Plasmid DNA encoding transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses chronic disease in a streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model.

Transforming growth factor beta is a potent immunomodulator with both pro- and antiinflammatory activities. Based on its immunosuppressive actions, exogenous TGF-beta has been shown to inhibit autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To further explore the potential therapeutic role of TGF-beta, we administered a plasmid DNA encoding human TGF-beta1 intramuscularly to rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. A single dose of 300 microg plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1, but not vector DNA, administered at the peak of the acute phase profoundly suppressed the subsequent evolution of chronic erosive disease typified by disabling joint swelling and deformity (articular index = 8.17+/-0. 17 vs. 1.25+/-0.76, n = 6, day 26, P < 0.01). Moreover, delivery of the TGF-beta1 DNA even as the chronic phase commenced virtually eliminated subsequent inflammation and arthritis. Both radiologic and histopathologic as well as molecular evidence supported the marked inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 DNA on synovial pathology, with decreases in the inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, cartilage and bone destruction, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines that characterize this model. Increases in TGF-beta1 protein were detected in the circulation of TGF-beta1 DNA-treated animals, consistent with the observed therapeutic effects being TGF-beta1 dependent. These observations provide the first evidence that gene transfer of plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1 provides a mechanism to deliver this potent cytokine that effectively suppresses ongoing inflammatory pathology in arthritis.     

脑卒中急性期白细胞反应及临床意义

脑卒中急性期大多数患者白细胞增多，表现为中性粒细胞计数与白细胞总数增高，脑出血组白细胞增高姓率高于脑梗塞组，而中性粒细胞增高发生率二组间无差别，外周血白细胞增高与临床神经功能缺损程度评分有密切关系，中性粒细胞计数越高，近期神经功能预后则越差。     

Clinical Study on Long-Term Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis with Integrative Medicine

Ａｎｋｙｌｏｓｉｎｇｓｐｏｎｄｙｌｉｔｉｓ（ＡＳ）ｉｓａｒｈｅｕｍａｔｉｃｄｉｓｅａｓｅｗｉｔｈｈｉｇｈｉｎｃｉｄｅｎｃｅ，ｉｎｄｕｃ ｉｎｇｄｉｓａｂｉｌｉｔｙａｎｄｉｎｖａｄｉｎｇｔｈｅｓｐｉｎａｌａｘｉａｌｊｏｉｎｔａｓｉｔｓｃｈｉｅｆｃｈａｒａｃｔ     

青年人群血清流感抗体水平纵向监测

通过对北京４０５例青年１９９２～１９９４年流感抗体的纵向监测结果表明，３年中Ｂ型流感表现很活跃，抗体分别在１９９３年和１９９４年春出现高峰。Ａ型流感抗体在１９９３年春出现高峰。其中２１８例个体连续３年６次抗体检测，据抗体波动提示：３年中流感３个亚型总的感染频率为４４０％，每个体每年平均为１．４次，其中Ａ１型感染频率最高，每个体３年内平均１．８次；Ａ３型次之为１．５２；Ｂ型为１．０６。流感３个亚型抗体在机体内有６７％～７３％高水平抗体个体可在０．５～１年内下降至≤２０的低水平。２１８例个体中Ａ１型抗体３年内长期低水平者有３％，Ａ３有９％，Ｂ有３８％。     

肾病综合征患儿血红细胞磷脂过氧化氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力的研究

本文对１７例肾病综合征（ＮＳ）患儿和１５例健康对照组儿童血红细胞磷脂过氧化氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＰＨＧＰｘ）活力，脂溶性荧光色素（ＬＳＦＰ）含量进行了研究。结果表明，ＮＳ急性期ＰＨＧＰｘ活力明显降低．ＬＳＦＰ含量增加；恢复期ＰＨＧＰｘ活力较急性期明显提高，但仍低于正常对照组，ＬＳＦＰ虽较急性期下降，但仍高于正常对照组。说明ＮＳ存在ＰＨＧＰｘ和ＬＳＦＰ的改变，但可逐渐恢复。     

Zinc, calcium, and magnesium metabolism: effects on plasmacytomas in Balb/c mice

The effects of different amounts of dietary zinc on the Zn absorption rate and on Zn, calcium and magnesium concentrations in tissues of MOPC 104E tumor-bearing Balb/c mice were determined. The Zn absorption rate was inversely related to the amounts of Zn in their diets and was lower than that of nontumor-bearing control mice fed a laboratory mice chow. Zn concentrations of tumor-bearing mice were also low compared with control mice but tumor Zn concentrations, regardless of the concentrations of Zn in the diets, were higher than those of normal tissues of the host other than the pancreas. Ca concentrations in tumor and tissues of tumor-bearing mice were higher than in control animals but Mg concentrations in tissues of tumor-bearing mice appeared to be similar to those of control mice. Results suggest that tumor-bearing mice have a lower intestinal Zn absorption capacity and a higher Zn uptake rate causing other tissues to become hypozincemic and hypercalcemic.     

Detection of cell apoptosis by MTT assay.]

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of using MTT assay to detect cell apoptosis. METHODS: K562 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% calf serum and 4 micromol/L arsenic trioxide. Apoptosis was induced in the cultured cells by As2O3, and the cells were detected with optical microscope, DNA gel electrophoresis and MTT staining respectively. RESULT: MTT staining could also accurately detect cell apoptosis, by which the apoptotic cells were easily distinguished from normal cells and dead cells. CONCLUSION: MTT staining is simple, convenient and practical for detecting cell apoptosis.