Do ethnicity and gender have an impact on pain thresholds in minor dermatologic procedures?

Background and Objectives: The perception of pain is a personal experience influenced by many factors, including genetic, ethnic and cultural issues. Understanding these perceptions is especially important in dermatologic patients undergoing minor surgical operations and who often differ in their pain response to surgical treatments. Little is known about how these differences affect the perception of experimental pain. The purpose of this study was to determine experimental pain perception differences in three distinct East Asian ethnic populations.
Methods: Pain thresholds were examined with a psychophysical computerized quantitative thermal sensory testing device (TSA 2001) in healthy volunteers recruited from three different Asian ethnic groups. Using the methods of limits, experimental pain perception threshold was measured on the forehead and volar aspect of the forearm in 49 healthy subjects. The measurements were then repeated after skin barrier perturbation with adhesive tape stripping of the stratum corneum. All three ethnic groups were analyzed separately with respect to age, gender educational level and skin type.
Results: A total of 20 Chinese, 14 Malay and 15 Indian subjects completed the study. Thermal pain thresholds were similar in all three ethnic groups before and after tape strippings. No significant differences were noted between genders.
Conclusions: Using quantitative sensory thermal testing, we demonstrated that no significant differences in pain occur between different races and genders.     

Evidence for a Type 1 diabetes‐specific mechanism for the insulin gene‐associated IDDM2 locus rather than a general influence on autoimmunity

Aims The Type 1 diabetes susceptibility locus, IDDM2, has been mapped to a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) region 5′ upstream of the insulin (INS) and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF2) genes on chromosome 11p15. The function of the VNTR is uncertain; however, it may influence the thymic expression of the insulin gene and affect the development of immune self‐tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the INS VNTR region is a Type 1 diabetes‐specific locus or acting as a general autoimmunity gene. Methods We genotyped the INS‐IGF2 VNTR [using the surrogate INS?23 HphI single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] in 823 Graves’ disease (GD)/multiple sclerosis (MS) families, 1433 GD/MS patients and 837 healthy control subjects. Results We found no evidence of excess transmission of the allele associated with Type 1 diabetes to individuals affected by GD or MS within the families. Analysis of the case–control dataset showed no genotypic or allelic difference between the two populations. Conclusions These data suggest that the INS‐IGF2 VNTR is acting as a Type 1 diabetes‐specific susceptibility gene rather than as an influence on general autoimmunity.     

c-erbB-2、bcl-2蛋白在宫颈鳞癌细胞中的表达及其意义

目的　研究c erbB 2、bcl 2基因在宫颈鳞癌中的表达及其在宫颈癌发生、发展中的作用及意义。方法　采用免疫组织化学S P法分别检测 4 5例宫颈鳞癌组织、10例宫颈上皮内瘤变和 10例正常宫颈鳞状上皮中c erbB 2、bcl 2蛋白的表达。结果　c erbB 2、bcl 2蛋白在宫颈鳞癌中的阳性表达率分别为 5 5 .5 6 %、2 8.2 9% ;在CIN中的阳性表达率分别为 0、10 .0 0 % ;在NE组均无表达。c erbB 2蛋白在宫颈鳞癌中阳性表达与在CIN、NE中的表达差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1) ;bcl 2蛋白在宫颈鳞癌中阳性表达与在CIN中的表达及在NE中的不表达差异均无显著性 ( P >0 .0 5 ) ;c erbB 2与bcl 2之间在宫颈鳞癌组织中的阳性表达呈负相关 ( P <0 .0 5 )。结论　c erbB 2、bcl 2基因参与了宫颈鳞癌的发生、发展过程。c erbB 2基因蛋白的过表达是宫颈组织恶性变的重要生物学标志。联合检测c erbB 2、bcl 2基因蛋白对判断宫颈癌预后有一定意义     

黄芪对SHR心肌SERCA表达及血管平滑肌钙离子水平影响的初步探讨

目的:探讨黄芪注射液对SHR心肌SERCA的表达及血管平滑肌钙离子含量的影响.方法:将19只自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)与16只Wistar-kyoto大鼠(WKY)随机各分为空白对照组、低黄芪剂量组、中黄芪剂量组、高黄芪剂量组四组,分别每天腹腔注射0.9ml生理盐水和0.9ml、1.2ml、1.8ml的黄芪注射液共8周,再测量大鼠心肌中SERCA的表达和血管平滑肌钙离子含量.结果:SHR生理盐水组心肌SERCA在蛋白水平的表达,较WKY生理盐水组明是下降;SHR大剂量黄芪组心肌SERCA在蛋白水平的表达,较SHR生理盐水组明显升高.SHR生理盐水组血管平滑肌钙离子水平明显高于WKY组:SHR大剂量黄芪组血管平滑肌钙离子水平较SHR生理盐水组明显降低.结论:大剂量黄芪注射液能显著增加SHR心肌SERCA在蛋白水平的表达,能明显的减少SHR血管平滑肌钙离子的水平.     

