心肌梗死后β2肾上腺素能受体的变化及其在牵张所致心律失常中的作用

目的： 观察心肌梗死（MI）后β2肾上腺素能受体（β2受体）的变化及其在牵张所致心律失常中的作用。方法: 复制大鼠MI模型，随机分为美托洛尔、卡维地洛及安慰剂组，另行假手术为对照组。8周后Langendorff离体心脏灌流，乳胶球囊牵张左心室，记录左心室前壁非梗死区的单相动作电位（MAP），测量MAP时程（MAPD）、50%和90%MAP复极时程(MAPD50和MAPD90)，记录牵张左心室诱发心律失常次数。RT-PCR方法测定左心室组织β1、β2受体mRNA表达水平。结果: MI后β2受体比例升高，卡维地洛降低MI后β2受体比例；MI后MAPD、MAPD50和MAPD90延长，美托洛尔、卡维地洛逆转该变化；MI后机械牵张使MAPD、MAPD50和MAPD90缩短，给予美托洛尔后仍缩短；给予卡维地洛后，牵张前后无明显变化。结论: β2受体可能通过机械电反馈机制，参与MI后牵张所致心律失常的发生。     

p38 MAPK在机械牵张致大鼠心脏TREK-1通道表达改变中的作用

目的：研究p38 MAPK信号途径在急性机械牵张致大鼠离体灌流心脏TREK-1通道表达改变中的作用。方法:30只雄性 Wistar大鼠随机分成3组,即对照组、机械牵张组和SB202190（p38 MAPK特异性抑制剂）组，每组10只。利用Langendorff灌流装置等建立离体灌流急性机械牵张的心脏模型；通过Western blotting方法检测各组大鼠左室的p38 MAPK、p-p38 MAPK及TREK-1通道的蛋白表达。结果:各组大鼠左室的p38 MAPK表达无明显差异（P>0.05）；机械牵张组左室p-p38 MAPK 及TREK-1通道的蛋白表达均明显高于对照组（P<0.01），而SB202190组的p-p38 MAPK及TREK-1蛋白表达与对照组比较无明显差异（P>0.05）且低于机械牵张组。结论:离体灌流心脏受机械刺激时p38 MAPK信号途径的激活可能介导了TREK-1通道的表达上调。心脏可能通过这种方式来改变自身电活动，从而减少心律失常发生，起到自身保护作用。     

链霉素对兔左心室后负荷增加所致电生理变化的影响

目的:探讨左心室后负荷增加引起的心脏电生理变化及链霉素和维拉帕米对其的影响。方法:采用部分夹闭家兔升主动脉根部以增加左室后负荷的在体心脏模型,观察后负荷增加前后心肌相对不应期(RRP)、有效不应期(ERP)、单相动作电位时程(MAPD₉₀)和室颤阈(VFT)的变化,并比较了链霉素和维拉帕米对这些电生理参数变化的影响。结果:后负荷上升引起RRP、ERP和MAPD₉₀缩短,VFT下降(P<0.01);链霉素可有效抑制后负荷增加引起的心脏电生理变化;而维拉帕米除可提高VFT外(P<0.01),对后负荷增加引起RRP、ERP和MAPD90的缩短没有明显影响(P＞0.05)。结论:结果提示牵张激活性离子通道的活化可能参与后负荷增加引起的心脏电生理变化过程,且链霉素通过抑制这种离子通道的活化而发挥作用。     

机械牵张对钙预适应心肌电生理特性的影响

目的：研究在模拟缺氧-复氧再灌注条件下机械牵张对钙预适应(CPC)离体豚鼠乳头肌电生理特性的影响。 方法： 利用细胞内标准玻璃微电极技术，记录并观察一定牵张力（200 mg强度）作用下钙预适应乳头肌细胞动作电位（AP）和有效不应期（ERP）的变化。 结果： 牵张可使单纯缺氧-复氧再灌注（AR）组和CPC组在整个缺氧期除兴奋传导时间（CT）明显延长外，Vmax、RP、APA、APD50、APD90和ERP等参数明显缩短，但对CPC组的影响较小。而牵张可使两组在复氧再灌注期的动作电位的Vmax、RP、APA、APD50和ERP降低，CT和APD90延长，但对CPC组的影响较小。链霉素可抑制机械牵张对CPC组上述参数的影响。 结论： 在模拟缺氧-复氧再灌注条件下，CPC乳头肌对机械牵张的耐受性增强；链霉素则可抑制牵张对CPC心肌电生理特性的影响。     

