Proteolytic Enzymes and Plasminogen Activator in Melanoma

Proteolytic activities were measured in extracts of human skin melanoma, lymphatic metastasis and in nonmalignant naevi by using various proteinase substrates as well as plasminogen activator assay. pH-optima for hydrolysis of various proteinase substrates by these tumors were found to be essentially the same as in healthy human skin. Melanoma extracts were found to especially readily hydrolyze N-alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine beta-naphthylamine (BANA) at pH 5.8 in the presence of 1 mmol/l dithiothreitol and EDTA (cathepsin B1-like enzyme) as well as histones and p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME) at pH 7.5, and showed increased capacity to activate plasminogen when compared to nonmalignant naevus. The possible role of proteinases in malignant melanoma is discussed.     

T-type Ca2+ channels contribute to IBMX/forskolin- and K(+)-induced Ca(2+) transients in porcine olfactory receptor neurons

T-type Ca(2+) channels are low-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels that control Ca(2+) entry in excitable cells during small depolarization above resting potentials. Using Ca(2+) imaging with a laser scanning confocal microscope we investigated the involvement of T-type Ca(2+) channels in IBMX/forskolin- and sparingly elevated extracellular K(+)-induced Ca(2+) transients in freshly isolated porcine olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In the presence of mibefradil (10microM) or Ni(2+) (100microM), the selective T-type Ca(2+) channel inhibitors, IBMX/forskolin-induced Ca(2+) transients in the soma were either strongly (>60%) inhibited or abolished completely. However, the Ca(2+) transients in the knob were only partially (<60%) inhibited. Ca(2+) transients induced by 30mM K(+) were also partially ( approximately 60%) inhibited at both the knob and soma. Furthermore, ORNs responded to as little as a 2.5mM increase in the extracellular K(+) concentration (7.5mM K(+)), and such responses were completely inhibited by mibefradil or Ni(2+). These results reveal functional expression of T-type Ca(2+) channels in porcine ORNs, and suggest a role for these channels in the spread Ca(2+) transients from the knob to the soma during activation of the cAMP cascade following odorant binding to G-protein-coupled receptors on the cilia/knob of ORNs.     

胺碘酮联合稳心颗粒治疗新发心房纤颤的临床体会

目的探讨胺碘酮联合稳心颗粒治疗新发心房纤颤的临床疗效。方法选取2010年4月—2014年3月于本院接受治疗的新发心房纤颤患者46例作为研究对象。将其分成对照组及观察组,各23例。对照组给予盐酸胺碘酮联合维拉帕米治疗;观察组给予胺碘酮及稳心颗粒的联合治疗。比较两组患者的临床疗效。结果观察组临床治疗的总有效率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论胺碘酮联合稳心颗粒治疗新发心房纤颤,不仅临床治疗疗效显著,而且对患者的身体素质以及生存质量具有提升作用。     

Determining optimal sleep position in patients with positional sleep-disordered breathing using response surface analysis

A lateral position (LP) during sleep is effective in reducing sleep disorder symptoms in mild or moderate sleep apnea patients. However, the effect of head and shoulder posture in LP on reducing sleep disorders has not been reported. In this study, effective sleeping positions and a combination of sleep position determinants were evaluated with respect to their ability to reduce snoring and apnea. The positions evaluated included the following: cervical vertebrae support with head tilting (CVS-HT), scapula support (SS), and LP. A central composite design was applied for response surface analysis (RSA). Sixteen patients with mild or moderate positional sleep apnea and snoring who underwent polysomnography for two nights were evaluated. Based on an estimated RSA equation, LP (with a rotation of at least 30°) had the most dominant effect [ P  = 0.0057 for snoring rate, P  = 0.0319 for apnea–hypopnea index (AHI)]. In addition, the LP was found to interact with CVS-HT ( P  = 0.0423) for snoring rate and CVS-HT ( P  = 0.0310) and SS ( P  = 0.0265) for AHI. The optimal sleep position reduced mild snoring by more than 80% (i.e. snoring rate in the supine position was <20%) and the snoring rate was approximately zero with a 40° rotation. To achieve at least 80% reduction of AHI, LP and SS should be >30° and/or 20 mm respectively. To determine an effective sleep position, CVS-HT and SS, as well as the degree of the LP, should be concurrently considered in patients with positional sleep apnea or snoring.     

简易实验性细菌性心内膜炎模型的制作方法

目的用α_甲型溶血链球菌建立兔细菌性心内膜炎模型。方法自麻醉兔颈总动脉插一导管至左心室 ,24h后随机分为空白对照组和感染组。对照组耳缘静脉注射1ml生理盐水 ,感染组注射108CFU甲型溶血链球菌 ,7d后抽血进行血液培养 ,处死后观察主动脉瓣赘生物和左心室腔内壁性赘生物的情况。结果感染组的每个动物在主动脉瓣和左心室中底部均有大小不等的赘生物生长 ,血液中均有细菌。对照组则没有。结论用这种方法制作的兔实验性细菌性心内膜炎成功率高且简单易行。     

Brush Border Enzymes in Evaluation of Acute Small Bowel Rejection

The change in activity of three disaccharidase enzymes (maltase, sucrase and lactase) was determined according to the method of Dahlqvist during acute rejection in non-immunosuppressed piglet small bowel grafts. In addition, two brush border enzymes, lactase and aminopeptidase, were stained with monoclonal antibodies. Diminishing disaccharidase activity was an early event during rejection. Diminution began 2 days before distinct morphological changes were seen in the mucosal biopsies. Evaluation of disaccharidase activity can thus be used as a confirmatory method in detecting rejection. Reduction in immunohistological staining of lactase and aminopeptidase with monoclonal antibodies and changes in mucosal morphology were observed to progress simultaneously.     

