真鲷(Pagrosomus major)胚胎冷冻保存损伤机理及冷冻精子遗传物质稳定性研究

本文对真鲷心跳期胚胎对5种常用渗透性抗冻剂（DMSO、甘油、甲醇、丙二醇、乙二醇）和3种非渗透性抗冻剂（PVP、PEG-8000、蔗糖）的耐受性进行了研究。渗透性抗冻剂分6个浓度梯度（5%；10%；15%；20%；25%；30%）和3个时间组（10min；30min；1h）。非渗透性抗冻剂中，PVP、PEG-8000分3个浓度梯度（5%、10%、15%）和2个时间组（10min、30min），蔗糖为4个浓度梯度（5%、10%、15%、20%）和2个时间组（10min、30min）。实验结果表明，在渗透性抗冻剂组中，浓度为5%的处理组的孵化率（>90%）与对照组差异均不显著，随着抗冻剂浓度增大及处理时间的延长，真鲷心跳期胚胎的孵化率显著下降（P<0.05），在最高浓度的最长处理时间中胚胎孵化率均降到了0。总体上，真鲷心跳期胚胎对五种渗透性抗冻剂的耐受性从小到大依次为：甲醇 < 甘油 < 乙二醇 < DMSO < 丙二醇。对影响胚胎孵化率的三个因素（抗冻剂、浓度、时间）进行的因素效应分析结果表明，三种因素对孵化率的影响显著（P<0.05），并且浓度效应 > 时间效应 > 抗冻剂效应。在非渗透性抗冻剂组中，蔗糖组胚胎孵化率未呈显著变化；PVP组随着浓度及时间的增大，孵化率显著下降（P<0.05）；PEG-8000组随着浓度增大孵化率显著下降（P<0.05），但在两个时间组间差异不显著。相同处理情况下PEG-8000对真鲷心跳期胚胎的毒性要小于PVP。因素效应分析比较结果表明仅时间效应不显著，且抗冻剂效应 > 浓度效应 > 时间效应。 对所用各种抗冻剂进行了渗透压测量，实验中使用的渗透性抗冻剂（5%-30%）的渗透压值在959-7980mOsm/kg之间，均高于使用海水的渗透压值（919mOsm/kg）；使用的非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压值在316-1040mOsm/kg之间，除20%蔗糖渗透压值（1040mOsm/kg）高于海水外，其他非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压值均要低于海水。对孵化率与相应的溶液渗透压值进行相关回归分析结果表明，渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压与孵化率呈显著的负相关（P<0.05），而非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压与孵化率相关不显著。渗透性抗冻剂组的回归分析结果表明，二次方程的曲线拟合度最高，得到的回归方程分别为：Y10min = -2×10-8X2 10min - 6×10-5 X 10min + 1.5635 （R2 = 0.713），Y30min= 5×10-8X2 30min－0.0007 X 30min + 2.097（R2 = 0.681），Y1h = 7×10-8X2 1h－0.0008 X 1h+ 2.0397（R2= 0.725）。 