Characterization of microalgal carotenoids by mass spectrometry and their bioavailability and antioxidant properties elucidated in rat model.

Of the total carotenoids in respective algal samples, beta-carotene in Spirulina platensis was 69.5%, astaxanthin and its esters in Haematococcus pluvialis was 81.38%, and lutein in Botryococcus braunii was 74.6%. The carotenoids were characterized by mass spectrometry. A time-course study of carotenoids in rats after administration of microalgal biomass showed peak levels in plasma, liver, and eyes at 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively. Beta-carotene accumulation in Spirulina-fed rats was maximum in eye tissues at 6 h. Similarly, levels of astaxanthin and lutein in Haematococcus- and Botryococcus-fed rats were also maximal in eye tissues. Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis showed better bioavailability than beta-carotene and lutein. The antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and TBARS were significantly high in plasma at 2 h and in liver at 4 h, evidently offering protection from free radicals. This study implies that microalgae can be a good source of carotenoids of high bioavailability and nutraceutical value.

Fenugreek seeds reduce atherogenic diet-induced cholesterol gallstone formation in experimental mice.

Dietary hypocholesterolemic adjuncts may have a beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of cholesterol gallstones (CGS). In this investigation, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed was evaluated for this potential on the experimental induction of CGS in laboratory mice. CGS was induced by maintaining mice on a lithogenic diet (0.5% cholesterol) for 10 weeks. Fenugreek seed powder was included at 5%, 10%, and 15% of this lithogenic diet. Dietary fenugreek significantly lowered the incidence of CGS in these mice; the incidence was 63%, 40%, and 10% in the 5%, 10%, and 15% fenugreek groups, respectively, compared with 100% in the lithogenic control. The antilithogenic influence of fenugreek is attributable to its hypocholesterolemic effect. Serum cholesterol level was decreased by 26%-31% by dietary fenugreek, while hepatic cholesterol was lowered by 47%-64% in these high cholesterol-fed animals. Biliary cholesterol was 8.73-11.2 mmol/L as a result of dietary fenugreek, compared with 33.6 mmol/L in high-cholesterol feeding without fenugreek. Cholesterol saturation index in bile was reduced to 0.77-0.99 in fenugreek treatments compared with 2.57 in the high-cholesterol group. Thus, fenugreek seed offers health-beneficial antilithogenic potential by virtue of its favourable influence on cholesterol metabolism.

Dietary fenugreek seed regresses preestablished cholesterol gallstones in mice.

An animal study was carried out to evaluate the influence of dietary fenugreek seeds on regression of preestablished cholesterol gallstones (CGS). CGS was induced by feeding a high-cholesterol diet for 10 weeks. After CGS induction, the animals were maintained for a further 10 weeks on experimental diets of high cholesterol, 6% fenugreek powder, 12% fenugreek powder, or basal control. Incidence of CGS and its severity were evaluated at the end of this feeding regimen. The incidence of CGS was significantly lowered as a result of dietary fenugreek seeds, the extent of regression being 61% and 64% in the low and high dose groups compared with 10% regression in the basal control group. The antilithogenic influence of dietary fenugreek was accompanied by significant reductions of more than 35% in serum cholesterol concentration. Hepatic cholesterol concentration was also profoundly lowered by dietary fenugreek, being 53%-63% lower than that of the basal control diet. Biliary cholesterol concentration was significantly lower as a result of dietary fenugreek during the post-CGS induction period, resulting in a decreased cholesterol:phospholipid ratio (0.44 and 0.40 compared with 0.79 in the basal control group). Biliary cholesterol : bile acid ratio was lowered by 67% and 73% upon feeding fenugreek, significantly lower than that in the basal control group. The cholesterol saturation index in the bile was also beneficially lowered by fenugreek treatment during the post-CGS induction period (the index was 0.90 and 0.42 compared with 1.86 in the basal control group). The present study provides evidence of the potency of hypolipidemic fenugreek seeds in regressing preestablished CGS, and this beneficial antilithogenic effect is attributable to its primary influence on cholesterol levels. This finding is significant in the context of evolving a dietary strategy to address CGS, which could help in preventing the incidence and regression of existing CGS and controlling possible recurrence.

Preoperative autologous donation for total joint arthroplasty. An analysis of risk factors for allogenic transfusion.

