Trace elements in the culturally significant plant Sarracenia purpurea in proximity to dust sources in the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada

Accessible populations of plants are critical to the meaningful exercise of Aboriginal and treaty rights in Canada. In the oil sands region of Alberta, populations of culturally significant plant species overlap with extensive oil and gas development. This has led to a host of questions and concerns related to plant health and integrity from both Indigenous communities and western scientists. Here, we assessed trace element concentrations in the northern pitcher-plant (tsala' t'ile; Sarracenia purpurea L.) with a focus on elements associated with fugitive dust and bitumen. Plant leaves were collected using clean methods and washed prior to analyses in an ultra-clean, metal-free laboratory. Pitcher-plant was an excellent model for assessing the impacts of industrial development on a culturally important, vulnerable species. Although concentrations of trace elements in pitcher-plant were low and not indicative of a toxicological concern, we saw clear dust signatures in plant tissues related to road and surface mine proximity. Elements associated with fugitive dust and bitumen extraction declined exponentially with increasing distance from a surface mine, a well-established regional pattern. However, our analyses also captured localized spikes in trace element concentrations within 300 m of unpaved roads. These local patterns are more poorly quantified at the regional scale but are indicative of the burden to Indigenous harvesters wishing to access plant populations that are not impacted by dust. Further work to directly quantify dust loads on culturally significant plants will help to define the amount of harvesting area lost to Indigenous communities due to dust impacts.

Primary tumor location and bevacizumab effectiveness in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

There is an unmet need for predictive markers for the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We aimed to assess whether the location of the primary tumor is associated with bevacizumab effectiveness when combined with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPEOX) in the first-line treatment of patients with mCRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cohort of 667 consecutive patients with mCRC from the general community treated from 2006 to 2011 with CAPEOX and bevacizumab as standard first-line therapy was compared with a cohort of 213 patients treated with CAPEOX from 2003 to 2006, before bevacizumab was approved. Main outcome measures were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Differences in outcome were tested using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests, and multivariate analyses were carried out using Cox Proportional Hazards models.

RESULTS

Patients treated with CAPEOX and bevacizumab with primary tumors originating in the sigmoid colon and rectum had a significantly better outcome than patients with primary tumors originating from the cecum to the descending colon, both for PFS (median PFS 9.3 versus 7.2 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.82) and for OS (median OS 23.5 versus 13.0 months; HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.38-0.57). This difference was confirmed in multivariate analyses after adjustment for other potentially prognostic factors. For patients treated with CAPEOX, there was no association between primary tumor location and outcome, neither in unadjusted nor adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of bevacizumab to CAPEOX in first-line treatment of patients with mCRC may primarily benefit patients with primary tumors originating in the rectum and sigmoid colon. This hypothesis needs to be validated in data from completed randomized trials.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

NCT00212615.

Spironolactone diminishes urinary albumin excretion in patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria: a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study

AIMS

Adding aldosterone receptor blockade to standard renoprotective treatment may provide additional renoprotection in patients with overt nephropathy. We expected an impact of spironolactone in early diabetic nephropathy, and for this hypothesis we studied the effect on markers of glomerular and tubular damage in patients with Type 1 diabetes and persistent microalbuminuria.

METHODS

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study in 21 patients with Type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria using spironolactone 25 mg or placebo once daily, for 60 days added to standard antihypertensive treatment. After each treatment period, the primary endpoint were evaluated: urinary(u)-albumin excretion/24 hour(h) and secondary endpoints; 24 h blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and markers of tubular damage: urinary liver-type fatty-acid binding protein (LFABP), neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM1).

RESULTS

All patients completed the study. During spironolactone treatment, urinary albumin excretion rate was reduced by 60% (range 21-80%), from 90 mg/24 h to 35 mg/24 h (P=0.01). Blood pressure (24 h) did not change during spironolactone treatment (P>0.2 for all comparisons). The GFR (SD) decreased from 78 (6) mL/min/1.73 m(2) to 72 (6) mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P=0.003). Urinary liver-type fatty-acid binding protein, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule 1 did not change during treatment (P>0.3 for all comparisons). Treatment was well-tolerated, but two patients had severe hyperkalaemia (plasma potassium = 5.7 mmol/l), which was sufficiently treated with diuretics and dietary intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Spironolactone treatment in addition to standard renoprotective treatment lowers urinary albumin excretion in microalbuminuric patients with Type 1 diabetes, and thus may offer additional renoprotection independent of blood pressure.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Kidney Injury Molecule 1 (KIM1) in patients with diabetic nephropathy: a cross-sectional study and the effects of lisinopril

AIMS

Our aim was to evaluate the markers of tubulointerstitial damage, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule1 (KIM1) in Type 1 diabetic patients with different levels of albuminuria and in control subjects. In addition, the effect of renoprotective treatment on urinary NGAL was evaluated in diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in 58 normoalbuminuric (u-albumin <30 mg/24 h), 45 microalbuminuric (30-300 mg/24 h) and 45 macroalbuminuric (>300 mg/24 h) Type 1 diabetic patients and 55 non-diabetic control subjects. Furthermore, in a second study, urine-NGAL was measured in a randomized cross-over study of 56 Type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy treated with lisinopril 20, 40 and 60 mg daily.

