Quick and simple method for increasing the reduced albumin fraction in human serum albumin preparations by using stronger neo-minophagen C

A Method for Stabilizing the Proportion of the Reduced Form of Albumin During Cell-Free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy in Patients with Malignant Ascites

Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) is used to treat malignant ascites. However, the qualities of albumin in malignant ascites, such as antioxidative activity, may decrease owing to oxidative stress caused by cancer cells and inflammatory reactions. We investigated the fraction percentages of mercaptalbumin (HMA%, reduced form) and non-mercaptalbumin (HNA%, oxidized form) in malignant ascites from 21 patients who received CART and compared the HMA% in the malignant ascites and human serum albumin (HSA) preparations. HMA% of albumin in malignant ascites (22.5%) was significantly lower than that in HSA preparation (42.2%). To ensure a high HMA%, we added L-cysteine to the paracentesis-treated ascites followed by dialysis 1 h later. As a result, the HMA% of albumin in malignant ascites was increased to 59.1%. Our results suggest that using this method in CART will improve patient's albumin quality.

Comparison of quality of human serum albumin preparations in two pharmaceutical products

Aim

Human serum albumin (HSA) is known for its multiple functions, such as maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure, transport of endogenous and exogenous substances, and antioxidation. The aim of this study was to measure the redox state and concentrations of β‐d‐glucan and endotoxin to compare the quality of 5% HSA preparations from two different manufacturers.

Methods

The quality of 5% HSA preparations in two different pharmaceutical products (groups A and B) was compared in terms of the percentage of reduced and oxidized albumin and the contaminant level of β‐d‐glucan and endotoxin.

Results

The percentage of human mercaptoalbumin in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (P < 0.01), whereas that of human non‐mercaptoalbumin‐2 in group A was significantly lower (P < 0.01). The concentration of β‐d‐glucan in group A was significantly lower than in group B (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The present findings indicate the need for quality control of HSA preparations in applications involving the use of large volumes.

Effect of occult hepatitis B virus infection on the early-onset of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Although overt hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection promotes the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients, the effect of occult HBV infection remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of occult HBV infection on the early-onset of HCC in HCV-infected patients. A total of 173 HCC patients with HCV infection were enrolled and classified into 2 groups according to the median age of HCC onset: the early-onset group (n=91; 61.1±5.6 years) and the late-onset group (n=82; 73.8±3.7 years). Independent factors associated with the early-onset of HCC were assessed by multivariate analysis. In the overall analysis, independent risk factors for the early-onset of HCC were the white blood cell count and alanine aminotransferase level, but not the presence of HBV DNA. In a stratification analysis according to albumin levels of ≥3.5 g/dl, the presence of HBV DNA was a significant independent risk factor for the early-onset of HCC (OR 145.18, 95% CI 1.38-15296.61, P=0.036), whereas the presence of antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen was not found to be a risk factor. The presence of HBV DNA was not a risk factor for the early-onset of HCC in the overall analysis. However, its presence was an independent factor for the early-onset of HCC in HCV-infected patients with an albumin level of ≥3.5 g/dl. Thus, occult HBV infection may accelerate hepatocarcino-genesis in HCV-infected patients with relatively low carcinogenic potential.

The use of Stronger Neo-Minophagen C, a glycyrrhizin-containing preparation, in robust neuroprotection in the postischemic brain

Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) is a glycyrrhizin-containing preparation that is approved in Japan for the treatment of chronic hepatic diseases and is marketed in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and India. Glycyrrhizin, a triterpene present in the roots and rhizomes of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-viral effects. In the present study, we demonstrated the marked neuroprotective effects of SNMC in the postischemic rat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We used 1 ml/kg of SNMC, which is within the dose range used for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatic disease. The administration of SNMC intravenously at 30 minutes before or 30 minutes and 3 hours after MCAO (60 minutes) reduces mean infarct volumes to 27.0±4.2%, 37.1±12.4%, and 67.8±5.8% of that of untreated controls, respectively. This neuroprotective effect is accompanied by improvements in motor impairment and neurological deficits. The administration of SNMC is shown to suppress microglia activation and neutrophil infiltration in the postischemic brain. In addition, SNMC suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced nitrite production and proinflammatory cytokine induction in a microglia cell line, BV2. This indicates that the neuroprotective effect of SNMC might be due, at least in part, to an anti-inflammatiory effect. Interestingly, SNMC shows significantly higher neuroprotective potency compared to an equivalent dose of pure glycyrrhizin, in terms of reducing infarct volume and improving neurological deficits. Together these results indicate that SNMC, a glycyrrhizin-containing preparation developed for chronic liver disease, has a marked neuroprotective function in the postischemic brain via its anti-inflammatory effects.