Proteins of the S100 family regulate the oligomerization of p53 tumor suppressor

S100B protein is elevated in the brains of patients with early stages of Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome. S100A4 is correlated with the development of metastasis. Both proteins bind to p53 tumor suppressor. We found that both S100B and S100A4 bind to the tetramerization domain of p53 (residues 325-355) only when exposed in lower oligomerization states and so they disrupt the tetramerization of p53. In addition, S100B binds to the negative regulatory and nuclear localization domains, which results in a very tight binding to p53 protein sequences that exposed the tetramerization domain in their C terminus. Because the trafficking of p53 depends on its oligomerization state, we suggest that S100B and S100A4 could regulate the subcellular localization of p53. But, the differences in the way these proteins bind to p53 could result in S100B and S1004 having different effects on p53 function in cell-cycle control.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia exacerbates the development of intimal hyperplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats: Alleviation by rosiglitazone

The amino acid intermediate homocysteine (Hcy) is formed during the metabolism of methionine to cysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is recognized as an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. The circulating levels of total Hcy (tHcy) can increase due to intake of foods rich in methionine or deficiencies of vitamins such as folate, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin, which are required for the metabolism of Hcy. In addition, mutations in the genes coding for Hcy metabolizing enzymes can contribute to an increase in tHcy levels. Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that an elevated level of tHcy measured in serum or plasma is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, which appears to be greatest in patients who have HHcy following a methionine load. Intimal hyperplasia (IH) (intima/media [I/M] ratio) is the universal response of a vessel to injury and may result in vasoconstriction when left unattended. The effect of dietary HHcy on balloon catheter-injured carotid artery and its modulation (if any) by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist gamma rosiglitazone was evaluated in 12-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a control diet or a diet containing 1% L-methionine. Once the rats were established on the diet, the group that was fed 1% L-methionine was further subdivided and either given an aqueous preparation of 3 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone or the vehicle via oral gavage for one week. This was followed by surgically injuring the left carotid artery using a Maverick Over-The-Wire catheter (2.0 mm × 20 mm, 3.2F; Boston Scientific, USA). The rats were continued on their respective diets and drug regimen for 21 days postsurgery. On day 22 of the procedure, the rats were sacrificed for collection of blood, the carotid arteries and liver for biochemical and histological evaluation. Compared with controls there was a significant increase in both tHcy levels and I/M ratio in the rats fed 1% L-methionine (5.4±0.28 μM versus 32.8±3.01 μM, P<0.002; and 0.175±0.05 versus 1.05±0.23, P<0.005, respectively). The effect of rosiglitazone in rats fed the control diet was not prominent. On the other hand, administration of rosiglitazone to the rats on the 1% L-methionine diet significantly reduced the levels of serum tHcy (16.6±2.1 μM versus 32.8±3.01 μM, P<0.001); however, the tHcy levels remained significantly elevated compared with animals on the control diet (P<0.002). The group receiving the L-methionine diet plus rosiglitazone had an inhibition in the development of IH compared with those receiving the L-methionine diet alone (I/M of 0.278±0.041 versus 1.05±0.23, P<0.01). Moreover, the development of IH in the group receiving the L-methionine diet plus rosiglitazone treatment was not significantly different from that observed in the group on the control diet without rosiglitazone (0.278±0.041 versus 0.175±0.05, respectively). These findings may have important implications in deciphering the molecular mechanisms involved in the augmentation of IH in HHcy and modulation of this process by rosiglitazone.     

社区医护干预预防产后抑郁症的研究

[目的]调查产后抑郁症患者的现状及需求,探讨预防措施。[方法]定性与定量研究相结合,定性采用专题小组讨论和半结构性访谈,12人参加专题讨论、9人半结构性访谈;定量研究随机抽取本市各社区产后42d的产妇776例行问卷调查。[结果]产妇月子期间常发生头疼、恶心、焦虑、恐惧、失眠以及照顾新生儿困难;半结构性访谈中有1产妇处于产后抑郁症的临界,EPDS量表测定为12分;776例产妇月子里有身心健康问题者692例,求助者91.0%,其中需要社区护理人员帮助的71.7%,实际寻求帮助仅12.7%。[结论]预防产后抑郁症应实行社区医护人员培训与产后访视人员的准入制度,采取社区医护干预的三级预防,同时拓展社区产后保健服务的内涵。     

26万女性队列人群中乳腺癌与人工流产关系的研究（上海）

目的：评估人工流产（指手术流产）对乳腺癌危险性的可能影响。方法：研究在上海267040例妇女的一项乳房自我检查随机试验的队列人群中进行，由队列研究和巢式病例对照研究两部分组成。结果：依据基线调查表采集的资料分析，人工流产不增加乳腺癌危险性。调整潜在的混淆因素后，OR=1．06（95％CI：0．91～1．25）。人工流产次数增加无危险性趋势增加。从更详细的652例乳腺癌病例和694例对照资料分析，得出相似的结果。人工流产发生在首次生育后不增加危险性；少数妇女在首次生育前人工流产以及妊娠13周后人工流产，虽然被观察到危险性有增加，但无显著性统计学意义。结论：在中国，人工流产不是乳腺癌发生的重要原因。     

5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE-INDUCED CONTRACTION OF THE MARMOSET AORTA IS MEDIATED BY A 5-HT1-LIKE RECEPTOR

1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) exerts both contractile and relaxant effects in the marmoset isolated aorta, actions that are unaffected by the 5-HT₂ antagonist ketanserin. The aim of the present study was to define the receptors mediating the contractile activity of 5-HT in the marmoset aorta.
2. Contractile responses were elicited in aortic rings that were either: (i) precontracted submaximally with the thromboxane A₂ agonist U44069 in order to amplify the responses; or (ii) exposed to N ^ω-nitro- L -arginine (100 μmol/L) plus LY 53857 (0.1 μmol/L; a 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist shown previously to inhibit relaxation). The effect of 5-HT on adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation was also investigated.
3. The effects of agonists and antagonists comprised: (i) agonist potencies in the order 5-carboxamidotryptamine > 5-HT > sumatriptan > 8-hydroxy-2-(di- n -propylamino)tetralin; (ii) inhibition of contractile action of 5-HT by the 5-HT_1D antagonist GR 127935; (iii) a contractile response to methysergide; (iv) a lack of effect of tropisetron, an antagonist of 5-HT₃ and 5-HT₄ receptors; and (v) inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation by 5-HT (in the presence of LY 53857), indicative of negative coupling to adenylate cyclase.
4. The above effects fulfil the criteria for a 5-HT₁-like receptor. In view of the previous finding that this contractile response is insensitive to ketanserin, it is concluded that the contractile effects of 5-HT in the marmoset aorta are mediated exclusively by a 5-HT₁-like receptor.     

Dynamic morbidity of children as a evaluation criterion for renovation of aluminum manufacturing industries

Negative pollution effects from atmospheric discharges by aluminium facilities exerted on population health can be traced by the parameters of the reproductive function in women, physical development of newborns, general and differential morbidity of children aged below one year as well as by anthropometric signs in birth, morbidity of children and adults, mortality, including due to oncology. The introduction of modern technologies including the preliminarily fire anode treatment and the use of highly effective methods of purification of industrial wastes cut the concentration (in atmospheric air) of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and of solid fluorides as well as of aluminium to maximum permissible concentration; it also essentially reduced the content of benzapilene. A better atmospheric air observed yet in the course of renovation contributed to a lower morbidity of children, aged below one year, as well as to the prevalence of diseases affecting the eyes, respiratory and digestive organs, skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue; it also cuts the number of congenital anomalies versus the data obtained in a neighboring district.