Synovial activation of chondrocytes: Evidence for complex cytokine interactions

Synoviocytes secrete factors which induce the synthesis of neutral metalloproteinases (NMP) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) by chondrocytes in a response called chondrocyte activation. We analyzed synovial chondrocyte activating factors (CAF) for the presence of cytokines which modulated the NMP production by articular chondrocytes. These studies suggested the presence of several other cytokines in addition to interleukin-1 (IL-1). Both resting and activated synoviocytes contained mRNA for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) which is a synergist for IL-1 induced NMP production, and secreted bFGF into their culture media. They also expressed mRNA for transforming growth factor (TGF) which inhibits IL-1 induced NMP production. These cells also produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and trace amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6). In addition to these there is evidence for a synovial activator of chondrocytes which is distinct from IL-1. Since a number of recombinant cytokines including TNF, IL-6 and bFGF failed to activate chondrocytes, this could be a novel cytokine.     

小儿癫痫和智力低下的研究

我院小儿神经学组近年来对癫痫及智力低下进行了综合研究。在整体动物及神经细胞水平研究了神经肽(CCK,Som)与神经递质(GABA)之间的关系;初步探讨了铁诱发癫痫的化学机制;研究了抗癫痫药对发育中脑的影响;用双盲交叉法观察了新药“抗病灵”的疗效;利用24小时脑电图从临床电生理角度进一步探讨了癫痫的发病机制,解决了癫痫难以观察的问题。还在全国范围内进行了智力低下的流行病学调查,并分析其原因。     

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations: factors influencing the surgical difficulty and outcome.

The outcomes of 151 patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) treated either surgically or conservatively are presented. In terms of long-term survival rate and follow-up results, the patients who underwent total excision had more favorable results than did those treated conservatively. Patient age was the most important clinical factors, with the preoperative level of consciousness being the second most important. A grading system was formulated on the basis of the angiographical factors by using multiregression analysis; the size of the AVM influenced the surgical outcome twice as much as did the location and the pattern of arterial feeding. Thus, a large AVM (greater than or equal to 4 cm) was given 2 points; a small AVM (less than 4 cm) was given 0 points; a deep AVM was given 1 point; a superficial AVM was given 0 points; an AVM supplied by three of more artery systems was given 1 point; and an AVM supplied by one or two artery systems was given 0 points. AVMs were categorized into 5 grades from Grade 0 to 4 by the summation of these points. Predicted Karnofsky scale after surgery was calculated by this grading system and the following equation: predicted Karnofsky scale = 87.2 - 5.6 x Grade. Grade 0 and 1 AVMs showed high rates of total excision (Grade 0, 94%; Grade 1, 82%) and of satisfactory outcome (Grade 0, 90%; Grade 1, 82%) and were classified as "easy" lesions. Grade 2 AVMs are lesions classified as "moderate" and had a total excision rate of 76% and a satisfactory outcome rate of 71%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Treatment of hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy with adenine arabinoside and thymic extract

Previously we found that corticosteroid treatment in the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated membranous nephropathy (HBVMN) was not associated with a favorable outcome. To distinguish the differences of the HBV DNA in macrophage, T and B cells among HBVMN patients with or without corticosteroid treatment, serial studies at different time points were investigated. HBV DNA appeared as an "episomal" molecule as with 3.2 kb in macrophage, T and B cells. This molecule disappeared after 12 months among HBVMN patients without corticosteroid treatment. HBV DNA, by contrast, appeared as episomal form even three years later in T cells, with frequent proteinuria among HBVMN patients with corticosteroid treatment. This finding indicates that the use of corticosteroids leads to a potential risk of enhancing HBV viral replication in T cells. We studied 24 HBVMN patients who had previously received corticosteroid treatment and had persistent proteinuria, who were administered combination therapy with adenine arabinoside for two weeks and thymic extract (Thymostimulin) for six months to decrease urine protein loss and obtain seroconversion. These 24 patients had heavy (22 of 24, 91.6%) or mild (2 of 24, 8.4%) proteinuria prior to adenine arabinoside and thymostimulin treatment. All 24 patients demonstrated HBV DNA in mononuclear cells and simultaneously exhibited sera positive with HBsAg and HBeAg. In contrast, after treatment only one case (4.2%) had heavy and two cases (8.4%) mild proteinuria; HBV DNA was demonstrated in macrophage (4 of 24, 16.7%), T cells (9 of 24, 37.5%), and B cells (6 of 24, 25%) as well as serum (24 of 24, 100%) prior to treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

