Mouse blastocysts release a lipid which activates anandamide hydrolase in intact uterus

Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) is a major endocannabinoid, known to impair mouse pregnancy and embryo development and to induce apoptosis in blastocysts. Here we show that mouse blastocysts rapidly (within 30 min of culture) release a soluble compound, that increases by approximately 2.5-fold the activity of AEA hydrolase (fatty acid amide hydrolase, FAAH) present in the mouse uterus, without affecting FAAH gene expression at the translational level. This "FAAH activator" was produced by both trophoblast and inner cell mass cells, and its initial biochemical characterization showed that it was fully neutralized by adding lipase to the blastocyst-conditioned medium (BCM), and was potentiated by adding trypsin to BCM. Other proteases, phospholipases A(2), C or D, DNAse I or RNAse A were ineffective. BCM did not affect the AEA-synthesizing phospholipase D, the AEA-binding cannabinoid receptors, or the selective AEA membrane transporter in mouse uterus. The FAAH activator was absent in uterine fluid from pregnant mice and could not be identified with any factor known to be released by blastocysts. In fact, platelet-activating factor inhibited non-competitively FAAH in mouse uterus extracts, but not in intact uterine horns, whereas leukotriene B(4) or prostaglandins E(2) and F(2)alpha had no effect. Overall, it can be suggested that blastocysts may protect themselves against the noxious effects of uterine endocannabinoids by locally releasing a lipid able to cross the cell membranes and to activate FAAH. The precise molecular identity of this activator, the first ever reported for FAAH, remains to be elucidated.     

ENCEPHALOMYELONEURITIS WITH MEDIASTINAL GERM CELL TUMOR A Paraneoplastic Condition ?

An unusual case of encephalomyeloneuritis associated with germ cell tumor with mature and immature teratoma arising in the mediastinum is presented. There was an unusually long interval from the onset of neurologic symptoms to the development of malignancy. The histopathology, characterized by limbic encephalitis, brain stem encephalitis, cortical cerebellar degeneration and myeloneuritis, was similar to that of paraneoplastic encephalomyeloneuritis previously described in the literature. Virological and immunological studies failed to demonstrate any causative agents or autoantibodies reacting with brain tissue. The causal relationship between the malignant neoplasm and encephalomyeloneuritis thus seems to be very complex.     

In situ localization of mRNA for the fibrinolytic factors uPA, PAI-1 and uPAR in endometriotic and endometrial tissue

Endometriotic tissue grows invasively. The plasminogen-activating system is suggested to participate in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and modulation of cell adhesion and migration. We have previously demonstrated elevated levels of the fibrinolytic factors urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in endometriotic tissue and endometrium from women with endometriosis. The aim of the present study was to localize the uPA, PAI-1 and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) mRNA in endometriotic tissue and in endometrium both from women with and without endometriosis. With in situ hybridization, we found that uPA mRNA seems to be up-regulated in endometriotic glands and endometrial stroma as well as PAI-1 mRNA in endometriotic and endometrial stroma from women with endometriosis. uPAR mRNA likewise appears to be up-regulated in both glands and stroma in endometriotic tissue and in endometrial glands from patients compared to endometrial glands and stroma from healthy women. These differences might be important for menstrual shedding and adherence of endometrial fragments to peritoneal lining in women developing endometriosis and for the invasive growth of endometriotic tissue.     

Regional cerebral blood flow after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

Occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are mostly of embolic origin (appr. 80%) and give rise to about one third of all ischemic strokes, most of these being major strokes. MCA occlusions lasting for less than 1/2 h are tolerated without occurrence of permanent tissue damage. Occlusions lasting between 1/2 h to 4-8 h lead to permanent tissue damage and neurological deficits that are proportional to the duration of occlusion. Maximal tissue damage is obtained after 4-8 h occlusion. A cerebral blood flow of 8-23 ml/100 gr/min is sufficient for cellular viability but insufficient for normal tissue function ("ischemic penumbra"). Cellular function is completely abolished in the interval 8-16 ml/100 gr/min and flow at that level is tolerated only for 1-3 h before neuronal death ensues. In the interval 18-23 ml/100 gr/min there is some functional activity although it is reduced. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that flow in this interval may be tolerated for several days, months or even longer ("chronic ischemic penumbra"). After MCA occlusion the blood flow falls below 8 ml/100 gr/min in most cases and permanent MCA occlusion always leads to relatively large areas of frank infarction. The ischemic infarcts may be surrounded by collaterally perfused areas where the blood flow is pressure-dependent (impaired autoregulation) and quite commonly insufficient for normal neuronal function (below 23 ml/100 gr/min). Such collaterally perfused areas may include a "chronic ischemic penumbra". Emboli causing MCA occlusions commonly disintegrate and/or migrate more peripherally within the first few weeks post stroke. This leads to reperfusion and changes of ischemic infarcts into hyperemic infarcts where flow is severely increased. The vascular reactivity is completely abolished in hyperemic infarcts and the hyperemic state lasts for about two weeks. Probably, anemic infarcts are equivalent to ischemic infarcts while the hemorrhagic variety is equivalent to hyperemic infarcts. The "partial infarct" with selective neuronal necrosis occurs in experimental animals after MCA occlusions of less than four h but not after permanent MCA occlusion. The significance of partial infarction in human stroke is not clarified. The extent of irreversible tissue damage can be reduced only if therapy sets in within 4-8 h after the occlusion. If a "chronic penumbra" exists the extension of reversible tissue damage can be reduced if therapy aimed at increasing the blood flow in the penumbra sets in within weeks or even months after the stroke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

