NO与小鼠病毒性心肌炎心肌损伤的关系

目的 嗜鼠心肌Ｃｏｘａｃｋｉｅ Ｂ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ）可诱导ＢＬＡＢ／Ｃ小鼠病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ）。探讨自由基一氧化氮（ＮＯ）与ＶＭＣ心肌损伤的关系。方法 给ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种０．１ｍｌ１００ＴＣＤ５０ＣＶＢ３ｍ,感染后分批断脊处死小鼠。应用双重荧光染色技术、原位末端标记法（ＴＵＮＥＬ）和共聚焦显微镜对小鼠心肿中细胞凋亡、ＮＯ相关合成酶（ＮＯＳ１、ＮＯＳ２和ＮＯＳ３）及其降解产物（Ｎｉｔｒｏ     

小鼠病毒性心肌炎细胞凋亡相关蛋白的表达

目的 探讨嗜鼠心肌Ｃｏｘｓａｃｋｉｅ Ｂ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ）诱导的ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ）细胞凋亡的机制。方法 给ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种０．１ｍｌ１００ＴＣＤ５０ＣＶＢ３ｍ，感染后批断脊处死小鼠，应用双重荧光染色技术、原位末端标记法（ＴＵＮＥＬ）和共聚焦显微镜对小鼠心肌细胞凋亡及部分相关蛋白表达进行检测。结果 ＣＶＢ３ｍ可诱发小鼠ＶＭＣ。感染病毒后９～１２ｄ病变达到高峰，检出率达１     

小鼠病毒性心肌炎与细胞凋亡及氧自由基的关系

采用电镜技术及原位末端标记法（ＴＵＮＥＬ）对柯萨奇病毒Ｂ３（ＣＶＢ３）心肌炎小鼠不同时期心肌组织中细胞凋亡进行检测,并采用硫代巴比妥酸法检测外周血丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）。ＣＶＢ３感染１００只雄性Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠,ＶＭＣ发病率为８６％。各期病鼠心肌中均见到凋亡细胞,包括心肌细胞、血管内皮细胞及间质细胞。ＴＵＮＥＬ法检出率为７８．９４％,中、重度ＶＭＣ小鼠中阳性检出率明显高于轻度ＶＭＣ小鼠（Ｐ〈０．０５）。     

TGF—β1表达与小鼠病毒性心肌炎细胞凋亡的关系

本实验通过给ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种柯萨奇Ｂ－３ｍ病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ）诱发病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ）感染病毒９ｄ后，ＶＭＣ检出率９３．３３％，应用原位末端标记法（Ｔ／ＶＮＥＬ）及免疫组化技术检测发现，７６．６７％感染病毒鼠心肌中发现凋亡细胞，７３．３３％，有ＴＧＦ－β１的表达，二者之间分布区域一致，提示细胞凋亡可能参与ＣＶＢ３ｍ诱导的ＶＭＣ的发生，发展，而ＴＧＦ－β１可能参与ＶＭＣ细胞凋亡的调控。     

小鼠病毒性心肌炎与心肌细胞凋亡的关系

实验通过给５周龄ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种Ｃｏｘｓａｃｋｉｅ Ｂ３ｍ病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ），诱发小鼠急性病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ），感染病毒９天后处死小鼠，利用光镜、电镜及原位末端标记法对心肌组织进行检测，结果显示：ＶＭＣ检出率为９３．３３％，心肌细胞凋亡阳性率为８０．００％，凋亡细胞多分布于心内膜下、心外膜下心肌组织，血管内皮细胞和坏死病灶周围，提示细胞凋亡可能是小鼠ＶＭＣ的发病机制之一。     

感染Coxsackie B_(3m)病毒小鼠心肌NOS_Ⅱ蛋白表达的研究

给ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种嗜鼠心肌ＣｏｘｓａｃｋｉｅＢ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ），感染后３、５、７、１２、１５、２０、３０天分批处死小鼠。应用免疫组化法检测发现，感染后５天，小鼠心肌可见ＮＯＳⅡ蛋白的阳性表达，７～１５天时表达最明显，２０天后逐渐减少。表达ＮＯＳⅡ蛋白的细胞主要位于炎性病灶的周围。提示ＮＯ与小鼠病毒性心肌损伤的发生发展有密切关系     

