Protective effects of sulfated derivatives of polysaccharides extracted from Auricularia auricular on hematologic injury induced by radiation

Ionizing radiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species [ROS], which play an important causative role in cell death. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of sulfated derivatives of neutral polysaccharides extracted from Auricularia auricular [SNAAP]. Whole blood samples from healthy donors treated with SNAAP at different concentrations [20, 60, 100 microg/mL] were exposed to various doses of X-rays. Wistar rat spleen lymphocytes, in cultures, were treated with SNAAP at different concentrations [20, 60, 100 microg/mL] in the presence p.o 12 hours prior to 8 Gy gamma radiation exposure. Animals were administered with SNAAP at doses of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight d p.o 7 days prior to sub-lethal doses [6 Gy] of whole body gamma radiation exposure. SNAAP is an effective radio protector against X-ray radiation induced in vitro cellular damage in human peripheral blood. Furthermore, to support this finding the effect of SNAAP on a rat's spleen lymphocytes, when cultured and examined 24 hours after exposure to 8 Gy gamma of radiation, demonstrated the effect of polysaccharides on a rat's spleen lymphocytes, pretreated by the SNAAP, can increase the cell viability compared with irradiated group at a concentration of 20, 60 and 100 microg/mL. Likewise, this radiation-induced therapy decreased each mouse's body weight and effectively stimulated the immune system of all radiated mice. Moreover, when induced by Co60, the SNAAP decreased the level of malondialdehyde [MDA] and increased the myeloperoxidase [MPO] and the glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] activity in the whole blood supply of the irradiated mice. These encouraging results support further research into the clinical pharmacology of SNAAP as a novel agent for human radiation protection

Are endoscopic grading and scoring systems in inflammatory bowel disease the same?

To assess the correlation and difference between various endoscopic grades and indices for assessment of endoscopic disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Eighty consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis [UC], and 31 patients with Crohn's disease [CD] were evaluated based on multiple endoscopic criteria between June 2006 and February 2007 at the Department of Gastroenterology of Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China. Two experienced endoscopists evaluated the endoscopic findings using various systems independently. Data were analyzed using Kendall's coefficient of concordance and Spearman correlations. For the systems of UC and CD, Kendall's coefficients of concordance were 0.714 [p<0.001] and 0.342 [p<0.001]. There was no significant difference between the 2 systems of UC [all p<0.01]. However, no statistically significant concordances were found between Chinese Grading System of Crohn's Disease [CGSCD] and Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity [CDEIS] [rs=0.323, p=0.076]. Significant differences in frequencies were detected among endoscopic systems for UC [p=0.001]. It was suggested in our study that endoscopic grading and scoring systems of UC had satisfactory concordance, and CGSCD showed room for improvement. However, the modified Baron scale was tend to severe category, while Jeroen classification was tend to mild category