Tityus perijanensis González-Sponga (Scorpiones, Buthidae): molecular assessment of its geographical distribution and venom lethality of Venezuelan populations.

An extensive field survey allowed us to expand the geographical distribution of the scorpion Tityus perijanensis in the Perijá range, western Zulia State, Venezuela, including areas where adult cases of severe scorpionism have been reported. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, DL(50) determination, and native PAGE suggest low genetic and venom proteomic divergence across the distribution range. The results also indicate phylogenetic divergence between T. perijanensis and T. discrepans, the species prevalent in northcentral Venezuela. T. perijanensis venom lethality (0.91-0.94 mg/kg) is comparable to that of the Brazilian T. serrulatus and ranks highest among toxic Venezuelan Tityus studied so far. The data indicate that the Perijá range should be included amongst the endemic areas of scorpionism of Venezuela and Colombia.     

Immune reactivity towards insulin, its amyloid and protein S100B in blood sera of Parkinson's disease patients

Peripheral immune responses can be sensitive indicators of disease pathology. We evaluated the autoimmune reactions to endocrine (insulin) and astrocytical (S100B) biomarkers in the blood sera of 26 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared with controls by using ELISA. We found a statistically significant increase of the autoimmune responses to both antigens in PD patients compared with controls with a mean increase of 70% and 50% in the autoimmune reactions towards insulin and S100B, respectively. Heterogeneity of the immune responses observed in patients may reflect the modulating effect of multiple variables associated with neurodegeneration and also changes in the basic mechanisms of individual autoimmune reactivity. We did not detect any pronounced immune reactions towards insulin amyloid fibrils and oligomers in PD patients, indicating that an amyloid-specific conformational epitope is not involved in immune recognition of this amyloid type, while sequential epitope of native insulin is hidden within the amyloid structures. Immune reactions towards S100B and insulin may reflect the neurodegenerative brain damaging processes and impaired insulin homeostasis occurring in PD.     

Comparative effect of an essential oil mouthrinse on plaque,gingivitis and salivary Streptococcus mutans levels: a double blind randomized study

An open, randomized, controlled study with two parallel treatment groups was done to evaluate the efficacy of a Lippia sidoides essential oil (EO) 1% mouthrinse compared with chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthrinse, applied two times daily for 1 week, in the treatment of dental plaque and gingivitis. Fifty‐five patients were included in the study. The efficacy variables were the colony count of Streptococcus mutans from the stimulated saliva and periodontal indices on days 0, 7 and 30 after commencement of therapy. Twenty eight patients received chlorhexidine mouthrinse (Periogard^®) and 27 Lippia sidoides essential oil mouthrinse (Cepakill^®). The clinical and microbiological parameters were significantly reduced by both mouthrinses. No significant difference was seen between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the colony count of S. mutans in both groups (p < 0.05). Chlorhexidine treatment reduced more efficiently than L. sidoides, however, no statistical difference was seen, the efficacy of both groups was similar (p = 0.3). The results indicate that Chlorhexidine mouthrinse reduced plaque index, gingival bleeding and the number of CFU (colonies forming units) more efficiently than L. sidoides but did not reach statistical significance. This study demonstrated that Lippia sidoides EO mouthrinse is effective in reducing microbial plaque and gingival inflammation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

自制稀土永磁夹板对骨折愈合作用的观察

目的观察稀土永磁夹板对家兔骨折愈合质量及骨形态发生蛋白（BMP-2）、血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）表达情况的影响,从分子生物学水平探讨磁场促进骨折愈合的作用机制。方法健康成年家兔50只,建立双前肢桡骨中段骨折模型。左侧用稀土永磁夹板固定,作为实验侧;右侧用内镶铅片小夹板固定,作为对照侧。分别于术后1、2、3、4、6周摄双前肢X线片后取材,进行HE及BMP-2、VEGF免疫组化染色并在光镜下观察。结果X线片图像定量分析结果比较,实验侧愈合明显快于对照侧。两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。实验侧在1、2、3、4周VEGF的表达均比对照侧强,两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。实验侧在2、3、4周BMP-2的表达均比对照侧强,两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。结论静磁场在骨折愈合过程中可加强BMP-2、VEGF的表达。自制稀土永磁夹板对实验性骨折愈合有明显的促进作用。     

P16INK4、PCNA在肺癌中表达的研究

目的 通过检测肺癌组织中p16、PCNA的表达，探讨其在肺癌发生发展中的作用及相互关系。方法 采用S—P免疫组化方法，检测83例肺癌标本及15例正常肺组织标本中P16^INK4和PCNA的表达。结果 P16^INK4和PCNA在正常肺组织和肺癌组织中表达的阳性率存在显著性差异。P16^INK4表达的阳性率在小细胞癌与非小细胞癌之间有显著性差异。PNTM分期高的肺癌标本P16^INK4及PCNA表达阳性率显著高于分期低的肺癌标本。不同分化程度的肺癌组织P16^INK4及PCNA表达阳性率有显著性差异。结论 肺癌的发生与P16^INK4的低表达和PCNA的高表达有关。而P16^INK4的表达与肺癌的组织学类型、分化程度、临床分期有关；PCNA的表达与肺癌的分化程度、临床分期有关。     

