Acute Kidney Injury ; chemically induced ; Anti-Infective Agents ; adverse effects ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Organometallic Compounds ; adverse effects

Aged ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Organometallic Compounds ; adverse effects ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Thiophenes ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lead exposure on the gene expression of fibroblast growth factor 3 (Fgf3) in zebrafish embryonic development and the mechanism of lead-induced embryonic developmental toxicity.

METHODSThe embryos of zebrafish (wild types A and B) were exposed to lead acetate (PbAc) at the doses of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, and 12.5 µmol/L separately. Total RNA was extracted from each treatment group of zebrafish embryos at 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours post fertilization (hpf). The total mRNA expression of Fgf3 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The spatial expression of Fgf3 in zebrafish embryos was determined by whole-mount in situ hybridization using synthesized Fgf3 RNA probe.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of Fgf3 in each group peaked at 12 hpf (P < 0.01). With the increase in PbAc concentration, the mRNA expression of Fgf3 rose. Compared with the mRNA expression level of Fgf3 in the control group, the relative mRNA expression levels of Fgf3 in the 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, and 12.5 µmol/L PbAc exposure groups were 1.02 ± 0.24, 1.05 ± 0.26, 1.22 ± 0.46, and 1.25 ± 0.38, respectively, and the 2.5 and 12.5 µmol/L PbAc exposure groups showed significantly higher Fgf3 expression than the control group (P < 0.05). The whole-mount in situ hybridization results showed that Fgf3 expression occurred mainly in the head and tail in the early stage of embryonic development and in the midbrain, fin bud, and pharyngeal arch in the middle/late stage of embryonic development; there were the most significant regions and intensities of positive hybridization signals at 12 hpf; but no significant differences were found between the control group and exposure groups in the location and intensity of Fgf3 expression

CONCLUSIONLead exposure can result in the upregulation of Fgf3 expression in zebrafish embryonic development, which might contribute to lead-induced embryonic developmental toxicity.

Animals ; Embryonic Development ; drug effects ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Organometallic Compounds ; adverse effects ; Signal Transduction ; Zebrafish ; embryology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Zebrafish Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of strontium ranelate on osteoporosis induced by simulated weightlessness in male rats.

METHODSTwenty-seven male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the normal control group (group A) and two groups of weightlessness simulated by tail suspension (groups B and C). The rats in group C were treated with strontium ranelate, and those in the other two groups were given the same dose of normal saline for 28 consecutive days.

RESULTSThe rats in group B showed significantly lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) than those in group A (P<0.05), but serum calcium and phosphonium concentrations underwent no significant changes in the 3 groups (P>0.05). In the rats of group B, the trabeculae of the femur became thinner, fragile, and discontinuous with reduced quantity as compared with those in group A. The rats in group C had greater number of the trabeculae than those in group B with decreased resorption surface and more regular arrangement of the collagen fibers.

CONCLUSIONStrontium ranelate may produce beneficial effect on the bone microstructure, reduce bone loss and stimulate bone formation in male rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.

Animals ; Male ; Organometallic Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Osteoporosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiophenes ; therapeutic use ; Weightlessness Simulation ; adverse effects

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a medical emergency that threatens life. To this day, ARDS is very rarely reported by iodine contrast media, and there is no reported case of ARDS induced by gadolinium contrast media. Here, we present a case with ARDS after the use of gadobutrol (Gadovist) as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast medium. A 26 years old female without any medical history, including allergic diseases and without current use of drugs, visited the emergency room for abdominal pain. Her abdominopelvic computed tomography with iodine contrast media showed a right ovarian cyst and possible infective colitis. Eighty-three hours later, she underwent pelvis MRI after injection of 7.5 mL (0.1 mL/kg body weight) of gadobutrol (Gadovist) to evaluate the ovarian cyst. She soon presented respiratory difficulty, edema of the lips, nausea, and vomiting, and we could hear wheezing upon auscultation. She was treated with dexamethasone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Her chest X-ray showed bilateral central bat-wing consolidative appearance. Managed with mechanical ventilation, she was extubated 3 days later and discharged without complications.
Adult ; Animals ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; *Organometallic Compounds/adverse effects ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/*chemically induced ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of quadruple therapy containing doxycycline and routine quadruple therapy for Helicobacter (H.) pylori rescue eradication in patients who had failed the one-week triple therapy.

