A novel lysophospholipid- and pH-sensitive receptor, GPR4, in brain endothelial cells regulates monocyte transmigration.

Abundant evidence documents the highly proinflammatory actions of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Further, LPC, found in high amounts in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is implicated as an atherogenic factor. In endothelial cells, LPC impairs endothelial barrier function through GPR4, a novel receptor hypothesized to be sensitive to LPC and protons. The authors investigated the stimulation by LPC or low pH of GPR4 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and whether the activated GPR4 regulates in vitro monocyte transmigration. The results indicated that HBMECs stimulated by LPC (5 microM), but not low pH, showed a twofold increase in monocyte transmigration. Using retroviruses containing siRNA to GPR4, a > 60% reduction of GPR4 expression resulted in blockade of the LPC-stimulated transmigration. The inhibited response was restored by co-expression with an small interference RNA (siRNA)-resistant, but functional, GPR4 mutant construct. To investigate potential signaling mechanisms, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of GPR4 also prevented LPC-induced RhoA activation. C3 transferase, a Rho inhibitor, prevented approximately approximately 65% of the LPC-stimulated transmigration. LPC also increased MLC phosphorylation by 5 min, which was inhibited by the Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632 (10 microM) or ML-7 (myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor). The findings indicate that the proinflammatory and atherogenic LPC stimulated endothelial GPR4, which promoted monocyte transmigration through a RhoA-dependent pathway.     

Evaluation of recombinant antigen-based assays for diagnosis of bullous autoimmune diseases

The diagnosis of autoimmune bullous diseases is based on clinical observation and on the presence of autoantibodies directed to molecules involved in the adhesion systems of the skin. Immunofluorescence assays are the currently accepted method for detection of autoantibodies; such assays depend greatly on the skill of operators and are difficult to standardize. Recombinant desmoglein-1 (Dsg1), Dsg3, and BP180 peptides, the main autoantigens in pemphigus or bullous pemphigoid, have been used to develop new quantitative enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for the detection of specific antibodies. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these immunoassays and to determine the correlation between the results and the clinical aspects of diseases. Serum samples from patients with pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, bullous pemphigoid, or mucous membrane pemphigoid, from healthy individuals, and from patients with unrelated autoimmune conditions were tested. Anti-desmoglein reactivity was detected in all the patients with pemphigus and in none of the controls. Patients with the more benign form of cutaneous disease had anti-Dsg1 antibodies, while patients with deeper cutaneous lesions or with mucosal involvement had anti-Dsg3 reactivity also, or exclusively. The BP180-based assay was positive for 66.6% of patients with bullous pemphigoid and for none of the patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid, and no reactivity was detected in the control sera. In conclusion, the anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 assays are useful in the diagnosis of pemphigus and provide information on the clinical phenotype of the disease. However, the sensitivity of EIA for detection of autoantibodies in bullous pemphigoid should be improved by the use of additional antigens or epitopes.     

Association of Insulin Resistance and Higher Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Black women with breast cancer have a worse overall survival compared with White women; however, no difference in Oncotype DX? (ODX) recurrence scores has been...     

Characterisation of the IgE-binding immunodominant epitopes on Ara h1

Peanut allergy is one of the most severe food allergies due to its persistency and life-threatening character. Serum IgE from patients with documented peanut hypersensitivity reactions and synthetic peptides were used to screen the linear IgE-binding epitopes on the major peanut allergen, Ara h 1. Five major epitopes that bound peanut-specific serum IgE from more than 60% of patients tested were identified. Mutational analysis of the immunodominant epitope showed that single amino acid changes had dramatic effects on IgE-binding characteristics. Mapping and characterisation of the IgE-binding epitopes on Ara h1 could be used in future immunotherapeutic approaches for peanut allergy disease.     

高山红景天多糖对小鼠抗柯萨奇B5病毒感染能力的研究

对感染柯萨奇Ｂ５病毒（ＣＶＢ）小鼠模型研究结果表明，高山红景天多糖对发病小鼠心肌功能改善和免疫功能提高均具有明显的促进作用。增强了小鼠抗ＣＶＢ５感染的能力，并对由ＣＢＶ感染性疾病也有一定的防治作用。     

工厂两级计算机系统之间的通讯

论述了IBM-PC及其兼容机之间的点点通讯,加装调制解调器通讯距离可达数公里。采用该技术可完成厂部与车间两级计算机系统的分级管理与控制。     

残胃贲门癌切除、空肠“9”字袢代胃及幽门重建术12例

目的探讨残胃贲门癌手术切除,消化道重建的方法。方法总结1989年8月至1999年12月12例残胃贲门癌切除、空肠“9”字袢代胃及幽门重建术的治疗经验。结果无手术死亡,无倾倒综合征,无返流性食管炎。钡剂在“9”字环内有循环,下方重建凼门处有钡荆停留。全组均随访,随访时间最长4年3个月,最短4个月。其中1年内死亡2例,1～2年死亡4例,2～3年死亡2例,另4例生活良好。结论术后并发症少,有抗返流作用,利于营养支持,病人生活质量较高。     

Growth-factor regulation of mdm-2 messenger-RNA expression

We have investigated the growth factor regulation of mdm-2 mRNA levels in mouse embryo fibroblasts, whose growth is controlled by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). We find that both growth factors up-regulate the expression of mdm-2 mRNA, independently of each other.     

侧脑室—腹腔分流治疗脑积水62例报告

目的　探讨脑积水的治疗方法和疗效。方法　62例均行侧脑室-腹腔分流术。脑室端从枕角穿入10cm接引流泵,再从皮下隧道引至上腹或左下腹放入腹腔。结果　1～4周后复查,症状完全消失56例,部分改善5例,无变化1例。57例复查CT示:52例脑室恢复正常,4例脑室较前缩小,1例无变化。堵管9例。低颅内压2例,硬膜下血肿2例,经保守治疗痊愈。49例随访1～8年,41例能正常工作学习,5例生活自理,1例植物生存,2例死亡。结论　明确诊断,掌握手术适应症及手术技巧是成功的关键。