在真鲷胚胎对抗冻剂耐受性实验的基础上，挑选五种抗冻剂--10%DMSO、5%甘油、10%甲醇、20%丙二醇、10%乙二醇，浸泡真鲷心跳期胚胎30min后，分别以超速（130℃/min）、快速（20℃/min）、慢速（3℃/min）的速度降温并使用低温显微镜进行观察，依次记录Toif（油球结冰）、Teif（胚胎外部结冰）、Tiif（胚胎内部结冰）等结冰点，Toif值在-9~-23℃之间；Teif值在-21~-35℃之间；Tiif值在-21~-52℃之间。结冰顺序为先油球结冰，然后胚胎外部结冰随之内部马上瞬间变黑形成内部冰晶。随着降温速度的提高，各结冰温度值显著下降。各抗冻剂之间的Teif及Tiif值不同，Toif值之间没有显著差异。对两种玻璃化冷冻方法进行模拟观察，发现胚胎冰晶形成的顺序与非玻璃化过程不同--先内部结冰然后逐渐蔓延至外部形成外部冰晶，而且模拟玻璃化的内部结冰温度Tiif值（-52.56℃）显著（P<0.05）低于使用低浓度的同种抗冻剂超速降温组的Tiif值（-40.11℃）。在快速及慢速降温组中，20%丙二醇组的Tiif要显著的低于其他组（P<0.05）；在超速降温中，甲醇组的Tiif值要显著的低于其他组（P<0.05）。在Tiif小于30℃的实验组中获得形态完整胚胎的比例平均仅有30.77%；在Tiif大于30℃的实验组中获得形态完整胚胎的平均比例高达70.37%，模拟玻璃化组达到100%。各抗冻剂之间，复温后胚胎形态完整率10%甲醇组最高（77.78%）；其次依次为10%乙二醇（66.67%）、20%丙二醇（55.56%）和10%DMSO（55.56%）；5%甘油组最低（11.11%）；推测甲醇的对胚胎的渗透效果要好于其他组。综上推测：使用丙二醇、甲醇作为抗冻剂以及玻璃化冷冻保存方法对真鲷心跳期胚胎超低温保存也许较为合适。 我们对低温保存的真鲷精子核DNA损伤进行了研究以期为下一步胚胎遗传物质稳定性研究提供参考依据。研究方法为单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE），针对研究对象，在实验过程中对传统的碱性单细胞凝胶电泳在铺胶方法、电泳条件等进行了改进。对精子细胞进行预处理，在碱性电泳液中使核DNA双链解链变性后电泳，EB染色lOmin后，在荧光显微镜下观察，每次随机观察50个左右的核DNA。结果表明，对荧光显微镜下观察到的精子核按彗尾长度及荧光强度划分等级，出现损伤的精子核DNA的损伤程度主要为轻度损伤和中度损伤，很少见有完全损伤的真鲷精子核。经5%、10%、18%、20%、25%、30%DMSO冷冻保存后的精子彗星率分别为33.47％ ± 8.95％; 35.91％ ± 19.44％; 48.95％ ± 8.90％; 43.33％ ± 11.19％; 55.80％ ± 38.94％。鲜精彗星率为31.43 ％ ± 2.68％。对比真鲷冷冻精液与新鲜精液的精子DNA的损伤状况，表明仅用30％ DMSO冷冻精子DNA损伤状况与鲜精差异显著(P<0.05)。 综上所述，渗透性抗冻剂对胚胎的毒性与其渗透压值呈显著的负相关关系。丙二醇对真鲷心跳期胚胎毒性最小，甲醇较其他抗冻剂能更好的渗透入胚胎；玻璃化方法能显著降低Tiif值并能更好的保持超低温保存后胚胎的形态完整性，因此，使用丙二醇、甲醇作为抗冻剂以及玻璃化冷冻保存方法对真鲷心跳期胚胎超低温保存也许较为合适。常规使用的用于超低温保存真鲷精子的DMSO（浓度<15%）不会对精子核物质稳定性造成明显影响。由于胚胎较精子结构要复杂许多，对于真鲷胚胎损伤机理的研究还有大量工作可以开展。

