Induction Of Endothelin-1 Expression By Glucose: An Effect Of Protein Kinase C Activation

Enhanced actions or levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, have been associated with decreased blood flow in the retina and peripheral nerves of diabetic animals and may be related to the development of pathologies in these tissues. Hyperglycemia has been postulated to increase ET-1 secretion in endothelial cells. We have characterized the mechanism by which elevation of glucose is increasing ET-1 mRNA expression in capillary bovine retinal endothelial cells (BREC) and bovine retinal pericytes (BRPC). Elevation of glucose, but not mannitol, from 5.5 to 25 mmol/l for 3 days increased membranous protein kinase C (PKC) activities and ET-1 mRNA in parallel levels by 2-fold in BREC and BRPC. These effects were reversed by decreasing glucose levels to 5.5 mmol/l for an additional 2 days. Glucose-induced ET-1 overexpression was inhibited by a general PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, and a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059, but not by wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor. By immunoblot analysis, PKC-beta 2 and -delta isoforms in BREC were significantly increased relative to other isoforms in the membranous fractions when glucose level was increased. Overexpression of PKC-beta 1 and -delta isoforms but not PKC-zeta isoform by adenovirus vectors containing the respective cDNA enhanced in parallel PKC activities, proteins, and basal and glucose-induced ET-1 mRNA expression by at least 2-fold. These results showed that enhanced ET-1 expression induced by hyperglycemia in diabetes is partly due to activation of PKC-beta and -delta isoforms, suggesting that inhibition of these PKC isoforms may prevent early changes in diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy.     

Early Electrophysiological Changes In Transgenic Rat Model Of Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Recently, a reliable transgenic rat model of human Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1 A has been developed. So far, neurophysiological studies have been performed only in advanced stages of rat disease. Moreover, axonal involvement, which is known to occur in human CMT1A, has never been observed in this rat model. Affected rats show overexpression of Peripheral Myelin Protein (PMP-22) and a peripheral hypomyelinating neuropathy. We perfomed an electrophysiological study in two heterozygous PMP-22 transgenic rats and in one normal control, matched for age (3 weeks) and weight (average: 60 g). Recordings were performed in vivo by stimulating the sciatic nerve at both sciatic notch and ankle sites and recording the Hoffman reflex and direct muscle responses (CMAP). The H-reflex related SNCV and MNCV were calculated by measuring the distance between the sciatic notch and the ankle sites and the respective latencies. The two transgenic rats showed different levels of PMP-22 overexpression, as judged by quantitative PCR. The rat with a lower PMP-22 gene level showed a 30% reduction of MNCV compared to the normal control, while SNCV was not reduced. The CMAP was sized approximately 45% of the normal rat while the ratio between H wave amplitude and CMAP was 30% of the normal, the H wave amplitude being more affected than the CMAP. The action potentials in the rat with a higher transgene level were not recordable. Our data demonstrate that slowing of MNCV is an early finding in the CMT1A rat model. The marked reduction of H wave amplitude in front of a normal SNCV suggests a possible early axonal damage of sensory fibers. The entity of electrophysiological compromission positively correlated with the number of copies for PMP-22 gene. All together these considerations prove the sensitivity of this method, however further studies are needed to confirm these results and to prove that this model may be suitable to investigate the effects of therapeutic approaches.     

香菇多糖的免疫调节作用

研究香菇多糖(LTN)的免疫调节作用。结果表明,LTN1及5mg·kg^-1·d^-1×6,ip可促进正常小鼠由ConA(2.5mg·kg^-1)刺激的脾脏T淋巴细胞增殖反应。1,5及10mg·kg^-1·d^-1×8或5,ip能分别纠正由环磷酰胺(Cy,200mg·kg^-1和80mg·kg^-1,ip)诱导的免疫亢进或低下状态。此外,LTN(1,5和10mg·kg^-1·d^-1×6,ip),促使小鼠胸腺L3T4+(Th)和Lyt2+(Ts)细胞数减少,外周脾脏L3T4+和Lyt2+细胞数增加,腹腔巨噬细胞释出肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)也明显增加。这些作用均以LTN5mg·kg^-1·d^-1作用最佳。提示LTN可能通过影响T细胞及其亚型,促进TNF活性调节机体的免疫功能。     

