Expression of glycine receptors in rat sensory neurons vs. HEK293 cells yields different functional properties

In neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease or HIV encephalitis, neuronal DNA fragmentation has been observed at unexpected high frequencies, without definitive evidence for activation of an irreversible apoptotic pathway. The wobbler mouse is a suggested genetic model of neurodegenerative disease. The mutant mouse develops normally until the fourth week of age when atrophy and weakness of forelimb muscles become apparent. There is a slow progression of the disease and wobbler mice may survive for several months. Spinal cord examination reveals the presence of several motoneurons with perikaryal vacuolar degeneration. In this study, we observed, using terminal dUTP nick-end-labelling staining in mutant spinal cord sections, a massive although very transient DNA fragmentation in different cell types, including glial cells and motoneurons, before the apparition of any clinical symptoms. In older wobbler mice, this DNA fragmentation had completely disappeared and the majority of motoneurons survived. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a massive and transient DNA fragmentation in the central nervous system during the early course of a neurodegenerative disease.     

Immunization with apoptotic phagocytes containing Histoplasma capsulatum activates functional CD8(+) T cells to protect against histoplasmosis

We have previously revealed the protective role of CD8(+) T cells in host defense against Histoplasma capsulatum in animals with CD4(+) T cell deficiency and demonstrated that sensitized CD8(+) T cells are restimulated in vitro by dendritic cells that have ingested apoptotic macrophage-associated Histoplasma antigen. Here we show that immunization with apoptotic phagocytes containing heat-killed Histoplasma efficiently activated functional CD8(+) T cells whose contribution was equal to that of CD4(+) T cells in protection against Histoplasma challenge. Inhibition of macrophage apoptosis due to inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) deficiency or by caspase inhibitor treatment dampened the CD8(+) T cell but not the CD4(+) T cell response to pulmonary Histoplasma infection. In mice subcutaneously immunized with viable Histoplasma yeasts whose CD8(+) T cells are protective against Histoplasma challenge, there was heavy granulocyte and macrophage infiltration and the infiltrating cells became apoptotic. In mice subcutaneously immunized with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled apoptotic macrophages containing heat-killed Histoplasma, the CFSE-labeled macrophage material was found to localize within dendritic cells in the draining lymph node. Moreover, depleting dendritic cells in immunized CD11c-DTR mice significantly reduced CD8(+) T cell activation. Taken together, our results revealed that phagocyte apoptosis in the Histoplasma-infected host is associated with CD8(+) T cell activation and that immunization with apoptotic phagocytes containing heat-killed Histoplasma efficiently evokes a protective CD8(+) T cell response. These results suggest that employing apoptotic phagocytes as antigen donor cells is a viable approach for the development of efficacious vaccines to elicit strong CD8(+) T cell as well as CD4(+) T cell responses to Histoplasma infection.     

海绵质骨螺旋钉拔出试验之生物力学分析

评估螺旋钉设计优劣的简便方法之一为拔出试验。虽然比较用之海绵质骨试件可取自相同部位，自同一方向植入螺旋钉，并具有相同基准。然而因各处海绵质骨骼结构不尽相同，至今尚未有人探讨如使用不同之海绵质骨结构，例如近似等向性之杆状结构，或是板与杆组合之有强列方向排列者，对于螺旋钉拔出之最大力量有多大影响？采用牛股骨远端部位及牛颈椎Ｃ２～Ｃ６作为不同结构特性之试体。并各由两相互垂直之方向旋入螺旋钉，来做拔出试验。最后并建立一三维有限元素模型，用以研究螺纹周围之变形模式及其预测拔出最大力量的准确性。模型分析中以应变能密度准则作为破坏之参考标准。     

Differences in replication capacity between enterovirus 71 isolates obtained from patients with encephalitis and those obtained from patients with herpangina in Taiwan

The cellular-tropism and biological characteristics of enterovirus 71 (EV71) isolates in Taiwan (TW) were studied. Growth curve experiments were conducted using cell lines that were possibly exhibited pathogenesis, and RT-PCR and sequencing tests were undertaken to amplify the 5' non-coding region (5'-NCR). The encephalitis isolate EV71 TW98NTU2078 was PBMC-tropic, temperature-resistant (Tr) at 40 degrees C, and easier to replicate in HTB-14 (astrocytoma) than the herpangina isolate EV71 TW98NTU1186 (The viral yields were 100-fold higher than those of the herpangina isolate EV71 TW98NTU1186 at 96 hr post infection.). The herpangina isolate EV71 TW98NTU1186 was non-PBMC-tropic, and temperature-sensitive (Ts) at 40 degrees C. The replication of EV71 TW98NTU1186 in HTB-14 was lower. No EV71 isolate infected HTB-37 (human colon adenocarcinoma cells). The encephalitis EV71 isolate exhibited better replication and transmission in PBMCs and astrocytes than did the EV71 isolate without CNS involvement.     

Exercise self-efficacy, exercise benefits and barriers, and commitment to a plan for exercise among Korean women with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis

This study compared perceived exercise self-efficacy, exercise benefits, exercise barriers, and commitment to a plan for exercise between Korean women with a diagnosis of either osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. The influence of exercise self-efficacy, exercise benefits and barriers on commitment to a plan for exercise was also assessed in each group. Participants in the study were 154 Korean women over 40 years of age who were recruited from hospitals, health centers or a nursing home. The two groups differed on commitment to a plan for exercise with commitment greater among women with osteoporosis. Exercise self-efficacy was the most influential variable on commitment to a plan for exercise accounting for 27% of the variance in commitment among osteoporosis patients and 53% of the variance among osteoarthritis patients. This study generated information relevant to tailoring exercise interventions to the differing needs and perceptions of Korean women with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.     

