Effects of realgar on GSH synthesis in the mouse hippocampus: Involvement of system XAG(-), system XC(-), MRP-1 and Nrf2.

Realgar is a type of mineral drug that contains arsenic and has neurotoxicity. Glutathione (GSH), which is the main antioxidant in the central nervous system, plays a key role in antioxidant defenses and the detoxification of arsenic. However, whether realgar interferes with the synthesis of GSH in the brain and the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects are largely unknown. Here, we used mouse models of exposure to realgar to show that realgar affects the synthesis of GSH in the hippocampus, leading to ultrastructural changes in hippocampal neurons and synapses and deficiencies in cognitive abilities, and that the mechanisms that cause this effect may be associated with alterations in the expression of system XAG(-), system XC(-), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1(MRP-1), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), and the levels of glutamate (Glu) and cysteine (Cys) in the extracellular fluid. These findings provide a theoretical basis for preventing the drug-induced chronic arsenic poisoning in the nervous system that is triggered by realgar.

[Influence of fiberform on defecation condition after surgery for benign anorectal lesion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of fiberform on the defecation condition after surgery for benign anorectal lesion. METHODS: A total of 121 cases undergoing surgery for benign anorectal lesion at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2009 to February 2010 were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=61) and the control group (n=60) according to random number table. Patients in the treatment group received fiberform granule for 2 weeks while patients in the control group did not receive any medication to promote defecation. Postoperative defecation symptom scores and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: On postoperative day 7, patients in the treatment group had a lower defecation smoothness score (62.1% decrease), lower fecal character score (74.3% decrease), lower defecation interval score (80.2% decrease), lower defecation pain score (77.5% decrease), the differences were statistically significant. On postoperative day 14, the degree of decrease of the abovementioned score were 58.3%, 88.5%, 82.8% and 83.1%, respectively. Postoperative patient satisfaction rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). No patient in the treatment group experienced any adverse events such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and drug dependence. CONCLUSION: Fiberform can effectively prevent defecation disorders such as dry stool, unsmooth defecation, and anorectal pain.