Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

Hyperprolactinemia inhibits natural killer (NK) cell functionin vivo and its bromocriptine treatment not only corrects it but makes it more efficient

We studied NK cell function in eight patients with pathological hyperprolactinemia by measuring⁵¹Cr release by K562 cells exposed to their mononuclear cells and found it decreased compared to normal controls (P<0.01). Bromocriptine (BrC) treatment corrected NK function but also made it more efficient at 12:1 than at 25:1 or 50:1 effector:target ratios (ANOVA;P=0.01). The study of NK cell function in agarose revealed that its decrease in hyperprolactinemia is due to their low active binding to target cells, active killing, and recycling capacity. BrC tended to correct them but also increased recycling capacity to levels higher than those of controls (P<0.05). Sequential studies in three hyperprolactinemic patients before and after BrC showed correction of NK function within 1 week but its increased efficiency at the 12:1 effector:target ratio required 8 weeks. We conclude that hyperprolactinemia decreases NK cell function. BrC corrects this by decreasing prolactin levels but also makes NK function more efficient by increasing the capacity of NK cells to recycle after killing.     

HPCE法测定蛹虫草及其培养物中核苷类化合物的含量

目的　建立蛹虫草中核苷类化合物的高效毛细管电泳测定法 ,比较天然蛹虫草及其培养物中核苷类化合物的含量。方法　在HV - 30 1高效毛细管电泳仪上进行定量分析 ,采用石英毛细管柱 ,以pH9.0的 4 0mmol·L-1 硼砂溶液作为电极缓冲液 ;分离电压为 1 6KV ;检测波长为 2 5 4nm。结果　天然蛹虫草中核苷类化合物主要集中在子座部分。人工培养蛹虫草子座和菌丝中虫草素的含量分别是天然蛹虫草子座中的 5 .0 4倍和 1 0 .85倍 ;液体培养蛹虫草菌丝中腺嘌呤、腺苷、尿苷、鸟苷含量均高于固体培养蛹虫草子座。结论　天然蛹虫草及其培养物中核苷类化合物的种类和含量具有较大的差异。高效毛细管电泳法可以用于蛹虫草的定量分析 ,具有分离度高、简便、准确 ,样品消耗少等特点     

胎儿主要肢骨发育时间表──超声骨龄

用Ｂ超检测正常妊娠中的胎儿。选择受精龄为１２至３８整周（ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅｄｗｅｅｋ）的胎儿２９７例。测量其主要肢骨（干）长度。并将所测数据进行统计学处理。结果表明胎儿肢骨的生长发育与胎龄有显著的正相关关系。     

血液流变学因素对缺血心肌冠脉流量的影响

选用长白猪８只于麻醉下开胸，于在体猪心上探讨心肌缺血时冠脉仍保留有部分扩张储备，而未被充分利用的机理。实验结果表明：降低左冠状动脉前降支（ＬＡＤ）内压至４．６７ｋＰａ时，由ＬＡＤ分别输入腺苷、山莨菪碱、生理盐水（２ｍｌ／ｍｉｎ），皆能诱发出明显的ＬＡＤ流量增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）。在维持ＬＡＤ内压不变，并持续分别输入上述三种溶液的同时，从ＬＡＤ远端取血测血液流变学指标，结果显示，输入生理盐水和山莨菪碱使红细胞压积降低，血浆粘度和全血粘度下降；心肌缺血时，冠脉内输注药物所诱发出的“冠脉扩张储备”部分是由于此种给药方式所引起的血液稀释及血液粘度下降的结果。它提示在冠脉狭窄时，血液粘度对狭窄远端的心肌血供可能是一个相当重要的因素，降低血液粘度可能并不亚于扩血管药物的作用。     

多抗甲素对人NK细胞活性的作用机理研究

作者应用单细胞细胞毒试验及形态学观察，研究多抗甲素（ＰＡＡ）对人体自然杀伤（ＮＫ）细胞活性的作用机理。结果表明：ＰＡＡ能增强食道癌患者淋巴细胞（ＰＢＬ）明显低下的结合率（Ｂ％）和杀伤率（Ｋ％），也可增强正常人ＰＢＬ的Ｋ％，但对正常人ＰＢＬ的Ｂ％无影响。形态学观察发现：与靶细胞结合的ＰＢＬ除大颗粒ＰＢＬ外，尚有普通的非颗粒ＰＢＬ，结合的靶细胞损伤首先表现为线粒体肿胀、空泡变，然后核固缩，核膜损伤，细胞严重空泡变性等，偶见靶细胞与自然杀伤细胞结合部质膜破损的现象。经ＰＡＡ预处理的靶效细胞结合的形态改变无明显差异，但食道癌组的杀伤作用出现较早，且明显增强。     