Confidential conversations between supervisor and employee as a means for improving leadership: a quasi-experimental study in hospital wards

Although yearly confidential conversations between a supervisor and an employee have been recommended as a means for improving leadership, evidence on the actual effects of these conversations has been lacking. The present study therefore investigated whether confidential conversations improve perceptions of goal clarity, sufficiency of feedback and innovativeness, and elicit satisfaction with the supervisor's leadership style within the hospital setting. Nine wards were divided into one experimental group (3 wards) and two control groups (3+3 wards). A questionnaire on goal clarity, feedback, innovativeness and satisfaction was administered twice to every group (1st measurement: n=186, 2nd measurement: n=163). The experimental group began confidential conversations after the first measurement, control group 1 entered into conversations during both measurements, and control group 2 did not enter into conversations at the time of either measurement. Confidential conversations improved perceived feedback. In both measurements, the sufficiency of feedback was reported to be significantly better in the groups having conversations than in the other groups. In addition, there was a significant positive change in the perceived sufficiency of feedback in the experimental group but not in the other groups. Confidential conversations did not affect the perceptions of goal clarity and innovativeness or elicit satisfaction with the supervisor's management style.     

Enhanced Effectiveness of Dimethyl-4,4‘-dimethoxy-5,6,5’,6‘-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl-2,2’-dicarboxylate in Combination with Garlic Oil against Experimental Hepatic Injury in Rats and Mice

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of dimethyl-4,4′-dimethoxy-5,6,5′,6′-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxylate (PMC) in combination with garlic oil against chemical-induced hepatic injury in rats and mice. Rats insulted with carbon tetrachloride were concomitantly treated with PMC and/or garlic oil (50 and 100 mg kg^?1, respectively) for four weeks. Whereas treatment of animals with garlic oil alone was ineffective in suppressing carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, administration of PMC in combination with garlic oil more effectively protected the liver against the carbon tetrachloride-induced insult than PMC alone, as monitored by serum aminotransferase activity. Hepatoprotective effects of the formulation were further supported by the changes in the numbers of Kupffer cells and dead hepatocytes. Although prior treatment of rats with PMC for three days failed to protect hepatotoxicity elicited by allyl alcohol, the formulation of PMC and garlic oil was capable of blocking allyl alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity by ～ 40%. To further examine the effect of the agents on lipid metabolism in the liver, hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol contents were assessed in mice after a diet containing PMC and/or garlic oil for one week followed by a single dose of carbon tetrachloride. Garlic oil appeared to be more effective in bringing hepatic lipid levels to those of control than PMC alone. Treatment of animals with PMC in combination with garlic oil synergistically improved chemical-induced impairment of hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol. These results demonstrated that PMC in combination with garlic oil is effective in protecting (or treating) chemical-induced hepatic injury and that the formulation may be effective against chemical-induced fat-infiltration of the liver.     

Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation Using Electrograms from Chronic Leads: Evaluation of Computer Algorithms

This study compares the performance of three detection algorithms for the recognition of atrial fibrillation in chronic pacing leads. Multiple serial recordings were obtained of wideband and filtered electrograms from chronic atrial and ventricular leads in dogs for a period up to 55 days following implantation. Each dog was recorded in sinus rhythm and induced atrial fibrillation. Four days were chosen for processing: The day of implantation and a day in the first, second or third, and fifth weeks. Three signal processing methods were assessed for performance in detection of atrial fibrillation: software recognition of rate with automatic threshold control, amplitude distribution, and frequency spectral analysis. A software trigger for rate determination was adjusted to thresholds of 10, 20, and 30% of maximum baseline-to-peak amplitude. At 10%, a rate boundary anywhere between 420 and 560 beats per minute (bpm) perfectly separated atrial fibrillation from sinus rhythm even though atrial electrograms were contaminated with large QRS deflections and double-sensing was present. At 20% and 30%, a rate boundary around 300 bpm could be used, but sensitivity and specificity were reduced to 90%. In amplitude distribution analysis, a percent of time within a baseline window provided perfect separation of atrial fibrillation from sinus rhythm. In all cases, the signal was within this window less than 43% of the time in atrial fibrillation, and more than 43% in sinus rhythm. In spectral analysis, frequency bands were examined for power content. In the 6 to 30 Hz band atrial fibrillation contained the greater power. Choosing 58% of total power as a discriminant, sensitivity and specificity of atrial fibrillation detection were 100% and 95% respectively.