MR imaging of facial nerve enhancement in Bell palsy or after temporal bone surgery

The authors evaluated magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained with intravenously administered gadolinium in ten patients who had facial paralysis and no facial nerve tumor. In patients with either Bell palsy (four patients) or facial paralysis after temporal bone surgery (six patients), intratemporal facial nerve enhancement was seen. Facial nerve enhancement on MR images proved to be a nonspecific finding.     

PLS—紫外分光光度法同时测定复方阿斯匹林片中三组分含量

本文研究了复方阿斯匹林片中阿斯匹林、非那西丁和咖啡因含量同时测定的紫外分光光度法的最佳实验条件,并简述偏最小二乘法(PLS)在多组分同时测定中的基本原理和应用。三组分模拟试样回收率平均值的置信区间分别为100.1±0.23%,100.0±0.25%和100.1±0.33%(置信度95%)。PLS法是一种理想的多组分测定方法,计算速度较快,结果更准确可靠,尤其适用于成批试样的分析,为微机控制的紫外可见分光光度计提供了一种新方法。     

纤溶酶相关蛋白在冠心病患者中的表达

目的:了解冠心病患者是否存在组织型纤溶酶原激活物(t-PA)及纤溶酶原激活抑制物Ⅰ(PAI-Ⅰ)功能紊乱,以及这两个指标与血脂、胰岛素抵抗的相关关系。方法:选择2004年1月至2006年1月于我院住院就诊的冠心病患者作为观察对象。按临床类型分为SAP组、UAP组、AMI组、OMI组,并设健康对照组。检测t-PA、PAI-Ⅰ、胰岛素敏感性指数(IAI)、胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)等指标。结果:(1)健康对照组t-PA高于各型冠心病组(P<0.05),AMI组t-PA低于其余各型冠心病组(P<0.05);健康对照组PAI-Ⅰ低于各型冠心病组(P<0.05),AMI组PAI-Ⅰ高于其余各型冠心病(P<0.05)。(2)t-PA与IAI呈正相关,与TC、TG、LDL呈负相关;PAI-Ⅰ则与IAI呈负相关,与TC、TG、LDL呈正相关。(3)各病例组t-PA于治疗后有所升高,PAI-Ⅰ于治疗后有所下降(P<0.05)。结论:冠心病患者存在明显的纤溶功能紊乱,且以急性期为重,并且纤溶功能紊乱与胰岛素抵抗、血脂异常等因素有关。     

转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞体外分化特征

目的:观察转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞在体外分化情况,为肝细胞癌的细胞源研究提供实验依据。方法:实验于2003-05/2004-06在南方医科大学药理教研室实验室完成。①两步法获取大鼠肝细胞,梯度离心法分离大鼠骨髓基质干细胞。②单基因转染是单独将c-myc或K-ras癌基因瞬时转染大鼠骨髓基质干细胞,6孔培养板中培养,24h后荧光显微镜下观察骨髓基质干细胞转染结果。双基因转染步骤相同,只是将c-myc和K-ras癌基因同时转染大鼠骨髓基质干细胞。③c-myc癌基因转染组、K-ras癌基因转染组、双癌基因转染组常规培养,加入含体积分数为0.1胎牛血清的DMEM培养基,于37℃、体积分数为0.05的CO2孵箱培养,每24h半量更换培养液。④c-myc癌基因转染 肝细胞组、K-ras癌基因转染 肝细胞组、双癌基因转染 肝细胞组将已转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞,置于叠加的培养板半透膜的上方(细胞密度均为1×105个/cm2),再将肝细胞置于半透膜的下方(每孔细胞密度为3×105/cm2)进行共培养,其余步骤同常规培养。⑤通过反转录聚合酶式反应和细胞免疫组化检测骨髓基质干细胞分化情况。结果:①癌基因转染24h骨髓基质干细胞检测结果:单独转染c-myc或K-ras癌基因的细胞,其绿色荧光蛋白呈均匀一致分布;双基因转染的细胞,绿色荧光蛋白呈点片状分布。②各组骨髓基质干细胞向肿瘤细胞分化检测结果:c-myc癌基因转染组、K-ras癌基因转染组、双癌基因转染组的骨髓基质干细胞,均未向肿瘤细胞分化;c-myc癌基因转染 肝细胞组、K-ras癌基因转染 肝细胞组、双癌基因转染 肝细胞组的骨髓基质干细胞,均向肝细胞癌发展;空白对照组骨髓基质干细胞细胞均为阴性。此外,双癌基因转染 肝细胞组的骨髓基质干细胞分化增殖迅速,反转录聚合酶式反应和免疫组化检测发现,培养第7天出现甲胎蛋白表达,并迅速增加,而第7天出现的白蛋白和细胞角蛋白18表达迅速减弱,第14天消失。结论:转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞,在向肝细胞诱导的条件下,部分癌基因可以使干细胞分化为肝癌细胞;多癌基因转染时,更易于使干细胞分化为肝癌细胞。     

