Reversal of ischemic liver failure by intrasplenic liver cell transplantation

A model of ischemic hepatic failure in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) with 100% mortality has been developed by one-hour occlusion of the right portal vein and hepatic artery followed by left 70% hepatectomy. The intrasplenic injection of 40 x 10(6) syngeneic adult or three-day neonatal single liver cell suspensions decreased the mortality from 100% to 50% and 36%, respectively. Mortality decreased with increasing time from the intrasplenic injection of neonatal liver cells to the time of acute hepatic ischemia. Mortality also decreased with increasing interval between hepatic ischemia and removal of the transplanted liver cells by splenectomy. Intrasplenic injection of graded doses of neonatal liver cells decreased mortality from 75% at a dose of 10 x 10(6) cells, to 36% at 160 x 10(6) cells. Treatment of neonatal liver cells with metabolic inhibitors did not significantly affect their ability to reverse acute hepatic ischemia.     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

大鼠小肠缺血再灌注后血中NO,SOD浓度及肺中Bax,Bcl-2表达的改变

目的：研究大鼠小肠缺血再灌注后后血中一氧化氮（NO），超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的浓度变化以及肺组织中Bax,Bcl-2的表达，探讨小肠缺血再灌注后对肺组织的损伤，方法：建立小肠缺血再灌注模型，分对照 ，再灌注后0，30min，1，2h,1,3,7d共8组，于各时点检测血中Bax,Bcl-2的表达情况。结果：大鼠小肠缺血再灌注后NO浓度0min明显升高，2h时降低，随后升高，7d时达高峰，SOD浓度0min明显下降，2h 时升高，随后下降，7d时达最低，Bax,Bcl-2免疫阳性细胞主要位于肺组织中血管内皮细胞和肺泡上皮细胞，再灌注0min,Bax,Bcl-2阳性细胞率增多，30min时Bax,Bcl-2阳性细胞率均升高分别为17．1％和78．1％，Bcl-2表达高于Bax，两者差别显著（P＜0．01），2h时降低，其后升高，7d时阳性细胞率达高峰分别为94．1％和83．4％，Bax表达明显高于Bcl-2，两者差异显著（P＜0．01）。结论：大鼠小肠缺血再灌注后可引起血中NO，SOD的浓度变化和Bax及Bcl-2阳性细胞在肺组织中的表达改变并可能引起肺组织细胞凋亡和损伤。     

脑肿瘤患者手术前后T细胞亚群及NK细胞活性的变化

目的 探讨脑肿瘤患者手术前后细胞免疫功能的变化及其临床意义。方法 采用单克隆抗体酶标法对22例脑肿瘤和12例脑内血肿患者手术前后不同时期的T细胞亚群及NK细胞活性进行动态监测。结果 脑肿瘤CD3^ 、CD4^ ,CD10^16 56和CD4^ /CD8^ 比值较对照组均有不同程度降低。而胶质瘤组较其余两组明显下降。34例患者术后4期CD3^ ,CD4^ ,CD16 56^ 比值均发生变化。胶质瘤组在术后1至2周明显低于其余两组。术后3至4周才逐渐恢复至正常水平。结论 脑肿瘤患者细胞免疫功能被抑制。且恶性胶质瘤较良性肿瘤更为明显，手术应激能导致T细胞亚群及NK细胞活性变化。脑肿瘤切除术后细胞免疫功能呈现暂时抑制至逐渐恢复的过程。     

Postprandial induction of chaperone gene expression is rapid in mice.

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.