石杉碱甲和乙促进小鼠的空间辨别学习和记忆

石杉碱甲和乙是从石杉科石杉属植物蛇足石杉[Huperzia scrrata(Thunb.)Trev.]中分得的二个新生物碱。“Y”迷宫实验表明,ip Hup-A 0.075～0.125 mg/kg或Hup-B 0.4～0.8mg/kg,均能明显促进小鼠的空间辨别学习,并能显著预防CO₂产生的短时识别障碍,促进记忆保持和记忆再现。ig Hup-A 0.1～0.3 mg/kg或Hup-B 0.8 mg/kg也有促进学习的作用。促进作用Hup-A>Phys>Hup-B。剂量与效应曲线呈倒U型。     

激活素A对人肝星状细胞系LI 90细胞增殖的影响

目的：检测激活素（ACT）A对肝星状细胞（HSC）系LI90细胞增殖的影响。方法：采用基因重组人ACT A（0．025－250ng/ml）、转化生长因子－β1（TGF－β1）、镦泡抑素（FS）处理体外培养的人HSC系LI90，采用四唑盐比色法（MTT法）检测其对细胞增殖的影响。结果：ACT A浓度在0.025-250ng/ml范围内，均可刺激LI90细胞增殖，0.025-25ng/ml浓度范围内的ACT A作用轻微，而250ng/ml的ACT A作用明显增强（P＜0．01）；相反，TGF－β1（2．5ng/ml）对LI90细胞增殖无明显影响；0．315ng/ml FS与浓度为0.25ng/ml的ACT A共同孵育可阻断ACT A促进LI90增殖的活性（P＜0．05），而0．315ng/ml FS单独作用对LI 90细胞生长明显影响。结论：ACT可促进HSC增殖，在肝纤维化发病机制中发挥重要作用。     

高位硬膜外阻滞对猪急性心肌缺血/再灌注损伤时血浆TXB2和6-keto-PGF1α水平的影响

目的探讨0.5%布比卡因高位硬膜外阻滞对急性心肌缺血/再灌注损伤时血栓素B2(TXB2)和6-酮-前列腺素F1α(6-keto-PGF1α)的影响.方法健康雄性家猪20只,体重(23.0±2.5)kg,随机分为布比卡因组(Ⅰ组)、生理盐水组(Ⅱ组).静注10mg.kg-1硫喷妥钠后,气管插管,静点琥珀胆碱和芬太尼控制呼吸,维持麻醉.T3～4穿刺置入硬膜外导管,按分组分别硬膜外注射0.5%布比卡因和生理盐水各2ml,15min后结扎左冠脉前降支40min.分别在给药前和结扎40min时、开放后1h、3h、5h抽取右心房血,测定血浆TXB2、6-keto-PGF1α的浓度.给药前所测定的心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)、中心静脉压(CVP)作为基础值.结果Ⅱ组各时点血液动力学无明显变化,Ⅰ组HR、MAP和CVP分别下降22%、25%和28%.两组再灌注后1h、3h及5h TXB2、TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α比值逐渐升高,且均显著高于给药前和结扎40min.Ⅰ组升高程度显著低于Ⅱ组(P＜0.05).而6-keto-PGF1α组内组间比较,变化趋势与TXB2恰相反.Ⅰ组有1只因室颤而死亡,Ⅱ组有4只(P＜0.05).结论心肌缺血/再灌注损伤与TXB2和6-keto-PGF1α有一定关系,高位硬膜外阻滞通过调节缺血/再灌注后血栓素A2和前列环素的平衡在一定程度上减轻了心肌缺血/再灌注损伤.     

