NOS1 polymorphism is associated with atopy but not exhaled nitric oxide levels in healthy children

Exhaled nitric oxide (FE_NO) is raised in atopy. The mechanism for this is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the number of AAT repeats in intron 20 of the NOS1 gene, recently associated with variations in FE_NO in adults with asthma and cystic fibrosis, was associated with the raised FE_NO in healthy atopic children. Eighty-seven healthy children (44 girls, 42 atopic, age range 6–18 years) underwent measurements of FE_NO, spirometry, airway responsiveness and skin prick testing. Genotyping was carried out to determine the number of AAT repeats. There was no association between the number of AAT repeats and FE_NO in either the whole sample of healthy children (n = 87) or in the subsample of healthy atopics (n = 42). However, a greater number of atopic children had two high repeat alleles compared with non-atopic children (33.3% vs. 13.6%, respectively, p = 0.03). This suggests that variations in the NOS1 gene may contribute to atopy without this relationship being reflected by FE_NO.     

Effect of acute tyrosine depletion in using a branched chain amino-acid mixture on dopamine neurotransmission in the rat brain.

Central dopamine function is reduced by decreasing the availability of the catecholamine precursor, tyrosine, using a tyrosine-free amino acid mixture containing multiple large neutral as well as branched chain amino-acids, which compete with tyrosine for uptake into the brain. Current mixtures are cumbersome to make and administer, and unpalatable to patients and volunteers. Here, we investigate whether individual or limited amino-acid combinations could reduce brain tyrosine levels and hence dopamine function. Measurements of regional brain tyrosine levels, catecholamine and indoleamine synthesis (L-DOPA and 5-HTP accumulation, respectively) were used to identify an effective paradigm to test in neurochemical, behavioral and fos immunocytochemical models. Administration of leucine or isoleucine, or a mixture of leucine, isoleucine, and valine reduced tyrosine and 5-HTP, but not L-DOPA accumulation. A mixture of leucine, valine, and isoleucine supplemented with tryptophan reduced brain tyrosine and L-DOPA, but not 5-HTP. In microdialysis experiments this amino-acid mixture reduced basal and amphetamine-evoked striatal dopamine release, as well as amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. This mixture also reduced amphetamine-induced fos expression in striatal areas. In conclusion, the present study identified a small combination of amino acids that reduces brain tyrosine and dopamine function in a manner similar to mixtures of multiple amino acids. This minimal mixture may have use as a dopamine reducing paradigm in patient and volunteer studies.     

白藜芦醇甙对内毒素刺激小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞产生TNFα和NAG的影响

收集小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞，调整细胞浓度为５×１０￣５／ｍｌ，加入２４孔培养板每孔１ｍｌ，内毒素刺激前后不同时间加入白藜芦醇甙培养，检测上清中肿瘤坏死因子，溶酶体酶（Ｎ－乙酰－β－Ｄ氨基葡萄糖苷酶ＮＡＧ）的变化，结果说明：白藜芦醇甙可减少上清中ＴＮＦ＿α和ＮＡＧ的量，通过此可减少内毒素刺激产生的由ＴＮＦ＿α和ＮＡＧ介导的组织损伤。     

Therapeutic diagram in advanced cancers of the esophagus

Only palliative treatment may be contemplated when advanced oesophageal cancers present with dysphagia. Operability depends on respiratory, hepatic and nutritional status. Resectability may be assessed on the information provided by bronchoscopy, thoracic CT scan and surgical exploration. Advanced resectable oesophageal cancers require oesophagectomy without thoracotomy and radiotherapy. We performed 93 oesophagectomies in 106 advanced oesophageal cancers with a mortality rate of less than 2%. Non resectable advanced oesophageal cancers require bypass procedures. We performed 13 in the 106 cases. Inoperable advanced oesophageal cancers require radiotherapy in the absence of a fistula, laser therapy or an endoprosthesis for dysphagia.     

Creatine kinase activity in rat skeletal muscle with intermittent tetanic stimulation.

ATP synthesis from PCr through creatine kinase reaction was measured in vivo in rat leg muscle using 31P NMR magnetization transfer and progressive saturation. Both techniques determined a spin-lattice relaxation time for PCr of 3 s at rest and an identical forward rate constant of 0.22-0.26 s-1. In stimulated muscles, magnetization transfer showed that flux was not changed with a steady-state PCr of 54% of initial level. During stimulation inducing a PCr decrease to 38% of initial value, flux was significantly lowered by 30%. These findings could result from an accumulation of ions and water increases or from compartmentation of ATP and PCr in different pools either in the muscle cell or in the different muscle fibers. In addition, these results could reinforce the hypothesis against a crucial role for creatine kinase shuttle in the ATP supply in skeletal muscle.