Changes in brain gene expression shared by scrapie and Alzheimer disease.

We have isolated two recombinant cDNAs whose corresponding RNAs have an increased abundance in scrapie-infected hamster brain. DNA sequence analysis has shown that these two recombinants represent the genes for sulfated glycoprotein 2 and transferrin. The abundance of sulfated glycoprotein 2 RNA is increased in hippocampus from patients with Alzheimer disease and Pick disease, whereas transferrin RNA is not strongly modulated in these conditions. Expression of two previously identified scrapie-modulated genes, encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein and metallothionein, is also increased in both of these neurodegenerative diseases.     

慢性心力衰竭病人的临床分析

慢性心力衰竭（CHF）目前是老年人住院和死亡的主要原因，近几年研究结果显示CHF病人出现的肾功能障碍即心肾综合征发病率高，预后差，狭义的心肾综合征特指CHF引起的进行性肾功能损害，并导致肾功能不全，我们回顾性分析我院收治的100例CHF住院病人，着重探讨CHF程度与肾功能不全的发生率及其与住院的时间的关系。现将其临床分析介绍如下。     

Colposcopic assessment in microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix

Forty of the 87 patients with microinvasive carcinoma (MIC) of the uterine cervix who underwent surgery were diagnosed colposcopically and the results were compared with the cytological and histological diagnoses. The cytology showed preinvasive carcinoma in 20 (50.0%) patients and invasive carcinoma in 19 (47.5%) patients. A correct colposcopic diagnosis was made in nine (22.5%) patients as having microinvasive carcinoma, 21 (52.5%) patients preinvasive carcinoma and eight (20%) patients invasive carcinoma, to sum up accuracy rate as 32.1%. The abnormalities most commonly observed in colposcopy were mosaic, punctuation and white epithelium. In microinvasive carcinoma, the triad co-existed in 43% of the patients. Atypical vessels, characteristic of invasion, were found in only one third of the patients. Microinvasion, therefore, may not be evident on colposcopy alone. It is therefore necessary to apply cone biopsy, prior to definite therapy, to make an accurate assessment of the maximum depth and extent of the invasion prior to definitive therapy.     

Gene expression and structure of immunoglobulin epsilon chains

The study of immunoglobulin genes has been an active area of research in recent years. The study of IgE heavy (epsilon) chain gene, in particular, has a significant impact on our understanding of the IgE system. The localization of the epsilon gene in the cluster of mouse heavy chain constant region genes has been determined, and models for gene rearrangements leading to epsilon chain gene expression have been provided. The regulation of IgE antibody production can thus be discussed in the context of these models in combination with knowledge of the cellular basis of IgE production. Comparison of the epsilon chain sequence among human, rat, and mouse has allowed a better understanding of the evolution and structure-function relationship of the epsilon chain. Furthermore, expression of epsilon chain cDNA in Escherichia coli and demonstration of biological activities of expression products have paved the basis for identification of defined peptides representing the structures for recognition by IgE receptors. These studies are discussed in this review.     

A novel DRB1*09 allelic sequence in the Jing ethnic minority of China.

A new DRB1 allele, DRB1*0902, has been identified in an individual of the Jing ethnic minority. Its sequence was confirmed by sequencing of PCR products and clones. This allele differed by three nucleotides from DRB1*09012 at positions 157, 161 and 166, and resulted in amino acid motif substitution from VAES to DAEY.     

持续压力超负荷对兔左心室细胞凋亡的影响

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of chronic pressure overload on the apoptosis of the left ventricle myocytes in rabbits. METHODS: Rabbit models of chronic pressure overload-induced heart failure were prepared in which dynamic changes of apoptotic myocytes in the left ventricle were observed by way of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: Only a few apoptotic cells was observed in the sham-operated group, while in the experimental group, the apoptotic left ventricle myocytes significantly increased after operation, presenting a peak level between day 3 and day 7. Seven days after the operation, the apoptotic myocytes began to decrease and till day 14, the apoptotic cell number had been smaller than that measured on day 1. When signs of heart failure set in, the apoptotic myocytes were again increased (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: During chronic pressure overload, myocyte apoptosis in the left ventricle is elevated at the early stages and undulates subsequently, with the peak occurring before hypertrophy is obvious.