BACKGROUND: While autologous blood is commonly predonated to provide replacement of blood lost in orthopaedic procedures, few studies of patients managed with total joint replacement have addressed the problem of which patients are likely to benefit from an autologous blood-donation program. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 489 consecutive patients who had had a total joint arthroplasty was performed to identify the risk factors for allogenic transfusion and to further define the indications for preoperative autologous blood donation. The operations included 247 total knee replacements (157 unilateral primary, thirty-two revision, and twenty-nine one-stage bilateral primary procedures) and 271 total hip replacements (163 primary and 108 revision procedures). Fifty-four percent (264) of the 489 patients donated a total of 527 units of blood (average, 2.0 units per patient) preoperatively. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one patients (39 percent) required a transfusion of autologous blood or allogenic blood, or both. One hundred and thirty-one patients (27 percent) received autologous blood, and eighty-two patients (17 percent) received a transfusion of allogenic blood; twenty-two patients (4 percent) received both autologous and allogenic blood. Neither form of transfusion caused serious complications. Fifty-six percent (295) of the 527 units of autologous blood were discarded. Autologous donation significantly decreased the requirements for allogenic transfusion (relative risk, 0.1; p<0.0001). It also caused the level of hemoglobin to decrease an average of 12.2 grams per liter from the time before donation to the time before the operation (p<0.0001). Factors that increased the risk for allogenic transfusion were a revision knee or hip procedure or a one-stage bilateral primary knee replacement (relative risk, 5.7; p<0.0001), an initial hemoglobin level of less than 130 grams per liter (relative risk, 5.6; p<0.0001), and an age of sixty-five years or older (relative risk, 2.8; p = 0.02). None of the sixty-seven patients who had a primary knee or hip arthroplasty and an initial hemoglobin level of 150 grams per liter or more required an allogenic transfusion. In addition, none of the sixty-three patients who had a primary arthroplasty, an initial hemoglobin level of between 130 and less than 150 grams per liter, and an age of less than sixty-five years required an allogenic transfusion. Eighty-three percent (115) of the 138 autologous units donated by the seventy patients in these two groups were discarded. These wasted units accounted for 39 percent of the 295 discarded units for the entire study sample. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of collection of autologous blood can be improved by identifying patients who have a very low risk of transfusion according to the type of arthroplasty, the initial level of hemoglobin, and age. Patients who have an initial hemoglobin level of at least 150 grams per liter or an initial hemoglobin level of between 130 and 150 grams per liter and an age of less than sixty-five years have a minimal risk of needing a transfusion during or after a primary total joint replacement. These patients should be apprised of their low risk so that they can make an informed decision regarding preoperative autologous donation.

Antibody against synthetic rat PTH peptide (1-34) blocks PTH-mediated cAMP formation and phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells.

A novel antibody against synthetic rat parathyroid hormone (rPTH(1-34)) was successfully produced in rabbits at a titer of 1:3,000. The ability of this antibody to block PTH was studied utilizing the hormone-sensitive cAMP formation and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in the opossum kidney (OK) cells. rPTH peptide(1-34) stimulated cAMP formation and inhibited Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in OK cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of OK cells with the antisera significantly decreased the level of cAMP and attenuated the inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in response to rPTH(1-34) at a dilution of 1:1,000. Nonimmune rabbit sera at the same dilution did not influence these hormone-sensitive effects. We conclude that antibody against synthetic PTH peptide can be used to study the biological activities of this hormone.

Preoperative autologous blood donation in total-hip arthroplasty. A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Preoperative autologous blood donation is employed with increasing frequency, particularly in patients undergoing elective orthopedic procedures. While autologous transfusion decreases the incidence of postoperative infections and other complications, the cost-effectiveness of this therapy has not been fully investigated. We constructed a decision analytic model to study the cost-effectiveness of preoperative autologous blood donation of packed red blood cells compared with allogeneic packed red blood cells in primary hip arthroplasty. We used data from 73 patients presenting at our blood center with a prescription for 2 U of autologous red blood cells prior to hip arthroplasty to establish probabilities for the number of units that would be donated. Patients were able to donate an average of 1.9 U (range, 0 to 2 U) of autologous blood. We also reviewed the charts of 56 patients who underwent primary hip arthroplasty to model the number of units given during hospitalization (1.5 U given; range, 0 to 5 U). We applied the model to a 65-year-old patient undergoing primary hip arthroplasty. Estimates for the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, postoperative bacterial infection, and fatal hemolytic transfusion reaction were derived from the literature. Patient utility was measured in life-years. Costs included the cost of preoperative autologous blood donation, blood administration, and medical care costs associated with the complications of transfusion. Costs were derived from local data and the literature. Future earnings lost were not modeled. In the baseline analysis, autologous transfusion results in a net cost savings compared with allogeneic blood over a wide range of complication rates, patient ages, and transfusion requirements. The dominant factor in the analysis is the effect of postoperative bacterial infection on length of hospital stay and the resultant increase in costs. The effect of viral infections on the results of the analysis is minimal.

