Indirect injury stimulates scar formation-adaptation or pathology?

In several animal models of osteoarthritis induced by cruciate ligament transection, a dense, scar-like tissue mass forms rapidly on the medial side of the knee joint. This mass mimics clinical fibrosis that sometimes occurs after joint surgery. It is unknown exactly why this medial tissue mass forms and what cells are involved in its formation. This study characterizes this medial mass by histology, biochemistry, and the expression of types I and III collagen mRNA. The medial mass is compared with the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the MCL epiligament in anterior cruciate-transected and unoperated joints, and to normal skin and skin scar. The morphology of the medial mass resembled the epiligament and skin scar more than the MCL. The concentration of DNA and RNA and the RNA-DNA ratio were elevated dramatically in the medial mass compared with all other tissues including skin scar. However, the mRNA copy number and ratio of collagen types I and III mRNAs did not differ significantly among the medial mass, MCL, epiligament, and skin in either the control or the operated joints. The response of the medial mass, MCL, and MCL epiligament to cruciate transaction involves both hyperplasia and hypertrophy, but without a dramatic shift in cell phenotype. The medial mass may be a useful mimic or model of intraarticular adhesions, hypertrophic scars, ligament sprains, and arthrofibrosis.     

Tularemia on Martha's Vineyard: seroprevalence and occupational risk

We conducted a serosurvey of landscapers to determine if they were at increased risk for exposure to Francisella tularensis and to determine risk factors for infection. In Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, landscapers (n=132) were tested for anti-F. tularensis antibody and completed a questionnaire. For comparison, serum samples from three groups of nonlandscaper Martha's Vineyard residents (n=103, 99, and 108) were tested. Twelve landscapers (9.1%) were seropositive, compared with one person total from the comparison groups (prevalence ratio 9.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 68.1; p=0.02). Of landscapers who used a power blower, 15% were seropositive, compared to 2% who did not use a power blower (prevalence ratio 9.2; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 69.0; p=0.02). Seropositive landscapers worked more hours per week mowing and weed-whacking and mowed more lawns per week than their seronegative counterparts. Health-care workers in tularemia-endemic areas should consider tularemia as a diagnosis for landscapers with a febrile illness.     

Excision of a recurrent mediastinal cyst through mid sternotomy with high thoracic epidural anesthesia as the sole anesthetic—A case report

Conclusion Our case report highlights the possibility of tackling mediastinal, pericardial and pleural problems with regional anesthesia alone even if the surgery requires opening of the pleura.     

Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -G308A polymorphism with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The chromosomal location in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on 6p21.1-21.3, a region with evidence for linkage, suggests a role in susceptibility to schizophrenia. Association of the minor (A) allele of the -G308A TNFalpha gene polymorphism with schizophrenia has been reported [Mol. Psychiatry 6 (2001) 79]. METHODS: Association of the -G308A TNFalpha gene and the lymphotoxin alpha (LTalpha)+A252G gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia was studied in 79 sib pair families with linkage in the MHC region and in 128 trio families using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). RESULTS: Weak association of the common G allele was detected for TNFalpha -G308A in both samples independently with borderline significance in the sib pair families (0.064) and with a nominally significant value of P=0.022 in the trio families. Combining both samples produced P=0.003, while LTalpha+A252G, located approximately 2-3 kb distally, revealed P=0.03 and the two locus haplotype yielded a P value of 0.001. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests association of the common G allele of the -G308A TNFalpha gene polymorphism with schizophrenia in a sample of 207 families. However, linkage disequilibrium with a different allele of the TNFalpha gene or another gene in the MHC region cannot be excluded.     

公共产品价格机制及价格约束分析

公共产品涉及千家万户的切身利益，近10多年来，部分公共产品价格变化又多以超过国民经济发展速度提高，怎样正确认识和判断其价格的合理性，具有十分重要的现实意义。本文分析了我国公共产品的价格类型，定价机制，阐明了我国公共产品的价格约束制度构建的主要内容，希望为政府及相关部门工作提供有益的帮助。     

PBL在病原生物与免疫学教学中的实践

目的探讨病原生物与免疫学教学中开展PBL教学的效果。方法对照组采用传统的教学方法，实验组采用PBL教学方法，通过问卷调查、考试成绩综合分析教学改革效果。结果实验班绝大多数学生接受并欢迎PBL教学模式，并在自学能力、理解能力、分析解决问题能力等方面得到明显的提高。结论PBL教学方法优于传统的教学方法，能有效提高病原生物与免疫学教学质量。     

Objective measurement of binocular fixation misalignment

The amount of deviation from central fixation during binocular fusion of a vertical border was compared with conventional fixation disparity measured at the same time, forced convergence serving as the independent variable. Fixation eccentricity was measured objectively by monitoring a scleral blood vessel with a video camera and by analyzing the movement, greatly magnified, on a video screen. Fixation disparity was measured conventionally by interocular nonius alignment of vertically dissociated line segments. The results agree well with previous comparisons of these responses, in which the fixation eccentricity was measured by using a technique based on the effect of retinal stimulus location on border enhancement. As in the previous experiment, the fixation misalignment was found to be many times larger than the corresponding disparity for most forced convergence values. The large discrepancy between actual fixation misalignment and fixation disparity has thus been documented objectively as well as subjectively.     

淋巴靶向制剂——吸附抗癌药毫微粒活性炭的研究进展

目的介绍新型淋巴靶向制剂———吸附抗癌药毫微粒活性炭的研究进展。方法依据近年来的文献 ,对活性炭的制备工艺及体内外性质等方面进行了综述。结果活性炭具有很强的吸附功能 ,普通市售活性炭仅用作脱色、吸附热原与除味等。以微粒球磨机为粉碎器械 ,可加工制备粒径达1 0 0nm左右的纳米炭微粒 ,具有优越的淋巴趋向性。结论吸附抗癌药毫微粒活性炭在临床治疗癌症方面具有良好的运用前景     

Association of DNA polymorphisms in the synaptic vesicular amine transporter gene (SLC18A2) with alcohol and nicotine dependence.

The brain synaptic vesicular amine transporter SLCA18A2 is a key component for the uptake of monoamines like dopamine or serotonin into vesicles. We have analyzed seven DNA polymorphisms located in the genomic region of SLC18A2 for association with alcohol- and nicotine dependence, using a family-based design. Our sample comprised 131 families with alcohol-dependent offspring and 96 families with at least one nicotine-dependent offspring. For the alcohol-dependent sample, we found statistical significant association for two single markers (rs363387, P=0.03; rs363333, P=0.0066) as well as for several haplotypes (minimal P=0.0038). When the sample with alcohol dependence was stratified according to gender, we observed increased association for the male subgroup (rs363387, P=0.0011). None of the markers showed association in the sample of families with nicotine dependence. However, analysis of a combined sample of alcohol and nicotine-dependent families resulted in single markers as well as several haplotypes showing statistical significant association with substance dependence (minimal P=0.0044). We conclude that DNA polymorphisms located in SLC18A2 might contribute to the development of substance dependence.