低硒与Coxsackie B3m病毒感染对BALB／c小鼠肝脏脂质过氧化物？…

用国产低硒食用酵母合成低硒饲料（硒０．０１３ｍｇ／ｋｇ，ＶＥ含量为２０ｍ／１００ｇ）喂养断奶后ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ雄性小鼠，５周后腹腔接种嗜鼠心肌病毒ＣＶＢ３ｍ１０＾３ＴＣＤ５００．１ｍｌ７天后处死建立低硒状态下病毒性心肌炎模型，测定肝脏组织中脂质过氧化物（ＬＰＯ）含量及全血中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活性。结果表明低硒感染ＣＶＢ３ｍ小鼠肝组织中ＬＰＯ含量明显高于常硒病毒感染组及常硒对照组（Ｐ〈０     

细胞凋亡与小鼠病毒性心肌炎发生发展的关系

通过对ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠腹腔接种ＣＶＢ３ｍ后３，６，９，１２，１５，３０天批随机处死小鼠，取心脏进行检测发现，感染后９－１５天，病毒性心肌炎检出率可达９２．３０％。感染后３－９天，心肌中可分离出病毒，而病毒核酸可持续存在于感染后３个。应用电镜，原位末端标记法及免疫组化法检测发现：ＶＭＣ鼠心肌中可见心肌细胞和血管内皮细胞凋主ＴＧＦ－β１和Ｃ－ｍｙｃ蛋白的表达。     

低硒与Coxsackie B_(3m)病毒感染对BALB/c小鼠肝脏脂质过氧化物代谢的影响

用国产低硒食用酵母合成低硒饲料（硒０．０１３ｍｇ／ｋｇ，ＶＥ含量为２０ｍｇ／１００ｇ）喂养断奶后ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ雄性小鼠，５周后腹腔接种嗜鼠心肌病毒ＣＶＢ３ｍ１０３ＴＣＤ５００．１ｍｌ，７天后处死建立低硒状态下病毒性心肌炎模型，测定肝脏组织中脂质过氧化物（ＬＰＯ）含量及全血中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活性。结果表明低硒感染ＣＶＢ３ｍ小鼠肝组织中ＬＰＯ含量明显高于常硒病毒感染组及常硒对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）；低硒感染ＣＶＢ３ｍ病毒组小鼠全血ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活力也最低。结果提示：低硒因素加重病毒感染引起ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活力降低，ＬＰＯ堆积，降低机体的抗氧化能力     

应用嗜鼠心肌CoxsackieB3病毒反复感染致BALB／c小鼠心肌损伤

应用嗜鼠心肌ＣｏｘｓａｃｋｉｅＢ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３ｍ）给ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠重复腹腔注射，连续３次，间隔３０天，末次注射后１０天处死小鼠。光学显微镜检查发现，小鼠心肌可见不同时期的病灶（坏死灶、瘢痕），心肌损伤检出率达１００％。应用ＴＵＮＥＬ法检测发现，８２．５０％感染组鼠心肌中可见散在心肌细胞凋亡，与对照组（２３．０８％）比较，Ｐ＜０．０１，有极显著性差异。提示ＣＶＢ３ｍ重复感染可致ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠慢性心肌损伤，心肌细胞凋亡参与心肌损伤的发生与发展。     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

MUTATION FREQUENCY IN NURSES AND PHARMACISTS WORKING WITH CYTOTOXIC DRUGS

Individuals occupationally exposed to cytotoxic drugs may be at risk owing to the effects of these agents on DNA. As an index of DNA damage, in vivo mutations were measured in lymphocytes from 24 oncology nurses or pharmacists and 24 matched controls. Mutation frequency was significantly increased in exposed individuals and appeared to be related to duration of exposure. However, the overall magnitude of the increase was small and its biological significance remains to be determined.