Osmoregulatory actions of growth hormone in juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Growth hormone (GH) effectively promotes seawater (SW) adaptation in salmonids, but little is known of its effect in tilapias. Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of recombinant eel GH (reGH) on osmoregulatory actions and ultrastructural features of gill chloride cells in juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapia showed a markedly improved SW survival, when directly transferred from freshwater (FW) to 62.5% SW 24h after a single reGH injection (0.25 or 2.5 mu g g(-1)) or 3 reGH injections (0.25 mu g g(-1) every other day). Plasma Na+ and Mg2+ levels were significantly reduced by reGH (0.25 and 2.5 mu g g(-1)) compared with saline injections; Ca2+ concentrations were reduced significantly by high dose of reGH (2.5 mu g g(-1)) after SW transfer. However, fish failed to survive more than 24h when directly transferred to 70 % SW, although the fish treated with reGH could survive longer than the controls. When examined by electron microscopy, the chloride cells were identified as mitochondrion-rich and an extensive tubular system was induced by GH treatment. The results of the present study suggest that, similar to its effect on salmonids, GH also exerts acute osmoregulatory actions and enhances SW adaptation in juvenile tilapia. GH also stimulates the differentiation of chloride cells toward SW adaptation.

An efficient methodology for cryopreservation of spermatozoa of red seabream, Pagrus major, with 2-mL cryovials

The aim of this study was to optimize the cryopreservation protocols for the sperm of red seabream, Pagrus major. The 2-mL cryovials and programmable freezer were employed for cryopreservation. Six extenders, six cryoprotectants in various concentrations ranging from 6 to 20% (v/v), four cooling rates, and three thawing temperatures were evaluated by postthaw sperm motility and fertility. The ratio of sperm to egg for postthaw sperm fertilization trials was experimentally standardized and was optimal at 500:1. The best motility of postthaw sperm (79.4 +/- 4.7% to 88.6 +/- 8.0%), fertilization rates (89.6 +/- 2.9 to 95.6 +/- 1.9%), and hatching rates (85.3 +/- 5.1% to 91.4 +/- 4.3%) were achieved when Cortland extender, dimethyl sulfoxide (15, 18, and 20%) or ethylene glycol (9, 12%) as cryoprotectants, 20 C/min as the cooling rate, and 40 C as the thawing temperature were employed. Moreover, the results on embryonic development were not significantly different between cryopreserved sperm and fresh sperm during incubation process. In conclusion, these methods of cryopreservation of red seabream sperm are suitable for routine aquaculture application and preservation of genetic resources.

Analysis for Flavonoids in Bee Pollens by Capillary Electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed for the determination of six bioactive flavonoids that are commonly found in health foods: hesperidin, hyperin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, quercetin and rutin. The effects of several parameters, such as pH, buffer concentration, separation voltage and UV detector wavelength, were investigated to find the optimal conditions. Using a HbBCh-NaiB-iO? buffer (pH 9.2), the analytes can be separated within 8 min. The relative standard deviations of migration times in eight injections were between 0.77% and 0.93%, and those of the peak areas ranged from 3.8% to 8.6%. A high reproducibility and excellent linearity was observed over two orders of magnitude, with detection limits (S/N = 3) ranging from 0.34ug ml to 2.9ug ml for all the six analytes. Recoveries ranged from 80.4 % to 113.9 %. The new method is simple, reproducible and sensitive. No solid phase extraction for sample pretreatment is necessary. Analysis results are accurate in application to bee pollens.

高原鼠兔的季节性繁殖

A nnual changes of the rep roduct ive act ivity in adult male p lateau p ika (Ochotona curzoniae) , a small endemic mammal in Q inghai2T ibet P lateau, w ere invest igated from J anuary to December, 1991. A ll of the animals w ere k illed and decap itated during the nigh t (23:00～ 24:00) and the p lasma, p ineal glands, testes ep ididym is, sem inal vesicles, deferent ducts were co llected and used for biochemical, and histo logical studies. Significant changes associated with seasonal cycles were found. (1) In February～ early April, the restoration phase, the weights of testes, epididym ides and deferent ducts were increased; the process of sperm atogenesis was strengthened and testo sterone level in plasma was increased, but the pineal weight and its melatonin content were decreased. (2) During the middle of April～ late May, the sexually active phase, a significant elevation of gonadal activity was observed. In this period, gonadalw eights were increased, spermatogenesis was completed, pineal weights were decreased and melatonin contents were fluctuated at alow level. These results suggested the increasing in sexual activity as well as in the ability of testo sterone secretion. (3) A striking reduction of test icular activity appears in June～A ugust. In this inhibition phase, gonada lweight, process of sperm atogenesis, plasma testo sterone level were decreased while the pineal weight and pineal melatonin content were increased. (4) During Sep tember～ J anuary, the sexually quiescent phase, declining in weights of testes and epididymides, arrest of spermatogenesis, decreasing of plasma testo sterone concent ration, fluctuating in pineal weights and increasing in pinealmelatonin level were observed. Our findings indicated that the male pikas under natural conditions exhibited an annual rep roductive cycle. A possible relationship between pineal activity and reproductive function was also suggested.

