Reversal of ischemic liver failure by intrasplenic liver cell transplantation

A model of ischemic hepatic failure in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) with 100% mortality has been developed by one-hour occlusion of the right portal vein and hepatic artery followed by left 70% hepatectomy. The intrasplenic injection of 40 x 10(6) syngeneic adult or three-day neonatal single liver cell suspensions decreased the mortality from 100% to 50% and 36%, respectively. Mortality decreased with increasing time from the intrasplenic injection of neonatal liver cells to the time of acute hepatic ischemia. Mortality also decreased with increasing interval between hepatic ischemia and removal of the transplanted liver cells by splenectomy. Intrasplenic injection of graded doses of neonatal liver cells decreased mortality from 75% at a dose of 10 x 10(6) cells, to 36% at 160 x 10(6) cells. Treatment of neonatal liver cells with metabolic inhibitors did not significantly affect their ability to reverse acute hepatic ischemia.     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

来源于骨髓和脐带血的基质细胞基本特性的比较

目的比较骨髓与脐带血细胞体外培养基质细胞的基本特性,为基质细胞的选择应用提供依据.方法用Dexter长期培养体系培养骨髓和脐带血基质细胞,以细胞增殖、细胞形态、细胞化学染色、细胞表面及基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的鹅卵石造血区(CAFC),长期培养起始细胞(LTC-IC)为指标,比较两者的生长特性、成分及功能.结果①细胞生长特性:出现贴壁细胞时间,骨髓细胞为培养3d,脐带血细胞为培养5～6d;细胞融合成片时间,骨髓细胞为培养10～14d,脐带血细胞为培养12～18d;第21天细胞增殖数,骨髓比脐带血细胞增殖少;②细胞成分:21d培养后细胞成分,骨髓来源者以成纤维细胞为主,其次是巨噬细胞与内皮细胞,脂肪细胞最少;脐带血细胞来源者,以巨噬细胞为主,其次是内皮细胞、成纤维细胞,偶见脂肪细胞;细胞化学与上述结果基本一致;细胞表面抗原检测,CD14、CD45的表达骨髓细胞明显低于脐带血细胞;③细胞功能:骨髓来源的基质细胞较脐带血细胞的基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的CAFC和LTC-IC明显多.结论①生长特征:形成贴壁细胞时间骨髓较脐带血短,骨髓细胞比脐带血细胞有核细胞数增殖快、持续时间相对短;②细胞成分特性:骨髓来源形成的基质细胞以成纤维细胞为主,脐带血来源者以巨噬细胞为主;③细胞功能特性:骨髓细胞形成的贴壁细胞较脐带血细胞形成的贴壁细胞更利于CAFC、LTC-IC生长.     

Postprandial induction of chaperone gene expression is rapid in mice.

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.     

Choice of an ovarian stimulation protocol according to the follicular puncture method in an in vitro fertilization programme

In order to ascertain the adequacy of ovarian stimulation protocols with a type of follicular puncture, 126 women undergoing in vitro fertilization received either combination clomiphene/hMG or hMG alone according to a randomized test protocol. Within both groups patients for whom a pelvic examination was required had laparoscopies, while others had transvaginal ultrasonically guided punctures as far as possible. Clomiphene/hMG was more efficient than hMG alone as assessed from the cleavage rate (68% vs. 54%; p less than 0.01) and the pregnancy per attempt rate (16% vs. 5%; p less than 0.05). Laparoscopic punctures were more efficient than ultrasonically guided punctures (mean number of recovered oocytes: 4.8 +/- 2.6 vs. 3 +/- 2.5; p less than 0.001), but slightly better results were achieved by this latter method in ongoing pregnancy per puncture rate (18% vs. 8%; NS). With ultrasonically guided punctures, stimulation by clomiphene/hMG allowed better oocyte recoveries (3.8 +/- 2.5 vs. 2.3 +/- 1.9, p less than 0.05). Such results constitute an argument for preferential use of the clomiphene/hMG stimulation protocol with ultrasonically guided punctures.