Ultrastructural identification of cholinergic neurons in the external cuneate nucleus of the gerbil: acetylcholinesterase histochemistry and choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry

Summary Using acetylcholinesterase histochemical and choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemical localization methods, this study has provided conclusive evidence for the existence of cholinergic neurons in the external cuneate nucleus of gerbils. By light microscopy, both acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase labelling was confined to the rostral portion of the external cuneate nucleus. Ultrastructurally, acetylcholinesterase reaction products were found in the nuclear envelope, cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi saccules of some somata and large dendrites as well as in the membranes of small dendrites, myelinated axons and axon terminals. These neuronal elements were also stained for choline acetyltransferase; immunoreactivity was associated with nuclear pores, nuclear envelope, perikaryal membrane and all the membranous structures within the cytoplasm. Of the total choline acetyltransferase-labelled neuronal profiles analysed, 79% were myelinated axons, 15% dendrites, 4% somata and 2% axon terminals. The immunostained axon terminals consisted of two types containing either round (Rd type; 62.5%) or pleomorphic (Pd type; 37.5%) vesicles. Both were associated directly with choline acetyltransferase-positive dendrites. In contrast to the paucity of choline acetyltransferase-labelled axon terminals, numerous choline acetyltransferase-positive myelinated axons were present. It may thus be hypothesized that most, if not all, of the external cuneate nucleus cholinergic neurons are projection cells; such cells may give rise to axonal collaterals which synapse onto their own dendrites for possible feedback control. Choline acetyltransferase-positive dendrites were contacted by numerous unlabelled presynaptic boutons, 60% of which contained round or spherical synaptic vesicles (Rd boutons) and 40% flattened vesicles (Fd boutons), suggesting that these neurons are under strong inhibitory control. The preferential concentration of cholinergic components in the rostral external cuneate nucleus may be significant in the light of the highly organized somatotopy in the external cuneate nucleus and its extensive efferent projections to medullary autonomic-related nuclei. Our results suggest that the cholinergic neurons may be involved in somatoautonomic integration.     

Gender-specific response to isoflurane preconditioning in focal cerebral ischemia.

Inhalation anesthetics are effective chemical preconditioning agents in experimental cerebral ischemia. However, previous work has been performed exclusively in male animals. We determined if there is a gender difference in ischemic outcome after isoflurane preconditioning (IsoPC), and if this sex-specific response is linked to differences in Akt phosphorylation or expression of neuronal inducible cell-death putative kinase (NIPK), a negative modulator of Akt activation. Young and middle-aged male and female mice were preconditioned for 4 h with air (sham PC) or 1.0% IsoPC and recovered for 24 h. Cortices were subdissected from preconditioned young male and female mice for measurement of Akt phosphorylation (Western blot) and NIPK mRNA (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Additional cohorts underwent 2 h of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion. Lastly, male and female Akt1(+/+) and Akt1(-/-) mice were studied to determine if gender differences in ischemic outcome after IsoPC is Akt1-dependent. Infarction volume was determined at 22 h reperfusion (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride). As expected, IsoPC decreased ischemic damage as compared with sham PC in young and middle-aged male mice. In contrast, IsoPC markedly increased infarction in young female mice and had no effect in middle-aged female mice. Cortical phospho-Akt was increased by IsoPC versus sham PC only in male mice. No increase was observed in IsoPC female mice. NIPK mRNA was higher in female mice than in male mice regardless of preconditioning status. Male IsoPC neuroprotection was lost in Akt1-deficient male mice. We conclude that IsoPC is beneficial only in ischemic male brain and that sex differences in IsoPC are mediated through Akt activation and basal NIPK expression.     

NF1 mutations in neurofibromatosis 1 patients with plexiform neurofibromas

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by genetic alterations of the NF1 gene on 17q11.2. About 30% of NF1 patients develop plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs), which often cause severe clinical deficits. To determine whether there is a certain genotype underlying PNFs or subtypes of PNFs, we screened 42 NF1 patients from 41 families with PNFs for mutations in the NF1 gene. In 33 out of the 41 (80%) unrelated patients NF1 mutations were found, 24 are novel while the other 9 have been described in previous studies. The 33 mutations included 23 nonsense and frameshift, six splice and four missense mutations. The tumors in these patients had various sizes and features/growth characteristics. No correlation was found between the type or location of the NF1 mutations and size, location or feature of the PNFs, suggesting that many types of NF1 mutations can lead to development of PNFs.     

