High 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D and Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Plasma in Patients Receiving Antiepileptic Drugs

Abstract: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25-(OH)₂ D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations were determined in 30 outpatients receiving various antiepileptic drugs (AED). None of the patients exhibited high plasma PTH levels. The plasma 1,25-(OH) ₂ D levels were normal or high, a'though in a third of the patients the 25-OH D levels were reduced. There was a corre'ation between the 25-OH D and serum calcium levels. These findings suggest that the low plasma concentrations of 25-OH D, not 1,25-(OH)₂ D, might play an important part in the occurrence of AED-induced disturbances of bone metabolism.     

Mel—CAM、MMP-2、P53在多型性腺瘤中的表达及意义

目的：检测黑色素瘤细胞粘附分子Mel—CAM，基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和肿瘤抑制基因P53在正常腮腺及腮腺多型性腺瘤中的表达，探讨其与腮腺多型性腺瘤良恶性之间的关系。方法：本研究所用之石蜡包埋组织标本取自1983年1月至2003年1月患者住院资料完整的腮腺多型性腺瘤患者，经随访两年以上，临床证实良性者44例，恶性39例，另取正常腮腺组织30例，应用免疫组织化学二部法检测Mel—CAM、MMP-2、P53的表达，分析其与腮腺多型性腺瘤良恶性之间的关系。结果；Mel—CAM、MMP-2在正常腮腺组织及腮腺多型性腺瘤中均有不同表达。P53在正常腮腺组织中未见表达，在良性腮腺多型性腺瘤和恶性腮腺多型性腺瘤中有不同表达。结论：Mel—CAM、MMP-2、P53检测对鉴别腮腺多型性腺瘤良恶性有价值。     

Effect of the Heat-exposure on Peripheral Sudomotor Activity Including the Density of Active Sweat Glands and Single Sweat Gland Output

Tropical inhabitants are able to tolerate heat through permanent residence in hot and often humid tropical climates. The goal of this study was to clarify the peripheral mechanisms involved in thermal sweating pre and post exposure (heat-acclimatization over 10 days) by studying the sweating responses to acetylcholine (ACh), a primary neurotransmitter of sudomotor activity, in healthy subjects (n=12). Ten percent ACh was administered on the inner forearm skin for iontophoresis. Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing, after iontophoresis (2 mA for 5 min) with ACH, was performed to determine directly activated (DIR) and axon reflex-mediated (AXR) sweating during ACh iontophoresis. The sweat rate, activated sweat gland density, sweat gland output per single gland activated, as well as oral and skin temperature changes were measured. The post exposure activity had a short onset time (p<0.01), higher active sweat rate [(AXR (p<0.001) and DIR (p<0.001)], higher sweat output per gland (p<0.001) and higher transepidermal water loss (p<0.001) compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The activated sweat rate in the sudomotor activity increased the output for post-exposure compared to the pre-exposure measurements. The results suggested that post-exposure activity showed a higher active sweat gland output due to the combination of a higher AXR (DIR) sweat rate and a shorter onset time. Therefore, higher sudomotor responses to ACh receptors indicate accelerated sympathetic nerve responsiveness to ACh sensitivity by exposure to environmental conditions.     

Anti-cytoplasmic autoantibodies reactive with epithelial cells of the salivary gland in sera from patients with Sjögren's syndrome: their disease- and organ-specificities

To test whether the autoantibodies reactive with epithelial cells of the salivary gland in sera from Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients are specific for the organ and the disease, tissue reactivities of serum IgG obtained from the patients with SS and oral lichen planus (OLP), another immune-mediated oral mucosal disease, were examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. IgG purified from the sera of SS patients specifically localized not only on the nuclei but also on the cytoplasm of the salivary gland epithelial cells. On the other hand, no convincing staining of the epithelial cells was observed when IgG purified from the sera of OLP patients or those from healthy controls were used for immunohistochemistry. No cytoplasmic staining was observed when sections of kidneys and pancreas were stained with SS patients'IgG. In Western blotting performed by using lysates of a submandibular gland as antigens, all the IgG prepared from the SS patients reacted prominently with several protein bands, including those specific for the disease and the organ. These results suggest that production of autoantibodies reacting with the cytoplasm of salivary gland epithelial cells is a characteristic of SS, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of the sialadenitis.     

Comparison of the Rat Pinealocyte Ultrastructure With Melatonin Concentrations During Daytime and at Night

The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of rat pinealocyte during daytime (1600 h) and at night (0100 h) and to compare these observations with serum melatonin levels in the same animals. In addition, pineal melatonin concentrations were determined in other animals. Both serum and pineal melatonin concentrations were significantly higher at night than during daytime (34 and 21 times, respectively). Sizes of pinealocytes, their nuclei, and nucleoli, as well as cross-sectional areas of mitochondria and granular endoplasmic reticulum were also higher at night than during daytime, whereas areas of lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, and vacuoles containing flocculent material did not differ at the time points studied. In contrast, the number of dense-core vesicles was higher during daytime. The results of the present study show that morphological patterns of higher metabolic activity of the rat pinealocyte at night when compared to those during daytime correlate with melatonin concentrations.     

