Hepatotoxicity induced by a single ip injection of ruthenium red.

Ruthenium red (RR) has been used as a marker in morphological observations of the glycocalix because it interacts with polyanionic mucopolysaccharides. This fact may explain its agglutinating effect on rat blood red cells following a single 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection, which increases with time post-injection. This study was performed to determine whether such an effect was due to a direct effect of the RR on the blood cells, to interference with coagulation, or to the non-specific general toxicity of this dye. Male rats were injected with 20 mg/kg RR ip and the enzymatic and coagulation parameters, plus the liver morphology were examined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) activity was increased at 30, 60 and 120 min, and aspartic aminotransferase (ASAT) activity was increased 60, 120 and 480 min after RR injection. The prothrombin time (PT) and partially activated thromboplastin time (PTT) were significantly decreased, particularly after 60-120 min. The liver had an external granular appearance with clear signs of congestion and oedema, and showed degenerative changes very soon after RR injection. A single administration of RR induces serious functional and structural changes in the liver. Such a toxicity, and these changes must be taken into consideration, particularly with regard to neurological studies.

Anticuerpos antinucleares, complemento y complejos inmunes circulantes en esclerodermia. / Antinuclear antibodies, complement and immune complex in sclerodermia

En el presente trabajo se analizan los resultados de los anticuerpos antinucleares, el sistema de complemento y la presencia de complejos inmunes en el suero de catorce pacientes con el diagnostico de esclerodermia. Usando dos diferentes antigenos para la determinacion de los anticuerpos antinucleares, se observo que cuando el antigeno fue rinon de rata, unicamente fueron positivos el 36% de los pacientes, en contraste, cuando el antigeno fue de fibroblastos, la positividad fue de un 92% de los casos. El patron de inmunofluorescencia fue muy variado, sugiriendo probable heterogeneidad de los anticuerpos.Del sistema de complemento, se encontro que fundamentalmente las fracciones C3 y C4 estuvieron disminuidas en el 48% de los casos.Este ultimo es muy sugestivo de la activacion del sistema que pudiera ser por la presencia de complejos antigeno-anticuerpo. Por ultimo, en un 35% de los pacientes, su suero mostro la presencia de complejos inmunes. Todos estos datos son importantes en la hipotesis de que esta enfermedad presenta un componente inmunologico importante en su fisiopatologia

Lead exposure in two pottery handicraft populations.

Lead poisoning studies were carried out in the populations of two potter towns in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. The first population in Tonalá included 198 people who use lead monoxide (PbO) in making pottery. The second population in El Rosario included 187 people who do not use any lead salt in the pottery-making process. The studies included children, adolescents and adults of both sexes. Analyses for lead in the blood (Pb-B), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA U) were carried out. In the population exposed to lead, abnormally high lead concentrations in blood and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid were found in both sexes and in all age groups studied. When compared to the control group, the differences are statistically significant. The Hb and Ht results fell within the lower normal limits in both populations. No cases of acute lead poisoning were found, but the high amount of lead absorption in the Tonalá population may be caused by the rudimentary means of manufacturing their products.