Annexin V for flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine expression on B cells undergoing apoptosis

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a general mechanism for removal of unwanted cells from the immune system. It is characterized by chromatin condensation, a reduction in cell volume, and endonuclease cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal length fragments. Apoptosis is also accompanied by a loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry, resulting in the exposure of phosphatidylserine at the surface of the cell. Expression of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface plays an important role in the recognition and removal of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Here we describe a new method for the detection of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry, using the binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled annexin V to phosphatidylserine. When Burkitt lymphoma cell lines and freshly isolated germinal center B cells are cultured under apoptosis inducing conditions, all cells showing chromatin condensation strongly stain with annexin V, whereas normal cells are annexin V negative. Moreover, DNA fragmentation is only found in the annexin V-positive cells. The nonvital dye ethidium bromide was found to stain a subpopulation of the annexin V-positive apoptotic cells, increasing with time. Our results indicate that the phase in apoptosis that is characterized by chromatin condensation coincides with phosphatidylserine exposure. Importantly, it precedes membrane damage that might lead to release from the cells of enzymes that are harmful to the surrounding tissues. Annexin V may prove important in further unravelling the regulation of apoptosis.     

Serologic test for syphilis as a surrogate marker for human immunodeficiency virus infection among United States blood donors

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the usefulness of the serologic test for syphilis (STS) in preventing the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C viruses, and human T- lymphotropic virus via the transfusion of seronegative, infectious window-period blood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Demographic and laboratory information on blood donations made between January 1992 and June 1994 in 18 American Red Cross regions was analyzed. It was assumed that the same proportion of HIV-positive and HIV-infectious window- period donations reacted on STS and were negative on other screening tests (hepatitis B and C viruses and human T-lymphotropic virus). This proportion multiplied by the estimated number of HIV-infectious window- period donations is the number of post-screening HIV-infectious donations removed by STS. RESULTS: Of 4,468,570 donations, 12,145 (0.27%) were STS positive and 377 (0.008%) were HIV positive. Among donations that were negative on other screening tests, STS-reactive donations were 12 times more likely to be HIV positive (odds ratio = 11.9; 95% CI = 5,26). However, of an estimated 13 infectious window- period donations, 0.2 would have been removed because of a reactive STS, at a cost of over $16 million. CONCLUSION: STS is a poor marker and a costly strategy for preventing post-screening HIV infections and other blood-borne diseases.     

Polycystic Kidney Disease Re-evaluated: A Population-based Study

A genetic register of all known cases of autosomal dominantpolycystic kidney disease occurring in South and Mid-Wales hasbeen established. In a population of 2.1 million, 209 familieswith affected members were identified, 303 of whom are currentlyalive, 70 on renal replacement therapy. An additional 551 caseswould be predicted amongst family members at 50 per cent and25 per cent risk, giving an apparent prevalence of 1:2459 inthe general population. Five possible new mutations were seenwhere adults with phenotypic autosomal dominant polycystic kidneydisease had both parents alive, age > 55 years with no cystsvisible on ultrasound. The take-on rate for renal replacementtherapy increased during 1970–79 but has apparently reacheda plateau of 4.8 cases per million population per year overthe last 8 years, despite a rapidly increasing acceptance ofuraemic patients as a whole (72/10⁶/year in 1988–89).Considerably more patients with autosomal dominant polycystickidney disease aged over 50 years were started on treatmentin 1980–89 than in 1970–79, but the survival overallimproved with time. All cases of autosomal dominant polycystickidney disease reaching end-stage renal disease are now beingtreated, but the apparent clinical prevalence of this conditionin our region is less than half the supposed gene frequency,suggesting that undiagnosed cases have a benign prognosis.