Meconium concentration and amniotic fluid index influence the outcome of amnioinfusion

BACKGROUND: To determine the usefulness of amnioinfusion as a function of meconium concentration and amniotic fluid index. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 206 pregnant women in whom amniotic fluid was moderately or heavily stained with meconium, according to subjective evaluation. The women were assigned randomly to receive amnioinfusion (n=103) or no amnioinfusion (control group, n=103). The results were compared in women with =/<15 % or >15 % meconium in the amniotic fluid (measured by centrifugation), and in women in whom the amniotic fluid index calculated 60 min after insertion of the amnioinfusion catheter was <10 or =/>10. RESULTS: In women with >15% meconium, amnioinfusion decreased the rate of cesarian sections motivated by fetal distress (2.5% vs 22.2%), and in women with =/<15% meconium, amnioinfusion decreased the presence of meconium below the vocal cords (6.4% vs 25.9%). Greater benefits after amnioinfusion were seen in women with an amniotic fluid index =/>10: the rate of cesarian sections was lower (1.3% vs 13.3%), as was the frequency of meconium below the vocal cords (10.1% vs 33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial effects of amnioinfusion were seen in women with high and low concentrations of meconium, and with high and low amniotic fluid indexes. These criteria should therefore not be used to decide whether amnioinfusion is indicated when the amniotic fluid is moderately or heavily stained with meconium.     

RhoA and lysophosphatidic acid are involved in the actin cytoskeleton reorganization of astrocytes exposed to ethanol

Astroglial cells play an important role in maintaining neuronal function in the adult and in the developing nervous system. Ethanol exposure induces profound alterations in the astrogliogenesis process, affecting important cell functions, including intracellular protein trafficking. Because the actin cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in intracellular protein transport, the aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of ethanol on actin cytoskeleton organization and the involvement of the RhoA signaling pathway in these effects. We show that RhoA and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an upstream activator of RhoA, stimulate the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesion in cortical astrocytes in primary culture. Exposure of cultured astrocytes to different concentrations of ethanol profoundly disorganizes the actin cytoskeleton, leading to the formation of actin rings at the cell periphery and decreasing the content of focal adhesion proteins. Furthermore, LPA treatment or RhoA transfection revert the ethanol-induced actin alterations in astrocytes, whereas transfection with an inactive mutant of RhoA is unable to revert the actin ring organization. In addition, inhibition of endogenous RhoA by C3 exoenzyme effectively blocks ethanol-induced actin ring formation. These results suggest that the effects of alcohol on actin cytoskeleton organization are mediated by the RhoA signaling pathway. Disruptions in actin organization may impair important astrocyte functions, participating in ethanol-induced astroglial and brain damage during development.     

Neural cell adhesion molecule is endocytosed via a clathrin-dependent pathway

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) constitutes a group of cell surface glycoproteins that regulate cell-cell interactions in the developing and adult brain. Endocytosis is a mechanism which dynamically controls the amount of cell surface NCAM expression and may involve the rapid changes occurring in NCAM expression under certain physiological or pathological conditions. However, the endocytic pathway of NCAM is presently unknown. Using astrocytes in culture and immunofluorescence we show that NCAM is internalized and that the immunolabelling presents a high degree of colocalization with clathrin, alpha-adaptin and transferrin, suggesting that NCAM is endocytosed by a clathrin-dependent pathway. Potassium depletion which disrupts clathrin-mediated endocytosis, inhibited internalization of NCAM. Electron microscopy and immunogold studies also demonstrate that the surface of clathrin-coated vesicles are also immunolabelled for both alpha-adaptin and PSA-NCAM, the highly sialylated isoform of NCAM. Furthermore, immunoprecipation studies demonstrate that NCAM is associated with both clathrin and alpha-adaptin, a component of adaptor complex AP-2, in brain, neurons and astrocytes. These findings indicate that NCAM is mainly endocytosed via clathrin-coated vesicles, suggesting a possible mechanism that may contribute to the rapid changes in NCAM expression at the cell surface.     

中医病案的特点及当代病案整理现状

中医病案是中医的重要组成部分之一，从开始的零星记载到病案专著、专科病案的出现，经历了漫长的时间。通过对近十几年有关中医病案发展及当代中医病案整理工作的文献进行总体回顾、分析、评价，基本从病案的概念、分类、时代特点及当代中医病案情况等角度总结了中医病案发展的概况。     

自然流产小鼠蜕膜组织肿瘤坏死因子-α和单核细胞趋化蛋白-1的表达

目的:比较正常妊娠与自然流产小鼠模型蜕膜组织中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)表达特征的差异,探讨TNF-α和MCP-1与不明原因自然流产的关系。方法:建立正常妊娠小鼠模型和自然流产小鼠模型,采用免疫组化SABC法测定两组模型孕13天蜕膜组织TNF-α和MCP-1的表达。结果:与正常妊娠模型相比,自然流产模型蜕膜组织中TNF-α、MCP-1的表达显著升高(P<0.01)。结论:蜕膜组织中TNF-α、MCP-1的表达与自然流产的发生发展有关。     

预防艾滋病宣传海报发放张贴情况调查与传播策略研究

目的了解2004年全国统一制作的预防艾滋病宣传海报发放、张贴情况,探索新的传播策略。方法选择广东、广西、福建、江苏、甘肃、青海等6省,以查阅资料、观察、访谈等定性研究方法进行现场调查。结果6省宣传海报发放、张贴工作基本到位;城乡居民、大中学生等目标人群对宣传海报的接受、理解和信息需求不同;各地创造性地开展了多种预防艾滋病的宣传教育活动,提高了大众的艾滋病防治知识知晓率,促进了不歧视艾滋病感染者和病人社会氛围的逐渐形成。结论宣传海报是开展预防艾滋病宣传教育的一种有效途径;政府主导、多部门配合、全社会参与是预防艾滋病宣传的有效传播策略。