氟西汀对2型糖尿病合并抑郁症患者下丘脑-垂体肾上腺轴功能及临床疗效的影响

目的探讨氟西汀对 2型糖尿病合并抑郁症患者的下丘脑 垂体 肾上腺轴 (HPA)功能的影响及其临床意义。方法测定 98例 2型糖尿病患者和 3 4例正常对照组基础血皮质醇 (F ,0 8:0 0am、16:0 0pm)、小剂量地塞米松抑制试验 (DST)后血F、2 4h尿游离皮质醇 (UFC)。将 64例 2型糖尿病伴发抑郁症患者随机分成A组 (服用氟西汀组 ,3 2例 )和B组 (未服用氟西汀组 ,3 2例 )。予 6周治疗。分别于治疗前、后进行HAMD评分及代谢控制水平评估。结果 ( 1)血F( 0 8:0 0am、16:0 0pm)、2 4h尿UFC、DST脱抑制例数2型糖尿病患者较正常对照组增高 (P <0 .0 1) ,2型糖尿病伴抑郁症组 (DD组 )较无抑郁症组 (DM组 )增高(P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1)。 ( 2 )经 6周治疗后 ,服用氟西汀组 (A组 )较未服用氟西汀组 (B组 )糖皮质激素水平降低 (P <0 .0 1)、HAMD评分降低 (P <0 .0 1) ,糖脂代谢改善 (P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1)。 ( 3 ) 2 4h尿UFC与HbA1C呈正相关性 (r =0 .5 69,P <0 .0 1)、IR呈正相关 (r =0 .65 3 ,P <0 .0 1)、与HAMD评分呈正相关性 (r =0 .3 5 2 ,P <0 .0 5 )。结论 2型糖尿病及合并抑郁症患者HPA轴功能紊乱 ,加重了糖代谢紊乱和胰岛素抵抗 ;氟西汀干预治疗抑郁症可改善抑郁症和糖脂代谢。     

MMP-2和TIMP-2在甲状腺乳头状癌中的表达及与转移的关系

目的探讨基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂TIMP-2在甲状腺乳头状癌中的表达及其与甲状腺乳头状癌侵袭与转移的关系.方法应用原位杂交技术检测95例甲状腺乳头状癌及59例癌旁组织中MMP-2 mRNA,TIMP-2mRNA的表达水平.用免疫组化S-P法检测上述组织中MMP-2蛋白、TIMP-2蛋白的表达.结果MMP-2mRNA和蛋白在甲状腺乳头状癌中的阳性率分别为74.7%和77.9%,而在癌旁组织中的阳性率分别为10.2%和25.4%,两者差异有显著性(P＜0.01,P＜0.01).TIMP-2 mRNA和蛋白在甲状腺乳头状癌中的阳性率分别为58.9%和64.29%,而在癌旁组织中的阳性率分别为20.3%和16.9%,两者差异有显著性(P＜001,P＜0.01).结论基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2mRNA和蛋白、TIMP-2mRNA和蛋白在甲状腺乳头状癌中呈高表达,MMP-2mRNA和蛋白的表达随甲状腺癌侵袭程度升高、转移而升高,而TIMP-2 mRNA和蛋白的表达随甲状腺癌侵袭程度升高、转移而降低,提示MMP-2和TIMP-2表达失衡与甲状腺乳头状癌侵袭与转移有密切关系.     

参附注射液对大鼠缺血再灌注小肠细胞Bax、Bcl-2及c-myc蛋白表达的影响

目的　探讨参附注射液对大鼠缺血再灌注小肠细胞Bax、Bcl 2及c myc蛋白表达的影响及它们与肠细胞凋亡的内在联系。方法　健康SD大鼠 36只随机分为 3组 ,空白对照组 (S组 )、缺血再灌注 +生理盐水组 (IR +NS组 )、缺血再灌注 +参附注射液组 (IR +SF组 ) ,每组 12只。采用钳闭肠系膜前动脉制备小肠缺血再灌注模型。免疫组化检测Bax、Bcl 2及c myc蛋白的表达 ,每组选 2 4个视野分别测量光密度值 (OD值 )。TUNEL法检测凋亡的小肠细胞并计算凋亡指数。结果　IR +NS组BaxOD值明显高于S组 (P <0 .0 1) ,IR +SF组BaxOD值明显低于IR +NS组 (P <0 .0 1) ,且低于S组 (P <0 .0 5 )。IR +NS组Bcl 2OD值高于S组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,且IR +SF组Bcl 2OD值高于S组 (P <0 .0 1) ,但IR +NS组与IR +SF组比较无显著差异。IR +NS组c mycOD值明显高于S组 (P<0 .0 1) ,且明显高于IR +SF组 (P <0 .0 1)。IR +NS组细胞凋亡指数明显高于S组和IR +SF组 (P <0 .0 1) ,而IR +SF组高于S组 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　参附注射液增加小肠组织Bcl 2蛋白的表达 ,降低Bax及c myc蛋白的表达 ,抑制小肠细胞凋亡 ,保护缺血再灌注小肠。     