RESULTS

  Urine-NGAL levels were [geometric mean (95% CI)]: control subjects 74 (52-104) (pg/mmol creatinine), normoalbuminuric 146 (97-221), microalbuminuric 222 (158-312) and macroalbuminuric group 261 (175-390). Urine-NGAL increased significantly from the normo- to the micro- and further to the macroalbuminuric group (P<0.05). Urine-NGAL was higher in normoalbuminuric vs. control subjects (P<0.01). Plasma-NGAL was significantly higher in the normoalbuminuric and macroalbuminuric groups than in the control group. Urine-KIM1 was higher in all diabetic groups than in the control group (P<0.001), with no difference between diabetic groups. During lisinopril treatment, urine-NGAL was reduced (95% CI) 17% (11-50) (not significant).

CONCLUSIONS

Urine-NGAL and urine-KIM1 (u-KIM1) are elevated in Type1 diabetic patients, with or without albuminuria, indicating tubular damage at an early stage. Urine-NGAL increases significantly with increasing albuminuria. The ACE inhibitor lisinopril reduced urine-NGAL, but this was not statistically significant.

Plasma TIMP-1 levels and treatment outcome in patients treated with XELOX for metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim was to evaluate the association between plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receiving XELOX (combination chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin) as first-line treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty patients were included. Blood samples were collected before treatment and 3 weeks later before the next treatment cycle. Plasma TIMP-1 and serum CEA levels were correlated to treatment outcome.

RESULTS

No significant associations between baseline TIMP-1 or CEA levels and best response to treatment or progression-free survival (PFS) could be demonstrated. In contrast, high baseline plasma TIMP-1 levels were associated with poor overall survival (OS), P = 0.008, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.80 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-2.78]. Furthermore, increase in TIMP-1 levels from baseline to immediately before the second cycle of chemotherapy had a significant negative effect on survival (P = 0.03, HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.65) while a decrease in TIMP-1 was significantly associated with a higher objective response rate (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Both high baseline and subsequent increase in TIMP-1 levels were associated with shorter OS in patients with mCRC receiving XELOX as first-line treatment, whereas baseline TIMP-1 levels were not associated with response or PFS following XELOX treatment.

High serum YKL-40, but not plasma VEGF and serum HER2, as a prognostic biomarker of short survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

14517

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of plasma VEGF, serum YKL-40 and HER2 before, during and after chemotherapy in patients with their first manifestation of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients and Methods: Prospective, longitudinal study of 105 patients (60 men and 45 women, median age 65, range 36–79 years, PS 0–2) from 7 centers referred with their first manifestation of mCRC. The patients were treated with Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 day 1 and Capecitabine 2000 mg/m2 days 1–14 every 3 weeks. Median follow-up was 1.8 years. 92 patients had progression and 62 died. The biomarkers were determined by ELISAs. Results: Pretreatment plasma VEGF (median 90 ng/l, range 3–2622, 37% had high level >137 ng/l) and serum YKL-40 (102 μg/l, 28–692, 40% had higher level than the age-corrected 95th percentile in healthy individuals) were significantly (p<0.001) elevated in the patients compared to normal levels. Serum HER2 was not elevated (7.90 μg/l, 3.6–92, 6% had high level >15 μg/l). Pretreatment serum YKL-40 was higher in patients who died compared to those alive (115 vs. 75 μg/l, p=0.004). No differences in plasma VEGF (97 vs. 85 ng/l, p=0.27) and serum HER2 (8.0 vs. 7.4 μg/l, p=0.16) were found. Univariate Cox analysis showed that plasma VEGF and serum HER2 before treatment or during follow-up could not predict progression-free and overall survival. Pretreatment serum YKL-40 (log transformed, scored as a continuous variable) was in a univariate analysis a prognostic biomarker of overall survival (HR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.6, p=0.0006), but not of progression- free survival (p=0.81). Multivariate Cox analysis (age, sex, number of organs with metastasis, pretreatment serum YKL-40 (continuous variable)) showed that serum YKL-40 (HR=1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.6, p=0.001) and possible the number of organs with metastasis (p=0.06) were independent predictors of overall survival. During follow-up, a high serum YKL-40 (log transformed continuous variable and landmark time) predicted shorter time to progression (HR=1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1, p=0.01) and overall survival (HR=1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.4, p=0.005). Conclusion: Serum YKL-40 is a prognostic biomarker of overall survival and during follow-up also of progression-free survival in patients with mCRC.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Green tea extract only affects markers of oxidative status postprandially: lasting antioxidant effect of flavonoid-free diet

