The biological significance of non-enzymatic reaction of menadione with plasma thiols: enhancement of menadione-induced cytotoxicity to platelets by the presence of blood plasma

AbstractTo test the hypothesis that the non-enzymatic reaction of quinones with thiols in plasma can generate reactive oxygens (ROS), thereby leading to potentiated cellular toxicity, we have studied the effect of a representative quinone compound, menadione, on plasma isolated from rats. The experimental results are as follows: (1) menadione generated ROS via non-enzymatic reaction with protein thiols in plasma; (2) the presence of plasma increased menadione-induced cytotoxicity to platelets; (3) pretreatment of plasma with a thiol-depleting agent significantly suppressed menadione-induced ROS and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the non-enzymatic reaction of menadione with plasma thiols could be an important process in quinone-induced cellular toxicity

Safety evaluation of FM101, an A3 adenosine receptor modulator, in rat, for developing as therapeutics of glaucoma and hepatitis

Adenosine is a critical regulator of inflammation and fibrosis, it affects endogenous cell signaling via binding to the A3 adenosine receptor. FM101 is a potent, highly selective A3 adenosine receptor modulator that has been developed as a treatment for glaucoma and hepatitis. We determined that FM101 is a biased ligand with functional activities both as a G protein agonist and a β-arrestin antagonist. The safety of FM101 was evaluated by administering an acute dose in rats, the results indicated that the approximate lethal dose was greater than 2000 mg/kg. In a subchronic toxicity study, FM101 was administered orally once per day to rats at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day over a period of 28 days. Abnormal posture, irregular respiration, decreased movement, and ear flushing were observed during the early phase of dosing, and loose stools were observed sporadically among the animals that received 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day. Body weight and food consumption were decreased in one male and one female rat in the 1000 mg/kg/day group during the first 2 weeks of observation. However, there were no test substance-related changes or adverse effects observed during our ophthalmological, clinical chemistry, urine, organ weight, and histopathological analysis. These findings indicate that no observed adverse effect level of FM101 was 1000 mg/kg/day in male and female rats

Adenofibroma of Skene's Duct: A Case Report

Skene's glands, also known as paraurethral glands, are homologues of the male prostate, in which painless cystic masses and inflammation due to obstruction have been rarely found and reported. In addition, there have been rare reported cases of adenocarcinoma of Skene's glands. Recently, the authors experienced the first case of adenofibroma arising in Skene's glands of a 62-year-old woman with coital pain. Hereby, we present the case with pathologic and immunohistochemical findings and a short review of literature

A Second Double-Stranded RNA Virus from Yeast

AbstractTwo double-stranded RNA viruses exist as permanent persistent infections of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae:ScVL1 and ScVLa. Both belong to the Totiviridae, which include a number of fungal and protozoan double-stranded RNA viruses. Although ScVL1 and ScVLa share the same genomic organization and mode of expression and coexist in the same cells, they show no evidence of recombination: with one limited exception, sequence conservation is detectable only in regions conserved in all totiviruses. Both have two open reading frames on their single essential RNAs:cap(encoding a capsid polypeptide) andpol(encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). The ScVLa virus, like ScVL1, appears to express its Pol domain by a −1 translational frameshift

The effect of palonosetron on rocuronium-induced withdrawal movement

AbstractBackgroundRocuronium causes pain and withdrawal movement during induction of anesthesia. In this study, palonosetron was investigated to have analgesic effect on the reduction of rocuronium-induced withdrawal movement.Methods120 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive either saline, lidocaine 20mg, or palonosetron 0.075mg with a tourniquet applied two minutes before thiopental sodium (5mg·kg−1) was given intravenously. After loss of consciousness, rocuronium (0.6mg·kg−1) was injected and the withdrawal movement was estimated by 4-point scale in a double-blind manner.ResultsThe overall incidence of rocuronium withdrawal movement was 50% with lidocaine (p=0.038), 38% with palonosetron (p=0.006) compared with 75% for saline. The incidence of no pain to mild pain was significantly lower in the lidocaine and palonosetron groups (85% and 92% respectively) than in the saline group (58%). However, there was no significant difference in withdrawal movement between the lidocaine and palonosetron groups. There was no severe movement with palonosetron.ConclusionPretreatment of palonosetron with venous occlusion may attenuate rocuronium-induced withdrawal movement as effective as the use of lidocaine. It suggested that peripheral action of palonosetron was effective to reduce rocuronium-induced withdrawal movement

Construction of the Nursing Diagnosis Ontology in Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing Unit using Nursing Process and SNOMED CT

PURPOSE: This study was performed to propose an ontology methodology based on standardized nursing process as framework in obstetric and gynecologic nursing practice. METHODS: The instrument used in this study was based on the nursing diagnosis classification established by North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) (2009-2011), fifth edition of the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) (2008), forth edition of the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) (2008) developed by Iowa State University and systematized nomenclature of medicine clinical terms (SNOMED CT). The nursing records data were collected from electronic medical records of one hospital from August to October 2010. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one nursing diagnosis statements used in obstetric and gynecologic nursing unit were linked standardized nursing classifications and constructed nursing diagnosis ontology including interoperability. CONCLUSION: Not only will this result be helpful to complete nurse's lack of knowledge and experience, it will also help to determine nursing diagnosis logically by using standardized nursing process. It will be utilized as the method to construct ontology including interoperability in other nursing units. It will be presented nursing interventions according to nursing diagnosis and thus will be easier to establish nursing planning. This can provide immediate feedback of the nursing process application

Comparison of tenofovir plus lamivudine versus tenofovir monotherapy in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B

Background/Aims:Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) exhibits similar antiviral efficacy against treatment-naïve and lamivudine (LAM)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, there are few clinical reports on the antiviral effects of TDF–LAM combination therapy compared to TDF monotherapy in patients with LAM-resistant CHB. Methods:We investigated the antiviral efficacy of TDF monotherapy vs. TDF–LAM combination therapy in 103 patients with LAM-resistant CHB. Results:The study subjects were treated with TDF alone (n=40) or TDF–LAM combination therapy (n=63) for ≥6 months. The patients had previously been treated with TDF-based rescue therapy for a median of 30.0 months (range, 8–36 months). A virologic response (VR) was achieved in 99 patients (96.1%): 95.0% (38/40) of patients in the TDF monotherapy group and 96.8% (61/63) of patients in the TDF–LAM combination therapy group. The VR rates were not significantly different between the TDF monotherapy and TDF–LAM combination therapy groups (88.9 vs. 87.3% at month 12, and 94.4 vs. 93.7% at month 24, log-rank p=0.652). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that none of the pretreatment factors were significantly associated with VR. Conclusions:TDF monotherapy was as effective as TDF–LAM combination therapy for maintaining viral suppression in the vast majority of patients with LAM-resistant CHB, which suggests that TDF add-on therapy with LAM is unnecessary

Could real-time ultrasonography guidance be useful for the effective deployment of FemoSeal in common femoral arteriotomy?

A vascular closure device is used for hemostasis after a procedure involving an arterial puncture. The increasing frequency of endovascular arterial interventions has caused these devices to play a more important role in clinical practice. FemoSeal is a popular vascular closure device, and its safety and effectiveness have been verified. However, complications still occur in some cases, including even disastrous complications on occasion. Even with little experience, it is possible to reduce the complication rate by using real-time ultrasonography monitoring during the deployment of this device. Based on our experiences, presented herein, we suggest that complications related to FemoSeal could be reduced by using our method