Neurosteroid modulation of allopregnanolone and GABA effect on the GABA-A receptor

The neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) or 3α-OH-5α-pregnane-20-one interacts with the GABA type A receptor chloride ion channel complex and enhances the effect of GABA. Animal and human studies suggest that ALLO plays an important role in several disorders including premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, and memory impairment. In contrast to ALLO, steroids with a hydroxy group in the 3β position usually exert a reducing effect and have recently attracted interest due to their suggested role in counteracting the negative action of ALLO. In this study, five different 3β-steroids were tested for their ability to modulate GABA-mediated chloride ion uptake in the absence and presence of ALLO in rat brain microsacs preparations. In addition, the effects of the 3β-steroids and their interaction with ALLO were investigated by patch-clamp recordings of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in rat hypothalamic neurons from the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN). All tested 3β-steroids reduced the ALLO-enhanced GABA response in cerebral cortex, in hippocampus and in MPN. In cerebellum, only one had this effect. However, in the absence of ALLO, two of the 3β-steroids potentiated GABA-evoked chloride ion uptake and prolonged the sIPSCs decay time, whereas the others had little or no effect. Therefore, it is possible that at least some 3β-steroids can act as positive GABA_A receptor modulators as well as negative modulators depending on whether or not ALLO is present. Finally, these results suggest that the 3β-steroids could be of interest as pharmacological agents that could counteract the negative effects of ALLO.     

Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay of Pro-gastrin-releasing Peptide for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Comparison with Neuron-specific Enolase Measurement

Our previous study demonstrated that pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(31–98), or ProGRP, is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Using a newly developed, highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ProGRP, we analyzed 1,446 samples including those obtained from 478 lung cancer patients to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this ELISA. Several properties indicated that ProGRP is a useful tumor marker for SCLC. First, ProGRP was specifically elevated in SCLC patients. In non-SCLC patients and patients with non-tumorous lung diseases, its serum level was very rarely elevated. Secondly, ProGRP was a reliable marker, in terms of the marked elevation of serum ProGRP levels in SCLC patients. Thirdly, serum ProGRP levels were elevated in SCLC patients even at a relatively early stage of this disease. Fourthly, changes in the serum ProGRP level showed an excellent correlation with the therapeutic responses in SCLC patients. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is accepted as a tumor marker of SCLC patients. With the aim of comparing ProGRP and NSE as tumor markers for SCLC patients, we measured serum NSE levels in all samples collected in the present study. We found that ProGRP was superior to NSE in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reliability. Therefore, we consider that ProGRP can play a major role as a clinical tumor marker for SCLC patients.     

Can supplementation of diet with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce coronary angioplasty restenosis rate?

The objective of this blinded, randomized, prospective study was to assess whether supplementation of normal diet with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce angiographically defined restenosis following coronary angioplasty. The study included all patients undergoing coronary angioplasty in this institution between January 1988 and January 1989. One hundred and twenty patients enrolled, 60 in each treatment group. All were randomized to either supplementation of normal diet with 3 g of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids per day started 1-2 days prior to angioplasty and continued for 6 months (treatment group), or to receive standard therapy only (control group). Quantitative angiographically defined restenosis was assessed at 6 months post angioplasty. Restenosis occurred in 27.8% (95% CI 18.0-37.7%) of lesions in the treatment group and in 28.3% (CI 16.9-39.7%) of lesions in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The study showed that diet supplemented with 3 g of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids started 1-2 days preceding angioplasty does not reduce angiographically defined restenosis rate.     

肠道病毒性脑膜炎的病原学研究

本告从23例临床上诊断为病毒性脑膜炎患者的脑脊液、血液中分离出柯萨奇B组病毒2株,未定型病毒1株,用所分离到的病毒与该患者恢复期血清做中和抗体测定均4倍或4倍以上升高,可以确定分离出的病毒与脑膜炎患者是相关的。同时检测57例脑膜炎患者恢复期血清中的柯萨奇B组病毒中和抗体,4倍或4倍以上升高者19例(33.3％)。40例健康人血清中柯萨奇B组病毒抗体阳性的(1:64)1例,两者差异显著(P<0.01)。结果表明,测定恢复期血清中和抗体结合临床对肠道病毒性脑膜炎的病因学诊断有一定的参考价值。     

亚硒酸钠对荷Lewis肺癌小鼠癌组织和肝组织溶酶体的作用研究

用差速离心方法分离提取荷Lewis肺癌小鼠癌组织和肝组织富含溶酶体部分,并以溶酶体标志酶酸性磷酸酶(ACP)的游离酶和总酶活性比值作为观察溶酶体膜稳定性变化的指标,观察了亚硒酸钠对两种组织ACP酶活性和膜稳定性的影响。发现硒对癌组织和肝组织ACP活性的异常升高有抑制作用、稳定溶酶体膜,在癌瘤增殖前期作用明显(P<0.05)。提示这种拮抗效应与硒直接和间接的抗脂质过氧化有关。     

Correlation between 1.25 dihydroxyvitamin D serum levels and fractional rate of intestinal calcium absorption in hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis. role of phosphate

Summary Different mechanisms could explain the elevated calcium elimination, the main cause of calcium oxalate renal stones. Our results suggest that phosphate levels are decreased in patients with absorptive hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis and elevated serum dihydroxyvitamin D. This could be the reason why in this group of patients oral phosphate treatment prevented hypercalciuria and renal lithiasis.This work was supported by FlSss 89/0799     

Hydroxyethyl starch induced acquired von Willebrand's disease

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) (Hespan, DPont) is a widely used synthetic volume expander which in standard doses of up to 1.51 in 24 h has no significant effect on coagulation (Munsch et al. 1988). However, the data sheet states that in large volumes HES may alter the coagulation mechanism. We now report a case of HES induced acquired von Willebrand's disease (vWD) in which severe bleeding occurred.     

对中国药典附子中乌头硷限量检查的商榷

用高效液相色谱法测定生附子。炮制附片中的乌头硷、中乌头硷和次乌头硷含量，以及３种生物硷的水解速度，发现炮制附片中主要含次乌头硷，而药典只限定乌头硷含量，显得不够完善。故在此基础上探讨了药典中增加次乌头硷含量限定内容的可能性。     

Perinatal lung development following maternal exposure to methylmercuric chloride

Mercury ingested from dietary sources has potent neurotoxic and teratogenic effects. Initial studies have shown that mercury may also affect fetal lung development. Since these pulmonary effects may play a role in subsequent neonatal morbidity and mortality due to compromising of the development of the lung, mercury effects in fetal and neonatal lung were investigated. Methylmercuric chloride (MMC), 1,000 ppm (15 mg/kg of body weight), was administered via an intragastric tube to timed-pregnant Swiss/Webster mice on day 9 of gestation. Lungs from fetuses on gestational day 18 and from neonates on days 1, 5, or 10 after birth were studied. Significant changes in MMC-exposed lungs compared to controls occurred at postnatal day 1. At this time, lung weight per gram body weight increased, phospholipid content per gram of lung or per microgram of DNA decreased, while DNA per gram of lung increased. Methylmercury appears to have delayed lung maturation. Cuboidal epithelial cells in alveolar tubules contained conspicuous glycogen deposits, and differentiation of alveolar type II cells was adversely affected. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to methylmercury may be detrimental to lung development, specifically to the initiation of surfactant synthesis, by delaying the normal pattern of maturation of the alveolar type II cells within the lungs. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 17:11–21 . © 1994 Wiley-Liss. Inc.