Protein expression in salivary glands of rats with streptozotocin diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widespread disease with high morbidity and health care costs. An experimental animal model was employed, using morphological and biochemical methods, to investigate the effects of DM on the expression and compartmentation of salivary gland proteins. The distribution of proline-rich proteins (PRP), submandibular mucin (Muc10) and the regulatory (RI and RII) subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type I and type II was determined in the parotid and submandibular (SMG) glands of rats treated with streptozotocin. Quantitative immunocytochemistry of secretory granules in diabetic glands revealed decreases of 30% for PRP in both the parotid and SMG, and a 40% decrease in Muc10 in the SMG. Immunogold labelling showed that RII decreased in nuclei and the cytoplasm in diabetic acinar cells while labelling of secretory granules was similar in control and diabetic parotid. Electrophoresis and Western blotting of tissue extracts of two secretory proteins showed that the response to DM and insulin treatment was gland specific: PRP showed little change in the SMG, but decreased in the parotid in DM and was partially restored after insulin treatment. Photoaffinity labelling showed only RI present in the SMG and mainly RII in the parotid. The results of this and previous studies demonstrating highly specific changes in salivary protein expression indicate that the oral environment is significantly altered by DM, and that oral tissues and their function can be compromised. These findings may provide a basis for future studies to develop tests using saliva for diabetic status or progression in humans.     

实验室纯水系统更换反渗透膜对生化检验的影响

目的：研究实验室纯水系统更换新反渗透膜后,所产纯水的质量是否符合生化检验的要求并评价其影响。方法通过Beckman Coulter生化分析系统配套纯水机天创TCHS-RO／100A自带电阻表和 HM COM-100电导率测量笔连续监测新产纯水中的实时离子含量。用正常纯水在 AU680上重复20次测量 ALT,AST,TBIL,ALP,GGT,TP,ALB,BUN, CR,UA,GLU,TC,TG,HDL,LDL,CK,LDH,P,Ca（对照组）,更换为新产纯水后进行相同试验操作（试验组）,以评估新产纯水对生化分析的影响。连续5天,每天3次（间隔2 h）监测新产纯水的 TG试剂空白,监测水中甘油水平。结果开机30 min后,HM COM-100测得电导率降至（0.1±0.0）μS／cm,机载电阻表测得新产纯水在开机50 min后稳定在18.25 MΩcm。在用 AU680进行生化分析时,对照组中TG测量值＝1.04 mmol／L,试验组＝21.39 mmol／L,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）,而除TG其他生化项目偏倚均在5％以内,CV＜1／4CLIA’88,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。TG试剂空白在第5天稳定在A660nm＝0.0156＆#177;0.0004。结论新纯水系统在生产约2800 L水后,所产纯水中的甘油可以清除干净。实验室纯水系统在更换反渗透膜后,需要对水质进行连续监测,以评价其对常规生化项目检测的影响。     

两种膜分离器对血浆置换后血细胞数及血生化影响的比较

目的：比较两种不同材料制备的膜型血浆分离器PS-06与Evacure-4A在人工肝血浆置换治疗后对患者血细胞数、肾功能、血电解质及血氨的影响．方法：在内科综合治疗基础上联合人工肝血浆置换治疗患者112例,应用KM-8800型血浆置换装置(Kuraray)和PS-06、Evacure-4A两种膜型血浆分离器,其中应用PS-06膜型血浆分离器(A组)54例,应用Evacure-4A膜型血浆分离器(B组)58例,检测治疗前后的血常规、肾功能、血电解质及血氨．结果：患者术后各项指标的增减百分率比较,其中血小板(PLT)、血红蛋白(Hb)、血氨(NH_3)下降率(治疗后/治疗前)A组与B组间有显著性差异(PLT：92．2%±14．8% vs 99．8%±22．4%,P＜0．05；Hb：88．1%±9．7% vs 94．8%±3．8%,P＜0．01；NH_3：81．2%±22．7% vs 66．6%±13．7%,P＜0．01),其他各项指标增减百分率无统计学意义(P＞0．05)．结论：人工肝血浆置换治疗中Evacure-4A膜型血浆分离器对血小板无明显影响,对血红蛋白影响较小,并能更有效地清除患者体内尿素氮、肌酐及血氨等毒性代谢产物,明显优于PS-06膜型血浆分离器．     

Haematological and biochemical indices in young African children: in search of reference intervals

INTRODUCTION: The reference intervals of haematological and biochemical indices currently used in Africa are derived from data collected from populations living in industrialized countries. Few studies have been performed in Africa questioning the validity of these values when applied to local African populations. OBJECTIVE: To provide reference intervals of haematological [haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), haematocrit (Htc) and platelets] and biochemical indices (ALT, creatinine and bilirubin) for children aged 1-4 from a rural area of southern Mozambique. METHODS: Reference intervals were developed using the 2.5 and 97.5 centiles. Partition tests were performed to evaluate age and gender differences. Quantile regression models were estimated for those variables in which age partition was recommended. Deviances from linearity in the estimated models were evaluated using fractional polynomials of first or second degree. Agreement to classify normality, using the estimated reference intervals or values in use in a western paediatric hospital, was made using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: Reference intervals for Hb, WBC, Htc, platelets, ALT and creatinine show significant differences by age. Gender differences were observed for creatinine values, while for bilirubin there were no significant differences for age or gender. Estimated Hb and Htc reference intervals in African children were lower than the accepted western ones, while ALT values were higher in the former. Agreement between normal classification, using the estimated intervals or the western values, was from slight to fair. CONCLUSIONS: Reference intervals of haematological and biochemical indices based on results from western individuals of the same age are not in agreement with the estimated values for African children. These observed values should not be used as a rule to define normality, but are the ones usually found in this population where anaemia, malaria and high mortality rates are also common.     

