An apparent KIR2DS2-negative KIR2DL2-positive genotype discloses the novel allele KIR2DS2*00104

KIR2DS2*00104 lacks a distinctive synonymous substitution of KIR2DS2 in nucleotide 418 that affects KIR genotyping.     

CaO-MgO-P_2O_5-SiO_2-CaF_2系统自硬性玻璃的研究

为研究钙离子、镁离子在体内环境中对自硬性玻璃结晶行为的影响,为自硬性生物活性玻璃的临床应用提供依据,本文设计了CaO-P2O5-SiO2-CaF2(Ca-glass)和CaO-MgO-P2O5-SiO2-CaF2(CaMg-glass)系统玻璃并使用模拟体液(simulated body flu id,SBF)进行了研究。首先采用磷酸氢二氨[(NH4)2HPO4]/[NH4H2PO4]硬化液与Ca-glass、CaMg-glass制成硬化体,然后使用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、失重、力学分析等方法,研究硬化体在SBF中的结晶性、降解性和力学性能。实验结果表明,玻璃粉末与磷酸铵缓冲溶液反应形成了磷酸铵钙[(NH4)2.Ca(HPO4)2.H2O]硬化体。硬化体经过SBF浸泡,Ca-glass系统硬化体中部分磷酸铵钙转化成羟基磷灰石,而CaMg-glass系统硬化体仍然为磷酸铵钙。Ca-glass与CaMg-glass硬化体在SBF中浸泡28天分别降解19.4%和31.3%,抗压强度分别为93.14MPa和64.52MPa。镁离子的歧化作用是导致Ca-glass、CaMg-glass硬化体结晶性能、降解性能以及力学性能差别的主要原因。     

K2O-B2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-F系统可切削生物微晶玻璃

目的 可切削微晶玻璃的制备温度高达1500 ℃以上,此特性严重制约其产业化发展.本文设计制备了K2O-B2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-F系统低温云母生物微晶玻璃,并探讨制备工艺对材料结构和性能的影响.方法 采用1300 ℃熔化工艺与600～750 ℃晶化热处理工艺制备微晶玻璃,通过X射线衍射分析方法研究微晶玻璃的晶相组成,利用扫描电子显微镜观察微晶玻璃的形貌,并通过显微硬度分析、高速砂轮切削实验考察微晶玻璃的可切削性能.结果 分别经过600 ℃、650 ℃、700 ℃、750 ℃晶化热处理2 h、4 h、8 h后,玻璃中均形成了主晶相为氟金云母的微晶玻璃,微晶玻璃的显微硬度为3～8 GPa.且随着晶化温度的升高,微晶玻璃层状结构逐渐明晰,但硬度不断下降,其可切削性持续提高.结论 低温下熔化K2O-B2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO系统玻璃工艺降低了可切削微晶玻璃的制备温度和成本,利于产业化生产和推广应用.     

2-Perbromomethyl-2-oxazoline: a novel trifunctional initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline

Polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline was carried out using a trifunctional initiator, 2-perbromomethyl-2-oxazoline. The degree of polymerization (DP) of the resulting polymer was very close to the feed mole ratio of the monomer to initiator. The number-average molecular weight M?_n increased linearly with conversion, indicating the living nature of the propagating chain end. ¹H NMR and end-group analyses results are consistent with the proposal that the polymer possesses a star-shaped structure.     

Cross-Protection in Mice After Immunization with H2N2, H3N2, and Heq2Neq2 Influenza Virus Strains

Mice were vaccinated with the influenza viruses A/Japan/57 (H2N2), A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2), and A/Equi/Miami/63 (Heq2Neq2) and the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase recombinants derived from these viruses. After infection with the parent viruses, protection was compared with serological findings. It was found that influenza vaccine protects not only against infection with a strain identical or closely related to the vaccine strain, but against heterologous strains as well. Vaccination with Hong Kong/68 and its neuraminidase recombinant resulted in a heterologous neuraminidase inhibition titer against Japan/57 and in a protection against infection with Japan/57. By contrast, after vaccination with Japan/57 and its neuraminidase recombinant, no relevant heterologous neuraminidase inhibition titer against Hong Kong/68 was observed, whereas a protection against infection with Hong Kong/68 did exist. A cross-protection between Hong Kong/68 and Miami/63, but no relationship in the hemagglutination or neuraminidase inhibition tests, was established in the preinfection sera. A one-way antigenic relationship between these viruses was confirmed by the rise of hemagglutinin or neuraminidase antibodies against Hong Kong/68 in the postinfection sera. No cross-protection or serological relationship existed between Miami/63 and Japan/57. Besides the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, a third factor, the “mouse-protecting antigen,” was considered to contribute to the protection obtained. According to the protection observed, the mouse-protecting antigen of Hong Kong/68 virus is related to that of Japan/57 as well as Miami/63 virus. The mouse-protecting antigens of both Japan/57 and Miami/63 are related to that of Hong Kong/68.     

