No association between an intronic presenilin-1 gene polymorphism and schizophrenia in a Chinese population

We investigated the association between schizophrenic psychosis and an intronic polymorphism of the presenilin-1 (PS1) gene in a Chinese population. Schizophrenic and control groups had similar PS1 genotype distributions and allele frequencies, indicating that this polymorphism may not be involved in the development of schizophrenia.     

Fatal hyperkalemia during rapid and massive blood transfusion in a child undergoing hip surgery--a case report

We report a girl who developed severe and fatal hyperkalemia following rapid and massive blood transfusion during surgery. She was 7-year-old, 20-kg in weight, and received wide resection of the femoral bone with custom prosthesis implant because of malignant femoral osteosarcoma. During the procedure, bleeding was active and profuse and amounted to about 3,000 mL in 4 h, eventuating in shock. Despite rapid transfusion with 15 units of packed red blood cells (RBC) still she remained hypotensive and hypovolemic. When we switched to give her whole blood, actually 100 mL having been given, widening of QRS complex followed immediately by cardiac arrest developed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation although started at once was unsuccessful. At this juncture, arterial blood gas analysis showed acidosis and severe hyperkalemia (10.3 mmol/L), possibly resulting from transfusion of blood of older storage. The case reminded us once again the importance and necessity of the use of potassium-low blood component (fresh, saline-washed RBCs) in case of massive and rapid blood transfusion especially in pediatric patients with hypovolemia and low cardiac output.     

两种LASIK微型角膜刀的临床应用探讨

目的　比较ＫＮ－ ５０００ 型微型角膜刀与Ｍｏｒｉａ 微型角膜刀在ＬＡＳＩＫ 术中制作角膜瓣时的优缺点。方法　选用连续病例５６ 例１０３ 眼,随机分ＫＮ 组和Ｍｏｒｉａ 组,ＫＮ 组２８ 例５３眼,术前近视度数平均为－ ９－２１±７－４１Ｄ,散光≤－５－００Ｄ,Ｍｏｒｉａ 组２８ 人５０ 眼,术前近视度数平均为－１０－４７±３－７３Ｄ,散光≤－２－５０Ｄ,术中分别用ＫＮ－５０００ 微型角膜刀和Ｍｏｒｉａ 微型角膜刀制作角膜瓣。结果　两组病例角膜瓣边缘整齐。基质面：ＫＮ组全部术眼光滑、规则,Ｍｏｒｉａ 组部分术眼有“搓衣板”现象。瓣异常：ＫＮ组游离瓣２ 眼,Ｍｏｒｉａ 组不全瓣５ 眼。ＫＮ组角膜瓣质量优于Ｍｏｒｉａ 组,瓣异常率低于Ｍｏｒｉａ 组。结论　ＫＮ－ ５０００ 微型角膜刀在ＬＡＳＩＫ术中制瓣时性能及安全性、稳定性优于Ｍｏｒｉａ 组微型角膜刀。ＫＮ－ ５０００ 微型角膜刀还具有良好的易学性和进行ＬＡＳＩＫ角膜板层移植的功能。     

Isoeugenolol: a selective beta1-adrenergic antagonist with tracheal and vascular smooth muscle relaxant properties.

Isoeugenolol (1.0, 3.0, 5.0 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a dose-dependent bradycardia and a decrease in blood pressure in anesthetized Wistar rats. Isoeugenolol inhibited the tachycardia effects induced by (-)isoproterenol, but had no blocking effect on the arterial pressor responses induced by (-)phenylephrine. In isolated guinea pig tissues, isoeugenolol antagonized (-)isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the atria and tracheal relaxations in a concentration-dependent manner. The apparent pA2 values for isoeugenolol on right atria, left atria and trachea were 7.63+/-0.03, 7.89+/-0.12 and 6.12+/-0.05, respectively, indicating that isoeugenolol was a highly selective beta1-adrenoceptor blocker. On the other hand, isoeugenolol produced a mild direct cardiac depression at high concentration and was without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA). In isolated rat thoracic aorta, isoeugenolol relaxed more potently the contractions induced by (-)phenylephrine (10 microM) and 5-HT (10 microM) than those by high K+ (75 mM). In isolated guinea pig trachea, isoeugenolol attenuated the carbachol (1 microM)-con-tracted trachea more significantly than those contracted with high K+. Furthermore, the binding characteristics of isoeugenolol and various beta-adrenoceptor antagonists were evaluated in [3H]CGP-12177 binding to rat ventricle, lung and interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) membranes. The -log IC50 values of isoeugenolol for predominate beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptor sites were 5.82+/-0.09, 4.74+/-0.05 and 4.73+/-0.12, respectively. In conclusion, isoeugenolol was found to be a highly selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist with tracheal and vascular smooth muscle relaxant activities, but was devoid of alpha-adrenoceptor-blocking action.     

Cytotoxic constituents from the roots ofAnthriscus sylvestris

Activity-guided fractionation of the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris resulted in the isolation and characterization of five cytotoxic compounds, deoxypodophyllotoxin (1), falcarindiol (2), and angeloyl podophyllotoxin (5) from the hexane soluble fraction and morelensin (3), bursehernin (4) from the chloroform soluble fraction. It is the first report of the occurrence of compound 5 in nature.     

Cytotoxicity of urushiols isolated from sap of Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera stokes)

Cytotoxicities of four urushiols, congeners isolated from the sap of Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera Stokes), to 29 human cancer cell lines originated from 9 organs were evaluated. Their values of 50% growth inhibition were below 4 microg/ml, and showed cell line specific cytotoxicity. The present result is the first report on the cytotoxicity of urushiols suggesting that they would have an anticancer activity to human cancer cells.     

Biomarkers in airway tumors

Despite advances and improvements in diagnosis and treatment of upper aerodigestive tumors including head and neck and lung cancers, the overall survival rate of these patients remains poor. Prevention, early diagnosis, and novel therapy are under active investigation to improve the outcome of the diseases. In particular, chemopreventive strategy is a novel approach to reduce the invasive tumors by reversing the premalignant lesions with certain differentiating agents (i.e., retinoids). To conduct effective chemopreventive trials, there has been a great surge of interest in defining the biomarkers associated with the specific stages of the carcinogenesis and with intermediate end points during the therapy. Carcinogenesis in the upper aerodigestive tract has been explained by two theories, field cancerization and multistep process. The driving forces behind these processes are noted by accumulated genetic abnormalities in the entire epithelium of the airway. These genetic abnormalities include chromosome abnormalities, specific gene alterations (i.e., ras gene family, tumor suppressor genes, growth factors and their receptors), and proliferation and differentiation markers. These biomarkers are herein described in this review article.     

A study on analysis of particle size distribution

Analysis of particle size distribution of a sample of fine aluminum hydroxide powder was carried out by four different methods,i. e., conductivity, air permeability, gas-adsorption and sedimentation. Each method was reproducible. The results obtained by Coulter counter and sedimentation balance were similar, and the data obtained by Lea and Nurse permeameter and Stroehlein areameter were also similar. But the results differ considerably between the former and the latter. The advantages and disavantages of each method were discussed briefly and a means of comparing the results with those obtained by surface area measurements was shown.