抗人喉癌/抗VEGF双功能抗体制备及应用研究

目的：研制抗人喉癌／抗血管内皮因子（VEGF）双功能克隆抗体，用于喉癌抗血管生成治疗。方法：采用二次杂交瘤技术制备抗人喉癌／抗VEGF双功能抗体。经酶联免疫吸附试验法和SP法检测喉癌及癌前病患者血清及癌组织中VEGF的含量表达。结果：获得6株分泌抗人喉癌／抗VEGF双功能抗体的杂交瘤，经免疫组化证实与喉癌细胞特异性结合率为93％，而与血管内皮细胞结合率为89％。血清中VEGF含量表达，喉癌组与癌前病组及正常对照组相比差异均显著。IgG亚型鉴定为IgG2aBSAb抗体效价为1：25 600倍（ELISA法）。结论：二次杂交瘤法制备的双功能抗体具有均匀性、可控性、效价高、稳定性好，可用于喉癌抗血管生成治疗，动态检测可作为判断喉癌预后的客观指标。     

肺动脉高压的发病机制、治疗进展

肺动脉高压是多种因素导致的内皮功能受损所致,病理机制的研究进展为治疗开辟了新思路,提出了如钾离子通道开放剂、内皮素受体拮抗剂、蛋白激酶C抑制剂、PDE-5抑制剂和血栓素抑制等治疗方法.     

654—2对家兔红细胞膜Na^＋—K^＋—ATPase活性及血浆LPO含量的影响

日本大耳兔9只,其中6～8月龄5只,2～2.5年龄4只。均喂以2％654-2溶液1ml/天(即20mg)共43天。结果不分年龄统计,LPO含最下降0.827±1.048 nmol/ml(P<0.05)。Na~+-K~+-ATPase活性增加0.057±0.074μmol Pi/mg pro/hr(P<0.05)。认为654-2可能有抗衰老作用,并与普鲁卡因比较,讨论了其降低LPO的可能途径。     

Impact of a patient education program on adherence to HIV medication: a randomized clinical trial

Patients' knowledge of their HIV condition and its treatment, which has been recognized as a factor that influences adherence to antiretroviral therapy, can be improved through educational programs. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial compared an experimental group that participated in an educational program and a control group with standard care. The study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, patients' knowledge, quality of life, and therapeutic response in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Three hundred twenty-six patients were analyzed at inclusion. A higher level of adherence was associated with patients who were older, had higher incomes, and did not smoke. CD4 cell count and plasma viral load were correlated with adherence at entry. The educational intervention had an impact on adherence and knowledge in the experimental group at 6 months, which was maintained at 12 and 18 months. A delayed increase in adherence was observed in the control group at 12 months. No significant impact on quality of life was observed over time. The patients' health status improved in 56% of the experimental group subjects and 50% of the control subjects. However, no significant impact was shown on CD4 cell count and plasma viral load. This study shows that an educational intervention improves adherence to antiretroviral regimens and health status and suggests that it should be initiated early in therapy.     

慢性乙肝患者NK,ADCC活性及其对IFN—α,IFN—γ的反应

本文用Hela细胞乳酸脱氢酶释放法测定了42例慢性乙肝病人外周血NK、ADCC活性及其对IFN-α100U/ml、500U/ml及IFN-γ500U/ml预处理4小时后的反应。结果显示,病人PBL NK,ADCC活性与正常对照有显著差别,经IFNs处理后,其NK或/和ADCC活性均有不同程度的升高反应,从而提示了IFNs在慢性肝病治疗中的重要作用。     

Inhibition of MAP kinase activity moderates changes in expression and function of Cx32 but not claudin-1 during DNA synthesis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

The signal transduction pathways and activation of the MAP kinase or PI3 kinase signaling cascade regulate a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation and differentiation in hepatocytes. To elucidate the mechanisms of signal transmission required for the regulation of gap and tight junctions during DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes, we determined changes of expression and function of gap and tight junctions of cells grown in primary culture, using inhibitors of signaling pathways for MAP kinase (PD98059) and PI3 kinase (LY294002). During the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF), immunoreactivity and mRNAs of gap junction protein Cx32 and of tight junction protein claudin-1 markedly decreased with reduction of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the fence function of tight junctions. In Western blots, whole-cell lysate of claudin-1 protein decreased and phosphorylated Cx32 protein in the insoluble fraction of Triton X-100 increased during the stimulation of DNA synthesis. During reinhibition of DNA synthesis, the changes of Cx32 and claudin-1 returned to control levels, as did both functions. In treatment with the inhibitors before DNA synthesis, PD98059 inhibited the changes of expression and function of Cx32, but not claudin-1, without inhibition of cell growth, whereas LY294002 completely inhibited cell growth. These findings indicate that the PI3 kinase pathway rather than the MAP kinase pathway plays an important role for EGF-induced proliferation of rat hepatocytes, and that changes of Cx32 in hepatocytes during the stimulation of DNA synthesis may be in part controlled through MAP kinase. Furthermore, Cx32, but not claudin-1, protein may be a target of activated MAP kinase in hepatocytes.