CENTRAL NEUROGENIC NEUROPROTECTION: PROTECTION OF BRAIN FROM FOCAL ISCHEMIA BY CEREBELLAR STIMULATION

Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) elevates regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) independently of cerebral metabolism (rCGU) throughout brain. One hour of FN stimulation also reduces, by up to 50%, the volume of the focal ischemic infarction produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rat. Protected areas correspond to the ischemic penumbra. Neuroprotection, while reversible, persists for weeks after 1h of stimulation. It cannot be attributed to increasing rCBF and/or reducing rCGU to improve matching of flow and metabolism. Conditional stimulation of FN initiates long-lived inhibition of expression of peri-infarction depolarizing waves, possibly by altering potassium-channel function and suppresses induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and ICAM in cerebral microvessels. The brain contains intrinsic networks which may protect the brain from ischemic injury, possibly by producing widespread and longterm suppression of electrical excitability and/or and expression of proinflammatory molecules.     

Comparative study of immunochromatographic sets for rapid diagnosis of syphilis

The paper presents the results of the comparative study of 9 commercial kits made in foreign countries for the rapid diagnosis of syphilis, performed at the Central Research Institute of Dermatovenereological Infections, Russian Agency for Health Care, within the framework of the International Sexual Transmitted Diseases Diagnostic Initiative Program under the aegis of the World Health Organization during 2002-2005. The above diagnostic kits were assessed in the context of the availability of and statement simplicity in the instruction for use; the technological complexity in performing a study procedure and the simplicity in interpreting the findings; the necessity of employing additional laboratory equipment. The parameters of the clinical efficiency (sensitivity and specificity) were studied; a passive sensitized red blood cell agglutination test was used as a reference method. The comprehensive study showed that the "Determine Syphilis TP test system ("Abbot Lab", USA) yielded the best results with a total of 10 scores at 100% sensitivity and 100% sensitivity) while the "Bioline Syphilis anti-TP Test Card" ("Pacific Biotech Co.", Thailand) provided a total of 9 scores at 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity.     

Precocious expression of T cell functional response genes in vivo in primitive thymocytes before T lineage commitment

The genes encoding effector molecules of mature T cells, IL-2, perforin and IL-4, were found to be expressed in vivo in the most primitive subsets of thymocytes of adult mice. These subsets have previously been identified by their cell surface markers and by their expression of other T lineage-associated genes. While IL-2, perforin and IL-4 are expressed in distinct patterns, all three are expressed before the induction of RAG-1 and pre-TCR alpha mRNA expression, and are confined to subsets of cells that apparently have not yet undergone commitment to the T lineage. Thus, expression of T cell response genes appears to be one of the earliest markers of lymphocyte differentiation. Activation events marked by CD69 induction occur in these early cell types, but the response gene expression by these cells is separable from CD69 expression. IL-2 and perforin are induced again much later in thymocyte development, during TCR-dependent repertoire selection. At those stages, IL-2 protein and RNA levels per cell are higher, but the fraction of cells expressing IL-2 appears to be much lower than in the most immature stages. In addition, a striking feature of the immature populations is the robust IL-2 expression by presumptive immature NK cells. These findings are discussed in terms of the developmental origins of lineage specificity in T cell response gene regulation.      

预断溃疡性结肠炎自然史的可能性

在提高炎症性肠病(1BD)疗效的同时,因治疗产生的毒性也可能增加,因此筛选出高危患者尤为重要.我们首先需要确定与溃疡性结肠炎(UC)自然史最为相关的临床终点事件,然后明确能预测严重后果的危险因素.     

肾移植的放射性核素评价

核素检查由于无创伤性并可定量测肾功能,已被广泛用于肾移植监测。本文介绍如何应用~(99m)Tc-DTPA等几种放射性药物和显像技术诊断肾移植后各种外科并发症,急、慢性排斥反应,急性肾小管坏死和免疫抑制剂的毒性反应。