H2O2 enhances Ca2+ release from osteoblast internal stores

The physiological activity of osteoblasts is known to be closely related to increased intracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i) in osteoblasts. The cellular regulation of [Ca2+]i in osteoblasts is mediated by Ca2+ movements associated with Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores, and transmembrane Ca2+ influx via Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, and Ca2+ ATPase. Reactive oxygen species, such as H2O2, play an important role in the regulation of cellular functions, and act as signaling molecules or toxins in cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of H2O2 on cellular Ca2+ regulation in osteoblasts by measuring intracellular Ca2+ activities using cellular calcium imaging techniques. Osteoblasts were isolated from the femurs and tibias of neonatal rats, and cultured for 7 days. The cultured osteoblasts were loaded with a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura-2, and fluorescence images were monitored using a cooled CCD camera, and subsequently analyzed using image analyzing software. The results obtained are as follows: (1) The osteoblasts with lower basal Ca2+ activities yielded a transient Ca2+ increase, a Ca2+ spike, while osteoblasts with higher basal Ca2+ activities showed a continuous increase in [Ca2+]i leading to cell death. (2) Ca2+ spikes, generated after removing Na+ from superfusing solutions, were blocked by H2O2 and this was followed by a sustained increase in Ca2+ activity. (3) ATP- induced Ca2+ spikes were inhibited by pretreating with H2O2 and this was followed by a continuous increase of [Ca2+]i. When cells were pretreated with the exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicilance (SNAP, 50 microM), treatments of ATP (1 mM) induced a Ca2+ spike-like increase, but [Ca2+]i did not return to the basal level. (4) The expression of inositol- 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) was enhanced by H2O2. Our results suggest that H2O2 modulates intracellular Ca2+ activity in osteoblasts by increasing Ca2+ release from the intracellular Ca2+ stores.     

KIR2DL2/S2 and KIR2DS5 in alcoholic cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation

IntroductionThe molecular mechanisms underlying alcoholic liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are not completely understood. Hepatic fibrosis involves the interplay of diverse cells and factors, including hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), Kupffer, NK cells, and T-lymphocyte subsets. Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are membrane receptors involved in mediation between NK and activated HSCs, regulating NK cell function through their interaction with HLA-I molecules. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic association between KIR genes and the susceptibility to or protection from alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) in a cohort of male AC patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) with and without concomitant viral infections.Material and methodsKIR genotyping was performed in nuclear DNA extracted from 281 AC patients and compared with 319 male controls.ResultsSignificant differences between total AC patients and healthy controls were only found in the case of KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS5. KIR2DL2 was significantly underrepresented in non-viral AC patients (52.6% vs. 63.3%; p = 0.015), while patients heterozygous for KIR2DL2 were also underrepresented in the non-viral AC group compared with controls (p = 0.034). KIR2DS5 was overrepresented in this group compared with healthy controls (p = 0.002). All these observations were only evident in AC patients older than 54 years old.ConclusionsOur data suggest a contrary effect of KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS5 in AC patients older than 54 years, in whom the presence of KIR2DL2 appears to be protective against AC, whereas the presence of KIR2DS5 seems to promote the fibrotic process, particularly in patients with no associated viral infection.     