腮腺部分切除术在多形性腺瘤治疗中的疗效分析

目的探讨腮腺部分切除术在腮腺多形性腺瘤治疗中的临床效果。方法对38例位于腮腺浅叶直径小于3．0cm的腺瘤行腮腺部分切除术，在肿瘤边缘外0．5～1．Ocm的正常腺体组织中切除肿瘤。结果35例经门诊随访至今未见肿瘤复发，患侧腮腺区凹陷畸形不明显，腮腺导管口唾液分泌流畅。结论腮腺部分切除术在治疗体积较小的多形性腺瘤中能够确保手术的安全缘，而且能保存腺体功能，预防面部凹陷畸形，降低暂时性面瘫、Frey综合征等并发症的发生率。     

THE ACUTE BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF FOUR PROPRIETARY CALCIUM PREPARATIONS

Abstract Changes in serum and urine biochemical indices have been studied in ten normal subjects in the four hours following the ingestion of four proprietary calcium supplements. Each was taken in a dose containing 1 gram of elemental calcium. The four preparations were ranked according to the amount of calcium absorbed in the order Spar-Cal and Calcium Sandoz> Os-Cal> Ossopan. There were no significant differences between the four preparations in the changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) and urine hydroxyproline levels. For this reason, the four results from each subject were averaged. Following the calcium load there was a reduction in mean PTH from 0.16 ± 0.01 to 0.10 ± 0.02 μg/l (p<0.001) and a decline in urine hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio from 20 ± 1 to 17 ± 1 (p<0.02), suggesting that bone resorption responds immediately to dietary calcium intake. There was a rise in urine sodium excretion which correlated with the indices of calcium absorption (r= 0.63, p<0.01) but not with the sodium content of the calcium preparations. This effect could be important, particularly in elderly patients on borderline sodium intakes.     

散发性甲状旁腺腺瘤基因改变的研究进展

散发性甲状旁腺腺瘤是引起原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进的重要原因.但甲状旁腺腺瘤发病机制不清且缺乏早期特异性诊断指标.近年来随着分子生物学的发展,甲状旁腺腺瘤在基因水平的研究取得了很大的进展.本文就其在分子生物学的改变做一综述.     

Hazardous effect of tannery solid waste leachates on development and reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster: 70 kDa heat shock protein as a marker of cellular damage

Rapid industrialization has increased the burden of chemicals in the environment. These chemicals may be harmful to development and reproduction of any organism. We therefore analyzed the adverse effects of leachates from a tannery solid waste on development and reproduction using Drosophila. We show a significant delay in mean emergence of flies observed at the higher concentrations of the leachates, indicating their effect on the organism's development. Significant leachate-induced effect on reproduction of the organism was also observed. Sub-organismal analyses revealed Hsp70 expression and tissue damage in a sex-specific manner. Refractoriness of Hsp70 expression in accessory glands of male flies and ovaries of females was concurrent with tissue damage. Genes encoding certain seminal proteins (Acp70A and Acp36DE) from accessory glands were significantly down-regulated at higher concentrations of the leachates. The study suggests that (i) sub-organismal adverse responses are reflected at organismal level, (ii) tannery waste leachates cause adverse effects on the expression of genes encoding seminal proteins that facilitate normal reproduction and (iii) Hsp70 may be used as a marker of cellular damage for reproductive organs.     

Selective parathyroid auto‐transplantation during thyroidectomy

Aim: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is a debilitating morbidity following thyroidectomy and parathyroid auto‐transplantation has been shown to be effective in preventing permanent hypoparathyroidism. Controversy exists regarding the benefit of routine versus selective auto‐transplantation. We evaluate the outcome of selective parathyroid auto‐transplantation in our hospital. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the incidence of postoperative hypocalcaemia. Indication for parathyroid auto‐transplant was doubtful viability of parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy. From 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2005, all patients who underwent total, subtotal and completion thyroidectomy were included. Other outcome measures including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and operative time were also analyzed. Results: A total of 170 bilateral or completion thyroidectomies were performed within this period. Total, subtotal, and completion total thyroidectomies were performed in 103 (60.6%), 62 (36.5%), and five (2.9%) patients, respectively. Median age was 45 years (range 19–82). One hundred and twenty‐four patients (73%) had benign thyroid disease, and 46 patients (27%) had thyroid carcinoma. Parathyroid auto‐transplant was performed in 35 patients (20.6%). Mean operation time was 204 min (range 95–510 min). There was no difference in the operation time between the patients with parathyroid auto‐transplant and those without auto‐transplant (217 vs 200 min, P = 0.229). Transient hypocalcaemia occurred in 31 patients (18.2%) whereas two patients had permanent hypocalcaemia (1.2%). Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred in one patient (0.6%). Conclusions: The adoption of selective parathyroid auto‐transplant during thyroidectomy achieves an extremely low incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism without excessive transient hypoparathyroidism.