Familial Cushing's disease with severe weight loss occurring in late childhood

We describe a rare case of familial Cushing's disease occurring in a 7-year-old boy, and 19 years of follow up. Our patient first presented soon after his maternal aunt had been treated for Cushing's disease. The clinical presentation was made complicated by the development of an intercurrent eating disorder resembling anorexia nervosa. This resulted in marked weight loss, and even though serum and urinary cortisol levels were elevated, many of the clinical stigmata of Cushing's disease were absent. Eating disorders are relatively uncommon in boys, and in this case there was an organic cause for the abnormal behaviour. This case shows, furthermore, that even the obesity of Cushing's disease can be overcome by the combination of diet and exercise.     

Ascorbate-2-phosphate in red cell preservation. Clinical trials and active components

A red cell additive solution (AS-005) containing ascorbate-2-phosphate (AsP) to maintain 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, plus adenine, phosphate, and mannitol to retain viability and reduce hemolysis, was evaluated by human clinical trials. A crossover design was used with another additive solution (Nutricel AS-3, Cutter Laboratories) serving as the control for each donor. Each additive solution was evaluated at 35 and 42 days of storage. There was no significant difference between the red cell viability of the two storage solutions at either time period. Split-bag, AS-005 in vitro studies at two temperatures (2.5 and 5.5 degrees C), both within the range of 1 to 6 degrees C approved by the American Association of Blood Banks and the Food and Drug Administration, resulted in dramatically different in vitro parameters, including a threefold difference in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), a fivefold difference in glucose, and significant differences in pH and adenosine triphosphate. High-pressure liquid chromatography data confirmed the preliminary report that 1 to 2 percent (wt/wt) oxalate was present in preparations of AsP. In vitro storage data confirmed that oxalate is the active component of AsP that preserves 2,3-DPG during storage.     

小藤铃儿草的生物碱成分

自小藤铃儿草Dactylicapnos torulosa(Hook.f ct Thomas.)Hutchins中分得六个单体,通过UV,IR,MS,~1HNMR和~(13)CNMR解析,鉴定了四个,其中一个为新化合物,命名为紫金龙碱(zijinlongine,Ⅰ),其他三个为已知化合物:氯化1-甲氧基小檗碱(1-methoxylberberium chloride,Ⅱ),氯化三乙基苯胺(triethylphcnylamium chloride,Ⅲ)和异紫堇定(isocorydine,Ⅳ)。Ⅱ和Ⅲ系首次从植物中得到。     

A family showing inheritance of the Inab phenotype

An 86-year-old white American woman was found to have a very rare red cell phenotype, the Inab phenotype. Her cells were Cr(a-), Tc(a-b-c-), Dr(a-), Es(a-), WES(a-b-), and IFC-. Unlike the two other Inab phenotype patients, she has no history of protein-losing enteropathy or any similar intestinal disorder. One of her four siblings also has the Inab phenotype, providing the first evidence that this phenotype may be inherited. Serum inhibitions showed that anit-Cra, -TCa, -Dra, -WESb, and -IFC are partially inhibited by sera from three siblings with the common red cell phenotype but not by serum from the Inab phenotype sibling. The serum of the proposita contained an antibody to a high-frequency antigen that showed characteristics of being a Cromer-related antibody.     

Hemimegalencephaly: MR imaging in five children

Hemimegalencephaly is a rare brain malformation characterized by cerebral asymmetry and cortical dysplasia. Infants with the condition present with early seizures and severe encephalopathy. Five patients were studied with computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR imaging was the most efficient diagnostic method for this rare entity. It demonstrated brain hemispheric hypertrophy with lateral ventricle dilatation, abnormal gyral pattern, and a thick cortex on the enlarged side. The images correlate well with the known pathologic data.