Elevation of plasma thioredoxin levels in HIV-infected individuals

Thioredoxin (Trx), a ubiquitous protein intimately involvedin redox and protein disulfide reductions, has been shown tobe released from cells and to have cytokine-like activities.In addition, Trx has been implicated in the redox regulationof immunological responses and shown to be deficient in tissuesfrom AIDS patients. In studies presented here, plasma Trx levelswere measured by ELISA in plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals(n = 136) and HIV-negative controls (n = 47). To account forthe release of Trx into plasma due to hemolysis, the Trx measurementswere corrected according to the level of hemoglobin in the plasmasample. Data presented show that, in contrast to tissue Trxlevels, corrected plasma Trx levels are significantly higherin HIV-infected individuals than in controls (P < 0.0001).Furthermore, {small tilde}25% of the HIV-infected individualsstudied have plasma Trx levels greater than the highest levelfound in controls (37 ng/ml). Detailed multiparameter FACS analysisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the infectedindividuals demonstrates that those with higher plasma Trx levels(37 ng/ml or greater) tend to have lower overall CD4 counts.In addition, increases in plasma Trx levels correlate with decreasesin monochlorobimane staining (indicative of lower intracellularglutathione levels in PBMC) and with changes in surface antigenexpression (CD62L, CD38 and CD20) that occur in the later stagesof HIV infection. These correlations suggest that elevationof plasma Trx levels may be an important component of advancedHIV disease, perhaps related to the oxidative stress that oftenoccurs at this stage.     

Determination of antitubercular drugs in human plasma by HPLC through direct injection

A simple and efficient method is described for the direct determination of Isoniazide (INH) and Pyrazinamide (PZAm) in human plasma, based on reversed-phase HPLC. A number of other antitubercular drugs such as p-Aminosalycylic acid (PAS), Streptomycin (STM) and Ethambutol (ETH) and the major metabolites of the two investigated drugs, namely N-Monoacetylisoniazide (AcINH) and Pyrazinoic acid (PZAc), were shown not to interfere with the assay method. A potential application of the method to routine clinical monitoring of antitubercular drugs is discussed.     

Obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment in polyvinylchloride fabrication workers

Responses to a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry, and cross-shift decreases in lung function between 70 current employees of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) fabrication plant and a control group consisting of 48 men employed in a vegetable packing plant were compared. FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in the PVC workers. Cross-shift drops in Vmax75 of 15% or more were also more prevalent in the exposed group (p = .01). When examining the association between months of work within the exposed workforce and spirometric indices of airway obstruction, no relationship could be demonstrated. However, an inverse dose-response relationship was seen between level of FVC and duration of employment, suggesting a restrictive impairment. While the specific exposures have not been identified, it appears that employment in PVC fabrication may be associated with both obstructive and restrictive ventilatory effects.     

肥胖患者胰升糖素水平变化及其对空腹血糖的影响

目的　探讨肥胖患者胰升糖素的变化特点及其对血糖的影响。方法　将 82例患者根据体重指数分为 3组 :A组 (BMI <2 4,n =2 3 )、B组 (2 4≤BMI <2 7,n =2 7)、C组 (BMI≥ 2 7,n =3 2 ) ,分别测定胰升糖素、胰岛素、空腹血糖 ,采用单因素方差分析法与Spearman等级相关性分析法进行分析。结果　 3组胰升糖素分别为 (15 6.3± 5 8.6)、(186.7± 67.5 )、(2 2 2 .2± 88.4)ng·L-1,C组与A组比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1) ;3组胰岛素分别为 (15 .4± 4.7)mIU·L-1、(2 0 .6± 9.6)mIU·L-1、(2 2 .3± 10 .6)mIU·L-1,B组、C组与A组比较差异有显著意义 (P <0 .0 5、P <0 .0 1) ;B、C两组胰升糖素与空腹血糖呈正相关。结论　肥胖患者胰岛素、胰升糖素一致性增高 ,胰升糖素的增高是空腹血糖增高的重要因素。