海南抗疟史略

本文参考了海南岛疟疾流行史料,列出前入调查的按蚊种类和分布情况,记述了解放军后海南的抗疟成果。     

机械传动系统的模糊分析设计

用线性隶属函数、二元相对比较级等确定特征因素的隶属度,构造了不同机械传动类型的模糊子集,取其与待识别模糊子集向量空问的距离均数为贴近度。根据择近原则选择确定机械传动类型。     

Plasma catecholamines and oxygen consumption during weaning from mechanical ventilation

Previous studies on oxygen consumption ( ) during weaning from mechanical ventilation assumed that an increase in ( ) reflected oxygen consumption by respiratory muscles ( ), and proposed as a weaning predictor. We measured CO₂ production ( ) and plasma catecholamines in 20 short-term ventilated patients during weaning by SIMV and CPAP. as a percentage of during spontaneous ventilation ( %) ranged from 4.8% to 41.5%. also increased and correlated with . Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline increased significantly to levels known to produce considerable increases in metabolic rate. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate concomitantly increased, but spontaneous minute ventilation decreased. Thus, since the increased plasma catecholamines are calorigenic, the assumption that represents is incorrect. Although mean % of successfully weaned patients was significantly less than that of failure-to-wean patients, the wide scatter of individual values in the latter group excludes % as an accurate weaning predictor.     

On the dynamical basis of the classification of normal galaxies

Some realistic galaxy models have been found to support discrete unstable spiral modes. Here, through the study of the relevant physical mechanisms and an extensive numerical investigation of the properties of the dominant modes in a wide class of galactic equilibria, we show how spiral structures are excited with different morphological features, depending on the properties of the equilibrium model. We identify the basic dynamical parameters and mechanisms and compare the resulting morphology of spiral modes with the actual classification of galaxies. The present study suggests a dynamical basis for the transition among various types and subclasses of normal and barred spiral galaxies.     

Responses of corn root protoplasts to exogenous reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide: Oxygen consumption, ion uptake, and membrane potential

Addition of 1.5 mM NADH tripled the O₂ consumption in corn root protoplasts. The stimulation was temperature and pH dependent, specific to NADH, and accompanied by a 2- to 3-fold increase in K⁺ and P_i uptake into protoplasts. The increase in ion uptake was not due to the accumulation of NADH into protoplasts. The effect of exogenous NADH on O₂ consumption and ion uptake was also evident in corn root segments but to a lesser extent. A 20-mV hyperpolarization of protoplast membrane potential occurred on addition of NADH and was abolished by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Increases in cell volume of 30% and 40% were detected in response to NADH/H⁺ and NADH/H⁺/K⁺, respectively. The data are discussed in terms of a transmembrane redox reaction and the possibility that some part of the energy-linked ion transport may be driven by a NADH → O₂ electron-transport system in the plasmalemma.     

Comprehensive analysis of urinary metabolites of N' -nitroso-nornicotine

A detailed study of the urinary metabolites of N'-nitrosonornicotinehas been perfomed, employing a simple high pressure liquid chromatographicmethod. The percentage excretion of the principal urinary metaboliteswas determined over a dose range of 3–300 mg/kg in theF-344 rat, as follows: 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid (37.1–53.3%,respectively, of the dose), N'-nitrosonornicotine-l-N-oxide(6.7–10.7%), norcotinine (3.2–5.1%), 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid (31.1–12.8%), N' -nitrosonornicotine (3.3–5.2%).In the strain A mouse and Syrian golden hamster, the urinarymetabolites were qualitatively similar to those observed inthe F-344 rat. The interrelationships of the various metabolitesof N'-nitrosonornicotine which have been observed in vitro andin vivo were established. The in vitro metabolites resultingfrom 2'-hydroxylation by liver microsomes, myosmine and 4-hydroxy-l-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanonewere converted, by the F-344 rat, primarily to 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid as a urinary metabolite. The in vitro metabolite resultingfrom 5'-hydroxylation by liver microsomes, 2-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran,gave 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid as its major urinarymetabolite, apparently via 5-(3-pyridyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-one.N'-nitrosonornicotine-l-N-oxide, the remaining major in vitrometabolite, was excreted to a large extent unchanged in F-344rat urine. The urinary metabolites from 2'-hydroxylation and5'-hydroxylation of N'-nitrosonornicotine, 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyricacid and 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid, respectively,were not formed from the in vivo metabolite norcotinine andwere not interconverted significantly by the F-344 rat. Thus,these metabolites appear to be reliable indicators for the twopossible in vivo -hydroxylations of N'-nitrosonornicotine.