Foot Polydactyly and Polysyndactyly: Genetic Implications in Two Families

The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic characteristics of foot polydactyly and identify its inheritance pattern by analyzing familial pedigree. Five cases from 2 Korean families were studied: 1 is a family whose members have been affected for 4 generations and the other for 2 generations. Using peripheral blood samples, we performed chromosomal analysis using the banding technique with Giemsa stain and karyotyping. We investigated the shape and structure of 46 chromosomes, looking for translation, deletion, inversion, ring chromosome, and isochromosome abnormalities. All peripheral blood samples demonstrated no chromosomal abnormalities, though the genetic nature of foot polydactyly and a new genetic locus was identified recently by other studies. Familial pedigree analysis suggested that polydactyly was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in the first family. The mode of inheritance for the second family could not be determined due to an insufficient number of family members. The result of this study brought us to the conclusion that, while genetic factors play a major role in polydactyly, other factors may contribute to its occurrence.     

Anatomical considerations of selective pudendal neurectomy

The pudendal nerve was examined in 100 cadavers of both sexes. Because of the variable number of trunks of the pudendal nerve, 5 types were distinguished: one-trunked; two-trunked, rectopudendal; two-trunked, pudendo-penile (or-clitoridal); three-trunked, recto-perineo-penile (or-clitoridal); four-trunked, recto-perineo-perineopenile (or-clitoridal). The authors' suggestions make it possible to perform selective pudendectomy, consisting in denervation of the sphincter urethrae muscle by neurectomy of the perineal branches of the pudendal nerve.     

Effects of prolonged administration of neurotensin, arginine-vasopressin, NPY, and bombesin on blood TSH, T3 and T4 levels in the rat

Adult female rats were i.p. infused (Alzet osmotic minipumps) with neurotensin (NT, 2 micrograms/rat/day for 7 days), arginine-vasopressin (AVP, 2 micrograms/rat/day for 8 days), bombesin (BM, 0.75 microgram/rat/day for 7 days) or injected with neuropeptide Y (NPY, 0.5 microgram/rat twice a day for 4 days). NT infusion increased absolute and relative thyroid gland weight and decreased serum T4 level, while serum TSH and T3 levels remained unchanged. AVP treatment increased thyroid gland weight and serum TSH and T4 levels and a similar effect was induced by prolonged BM infusion. On the other hand, NPY administration had no effect either on thyroid gland weight or on serum TSH, T4 and T3 levels. Results of the present study thus clearly demonstrate a potent stimulatory action of AVP and BM on thyroid gland function and suggest that this effect is mediated by the pituitary gland. On the contrary, prolonged NT infusion decrease serum T4 level while NPY had no effect on thyroid gland function.     

帕金森病相关致病基因的研究进展

近年来，帕金森病(PD)的遗传学研究取得了较大的进展，迄今为止已经确定了PARK1-PARK10等10个单基因与PD的发生有关。其中三个基因产物与家族性PD有关，它们分别是a-synuclein(PARK1)、parkin(PARK2)和泛素蛋白C末端羟化酶-L1(PARK5)，它们均参与Lewy小体．的形成，在PD的发病过程中扮演重要的角色。虽然另外几个基因对应的蛋白或对应蛋白的功能未知，但已经在染色体上找到相应的位置。PD遗传学的研究将有助于PD的早期诊断．并且有可能为PD的治疗提供新的靶点。本文概述了PD相关基因的最新研究进展。     

Inhibition of Expression of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α mRNA by Nitric Oxide in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Rats

Hypoxiaisadirectfactorcausinghypoxicpul monaryhypertension (HPH) .hypoxiainduciblefac tor 1α (HIF 1α)isfoundtobethemostcrucialfactorsofarwhichmediatesthecellularresponsetohypoxi a[1] .OurpreviousstudyrevealedthatoverexpressionofHIF 1andendothelin 1(ET 1…     

牙根发育不良疾病的研究进展

牙根发育不良疾病是牙齿根部生理性发育出现障碍的疾病。其发病率为1%~10%,乳、恒牙列均可发生,其结果可导致牙根缺如或短根,严重者可造成牙齿过早脱落。国外学者将该疾病统称为短根异常疾病。其发病因素有遗传性疾病、全身性疾病、外源性因素和医源性因素等。     

阻塞性黄疸大鼠肾脏自分泌内皮素的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系

目的　探讨阻塞性黄疸时肾脏自分泌内皮素 (ET)的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系。方法　结扎胆总管(BDL)制备阻塞性黄疸大鼠模型 ,作为实验组 ,对照组鼠仅行假手术。分别于术后 5、1 0及 1 5d ,两组各取 1 0只大鼠检测其肾脏对氨基马尿酸清除率 (CPAH)、菊粉清除率 (CIN)和钠排泄分数 (FENa+) ,并用鲎试剂法测定血浆内毒素 (EX)水平 ,放射免疫法测定肾动、静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量。结果　①实验组术后 5d仅FENa+明显高于对照组 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,术后 1 0d起 ,CPAH、CIN及FENa+呈进行性下降 ,术后 1 5dFENa+已较对照组低 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;②实验组术后血浆EX水平呈进行性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;③实验组术后肾动脉血浆ET 1水平呈持续性降低 ,而肾静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量呈持续性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;④血浆EX水平与肾组织ET 1含量呈正相关 (r =0 .762 4 ,P<0 .0 1 ) ,肾组织ET 1含量与CPAH和CIN呈负相关 (r=- 0 .883 2 ,P<0 .0 1 ;r =- 0 .945 2 ,P<0 .0 1 )、与FENa+呈正相关 (r=0 .873 4 ,P<0 .0 1 )。结论　内毒素血症及其诱导的肾内ET分泌增加在阻塞性黄疸所致大鼠肾损害中可能具有重要作用