白藜芦醇对一次性力竭游泳大鼠肝脏组织保护作用的量效关系

目的:观察白藜芦醇对一次性力竭游泳大鼠肝脏组织的作用及发挥作用的最佳口服剂量。方法:实验于2006-05/07在成都体育学院运动医学系动物实验室完成。①实验分组:选取雄性SD大鼠70只,随机分为7组,每组10只,分别为安静对照组,运动对照组,运动 15mg/kg白藜芦醇组,运动 50mg/kg白藜芦醇组,运动 100mg/kg白藜芦醇组,运动 200mg/kg白藜芦醇组,运动 300mg/kg白藜芦醇组。②实验干预:不同剂量白藜芦醇组每天灌胃15,50,100,200,300mg/kg白藜芦醇,安静对照组和运动对照组分别灌胃相同体积的溶媒(二甲亚砜 生理盐水),连续5周。末次给予实验用样品1h后,各运动组每只鼠尾跟部负荷3%体质量铅皮,置于水深50cm、水温(31±1)℃游泳槽中游泳。游泳力竭后即刻,股动脉取血并迅速取出肝组织。③指标检测:赖氏比色法测定血清中谷丙转氨酶活性;邻苯三酚自氧化法测定肝组织超氧化物歧化酶活性;硫代巴比妥酸法测定肝组织丙二醛含量。结果:纳入动物70只,均进入结果分析。①血清谷丙转氨酶活性和肝组织中丙二醛含量:运动对照组显著高于安静对照组,不同剂量白藜芦醇组低于运动对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。运动 100,200,300mg/kg白藜芦醇组低于运动 15,50mg/kg白藜芦醇组[谷丙转氨酶活性:(972.36±121.86),(944.36±105.35),(888.34±88.68),(1773.52±89.35),(1377.78±27.01)nkat/L,P<0.01;丙二醛含量:(7.90±2.56),(7.69±3.69),(7.13±2.62),(19.90±2.21),(12.16±1.78)μmol/g,P<0.05]。100,200,300mg/kg白藜芦醇组间差异无显著性。②肝脏组织中超氧化物歧化酶活性:运动对照组显著低于安静对照组,不同剂量白藜芦醇组高于运动对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。运动 100,200,300mg/kg白藜芦醇组高于15,50mg/kg白藜芦醇组[(2325.80±163.37),(2379.14±121.86),(2447.16±89.18),(1096.05±120.19),(1514.64±28.17)μkat/g,P<0.01]。结论:①白藜芦醇对力竭性运动大鼠肝脏组织具有保护作用。②100,200,300mg/kg白藜芦醇对肝脏组织发挥保护作用效果优于15,50mg/kg,建议使用100mg/kg白藜芦醇就能达到理想效果。     

Use of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective inguinal hernia repair in adults in London and south-east England: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose

Evidence regarding whether or not antibiotic prophylaxis is beneficial in preventing post-operative surgical site infection in adult inguinal hernia repair is conflicting. A recent Cochrane review based on 17 randomised trials did not reach a conclusion on this subject. This study aimed to describe the current practice and determine whether clinical equipoise is prevalent.

Methods

Surgeons in training were recruited to administer the Survey of Hernia Antibiotic Prophylaxis usE survey to consultant-level general surgeons in London and the south-east of England on their practices and beliefs regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in adult elective inguinal hernia repair. Local prophylaxis guidelines for the participating hospital sites were also determined.

Results

The study was conducted at 34 different sites and received completed surveys from 229 out of a possible 245 surgeons, a 93 % response rate. Overall, a large majority of hospital guidelines (22/28) and surgeons’ personal beliefs (192/229, 84 %) supported the use of single-dose pre-operative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis in inguinal hernia repair, although there was considerable variation in the regimens in use. The most widely used regimen was intravenous co-amoxiclav (1.2 g). Less than half of surgeons were adherent to their own hospital antibiotic guidelines for this procedure, although many incorrectly believed that they were following these.

Conclusion

In the south-east of England, there is a strong majority of surgical opinion in favour of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in this procedure. It is therefore likely to be extremely difficult to conduct further randomised studies in the UK to support or refute the effectiveness of prophylaxis in this commonly performed procedure.     

广东地区散发克罗恩病患者β防御素2启动子区基因突变检测

目的:对广东地区散发克罗恩病患者β防御素2启动子区基因突变进行筛查,探讨该基因在克罗恩病发病中的作用。方法:克罗恩病组为2002-01/2006-10于南方医院消化科确诊的克罗恩病患者45例,对照组为门诊健康志愿者50例。签定知情同意书后分别取静脉血5mL,提取基因组DNA,并根据设计好的引物序列及PCR反应条件进行目的片段的扩增,阴性对照使用蒸馏水代替DNA。扩增成功的目的基因片段用DNA纯化试剂盒进行纯化,并由上海英俊公司完成测序工作。利用DNAMAN软件将患者测序结果与正常对照结果进行比对,并与基因库数据对照(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/),SPSS13.0进行统计学分析。并根据结果分析其与克罗恩病患者病变特点的相关性。结果:①纳入的45例克罗恩病患者与50例健康志愿者在性别和年龄上无统计学意义,并全部进入实验分析。②45例克罗恩病患者中有4例在β防御素2启动子区第-233(G→C)位发现基因突变,密码子由AGG变成AGC,编码氨基酸由精氨酸变成丝氨酸,而50例对照组未发现此改变,二者比较具有统计学意义(χ2=4.34,P<0.05)。③4例突变的患者病变均位于小肠(χ2=10.81,P<0.01)且病情较重。结论:在克罗恩患者中存在着β防御素2启动子区基因突变携带者,与患者发病年龄、病变部位、病变程度明显相关,有必要对其功能进行进一步探讨。