Epidemiological studies suggest that foods rich in flavonoids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) used as a food antioxidant on markers of oxidative status after dietary depletion of flavonoids and catechins. The study was designed as a 2×3 weeks blinded human cross-over intervention study (eight smokers, eight non-smokers) with GTE corresponding to a daily intake of 18·6 mg catechins/d. The GTE was incorporated into meat patties and consumed with a strictly controlled diet otherwise low in flavonoids. GTE intervention increased plasma antioxidant capacity from 1·35 to 1·56 (P<0·02) in postprandially collected plasma, most prominently in smokers. The intervention did not significantly affect markers in fasting blood samples, including plasma or haemoglobin protein oxidation, plasma oxidation lagtime, or activities of the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase. Neither were fasting plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol, α-tocopherol, retinol, β-carotene, or ascorbic acid affected by intervention. Urinary 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine excretion was also unaffected. Catechins from the extract were excreted into urine with a half-life of less than 2 h in accordance with the short-term effects on plasma antioxidant capacity. Since no long-term effects of GTE were observed, the study essentially served as a fruit and vegetables depletion study. The overall effect of the 10-week period without dietary fruits and vegetables was a decrease in oxidative damage to DNA, blood proteins, and plasma lipids, concomitantly with marked changes in antioxidative defence.

Effect of red wine and red grape extract on blood lipids, haemostatic factors, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE

Some epidemiological studies found a lower risk of cardiovascular disease among wine drinkers than among drinkers of other types of ethanol. This difference might be due to an effect of nonalcohol compounds in wine on important cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of red wine, nonalcohol compounds of red wine and placebo on established cardiovascular risk factors.

DESIGN

A parallel, four-armed intervention study.

SUBJECTS

A total of 69 healthy 38-74-y-old men and women.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects were randomised to either 1: red wine (males: 300 ml/day, 38.3 g alcohol/day, female subjects: 200 ml/day, 25.5 g alcohol/day), 2: water + red grape extract tablets (wine-equivalent dose), 3: water + red grape extract tablets (half dose), or 4: water + placebo tablets for a period of 4 weeks. No other sources of alcohol or anthocyanin were allowed. Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C/LDL-C-ratio, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, fibrinogen, factor VII coagulant activity (FVIIc), blood pressure, and body weight were determined before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Wine consumption was associated with a significant 11-16% increase in fasting HDL-C and 8-15% decrease in fasting fibrinogen relative to not drinking wine. There were no significant treatment effects on fasting LDL-C, HDL-C/LDL-C-ratio, VLDL-triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, FVIIc, or blood pressure. Drinking wine was associated with relative body weight increments closely corresponding to the energy contributed by the alcohol component.

CONCLUSION

Moderate red wine consumption for 4 weeks is associated with desirable changes in HDL-C and fibrinogen compared with drinking water with or without red grape extract. The impact of wine on the measured cardiovascular risk factors thus seems primarily explained by an alcohol effect. Our finding suggests that the putative difference in cardiac risk associated with wine vs other alcoholic beverages might be rather explained by other life-style confounders than by red wine contents of nonalcohol components.

High glucose impairs superoxide production from isolated blood neutrophils

OBJECTIVE

Superoxide (O(2)(-)), a key antimicrobial agent in phagocytes, is produced by the activity of NADPH oxidase. High glucose concentrations may, however, impair the production of O(2)(-) through inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which catalyzes the formation of NADPH. This study measured the acute effects of high glucose or the G6PD inhibitor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the production of O(2)(-) from isolated human neutrophils.

DESIGN

Laboratory studies of short-term cultures of neutrophil granulocytes.

PARTICIPANTS

Healthy subjects.

INTERVENTIONS

Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood and incubated for 1 h in Krebs-Ringer buffer containing 5, 10, or 25 mM glucose, 5 mM glucose with 0, 5, or 20 mM mannitol, or 5 mM glucose with 0, 1, 10, or 100 micro M DHEA. O(2)(-) production was induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and measured by the cytochrome c reduction assay. Potential scavenging of O(2)(-) by glucose, mannitol, or DHEA was assessed in a cell free system using the pyrogallol assay.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Incubation of neutrophils with glucose dose-dependently reduced O(2)(-) production, which was 50% decreased at 25 mM glucose. Also DHEA reduced the production of O(2)(-) dose-dependently, whereas production rates were unaffected by mannitol. Neither glucose, mannitol, nor DHEA scavenged O(2)(-).

CONCLUSIONS

High extracellular glucose concentrations acutely reduce O(2)(-) production from activated neutrophils possibly through inhibition of G6PD. If this occurs in vivo, microbial killing by neutrophils may be impaired during acute hyperglycemia, as observed after major surgery, trauma, or severe infection.

