Autoimmunity to insulin, beta cell dysfunction, and development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Circulating insulin autoantibodies (INSAAb) were measured in discordant monozygotic twins, first-degree relatives, and other groups at "high risk" for the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and these results correlated with both islet cell antibody (ICAb) status and beta cell function. INSAAb were positive in 31.6% (12 of 38) ICAb-positive subjects but in only 3.1% (3 of 97) ICAb-negative subjects (X2 = 22.4; P less than 0.001). Elevated levels of INSAAb tended to correlate with younger age and were observed in individuals irrespective of the prevailing degree of their beta cell function. Eight of 15 subjects detected to be INSAAb positive have thus far progressed to clinical IDDM (X2 = 18.3; P less than 0.001). Thus, autoantibodies reactive with the insulin molecule (1) appear to constitute an additional serologic marker of ongoing autoimmunity and development of IDDM, and (2) may reflect heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of IDDM.     

Needle biopsy of renal allografts: comparison of two techniques

Two techniques for renal allograft biopsy were retrospectively evaluated to compare relative safety and efficacy. After ultrasound (US) localization of the kidney and biopsy with a hand-held 14-gauge cutting needle, an adequate specimen was obtained in 74 of 77 cases (96%). Major complications occurred in six of these 77 cases (8%). One hundred four biopsies were performed by using a smaller 18-gauge cutting needle with a spring-loaded biopsy "gun" and real-time US guidance. With this newer technique, specimens adequate for diagnosis were obtained in 99 biopsies (95%). There was a single major complication with this technique (1%). The 18-gauge needle with real-time US guidance yields comparably adequate specimens with a lower frequency of complications.     

胰腺多房性潴留性囊肿1例

0　引言　胰腺多房性潴留性囊肿极为罕见,我科收治1例,报道如下.1　病例报告　患者,男,29岁,因发现右上腹包块11d入院,缘于11d前无明显诱因感右上腹痛,仅局限于右上腹部,无肩背部放散痛,伴间歇性发热,体温最高达38.3℃,经抗炎,对症治疗无效.并逐渐可触及右上腹有一肿块,在当地医院行穿刺检查为脓血性液体.镜检发现炎性细胞,B超示:胆囊窝下方及右肾内侧及腹腔动脉,下腔静脉外前方可见异常区,大小约9.1cm×6.6cm×7.6cm,边界清楚,形态不规则,内呈蜂窝状,可见多个大小不等的液性暗区,CT示:右上腹部上腔静脉前方6.0cm×9.0cm肿块和周围组织粘…     

IMPACTED RIGHT UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR AND TRANSPOSITION OF TWO OTHER ANTERIOR TEETH ON THE SAME SIDE (A Case Report)

A young boy presented with an uncommon finding of impaction of upper right central incisor and transposition of canine and lateral incisor on the same side. Esthetic management of his cosmetic problem which included fixed appliance therapy followed by light cure restorations is discussed.KEY WORDS: Impaction, Transposition     

Discriminative stimulus effects of the optical isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)

The isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) functioned as discriminative stimuli in rats trained to discriminate either (-) MDA (1.25mg/kg) or (+) MDA (1.25mg/kg) from saline. Dose- and time-response curves indicated that drug lever selection occurred at doses of at least 1.00mg/kg of (-) MDA and 0.75mg/kg of (+) MDA and that drug-appropriate responding for both isomers was maintained for at least 90min. Cross-substitution was observed between the MDA isomers; both (+) and (-) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) also substituted completely for (+) and (-) MDA. The hallucinogens (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and (+/-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM), substituted for (-) MDA; neither mescaline nor (+) amphetamine or cocaine had (-) MDA-like effects. LSD also substituted for (+) MDA; DOM, mescaline, (+) amphetamine and cocaine failed to have (+) MDA-like effects. The (-) but not the (+) MDA cue was blocked by the 5-HT(2) antagonist pirenpirone; the dopamine (DA) antagonists SCH-23390 and (-) sulpiride had no effect on either the (-) or (+) MDA cues. When animals were trained to discriminate LSD (0.16mg/kg) or (+) amphetamine (1.0mg/kg) from saline, neither (-) MDA nor (+) MDA substituted completely. These results indicate that: (1) the stimulus effects of the isomers of MDA and MDMA are similar; (2) (-) MDA may be more hallucinogenic (or more accurately, LSD- or DOM-like) than (+) MDA; (3) neither (+) nor (-) MDA has potent amphetamine-like effects; and (4) the effects of (-) MDA may be more serotonergic than those of (+) MDA.     