机械牵张对大鼠心室肌蛋白激酶B磷酸化及心钠素分泌的影响

目的:研究机械牵张对大鼠心肌蛋白激酶B(Akt)活化和心钠素(ANF)分泌的影响。方法:采用Langendorff方法灌流大鼠心脏,膨胀球囊持续牵张左心室,从左心室游离心肌,提取胞浆蛋白,用Western blot检测磷酸化Akt、总Akt水平;收集冠脉流出液,用放射免疫分析法检测冠脉流出液中ANF含量。结果:持续牵张不影响灌流心脏的心率和冠脉流出量。但经过20min持续牵张,牵张组心脏灌流液中ANF含量(209.89±65.45pg/ml)较对照组(108.84±25.18pg/ml)明显增高(P<0.01);牵张组大鼠左心室心肌组织磷酸化Akt水平(0.76±0.03)明显高于对照组(0.32±0.02),而总Akt水平与对照组相比无显著性差异。结论:机械牵张可引起心脏心钠素的分泌增加,其机制可能与胞内Akt信号通路的激活有关。     

改变在体兔左心室后负荷对其电生理参数的影响

目的：探讨改变在体兔左心室后负荷对室性心律失常发生情况及左心室电生理参数的影响。方法：改变左心室后负荷，观察室性心律失常发生情况，并测定左心室舒张阈值（ＶＤＴ），相对不应期（ＲＲＰ），有效不应期（ＥＲＰ）及其不应期离散和心室纤颤阈（ＶＦＴ）。结果：逐级增加左心室后负荷（ＡＢ级）可使左室空间ＲＲＰ，ＥＲＰ离散增加（Ｂ级，Ｐ＜００５），ＶＦＴ降低（Ｂ级，Ｐ＜００１）；各实验动物均出现室性心律失常（Ｂ级）；而逐级减小左室后负荷（ＣＤ级），心室电生理参数无变化（Ｐ＞００５），各实验动物亦无室性心律失常发生。结论：增加左心室后负荷诱发室性心律失常，与左室空间不应期离散增加有关。     

机械牵张对兔角膜成纤维细胞细胞外基质基因表达的影响

目的 研究机械牵张与白介素-1β（IL-1β）联合作用对兔角膜成纤维细胞细胞外基质相关基因表达的影响。方法 对原代提取的兔角膜成纤维细胞进行牵张幅度15%、频率0.1 Hz的周期性牵张12、24、36 h,同时给予IL-1β处理,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测细胞基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）、基质金属蛋白酶的组织抑制剂（TIMP-1）和I型胶原α1（Collagen Iα1）mRNA表达变化水平。结果 IL-1β单独作用可以诱导角膜成纤维细胞MMP-1、MMP-3和MMP-9 mRNA表达;MMP-1和MMP-3 mRNA表达随时间而降低,MMP-9、TIMP-1、Collagen Iα1 mRNA则随时间而增加;IL-1β与机械牵张联合作用使MMP-1、MMP-3、MMP-9 mRNA表达水平上调,TIMP-1和Collagen Iα1 mRNA表达下调,且具有时间依赖。单独机械牵张使Collagen Iα1 mRNA表达下降,IL-1β与机械牵张联合作用使其表达进一步下调,且具有时间依赖性。结论 机械牵张与炎性因子联合作用可加剧角膜组织破坏,促进角膜膨隆的发生发展。     

机械牵张对人肺上皮细胞纤维增殖的影响

背景:机械通气是目前重症呼吸疾病重要有效的治疗支持手段之一,但不适当的机械通气可使肺损伤加重,甚至纤维化形成。如何最大程度减少呼吸机相关肺损伤,发挥呼吸机的真正保护作用显得至关重要。肺是一个力学器官,机械通气使肺泡反复充气,对邻近的肺上皮细胞产生牵张作用,使其处于一个非正常的损伤修复过程。因此,过度机械牵张在促进肺纤维增殖发生中可能扮演重要角色。目前国内外关于机械牵张对肺上皮细胞纤维增殖的影响报道较少,其具体发生机制并不清楚。目的:观察不同机械牵张强度及牵张时间对人肺上皮BEAS-2B细胞中转化生长因子β1、波形蛋白及Ⅰ型胶原表达的影响。方法:体外培养人肺上皮细胞株BEAS-2B,取对数生长期的细胞分为静止对照组、10%牵张组、20%牵张组。采用FX-5000T细胞应力加载系统对人肺上皮BEAS-2B细胞以频率20次/min,正弦波形式分别牵张24,48,72 h,采用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态变化,RT-qPCR和免疫荧光方法检测转化生长因子β1、Ⅰ型胶原mRNA表达及波形蛋白表达变化。结果与结论:(1)静止对照组BEAS-2B细胞呈卵圆形贴壁生长,20%牵张组牵张72 h后细胞形态由鹅...     

p38 MAPK在周期性机械牵张诱导肺泡巨噬细胞表达HMGB1中的作用

目的： 研究p38 MAPK在周期性机械牵张诱导肺泡巨噬细胞(AM)表达高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)中的作用。方法：大鼠AM随机分为A、B、C 3组,A组为对照组;B组细胞施加20%牵张应变,牵张时间为4 h;C组细胞的牵张模式与B组相同,在牵张前用p38 MAPK特异性抑制剂SB203580(40 μmol/L)预处理2 h。利用RT-PCR法检测HMGB1 mRNA的表达,Western blotting检测HMGB1蛋白表达和p38 MAPK的活性。结果：与对照组相比,AM施加20%牵张应变可诱导HMGB1蛋白和mRNA表达明显增加、p38 MAPK活性明显增高(均P<0.05),SB203580可显著抑制牵张应变的这种诱导作用(均P<0.05)。结论：周期性机械牵张可能通过p38 MAPK信号通路,调节肺泡巨噬细胞HMGB1 mRNA和蛋白的表达。     

