Low-grade carotid artery stenosis is associated with progression of brain atrophy and cognitive decline. The SMART-MR study

Asymptomatic low-grade carotid artery stenosis (LGCS) is a common finding in patients with manifest arterial disease, however its relationship with brain MRI changes and cognitive decline is unclear. We included 902 patients (58 ± 10 years; 81% male) enrolled in the Second Manifestations of Arterial Disease – Magnetic Resonance (SMART-MR) study without a history of cerebrovascular disease. LGCS was defined as 1–49% stenosis on baseline carotid ultrasound, whereas no LGCS (reference category) was defined as absence of carotid plaque. Brain and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes and cognitive function were measured at baseline and after 4 (n = 480) and 12 years (n = 222) of follow-up. Using linear mixed-effects models, we investigated associations of LGCS with progression of brain atrophy, WMH, and cognitive decline. LGCS was associated with greater progression of global brain atrophy (estimate −0.03; 95%CI, −0.06 to −0.01; p = 0.002), and a greater decline in executive functioning (estimate −0.02; 95%CI, −0.031 to −0.01; p < 0.001) and memory (estimate −0.012; 95%CI, −0.02 to −0.001; p = 0.032), independent of demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and incident brain infarcts on MRI. No association was observed between LGCS and progression of WMH. Our results indicate that LGCS may represent an early marker of greater future brain atrophy and cognitive decline.     

萘甲异喹对离体豚鼠心肌的作用

萘甲异喹(NI)呈浓度依赖性地降低离体豚鼠心房收缩力和频率。其拮抗豚鼠左房肌Iso正性肌力作用的PD2₂′值为5.4,Ver为5.8。NI10μmol/L明显降低豚鼠乳头肌收缩力;缩短快反应APD,以对APD₂₀影响最大,但不影响APA和V_max。对高K⁺去极化慢反应动作电位,NI产生浓度依赖性负性肌力作用,同时明显降低APA,V_max,缩短APD;提高细胞外液Ca²⁺浓度可使其抑制作用逆转。结果提示NI具有钙通道阻滞作用。     

Volume calculation by means of SPECT: analysis of imaging acquisition and processing factors

To assess the effect of image acquisition and processing factors on the volume calculated from single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images, the authors evaluated technical factors including image matrix size, size of the region of interest (ROI), activity concentration in the region, amount of background subtraction, type of reconstruction filter, section thickness, and number of projections. They found that the percentage of background subtraction was the single most important factor affecting volume calculation. The smaller the volume, the greater the amount of background subtraction needed before the ROI is drawn. As an acceptable means to circumvent the varying percentage of background subtraction for different volumes, a calibration curve was constructed relating the true volume with the calculated volume for a fixed percentage of background subtraction. The use of a 128 X 128 acquisition matrix and zooming of the reconstructed images were necessary for accurate calculation of volumes smaller than 300 mL.     

毛梗稀莶抗生育活性成分的研究

自菊科植物毛梗豨莶Siegesbeckia glabrescens Mak的全草中分得一个新的二萜甙,命名为豨莶新甙(neodarutoside),经光谱(IR,¹ HNMR,¹³ CNMR和MS)分析,确定结构为(I);同时分得的二萜有豨莶精醇(darutigenol,Ⅳ)和豨莶甙(d&rutoside,Ⅴ)。豨莶甙(Ⅴ)在20～40 mg/kg剂量时,对大鼠有明显抗早孕作用。     

测定咖啡因代谢物评价 N-乙酰转移酶、CYP1A2和黄嘌呤氧化酶活性

目的是对中国人N-乙酰化酶(NAT2)、CYP1A2酶和黄嘌呤氧化酶(XO)的活性进行分析。120名健康志愿者饮用3杯咖啡后于4～5h留尿,用HPLC方法测定尿中5种咖啡因主要代谢物浓度,即5-乙酰胺基-6-甲酰胺基-3-甲基尿嘧啶(AFMU)、1-甲基黄嘌呤(1X)、1-甲基尿酸(1U)、1,7-二甲基尿酸(17X)、1,7-二甲基黄嘌呤(17U)。其中N-乙酰化酶活性用AFMU/1X或AFMU/(AFMU+1X+1U)表示;CYP1A2酶活性指标采用(AFMU+1X+1U)/17X或AFMU+1X+1U)/17U;XO酶活性指标采用1U/1X或1U/(1X+1U)。结果表明,N-乙酰化酶活性呈两态分布,慢代谢者占16.7%,CYP1A2和XO酶活性呈对数正态分布,其代谢比值与国外文献报道一致。提示通过测定咖啡因代谢物比值,可以进行NAT2酶、CYP1A2酶和黄嘌呤氧化酶活性分析。     

