Effect of defective connective tissue on the formation of aneurysmal-like structures in the rat testicular artery

Microscopic aneurysmal-like structures (ALS) develop spontaneously in the convoluted rat testicular artery and have been previously proposed as a model relevant to cerebral aneurysms. The effect of defects in connective tissue fibres on ALS formation was investigated by microscopy using two approaches: (i) the study of the effect of β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), an inhibitor of the cross-linking of elastic and collagen fibres, on the incidence, size and morphology of ALS in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls (WKY). The straight spermatic artery was studied for comparison. (ii) The determination of the incidence of spontaneous ALS in Brown Norway (BN) and Long Evans (LE) rats which are highly susceptible (BN) or resistant (LE) to the spontaneous rupture of the arterial internal elastic lamina. (i) BAPN increased the number and size of ALS in SHR and WKY rats and had no effect on the straight spermatic artery and (ii) ALS were more numerous and of greater size in BN than in LE rats. Taken together, these results show that defective connective tissue fibres may favour the formation and induce the enlargement of aneurysmal-like structures. By analogy, these data suggest that a lack of connective tissue fibre integrity may be of importance in cerebral aneurysm formation and development.     

Characterization of melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor variant alleles in twins with red hair

The association between MSHR coding region variation and hair colour in humans has been examined by genotyping 25 red haired and 62 non-red Caucasians, all of whom were 12 years of age and members of a twin pair study. Twelve amino acid substitutions were seen at 11 different sites, nine of these being newly described MSHR variants. The previously reported Val92Met allele shows no association with hair colour, but the three alleles Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp and Asp294His were associated with red hair and one Val60Leu variant was most frequent in fair/blonde and light brown hair colours. Variant MSHR genotypes are associated with lighter skin types and red hair (P < 0.001). However, comparison of the MSHR genotypes in dizygotic twin pairs discordant for red hair colour indicates that the MSHR gene cannot be solely responsible for the red hair phenotype, since five of 13 pairs tested had both haplotypes identical by state (with three of the five having both identical by descent). Rather, it is likely that additional modifier genes exist, making variance in the MSHR gene necessary but not always sufficient, for red hair production.      

慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织中HBV抗原表达特征及其临床意义

目的探讨慢性乙型病毒性肝炎肝活检组织中检测乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)和乙肝核心抗原(HBcAg)表达强度及表达方式的必要性。方法采用EnVision免疫组织化学法检测196例慢性乙型肝炎患者肝穿组织中HBsAg和HBcAg的表达水平,并用荧光定量PCR检测其血清中的HBV DNA的含量。对肝组织进行炎症活动度分级和纤维化分期。结果肝组织中的HBsAg表达强度和表达方式与炎症分级、纤维化分期和血清乙肝病毒载量均无相关性(P>0.05)。HBcAg表达强度与炎症分级无相关性(r=-0.02,P>0.05);与纤维化分期呈负相关(r=-0.28,P<0.01);与血清乙肝病毒载量呈正相关(r=0.53,P<0.01)。HBcAg表达方式与炎症分级为负相关(r=-0.27,P<0.01),其中浆型组炎症活动度分级高于核型组和混合型组(P<0.01),混合型组高于核型组(P<0.01)。HBcAg表达方式与纤维化分期亦呈较弱的负相关(r=-0.23,P<0.01),其中浆型组纤维化分期高于核型组和混合型组(P<0.05)。HBcAg表达方式与血清乙肝病毒载量呈正相关(r=0.22,P<0.01)。结论区分肝组织中的HBsAg表达强度和表达方式无益于了解慢性乙型肝炎患者肝损害的程度,而检测肝组织中的HBcAg则有助于临床抗病毒治疗。     

癌组织中p16基因甲基化分析

目的探讨抑癌基因p16在胃癌组织中是否存在甲基化异常及其与胃癌发生发展的关系.方法对20例胃癌组织及相应正常胃粘膜组织应用甲基敏感酶(HpaII)和甲基非敏感酶(MspI)酶切,结合PCR扩增技术,对p16基因外显子1、外显子2的二核苷酸胞嘧啶特定序列5'-CCGG-3'位点甲基化进行检测.结果20例胃癌组织中,p16基因外显子1、2异常甲基化分别为5例(25%)和9例(45%),正常组织未发现甲基化异常;14例高甲基化标本中,中分化胃癌4例,低分化7例,高分化1例;有2例存在外显子1、2同时甲基化异常,二者均为低分化胃癌,进展期胃癌(Ⅲa、Ⅳ期各1例)中1例呈现泳动易位;外显子2甲基化异常多发生于晚期肿瘤患者(P<0.05).结论p16基因甲基化异常可能会造成基因功能丧失,从而失去对细胞增殖的负性调控作用,导致胃癌发生与进展;外显子2高甲基化与临床进展有关,可能为晚期事件.     

