Complex and simple coronary artery stenoses: a new way to interpret coronary angiograms based on morphologic features of lesions

For many years, atherosclerotic coronary artery lesions have been described by angiographers only in terms of location and degree of narrowing. However, it has become apparent that coronary stenoses generally have distinct morphologic features that can be recognized at angiography and that allow them to be classified as either "simple" or "complex" plaques. Complex plaques are those characterized by ulcerated or ruptured surfaces, subintimal hemorrhage, superimposed partially occluding thrombi, recanalized thrombi, or some combination. Pathologic studies have shown a very high frequency of these lesions at sites of total thrombotic occlusion of coronary arteries. Clinical and angiographic studies have demonstrated a high frequency of such lesions in living patients with both unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. The presence of complex stenoses has also been found to increase the risk of future myocardial infarction. Plaque morphology thus appears to significantly affect the prognosis of patients with coronary disease and should be carefully evaluated in interpretation of all coronary angiograms.     

Electron microscopic evidence of persistent chlamydial infection following treatment

Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the female and male genital tracts are often asymptomatic and, thus, tend to become persistent. In the persistent state the typical Chlamydia life cycle is arrested and standard antibiotic regimens do not always eradicate this infection. We sought to relate treatment failures in men and women with persistent chlamydial genital tract infections to electron microscopic evidence of chlamydial persistence and with atypical morphological forms of the organism. Of 16 patients with chlamydial persistence following azithromycin treatment, morphological variants of this organism were observed by electron microscopy from one endocervical sample and one male urethral sample. We document the presence of intracellular inclusions containing only reticulate bodies, extracellular monomembrane and polymembrane phagosomes containing elementary bodies and reticulate bodies with abnormal outer membranes in the process of dividing extracellularly. These observations parallel previous in vitro studies of chlamydial persistence under adverse conditions. This capacity of C. trachomatis to undergo atypical morphological alterations in vivo may contribute to its persistence and relative resistance to antibiotics.     

息风化痰通腑汤合醒脑静注射液治疗急性脑出血疗效观察

目的观察息风化痰通腑汤合醒脑静治疗急性脑出血的临床疗效。方法将53例中小量脑出血(≤30 ml)患者随机分成2组。治疗组29例在常规西医综合治疗基础上,加用息风化痰通腑汤合醒脑静注射液治疗;对照组24例仅采用常规西医综合治疗。2组均14日为1个疗程,判定疗效。结果:治疗组有效率93.1%,对照组83.3%,2组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05),治疗组疗效显著优于对照组。2组治疗前后昏迷情况比较、血肿吸收情况及神经功能缺损积分对比,均有显著性差异(P<0.01),且治疗组疗效明显优于对照组(P<0.01)。结论息风化痰通腑汤合醒脑静注射液治疗中小量急性脑出血,能提高治愈率,降低病死率,缩短治疗时间,提高生存质量,无明显毒副作用。     

纤溶酶相关蛋白在冠心病患者中的表达

目的:了解冠心病患者是否存在组织型纤溶酶原激活物(t-PA)及纤溶酶原激活抑制物Ⅰ(PAI-Ⅰ)功能紊乱,以及这两个指标与血脂、胰岛素抵抗的相关关系。方法:选择2004年1月至2006年1月于我院住院就诊的冠心病患者作为观察对象。按临床类型分为SAP组、UAP组、AMI组、OMI组,并设健康对照组。检测t-PA、PAI-Ⅰ、胰岛素敏感性指数(IAI)、胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)等指标。结果:(1)健康对照组t-PA高于各型冠心病组(P<0.05),AMI组t-PA低于其余各型冠心病组(P<0.05);健康对照组PAI-Ⅰ低于各型冠心病组(P<0.05),AMI组PAI-Ⅰ高于其余各型冠心病(P<0.05)。(2)t-PA与IAI呈正相关,与TC、TG、LDL呈负相关;PAI-Ⅰ则与IAI呈负相关,与TC、TG、LDL呈正相关。(3)各病例组t-PA于治疗后有所升高,PAI-Ⅰ于治疗后有所下降(P<0.05)。结论:冠心病患者存在明显的纤溶功能紊乱,且以急性期为重,并且纤溶功能紊乱与胰岛素抵抗、血脂异常等因素有关。     

Screening for C9ORF72 repeat expansion in FTLD

In the present study we aimed to determine the prevalence of C9ORF72 GGGGCC hexanucleotide expansion in our cohort of 53 frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) patients and 174 neurologically normal controls. We identified the hexanucleotide repeat, in the pathogenic range, in 4 (2 bv-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and 2 FTD-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]) out of 53 patients and 1 neurologically normal control. Interestingly, 2 of the C9ORF72 expansion carriers also carried 2 novel missense mutations in GRN (Y294C) and in PSEN-2(I146V). Further, 1 of the C9ORF72 expansion carriers, for whom pathology was available, showed amyloid plaques and tangles in addition to TAR (trans-activation response) DNA-binding protein (TDP)-43 pathology. In summary, our findings suggest that the hexanucleotide expansion is probably associated with ALS, FTD, or FTD-ALS and occasional comorbid conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. These findings are novel and need to be cautiously interpreted and most importantly replicated in larger numbers of samples.     