Molecular phenotype of a human lymphoblastoid cell-line homoplasmic for the np 7445 deafness-associated mitochondrial mutation

We have studied mitochondrial gene expression and metabolic function in a human lymphoblastoid cell-line homoplasmic for the np 7445, deafness- associated mitochondrial DNA mutation. The mutation maps to the 3' termini of the oppositely oriented genes encoding cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and tRNA-ser(UCN). In comparison with control lymphoblastoid cells, we detected a marked depletion (> 60%) of tRNA- ser(UCN). There was, however, no significant impairment of respiratory function, no alteration to the structure or abundance of COI mRNA or its precursors, and no detectable abnormality of mitochondrial protein synthesis. We also found considerable tissue-variation in the abundance of tRNA-ser(UCN). We propose that the tissue-specific phenotype associated with this mutation results from an inherent deficiency in the processing of the mutant pre-tRNA, that becomes limiting for protein synthesis only in a restricted set of cells of the auditory system in which the tRNA is, for other reasons, already at a critically low level.      

Immunohistologic Analysis of Estrogen Receptor Expression in Breast Carcinoma Precursor Lesions

Abstract: The growth of invasive breast carcinoma is facilitated by abnormal expression of estrogen receptor (ER), however, the status of ER during disease histogenesis is poorly defined. The extent of ER immunostaining (expressed as percentage of positive cells) was semiquantitated in the invasive (ICA) and corresponding in situ (CIS) components of 50 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast carcinomas and then compared to staining in normal terminal duct lobular units (TDLU) or hyperplastic lesions (if present) in the same tissue sections. Morphologically normal TDLUs from most cases (61%) exhibited ER staining in 11–30% of epithelial cells; only 10% of the cases had TDLUs demonstrating immunoreactivity in more than 50% of cells. In contrast, 80% of the hyperplastic lesions showed ER staining in more than 30% of epithelial cells, with 44% demonstrating immuoreactivity in more than 50% of epithelial cell nuclei (p = 0.01, chi-square test). Although most in situ carcinomas showed even more extensive ER staining than hyperplasias (>70% of cells were positive in 50% of cases), a significant subset (28%) of CIS exhibited staining in less than 10% of cells (p = 0.002, chi-square test). Invasive carcinomas were less often extensively immunoreactive (i.e., >50% of cells positive) than CIS (32% versus 58% for CIS) and there were five cases (10%) in which the CIS component was ER positive but the invasive component was ER negative. Finally, ER-positive carcinomas were significantly more often accompained by extensive CIS and/or proliferative breast disease (p = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). The divergent levels of ER expression observed between premalignant, preinvasive, and invasive lesions suggests that inappropriate regulation of hormone receptors may be a factor that promotes early growth or progression in breast neoplasia, and ER-positive breast carcinomas are characterized by a different, possibly lengthier, histogenesis than ER-negative malignancies with a greater frequency of background hyperplastic lesions and a larger preinvasive component.     

西山医院脊髓损伤功能量表内容介绍

目的:介绍一套新的脊髓损伤功能评价量表。方法:综合目前使用的各种常用脊髓功能量表,结合实际工作经验及脊髓损伤患者神经功能改善特点,制定了西山医院脊髓损伤功能量表。结果:西山医院脊髓损伤功能量表共分9大项16小项,采用4分制,正常为3分,最差为0分。总分0～48分,0～16分为重度残障,17～32分为中度残障;33～47分为轻度残障,48分正常。量表包括上肢运动功能(饮食、梳洗、书写)、下肢运动功能(站立、行走)、躯干运动功能(坐、翻身)、全身运动功能(床椅转移、穿脱衣服、洗澡)、括约肌功能(膀胱功能、直肠功能)、肌张力、泌汗、皮肤营养、疼痛、性功能。结论:西山医院脊髓损伤功能量表是一套专门应用于脊髓损伤患者功能评价量表。该量表能全面、精确评定患者功能,简便实用、费时短。应用这份功能量表,既能客观反映患者的功能变化,随访时又不增加患者负担,同时也能减轻医务工作者的负担。