嗅鞘细胞移植在大鼠脊髓损伤处能够迁移和促进神经轴突生长吗?

目的：探讨嗅鞘细胞（olfactory ensheathing cells,OEC）移植在大鼠损伤脊髓后是否有独特的迁移和轴突生长导向特性。方法：将表达绿色荧光蛋白基因的OEC注入到C4脊髓损伤大鼠距离损伤部位头端1mm及尾端1mm背柱白质处,注射后1、3、12、24h及3、7、28d灌注固定取材,冰冻切片和免疫组化分析。用骨髓基质细胞和成纤维细胞移植到同样的损伤部位做为对照进行同样的分析。另将OEC注射到距离损伤部位头尾侧1mm处脊髓灰质内、小剂量注射在白质内、在损伤前3d或损伤后9d注射、注射到未损伤脊髓白质中,观察细胞迁移情况。结果：OEC在细胞注射后1h内即形成由注射压力造成的从注射部位向损伤处的被动性延伸带,并且不断地从注射部位向损伤处延伸扩散,在形态学方面好象起到＂桥接＂损伤处的作用。对照组骨髓基质细胞和成纤维细胞注射后也迅速形成细胞＂桥接＂带,并扩散至损伤空腔。将OEC注射到脊髓灰质内或小剂量注射或注射到未损伤的脊髓白质内、在脊髓损伤3d前或9d后注射细胞均没有见到细胞带延伸进入损伤部位。OEC在注射部位、细胞带以及损伤部位有增殖现象。28d后,共焦免疫酶标法证实细胞带取代了脊髓原有星形胶质细胞,但是下行或上行长束轴突没有优先延伸至该细胞带,也没能起到维持皮层脊髓轴突的桥接作用。结论：OEC在植入大鼠损伤脊髓后没有独特的迁移特性,与骨髓基质细胞或成纤维细胞相比没有明显促进轴突生长的作用,也没有支持皮层脊髓轴突在脊髓损伤处形成桥接的作用。     

Frequent loss of heterozygosity targeting the inactive X chromosome in melanoma.

After previous preliminary observations of paradoxical deletion events affecting the inactive X chromosome in melanoma, we have surveyed the X chromosome for deletions using 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers in 28 informative (female XX) metastatic melanomas. Ten tumors (36%) showed at least one loss of heterozygosity (LOH) event, and in two cases an entire chromosome showed LOH at all informative loci. Four distinct X chromosome smallest regions of overlap can be resolved. An 18.6-Mb region on the p arm involving 9 of 28 (32%) samples lies between the markers DXS1061 and DXS1068. An equally frequently deleted smallest region of overlap straddled the centromere, bounded by DX1204 on the p arm and DXS983 14.6 Mb away in Xq11-12. One tumor potentially defines this region more tightly to a 10.6-Mb smallest region of overlap bounded by DXS1190 and DXS981 that contains the androgen receptor (AR) gene. A 6.2-Mb deleted region can be defined between the markers DXS8051 and DXS9902 in 8 of 28 (28%) tumors. An additional, less frequently deleted region of 25.7 Mb was found on distal Xq between the markers DXS1212 and DXS1193 in 5 of 28 (18%) tumors. X inactivation analysis of five tumors with LOH, using the AR exon 1 CAG repeat, showed that in each case, the inactive, hypermethylated allele was the one deleted. Analysis of copy number in this region by quantitative PCR showed restoration to disomy and, in one case, trisomy at AR.     

Effect of dietary butylated hydroxytoluene on nuclear envelope cytochrome P-450 during the initiation and promotion stages of hepatocarcinogenesis.

The anticarcinogenic effect of the dietary antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) correlates with a preservation of nuclear envelope (NE) cytochrome P-450 in rats undergoing chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis. This effect of BHT on NE cytochrome P-450 was observed during both the initiation and the promotion stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. Complex interactions between the two different mechanisms of action of BHT (i.e., enzyme induction and antioxidant activity) may account for some of the differences between the patterns of response to BHT observed during initiation and promotion.     

Unique variant of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with intact atrial septum

Summary Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections (PAPVCs) are rare in association with an intact atrial septum. However, the diagnosis should be considered in patients with otherwise unexplained findings of left-to-right shunt and right heart enlargement. An unusual variant is presented, which we considered unsuitable for operative repair, based on findings at catheterization. Developmental, hemodynamic, and surgical considerations are discussed.     

Allergy to gloves. Case report

The risk of contracting infectious diseases from patients with either serious or even fatal consequences has led to considerable changes in dental practice in the last few years. A key step in infection control is to prevent contact between the dentist's skin and the patient's blood and saliva by wearing gloves. The practice initially requires some patience and tolerance but then has few disadvantages. This paper reports a case where there were adverse effects to the patient from the dentist wearing gloves.     

