Polymorphisms in ADAM33 are associated with allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen

BACKGROUND: A recent report provided evidence that a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33), a member of the ADAM family, is a novel susceptibility gene in asthma linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. However, there has been no investigation of the genetic role of ADAM33 variants in nasal allergy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the association between ADAM33 polymorphisms and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis), a most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a case-control association study among a Japanese population, involving 95 adult individuals with JCPsis and 95 normal healthy controls. A total of 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33 were genotyped using PCR-based molecular methods. RESULTS: Six SNPs of ADAM33 gene, three in introns (7575G/A, 9073G/A and 12540C/T) and three in the coding region (10918G/C, 12433T/C and 12462C/T), were strongly associated with JCPsis (P = 0.0002-0.022 for absolute allele frequencies) and most of the SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. A higher frequency of the common alleles of these SNPs was noted for the subjects with JCPsis in comparison with healthy controls. We also identified a haplotype associated with the disease susceptibility. In addition, associations were found between ADAM33 polymorphisms and various cedar pollinosis phenotypes including clinical severity, eosinophil counts in nasal secretion and allergen-specific IgE levels in sera, but not total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that polymorphisms in the ADAM33 gene are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen, but the functional relationship still needs clarification.     

脊髓血管畸形合并胸腔血管畸形

脊髓血管畸形的临床发病率较低,仅为颅内血管畸形或脊髓新生物的1/10左右.本病可能与其它组织的血管异常同时存在,如皮肤血管痣(Cobb综合征),皮肤、粘膜病变,和Klipple-Trenaunay-Weber综合征等.本文报告的与胸腔血管畸形同时存在的脊髓血管畸形,我们尚未见诸报道.本文还结合文献就脊髓血管畸形导致脊髓功能损害的病理生理作了阐述.     

激光多普勒技术测定组织血流及其在高温治癌研究中的意义

应用激光多普勒血流仪测量比较津白Ⅱ号小鼠三个部位皮肤的血流,观察HDZ对血流的影响,评价了HDZ的体内热增敏作用。结果发现,同一小鼠不同部位的血流是不同的,同一部位的连续6天结果无何区别。但同部位小鼠间的血流差别可达1倍以上。提示了预测放、化、热疗的疗效时,监测个体血流的前后变化有重要意义。2.5mg/kg以上的HDZ可以明显降低血流75％左右。HDZ与高温联合应用时对肿瘤显示了热增敏效应。     

Diagnosis and treatment of severe pancreatitis: analysis of 40 cases

Forty cases of severe pancreatitis confirmed and treated by surgery were studied. In order to have a retrospective observation, we compared the clinical and laboratory data of 28 severe cases with that of 72 mild cases treated conservatively and found that in some cases neither Ranson nor Bank criteria were reliable in predicting the severity. We also found that frank peritonitis and bloody ascites with elevated amylase level were very good indication of pancreatic necrosis and hemorrhage. It was the author's opinion to explore early within 48 hrs after onset, using both drainage and open lesser sac lavage in most severe cases of pancreatitis.     

Becoming a mother — an analysis of women's experience of early motherhood

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted by midwife researchers into women's experience of new motherhood. Data were collected using focus groups involving 55 first-time mothers and analysed using grounded theory method. The analysis produced six categories: 'realizing', 'unready', 'drained', 'aloneness', 'loss' and 'working it out'. The core category, 'becoming a mother', integrates all other categories and encapsulates the process of change experienced by women. Also explained are factors mediating the often distressing experience of becoming a mother. The analysis provides a conceptualization of early motherhood enabling the development of strategies for midwives, nurses and others helping women negotiate this challenge.     

Indapamide inhibits endothelium-dependent contractions in the aorta of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Summary— Experiments were designed to determine whether or not indapamide, an antihypertensive agent with vasodilator properties, inhibits endothelium-dependent contractions. Rings of aortae with and without endothelium from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were suspended in conventional organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. Acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate-β-S in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, caused endothelium-dependent contractions, which were inhibited by indapamide. The compound (10⁻⁴M) also slightly reduced the contractions of rings without endothelium evoked by U-46,619, which activates thromboxane-endoperoxide receptors. These results demonstrate that indapamide inhibits endothelium-dependent contractions in the SHR aorta, and suggest that the inhibition is due, at least in part, to the action of the drug on the hypertensive vascular smooth muscle.     

宫颈粘液过氧化物酶在月经周期中的变化规律

本文对29例月经周期正常妇女的宫颈粘液过氧化物酶进行了30个周期的研究。在月经周期不同时间测定宫颈粘液过氧化物酶(CMPx)活性及血清促黄体生成素(LH)、雌二醇(E_2)和孕酮(P)。结果表明:在排卵前三天酶活性明显下降,至排卵后一天开始上升。卵泡期,酶活性与E_2呈负相关(r=-0.67);黄体期,酶活性与P呈正相关(r=0.79)。本研究提示:1.CMPx在排卵周期具有特定的变化规律,其变化受体内激素水平影响,可作为预告排卵的指标。2.如简化测定方法,可为自然避孕提供新途径。