ExspiratorischepO2-undpCO2-Kurven bei Atmung von N2-, He- und Ar−O2-Gemischen

Zusammenfassung Zur Untersuchung der intrapulmonalen Gasmischung wurden an zehn Versuchspersonen die exspiratorischenpO₂- undpCO₂-Kurven fortlaufend und simultan massenspektrometrisch in Abhängigkeit vom Atemvolumen bei Atmung von Stickstoff-Sauerstoff-, Helium-Sauerstoff- und Argon-Sauerstoff-Gemischen registriert.Im Mischluftanteil wurden für den Abfall despO₂ von 75% auf 25% der Endamplitude im Mittel bei N₂–O₂-Atmung 81,6 ml, bei He–O₂-Atmung 66,1 ml und bei Ar–O₂-Atmung 71,9 ml benötigt. Die entsprechenden Zahlen für den Anstieg despCO₂ sind bei Atmung von N₂–O₂ 84,9 ml, von He–O₂ 68,5 ml und von Ar–O₂ 80.6 ml.DerpO₂ des Alveolarluftanteils sank während der letzten 300 ml Exspirationsvolumen bei Atmung des N₂–O₂-Gemisches im Mittel um 4,7 Torr, bei He–O₂ um 3,4 Torr und bei Ar–O₂ um 6,8 Torr. DerpCO₂ stieg gleichzeitig im Mittel bei Atmung des N₂–O₂-Gemisches um 2,8 Torr, bei He–O₂ um 2,1 Torr und bei Ar–O₂ um 3,7 Torr.Die Ursachen dieser Differenzen werden für den Mischluftanteil auf unterschiedliche Diffusions- und Strömungsbedingungen in den zentralen Lungenabschnitten zurückgeführt. Demgegenüber lassen sich die unterschiedlichen Partialdruckänderungen im Alveolarplateau durch Diffusion in den peripheren Lungenabschnitten und durch die Form der O₂ und CO₂-Bindungskurven erklären.Mit finanzieller Unterstützung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl durchgeführte Forschungsarbeit.     

13C NMR spectroscopy of 2-formamido-2-methylpropyl acrylate and poly(2-formamido-2-methylpropyl acrylate)

The synthesis and characterization of 2-formamido-2-methylpropyl acrylate (FMPA) is reported. ¹³C NMR spectra of FMPA in CDCl₃, CD₃OD, DMSO-d₆, DMF-d₇, and D₂O exhibit two pairs of lines for all seven carbon atoms at room temperature; the ratio of the two conformers varies moderately with solvent (21 : 79 to 41 : 59). The conformers are believed to involve strong internal hydrogen bonding which is not completely broken even by the addition of trifluoroacetic acid to CDCl₃ (1/1, v/v). However, the pairs of lines coalesce in turn as the temperature is raised to 120°C in DMSO-d₆. FMPA was polymerized at 35°C in DMF and CHCl₃, using a free radical initiator and the polymer was characterized by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Polypropylene Made with In‐Situ Supported Me2Si(Ind)2ZrCl2 and Me2Si(2‐Me‐Ind)2ZrCl2 Catalysts: Properties Comparison

Summary: Propylene homopolymerizations were carried out using Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ and Me₂Si(2‐Me‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂, MAO‐modified silica, and common alkylaluminum cocatalysts. Supported catalysts were prepared by the in‐situ immobilization technique. The effect of the type and concentration of alkylaluminum on propylene polymerization was evaluated using TEA (triethylaluminum), IPRA (isoprenylaluminum), and TIBA (triisobutylaluminum) as cocatalysts. The polymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The effect of the type and concentration of alkylaluminum on the melting temperature and the molar mass of the polypropylene was the same for both catalysts. The polymers made with in‐situ supported catalyst had lower melting points and, in almost all polymerization conditions, higher molar masses than those produced by homogeneous polymerization. Polypropylene samples made with Me₂Si(2‐Me‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂ had higher melting temperatures and molar masses than those made with Me₂Si(Ind)₂ZrCl₂. SEM micrographs showed that the polymers obtained with in‐situ supported systems had a well‐defined morphology, confirming that the polymerization indeed took place onto the silica support.

SEM micrographs of polypropylene particles obtained with Me₂Si(2‐Me‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂ in the presence of IPRA.     

ZFPM2/FOG2 and HEY2 genes analysis in nonsyndromic tricuspid atresia

Tricuspid atresia (TriAt), the third most common cyanotic congenital heart defect (CHD), consists of complete lack of tricuspid valve formation, with no connection between the right atrium and the right ventricle. To date, the genetic mechanism responsible of TriAt is still obscure. However, animal models have suggested a role of cardiogenic Zfpm2/Fog2 and Hey2 genes in the pathogenesis of TriAt. Therefore, we screened 40 individuals affected by nonsyndromic TriAt for ZFPM2/FOG2 and HEY2 gene mutations. No pathogenetic mutation has been identified, thus failing to demonstrate a major role of ZFPM2/FOG2 and HEY2 genes in the pathogenesis of human TriAt.     

A new model formulation of the SiO2-Al2O3-B2O3-MgO-CaO-Na2O-F glass-ceramics

Mono-phase glass-ceramics of akermanite were successfully produced from a Ca-mica and wollastonite via low-temperature sintering and crystallization. Doping with P(2)O(5) considerably improves sintering behaviour since P(2)O(5) increases the stability of glass against crystallization at the temperature of sintering onset. The resulting glass-ceramics feature good in vitro acceptance from osteoblasts, and moderate bioactivity due to the enrichment of the glassy phase with Ca and Si. The good quality of the white colour at the surface and throughout the bulk, the matching of microhardness with tooth enamel, and the possibility to coat other biomaterials such as ZrO(2), Ti or hydroxyapatite make these materials promising for medical applications.     

