Individual variation of cortical surface area asymmetries

Asymmetries in the size of cortical regions are regularly associated with functional lateralization. Assessment of cortical asymmetry is often confounded by measurement artifact and a lack of information about the normal variance of asymmetry in regions that are functionally symmetric. In order to measure hemispheric asymmetries in the surface area of cortical gyri, magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired from 10 normal, right-handed males. Computer representations of the cortical surface in all 20 hemispheres were reconstructed from the images by first creating a white matter model and then 'inflating' it to approximate the cortical surface. The advantage of this approach is that it accurately models the deep sulci as well as the cortical surface. Surface area measurements of the whole hemisphere, the postcentral and the cingulate gyrus were collected from each subject. For each region an asymmetry score was computed based on the difference in the surface area of the left and right regions. Many subjects showed asymmetries in these two gyri; however, the mean asymmetry scores were never significantly asymmetric. The large variability of individual asymmetry scores indicates that cortical asymmetries may be present even in the absence of clear functional asymmetry. An understanding of the degree of asymmetry in structures that do not show clear functional lateralization is critical for interpreting data gathered from cortical regions that are functionally asymmetric.      

Carcinoma of the colon: irradiation by delayed split whole-abdominal technique

Locally advanced and recurrent colon cancer was treated by irradiating first the pelvis and two hours later the upper abdomen. Curative treatment consisted of 4,000-5,000 rad (40-50 Gy) in 200-rad (2-Gy) fractions to the pelvis and 3,000 rad (30 Gy) in 150-rad (1.5-Gy) fractions to the upper abdomen. Palliative treatment consisted of 2,100 rad (21 Gy) in 300-rad (3-Gy) fractions to the liver, 3,000 rad (30 Gy) in 150-rad (1.5-Gy) fractions to the upper abdomen, and 4,000-5,000 rad (40-50 Gy) in 200-rad (2-Gy) fractions to the pelvis. Treatment was tolerated well, and acute toxicity was limited. Seven of the 11 patients treated curatively remain free of abdominal disease after 10-35 months; median survival among 9 patients treated palliatively was 9 months.     

防御素的抗肿瘤研究

当代肿瘤的治疗仍有许多问题未能解决防御素引入肿瘤墓因治疗已成为一个有前景的新途径.防御素(defensins)是存在于哺乳动物多形核中性粒细胞、巨噬细胞、小肠Peneth细胞中的一组同源性很高的生物多肤类,由29一34     

华人、马来人及印度人的白介素4基因多态性与哮喘的关系

【目的】调查华人、马来人及印度人的白介素 4 基因多态性与哮喘和哮喘严重度是否有相关性。【方法】研究人群包括315名哮喘患者(华人 152,马来人 76,印度人 87) 和 360 名无哮喘病史的健康献血者(华人157,马来人100,印度人103) 。患者组进一步分为轻、中度哮喘组(FEV1>=60%预计值) 和重度哮喘组(FEV1<60%预计值) 。白介素4基因启动子(C 590T) 通过 PCR限制性扩增片段长度多态性(PCR RFLP)方法检测。统计学分析应用多元回归法检测白介素基因与哮喘的关系。【结果】在三种族人群中,白介素4(C 590T)基因型及等位基因与哮喘、哮喘严重度无相关性(P>0.05)。然而,华人的白介素 4(T590)等位基因(98.3%)显著高于马来人(84%)及印度人(35.9%)(P<0.01)。【结论】华人、马来人及印度人的白介素4(C 590T) 基因多态性与哮喘无关。然而,此基因多态性存在种族差异。     

Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection in ICR Mice as a Model of Cerebral Malaria

Background

Animal models with various combination of host-parasite have long been employed to study malaria pathogenesis. Here, we describe the combination of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in inbred ICR mice as a model of cerebral malaria (CM).

Methods

Infection in mice was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10⁷ (0.2ml) parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs).

Results

This model can produce a severe degree of infection presented by the high degree of parasitaemia followed by death 6-7 days post infection. Severe anemia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and discolourations of major organs were observed. Histopathological findings revealed several important features mimicking human CM including, microvascular sequestration of PRBCs in major organs, particularly in the brain, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the kupffer cells in the liver, pulmonary edema and hyaline membrane formation in the lungs and haemorrhages in the kidney''s medulla and cortex. Proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were all found to be elevated in the plasma of infected mice.

Conclusion

This model can reproduce many of the important features of CM and therefore can be used as a tool to advance our understanding of the disease pathogenesis.