Ruptured distal anterior choroidal artery aneurysm.

Ruptured aneurysms of the distal anterior choroidal artery (AchA) are extremely rare and management is dictated by clinical presentation. This report describes a rare patient with a distal AchA aneurysm and subarachnoid and intraventricular haemorrhage. A 60-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of severe headache and vomiting. No aneurysms could be found on initial angiograms. A repeat angiogram performed 10 days after admission demonstrated an aneurysm in a branch of the cisternal segment of the left AchA without a definite neck. Surrounding vessels showed multifocal stricture and dilatation. Microsurgical clipping was not performed because the patient died suddenly due to pulmonary failure. The aetiology of the aneurysm in this case and surgical strategy are discussed.     

IIEF-5与NEVA检测在阴茎勃起功能障碍诊断中的意义

目的探讨应用国际勃起功能评分5(IIEF-5)问卷表结合夜间阴茎勃起测定系统(NEVA)筛选勃起功能障碍(ED)的可行性及意义。方法148例门诊ED病人,应用IIEF-5问卷表评分,再通过NEVA测定仪监测夜间阴茎勃起情况,次日数据输入主机回放并分析。结果93例为心理性ED;在19~69岁的5个年龄组中,重度ED的比例由11.8%到55.0%,NEVA中度异常者IIEF积分(12.98±2.58)分,NEVA重度异常者IIEF积分(7.32±1.04)分。结论NEVA能有效地鉴别心理性与器质性ED,IIEF-5评分值与NEVA检测阴茎勃起时血容量变化值有相关性。IIEF-5与NEVA检测结合,能提高诊断和评估ED的可靠性。     

Preservation of Bile Ductules Mitigates Bile Duct Loss

The finer branches of the biliary tree (FBBT) contain a regenerative compartment. We hypothesized that preservation of the FBBT together with its microvasculature will lead to recovery of biliary damage and prolonged preservation of bile ductules during the development of chronic liver allograft rejection. The interlobular bile ducts, portal bile ductules and extraportal biliary cells with and without microvessels were studied in sequential biopsies in five patients who fulfilled the Banff criteria of early chronic rejection (CR) (imminence group). Biopsies of CR patients (n = 12) served as controls. Biopsies were double immunostained with CD34 (microvessels) and cytokeratin 7 (biliary structures). Proliferation and proangiogenic activity were assessed with Ki67 and VEGF-A immunostaining. Severe damage of bile ducts in the imminence group did not progress to significant bile duct loss. This was associated with a high proliferative activity in all biliary structures and preservation of the microvascular compartment. VEGF-A expression was increased in all but the reperfusion biopsies. In conclusion, both regenerative activity of the FBBT and an intact microvascular compartment are associated with less damage of the biliary tree and could therefore be prerequisites for biliary regeneration.     

庆大霉素对豚鼠前庭上皮IGF-1及其受体表达的影响

目的：研究庆大霉素对豚鼠前庭上皮胰岛素样生长因子-1（insulin-like growth factor-1，IGF-1）及其受体（insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor，EGF-1R）表达的影响，并探讨其生物学特性。方法：采用免疫组织细胞化学方法，以抗IGF-1及IGF-1R抗体为标记物，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮自发修复期IGF-1及IGF-1R的表达变化和分布特点；采用Brdu体内标记和抗Brdu抗体免疫组化染色，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮增殖的变化。结果：IGF-1及IGF-1R在正常成年豚鼠前庭上皮细胞中有低水平表达，庆大霉素损伤后，其表达增多。在1d组IGF-1及IGF-1R表达最强，其后逐渐减少。在正常对照组中无Brdu阳性细胞。各实验组均观察到Brdu阳性细胞，7d组最多。结论：庆大霉素损伤后，豚鼠前庭上皮IGF-1及IGF-1R表达增强，其时程变化与细胞增殖活动密切相关。IGF-1在豚鼠前庭上皮损伤后的细胞增殖中可能起重要信号转导作用。     

