Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration and fluid balance during rapid intravenous saline infusions in camels

Human muscle samples were obtained with the percutaneous biopsy technique. The samples were membrane-hyperpermeabilized (skinned) using a chemical or freeze-drying technique. Short single fibre segments were dissected from the sample, transferred to an experimental chamber, connected to a force transducer and manipulator, and exposed to temperature-controlled solutions. The force generating-capacity, the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to calcium and the caffeine threshold for calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum could be studied in the short muscle fibre segments obtained from man with the percutaneous muscle biopsy technique. The average length of the fibre segments between the connectors was 0.44±0.21 mm. Thus, detailed studies of the contractile machinery can be made on human skinned muscle fibres with only minimal discomfort to the patient or subject during biopsy, which should be useful in studies of neuromuscular disease, muscle plasticity or in applied physiology.     

Study of the course of the incidence angle during growth

Standing posture is made possible by hip extension and lumbar lordosis. Lumbar lordosis is correlated with pelvic parameters, such as the declivity angle of the upper surface of the sacrum and the incidence angle, which determine the sagittal morphotype. Incidence angle, which is different for each individual, is known to be very important for upright posture, but its course during life has not yet been established. Incidence angle was measured on radiographs of 30 fetuses, 30 children and 30 adults, and results were analysed using the correlation coefficientr and Student's t test. A statistically significant correlation between age and incidence angle was observed. Incidence angle considerably increases during the first months, continues to increase during early years, and stabilizes around the age of 10 years. Incidence is a mark of bipedism, and its role in sagittal balance is essential.     

Changes in the content of Met-enkephalin in different brain structures during the development of immune response

Changes in the content of the opiate peptide Met-enkephalin at the early stages of immune response are studied in different structures of rats brain 20 min and 24 h after immunization with sheep erythrocytes. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 170–172, February, 1997     

幽门螺杆菌尿素酶减毒鼠伤寒杆菌疫苗诱导小鼠粘膜免疫应答的研究

目的:观察口服减毒鼠伤寒杆菌活菌重组疫苗后小鼠的粘膜免疫应答状况。方法:将已构建成功的表达幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)尿素酶B亚单位(UreB)的重组减毒鼠伤寒杆菌SL3261/pTC01-UreB口服免疫Balb/c小鼠,12周后检测肠液和血清中的特异性抗体反应。结果:疫苗组小鼠的肠液和血清中可分别检测到针对UreB的特异性抗体IgA和IgG,病理学检查显示疫苗组小鼠较对照组小鼠胃粘膜炎症程度差异无统计学意义。结论:表达H.pyloriUreB的减毒鼠伤寒杆菌SL3261/pTC01-UreB能够诱导小鼠产生抗H.pylori的粘膜免疫,可用作抗H.pylori感染的口服疫苗。     

A critical period for functional vestibular development in zebrafish.

We have determined a critical period for vestibular development in zebrafish by using a bioreactor designed by NASA to simulate microgravity for cells in culture. A critical period is defined as the briefest period of time during development when stimulus deprivation results in long lasting or permanent sensory deficits. Zebrafish eggs were collected within 3 hours of being laid and fertilized. In experiment 1, eggs were placed in the bioreactor at 3, 24, 30, 36, 48, or 72 hours postfertilization (hPF) and maintained in the bioreactor until 96 hPF. In experiment 2, eggs were placed in the bioreactor immediately after they were collected and maintained in the bioreactor until 24, 36, 48, 60, 66, 72, or 96 hPF. Beginning at 96 hPF, all larvae had their vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VOR) evaluated once each day for 5 days. Only larvae that hatched from eggs that were placed in the bioreactor before 30 hPF in experiment 1 or removed from the bioreactor later than 66 hPF in experiment 2 had VOR deficits that persisted for at least 5 days. These data suggest a critical period for vestibular development in the zebrafish that begins before 30 hPF and ends after 66 hPF. To confirm this, zebrafish eggs were placed in the bioreactor at 24 hPF and removed at 72 hPF. VORs were evaluated in these larvae once each day for 5 days beginning at 96 hPF. These larvae had VOR deficits that persisted for at least 5 days. In addition, larvae that had been maintained in the bioreactor from 24 to 66 hPF or from 30 to 72 hPF, had only temporary VOR deficits. In a final experiment, zebrafish eggs were placed in the bioreactor at 3 hPF and removed at 96 hPF but the bioreactor was turned off from 24 hPF to 72 hPF. These larvae had normal VORs when they were removed from the bioreactor at 96 hPF. Taken as a whole, these data support the idea that there is a critical period for functional maturation of the zebrafish vestibular system. The developmental period identified includes the timeframe during which the vestibular primary afferent neurons are born, innervate their central and peripheral targets, and remodel their central projections.     