Fatal Yersinia enterocolitica (serotype 0:5,27) sepsis after blood transfusion.

Septicemia is a rare complication of blood transfusion. This is probably primarily due to the use of sealed disposable containers for blood collection and the storage of red cell-containing components at 4 degrees C. However, despite these measures, septicemia due to blood transfusion continues to occur. We report here a fatal case of Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia due to a contaminated unit of red cells which was collected from an apparently healthy, asymptomatic blood donor. The organism grows at cold temperature and multiplies during storage of red blood cell-containing components. Contaminated components do not show any visible abnormalities. The possibility of transfusion-transmitted Y. enterocolitica should be considered in patients who have symptoms of sepsis or shock following transfusion.

Disseminated strongyloidiasis presenting as purpura.

We report a patient with disseminated strongyloidiasis who was being treated with steroids for cerebral edema caused by brain metastases from urinary bladder carcinoma. He had extensive purpura involving the abdomen, arms, and thighs. A skin biopsy specimen showed numerous larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis. Subsequently, rhabdoid larvae of S. stercoralis were isolated in the stool and the sputum. The patient died 2 days later despite thiabendazole therapy.

Effects of vanadyl sulphate on ornithine decarboxylase and progesterone levels in the ovary of rat.

The effects of vanadyl sulphate in vitro on the levels of ODC activity and progesterone synthesis in ovaries were studied. The levels of ODC in the ovaries were stimulated with high concentration of vanadyl sulphate and at low concentrations there was no change in the levels of ODC activity. On the contrary progesterone levels were stimulated with low concentrations of vanadyl sulphate and were inhibited at higher concentrations. Vanadyl sulphate showed additional stimulation of ODC activity, when it was added with hCG and caused inhibition of hCG induced progesterone biosynthesis. These results show that the effects of vanadyl sulphate on ODC and progesterone are different.

Testosterone response in arginine vasopressin desensitized immature rat testis.

Direct injection of arginine vasopressin into immature rat testis inhibited basal testosterone synthesis. Simultaneous injection of arginine vasopressin with luteinizing hormone, norepinephrine or cholera toxin inhibited these agonists - induced testosterone response. In arginine vasopressin - desensitized testis, cAMP response to luteinizing hormone, norepinephrine and cholera toxin was not disturbed. However, testosterone response to luteinizing hormone, norepinephrine or cholera toxin was drastically reduced in arginine vasopressin-desensitized testis. This shows that the increased cAMP generated by luteinizing hormone, norepinephrine or cholera toxin in arginine vasopressin desensitized testis did not cause increase in steroidogenesis. This could be due to a lesion in steroidogenic pathway beyond cAMP generation caused by arginine vasopressin.

Placental considerations in multiple pregnancy.

This article contains a brief description of the placenta in multiple pregnancy, including a classification based on embryogenesis. The biologic and clinical importance of recognition of the different types of twin placentas is emphasized. Finally, a classification of the pathological lesions seen in these placentas, either because of the twinning process or simply associated with it, is proposed.

Direct inhibitory actions of GnRH on accessory reproductive organs of rat.

Recently gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and its agonistic analogs were demonstrated to have some direct actions in accessory reproductive organs. In our study the effects of GnRH and its analogs on some steroid hormone induced responses were investigated. GnRH and its analogs inhibited estradiol induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase activities in the uterus of rat. These enzymes which are markers for cell proliferation are regulatory enzymes in the biosynthetic pathways of polyamines and glycoproteins, respectively. Similarly, GnRH and its analogs also inhibited testosterone stimulated ODC activity in ventral prostate of rat. In addition, GnRH analog inhibited incorporation of radioactive precursors into RNA and protein induced by estradiol in uterus or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in ventral prostate. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of action of GnRH in uterus, it was found that GnRH analog treatment does not alter the estradiol receptor content in vivo. Also, GnRH does not show any effect on radioactive estradiol binding to its receptor in vitro. Hence, the inhibitory actions of GnRH in uterus may not involve estradiol receptors. However, GnRH analogs were found to have post-transcriptional effects. It was observed that DHT induced poly(A) polymerase activity in ventral prostate and estradiol induced poly(A) polymerase activity in uterus were inhibited by GnRH analog treatment. It was further observed that GnRH inhibited incorporation of [3H]uridine into poly(A)+ RNA of ventral prostate. This indicates that the inhibitory effects of GnRH involve post-transcriptional mechanisms.