地塞米松对哮喘大鼠Th1/Th2失衡及嗜酸细胞fas、bcl-2 mRNA表达的影响

目的:观察地塞米松(DXM)对哮喘大鼠Th1/Th2失衡以及嗜酸细胞(EOS)fas、bcl-2 mRNA表达的影响,探讨糖皮质激素治疗哮喘气道炎症的作用机制.方法:清洁级雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为3组:正常对照组(C),哮喘组(A),地塞米松治疗组(T),每组10只.采用卵清白蛋白制作大鼠哮喘模型.用夹心酶联免疫吸附试验(sandwich ELISA)法检测血浆及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中IL-4、IFN-γ的水平;用原位杂交法检测fas和bcl-2 mRNA在气道壁EOS上的表达.结果:A组大鼠IFN-γ表达水平较C组明显下调(P＜0.01),同时IL-4表达水平则有明显上调(P＜0.01),表现出明显的Th1/Th2失衡.fas mRNA的表达在A组明显下降(P＜0.01),bcl-2 mRNA的表达则有明显上调(P＜0.01).地塞米松治疗在纠正A组大鼠Th1/Th2失衡的同时可上调fas mRNA的表达,下调bcl-2 mRNA的表达.结论:纠正哮喘大鼠Th1/Th2失衡,调节EOS fas、bcl-2 mRNA的表达是地塞米松减轻哮喘气道炎症的可能机制之一.     

Regulation of β-cell mass and function by the Akt/protein kinase B signalling pathway

The insulin receptor substrate-2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in the regulation of β-cell mass and function, demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo . The serine threonine kinase Akt is one of the promising downstream molecules of this pathway that has been identified as a potential target to regulate function and induce proliferation and survival of β cells. Here we summarize some of the molecular mechanisms, downstream signalling pathways and critical components involved in the regulation of β-cell mass and function by Akt.     

99Tcm标记人源化抗人血小板膜糖蛋白Ⅲ a单克隆抗体SZ21F(ab)2血栓栓塞显像

目的用动物血栓栓塞模型显像评估99^Tc^m标记人源化抗人血小板膜糖蛋白（GP）Ⅲa单克隆抗体（简称单抗）F（ab）2片段SZ21F（ab）2的应用价值。方法通过体外抑制二磷酸腺苷（ADP）诱导的犬血小板聚集实验，评估SZ21F（ab）2与血小板结合的亲和性和特异性。以2-亚氨基噻吩盐酸盐（IT）法修饰SZ21F（ab）2分子的亚氨基，以99^Tc^m-葡庚糖酸钠（GH）转换络合法进行标记。分别用快速薄层层析（ITLC）法和ELISA测定标记物的放化纯及生物活性。对3条肺动脉血栓和8条（包括上述3条）后肢深静脉血栓栓塞比格犬模型进行显像研究。结果SZ21F（ab）2抑制ADP诱导的犬富含血小板血浆（PRP）聚集实验的半数有效剂量（IC50）为（2．49±1．88）μg／ml。ITLC法测得标记物的放化纯为90％～95％，ELISA测定结果表明标记后抗体保留了免疫活性。注射显像剂后1h，肺动脉血栓部位和后肢深静脉血栓部位均出现放射性浓聚。注射后3h，在体显像肺动脉血栓和后肢深静脉血栓栓塞模型的放射性靶／本底（T／B）比值分别为3．03±1．18和3．51±0.62。肺动脉血栓部位和后肢深静脉血栓部位的每克组织百分注射剂量率（％ID／g）分别为0．083％ID／g和0．076％ID／g。体外检测结果表明：肺动脉血栓与正常肺组织的单位质量放射性比值平均为12．8，后肢深静脉血栓与血液的单位质量放射性比值平均为5．2，与肌肉的比值平均为127.0。结论99^Tc^m-SZ21F（ab）2与人血小板具有较高的亲和力，有潜在的血栓显像应用前景。