The hippocampus: anatomy, pathophysiology, and regenerative capacity

Cognitive deficits following insults to the central nervous system-particularly those involving the hippocampus and related structures-are often persistent and severely debilitating. Progress has been made in establishing the role of the hippocampus in integrating information in the formation of memory necessary for subsequent recollection of information. The present article will review anatomic, physiological, and functional aspects of the hippocampus in reference to learning and memory. Both animal and human hippocampal pathophysiological processes will be explored. Adaptive and maladaptive central nervous system responses will be reviewed, with a special emphasis on neurogenesis. Ideally, physiological and cellular compensatory responses ought to parallel clinical observation. However, this association is not clearly established. Finally, the current understanding of neuromodulatory mechanisms (although quite preliminary) will also be discussed.     

Functional neuroimaging and quantitative electroencephalography in adult traumatic head injury: clinical applications and interpretive cautions

Functional neuroimaging and quantitative electroencephalographic procedures are being used increasingly in brain injury research and clinical care. These procedures are also seeing increased use in the context of forensic evaluations, particularly in cases of mild head trauma. This article provides an overview of the use of procedures such as positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, and quantitative electroencephalogram in adults. Also discussed are the clinical limitations of each procedure within the context of myriad interpretive confounds that can interfere with accurate differential diagnosis of mild head trauma.     

Isolation and characterization of propagable cell lines (HUNC) from the androgen-sensitive Dunning R3327H rat prostatic adenocarcinoma

The Dunning H rat prostate tumor (R3327H) is a widely used experimental model of human prostatic adenocarcinoma (CaP). The Dunning H tumor has been characterized as androgen-sensitive, androgen-receptor (AR) positive, prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) positive. To date, the tumor has been maintained by serial passage in vivo because of the lack of an in vitro cell line that retains the characteristics of the in vivo tumor. The objective of the present study was to establish a propagable cell line from R3327H adenocarcinoma that maintained androgen sensitivity and expression of AR, PSA and PAP. Tissue harvested from an in vivo R3327H tumor was dissociated with collagenase and placed into Richter's improved media (with supplements). A cytokeratin-positive epithelial cell line (HUNC- E) and a vimentin-positive stromal cell line (HUNC-S) were generated from the primary culture, subcultured continuously for >300 days, and passaged >50 times. Survival of the HUNC-E cell line in vitro depended on several media supplements, including nicotinamide, insulin, transferrin, selenium and epidermal growth factor (EGF). HUNC-E cells expressed AR and produced PSA and PAP throughout the culture period, as confirmed by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analyses. Addition of 14 nM testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to HUNC-E cells, stimulated DNA synthesis as well as anchorage-independent growth and PSA production, which demonstrated the androgen-sensitive nature of the cells in vitro. When HUNC-E and HUNC-S cells were combined in a 3:1 ratio and introduced subcutaneously into syngeneic male hosts, tumors formed in 2/3 animals with an average latency of 7 months. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical characterization of the HUNC cell lines revealed that the cells expressed several growth factors and their cognate receptors, including HGF, TGF-alpha and the TGF-betas, indicating the establishment of potential autocrine loops in the neoplastic cells. The HUNC-E and HUNC-S CaP cell lines, which retain the characteristics of the epithelial and stromal components of the in vivo R3327H tumor, will allow a more thorough and informative molecular and biological analysis of prostatic adenocarcinoma.