In vitro investigation of cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of dietary flavonoids

Human and mouse liver microsomes and membranes isolated from Escherichia coli, which expressed cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, 3A4, 2C9 or 2D6, were used to investigate CYP-mediated metabolism of five selected dietary flavonoids. In human and mouse liver microsomes kaempferol, apigenin and naringenin were hydroxylated at the 3'-position to yield their corresponding analogs quercetin, luteolin and eriodictyol, whereas hesperetin and tamarixetin were demethylated at the 4'-position to yield eriodictyol and quercetin, respectively. Microsomal flavonoid metabolism was potently inhibited by the CYP1A2 inhibitors, fluvoxamine and -naphthoflavone. Recombinant CYP1A2 was capable of metabolizing all five investigated flavonoids. CYP3A4 recombinant protein did not catalyze hesperetin demethylation, but showed similar metabolic profiles for the remaining compounds, as did human microsomes and recombinant CYP1A2, although the reaction rates in general were lower as compared to CYP1A2. CYP2C9 catalyzed the 4'-demethylation of tamarixetin, whereas CYP2D6 did not seem to play any role in the metabolism of the selected flavonoids. The major involvement in flavonoid metabolism of human CYP1A2, which mediates the formation of metabolites with different biochemical properties as compared to the parent compound and furthermore is known to be expressed very differently among individuals, raises the important question of whether individual differences in the CYP enzyme activity might affect the beneficial outcome of dietary flavonoids, rendering some individuals more or less refractory to the health-promoting potential of dietary flavonoids.

Green tea extract only affects markers of oxidative status postprandially: lasting antioxidant effect of flavonoid-free diet

Epidemiological studies suggest that foods rich in flavonoids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) used as a food antioxidant on markers of oxidative status after dietary depletion of flavonoids and catechins. The study was designed as a 2 x 3 weeks blinded human cross-over intervention study (eight smokers, eight non-smokers) with GTE corresponding to a daily intake of 18.6 mg catechins/d. The GTE was incorporated into meat patties and consumed with a strictly controlled diet otherwise low in flavonoids. GTE intervention increased plasma antioxidant capacity from 1.35 to 1.56 (P<0.02) in postprandially collected plasma, most prominently in smokers. The intervention did not significantly affect markers in fasting blood samples, including plasma or haemoglobin protein oxidation, plasma oxidation lagtime, or activities of the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase. Neither were fasting plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, beta-carotene, or ascorbic acid affected by intervention. Urinary 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine excretion was also unaffected. Catechins from the extract were excreted into urine with a half-life of less than 2 h in accordance with the short-term effects on plasma antioxidant capacity. Since no long-term effects of GTE were observed, the study essentially served as a fruit and vegetables depletion study. The overall effect of the 10-week period without dietary fruits and vegetables was a decrease in oxidative damage to DNA, blood proteins, and plasma lipids, concomitantly with marked changes in antioxidative defence.

Biotransformation of the citrus flavone tangeretin in rats. Identification of metabolites with intact flavane nucleus

The present study was carried out in order to investigate the in vivo biotransformation and excretion of the flavone, tangeretin, found in citrus fruits, by analysing urine and faeces samples from rats after repeated administration of 100 mg/kg body weight/day tangeretin. The formed metabolites were separated and identified by HPLC and the structures elucidated by LC/MS and 1H NMR. Ten new, major metabolites with intact flavonoid structure were identified. The metabolites identified were either demethylated or hydroxylated derivatives of the parent compound and metabolic changes were found primarily to occur in the 4' position of the B-ring. The total urinary excretion of tangeretin metabolites with intact flavan nucleus was about 11% of the administered daily dose.

Identification and quantification of flavonoids in human urine samples by column-switching liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS) method is described for the determination and quantification of 12 dietary flavonoid glycosides and aglycons in human urine samples. Chromatographic separation of the analytes of interest was achieved by column-switching, using the first column (a Zorbax 300SB C-3 column) for sample cleanup and eluting the heart-cut flavonoid fraction onto the second column (a Zorbax SB C-18 column) for separation and detection by ultraviolet and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization MS using single ion monitoring in negative mode. The fragmentor voltage was optimized with regard to maximum abundance of the molecular ion and qualifier ions of the analytes. Calibration graphs were prepared for urine, and good linearity was achieved over a dynamic range of 2.5-1000 ng/mL. The inter- and intraassay coefficients of variation for the analysis of the 12 different flavonoids in quality control urine samples were 12.3% on average (range 11.0-13.7%, n = 24, reproducibility) and the repeatability of the assay were 5.0% (mean, range 0.1-14.8%, n = 12). A subset of 10 urine samples from a human dietary intervention study with high and low flavonoid content was analyzed, and the results are reported.