E3 ligase Rad18 promotes monoubiquitination rather than ubiquitin chain formation by E2 enzyme Rad6

In ubiquitin conjugation, different combinations of E2 and E3 enzymes catalyse either monoubiquitination or ubiquitin chain formation. The E2/E3 complex Rad6/Rad18 exclusively monoubiquitinates the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to signal for "error prone" DNA damage tolerance, whereas a different set of conjugation enzymes is required for ubiquitin chain formation on PCNA. Here we show that human E2 enzyme Rad6b is intrinsically capable of catalyzing ubiquitin chain formation. This activity is prevented during PCNA ubiquitination by the interaction of Rad6 with E3 enzyme Rad18. Using NMR and X-ray crystallography we show that the R6BD of Rad18 inhibits this activity by competing with ubiquitin for a noncovalent "backside" binding site on Rad6. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into how E3 enzymes can regulate the ubiquitin conjugation process.     

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Updates in noninvasive diagnosis and correlation with cardiovascular disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)refers to the accumulation of fat(mainly triglycerides)within hepatocytes.Approximately 20%-30%of adults in the general population in developed countries have NAFLD;this trend is increasing because of the pandemicity of obesity and diabetes,and is becoming a serious public health burden.Twenty percent of individuals with NAFLD develop chronic hepatic inflammation[nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)],which can be associated with the development of cirrhosis,portal hypertension,and hepatocellular carcinoma in a minority of patients.And thus,the detection and diagnosis of NAFLD is important for general practitioners.Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing NAFLD and confirming the presence of NASH.However,the invasiveness of this procedure limits its application to screening the general population or patients with contraindications for liver biopsy.The development of noninvasive diagnostic methods for NAFLD is of paramount importance.This review focuses on the updates of noninvasive diagnosis of NAFLD.Besides,we review clinical evidence supporting a strong association between NAFLD and the risk of cardiovascular disease because of the cross link between these two disorders.     

AU640生化分析仪的临床应用

目的:分析AU640生化分析仪的临床应用特点,以指导实验室正确使用。方法:通过对AU640生化分析仪的实际应用,总结出仪器的硬件优势和操作优势,并提出了一些应用体会和建议。结果:AU640全自动生化分析仪具有精确、灵活、高速、低耗能、测试项目多等诸多特点和优势。结论:AU640生化分析仪是一种技术领先、设计完美、质量可靠的全自动生化分析仪。     

Haematological and biochemistry laboratory abnormalities associated with splenomegaly in asymptomatic adults in Masaka, Uganda: implications for HIV biomedical prevention trials

Objectives  To assess the degree of haematological and biochemistry abnormalities associated with splenomegaly in asymptomatic adults in order to determine whether they may be eligible for inclusion in HIV biomedical prevention trials.
Methods  Asymptomatic adults (50% women) aged 18–60  with splenomegaly (≥grade II by Hackett's classification) who agreed to provide blood and urine specimens for laboratory testing were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Volunteers who were menstruating, pregnant, infected with HIV, syphilis or Hepatitis B and C, or had significant clinical findings were excluded. Haematological and biochemistry laboratory evaluations were performed for enroled volunteers, and the results were compared to local reference ranges. The proportion of volunteers with out-of-range (OOR) values was estimated for each parameter. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between grade of splenomegaly and laboratory values.
Results  The proportion of volunteers with OOR haematology values ranged from 4.5% (mean corpuscular volume) and 15% (CD4 cells) to 31% (basophils). Increasing spleen size was significantly associated with anaemia, thrombocytopenia and low CD4 count. OOR biochemistry values were found in about 10% of volunteers. Increasing spleen size was associated with reduced creatinine phosphokinase and creatinine (in men) and raised lactate dehydrogenase.
Conclusions  In areas with a high prevalence of splenomegaly, most asymptomatic individuals with this condition have haematology and biochemistry values that fall within the local reference ranges, and they could therefore be eligible for inclusion in HIV biomedical prevention trials. However, the effect of splenomegaly on certain parameters should be taken into account during interpretation of laboratory-based adverse events.     

2008～2012年临床生化室间质量评价结果分析

目的通过对临床生化检验室在2008～2012年期间参加安徽省临床生化检验室间质评结果的回顾分析和总结,不断提高检验质量,从而更好地为临床服务。方法将5 a室间质评结果统计,按卫生部临检中心统一评价标准,同时采用PT(能力验证)和VIS(变异指数得分)两种评分方法进行评分。结果 5 a平均PT合格率达95.8%,VIS得分优秀占83.9%,合格占10.5%,不合格占5.6%。结论通过开展室间质评工作,提高了实验室人员的质控意识,改进了分析能力和实验方法,从而提高了检验质量。