脑泰通组方对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型的影响及保护机制

目的：观察脑泰通组方对局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型的影响及保护机制。方法：构建局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型,成模后随机分为模型对照组、阳性药物组、中药组、联合用药组,另选取健康斯泼累格·多雷（SD）大鼠作为假手术组。观察并评估各组大鼠的美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分、脑组织含水量、脑梗死体积百分比,免疫组织化学法检测脑组织Bcl-2相关X蛋白（Bax）、B细胞淋巴瘤-2（Bcl-2）的平均光密度值,蛋白质免疫印迹法、实时定量PCR（QT-PCR）检测脑组织叉头框转录因子3a（FoxO3a）基因、低氧诱导因子-1α（HIF-1α）、核因子κB（NF-κB）、脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）蛋白及mRNA的表达水平。结果：与假手术组比较,模型对照组NIHSS评分,脑组织含水量,脑组织缺血体积百分比,脑组织FoxO3a、HIF-1α、NF-κB、BDNF蛋白和mRNA的表达水平,Bax、Bcl-2平均光密度值以及Bax/Bcl-2值均显著升高（均P<0.05）;与模型对照组比较,药物干预各组的NIHSS评分、脑组织含水量、脑梗死体积百分比、Bax平均光密度值、Bax/Bcl-2值、脑组织NF-κB蛋白和mRNA的表达水平显著降低（均P<0.05）,其中联合用药组的降低程度最大（均P<0.05）,Bcl-2平均光密度值,脑组织FoxO3a、HIF-1α、BDNF蛋白和mRNA的表达水平显著升高（均P<0.05）,其中联合用药组的升高程度最大（均P<0.05）。结论：脑泰通组方能有效保护局灶性脑缺血再灌注大鼠模型脑组织损伤,改善局部脑缺血,其作用机制可能与脑泰通组方调控FoxO3a/HIF-1α/NF-κB信号通路相关。     

投影遗传算法

针对一般遗传算法在求解优化问题的多个优化解时的局限性,结合曲面投影与遗传算法的基本思想,提出了一种基于曲面投影的投影遗传算法用于解决此类问题,数值验证的结果表明了本算法的有效性和实用性。     

胰腺癌侵犯胰周结构的CT评价

目的探讨胰腺癌的CT诊断价值.方法对76例胰腺癌的CT表现进行分析并与手术病理结果对照.结果①胰腺癌在CT上表现为低密度的肿块,不强化或强化不明显,肿块边缘不规则强化;②胰头癌可引起胆总管、胰管的扩张;③胰腺癌多伴邻近血管及脏器受侵.结论 CT能正确评价胰腺癌及胰周浸润,是判断胰腺癌能否手术切除的重要检查手段.     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TENIDAP, A CYTOKINE-MODULATING ANTI-RHEUMATIC DRUG, AND DICLOFENAC IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A 24-WEEK ANALYSIS OF A 1-YEAR CLINICAL TRIAL

Tenidap is a novel anti-rheumatic drug that combines cytokinemodulation with cyclo-oxygenase inhibition. This 24-week, multicentre,double-blind, randomized study compared the clinical efficacy,biochemical effects and safety of tenidap 120 mg/day (once daily)with diclofenac 150 mg/day (50 mg t.i.d.) in the treatment of384 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. After 24 weeks,improvement with tenidap was significantly greater than withdiclofenac for all five primary efficacy parameters, two ofthe four secondary efficacy parameters and 11 of the 13 ArthritisImpact Measurement Scales assessments. The superior efficacyof tenidap was apparent after 4 weeks of treatment with furtherimprovements observed by 24 weeks. The probability of discontinuationdue to lack of efficacy was significantly greater in the diclofenacgroup. Tenidap but not diclofenac was associated with significant,rapid and sustained reductions in C-reactive protein and serumamyloid A levels and with a significant reduction in plasmainterleukin-6. The nature and frequency of side-effects weresimilar in the two groups as was the discontinuation rate fortreatment-related safety reasons. Tenidap was associated withan equal incidence of elevated transaminases, but a higher incidenceof mild (     

Anthropometric Characteristics of Mohawk Children Aged 6 to 11 Years: A Population Perspective

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have concluded that Native North American children have higher proportions of overweight and obesity than children from the general North American population. This study presents anthropometric data on a representative sample of children from the Mohawk Nation that can be used for comparison with other Native American populations. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study comparing distributions of anthropometric characteristics of Mohawk children to the corresponding age and gender data from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Weight, height, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness, and waist and hip circumferences were measured in 527 children. SUBJECTS/SETTING: All children in grades 1 to 6 (aged 6 to 11 years) in the 3 elementary schools of 2 Mohawk communities in Canada, for whom parental consent was obtained, were enrolled in the present study. There were no exclusion criteria. With a participation rate of 83%, the 527 children enrolled in this study represent an unbiased sample of the population from 2 Mohawk territories. RESULTS: Compared with children studied in NHANES II, Mohawk children were similar in height and triceps skinfolds but were generally heavier, had thicker subscapular skinfolds, and had greater waist and hip circumferences. These differences were greater in older children. Mohawk children who had extreme-high weight values compared with their population means were heavier than their NHANES II counterparts. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that, on average, Mohawk children seem to be slightly heavier than children in NHANES II. Except for those with extreme overweight values, Mohawk children show less variation of weight and body mass index than children in NHANES II. Finally, overweight Mohawk children seem to be more likely to carry their excess body fat truncally, compared with overweight children from NHANES II. Health practitioners working with Native American populations should be careful when assessing childhood obesity. Simple comparisons of weight or body mass index with NHANES standards may lead to inappropriate risk assessments.