以重点监控药品管理促进合理用药水平提升

通过开展以“合理用药”为核心的重点监控药品管理,促进合理用药水平提升。采取事后处方点评及处方前置审核,建立和完善重点监控药品管理方案,对不合理用药进行拦截、宣教、绩效处罚、限量采购、约谈等,实现了重点监控药品规范化管理。实践后,不合理医嘱减少,处方点评合格率提升,辅助用药种类减少。认为建立重点监控药品管理的相关制度及流程,对提升合理用药水平有一定促进作用。     

层次分析法在确定医疗设备维护优先级中的应用研究

目的:运用层次分析法(AHP)确定医疗设备维护中的优先级,增加医疗设备的可用性并降低维护成本。方法:采用AHP对医疗设备标准、子标准和等级进行评定获取其关键评分,基于多标准决策方法确定医疗设备维护的优先级,对选定设备进行评估,以准分子激光器和视力计为例,根据其标准权重、子标准权重和强度计算其总评分,确定维护优先级。结果:医疗设备维护的优先顺序由医疗设备评分的评估结果决定,医疗设备风险是医学技术人员在确定医疗设备维护优先级时的最重要标准。准分子激光器和视力计的关键评分权重分别为0.877和0.373,准分子激光器相比视力计在设备维护方面具有更高的优先级。结论:医疗设备维护优先级评估模型能确定医疗设备维护优先级,根据优先级规模规划医疗设备维护方案,以使资源更多地集中于具有高和中关键度的医疗设备。     

RBRVS-KPI模式下公立医院绩效考核体系构建及应用

目的探讨如何将以资源为基础的相对价值比率（RBRVS）与关键绩效指标法（KPI）相结合,运用于公立医院绩效考核体系实践中。方法分析样本医院绩效考核体系的应用效果,根据医院总体目标,经过点值测算、指标选择,建立了一套具有医院特色的改良型RBRVS-KPI模式绩效考核体系。结果经实践,医疗质量和运行效率大幅度提高,在一定程度上促进了医院管理的精细化。结论RBRVS-KPI模式下的绩效考核体系较唯财务导向的绩效模式更能体现医护人员劳动价值,值得探索与推广。     

女贞药用价值及其相关上市药品的研究进展

女贞Ligustrum lucidum是木犀科女贞属药用植物,其果实、叶、花等部位均可作为药用。女贞不同药用部位及单体成分具有多种功效,现已开发为多种制剂,既有中药单方制剂,也有以单体成分为主的化学药。大量研究表明,女贞相关药品被广泛用于治疗消化系统、免疫系统等疾病,且临床效果较好。通过对女贞不同药用部位的化学成分、临床应用及药理作用、女贞相关上市药品的工艺与质量、临床应用及基础研究进行综述,进而探讨女贞的潜在应用价值和开发前景,为女贞的综合开发与利用提供一定的参考。     

Aberrant gene expression associated with recurrent pregnancy loss

Recent studies indicate that a number of factors including chromosomal abnormalities, immunological feto-maternal rejection, hormonal irregulation and anatomical factors are involved in provoking recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This indicates that normal cellular regulation of these factors is required for maintaining normal pregnancy. In addition, it is expected that biological processes for maintaining normal pregnancy require a series of differential gene expression. As expected, our previous investigations revealed that there are >/=30 genes showing different levels of expression between normal and RPL patients. In addition, other research groups have also identified a number of genes that are expressed aberrantly in pregnancy failure. In this review, recent study on aberrant expression levels of genes, which are grouped as immunity-related, angiogenesis-related, apoptosis-related and other groups of genes, will be discussed.     

Plasma membrane-mediated nuclear uptake and chromatin binding of insulin in tumor cell lines

Analysis of different cellular fractions after incubation of SW 948 and SW 707 colorectal carcinoma cells or WM 266-4 melanoma cells with 125I-insulin revealed the nondegraded hormone in the chromatin of these cells. Nuclear 125I-insulin was bound to specific fragments of EcoRI-, HaeIII-, and HincII-digested chromatin. A 45-kDa chromatin protein species that binds 125I-insulin was identified. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide inhibited the insulin-stimulated expression of chromatin receptors. Uptake of 125I-insulin by isolated nuclei occurred only in the presence of plasma membranes. Thus, at least some effects of insulin on target cells can be explained by direct gene regulation instead of "second messenger" action.