Study of a new derivatizing reagent that improves the analysis of amino acids by HPLC with fluorescence detection: application to hydrolyzed rape bee pollen

A simple and sensitive method for evaluating the chemical compositions of protein amino acids, including cystine (Cys)(2) and tryptophane (Try) has been developed, based on the use of a sensitive labeling reagent 2-(11H-benzo[alpha]-carbazol-11-yl) ethyl chloroformate (BCEC-Cl) along with fluorescence detection. The chromophore of the 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC-Cl) molecule was replaced with the 2-(11H-benzo[alpha]-carbazol-11-yl) ethyl functional group, yielding the sensitive fluorescence molecule BCEC-Cl. The new reagent BCEC-Cl could then be substituted for labeling reagents commonly used in amino acid derivatization. The BCEC-amino acid derivatives exhibited very high detection sensitivities, particularly in the cases of (Cys)(2) and Try, which cannot be determined using traditional labeling reagents such as 9-fluorenyl methylchloroformate (FMOC-Cl) and ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA). The fluorescence detection intensities for the BCEC derivatives were compared to those obtained when using FMOC-Cl and BCEOC-Cl as labeling reagents. The ratios I (BCEC)/I (BCEOC) = 1.17-3.57, I (BCEC)/I (FMOC) = 1.13-8.21, and UVBCEC/UVBCEOC = 1.67-4.90 (where I is the fluorescence intensity and UV is the ultraviolet absorbance). Derivative separation was optimized on a Hypersil BDS C-18 column. The detection limits calculated from 1.0 pmol injections, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, ranged from 7.2 fmol for Try to 8.4 fmol for (Cys)(2). Excellent linear responses were observed, with coefficients of > 0.9994. When coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, the method established here allowed the development of a highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitative analysis of trace levels of amino acids including (Cys)(2) and Try from bee-collected pollen (bee pollen) samples.

Fast analysis of capillary electrochromatography with non-porous ODS as the stationary phase

High-speed capillary electrochromatography was developed on both short and long packed columns with 2 mu m non-porous ODS as the stationary phase. Factors that affect the analysis time of samples, such as voltage, electrolyte concentration, pH and organic modifier concentration in the mobile phase, were studied systematically. Fast analysis of aromatic compounds within 13 seconds was realized with column efficiency of 573,000 plates/m and a R.S.D.% of the retention times of all components in 8 consecutive injections below 1.0%. which demonstrated the high efficiency and high reproducibility of such a technique. In addition, DNPH derived aldehydes and ketones in both standards and environmental samples were separated with high speed.

吗啡奖赏效应及其敏化与空间学习能力的关系

Rewarding experience after drug use is one of the mechanisms of substance abuse. Previous evidence indicated that rewarding experience was closely related to learning processes. Neuroscience studies have already established multiple-mode learning model. Reference memory system and habit memory are associated with hippocampus and dorsa striatum respectively, which are also involved in the rewarding effect of morphine. However, the relationship between spatial/habit learning and morphine reward property is still unclear. After drug use, with sensitization to rewarding effect, spatial learning is also changed. To study the mechanism of increment of spatial learning would provide new perspective about reward learning. Based on the individual difference between spatial learning and reward learning, the experiments studied relationship between the two leaning abilities and tested the function of dorsal hippocampus and dorsal striatum in morphine-induced CPP. The results were summarized below： 1 In a single－rule learning water maze task, subjects better in spatial learning also excelled in rewarding learning. In a multi-rule learning task, morphine administration was more rewarding to subjects of use place strategy. 2 Treatment potentiating the rewarding effect of morphine also increased place-rule learning, with no significant improvement in habit learning. 3 Intracranial injections into CA1 of hippocampus or dorsal striatum of M1 antagonist, Pirenzepine, could block the establishment of morphine CPP after three days morphine treatment. In contrast, the antagonist of D1 receptor SCH23390 had no blocking effect. Both Pirenzepine and SCH23390 blocked the locomotor-stimulating effect of morphine. In summary, spatial learning stimulated the behavioral expression of morphine’s rewarding effect, in which CA1 of hippocampus was critically involved. On the other side, a pretreatment schedule of morphine, while increased the rewarding effect, improved place-rule learning, indicating that spatial learning might be one chain of sensitization to drug rewards effects