分瓶法测定果蝇吸入麻醉药半数麻醉有效浓度

目的　建立测定果蝇吸入麻醉药半数麻醉有效浓度 (ED50 )的方法学。方法　在 11个 32 5ml的三角烧瓶中各放入 30只雄性果蝇 ,分别加入不同容量的异氟醚标准气 ,使 11个烧瓶中异氟醚浓度分布在零效应浓度与百分之百效应浓度之间。以果蝇失去附壁及运动能力为标准计算各瓶中被麻醉果蝇数 ,用正规法计算出ED50 。结果　 11次实验在 2 5及 5 0min时的量 -效关系曲线均呈S形 ,用各自的对数浓度与概率单位作图都呈直线相关 ,相关系数分别为 0 .972± 0 .0 14和 0 .971± 0 .0 2 5 ,ED50 值分别为 (0 .5 1± 0 .0 6 8) %和 (0 .4 7± 0 .0 85 ) % ,变异系数分别为 13.3%和 18.0 %。结论　本法稳定性较好 ,实用可行     

β-胡萝卜素立体异构体对环磷酰胺处理小鼠免疫功能的比较研究

就β-胡萝卜素立体异构体对环磷酰胺处理小鼠的免疫功能影响进行了比较研究。结果显示β-胡萝卜素立体异构体对外磷酰胺造成的免疫功能低下具有不同程度的改善作用，提高胸腺和脾脏指数，增强脾脏细胞对刀豆素A（ConA）的反应性和NK活性，血清溶菌酶含量也有所增加。综合各项指标，9-顺式和全反式混合物的作用最明显，提示一定浓度的9-顺式对于提高β-胡萝卜素对机体的总体作用是有一定意义的。     

Plasmid DNA encoding transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses chronic disease in a streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model.

Transforming growth factor beta is a potent immunomodulator with both pro- and antiinflammatory activities. Based on its immunosuppressive actions, exogenous TGF-beta has been shown to inhibit autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To further explore the potential therapeutic role of TGF-beta, we administered a plasmid DNA encoding human TGF-beta1 intramuscularly to rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. A single dose of 300 microg plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1, but not vector DNA, administered at the peak of the acute phase profoundly suppressed the subsequent evolution of chronic erosive disease typified by disabling joint swelling and deformity (articular index = 8.17+/-0. 17 vs. 1.25+/-0.76, n = 6, day 26, P < 0.01). Moreover, delivery of the TGF-beta1 DNA even as the chronic phase commenced virtually eliminated subsequent inflammation and arthritis. Both radiologic and histopathologic as well as molecular evidence supported the marked inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 DNA on synovial pathology, with decreases in the inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, cartilage and bone destruction, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines that characterize this model. Increases in TGF-beta1 protein were detected in the circulation of TGF-beta1 DNA-treated animals, consistent with the observed therapeutic effects being TGF-beta1 dependent. These observations provide the first evidence that gene transfer of plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1 provides a mechanism to deliver this potent cytokine that effectively suppresses ongoing inflammatory pathology in arthritis.     

Influence of the Compliance of the Pump Housing and Cannulas of a Paracorporeal Pneumatic Ventricular Assist Device on Transient Pressure Characteristics

Abstract: The dependence of transient pressure characteristics of a ventricular assist device (VAD) on the compliance of its housing and cannulas was investigated in a mock circulation. The peak rate of change of pressure ( dP/dt _max) values was greater in the cannulas than other compartments and was associated with valve closure-induced pressure oscillations. When cannula compliance was increased from 0.0057 to 0.0129 cm³/mm Hg, these values decreased by ˜20%, and outflow cannula pressure oscillation frequency decreased from 17.5 Hz by 35%. This trend was also apparent in the inflow. A VAD housing compliance increase from 0.0162 to 0.0483 cm³/mm Hg caused a dP/dt _max decrease of 30% in both the blood chamber and the outflow cannula. The effect of this change on the inflow was weaker implying that housing absorbs the energy associated with outflow deceleration more effectively than the inflow. These findings suggest that increasing VAD housing and cannulas compliance can improve hydrodynamic performance.     

Human interleukin 4 regulates the phenotype of lymphocytes generated during mixed lymphocyte culture and inhibits the IL-2-induced development of LAK function in normal and leukaemic cells

This study examined the immunoregulatory role of recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4), also known as B-cell stimulating factor 1, on the generation of cytotoxic effector cells from normal and leukaemic human blood mononuclear cells. When tested on cells from normal individuals, the addition of IL-4 to mixed lymphocyte cultures led to a dose-dependent proliferation of T-helper cells (CD3, 4 positive) with a concomitant decrease in phenotypic and functional cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. IL-4 also inhibited the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity when added at the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture. When tested on mature leukaemic NK cells, IL-4 also inhibited the ability of IL-2 to induce LAK function using a short-term culture system. These results show that IL-4 acts on both normal and leukaemic cells and suggests that it acts at more than one level during the development of LAK function.