Annals of clinical and laboratory science
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2009
Acetaminophen combinations protect against iron-induced cardiac damage in gerbils.
This study tested if acetaminophen, N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NMGDTC), deferoxamine, and combinations of these agents reduce excess iron content, prevent iron-induced pathology, reduce cardiac arrhythmias, and reduce mortality in iron-overloaded gerbils. Eight groups of 16 gerbils received iron dextran injections (ferric hydroxide dextran complex, 120 mg/kg, ip) or saline solution (controls) twice/wk for 8 wk. The 8 groups were treated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with one of the following: saline control, acetaminophen, 150 mg/kg, ip), acetaminophen (150 mg/kg, po), deferoxamine, 83 mg/kg, ip), NMGDTC (200 mg/kg, ip), or combinations of acetaminophen (75 mg/kg) with deferoxamine (42 mg/kg, each ip, separately) or acetaminophen (75 mg/kg) with NMGDTC (100 mg/kg, each ip, separately). ⋯ All treatments except deferoxamine, alone, reduced the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and deaths. All treatments reduced iron-induced increases in hepatic and cardiac weights. This study demonstrates injection alternates that are equally or more effective than deferoxamine injections and shows oral acetaminophen to be effective in treatment of iron-overload and associated cardiac complications.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2009
Holotranscobalamin as an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency in gastrectomized patients.
Transcobalamin-bound vitamin B(12), or holotranscobalamin (HoloTC), a biologically active form, is believed to be a sensitive marker of vitamin B(12) deficiency. We investigated the prevalence of vitamin B(12) deficiency in gastrectomized patients using HoloTC and total vitamin B(12) to determine the diagnostic utility of HoloTC. We enrolled 128 gastrectomized patients and measured serum HoloTC, total vitamin B(12), homocysteine (Hcy), and complete blood count (CBC). ⋯ The patients with both low total vitamin B(12) and low HoloTC had significantly higher Hcy concentrations than those with either normal total vitamin B(12) or normal HoloTC. Although a quarter of gastrectomized patients had low HoloTC, some of these had normal total vitamin B(12) concentrations. Our study suggests that serum HoloTC is a more sensitive marker than total vitamin B(12) in diagnosing vitamin B(12) deficiency.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2009
Effect of the synaptic scaffolding protein Homer1a on chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion.
Activity-dependent plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn may underlie the development of neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury. A product of an immediate early gene (IEG), the synaptic scaffolding protein Homer1a, has received increasing attention because it appears to play a critical role in synaptic plasticity. In this study, we explored the early expression of Homer1 gene in the spinal dorsal horn by using the neuropathic pain model of chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD). ⋯ Significant thermal hyperalgesia appeared at 24 hr post-operation in the CCD rats, but not in the Sham-operated or Control groups. These data show that CCD induces a transient and rapid increase in Homer1a expression in the spinal dorsal horn. These data also suggest that the transient and rapid increase in Homer1a expression may play an important role in the thermal hyperalgesia elicited by neural injury.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2009
Recombinant human erythropoietin attenuates spinal neuroimmune activation of neuropathic pain in rats.
Neuropathic pain is a complex syndrome resulting from damage to the peripheral nervous system. Central neuroimmune activation contributes to the generation and maintenance of chronic pain after nerve injury. The current study determined the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on behavioral hyperalgesia and neuroimmune activation in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve transection. ⋯ Furthermore, rhEPO markedly inhibited neuroimmune activation characterized by glial activation, production of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and NF-kappaB activation, but rhEPO enhanced the level of IL-10. These results support the significance of neuroinflammation and neuroimmune activation in the initiation and persistence of behavioral pain responses. The data indicate that rhEPO attenuates behavioral hyperalgesia and neuroimmune activation in neuropathic pain induced by L5 nerve transection.