牵张应力对人牙周膜细胞MMP-13/TIMP-1表达的影响及其信号转导途径研究

目的研究不同强度机械牵张应力对人牙周膜细胞基质金属蛋白酶-13(MMP-13)及其组织抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)表达的影响,并探讨机械牵张应力作用下人牙周膜细胞MMP-13/TIMP-1表达变化的信号转导途径。方法通过细胞牵张应力加载系统对体外培养的人牙周膜细胞同时施加0%、6%、12%和18%形变率的机械牵张应力,作用24 h后,用RT-PCR方法检测细胞受力后MMP-13/TIMP-1 mRNA表达的变化,用免疫印迹法检测其蛋白表达的变化。另外,通过使用不同信号途径的特异性抑制剂,用RT-PCR方法分别检测不同抑制剂对牵张应力作用下牙周膜细胞MMP-13/TIMP-1 mRNA表达的变化。结果人牙周膜细胞受力后,MMP-13/TIMP-1 mRNA及蛋白表达随牵张应力强度的增大明显增加。PD098059可抑制机械牵张应力作用下牙周膜细胞MMP-13 mRNA表达的增加。放线菌酮可抑制机械牵张应力作用下TIMP-1 mRNA表达的增加。结论不同强度机械牵张应力可以影响人牙周膜细胞MMP-13/TIMP-1的表达,进而影响牙周组织细胞外基质代谢。机械牵张应力作用下MMP-13表达的增加是通过ERK-MAPK途径。机械牵张应力作用下TIMP-1表达的增加是通过新生蛋白途径。     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.     

Guidelines for the Validation and Use of Immunoassays for Determination of Introduced Proteins in Biotechnology Enhanced Crops and Derived Food Ingredients

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results.     

HLA in North Colombia Chimila Amerindians

HLA-A,-B,-C,-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles have been studied in Chimila Amerindians from Sabana de San Angel (North Colombian Coast) by using high resolution molecular typing. A frequent extended haplotype was found:HLA-A*24:02-B*51:10-C*15:02-BRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02 (28.7%) which has also been described in Amerinndian Mayos Mexican population (Mexico, California Gulf, Pacific Ocean). Other haplotypes had already been found in Amerindians from Mexico (Pacific and Atlantic Coast), Peru (highlands and Amazon Basin), Bolivia and North USA. A geographic pattern according to HLA allele or haplotype frequencies is lacking in Amerindians, as already known. Also, five new extended haplotypes were found in Chimila Amerindians. Their HLA-A*24:02 high frequencies characteristic is shared with aboriginal populations of Taiwan; also, HLA-C*01:02 high frequencies are found in New Zealand Maoris, New Caledonians and Kimberly Aborigines from Australia. Finally, this study may show a model of evolutionary factors acting and rising one HLA allele frequency (-A*24:02), but not in others that belong to the same or different HLA loci.     

Ultracryotomy: development and application (with examples from the yeast cytology) (author's transl)

The preparation steps usually necessary for obtaining ultrathin frozen sections of biological material (chemical prefixation, enclosing, cryoprotective treatment, freezing, sectioning, and post-staining the sections for transmission electron microscopy) are submitted to a critical analysis. The application of cryo-ultramicrotomy, in particularly for cytochemical purposes, is reviewed. Fundamental considerations of chemical prefixation and poststaining are supported by examples from yeast cytology. Furthermore, the efficiency of the cryo-ultramicrotomy (electron optical resolution of ultrastructural details) is demonstrated on yeast cells and protoplasts.     

The universal muscular chamber. A basic unit of the genitourinary, cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, skeletal, cutaneous, respiratory and other systems, endocameral hypertension; and spasm, the key to their idiopathic diseases and arthropathies

Starting with the integument, we see many organs are contractile sacs or multiples thereof, which tubes or bags constitute the major part of the entire body. Recognition of this basic unit and its characteristics sheds new light, individually and collectively, on many disorders previously considered unrelated. Muscular tears and perforations develop in the walls of these chambers, being no way peculiar to those organs, wherein, hydrochloric acid occurs. So, it is not necessary to explain the absence of excessive acid from patients who exhibit holes in the gastric, uterine, aortic, duodenal, rectal, pulmonary, retina, and other walls. Muscle, not acid is the great common factor relating idiopathic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract to each other and to similar diseases in other systems. When the units are linked together, the lesions tend to appear as arthropathies, i.e. at the joints. Rephrasing common-place observations, frees us from conventional, conceptual cul-de-sacs. An observation is only as good as its interpretation, so all possibilities must be considered, otherwise, we will remain blinded by our misconceptions.