Quality of life on enalapril after acute myocardial infarction

Quality of life was assessed 4–6 months after an acutemyocardial infarction in a randomized double-blind study ofenalapril versus placebo. Quality of life was evaluated usingthe Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Physical Symptoms DistressIndex (PSDI), the Work Performance Scale (WPS) and the LifeSatisfaction Index (LSI). The study comprised 36 women (aged46–85 years, mean 68) and 96 males (aged 39–81 years,mean 62). Quality of life did not differ significantly between patientstreated with enalapril versus placebo. The scores were (enalaprilvs placebo, mean± SE): average NHP 15.4 ± 2.3vs 17.1 ± 2.3; PSDI 9.5± 1.0 vs 10.8 ±0.9; WPS 19.8 ± 2.0 vs 19.4 ± 1.4; LSI 24.1 ±1.0 vs 22.5 ±1.4. Men reported a better quality of lifethan women on most assessments, and non-smokers and ex-smokersbetter than smokers. Patients with moderate or severe anginapectoris had a worse quality of life measured by PSDI and NHPthan patients with minimal or no angina pectoris. Patients withcongestive heart failure had a higher PSDI than those without(13.6 ± 1.7 vs 9.4 ± 0.7, P<0.05), while nosignificant differences were observed in the NHP scores. In conclusion, quality of life was similar in enalapril andplacebo- treated patients after an acute myocardial infarction.However, it was reduced in patients with angina pectoris orheart failure and in those who continued smoking.     

罗比卡因与布比卡因硬膜外麻醉剖宫产术时心电图及心肌酶的变化

目的　比较硬膜外麻醉剖宫产术时罗比卡因和布比卡因对心电图及心肌酶的影响。方法　择期剖宫产手术病人 30例 ,硬膜外麻醉时Ⅰ组 (15例 )用 0 5 %罗比卡因 ,Ⅱ组 (15例 )用0 5 %布比卡因。观察麻醉手术期间心电图P R、QRS波间期以及肌酸磷酸激酶 (CK)和同工酶 (CK MB)的变化 ,同时观察麻醉镇痛、肌松效果和不良反应。结果　两组病人P R、QRS波间期均在正常范围内 (P >0 0 5 )。两组病人CK术后 2 4h值明显高于术前 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但反映心肌受损特异性较高的CK MB则无明显变化 (P >0 0 5 ) ,两组间亦无差异 (P >0 0 5 )。麻醉效果及不良反应两组间无差异。结论　硬膜外麻醉时罗比卡因与布比卡因对心电图及心肌酶影响无明显差异     

Pieces of the preeclampsia puzzle.

Introduction Several interesting articles have been published recently thataddress novel mechanisms for preeclampsia. These mechanismsall involve circulating factors, a favourite topic for preeclampsiaresearchers. These factors may interfere with angiogenesis,engage angiotensin (Ang) II signalling, and directly impairendothelial function. VEGF, PlGF and sFlt1 Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) must be very busyduring pregnancy. The growth factor’s receptor, fms-liketyrosine kinase 1 (Flt1), exists in two forms, namely a membrane-boundreceptor tyrosine kinase that transmits angiogenic signals anda soluble secreted ectodomain (sFlt1), which may capture VEGFand keep the growth factor from its active bound receptor. Maynardet al. [     

Cross-neutralisation of Australian brown and tiger snake venoms with commercial antivenoms: Cross-reactivity or antivenom mixtures?

Recently it has been suggested that the Australian snake antivenoms made by CSL Ltd. are in fact not truly monovalent and may contain antibodies to other snake venoms because the horses are injected with multiple snake venoms. It is unclear to what extent various monovalent antivenoms can neutralise the effect of other venoms, whether this is due to a mixture of antibodies or true cross-reactivity, and whether this has any clinical significance. We aimed to study the immunological and functional properties of brown snake (Pseudonaja spp.) antivenom (BSAV) and tiger snake (Notechis spp.) antivenom (TSAV) against their respective venoms using enzyme immunoassays (EIA) and in vitro clotting studies. There was significant overlap between the two antivenoms with both TSAV and BSAV being detected by EIA on brown snake venom (BSV)-coated and tiger snake venom (TSV)-coated wells, respectively. In a competition EIA, increasing amounts of immunoaffinity-purified hen anti-brown antibodies (IgYp) mixed with TSAV reduced TSAV measured on TSV-coated wells. Both BSAV and TSAV prevented the clotting activity of both venoms. IgYp also prevented the clotting activity of TSV, suggesting true cross-reactivity. The cross-reactivity of TSAV and BSAV with BSV and TSV, respectively, was likely due to each being a mixture of anti-brown and anti-tiger antibodies, but there was partial cross-reactivity demonstrated by the effect of IgYp. Single-polyvalent antivenom for brown snake and tiger snake may be feasible in the future.     

