Intrathoracic kidney: a case report with a review of the world literature

We report a case of a right intrathoracic kidney and review the literature. The possible etiologies of intrathoracic kidneys are discussed.     

Relationship between the EBV-associated membrane antigen on Burkitt lymphoma cells and the viral envelope, demonstrated by immunoferritin labelling

The localization of EBV-induced, cell membrane antigens (MA) and intracellular viral capsid antigens (VCA) was studied by immunoferritin labelling. Human sera with known concordant or discordant anti-MA and anti- VCA reactivities were allowed to react with intact, viable EBV-carrier cells, and with naked and enveloped EBV-particles. The reaction was visualized by the indirect immunoferritin test, using a rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin conjugate. The following conclusions were drawn:

• a) MA is a structural constituent of the viral envelope. Anti-MA positive sera gave a consistently strong labelling of viral envelopes and of virus-free patches on the cell membrane as well.
• b) VCA is not present on the viral envelope and on the cell membrane. It is expressed on the surface of naked virus particles.
• c) A multispecific anti-HL.A serum gave a faint labelling with a small proportion of the enveloped viral particles. It could not be resolved whether this was due to the presence of HL.A antigens on some viral envelopes or, alternatively, to low anti-MA levels in the anti-HL.A sera.

     

Vascular endothelial growth factor-B promotes in vivo angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors have emerged as central regulators of the angiogenic process. However, involvement of VEGF-B, one of these factors, in angiogenesis remains obscure. Mice received subcutaneous injection of Matrigel alone or Matrigel with human recombinant protein rhVEGF-B167 or with rhVEGF-A165. After 14 days, cell ingrowth in the Matrigel plug was increased by 2.0- and 2.5-fold in rhVEGF-B167-treated and rhVEGF-A165-treated mice, respectively (P<0.01), in association with a raise in phospho-Akt/Akt (1.8-fold, P<0.01) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) (1.80- and 1.60-fold, respectively; P<0.05) protein levels measured by Western blot. VEGF-B-induced cell ingrowth was impaired by treatment with NOS inhibitor (NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; L-NAME, 10 mg/kg per day). Treatment with neutralizing antibody directed against the VEGF-B receptor VEGF-R1 (anti-VEGFR1, 10 microg) completely abrogated VEGF-B-related effects. Proangiogenic effect of VEGF-B was confirmed in a mouse model of surgically induced hindlimb ischemia. Plasmids containing human form of VEGF-A (phVEGF-A165) or VEGF-B (phVEGF-B167 or phVEGF-B186) were administered by in vivo electrotransfer. Angiographic score at day 28 showed significant improvement in ischemic/nonischemic leg ratio by 1.4- and 1.5-fold in mice treated with phVEGF-B167 and phVEGF-B186, respectively (P<0.05). Laser Doppler perfusion data also evidenced a 1.5-fold increase in phVEGF-B167-treated and phVEGF-B186-treated mice (P<0.05). Such an effect was associated with an upregulation of phospho-Akt/Akt and eNOS protein levels in the ischemic legs and was hampered by treatment with anti-VEGFR1. This study demonstrates for the first time that VEGF-B, in part through its receptor VEGF-R1, promotes angiogenesis in association with an activation of Akt and eNOS-related pathways.     

Effects of food processing on the thermodynamic and nutritive value of foods: literature and database survey

One of the goals of our society is to provide adequate nourishment for the general population of humans. In the strictness sense, the foodstuffs which we ingest are bundles of thermodynamic energy. In our post-industrial society, food producers provide society with the bioenergetic content of foods, while stabilizing the food in a non-perishable form that enables the consumer to access foods that are convenient and nutritious. As our modern society developed, the processing of foodstuffs increased to allow consumers flexibility in their choice in which foods to eat (based on nutritional content and amount of post-harvest processing). The thermodynamic energy content of foodstuffs is well documented in the literature by the use of bomb calorimetry measurements. Here, we determine the effects of processing (in most cases by the application of heat) on the thermodynamic energy content of foods in order to investigate the role of processing in daily nutritional needs. We also examine which processing procedures affect the nutritive quality (vitamin and mineral content) and critically assess the rational, advantages and disadvantages of additives to food. Finally, we discuss the role of endogenous enzymes in foods not only on the nutritive quality of the food but also on the freshness and flavor of the food. Our results show that a significant decrease in thermodynamic energy content occurs in fruits, vegetables, and meat products upon processing that is independent of water content. No significant change in energy content was observed in cereals, sugars, grains, fats and oils, and nuts. The vitamin content of most foods was most dramatically decreased by canning while smaller effects were observed upon blanching and freezing. We found that most food additives had very little effect on thermodynamic energy content due to their presence in minute quantities and that most were added to preserve the foodstuff or supplement its vitamin content. The endogenous food enzymes while aiding in digestibility of some foods (yogurt or grains) also helped some foods have a more palatable taste. Our conclusions are there is some scientific merit to the idea that enzymes in food can act synergistically with those in the human body to facilitate maximum nutritive value of foods.     

社会心理环境因素对癌症患者疼痛行为的影响

目的:了解湛江地区癌症患者癌痛行为的现况,进一步探讨社会心理环境因素对癌症患者疼痛行为的影响。方法:现场调查工作于2003-06完成。被调查者均为正在湛江中心人民医院接受治疗的住院患者。采用"癌症患者疼痛情况调查表",由主管医生逐一询问并记录填写,最后专人审核;同时应用汉密顿焦虑量表和汉密顿抑郁量表17项以及生活事件量表对所有患者进行情感评估。结果:共完成1197例癌症患者的调查。①无疼痛者152例(12.7%);轻度疼痛者637例(53.3%);中度疼痛者276例(23.01%);重度疼痛者132例(11.0%)。②1197例住院癌症患者中,接受各种类型镇痛治疗者894例(74.86%),中重度疼痛的发生率只有34%,而癌症疼痛患者使用阿片类镇痛药治疗者只有11%。③骨癌、生殖器癌症、脑癌和肝癌等患者癌症疼痛发生率明显较其他类型癌症高,且中重度疼痛发生率更高。④不同的文化背景其疼痛的表现程度差异存在显著性,文化程度与疼痛程度呈正相关(r=0.071,P<0.05);不同的职业其疼痛的表现程度差异存在显著性;家庭收入低者,其疼痛的痛苦体验要重;有负性生活事件者其癌症疼痛程度表现较重;焦虑和抑郁情感障碍越重,其癌症疼痛程度表现亦越重。结论:湛江地区人群的癌症患者疼痛发生率较低,患者的社会文化背景、实施非药物治疗措施、提供情感支持和社会支持对缓解疼痛有一定的影响。