环孢菌素A和1,2 5(OH)2D3防治实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎的研究

将猪的甲状腺球蛋白（pTG)100μg/只分别于第0d,第14d皮下注入CBA小鼠体内，制作实验性自身免疫性甲状腺炎（EAT）的动物模型。免免疫干预组从0－28d，治疗组从10－38d单独或者联合应用环孢菌素A（CsA,10mg/kg)灌胃和（或）1,25(OH)2D3(0.2μg/kg）腹腔注射，pTG免疫后第28d，第38d处死小鼠，取甲状腺组织作病理学检查，并检测血清中猪的甲状腺球蛋白抗体（pTGAb)、猪的甲状腺微粒体抗体（pTMAb)。免疫干预组和治疗组联合应用小剂量CsA和1，25（OH）2D3分别使EAT发病率降低44．44％和37．50％。严重病例分别降低71．43％和60．32％，免疫干预组的血清pTGAb,pTMAb的值均降低。提示：小剂量免疫抑制剂CsA和1，25（OH）2D2联合防治EAT有效，并具有协同作用。     

Efficacy of cyclosporin in difficult-to-treat idiopathic membranous nephropathy

SUMMARY: Poor tolerance and the potential long-term toxicity have limited the widespread use of corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). Cyclosporin A (CyA) has been proven to be a less toxic alternative, but its efficacy needs further confirmation. Cyclosporin A (2–3mg/kg per day) in combination with low-dose methylprednisolone (4mg/day) was given to 28 nephrotic patients with IMN who had failed to respond, or tolerate, or to complete treatments with steroids and/or cytotoxic drugs. the mean duration of treatment was 11 ± 7 months. Seven patients (25%) showed a complete remission of proteinuria, 17 (60%) a partial one, and four (15%) did not respond at all. the average time to achieve optimal remission was 4.2 ± 1.4 weeks following the initiation of therapy. In those who responded completely or partially, plasma creatinine (Per) did not change significantly from pre CyA levels during follow up (1.0 ± 0.3 vs 1.2 ± 0.3mg/dL, P =NS). the remaining four patients who had renal insufficiency already before CyA (mean Per: 2.1 ± 0.8mg/dL), showed a rapid deterioration of renal function after the initiation of CyA (mean Per: 3.1 ± 1.5 mg/dL, P <0.01), and as a consequence, the drug was discontinued. A mul-tivariate analysis on the clinical and histological features demonstrated that the degree of renal function impairment ( P <0.02), the percentage of obsolete glomeruli ( P <0.01), and the severity of interstitial fibrosis ( P <0.005) independently predicted the response to therapy. Low dose CyA is an effective and safe alternative treatment for patients with IMN and normal renal function. However, the drug should be given with caution to patients with established renal insufficiency.     

甲型H1N1流感若干共同关注的问题

今年3月18日,墨西哥首次报道了人感染甲型H1N1流感病毒,很快这种疾病就从美国与墨西哥交界处往世界蔓延,全球立刻拉响了甲型H1N1流感警钟[甲型H1N1流感,原称人感染猪流感,WHO于2009年4月30日更名为A(H1N1)流感,我国相继更名为甲型H1N1流感].     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical characterization of cerebrovascular and senile plaque amyloid in aged dogs'' brains

Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical studies were carried out on 28 aged dogs' brains. Amyloid deposits were seen in the arteries and capillaries in the leptomeninges and in superficial areas of the cortices in 19 (67.9%) of the 28 dogs (10-22 years of age). Immunohistochemically, these amyloid deposits were reactive for anti-beta/A4 antibody. Additionally, a variable number of parenchymal deposits with diffuse beta/A4-immunoreactivity (diffuse plaques) was also noted throughout the cerebral cortex in 24/28 dogs (85.7%). However, these plaque lesions were undetectable in Congo red staining. Electron microscopically, amyloid fibrils, measuring 10 nm in width, were located mainly in the tunica media of the arteries, and in less involved vessels they tended to be present among collagen fibres in the adventitia and smooth muscle cells in the outer layer of the media. The plaque lesions appeared to contain sparse aggregations of amyloid fibrils. In immunoelectron microscopical examinations, all amyloid fibrils in both blood vessels and plaques were selectively labelled by gold particles. These findings indicate that aged dogs can provide a useful experimental model for research into the beta/A4-type of cerebral amyloidosis commonly seen in Alzheimer's disease.