[Polyphenolic antioxidants in fruit juice. Urinary excretion and effects on biological markers for antioxidative status]

This intervention study was designed as cross-over (four women, one man) with three doses of black currant/apple (1:1) juice (750, 1000, and 1500 mL) for one week corresponding to an intake of 4.8, 6.4, and 9.6 mg quercetin per day. Urinary excretion of quercetin increased significantly with dose and with time. The fraction excreted in urine was constant 0.29-0.47%. Plasma quercetin did not change with juice intervention. Plasma ascorbate increased during intervention due to ascorbate from the juice. Total plasma malondialdehyde decreased with time during 1500 mL juice intervention. Plasma protein 2-adipic semialdehyde residues, increased with time and dose, and glutathione peroxidase increased with juice dose, whereas other selected markers of oxidative status did not change. These effects might be related to several components of the juice and cannot be attributed solely to its quercetin content.

Phase I study of single, escalating doses of a superantigen-antibody fusion protein (PNU-214565) in patients with advanced colorectal or pancreatic carcinoma

To develop a T-cell-based therapy for carcinomas, the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was supplied with tumor specificity by means of a recombinant fusion of the Fab fragment of the monoclonal antibody C242 recognizing human colorectal (CRC) and pancreatic carcinomas (PC). Using this Fab-SEA fusion protein (PNU-214565), potent cytotoxicity by activation of T cells can be obtained in the targeted area. Twenty-one patients with CRC and 3 with PC were treated with single, escalating doses of PNU-214565 to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and to define toxicities. The doses ranged from 0.01 ng/kg to 4.0 ng/kg with three patients at each dose level, except for the dose of 1.5 ng/kg with which six patients were treated because of dose-limiting toxicity. Adverse events (AE) were transient: 13 patients experienced mild to moderate fever. In one patient, a grade 3 fever was followed by a grade 2 hypotension. Other mild or moderate AEs were fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. No significant hematological toxicity occurred. Immune activation was highly variable with strong activity in peripheral blood seen only in two patients at the dosage level 1.5 ng/kg. They showed pronounced elevations of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma, 3-5 hours after the start of infusion. In one patient, IL-2 and IL-6 increased substantially (2,925 U/mL and 32,000 U/mL) concomitantly with grade 3 fever and transient grade 2 neutropenia, grade 2 lymphopenia, and grade 2 monocytopenia. In conclusion, a single 3-hour infusion of PNU-214565 could be safely administered up to 4 ng/kg. MTD was not determined. Instead, a repeat-dose trial was initiated starting at 0.5 ng/kg, considered safe in this trial, with the objective of defining the MTD.

Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) intake on urinary apigenin excretion, blood antioxidant enzymes and biomarkers for oxidative stress in human subjects

Seven men and seven women participated in a randomized crossover trial to study the effect of intake of parsley (Petroselinum crispum), containing high levels of the flavone apigenin, on the urinary excretion of flavones and on biomarkers for oxidative stress. The subjects received a strictly controlled diet low in flavones and other naturally occurring antioxidants during the 2 weeks of intervention. This basic diet was supplemented with parsley providing 3.73-4.49 mg apigenin/MJ in one of the intervention weeks. Urinary excretion of apigenin was 1.59-409.09 micrograms/MJ per 24 h during intervention with parsley and 0-112.27 micrograms/MJ per 24 h on the basic diet (P < 0.05). The fraction of apigenin intake excreted in the urine was 0.58 (SE 0.16)% during parsley intervention. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.1; GR) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; SOD) activities increased during intervention with parsley (P < 0.005) as compared with the levels on the basic diet, whereas erythrocyte catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activities did not change. No significant changes were observed in plasma protein 2-adipic semialdehyde residues, a biomarker of plasma protein oxidation. In this short-term investigation, an overall decreasing trend in the activity of antioxidant enzymes was observed during the 2-week study. The decreased activity of SOD was strongly correlated at the individual level with an increased oxidative damage to plasma proteins. However, the intervention with parsley seemed, partly, to overcome this decrease and resulted in increased levels of GR and SOD.

Effect of fruit juice intake on urinary quercetin excretion and biomarkers of antioxidative status

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic studies suggest that foods rich in flavonoids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate the effect of intake of flavonoid-containing black currant and apple juice on urinary excretion of quercetin and on markers of oxidative status.

DESIGN

This was a crossover study with 3 doses of juice (750, 1000, and 1500 mL) consumed for 1 wk by 4 women and 1 man corresponding to an intake of 4.8, 6.4, and 9.6 mg quercetin/d.

RESULTS

Urinary excretion of quercetin increased significantly with dose and with time. The fraction excreted in urine was 0.29-0.47%. Plasma quercetin did not change with juice intervention. Plasma ascorbate increased during intervention because of the ascorbate in the juice. Total plasma malondialdehyde decreased with time during the 1500-mL juice intervention, indicating reduced lipid oxidation in plasma. Plasma 2-amino-adipic semialdehyde residues increased with time and dose, indicating a prooxidant effect of the juice, whereas erythrocyte 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde and gamma-glutamyl semialdehyde concentrations, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, and ferric reducing ability of plasma did not change. Glutathione peroxidase activity increased significantly with juice dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary excretion of quercetin seemed to be a small but constant function of quercetin intake. Short-term, high intake of black currant and apple juices had a prooxidant effect on plasma proteins and increased glutathione peroxidase activity, whereas lipid oxidation in plasma seemed to decrease. These effects might be related to several components of the juice and cannot be attributed solely to its quercetin content.

