Implantation: Tumour necrosis factor {alpha} inhibits in-vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been reported previously to inhibitthe in-vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cellsas assessed by progesterone-induced prolactin production andmorphological transformation. In this study we examined whetherother cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-(TNF), interferon-(IFN), IFN or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF), could affect the decidualization of human endometrialstromal cells in vitro. Of these cytokines, TNF significantlysuppressed prolactin production in a dose-dependent manner,with no apparent effect on cell number. The morphological transformationof endometrial stromal cells was also inhibited by TNF. TNFand IL-1 significantly suppressed cAMP-stimulated prolactinproduction by endometrial stromal cells. Neither the progesteroneconcentration in the supernatant of the endometrial stromalcell culture system nor intracellular calcium concentrationof the endometrial stromal cells were affected by the additionof TNF or IL-1. These results indicated that TNF and IL-1 suppressboth progesterone-induced and cAMP-mediated prolactin productionin endometrial stromal cells, and that this inhibition was notattributable to direct effects on progesterone metabolism orrelated to Ca2+-mediated signal transduction. These experimentssuggested that a local increase of TNF and IL-1 under certainpathological conditions in vivo may disturb blastocyst implantationand/or the maintenance of pregnancy by inhibiting the decidualizationof endometrial stromal cells.     

富碘中药海藻对甲状腺细胞凋亡及凋亡调控基因的影响

目的:通过观察富碘中药海藻对碘缺乏机体甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞凋亡,Fas,FasL,Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响,分析富碘中药过量对甲状腺损伤的机制。方法:实验于2006-03/09在辽宁中医药大学实验中心完成。①实验干预:选用健康鼠龄4周的Wistar大鼠150只。取120只喂低碘饲料建立缺碘大鼠模型,随机分为4组,每组30只:单纯高碘组喂含碘2000μg/L的双蒸水;模型组喂等体积双蒸水;常规剂量海藻组和3倍剂量海藻组分别灌胃海藻生药量13.5g/(kg·d)和40.5g/(kg·d)。以其余30只大鼠为正常对照组:正常饮食,每日灌服等体积双蒸水。②实验评估:分别在给药0,7,28d后取材。采用脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导原位缺口末端标记确定甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞凋亡细胞数。采用免疫组化方法观察甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞Fas,FasL,bcl-2表达。结果:大鼠150只均进入结果分析。①凋亡细胞数:给药后7d,常规剂量海藻组和3倍剂量海藻组低于模型组,差异有非常显著性意义(P<0.01)。常规剂量海藻组和3倍剂量海藻组低于单纯高碘组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。给药后28d,正常对照组甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞凋亡细胞数低于其他4组,差异有显著性或非常显著性意义(P<0.05～0.01)。常规剂量海藻组高于单纯高碘组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。②Fas,FasL,Bcl-2蛋白表达:给药7d后,常规剂量海藻组和3倍剂量海藻组Fas蛋白的表达低于模型组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。单纯高碘组和3倍剂量海藻组FasL表达低于模型组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。常规剂量海藻组Bcl-2蛋白表达高于模型组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。给药28d后,单纯高碘组和3倍剂量海藻组Fas蛋白的表达低于模型组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。单纯高碘组、常规剂量海藻组和3倍剂量海藻组Bcl-2蛋白表达高于模型组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论:富碘中药海藻给药28d可造成碘缺乏大鼠甲状腺细胞损伤,Fas,FasL,bcl-2可能参与诱导细胞凋亡。     

