Insulin‐like growth factor‐II is produced by,signals to and is an important survival factor for the mature podocyte in man and mouse

Podocytes are crucial for preventing the passage of albumin into the urine and, when lost, are associated with the development of albuminuria, renal failure and cardiovascular disease. Podocytes have limited capacity to regenerate, therefore pro‐survival mechanisms are critically important. Insulin‐like growth factor‐II (IGF‐II) is a potent survival and growth factor; however, its major function is thought to be in prenatal development, when circulating levels are high. IGF‐II has only previously been reported to continue to be expressed in discrete regions of the brain into adulthood in rodents, with systemic levels being undetectable. Using conditionally immortalized human and ex vivo adult mouse cells of the glomerulus, we demonstrated the podocyte to be the major glomerular source and target of IGF‐II; it signals to this cell via the IGF‐I receptor via the PI3 kinase and MAPK pathways. Functionally, a reduction in IGF signalling causes podocyte cell death in vitro and glomerular disease in vivo in an aged IGF‐II transgenic mouse that produces approximately 60% of IGF‐II due to a lack of the P2 promoter of this gene. Collectively, this work reveals the fundamental importance of IGF‐II in the mature podocyte for glomerular health across mammalian species. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Association of 5-HTTLPR Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Val66Met Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism with Auditory N100 Evoked Potential Amplitude in Patients with Endogenous Psychoses

We studied the relationship between genes of serotonin transporter and brain-derived neurotrophic factor and parameters of AEP N100 wave to a non-significant stimulus in patients with endogenous mental diseases. In patients with endogenous psychoses, a significant effect of BDNF Val66Met marker on N100 wave amplitude was revealed: the mean N100 amplitude was higher in carriers of Val/Val genotype compared to Val/Met genotype carriers. The effect of the 5-HTTLPR marker on the wave amplitude was less pronounced (tendency): the SS genotype was associated with higher N100 amplitude. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 11, pp. 541–544, November, 2008     

The Cys allele (the Ser311Cys polymorphism) of the dopamine d2 receptor is associated with schizophrenia and impairments to selective attention in patients

We report here our studies of the Ser311Cys polymorphism of the D2 dopamine receptor gene in 366 patients with schizophrenia and 387 control subjects. The incidence of the Cys allele was found to be greater (p < 0.009) among patients than controls (8.5% and 3.9%, respectively). Selective attention was also studied on the basis of assessment of parameters of the P300 wave of auditory evoked potentials in 66 patients with different genotypes – SerSer and SerCys (the CysCys genotype was not seen among the patients). This revealed a significant influence of genotype (p = 0.01) on the latent period (LP) of the P300 wave in the frontal, central and temporal leads. In carriers of the Cys allele, which is associated with the risk of developing schizophrenia, LP was longer than in subjects with other genotypes, which is evidence for slowing of mental processes associated with activation of attention resources in these subjects. Thus, the results obtained here support data obtained previously for other populations showing that the Cys allele is associated with schizophrenia, and we also observed an association between this allele and degradation of selective attention in patients.     

Effect of BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Normal Variability of Executive Functions

Associations of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism with such components of executive functions as verbal fluency, working memory, attention set shifting, and response inhibition were evaluated. A total of 401 healthy volunteers were genotyped. The effect of polymorphism on working memory during the counting test was detected. The test performance in heterozygotic carriers was much worse than in homozygotic ones. Individuals with the MetMet genotype demonstrated the best results, presumably due to molecular mechanisms compensating for the neuropeptide secretion deficiency.     

Subtyping patients with heroin addiction at treatment entry: factor derived from the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90)

Background  

Addiction is a relapsing chronic condition in which psychiatric phenomena play a crucial role. Psychopathological symptoms in patients with heroin addiction are generally considered to be part of the drug addict's personality, or else to be related to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, raising doubts about whether patients with long-term abuse of opioids actually possess specific psychopathological dimensions.     

血液病患者合并侵袭性真菌感染的相关危险因素分析

目的 探索血液病合并侵袭性真菌感染(IFI)患者的临床发病率、相关危险因素及预后,为临床诊疗提供参考依据.方法 回顾性分析2009年1月-2011年6月医院收治的450例血液疾病患者临床资料.结果 诊断血液病合并IFI 91例,发生率为20.22％;包括7例确诊:血液感染5例、曲霉菌属感染2例;50例临床诊断:均为肺部感染,其中有1例伴有肝多发低密度灶;34例疑似病例:均为肺部感染;确诊及临床诊断IFI 57例,发生率为12.67％;平均随访时间为240 d,累计发病率为24.44％;年龄、粒细胞缺乏时间及活动性基础疾病为IFI的独立危险因素(P＜0.01);450例患者治疗后1年的总体生存率为76.67％,IFI的相关死亡率为3.78％;确诊及临床诊断组在诊断6周及12周的病死率均显著高于疑似诊断组(P＜0.01).结论 针对年龄＞33岁,且伴有活动性基础疾病的血液病患者应予以重点关注,必要时应积极进行抗真菌预防治疗,以降低合并真菌感染的发生率     

The Role of Genotype-Environment Interactions in the Development of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Stress Associated with Disease in a Family Member

The relationship between the 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met marker genotypes and symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with stress resulting from severe chronic illness in a family member was studied. Genotyping was performed in groups of 214 unaffected parents of patients with schizophrenia and 100 control subjects. The Met*ss diplotype was associated with increases in depressive tendencies (MMPI test) in the parents of patients but not in the control group, while among parents this was the case in the subgroup of parents whose children had the most severe symptoms. These results suggest that the interaction of polymorphic 5-HTT and BDNF genes may mediate the relationship between objective and subjective burden of disease.     

经动脉药盒化疗治疗转移性黑色素瘤病人的护理

[目的]总结经动脉药盒化疗治疗转移性黑色素瘤病人的护理。[方法]对10例转移性黑色素瘤病人行动脉药盒植入术,利用动脉药盒进行化疗,并做好治疗前、中、后的护理。[结果]10例病人中1例出现化疗药物外渗终止治疗,其余均能按计划完成治疗。[结论]掌握动脉药盒植入后的护理操作方法是行动脉灌注化疗的关键,有利于治疗的顺利进行。