Individual variation in the milk yield response to bovine somatotropin in dairy cows

M. T. Rose, T. E. C. Weekes and P. Rowlinson (2004). Individual variation in the milk yield response to bovine somatotropin in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(7), 2024-2031. Sponsorship: industry RAE2008

Selénio e a importância para o organismo humano

O selénio (Se) é um micronutriente essencial para o crescimento, desenvolvimento e normal metabolismo dos animais, incluindo o ser humano. É parte integrante de um conjunto de proteínas, as selenoproteínas, com ação antioxidante (protegendo as membranas celulares contra danos dos radicais livres), envolvidas no metabolismo das hormonas da tiróide, na regulação do crescimento e viabilidade celular, nas funções do sistema imune e na reprodução. É introduzido na dieta alimentar (principalmente nas formas de selenometionina e selenocisteína) através das plantas, e de produtos que delas derivam, que assimilam os compostos de selénio presentes no solo. Uma vez que a quantidade de selénio existente nos solos é muito variável, o teor nos alimentos vai depender da sua origem geográfica e, por consequência, a ingestão de selénio varia entre regiões e países. Baixos níveis de selénio estão associados a um declínio na função imune e problemas cognitivos. A deficiência de Se pode também ocasionar problemas musculares e cardiomiopatia. Concentrações reduzidas foram observadas em indíviduos com crises epiléticas e também em casos de pré-eclampsia. A deficiência de selénio pode também desenvolver-se durante a nutrição parenteral. Atualmente, a Dose Diária Recomendada (DDR) é de 55 μg/dia para homens e mulheres adultos e saudáveis. No entanto, existem evidências clínicas de que a ingestão em doses superiores (200-300 μg/dia) pode ter um papel benéfico na prevenção de alguns tipos de cancro e doenças cardiovasculares, na melhoria da resposta imunológica, como neuroprotetor e na fertilidade. O Se desempenha um papel importante na fertilidade masculina, sendo necessário na biossíntese da testosterona e na formação e normal desenvolvimento dos espermatozóides. Em mulheres grávidas o Se, ajuda a prevenir complicações antes e durante o parto e promove o normal desenvolvimento do feto. Como antioxidante o selénio vai combater os danos provocados pelos radicais livres, impedindo que estes exerçam o seu papel prejudicial no organismo. Sendo o sistema imunológico muito suscetível aos danos provocados pelo stress oxidativo, o Se vai exercer efeitos benéficos combatendo os danos por ele causados. Relativamente à capacidade viral, não é possível saber com exatidão qual a quantidade de Se necessária ou concentração ideal no plasma para evitar a ocorrência e desenvolvimento de infeções virais. No entanto, sabe-se que tem um efeito benéfico em pacientes HIV positivos e em indivíduos infetados com o vírus da hepatite (B ou C) contra a progressão para o neoplasia de fígado. Em teoria, a nível cardiovascular, este elemento pode exercer um efeito protetor, embora alguns estudos epidemiológicos não tenham mostrado uma associação clara entre o risco cardiovascular e os níveis selénio. A nível cerebral o Se vai atuar como neuroprotetor, prevenindo o aparecimento de patologias como demência e doença de Alzheimer. Apesar destes indicadores, a maioria dos países europeus, incluindo Portugal, regista uma deficiente ingestão de selénio por parte da população. A suplementação poderá constituir uma opção para garantir os níveis nutricionais recomendados e/ou ser utilizada com o objetivo de prevenir algumas doenças e o envelhecimento. No entanto o selénio pode também ser tóxico se ingerido em excesso, estando a dose máxima admissível fixada em 400 μg/dia. A intoxicação por selénio é chamada selenose e os sintomas comuns incluem: hálito a alho, distúrbios gastrointestinais, perda de cabelo, descamação das unhas, danos neurológicos e fadiga. Assim, atualmente acredita-se que enquanto indivíduos com baixo nível de Se podem obter benefícios da suplementação, esta pode ser prejudicial aqueles com valores normais ou elevados.

