The Kinin System in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Exhibiting Mucocutaneous Lesions: A Clinical Study

In the present study, we evaluated the kinin system components in the plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibiting mucocutaneous lesions. Fifteen women with active cutaneous lupus (P) and 15 normal healthy women (C) were studied. Low molecular (LKg) and high molecular (HKg) weight kininogen were determined by ELISA (expressed mu g Bk/ml). The activities of tissue kallikrein (TKal), plasma kallikrein (PKal) and kininase II were assayed by their action on selective substrates. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. The patients presented increased plasma levels of LKg (P = 2.98, C = 0.79) and HKg (P = 1.78, C = 0.5) associated with the increased activity of PKal (P = 2.50, C = 1.63 U/ml), TKal (P = 1.87, C = 1.30 mu M pNa/ml) and kininase II (P = 1.50, C = 0.51 mu M Hys-Leu/ml), when compared to the values observed in the control group (P < 0.0001 for each comparison). Thus, the increased concentration of all parameters of the kinin system in these patients indicate an overactivity of the kinin system in the acute phase of lupus, corroborating with the participation of these mediators in lupus pathogenesis.

Effects of Lecithin and Vitamin E Supplementation on Liver Steatosis and Oxidative Stress Induced by Chronic Ethanol Consumption in Rats

Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, associated with ethanol, are considered important pathogenic mechanisms in the formation of hepatic steatosis. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of supplementation with lecithin and vitamin E on the oxidatives stress and hepatic steatosis induced in rats by chronic ethanol consumption. Fifty-two Wistar rats were divided into 4 experimental groups: control (AIN-93 diet), ethanol group (control diet plus a 20% hydroalcoholic solution), ethanol + vitamin E group (addition of 0.6% vitamin E to the diet plus a 20% hydroalcoholic solution); ethanol + soy lecithin group (addition of 5 % soy lecithin to the diet plus a 20% hydroalcoholic solution). At the end of 4 weeks the animals were sacrificed. The results showed a significantly smaller number of animals (p < 0.05) classified as having a low degree of steatosis in the ethanol + vitamin E group and ethanol + soy lecithin group compared to the ethanol group. In addition, the ethanol + soy lecithin group had a significantly lower concentration of hepatic fat (p < 0.05) than the ethanol group. A significant reduction of hepatic TBARS concentration (p < 0.05) was detected in the ethanol + vitamin E group compared to the ethanol group. Hepatic carbonyl concentration was significantly lower in the ethanol + soy lecithin group. However, hepatic GSH was significantly lower in the ethanol + vitamin E and ethanol + soy lecithin groups compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplementation with lecithin and vitamin E attenuated the hepatotoxic effects of chronic ethanol intake and contributed to a reduction of the progression of steatosis status.

Hegemonic gender in Japanese as a foreign language education: Australian perspectives

This chapter contests the current practice of Japanese language teaching which perpetuates and reproduces gender stereotyping and gendered language norms. It is the first of its kind which examines this question from both learner's and teacher's perspectives.

New ideologies of everyday life in South Korean language textbooks

This chapter analyses with critical discourse analysis, contemporary Korean language textbooks which are being used in early primary school.