any questions regarding the taxonomical classification of a rodent, which was previously based simply on the morphological features of the animal. Therefore, PCR amplification and analysis of the IRBP amplicon are suitable for pre-diagnostically assessing DNA quality and identifying mammalian species living in areas endemic to leishmaniasis and other diseases.

Influência da resposta inflamatória de fase aguda nos níveis séricos de retinol e da proteína de ligação do retinol em pacientes com AIDS / Influence of acute-phase inflammatory response on serum levels of retinol and retinol binding protein in HIV/AIDS patients

INTRODUÇÃO: a hiporretinolemia constitui fator prognóstico independente em pacientes com AIDS, e a atividade inflamatória causa redução dos níveis séricos deste nutriente na população em geral. Entretanto, faltam estudos que avaliem o impacto da atividade inflamatória sobre o nível sérico do retinol em pacientes com AIDS. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados transversalmente 41 pacientes internados por complicações da AIDS, que tiveram quantificados alguns marcadores de inflamação (proteína C reativa e fator de necrose tumoral alfa) e concentrações séricas de retinol e da proteína de ligação do retinol. RESULTADOS: apesar da baixa (14,6 por cento) prevalência de hiporretinolemia evidenciou-se correlação negativa dos marcadores de inflamação com os níveis séricos de retinol e de sua proteína de ligação nos pacientes com AIDS. CONCLUSÕES: a atividade inflamatória de fase aguda está associada a baixos níveis séricos de retinol em indivíduos com AIDS.

INTRODUCTION: Hyporetinolemia is an independent prognostic factor in AIDS patients. Inflammatory activity causes a reduction in the serum levels of this nutrient in the general population. However, there are no studies assessing the impact of inflammatory activity on the serum retinol level in AIDS patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional assessment was conducted on 41 patients hospitalized due to AIDS complications. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and serum retinol and retinol binding protein concentrations were quantified. RESULTS: Despite the low (14.6 percent) prevalence of hyporetinolemia, a significant negative correlation was observed between the inflammatory markers and the serum retinol and retinol binding protein levels in AIDS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-phase inflammatory activity is associated with low serum retinol levels in individuals with AIDS.