Column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for determination of apigenin and acacetin in human urine with ultraviolet absorbance detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of apigenin and the 4'-methylated derivative acacetin in human urine using column-switching and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection. Urine samples were enzymatically hydrolysed and solid-phase extracted prior to injection onto the HPLC system. Prior to elution of apigenin and the internal standard, 5,7,8-trihydroxyflavone, from the first column used for sample clean-up, the six-port valve was switched to the second column for analysis with UV detection. Detection of apigenin was precise and reproducible, with a limit of quantification of 10 ng ml(-1) urine. Detection and quantification of acacetin was linear down to 70 ng ml(-1) urine. The method has been successfully applied to determine the level of apigenin in 100 human urine samples from an intervention study with parsley.

Superantigen-targeted therapy: phase I escalating repeat dose trial of the fusion protein PNU-214565 in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies

Antibody-directed, superantigen-induced cytotoxicity has been shown to have potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects in preclinical models. In the present study, PNU-214565, a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the Fab of the monoclonal antibody C242 and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), was used in an escalating repeat dose Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies. A prior single-dose Phase I clinical trial had demonstrated safety at doses of 1.5 ng/kg with toxicities of fever and hypotension that were not dose related. Twenty-seven patients (age range, 36-75 years; median, 62; 14 males and 13 females; 23 colorectal and 4 pancreatic) were treated in the present study with one cycle of four consecutive daily 3-h infusions of PNU-214565 at doses of 0.15 ng/kg (n = 3); 0.5 ng/kg (n = 3), 1.5 ng/kg (n = 4), 2.75 ng/kg (n = 12), and 3.5 ng/kg (n = 5). All patients had a good performance status [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group: PS = 0 (n = 15), PS = 1 (n = 12)]. As in the single-dose trial, fever and hypotension were the most common toxicities. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), consisting of transient hypotension responsive to dopamine, was experienced by one patient treated at the 2.75 ng/kg dose level. One patient with pancreatic cancer metastatic to the liver experienced a partial response of hepatic metastases with stable pancreatic head abnormalities by computed tomography scan. Further dose escalation was suspended when two patients treated in a companion repeat dose Phase I study experienced DLT at the 4 ng/kg dose level. Multiparameter analyses on all patients treated in the two companion single-dose and two-repeated-dose Phase I trials revealed that the levels of patients' pretreatment anti-SEA antibodies protected against toxicity at a given drug dose. By jointly considering weight and the baseline anti-SEA concentration in a patient, it is possible to assign a PNU-214565 dose that will induce systemic cytokine release (a surrogate test to assess for the presence of uncomplexed drug and its ability to induce systemic cellular activation) without DLT. This pharmacodynamically based dosing scheme will be tested in future repeated-dose clinical trials and will define maximally tolerated doses of this powerful new immunotherapy approach.

Column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of quercetin in human urine with ultraviolet absorbance detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of quercetin in human urine using column-switching and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection. Urine samples were enzymatically hydrolysed and solid-phase extracted prior to injection onto the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Prior to elution of quercetin and the internal standard, fisetin. from the first column used for sample clean-up, the six-port valve was switched to the second column for analysis with UV detection. Detection of quercetin was accurate and reproducible, with a detection limit of 5 ng/ml. The method was applied to determine the urinary level of quercetin in 120 samples from an intervention study with fruit juice.

In vitro biotransformation of flavonoids by rat liver microsomes

1. Sixteen naturally occurring flavonoids were investigated as substrates for cytochrome P450 in uninduced and Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver microsomes. Naringenin, hesperetin, chrysin, apigenin, tangeretin, kaempferol, galangin and tamarixetin were all metabolized extensively by induced rat liver microsomes but only to a minor extent by uninduced microsomes. No metabolites were detected from eriodictyol, taxifolin, luteolin, quercetin, myricetin, fisetin, morin or isorhamnetin. 2. The identity of the metabolites was elucidated using lc-ms and 1H-nmr, and was consistent with a general metabolic pathway leading to the corresponding 3',4'-dihydroxylated flavonoids either by hydroxylation or demethylation. Structural requirements for microsomal hydroxylation appeared to be a single or no hydroxy group on the B-ring of the flavan nucleus. The presence of two or more hydroxy groups on the B-ring seemed to prevent further hydroxylation. The results indicate that demethylation only occurs in the B-ring when the methoxy group is positioned at C4', and not at the C3'-position. 3. The CYP1A isozymes were found to be the main enzymes involved in flavonoid hydroxylation, whereas other cytochrome P450 isozymes seem to be involved in flavonoid demethylation.