Evaluation of non-invasive blood pressure measurement by the Finapres method at rest and during dynamic exercise in subjects with cardiovascular insufficiency

The accuracy and precision of the Finapres in recording rest and exercise blood pressure compared with the intra-arterial (aortic and brachial) and random-zero sphygmomanometer methods was assessed in 84 ischaemic patients in three different studies. Firstly, comparison at rest with the aortic intraarterial pressure in 50 ischaemic patients demonstrated that the Finapres systolic (136.5 ± 21.1 vs. 129.3 ± 19.0 mmHg;p < 0.001) and mean (92.4 ± 13.4 vs. 90.7 ± 11.4 mmHg;p < 0.001) arterial pressures were higher and diastolic pressures lower (70.4 ± 11.5 vs. 71.5 ± 9.8 mmHg;p < 0.001). The reproducibility of the Finapres and invasive method was similar for systolic (4.6% vs. 4.0%), diastolic (2.8% vs. 2.7%) and mean (3.3% vs. 3.0%) blood pressures. Second, in seven subjects studied twice at rest and during 4 min supine bicycle exercise, the exercise increase in blood pressure was greater on the Finapres compared with the brachial intra-arterial pressure (systolic +10.2 ± 6.3 vs. +3.6 ± 9.8 mmHg; diastolic +9.6 ± 11.1 vs. +0.2 ± 2.1 mmHg;p = 0.02 for each); however, at steady-state the peak/trough differences in pressure between the methods were similar. Thirdly, compared under rest conditions, to random zero sphygmomanometer (RZO), the Finapres systolic pressure was higher (6.8 ± 3.5 mmHg) and diastolic pressure lower (–6.0 ± 1.9 mmHg). During upright bicycle exercise, the difference between the Finapres and RZO in systolic blood pressure increased at each level of exercise (+14.3 ± 4.2, +17.9 ± 4.0 and +22.2 ± 4.1 mmHg respectively at each exercise stage:p < 0.01). For RZO, diastolic blood pressure fell as exercise workload increased whereas Finapres diastolic blood pressure increased on exercise (3.1 ± 2.6, 7.0 ± 2.1 and 8.1 ± 2.0 mmHg respectively:p < 0.01). Thus there were systematic differences between the values recorded by the Finapres and proximal blood pressure methods and limited agreement in the rest to exercise increments related to light exercise. Calibration of the Finapres values in terms of the other methods is limited by the variable relationship to these related changes in arterial distensibility.     

Red blood cell methotrexate and folate levels in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing therapy: a Pediatric Oncology Group pilot study

Summary We enrolled children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) pilot study to monitor erythrocyte (RBC) methotrexate (MTX) and folate (F) levels before and during treatment. The mean value for RBCF at diagnosis was 0.86±0.46 nmol/ml RBC in the 214 patients who achieved remission and 1.21±0.74 nmol/ml RBC in the 10 patients who did not (P=0.020). Folate levels tended to increase during remission induction, but they dropped following an intensive consolidation with methotrexate to levels that were sustained throughout chemotherapy treatment. Methotrexate levels reached mean values of approximately 0.15 nmol/ml RBC at the end of an intensive methotrexate consolidation, then fell to levels that were sustained throughout maintenance therapy. There was a weak correlation between improved event-free survival and higher RBCMTX levels after consolidation, but no correlation was found between improved survival and the level of RBCMTX or RBCF during maintenance therapy. A larger study with more complete data is needed to determine whether RBCMTX or RBCF might be useful in predicting event-free survival in patients with ALL.This work was supported in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health (CA-30969, CA-28476, CA29139, CA-159-89, and CA-33587)     

Flow-independent angiography for peripheral vascular disease: Initial in-vivo results

Flow-independent angiography (FIA), an approach that isolates arterial blood using MR relaxation characteristics rather than flow effects, was evaluated for application in peripheral vascular disease (PVD). First, pilot studies were conducted in which FIA coronal projection images were obtained from controls and symptomatic patients with PVD to assess clinical utility. All control images corresponded to the expected leg arterial anatomy with little interference from deep veins (one of five) and muscle (zero of five). Superficial venous signal was less well suppressed in comparison to deep veins (four of five). Images of symptomatic patients were less consistent with difficulty suppressing muscle and deep venous signal in some cases and edema when present. We then compared T2 values for muscle (T2_m, tibialis anterior), arterial blood (femoral and popliteal arteries), and venous blood (femoral, popliteal, and saphenous veins) in controls (n = 8) and symptomatic patients with intermittent claudication (n = 5) or ischemic rest pain (n = 7). Changes in T2 measurements of various tissues accounted for poorer contrast in symptomatic patients. Patients with ischemic rest pain had significantly higher T2_m compared with controls (T2_m = 39.3 ± 2.1 (1 standard error of the mean [SEM]) versus 30.9 ± .4, P < .01). For all measurements, other than saphenous vein, variances were greater in symptomatic patients. To realize the inherent advantages of FIA for this clinical application, additional work on suppression of signals from muscle, veins, and edema is required. One promising approach involves shifting from projection images to three-dimensional acquisitions for improved tissue suppression.