Immunocytochemical localization of substance P in the adrenal gland of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae): evidence for its involvement in the modulation of adrenal activity

The occurrence of substance P (SP) immunoreactivity was investigated in the adrenal gland of the lizard Podarcis sicula by ABC immunocytochemical technique: SP-immunoreactivity was present in both adrenaline and noradrenaline cells, in ganglion cells and nerve fibers in the connective capsule surrounding the gland. The involvement of substance P in the modulation of pituitary-interrenal axis was studied in vivo by intraperitoneal injections of SP. The effects were estimated by means of the morphological and morphometrical features of the tissues, as well as the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone and catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Substance P (0.07 mg/100 g body wt) decreased ACTH plasma levels and raised corticosterone release from steroidogenic tissue, that showed clear signs of stimulation. In the chromaffin tissue, the decrease in the number of noradrenaline cells, and the increase in the number of adrenaline cells, lowered numeric noradrenaline/adrenaline cell ratio. Moreover, an increase in adrenaline plasma level and a decrease in noradrenaline plasma level were found. The results suggest that (1) also in Reptiles as in other Vertebrates, SP may affect pituitary-adrenal axis activity, and (2) the chromaffin cells may be involved in the paracrine control of steroidogenic activity.     

A case of dengue‐related osteonecrosis of the maxillary dentoalveolar bone

Dengue is a mosquito transmitted flaviviral infection which can give rise to severe haemorrhage (dengue haemorrhagic fever) and with capillary leakage induces hypovolaemic shock (dengue shock syndrome). Although dengue symptoms and complications have been known for many decades, there has only been one documented case of osteonecrosis of the maxilla which was treated by excision of the necrotic bone. In this case of dengue infection, extensive maxillary osteonecrosis and minimal root resorption appeared to follow factitious injury with a toothpick but resolved with non‐surgical management.     

Rapid evolution of NK cell receptor systems demonstrated by comparison of chimpanzees and humans

That NK cell receptors engage fast-evolving MHC class I ligands suggests that they, too, evolve rapidly. To test this hypothesis, the structure and class I specificity of chimpanzee KIR and CD94:NKG2 receptors were determined and compared to their human counterparts. The KIR families are divergent, with only three KIR conserved between chimpanzees and humans. By contrast, CD94:NKG2 receptors are conserved. Whereas receptors for polymorphic class I are divergent, those for nonpolymorphic class I are conserved. Although chimpanzee and human NK cells exhibit identical receptor specificities for MHC-C, they are mediated by nonorthologous KIR. These results demonstrate the rapid evolution of NK cell receptor systems and imply that "catching up" with class I is not the only force driving this evolution.     

安心酮注射剂研制及其稳定性研究

以正交设计筛选处方,研制了安心酮注射剂,考察了制剂的稳定性,有效期为２．８５年。采用酸性染料比色法测定注射剂中安心酮的含量,平均回收率为９８．７％（ＲＳＤ＝０．４４％）。本品对离体灌流豚鼠心脏的作用与原药相似。     

Does silicosis still occur?

A state-based surveillance system has identified 401 individuals with the diagnosis of silicosis for the years 1979 through 1987. The individuals identified were generally older men who began work before 1960 and had worked for 15 years or more in potteries, construction, foundries, or sand mines. Follow-up inspections at the identified companies indicated ongoing poorly controlled exposure to silica. Difficulties in distinguishing coal worker's pneumoconiosis from silicosis and inadequate attention to tuberculosis by the treating physicians were noted. Few workers applied for workers' compensation. Extrapolation of our results to the whole country suggests that the current national surveillance system for occupational illnesses markedly underestimates the true occurrence of silicosis.     

Evaluation of QUADAS, a tool for the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies

Background  

In clinical trials, both unequal randomization design and sequential analyses have ethical and economic advantages. In the single-stage-design (SSD), however, if the sample size is not adjusted based on unequal randomization, the power of the trial will decrease, whereas with sequential analysis the power will always remain constant. Our aim was to compare sequential boundaries approach with the SSD when the allocation ratio (R) was not equal.