肌肽减轻H_2O_2诱导的N2a细胞损伤

目的探究肌肽对H2O2诱导的N2a细胞损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法将N2a细胞分为对照组、损伤组(给予H2O2)和肌肽保护组(预先加入肌肽)。用相差显微镜观察了细胞形态,用免疫荧光染色和免疫印迹实验检测细胞AKT1和FAS-L的蛋白表达。结果肌肽显著增加了N2a细胞增殖能力(P0.05);与对照组比较,H2O2损伤组细胞形态发生明显改变,细胞皱缩,胞膜变厚并出现发泡现象;而肌肽保护组细胞形态较损伤组明显改善;免疫荧光染色和免疫印迹实验显示,损伤组AKT1的表达显著低于对照组,FAS-L的表达显著高于对照组。而肌肽保护组AKT1的表达显著高于对照组,FAS-L的表达显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论肌肽能够减轻N2a细胞对H2O2诱导的细胞损伤。     

NF2 gene in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes to nervous system tumors. The schwannomin (also termed merlin) protein encoded by the NF2 gene shows a close relationship to the family of cytoskeleton-to-membrane proteins linkers ERM (ezrin- radixin-moesin proteins). Even though penetrance of the disease is >95% and no genetic heterogeneity has been described, point mutations in the NF2 gene have been observed in only 34-66% of the screened NF2 patients, depending on the series. In order to generate tools that would enable an exhaustive alteration screening for the NF2 gene, we have deduced its entire genomic sequence. This knowledge has provided the delineation of a mutation screening strategy which, when applied to a series of 19 NF2 patients, has revealed a high recurrence of large deletions in the gene and has raised the efficiency of mutation detection in NF2 patients to 84% of the cases in this series. The remaining three patients who express two functional NF2 alleles are all sporadic cases, an observation compatible with the presence of mosaicism for NF2 mutation.      

Vasodilation of cat cerebral arterioles by prostaglandins D2, E2, G2, and I2.

To determine the possible role that endogenously produced prostaglandins may play in the regulation of cerebral blood flow, the responses of cerebral precapillary vessels to prostaglandins (PG) D2, E2, G2, and I2 (8.1 X 10(-8) to 2.7 X 10(-5) M) were studied in cats equipped with cranial windows for direct observation of the microvasculature. Local application of PGs induced a dose-dependent dilation of large (greater than or equal to 100 microns) and small (less than 100 microns) arterioles with no effect on arterial blood pressure. The relative vasodilator potency was PGG2 greater than PGE2 greater than PGI2 greater than PGD2. With all PGs, except D2, the percent dilation of small arterioles was greater than the dilation of large arterioles. After application of prostaglandins in a concentration of 2.7 X 10(-5) M, the mean +/- standard error of the percent dilation of large and small arterioles was, respectively, 47.6 +/- 2.7 and 65.3 +/- 6.1 for G2, 34.1 +/- 2.0, and 53.6 +/- 5.5 for E2, 25.4 +/- 1.8, and 40.2 +/- 4.6 for I2, and 20.3 +/- 2.5 and 11.0 +/- 2.2 for D2. Because brain arterioles are strongly responsive to prostaglandins and the brain can synthesize prostaglandins from its large endogenous pool of prostaglandin precursor, prostaglandins may be important mediators of changes in cerebral blood flow under normal and abnormal conditions.     

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and their tissue inhibitor 2 (TIMP-2) in gastric cancer patients

BackgroundMatrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) is able to degrade type IV collagen and its activity is mostly regulated by tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2). These proteins might play a role in tumor progression, including gastric cancer (GC).MethodsThe study included 108 individuals, GC patients and healthy subjects. Serum levels of all analyzed markers were evaluated by the immunological methods, while immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of these proteins in GC, interstitial inflammatory cells and normal tissues.ResultsThe percentage of positive reactions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was higher in GC and inflammatory cells compared to normal tissue, while serum levels of these proteins were statistically lower in GC patients in comparison to healthy subjects. There was a significant positive correlation between TIMP-2 immunoreactivity in inflammatory cells and the presence of lymph node metastasis. Area under ROC curve (AUC) for TIMP-2 was higher than MMP-2, while serum MMP-2 was an independent prognostic factor of GC patients' survival.ConclusionOur findings suggest that TIMP-2 seems to be a predictor of tumor progression, especially for nodal involvement, whereas serum MMP-2 might be useful as an independent prognostic factor of patients' survival.