RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine the level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in serum and its expression in myocardium tissue during the development of acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat and the effects of L-arginine (L-Arg) administration on these indexes. METHODS: One hundred and ten Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups to receive: (1) sham surgery, (2)ischemia (I, by ligation of anterior descending coronary artery for 30 minutes), (3) I+reperfusion (R, by the removal of the ligature) for 0.5 hour, (4) I+R for 1 hour, (5) I+R for 2 hours; group (6) ~ (9) also received I/R treatment as in group 2 ~ 5 respectively but with L-Arg pretreatment. Blood and myocardium tissue samples were collected by the end of the experiment for the analysis of: serum level of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase [LDH, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)], ET-1 (radioimmunoassay), and the tissue content of ET-1 mRNA/peptide [by reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting]. RESULTS: In comparison with the sham treated control animals, the serum levels of CK, LDH, and ET-1 were all significantly higher in the groups treated with I/R (particularly those exposed to reperfusion). The myocardial tissue content of ET-1 mRNA/peptide were also significantly increased in I/R treated groups (particularly the I+R 2 hours group) as compared to control (ET-1 mRNA: 0.775 ± 0.029 vs. 0.310 ± 0.076; ET-1 peptide: 0.773 ± 0.055 vs. 0.340 ± 0.099, both P < 0.05). The i.v. administration of L-Arg significantly suppressed the up-regulation of tissue content of ET-1 mRNA /peptide in I/R treated animals (ET-1 mRNA: 0.340 ± 0.049 vs. 0.775 ± 0.029; ET-1 peptide: 0.390 ± 0.094 vs. 0.773 ± 0.055, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: L-Arg may be tested during certain stage of I/R injury as a therapeutic intervention for the suppression of ET-1 up-regulation.
Asunto(s)
Arginina/farmacología , Endotelina-1/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/metabolismo , Miocardio/metabolismo , Animales , Creatina Quinasa/sangre , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the efficiency of air purification and sterilization instrument based on nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic technique. METHODS: The nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic air purification and sterilization instrument was designed and a sample had been prepared. The sterilization efficiencies for E.coli and Klebsiella by the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument and ultraviolet (UV) were measured in closed labs. The on-site efficiency of the instrument was evaluated, too. RESULTS: The nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic air purification and sterilization instrument was composed of five units: rough filter, nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic unit, activated carbon fiber filter, negative ion generator, and programmed control unit. The E.coli killing rates by the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument were 76.0%, 81.8%, 77.5%, and 80.7% at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, respectively. There was no significant difference between the E.coli killing rates of the instrument and UV (P > 0.05), except the 120 minutes timepoint. The Klebsiella killing rates by the instrument were 78.4%, 79.5%, 67.3%, and 58.5% at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, respectively. The Klebsiella killing efficiencies of the instrument at 30 and 60 minutes were better than that of UV (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the Klebsiella killing efficiencies of the instrument and UV (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The air sterilization efficiency of the nano-sized TiO(2) photocatalytic instrument should be equivalent or better as compared with the UV. This instrument might be used for the air purification and sterilization of the public locations.
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Contaminación del Aire/prevención & control , Descontaminación/métodos , Desinfección/métodos , Nanoestructuras , Fotoquímica , TitanioRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safty of the humanized anti-epidermal factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Totally, 137 patients from 7 medical center around China were randomly divided into combined therapy group or control group. There was no difference in Karnofsky performance score between two groups. All patients in both groups received radical conventionally fractionated radiotherapy to the total dose of D(T) 70-76 Gy. For the combined therapy group, h-R3 was added at a dose of 100 mg i.v. weekly for 8 weeks started at the beginning of radiotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 137 eligilbe patients, 70 were in the combined therapy group treated by h-R3 plus radiotherapy and 67 in the control group by radiotherapy alone. The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of 130 patients, while the per-protocol (PP) population was composed of 126 patients. The efficacy was assessed respectively at three point of time: the end of treatment, the 5th- and 17th-week after treatment. The complete response (CR) of the combined therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group in both ITT and PP (ITT: 65.63%, 87.50%, 90.63% versus 27.27%, 42.42%, 51.52%; PP: 67.21%, 90.16%, 93.44% versus 27.69%, 43.08%, 52.31%; P < 0.05, respectively). The most common h-R3-related adverse reactions were fever (4.3%), hypotension (2.9%), nausea (1.4%), dizziness (2.9%) and rash (1.4%), which could be reversible if treated properly. Radiotherapy combined with 100 mg h-R3 i. v. weekly was tolerable and did not aggravate the side effects of radiation. The quality of life in the combined therapy group was comparable to that in the control group. CONCLUSION: This phase 1 multicenter clinical trial shows that h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy is effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.