[Bacterial gastroenteritis in hospitalized patients in Roskilde county 1991-1993]

Denmark has in recent years experienced a rise in the number of bacterial gastrointestinal infections. We have reviewed patients hospitalized with culture confirmed bacterial gastroenteritis in Roskilde County during 1991-1993. Two hundred and seven patients were included, 68 were children (< 15 years). The microorganism isolated was Salmonella in 61% of the cases. Campylobacter in 20% and Yersinia enterocolitica in 13%. Ninety-three percent of the patients had diarrhoea, 74% had fever (> 38 degrees C), and 66% abdominal pain. Blood in the stools was most frequent in patients infected with Campylobacter. Leucocytosis was rare. Twenty-four patients had bacteraemia. Reactive arthritis occurred in 4.8%. Three patients died, all infected with zoonotic Salmonella types. Three stool cultures were made for 115 patients, and all three cultures were positive in 73% of these patients. Bacterial gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization in Roskilde County, 1991-1993 affected mainly children and young adults. Infections due to zoonotic Salmonella types were more severe than Campylobacter and Yersinia enterocolitica gastroenteritis. It seems necessary to collect at least three stool cultures to secure a bacteriological diagnosis.

Validation of play-conditioned audiometry in a clinical setting

The aim of the present study was to investigate at what ages children were able to participate in play-conditioned audiometry in a clinical setting. Data concerning age and gender for 294 children (182 boys and 112 girls) were continuously recorded with details regarding audiometric method and number of successfully determined thresholds. Some children were tested more than once, resulting in a total of 449 examinations. The results are compared with those of other studies in which visual reinforced audiometry (VRA), condition-orientation reflex audiometry (COR) and play-conditioned audiometry are used, and show that in a clinical setting it is possible to determine at least one threshold in more than 35% of children tested at ages above 16 months. At 2 years of age, about 50% of the children are able to establish thresholds at least at three frequencies and from 3 years of age nearly 75% of the children could establish 6 thresholds or more. It is concluded that VRA, COR and play-conditioned audiometry should be considered along with objective hearing tests like brainstem audiometry (ABR) or measurement of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) when assessing hearing in infants and small children.

[Treatment of colorectal cancer with monoclonal antibodies]

This article reviews the treatment of colorectal carcinoma with monoclonal antibodies. Since the late seventies, several hundred patients with advanced disease have been treated with unconjugated antibodies, especially Mab 17-1A. The response rate of the studies has been less than 10%. In contrast, Mab given as adjuvant treatment for Duke's C colorectal carcinoma increased the five year survival with 30%. The actions of different types of immunoconjugates are reviewed.

Oxysporidinone: a novel, antifungal N-methyl-4-hydroxy-2-pyridone from Fusarium oxysporum

Oxysporidinone (1), a novel 3,5-disubstituted N-methyl-4-hydroxy-2-pyridone, was isolated from fermentations of Fusarium oxysporum (CBS 330.95) by counter-current chromatography. The structure was determined by spectroscopic methods including NMR, MS, IR, and UV analysis. Oxysporidinone exhibited growth inhibitory activity against several common plant pathogenic fungi.

Increased ratio between deoxycytidine kinase and thymidine kinase 2 in CLL lymphocytes compared to normal lymphocytes

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is important in the 5'-phosphorylation of deoxynucleoside analogs. Like dCK, thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) catalyzes the initial step of the phosphorylation of dcyd to dCTP. Thymidine is a strong inhibitor of the dCK activity of TK2. We examined the ratio of the dcyd phosphorylation carried out by dCK and by TK2 (dCK/TK2-dcyd) in lymphocytes from CLL patients and from donors. In the CLL lymphocytes we found a 3.5-fold average increase. Therefore, we conclude that addition of thymidine in the treatment of CLL with deoxynucleoside analogs will not be of any advantage. Furthermore, our results can explain earlier findings in CML and AML lymphocytes where the ara-C phosphorylation was twice the dcyd phosphorylation.

Triterpenoid saponins from Phytolacca rivinoides and Phytolacca bogotensis

Investigation of the ethanolic extracts from Phytolacca rivinoides and P. bogotensis has resulted in the isolation of five new triterpenoid glycosides of serjanic acid. Their structures have been established mainly by spectroscopic methods (FAB-MS, 1H, 13C NMR, COSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HETCOR and J-resolved 1H NMR) as 3-O-(O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)serjan ic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-(O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)] -O- beta-D-glucopyranosyl)serjanic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)- O-beta-glucopyranosyl)serjanic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-(O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)- O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)serjanic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester and 3-O-(O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)] - O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)serjanic acid.