红景天抑制人脐静脉内皮细胞生长的初步研究

目的:利用体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,观察中药红景天对细胞生长的影响,初步探讨急、慢性高原病患者服用中药红景天防治高原病及改善症状等的作用机制。方法:培养人脐静脉内皮细胞EVC-304,设对照组与加药组,加药组分别加入不同浓度的红景天,培养3d后计数。加药组及对照组细胞用瑞氏染料染色并拍照。收集细胞以流式细胞术检测细胞周期。结果:对照组细胞形态正常,成梭形,排列紧密,分散均匀。加药组细胞数量明显减少,细胞皱缩,聚集成团,形态各异。流式细胞术检测显示加药组G1期细胞含量增多,S期细胞减少。结论:红景天具有抑制血管内皮细胞生长的作用,可能是通过抑制细胞的增殖来抑制内皮细胞生长。抑制血管内皮细胞生长对于阻止血管内膜增生,防止形成肺动脉高压,降低慢性高原病发病率具有实际应用意义。     

转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞体外分化特征

目的:观察转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞在体外分化情况,为肝细胞癌的细胞源研究提供实验依据。方法:实验于2003-05/2004-06在南方医科大学药理教研室实验室完成。①两步法获取大鼠肝细胞,梯度离心法分离大鼠骨髓基质干细胞。②单基因转染是单独将c-myc或K-ras癌基因瞬时转染大鼠骨髓基质干细胞,6孔培养板中培养,24h后荧光显微镜下观察骨髓基质干细胞转染结果。双基因转染步骤相同,只是将c-myc和K-ras癌基因同时转染大鼠骨髓基质干细胞。③c-myc癌基因转染组、K-ras癌基因转染组、双癌基因转染组常规培养,加入含体积分数为0.1胎牛血清的DMEM培养基,于37℃、体积分数为0.05的CO2孵箱培养,每24h半量更换培养液。④c-myc癌基因转染 肝细胞组、K-ras癌基因转染 肝细胞组、双癌基因转染 肝细胞组将已转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞,置于叠加的培养板半透膜的上方(细胞密度均为1×105个/cm2),再将肝细胞置于半透膜的下方(每孔细胞密度为3×105/cm2)进行共培养,其余步骤同常规培养。⑤通过反转录聚合酶式反应和细胞免疫组化检测骨髓基质干细胞分化情况。结果:①癌基因转染24h骨髓基质干细胞检测结果:单独转染c-myc或K-ras癌基因的细胞,其绿色荧光蛋白呈均匀一致分布;双基因转染的细胞,绿色荧光蛋白呈点片状分布。②各组骨髓基质干细胞向肿瘤细胞分化检测结果:c-myc癌基因转染组、K-ras癌基因转染组、双癌基因转染组的骨髓基质干细胞,均未向肿瘤细胞分化;c-myc癌基因转染 肝细胞组、K-ras癌基因转染 肝细胞组、双癌基因转染 肝细胞组的骨髓基质干细胞,均向肝细胞癌发展;空白对照组骨髓基质干细胞细胞均为阴性。此外,双癌基因转染 肝细胞组的骨髓基质干细胞分化增殖迅速,反转录聚合酶式反应和免疫组化检测发现,培养第7天出现甲胎蛋白表达,并迅速增加,而第7天出现的白蛋白和细胞角蛋白18表达迅速减弱,第14天消失。结论:转染癌基因的骨髓基质干细胞,在向肝细胞诱导的条件下,部分癌基因可以使干细胞分化为肝癌细胞;多癌基因转染时,更易于使干细胞分化为肝癌细胞。     

Macrolides: A Canadian Infectious Disease Society position paper

Since the introduction of erythromycin in 1965, no new compounds from the macrolide antimicrobial class were licensed in Canada until the 1990s. Clarithromycin and azithromycin, since their introduction, have become important agents for treating a number of common and uncommon infectious diseases. They have become prime agents in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, and have revolutionized the management of both genital chlamydial infections, by the use of single-dose therapy with azithromycin, and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, by the use of clarithromycin. The improvement of clarithromycin and azithromycin over the gastrointestinal intolerability of erythromycin has led to supplanting the use of the latter for many primary care physicians. Unfortunately, the use of these agents has also increased the likelihood for misuse and has raised concerns about a resultant increase in the rates of macrolide resistance in many important pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. This paper reviews the pharmacology and evidence for the current indications for use of these newer agents, and provides recommendations for appropriate use.Key Words: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Macrolides, Review, Therapeutic useErythromycin A is a naturally occurring, microbiologically active compound of the macrolide class of antibiotics. Chemical modification of erythromycin A''s 14-membered lactone ring has led to the formation of semisynthetic derivatives with not only improved bioavailability and tolerability, but also expanded spectrums of microbiological activity and improved pharmacokinetic profiles. Such modifications produced clarithromycin, classified as a macrolide because it retains the central 14-membered lactone ring (1,2), and azithromycin, classified as an azalide due to its 15-membered aglycone ring (1). The latter two compounds are the newest agents in the macrolide class licensed for use in Canada. Roxithromycin and dirithromycin are available in other countries.These compounds are clinically active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci, and Gram-negative bacilli (primarily Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella species, Moraxella catarrhalis, Campylobacter jejuni, Bordatella pertussis and Helicobacter pylori). Azalides such as azithromycin have exhibited superior activity against Gram-negative pathogens and are generally less active against Gram-positive pathogens. Intracellular pathogens such as Chlamydia species, Mycoplasma species, Ureaplasma species, Borrelia species and nontuberculous mycobacteria species show varying susceptibilities. On the basis of their microbial activity, both the macrolides and azalides have been shown to be clinically useful in the treatment of uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection and peptic ulcer disease. Additionally, the improved pharmacokinetic profiles and acid stability exhibited by the newer agents may lead to enhanced patient adherence through less frequent dosing and improved bioavailability in the presence of food.