管花苷B对抗H202诱导的PCI2细胞凋亡

目的:观察肉苁蓉提取物管花苷B对H:O:诱导的PCI2细胞损伤的影响.方法:用MTr法检测细胞存活率,以激光共聚焦显微镜荧光染色法检测细胞内活性氧的产生和线粒体膜电位的变化,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳和流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡的发生,并用荧光酶标仪测定caspase-3的活性.结果:100 μmol稬-1H2O2处理细胞24 h显著降低细胞的存活率;诱导细胞发生凋亡,凋亡率达48.O％;细胞内活性氧水平及caspase-3的活性显著升高;而线粒体膜电位却明显降低,红／绿荧光强度的比值由正常的5.97降低为0.41左右.而预先给予l、10或100 mg.L-1浓度的管花苷B处理细胞12 h,可显著提高细胞存活率;并可有效抑制DNA ladder的发生;流式细胞仪检测凋亡率分别降低到30.9％、18.3％和6.2％;激光共聚焦显微镜结果显示管花苷B可明显降低细胞内活性氧的水平;并可逐渐恢复线粒体的高能量状态;easpase-3的活性不断降低,并呈现了一定的剂量依赖性.结论:管花苷B能显著地抑制H2O2诱导的PCI2细胞凋亡,其神经细胞保护作用可能与其降低细胞内活性氧水平,维持线粒体膜电位的高能状态和抑制caspase-3的活性有关.     

The whispered voice: the best test for screening for hearing impairment in general practice?

Hearing loss is an important health problem in the elderly which sometimes leads to social isolation. In a study with 62 patients, the diagnostic value of four simple tests for screening for hearing loss in general practice was examined. When paying attention to the loudness of the whispering, the whispered voice test can be a valuable test for assessment of hearing loss in general practice.     

NCAM in developing mouse gonads and ducts

Summary The expression of theNeuralCell AdhesionMolecule, NCAM, in mouse gonads and ducts was studied from fetal life to maturity. The methods used were immunocytochemical staining and Western blotting. The immunocytochemical studies showed that the only structures that remain NCAM-positive throughout life were the mesonephric-derived rete ovarii and rete testis. Also in the fetal gonads some somatic cell lining the groups of differentiating germ cells were stained. In the immature as well as in the mature ovary the granulosa cells and oocytes of growing and large follicles — but not of small follicles — were stained. A particularly strong staining of the cytoplasm of the oocyte, healthy as well as atretic, was seen. All cells of the testis remained negative except for weakly stained residual bodies and late spermatids. At all ages the male ducts showed only weak staining, whereas in the female Müllerian duct the epithelium became strongly positive at puberty. The stroma of the Müllerian duct was positive during a transitory period around day 16 of fetal life in both sexes. One-dimensional gel immunoblotting of total protein from gonads, rete and ducts from immature and mature mice showed that only the two largest isoforms of NCAM (NCAM-A and NCAM-B) were present. The gonads and the rete of both sexes and the adult uterus expressed only NCAM-B, whereas NCAM-A was also detected in the adult epididymis. The present findings suggest that NCAM may be involved in the normal development and formation of both the gonads and ducts. In particular, NCAM may play a part in sustaining the integrity of the rete testis, thus ensuring the pathway for spermatozoa from the testis to the epididymis. Furthermore this cell adhesion molecule may also be important for follicular growth and differentiation.     

Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) as an office procedure: a manual

There is now enough experience with the use of double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) to recommend its use as an office procedure for most patients complaining of adverse reactions to foods. This manual discusses the practical methods required for the allergist to undertake DBPCFC in the office. Thorough histories supplemented by food allergen skin testing are used to design a DBPCFC that carefully attempts to reproduce the history of food-induced symptoms described by the patient. Precautions that must be taken are delineated before challenge, as is treatment that may be required if a reaction occurs. For those foods to which challenges are positive, longitudinal evaluation with repeated challenge at appropriate intervals help to determine whether or not the problem will resolve over a period of time.     

Factors affecting the determination of threshold doses for allergenic foods: how much is too much?

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of small amounts of an offending food can elicit adverse reactions in individuals with IgE-mediated food allergies. The threshold dose for provocation of such reactions is often considered to be zero. However, because of various practical limitations in food production and processing, foods may occasionally contain trace residues of the offending food. Are these very low, residual quantities hazardous to allergic consumers? How much of the offending food is too much? Very little quantitative information exists to allow any risk assessments to be conducted by the food industry. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the quality and quantity of existing clinical data on threshold doses for commonly allergenic foods were sufficient to allow consensus to be reached on establishment of threshold doses for specific foods. METHODS: In September 1999, 12 clinical allergists and other interested parties were invited to participate in a roundtable conference to share existing data on threshold doses and to discuss clinical approaches that would allow the acquisition of that information. RESULTS: Considerable data were identified in clinical files relating to the threshold doses for peanut, cows' milk, and egg; limited data were available for other foods, such as fish and mustard. CONCLUSIONS: Because these data were often obtained by means of different protocols, the estimation of a threshold dose was very difficult. Development of a standardized protocol for clinical experiments to allow determination of the threshold dose is needed.     

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人胎脑神经干细胞的体外培养

目的从人胎脑纹状体中分离培养并鉴定神经干细胞。方法采用包含碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)和表皮细胞生长因子(EGF)的无血清培养和单细胞克隆技术,从36周自愿水囊引产人胎脑纹状体中分离出神经干细胞,并观察神经干细胞体外培养、传代、分化潜能。结果从36周人胎脑纹状体中成功分离出具有自我更新和多分化潜能的神经干细胞,在无血清培养时细胞呈悬浮状态生长,形成神经球,该细胞具有连续克隆能力,可传代培养,呈Nestin免疫反应阳性细胞;在含血清培养时诱导神经干细胞分化,分化后的细胞表达神经元细胞、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的特异性抗原。结论神经干细胞的存活和分裂有赖于EGF和bFGF的共同作用;36周人胎脑纹状体仍能培养出具有自我复制和分化潜能的神经干细胞。     

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Endotoxins and allergy: lessons from the murine model.

Exposure early in life to organic dusts containing immunomodulatory components such as endotoxins and immunizing components such as aeroallergens may greatly influence whether subsequent encounters with allergens lead rather to sensitization or unresponsiveness. We investigated the effects of endotoxin in the context of allergen-mediated immune responses in a murine model of allergen sensitization. Systemic sensitization with ovalbumin induced high serum levels of allergen-specific IgE, predominant Th2-type cytokine production, eosinophilic airway inflammation and in vivo airway hyperreactivity. Endotoxins were either applied systemically prior to sensitization, or via the airways prior to airway challenges, or by repeated inhalation during the first weeks of life prior to subsequent sensitization. Different effects of endotoxins on allergen-induced immune responses may be attributed to differences in dosing, route of application, time relationship with allergen sensitization and the concurrent exposure to endotoxin and allergen. The results of these studies may help to define the effects of endotoxin on allergen-mediated immune reactions and to further delineate the important interrelationships between environment and disease development. Finally, this may lead to new strategies in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.