Modified cyclodextrins as novel non-viral vectors for neuronal siRNA delivery: focus on Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by the expression of a mutant Huntingtin (muHTT) protein. Therefore, preventing the expression of muHTT by harnessing the specificity of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is a key research avenue for developing novel therapies for HD. However, the biggest caveat in the RNAi approach is the delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNAs) to neurons, which are notoriously difficult to transfect. Indeed, despite the great advances in the field of nanotechnology, there remains a great need to develop more effective and less toxic carriers for siRNA delivery to the Central Nervous System (CNS). Thus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the utility of modified amphiphilic β-cyclodextrins (CDs), oligosaccharide-based molecules, as non-viral vectors for siRNA delivery for HD. Modified CDs were able to bind and complex siRNAs forming nanoparticles capable of delivering siRNAs to ST14A-HTT120Q cells and to human HD fibroblasts, and reducing the expression of the HTT gene in these in vitro models of HD. Moreover, direct administration of CD.siRNA nanoparticles into the R6/2 mouse brain resulted in significant HTT gene expression knockdown and selective alleviation of rotarod motor deficits in this mouse model of HD. In contrast to widely used transfection reagents, CD.siRNA nanoparticles only induced limited cytotoxic and neuroinflammatory responses in multiple brain-derived cell-lines, and also in vivo after single direct injections into the mouse brain. Alternatively, we have also described a PEGylation-based formulation approach to further stabilise CD.siRNA nanoparticles and progress towards a systemic delivery nanosystem. Resulting PEGylated CD.siRNA nanoparticles showed increased stability in physiological saltconditions and, to some extent, reduced protein-induced aggregation. Taken together, the work outlined in this thesis identifies modified CDs as effective, safe and versatile siRNA delivery systems that hold great potential for the treatment of CNS disorders, such as HD.

Investigation of population genetic structure and mating system in the ant Pheidole pallidula

The origin of eusociality in haplo-diploid organisms such as Hymenoptera has been mostly explained by kin selection. However, several studies have uncovered decreased relatedness values within colonies, resulting primarily from multiple queen matings (polyandry) and/or from the presence of more than one functional queen (polygyny). Here, we report on the use of microsatellite data for the investigation of sociogenetic parameters, such as relatedness, and levels of polygyny and polyandry, in the ant Pheidole pallidula. We demonstrate, through analysis of mother-offspring combinations and the use of direct sperm typing, that each queen is inseminated by a single male. The inbreeding coefficient within colonies and the levels of relatedness between the queens and their mate are not significantly different from zero, indicating that matings occur between unrelated individuals. Analyses of worker genotypes demonstrate that 38% of the colonies are polygynous with 2-4 functional queens, and suggest the existence of reproductive skew, i.e. unequal respective contribution of queens to reproduction. Finally, our analyses indicate that colonies are genetically differentiated and form a population exhibiting significant isolation-by-distance, suggesting that some colonies originate through budding.

Repeated concanavalin A challenge in mice induces an interleukin 10-producing phenotype and liver fibrosis.

Weekly injections of Concanavalin A (Con A) were performed in BALB/c mice to evaluate the pattern of cytokine production and liver injury. High serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were found in the serum after the first 2 injections of Con A but rapidly decreased from the third injection. Conversely, IL-10 serum levels after repeated Con A challenge increased by 7 times from week 1 to 20. In vivo depletion studies indicated that CD4(+) T cells are essential in IL-10 production. Hepatocyte necrosis was only observed after the first injections of Con A whereas centrilobular inflammatory infiltrates persisted up to 20 weeks. Perisinusoidal liver fibrosis was also increasingly detected in BALB/c mice, whereas no fibrous change was observed in nude mice after 6 weeks of Con A challenge. The number of stellate cells, detected by immunostaining, increased after 20 weeks of Con A injections. Liver cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression after 20 weeks showed expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), IL-10, and IL-4 whereas IL-2 was no more expressed. The present study shows that mice repeatedly injected with Con A develop liver fibrosis. The cytokine-release pattern observed after 1 injection of Con A is rapidly shifted towards an immunomodulatory phenotype characterized by the systemic production of large amounts of IL-10.