METHODSPatients who failed the first-line eradication therapy were allocated into two groups. Group A patients (n = 43) were administered esomeprazole 20 mg, bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg, amoxicillin 1 g and doxycycline 100 mg, all bid for ten days, while Group B patients (n = 42) were administered esomeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg bid, metronidazole 400 mg bid and tetracycline 750 mg q.6h, for ten days. The results of H. pylori eradication were assessed with 13C urea breath test four weeks after the therapy, and the side effects were recorded.

RESULTSA total of 85 patients (average age 46.9 years) were enrolled in the study. Successful eradication rate for H. pylori was 72.5% in Group A and 64.1% in Group B, with no significant difference between the two groups. 11.6% (5/43) of patients from group A and 31.0% (13/42) from group B reported at least one adverse event. The adverse events of all 18 patients disappeared after the therapy ceased.

CONCLUSIONQuadruple therapy containing doxycycline is as effective as routine quadruple therapy for H. pylori rescue eradication. The regimen is well tolerated by most patients and causes fewer adverse events than routine quadruple therapy. Hence, it may be recommended as a suitable alternative H. pylori rescue regimen in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amoxicillin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breath Tests ; Doxycycline ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Esomeprazole ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Metronidazole ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Organometallic Compounds ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Tetracycline ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe hairpin cell-penetrating peptides (hCPPs) demonstrate an interesting characteristic of conditioned activation by molecules. We hypothesized that hCPPs have the potential to selectively deliver a paramagnetic gadolinium probe into the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) positive human ovary adenocarcinoma cell lines, SKOV-3.

METHODShCPPs were synthesized and labeled with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N''' tetraacetic acid gadolinium (III) (Gd-DOTA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) by f-moc strategy using a standard solid phase peptide synthesis protocol. MMP-2 expression and activity were demonstrated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and zymography. Internalization and location of hCPPs in SKOV-3 cells were observed by fluorescein imaging and flow cytometery. Selective delivery of Gd-DOTA in SKOV-3 cells was observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTSThe uptake of hCPPs by SKOV-3 cells depended on the activity of MMP-2. T1WI signals of SKOV-3 cells treated with Gd-DOTA-hCPPs suggested the uptake of Gd-DOTA-hCPPs increased in a time- (r = 0.990, P < 0.01) and concentration-dependent manner (r = 0.964, P < 0.001), but was inhibited by a MMP-2 inhibitor. Electron-dense particles observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus by transmission electron microscopy proved the intracellular penetration of gadolinium.

CONCLUSIONShCPPs can be used as an effective vector for an MRI molecular probe to assess the activity of MMP-2.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; adverse effects ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Heterocyclic Compounds ; adverse effects ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Organometallic Compounds ; adverse effects ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

INTRODUCTIONAntimonial compounds are regarded as the treatment of choice for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Systemic administration of these drugs has some side effects including cardio toxicity and electrocardiogram (EKG) changes. The objective of our study was to evaluate EKG changes in the patients with CL treated with systemic glucantime.

MATERIALS AND METHODSOne hundred and thirty-one patients were enrolled in this prospective study. All of the selected patients had confirmed CL and were candidates for treatment with systemic glucantime. The patients were treated with systemic glucantime and EKG was performed before, during (weekly) and 1 month after cessation of the treatment. All of the collected data were analysed using SPSS software.

RESULTSThe most common change was prolonged QT interval that was seen in 19% of the patients. ST depression occurred in 6.1% of the patients. Minimal ST elevation occurred in 3% and inverted T was observed in 7.4% of the patients. Single premature atrial contraction (PAC) and single premature ventricular contraction (PVC) occurred in 0.7% and 2.29% of patients, respectively. Bradycardia was observed in 10.6% and left bundle branch block in 0.7% of the patients. All of these changes reversed after stopping the treatment except 1 case with left bundle branch block that lasted for 1 month after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSOur results showed that treatment with glucantime can induce many ECG changes as QT prolongation have significant risk. We suggest that ECG monitoring should be performed in high-risk patients undergoing glucantime treatment with special attention to ECG changes mostly prolonged QT interval.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Animals ; Antimony ; Antiprotozoal Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Atrial Premature Complexes ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Bradycardia ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Bundle-Branch Block ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meglumine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Organometallic Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; chemically induced ; physiopathology