Biliary phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine profiles in sclerosing cholangitis

AIM:To analyze phospholipid profiles in intrahepatic bile from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)and secondary sclerosing cholangitis(SSC).METHODS:Intrahepatic bile specimens collected via endoscopic retrograde cholangiography from 41 patients were analyzed.Fourteen of these patients were diagnosed with PSC,10 with SSC,11 with choledocholithiasis or no identifiable biliary disease,and 6 with cholangiocellular carcinoma(CCC).Bile acid,cholesterol,protein,and bilirubin contents as well as pancreas lipase activity in bile were determined by biochemical methods.Phosphatidylcholine(PC)and lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC)species were quantified using nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS:Bile from all the examined patient groups showed a remarkably similar PC and LPC species composition,with only minor statistical differences.Total biliary PC concentrations were highest in controls(8030±1843 mol/L)and lowest in patients with CCC(1969±981 mol/L)(P=0.005,controls vs SSC and CCC,respectively,P<0.05).LPC contents in bile were overall low(4.2%±1.8%).Biliary LPC/PC ratios and ratios of biliary PC to bilirubin,PC to cholesterol,PC to protein,and PC to bile acids showed no intergroup differences.CONCLUSION:PC and LPC profiles being similar in patients with or without sclerosing cholangitis,these phospholipids are likely not of major pathogenetic importance in this disease group.

Influence of ozone on the rheological and electrical properties of stored human blood

Blood stored in a blood bank undergoes a series of chemical changes and storage lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ozone on the rheological and electrical properties of stored human blood. Venous blood samples, obtained from three healthy humans, were treated with different concentrations of ozone （30, 50, 70 and 80 ~tg/mL） for three weeks in vitro. Ozone was generated from portable medical-grade oxygen using elec- trical corona arc discharge. The ultraviolet-visible absorption of hemoglobin in the wavelength of 300-700 nm showed that ozone in this range did not interact with iron ions and it was not toxic below the concentration of 80 ~tg/mL. The changes of blood viscosity were also measured. The electrical conductivity and permittivity, in the frequency range from 5 to 50 MHz, were measured in the control and treated samples subjected to different concentrations of ozone at different stored periods. The results showed that the conductivity and permittivity measurements may serve as a useful indicator in the quality assessment of blood samples stored in the blood bank.

Protective Effect of <i>Lepedium sativum</i>against 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Hepatotoxicity: An Electron Microscopic Study

Medicinal plants have been used to treat many diseases with fewer side effects compared to clinical medicines. The need for treatment by medicinal plants has been increasing in response to the accumulation of environmental pollutants. The herbicide 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid has been considered as fast spreadable environmental pollutant, which may cause many disorders in animals and possibly in humans. The aim of this study is to assess the protective and/or curative effect of Lepidium sativum against hepatotoxicity induced by 2, 4-D herbicide in rats. 25 Albino Wistar rats were grouped into 4 groups: a control group, the curative group treated for 4 weeks with LS water extract after a single dose 2, 4-D LD50 administration, protective group which was treated for 4 weeks with LS water extract prior to the 2, 4-D LD50 administration, and LS only group that was given the LS water extract as a positive control. Using transmission electron microscope, the histological features showed that curative group hepatocytes still suffered from focal necrosis and vacuolation of hepatocytes as a result of 2, 4-D toxic effect whereas in the protective group hepatocytes were less accentuated expressed as less frequent necrotic area, and still large mitochondria were present with numerous undissolved lipid droplets and a small amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum. For the LS only group, nearly normal cells with centric nucleus, normal small mitochondria were at a normal nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio, but a few lipid droplets were noticed. This study proved that curative group has an advantage over the protective group that could be presented in the nucleus with narrow nuclear pores and intact nuclear envelope with dense small mitochondria and normal rough endoplasmic reticulum that were recorded as in the control group. Thus, Lepidium sativum administration to the rats prior or post to intoxication was effective in minimizing the 2, 4-D-induced damages likely through a free radical scavenging activity in liver tissue.