Association of a 70-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein with the CD16:ζ:γ complex expressed in human natural killer cells

The CD16: ζ: γ receptor complex allows natural killer (NK) cells to recognize and eliminate antibody-coated target cells. Whereas the ectodomain of CD16 is the receptor for Fcγ domains of immunoglobulins, disulfide-linked homo- and heterodimers composed of ζ and γ are required for the cell surface expression, and signal transduction properties of the complex. Engagement of CD16 activates the tyrosine kinase pathway, which induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of several substrates, including the ζ subunit and the phospholipase C γ-1 and γ-2 isoforms. Here we show that CD 16 stimulation of either peripheral blood NK cells, leukemic NK cells, or Jurkat transformants expressing a CD16:ζ:γ receptor complex, results in the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 70 kDa ζ-associated protein (pp70). Similarly, a 70-kDa ζ-associated phosphoprotein in T cells has been shown to be a tyrosine kinase (ZAP-70). Peptide mapping analysis indicates that the 70-kDa ζ-associated phosphoproteins from T cells and NK cells are structurally indistinguishable. We conclude that the CD16:ζ:γ complex may use a ZAP-70-related non-receptor tyrosine kinase, in the CD16 signaling cascade leading to NK cell activation.     

马桑内酯所致癫痫发作大鼠红细胞免疫粘附功能的研究

作者用红细胞Ｃ＿３ｂ受体花环试验和红细胞免疫复合物花环试验对马桑内酯所致癫痫发作大鼠红细胞免疫粘附功能的变化进行了观察，结果表明，癫痫组动物红细胞Ｃ＿３ｂ受体花环率明显低于对照组，而红细胞免疫复合物花环率相差不显著．提示癫痫发作可导致大鼠红细胞免疫粘附功能降低，因此在癫痫治疗中注意调整和增强患者的红细胞免疫功能具有重要意义。     

Hygiene in Operationsabteilungen – Empfehlungen des Nationalen Referenzzentrums für Krankenhaushygiene

Zusammenfassung. Viele Hygienema?nahmen in Operationsabteilungen sind durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen nicht belegt. Die in dieser Arbeit vom Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Krankenhaushygiene, das 1996 vom Bundesgesundheitsministerium eingerichtet wurde, zusammengestellten Empfehlungen stützen sich auf die Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und trennen so die unbedingt notwendigen von den weniger bzw. nicht sinnvollen Ma?nahmen.

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Summary. Many hygienic procedures performed in operation units are not supported by scientific investigations. The following recommendations by the National Reference Center for Hospital Epidemiology, founded by the German Ministry of Health in 1996, are based on the scientific literature and separate necessary from less necessary and unnecessary procedures.

     

β2-glycoprotein I, anti-β2-glycoprotein I, and fibrinolysis

β₂-glycoprotein-I (β₂GPI) is a phospholipid-binding plasma protein that consists of five homologous domains. Domain V is distinguished from others by bearing a positively charged lysine cluster and hydrophobic extra C-terminal loop. β₂GPI has been known as a natural anticoagulant regulator. β₂GPI exerts anticoagulant activity by inhibition of phospholipid-dependent coagulation reactions such as prothrombinase, tenase, and factor XII activation. It also binds factor XI and inhibits its activation. On the other hand, β₂GPI inhibits anticoagulant activity of activated protein C. According to the data from knockout mice, β₂GPI may contribute to thrombin generation in vivo. Phospholipid-bound β₂GPI is one of the major target antigens for antiphospholipid antibodies present in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Binding of pathogenic anti-β₂GPI antibodies increases the affinity of β₂GPI to the cell surface and disrupts the coagulation/fibrinolysis balance on the cell surface. These pathogenic antibodies activate endothelial cells via signal transduction events in the presence of β₂GPI. Impaired fibrinolysis has been reported in patients with APS. Using a newly developed chromogenic assay, we demonstrated lower activity of intrinsic fibrinolysis in euglobulin fractions from APS patients. Addition of monoclonal anti-β₂GPI antibodies with β₂GPI also decreased fibrinolytic activity in this assay system. β₂GPI is proteolytically cleaved by plasmin in domain V (nicked β₂GPI) and becomes unable to bind to phospholipids, reducing antigenicity against antiphospholipid antibodies. This cleavage occurs in patients with increased fibrinolysis turnover. Nicked β₂GPI binds to plasminogen and suppresses plasmin generation in the presence of fibrin, plasminogen, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Thus, nicked β₂GPI plays a role in the extrinsic fibrinolysis via a negative feedback pathway loop.