透明质酸对BMP-2转染的羊BMSCs增殖、分化的影响

目的观察透明质酸（HA）对携带人骨形态发生蛋白-2的腺病毒（Adv-BMP-2）转染的羊骨髓基质干细胞（BMSCs）体外增殖、分化的影响。方法将羊骨髓体外分离、扩增BMSCs,分成5组：转染Adv-BMP-2的BMSCs＋HA组（Ⅰ组）,转染Adv-BMP-2的BMSCs组（2组）,BMSCs＋HA组（3组）,BMSCs组（4组）,转染携带β半乳糖苷酶的腺病毒（Adv-β-gal）的BMSCs组（5组）。采用细胞计数、绘制细胞生长曲线和流式细胞分析观测细胞增殖;采用碱性磷酸酶（ALP）检测以及RT-PCR检测Ⅰ型胶原（Col-Ⅰ）、骨连接素（ON）和骨涎蛋白（BSP）的mRNA表达。结果①细胞增殖：3 d后各组细胞增殖无显著差异,1周后第1组和第3组的细胞增殖明显高于其他组。②ALP活性：3 d后第3组ALP活性明显低于第4、5组,而第1、2组则显著高于第4、5组;7 d后前3组ALP活性较后两组均显著增加,而第1、2组ALP活性增加更为显著。③Col-Ⅰ、ON和BSP的mRNA表达：3 d和7 d后前3组较后两组均有不同程度的增多。结论HA与BMSCs体外复合培养后可促进BMSCs的增殖、增加ALP的活性以及Col-Ⅰ、ON和BSP基因的表达。     

小干扰RNA干扰大鼠神经元Nogo受体mRNA表达的实验研究

目的观察大鼠Nogo受体(NgR)特异性小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)在原代神经元干扰其mRNA表达的效果。方法体外培养大鼠原代皮层和海马细胞,应用阳离子脂质体转染试剂转染4对化学合成的大鼠NgR特异性siRNA,72h后提取细胞总RNA,实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测NgR mRNA表达情况。结果4对siRNA均能够下调靶基因NgR的mRNA表达水平,siNgR199、siNgR562、siNgR772和siNgR964等干扰后,NgR mRNA的表达分别为对照siRNA干扰组的6.5%、62.4%、15.2%和6.86%,与对照siRNA干扰组比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论化学合成的NgR特异性siRNA能够有效的干扰大鼠原代皮层和海马细胞内NgR基因mRNA的表达水平。     

Potent relaxant effect of a Celastrus paniculatus extract in the rat and human ileum

Ethnopharmacological importance

Celastrus paniculatus Willd. (Celastraceae) is an Ayurvedic remedy used for the treatment of a number of diseases, including bowel spasms.

Aim of the study

To investigate the mode of the relaxing action of a methanolic extract prepared from the seeds of Celastrus paniculatus (CPE, 0.0001–10 μg/mL) in the rat ileum and to try to confirm on human tissues the intestinal pharmacological activity of the extract.

Materials and methods

The relaxant effect of CPE was studied in vitro by evaluating its effect on the spontaneous contractions of the isolated ileum.

Results

CPE exerted a tetrodotoxin- and ω-conotoxin-resistant inhibitory effect on rat ileum motility (IC₅₀: 0.24 ± 0.02 μg/mL; E_max: 99.0 ± 0.60%). The inhibitory effect was reduced by nifedipine but not by cyclopiazonic acid. Experiments with specific antagonists enabled us to exclude the involvement of the main endogenous spasmogenic (i.e. acetylcholine and tachykinins) and relaxing (noradrenaline, nitric oxide, ATP) compounds. CPE also relaxed the isolated human ileum (IC₅₀: 0.26 ± 0.02 μg/mL; E_max: 99.1 ± 0.46%).

Conclusion

It is concluded that (i) CPE exerted a powerful myogenic and L-type Ca²⁺-dependent relaxing effect in the isolated rat ileum and that (ii) the human ileum is sensitive to the inhibitory effect of CPE. If confirmed in vivo, our data could explain the traditional use of this herb in the treatment of intestinal spasms.     

BMP复合体在牙槽骨缺损修复中的作用

①目的　观察狗下颌牙槽骨缺损区植入天然骨形成蛋白 +Ⅰ型胶原 +天然珊瑚复合体 (BMP复合体 )后新骨形成情况。②方法　 4只成年狗右侧下颌牙槽骨建立 5mm× 3mm× 2mm大小骨缺损区作为实验侧 ,植入BMP复合体 ,左侧建立相同骨缺损作为对照侧 ,不植入任何材料。术后 8周处死动物并进行放射、组织学 (光镜及扫描电镜 )检查。③结果　 4只狗中的 3只实验侧较对照侧牙槽骨愈合更佳 ,1只狗实验侧与对照侧骨愈合无明显差别。光镜检查实验侧可见大量的成骨细胞 ,骨缺损区被新生骨充盈 ;对照侧则见大量的纤维母细胞 ,新生骨量较少。电镜下实验侧可见大量位于骨陷窝内的成熟的成骨细胞。④结论　BMP复合体可促进狗下颌牙槽骨缺损的修复 ,有可能成为临床治疗牙槽骨缺损的一种理想的材料     

一种西门子新型X线机的综合性能与安装

本文叙述西门子型号为Polydoros 80/100的新型X线主机,该主机采用微电脑控制技术、光纤维传输技术及中频技术,X射线剂量精度高,影像质量优良,故障率低,是一种技术较为成熟的X线主机,也是当今西门子公司产品的主流机种。该机的安装调试具有一定难度,本文同时针对这一问题进行讨论,并总结归纳出一套安装调试全过程。