Quantitative evidence of peripheral conversion of angiotensin within the human leg: effects of local angiotensin-I administration and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on regional blood flow and angiotensin-II balance across the leg

Summary The renin-angiotensin system relevantly contributes to the maintenance of systemic vascular tone and there is experimental evidence that large amounts of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) are present in peripheral vascular tissues, including resistance vessels. To determine and quantify peripheral vascular conversion of angiotensin-I (ANG-I) to angiotensin-II (ANG-II) across the human leg, the response of regional blood flow to local regional intra-arterial infusion of ANG-I and changes in associated ANG-I1 balance were evaluated during ANG-I infusion and following additional ACE inhibition. Ten sodium-loaded healthy men were enrolled in the study. Following cannulation of both femoral arteries and the right femoral vein, leg blood flow was determined (indocyanine-green dye-dilution method) at baseline conditions and during constant intra-arterial infusion of haemodynamically ineffective doses of ANG-I as well as following concomitant intra-arterial administration of low doses of the non-sulfhydril ACE inhibitor cilazapril. From the transfemoral arterio-venous differences in ANG-II plasma concentrations and the corresponding regional blood (plasma) flow, the ANG-II balance across the leg was calculated. Systemic blood pressure did not change throughout the trial, indicating that no major systemic effects were present during ANG-I infusion or concomitant ACE inhibition. Moreover, arterial ANG-II plasma concentrations were not significantly changed by ANG-I infusion. Leg blood flow decreased to below baseline values following ANG-I infusion, increasing again then in a dose-dependent manner during concomitant cilazapril administration. The calculated baseline ANG-II balance across the leg revealed a net extraction in 6 out of 10 subjects and a net ANG-II formation in 4. Following ANG-I, a shift towards net ANG-II formation or decrease in extraction was seen in 8 subjects, while 2 had no change in ANG-II balance.During concomitant ACE inhibition, ANG-II balance was again shifted towards net extraction or reduced formation. Our results confirm that, in man, considerable regional arterio-venous differences in ANG-II plasma concentrations are present, resulting in either net transfemoral extraction or net formation of the peptide. It is suggested that systemic vascular conversion of circulating ANG-I might contribute to the maintenance of peripheral vasuclar tone in man. Send offprint requests to S. Gasic at the above address     

山东农村儿童膳食中人体锌吸收率的测定

目的:测定山东农村儿童代表性膳食中锌(Zn)的人体吸收率。方法:模拟山东农村典型膳食模式,采用富集的天然低丰度稳定性同位素67Zn标记ZnCl2,使用热电离质谱法(TIMS)检测膳食和粪便中总锌含量与67Zn/68Zn比值,计算锌的真吸收率;使用原子吸收分光光度计穴AAS雪测定膳食与粪便的总锌,计算锌的表观吸收率。同时测定影响锌吸收的因子膳食脂肪、蛋白、植酸、纤维素和维生素C(Vc)的含量,计算日平均摄入量,将其结果与我国儿童每日推荐膳食营养素摄入量(RNIs)进行比较。结果:锌的真吸收率为(12.94±3.32)%,锌的表观吸收率为(22.37±1.59)%,两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。锌的平均日摄入量为11.16mg,占RNI的111.6%,高于推荐量。蛋白质和Vc的日摄入量分别为31.2g与13.3mg,占RNIs的56.73%和29.60%,低于推荐量。脂肪、植酸和膳食纤维的日摄入量较高。结论:在蛋白质和Vc的日摄入量较低,脂肪、植酸和膳食纤维的日摄入量较高的条件下,锌的真吸收率较低。     

Intravenous Gammaglobulin (IVIG): A Novel Approach to Improve Transplant Rates and Outcomes in Highly HLA-Sensitized Patients

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products are derived from pooled human plasma and have been used for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency disorders for more than 24 years. Shortly after their introduction, IVIG products were also found to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Over the past 2 decades, the list of diseases where IVIG has a demonstrable beneficial effect has grown rapidly. These include Kawasaki disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis and demyelinating polyneuropathy. Recently, we have described a beneficial effect on the reduction of anti-HLA antibodies with subsequent improvement in transplantation of highly HLA-sensitized patients as well as a potent anti-inflammatory effect that is beneficial in the treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). These advancements have enabled transplantation of patients previously considered untransplantable. These studies and relevant mechanism(s) of action will be discussed here.     

琥珀胆碱和罗库溴铵对全麻诱导期氧供需平衡的影响

目的观察全麻诱导期琥珀胆碱和罗库溴铵对机体氧供需平衡的影响。方法60~70岁全麻手术患者30例,ASAⅠ~Ⅱ级,随机均分为三组:琥珀胆碱组(S组),罗库溴铵组(R组)和对照组(C组),每组10例。右颈内静脉穿刺置管至右心房,分别于麻醉前(T0)、给肌松药前(T1)、给肌松药后1 min(T2)、2 min(T3)、3 min(T4)和5 min(T5)抽右心房血,测定右心房血氧饱和度(RASVO2)、乳酸(Lac)和右心房血氧分压(RAPVO2)。结果三组患者RASVO2、Lac、RAPVO2在相应时点差异无显著意义。与T1相比,S组RASVO2在T2、T3、T4时点明显升高(P<0.05),Lac在T2、T3、T4、T5时点亦明显升高(P<0.05),R组T2时点RASVO2明显升高(P<0.05),而Lac无明显变化。结论琥珀胆碱和罗库溴铵全麻诱导期均可减少机体氧耗量,但琥珀胆碱可引起无氧代谢增加,组织氧供需失衡。     

磁场对电解铝作业工人免疫功能影响的研究

对某铝厂电解车间采用CT_3-A型交直流特斯拉计测定了电解槽近场区不同高度、不同距离及人体表面不同部位的磁场强度。结果表明作业场所及人体体表的磁场强度为自然界磁场强度的数倍至数十倍。对接触磁场、工龄在20年以上的工人,进行了免疫功能的测定。结果表明该场所的磁场强度对工人免疫功能有抑制作用。由于该作业场所除磁场外,还有其他化学、物理因素的危害,因此,这种免疫功能的改变,可能是磁场等综合因素所造成的。