Use of a radioimmunoassay to quantify thrombospondin

Results of radioimmunoassay procedures applied to samples containing thrombospondin indicated that reliable values are obtained either in saline or in plasma. Plasma levels in apparently normal individuals ranged from approximately 20 to 300 ng/ml. The mean for 20 individuals was 175 ng/ml. Plasma specimens stored either refrigerated at 4 degrees C or frozen at -80 degrees C showed significantly diminished thrombospondin levels over a period of 90 days. Serum levels of thrombospondin were found to range from 10,000 to 30,000 ng/ml.     

Calorie restriction (CR) reduces age-dependent decline of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) activity in rat tissues

Even though CR has shown to enhance base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) capacities, it has not been reported whether CR can enhance non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) activity. To examine the effect of CR on NHEJ activity, ad libitum (AL)- and calorie restricted (CR)-dieted rats were used. Age-dependent decline of NHEJ activity was apparent in the lung, liver, and kidney and appeared to be slightly decreased in spleen. CR reduced age-dependent decline of NHEJ activity in all tissues, even though the extent of recovery was variable among tissues. Moreover, CR appeared to reduce age-dependent decline of XRCC4 protein level. These results suggest that CR could reduce age-dependent decline of NHEJ activity in various tissues of rats possibly through up-regulation of XRCC4.     

Noninvasive photoacoustic measurement of the composite indicator dilution curve for cardiac output estimation

Recently, the measurement of indicator dilution curves using a photoacoustic (PA) technology was reported, which showed promising results on the noninvasive estimation of cardiac output (CO) that is an important hemodynamic parameter useful in various clinical situations. However, in clinical practice, measuring PA indicator dilution curves from an arterial blood vessel requires an ultrasound transducer array capable of focusing on the targeted artery. This causes several challenges on the clinical translation of the PA indicator dilution method, such as high sensor cost and complexity. In this paper, we theoretically derived that a composite PA indicator dilution curve simultaneously measured from both arterial and venous blood vessels can be used to estimate CO correctly. The ex-vivo and in-vivo experimental results with a flat ultrasound transducer verified the developed theory. We believe this new concept would overcome the main challenges on the clinical translation of the noninvasive PA indicator dilution technology.OCIS codes: (170.0170) Medical optics and biotechnology, (170.3890) Medical optics instrumentation, (170.5120) Photoacoustic imaging, (170.4580) Optical diagnostics for medicine, (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging     

Connexins regulate calcium signaling by controlling ATP release

Forced expression of gap junction proteins, connexins, enables gap junction-deficient cell lines to propagate intercellular calcium waves. Here, we show that ATP secretion from the poorly coupled cell lines, C6 glioma, HeLa, and U373 glioblastoma, is potentiated 5- to 15-fold by connexin expression. ATP release required purinergic receptor-activated intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization and was inhibited by Cl⁻ channel blockers. Calcium wave propagation also was reduced by purinergic receptor antagonists and by Cl⁻ channel blockers but insensitive to gap junction inhibitors. These observations suggest that cell-to-cell signaling associated with connexin expression results from enhanced ATP release and not, as previously believed, from an increase in intercellular coupling.     

Association between serum total bilirubin level and leukoaraiosis in Korean adults

ObjectivesLeukoaraiosis is associated with cerebrovascular microangiopathy. Increasing evidence suggests that bilirubin is a potent cytoprotectant in the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine whether total bilirubin is related to leukoaraiosis.MethodsWe examined the relationship of total bilirubin with leukoaraiosis in 1005 Korean adults. The odds ratios for leukoaraiosis were calculated using multivariate logistic regression across serum total bilirubin tertiles.ResultsIn comparison with the subjects in the reference group (total bilirubin: 15–26 μmol/L), the odds ratio (95% CI) for leukoaraiosis in the 3rd tertile (total bilirubin ≤ 10 μmol/L) was 5.50 (1.24–24.40) in women after adjusting for confounding variables. However, this inverse association between serum total bilirubin and the prevalence of leukoaraiosis was not found in men after adjusting for the same co-variables.ConclusionTotal bilirubin level was inversely associated with leukoaraiosis regardless of classical cardiovascular risk factors in Korean women.     

硅橡胶材料在牙周夹板修复治疗中的新应用

背景：牙周夹板临床应用较为广泛,国内外文献报告制作过程中通常使用楔子关闭邻间隙。目的：评价硅橡胶印模材料在黏接型牙周夹板修复治疗过程中的临床应用效果。方法：从临床中选取30例需进行黏接型牙周夹板修复治疗的中度慢性牙周炎患者,随机分为2组：实验组使用硅橡胶印模材料暂时关闭牙齿间隙,继而进行常规操作,并记录操作时间,夹板制作完成后,检查悬突发生率及咬合改变情况,同时使用目测类比评分表记录医患满意度,完成临床效果评价;对照组常规使用楔子辅助牙周夹板制作。结果与结论：同对照组相比,使用硅橡胶印模材关闭牙齿间隙后,悬突发生率明显降低,咬合较稳定,医生患者满意度较高,而操作时间并无明显延长。提示硅橡胶印模材料可以在黏接型牙周夹板修复治疗过程中作为一种辅助方法进行临床应用,在一定程度上,可以有效降低悬突发生率,稳定咬合关系,提高患者满意度。     

Serial blood concentration of polyethoxylated tallow amine and clinical presentations in acute herbicide poisoning

<正>1Department of Emergency Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, South Korea2Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, South Korea3Forensic Toxicology Division, National Forensic Service, Daejeon 34054, South Korea4Department of Emergency Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju 28644, South Korea Corresponding Author:Wonjoon Jeong, Email:gardenjun@hanmail.net     

Nicotinamide reduces dopamine in postnatal hypothalamus and causes dopamine-deficient phenotype

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system and also plays a key role in the development of postnatal brains. We previously reported that nicotinamide, a SIRT1 inhibitor, regulates tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in vitro. To investigate the effect of nicotinamide-mediated TH regulation in vivo, nicotinamide was chronically injected into neonatal mice. Interestingly, nicotinamide-treated mice were smaller in size, and their locomotor activity was reduced. L-DOPA treatment caused hypersensitive locomotor activity that indicates a dopamine-depleted state. These changes seemed to be associated with dopamine metabolism in hypothalamus, since dopamine in hypothalamus was reduced but not in striatum. The present study suggests that the regulation of dopamine metabolism during the postnatal development is important and the underlying molecular mechanisms may be associated with SIRT1 signaling.