[Cholera in Denmark--an imported case of illness]

A case of cholera imported to Denmark from the Pacific is presented. The patient was successfully treated with rehydration and antibiotics. A survey of the ongoing seventh pandemic of cholera is given and the possible emergence of a new eighth pandemic is discussed. Guidelines for prophylactic and therapeutic measures are discussed. Although V. cholerae colonies can be recognized on routine cultivation media, low numbers require selective media, and this is not included in routine investigations of stools for pathogens.

[Infection with multi-resistant Salmonella virchow acquired in Denmark]

Two cases of infection with multiply resistant Salmonella virchow were probably acquired in Denmark. A 30-year old man and a 20-year old woman had both eaten from the same buffet at a summer restaurant and developed gastrointestinal symptoms and fever after three and six days, respectively. The patients ran a fever for two and five weeks before the admission to the hospital and the woman developed a tuboovarial abscess complicated by peritonitis. S. virchow resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and sulfonamide was isolated from faeces in the male patient and from intraabdominal pus in the female patient. Among 35 Danish S. virchow isolates from January 1 to August 31, 1992 there was only one additional multiply resistant isolate (resistant to streptomycin, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and chloramphenicol) the source of which was unknown.

A new sensitive bioassay for precise quantification of interferon activity as measured via the mitochondrial dehydrogenase function in cells (MTT-method)

A biological method for precise quantification of interferons has been developed. The method is based upon the dehydrogenase system of the intact target cells, which will normally convert an artificial substrate, MTT, into formazan (blue), which, in turn, can be measured spectrophotometrically. This conversion is greatly reduced by cytocidal viruses in a dose-dependent manner. The protection of target cells by interferon against challenge virus is reflected in a diminished reduction in the production of formazan, thus giving a very precise method for quantification of interferon. The lowest level of detection is around 0.10 international units. The intra- and inter-assay variability appear to be below 10%. The assay, which makes no use of expensive ingredients, is performed in 96-well micro-trays and read in an inexpensive ELISA-scanner.

Less pain with epidural morphine after knee arthroplasty

Twenty-two patients were randomly allocated to systemic opioids or epidural morphine the first 10 days after total knee arthroplasty. Pain was recorded daily in a visual analogue scale, and knee motion was measured on Day 10. Pain was lower in the epidural group, with no difference in knee flexion or range of motion.

Re-examination and further development of a precise and rapid dye method for measuring cell growth/cell kill

The tetrazolium salt (MTT) method involving conversion of MTT to coloured formazan by cells serving as indirect measurements of cell growth/cell kill has been reported by several groups, although technical problems have been encountered. The present investigation was undertaken in order to delineate what laboratory variables have direct influence on the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method. The pH of the extraction buffer was of the utmost importance, since it was demonstrated that a pH greater than 5 would give rise to false signals. Furthermore, modifying the composition of the extraction buffer, all formazan dye grains were solubilised, totally. A direct comparison with published methods demonstrated that only the modified method would yield 100% higher signals without increasing the background. In contrast to previous reports, it was shown that phenol red does not interfere with the measurements and no washing steps are required since all ingredients can be added subsequently. Serum proteins at concentrations up to 25% have no influence on the result. All samples can be measured in an ELISA scanner at 570 nm with little intra-assay variation.

No effect of continuous passive motion after arthroplasty of the knee

We randomly allocated 54 patients to active physical therapy only or this combined with 2 hours of passive knee motion twice daily from 2-12 days after total knee arthroplasty. The range of knee motion was measured on the 14th postoperative day. We found no difference between the groups. We concluded that 4 hours' passive motion daily in addition to early, active physical therapy does not improve the range of knee motion or promote mobilization after arthroplasty.

Randomised study of the influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the treatment of peptic ulcer in patients with rheumatic disease

Sixty-seven patients with rheumatic disease, treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), entered a controlled trial with a diagnosis of duodenal (n = 51), gastric (n = 14), or gastric and duodenal (n = 2) ulcers. The main objectives of the study were a comparison of ranitidine and sucralfate in ulcer treatment, and to observe the influence of continued NSAID administration during peptic ulcer therapy. Ulcers healed within nine weeks in 52 patients. The mean healing time was similar in 27 patients given ranitidine 150 mg bd (4.9 weeks) and 25 patients given sucralfate 1 g qid (4.6 weeks). In patients with unhealed ulcers after nine weeks of treatment, healing was obtained in seven after further therapy for 3-9 weeks. Of the 30 patients who continued NSAIDs during treatment with either ranitidine or sucralfate, 23 ulcers healed (mean healing time: 5.0 weeks). Of 32 patients in whom NSAIDs were stopped, ulcer healing was documented in 29 (mean healing time: 4.6 weeks). The difference in healing rates was not statistically significant (p greater than 0.10). The outcome of ulcer treatment did not differ in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and patients suffering from osteoarthritis. During a 12 month follow up 14 symptomatic ulcer recurrences were recorded.