人参二醇组皂甙对精索静脉曲张大鼠的保护作用及其机制

把56只成年Wistar大鼠分为如下3组:①精索静脉曲张组(VG)30只;②精索静脉曲张人参二醇组皂甙组(VPG)8只;③假手术组(SOG)18只。实验结果表明,人参二醇组皂甙可显著提高精索静脉曲张大鼠睾丸ACE活力并降低睾丸LPO含量,但3组动物睾丸的SOD水平无明显差异。作者认为人参二醇组皂甙可能是通过减少LPO产生以提高ACE活力,从而实现对精索静脉曲张大鼠的保护作用。     

Differential Contractile Response of Cultured Microvascular Pericytes to Vasoactive Agents

Objective: Microvascular pericytes may contract in two different ways: In the first, a circumferential or radial mechanical force applied at right angles to the long axis of the vessel may constrict the underlying vessel affecting blood flow and transmural pressure. Retraction and elongation of pericyte processes may also occur tangentially and at right angles to the vessel axis and alter microvessel permeability by changing the amount of ablumenal surface covered or the openness of interendothelial junctions. In this study, cultured pericytes were utilized as a model experimental system to determine if vasoactive stimulation changes their shape in a manner consistent with this hypothesis. Methods: Pericytes cultured from isolated rate capillaries were subjected to angiotensin II and histamine. Their response was monitored by measuring the area of nonyielding substrate covered by the pericytes and the manner in which their shape changed. Shape changes were quantified by calculating the surface area: perimeter perimeter ratios. Results: Histamine significantly reduced surface area covered and the surface area: perimeter ratio. The pericyte processes retracted, resulting in elongated, spindle-shaped cells. These effects were nullified by the H₁ blocker diphenhydramine suggesting a receptor-specific response. Angiotensin II also elicited contraction and reduced surface area, but the cells contracted laterally and longitudinally. The surface area: perimeter ratios also decreased. Conclusions: These results indicate that pericytes are capable of two types of contractile responses in culture, depending on the specific vasoactive stimulus.     

普洛奈尔对立位-速尿激发RAA系统分泌的观察

报道6名正常健康人普洛奈尔对立位-速尿激发试验致血管紧张素-I(AT-I)、醛固酮(Aldo)分泌的观察。结果显示正常人AT-I、Aldo经立位-速尿激发后反应明显(P<0.01～0.001)。加用普洛奈尔后,AT-I除120分较基础值有显著升高外(P<0.05),余各时相均无统计学意义。说明部分地抑制了AT-I对立位-速尿的激发反应;Aldo各时相值与基础值相比均未升高,却在120分与135分两时相抑制日明显低于激发日,普洛奈尔完全抑制Aldo对激发试验的正常反应。结论提示β-肾上腺素能参与肾素-血(?)紧张素-醛固酮(RAA)轴的调节作用。     

A novel improved design for the first-generation glucose biosensor

A novel improved design for the first-generation glucose biosensor@Wang J     

蛇毒抗高凝状态酶、氟尿嘧啶对BEL-7404细胞作用的实验研究

目的通过蛇毒抗高凝状态酶（AHCSE）、氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）对人肝癌细胞BEL-7404（简称7404细胞）、正常LO2肝细胞（简称LO2细胞）作用的比较，研究AHCSE对肝癌的作用以及探讨其可能的作用机制。方法应用光学显微镜、透射电镜、MTT法、TUNEL、FCM等方法观察7404细胞、LO2细胞经过AHCSE、5-FU处理后，细胞形态学、生物化学等方面的变化。结果7404细胞、LO2细胞经过AHCSE、52FU处理后，发生了形态学改变；小剂量AHCSE对7404细胞具有很强的抑制作用，但对LO2细胞几乎无影响；随着剂量的加大，AHCSE对7404细胞抑制率上升不明显，但是出现对LO2细胞的抑制作用。经AHCSE作用后，7404细胞发生了凋亡，凋亡率随AHCSE浓度的增加而增加；与5-FU对7404细胞作用相似，但5-FU对LO2细胞抑制作用明显增强。结论AHCSE、5-FU对BEL-7404细胞均有很强的抑制作用，诱导细胞凋亡是其作用机制之一，AHCSE可能成为一种新的肝癌细胞凋亡的诱导剂。     

代谢酶基因多态性与胰腺癌易感性研究进展

代谢酶基因多态性与肿瘤的关系是近来国内外研究的热点。代谢酶基因多态性使酶的活性发生改变，是胰腺癌遗传易感性的重要机制。现综述了与胰腺癌癌变过程中有关的代谢酶基因多态性与其易感性的关系。