Interleukin 10 reduces the incidence of pancreatitis after therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Prophylactic administration of interleukin (IL)-10 decreases the severity of experimental pancreatitis. Prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis in humans is a unique model to study the potential role of IL-10 in this setting. METHODS: In a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, the effect of a single injection of 4 microg/kg (group 1) or 20 microg/kg (group 2) IL-10 was compared with that of placebo (group 0), all administered 30 minutes before therapeutic ERCP. The primary endpoint was the effect of IL-10 on serum levels of amylases and lipases measured 4, 24, and 48 hours after ERCP. The secondary objective was to evaluate changes in plasma cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor) at the same time points and the incidence of acute pancreatitis in the 3 groups. Subjects undergoing a first therapeutic ERCP were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients were included. Seven were excluded based on intention to treat (n = 1) or per protocol (n = 6). Forty-five, 48, and 44 patients remained in groups 0, 1, and 2, respectively. The 3 groups were comparable for age, sex, underlying disease, indication for treatment, type of treatment, and plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and hydrolases at baseline. No significant difference was observed in CRP, cytokine, and hydrolase plasma levels after ERCP. Forty-three patients developed hyperhydrolasemia (18 in group 0, 14 in group 1, and 11 in group 2; P = 0.297), and 19 patients developed acute clinical pancreatitis (11 in group 0, 5 in group 1, 3 in group 2; P = 0.038). Two severe cases were observed in the placebo group. No mortality related to ERCP was observed. Logistic regression identified 3 independent risk factors for post-therapeutic ERCP pancreatitis: IL-10 administration (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.22-0.96; P = 0.039), pancreatic sphincterotomy (OR, 5.04; 95% CI, 1.53-16.61; P = 0.008), and acinarization (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 1.83-36.57; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: A single intravenous dose of IL-10, given 30 minutes before the start of the procedure, independently reduces the incidence of post-therapeutic ERCP pancreatitis.

Paclitaxel versus doxorubicin as first-line single-agent chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Randomized Study with cross-over.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of paclitaxel versus doxorubicin given as single agents in first-line therapy of advanced breast cancer (primary end point, progression-free survival ¿PFS) and to explore the degree of cross-resistance between the two agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred thirty-one patients were randomized to receive either paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2), 3-hour infusion every 3 weeks, or doxorubicin 75 mg/m(2), intravenous bolus every 3 weeks. Seven courses were planned unless progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred before the seven courses were finished. Patients who progressed within the seven courses underwent early cross-over to the alternative drug, while a delayed cross-over was optional for the remainder of patients at the time of disease progression. RESULTS: Objective response in first-line therapy was significantly better (P =.003) for doxorubicin (response rate ¿RR, 41%) than for paclitaxel (RR, 25%), with doxorubicin achieving a longer median PFS (7.5 months for doxorubicin v 3.9 months for paclitaxel, P <.001). In second-line therapy, cross-over to doxorubicin (91 patients) and to paclitaxel (77 patients) gave response rates of 30% and 16%, respectively. The median survival durations of 18.3 months for doxorubicin and 15.6 months for paclitaxel were not significantly different (P =.38). The doxorubicin arm had greater toxicity, but this was counterbalanced by better symptom control. CONCLUSION: At the dosages and schedules used in the present study, doxorubicin achieves better disease and symptom control than paclitaxel in first-line treatment. Doxorubicin and paclitaxel are not totally cross-resistant, which supports further investigation of these drugs in combination or in sequence, both in advanced disease and in the adjuvant setting.