Toluene in blood as a marker of choice for low-level exposure to toluene

The validity of two new biological exposure markers of toluene in blood (TOL-B) and toluene in urine (TOL-U) was examined in comparison with that of the traditional marker of hippuric acid in urine (HA-U) in 294 male workers exposed to toluene in workroom air (TOL-A), mostly at low levels. The exposure was such that the geometric mean for toluene was 2.3 ppm with a maximum of 132 ppm; the workers were also exposed to other solvents such as hexane, ethyl acetate, styrene, and methanol, but at lower levels. The chance of cutaneous absorption was remote. Higher correlation with TOL-A and better sensitivity in separating the exposed workers from the nonexposed subjects were taken as selection criteria. When workers exposed to TOL-A at lower concentrations (< 50 ppm, < 10 ppm, < 2 ppm, etc.) were selected and correlation with TOL-A was examined, TOL-B showed the largest correlation coefficient which was significant even at TOL-A of < 1 ppm, whereas correlation of HA-U was no longer significant when TOL-A was < 10 ppm. TOL-U was between the two extremes. The sensitivities of TOL-B and TOL-U were comparable; HA-U showed the lowest sensitivity. Thus, it was concluded that TOL-B is the indicator of choice for detecting toluene exposure at low levels.     

Estrogenic Induction of NADPH- Diaphorase Activity in the Preoptic Neurons Containing Estrogen Receptor Immunoreactivity in the Female Rat

Nitric oxide and estrogen have been shown to play a critical role in the control of female reproductive function. In order to determine an anatomical relationship between nitric oxide generating neurons and estrogen target neurons, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was combined with estrogen receptor immunohistochemistry in the female medial preoptic area. While only a few weakly stained neurons for NADPH-diaphorase were found in ovariectomized control rats, a drastic increase in NADPH-diaphorase activity was observed in the medial preoptic nucleus of estradiol-treated ovariectomized animals. The total number of NADPH-diaphorase neurons in the estradiol-treated group increased three-fold relative to controls, and more than 80% of those neurons contained estrogen receptor-immunoreactivity in their nuclei. Since neuronal NADPH-diaphorase is nitric oxide synthase, the present result suggests that nitric oxide synthase activity can be positively regulated by estradiol in neurons containing estrogen receptor in the female medial preoptic nucleus.     

5-Hydroxytryptamine increases excitability of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells.

In the presence of spiperone to block the 5-HT1A-mediated inhibition of pyramidal cell activity, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) produces a rapid transient increase in amplitude of the extracellularly recorded population spike from area CA1 of the hippocampus. Intracellular recording techniques in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices were used to identify the ionic mechanism and to characterize the 5-HT receptor mediating this excitatory response to 5-HT. Most of the experiments were conducted in the presence of spiperone to block the 5HT1A hyperpolarization. Since spiperone also has high affinity for 5-HT2 receptors, any response mediated by 5-HT2 receptors would also be blocked. Bath perfusion of the slice with 5-HT increased the rectification of pyramidal cells in the subthreshold region, increased the resistance, and increased the amplitude of subthreshold excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) to initiate spike firing. The 5-HT2,1C-selective agonist DOI mimicked this effect of 5-HT, and the 5-HT2,1C antagonist ketanserin (1 microM) blocked the effect of DOI. There was no change in the amplitude of the slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) or the amplitude of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). The increase in rectification and EPSP amplitude by 5-HT occurred even in the presence of the 5-HT4-selective antagonist BRL 24924 to prevent the decrease in amplitude of the sAHP by 5-HT. We conclude that 5-HT produces a fast excitatory response by increasing subthreshold conductance in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. The identity of the receptor mediating this response was not conclusively identified, but resembled the 5-HT1C receptor.     

猴头菇发酵茶安全性检测及对大鼠胃酸分泌的影响

目的：检测猴头菇发酵茶的安全性并观察猴头菇发酵茶对大鼠胃酸分泌的影响。方法：猴头菇发酵茶安全性测定按GBl5193．1-94《食品安全性毒理学评价程序》要求进行；用酸度计测定大鼠胃液pH值。结果：猴头菇发酵茶对小鼠的半数致死量为15．11g／kg，且无诱发小鼠骨髓细胞微核形成，不同剂量的猴头菇发酵茶对大鼠胃酸分泌有促进和抑制的作用。结论：猴头菇发酵茶安全无毒，高剂量时对大鼠胃酸分泌有抑制作用。     

西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞融合培养杂种鉴定及愈伤组织中人参皂苷Rb_1含量分析

目的 :通过采用体细胞融合技术将西洋参基因转入胡萝卜中 ,为贵重中药、生长受地理环境等限制的中药扩大药源 ,利用杂种优势为培养适于大面积栽培且有效成分人参皂苷含量较高的优良杂交品种提供理论与实验依据。方法 :用PEG法对五加科植物西洋参与伞形科植物胡萝卜进行体细胞融合 ,通过同工酶进行初步杂种鉴定并用HPLC法测定西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞融合培养愈伤组织中人参皂苷Rb1含量。结果 :体细胞融合技术成功地获得了西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞杂交愈伤组织 ;同工酶分析是鉴定杂种的有效手段之一 ;在 10个杂交体愈伤组织中有 6个杂交体愈伤组织人参皂苷Rb1含量比未融合前西洋参愈伤组织中的含量高。     

Chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents

Summary Twenty-two persons (20 men and 2 women) were examined for their external and internal exposure to the glycol ether 1-methoxypropan-2-ol (PGME) during the production, leak testing and mounting of brake-hoses. For the measurement of external exposure, personal air monitoring was the method of choice. Average concentrations of PGME of 82.2 mg/m³ (22.3 ppm), 68.6 mg/m³ (18.6 ppm) and 11.3 mg/m³ (3.1 ppm) were found in the air of the brakehose production, leak test and mounting areas, respectively. For the estimation of internal exposure to PGME, this glycol ether was measured in both urine and blood. The biological samples were taken post-shift. The highest internal exposure levels were found in the brakehose production section and in the leak test area. The average post-shift concentrations for PGME in workers in the brakehose production section were 4.6 mg/l in urine and 13.5 mg/l in blood; the corresponding figures for workers in the leak test area were 4.2 mg/l in urine and 11.0 mg/l in blood. In blood and urine samples of workers engaged in the mounting area, PGME levels were below the detection limits. The elimination kinetics of PGME were also studied in three highly exposed persons, and mean excretion half-lives of PGME of approximately 4.4 h were found. On the basis of our results we made a rough calculation of a future biological tolerance value: we would except that concentrations of 38-109 mg per litre of blood and 10–31 mg per litre of urine would correspond to the German MAK value for PGME (375 mg/m³).     

孕晚期妇女维生素B_1、B_2、C及能量需要量的研究

以武汉市纺织系统值车工孕晚期妇女43名为研究对象,采用饱和试验法对其维生素B_1,B_2和C需要量进行了初步研究,并对其能量消耗量和摄入量进行了调查。结果表明,维生素B_1最低需要量为1.65mg/d、适宜需要量为1.90mg/d,维生素B_2的最低需要量为1.45mg/d,适宜需要量为1.70mg/d;维生素C的最低需要量为46mg/d,适宜需要量为146mg/d。孕晚期值车工一日能量总消耗为9.5144MJ(2274kcal),一日能量摄入量为10.6566MJ(2547kcaI),能量摄入高于能量消耗1.1422MJ(273kcal)。再次表明,孕晚期妇女能量供给在未孕基础上增加0.8MJ(200kcal/d)是适宜的。     

血清可溶性白细胞介素2受体和T细胞亚群在单纯性肾病综合征患儿发病中作用的探讨

本文对26例儿童单纯性肾病综合征患者血清可溶性白细胞介素2受体（SIL-2R）及T细胞亚群进行研究。结果表明肾病活动期SIL-2R值升高（均值为895±245U／ml），CD_4~+／CD_8~+比值降低（P＜0.01），而肾病缓解期SIL-2R（均值为494±127U／ml）及CD_4~+／CD_8~+比值恢复正常，将SIL-2R值与CD_4~+／CD_8~+比值进行相关分析，发现两者呈负相关（r=-0.61，P＜0.05）。提示SIL-2R水平的升高及T细胞亚群的紊乱在儿童单纯性肾病发病机制中起到重要的作用。     

NMDA Receptor Activation Triggers Voltage Oscillations, Plateau Potentials and Burstinq in Neonatal Rat Lumbar Motoneurons ln Vitro

Whole-cell recordings of lumbar motoneurons in the intact neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro were undertaken to examine the effects of Kmethyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation on membrane behaviour. Bath application of NMDA induced rhythmic voltage oscillations of 5.9 ± 2.1 mV (SD) at a frequency of 4.4 ± 1.5 Hz. Amplitude, but not frequency, of the voltage oscillations was membrane potential-dependent. Voltage oscillations could recruit action potentials and/or plateau potentials with or without superimposed bursting. Blockade of synaptic transmission with tetrodotoxin (TTX) sometimes resulted in a loss of oscillatory activity which could then be restored by increasing the NMDA concentration. After application of TTX, the trajectory of NMDA-induced oscillations was similar to the trajectory induced in the presence of intact synaptic networks, although the mean oscillation duration was longer and the oscillation frequency was slower (1.8 ± 1.1 Hz). Current ramps delivered after bath application of NMDA demonstrated bistable membrane properties which may underlie the plateau potentials. Injection of intracellular current pulses could initiate, entrain and terminate individual plateau potentials. The results suggest that membrane depolarization produced by oscillations may activate other intrinsic conductances which generate plateau potentials, thereby providing the neuron with enhanced voltage sensitivity, compared to that produced by NMDA receptor activation alone. These oscillatory events may have a role in the regulation of motor output in a variety of rhythmic behaviours including locomotion.     

抗体阴性重症肌无力发病与凝集素之间关系研究

借助研究抗体阴性重症肌无力（ＭＧ）发病与凝集素之间的关系，以阐明其发病过程是否与凝集素有关。方法观察伴刀豆球蛋白Ａ（ＣｏｎＡ）和麦胚凝集素（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ）及其凝集素－糖复合物对ＴＥ６７１细胞表达的乙酰胆碱受体（ＡＣｈＲ）功能的作用，以及对α－ＢｕＴｘ结合试验的影响。结果有两种凝集素对ＡＣｈＲ功能均有抑制作用，抑制率（％）分别为５４±１４（ｎ＝１１）和４７±１６（ｎ＝１０），此作用可被３种糖抑制，抑制率（％）分别为：９５±５（ｎ＝５）和８４±８（ｎ＝５）；６９±６（ｎ＝４）和６５±５（ｎ＝４）；３９±４（ｎ＝５）和５７±６（ｎ＝５）；ＣｏｎＡ抑制α－ＢｕＴｘ结合试验，而Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ则不能。结论Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ和抗体阴性ＭＧ患者非ＩｇＧ部分对ＡＣｈＲ功能和α－ＢｕＴｘ结合试验的作用类同或一致，表明抗体阴性ＭＧ患者非ＩｇＧ部分中的内源性Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ样糖蛋白在其发病过程中起重要作用。