针刺抽吸法诱导建立椎间盘退行性变的动物模型

目的:用针刺抽吸法建立椎间盘退行性变动物模型,分析其可行性和优点。方法:实验于2006-10/2007-03在苏州大学附属第一医院骨科实验室完成。新西兰大白兔18只,用持针器夹持21G皮肤穿刺针从椎间隙正前方刺入L3～4、L4～5、L5～6椎间盘的纤维环,深度控制在5mm,拔出针芯,抽吸出部分髓核组织。术前及术后4,8,12周分别对造模后椎间盘及对照椎间盘(L2～3)行免疫组织化学及组织学观察。结果:新西兰大白兔18只均进入结果分析。①组织学观察:苏木精-伊红染色可见对照组髓核组织中有着大量髓核细胞,造模组第4周髓核细胞数量不断减少,第12周时髓核中主要为纤维软骨组织,伴有极少量髓核细胞。Ⅱ型胶原免疫组织化学检测可见:对照组髓核组织间质呈强阳性染色,而各模型组呈弱阳性染色。随着造模时间的延长,染色逐渐减弱,说明髓核组织中Ⅱ型胶原的含量逐渐减少。②髓核细胞凋亡率:对照组、实验组4,8,12周的髓核细胞凋亡率为(3±1)%,(17±4)%,(36±2)%,(23±5)%,差异有显著性意义(F=113.86,P=0.0001<0.01)。结论:纤维环穿刺吸出部分髓核的方法在不破坏自身免疫屏障的前提下可诱导兔椎间盘的缓慢退行性变,为干细胞、髓核细胞、基因治疗等提供有效的动物模型。     

用电化学检测器的高效液相色谱法测定血清及尿中速尿的含量

本文报告了用电化学检测器的高效液相色谱法测定血清及尿中速尿含量的方法。样品予处理方法:血清用乙腈除蛋白,尿用蒸馏水稀释50倍。采用作者合成的FD-Val-OH作为内标物。色谱条件为:反相柱,以含35%乙醇的5mmol/L四丁基铵水溶液为流动相(pH7.50),流速1.0ml/min;用电化学检测器,检测电压0.90V:速尿及内标物的保留时间分别为10和15min。通过计算速尿对内标物的峰高比求得速尿含量。血清及尿中的最低检测浓度分别为16和9ng/ml。标准曲线在0.25～5ng/μl(血清)、0.5～10ng/μl(尿)的浓度范围内呈线性关系。血清及尿中回收率分别为100.5%和100.6%。变异系数在4.6%以下。     

Insulin receptors on leukemia and lymphoma cells

Tumor cells obtained from leukemia and lymphoma patients were investigated for specific insulin receptors. Using radioactive 125I- labeled insulin, specific insulin binding sites were demonstrated on most acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) cells, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL) cells. Insulin receptors were not found on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and malignant lymphoma (ML) cells. Specific insulin binding sites were also found on monocytes and thymocytes after treatment with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P), but not on inactivated tonsil cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, or thymocytes. There was no inverse correlation between the content of insulin receptors and the basal level of circulating insulin. These data suggest that the insulin receptor may be a new marker of acute leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.     

Parathyroid adenomas evaluated by Tl-201/Tc-99m pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy and high-resolution ultrasonography

Thallium-201/technetium-99m pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy of the parathyroid glands was performed in a prospective study of 33 patients who had undergone bilateral neck exploration for elevated serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone levels. In 31 cases, the Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction technique yielded an overall sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 99%, and accuracy of 94% for identifying solitary parathyroid adenomas. Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction scintigraphy correctly identified 73% of parathyroid adenomas weighing less than 499 mg, 79% of those weighing 500-1,499 mg, and 100% of adenomas weighing more than 1,500 mg. In a subgroup of 24 patients with solitary parathyroid adenomas who underwent both scintigraphy and high-resolution sonography, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both procedures were similar.     

CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION IN NEONATAL AUTOPSIES

Of the 253 neonates admitted to a neonate intensive care unit during the period Jan 91 to Sep 93, 43 neonates died. Autopsy was done in 23 of these (53%). The mean duration of stay of the neonates in the intensive care unit prior to death was 5.6 days (range 2 hours to 10 days). Antemortem diagnoses included asphyxia neonatorum (4), meconium aspiration syndrome (2), septicemia (5), prematurity (3), birth trauma (2), congenital anomalies (2), hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (1), and non-specific diagnosis (4). There were 6 major autopsy findings that, if known prior to death, would have altered clinical management and might have resulted in cure or prolonged survival. There were 8 additional major findings that, if known prior to death, would not have altered management There were 14 minor findings related to major diagnoses but unrelated to the primary cause of death.KEY WORDS: Autopsy, Cause of death, Perinatal mortality