Pharmacologically Active Levels of PGE-, in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

ABSTRACT. In general, prostanoids act as local mediators, not as circulating hormones. A specific exception to this rule is the infusion of prostaglandin E₁ in patients with ductus arteriosus-depend-ent pulmonary or systemic blood flow associated with congenital heart disease. We therefore measured prostaglandin E, plasma levels by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry during effective infusion of prostaglandin E₁ in 10 neonates. Prostaglandin E₁ plasma levels ranged from 22 to 530 (median 56) pg/ml in these patients. Since prostaglandin E₁ is not synthesized endogenously to any significant extent, these plasma concentrations constitute genuine circulating levels not confounded by the common problem of e vivo artifacts. If endogenous prostanoids (e.g. prostaglandin E₂) are suspected as circulating mediators, plasma levels detected by reliable methods ought to be in the same range as prostaglandin E₁ plasma levels in the present investigation.     

Growth of asthmatic children is slower during than before treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids

Reports on the influence of inhaled glucocorticoids on growth have been controversial. We studied the growth of prepubertal asthmatic children prior to and during glucocorticoid therapy. We collected retrospectively the notes of 201 asthmatic children aged 1–11 years receiving inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide. We calculated their height and height velocity standard deviation scores (HSDS and HVSDS, respectively) before the treatment and up to 5 years during the treatment and compared those with the growth of healthy peers. The dose of the medication was calculated and the severity of asthma was assessed. The asthmatic children grew similarly to their healthy peers before treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids: the mean HSDS was +0.02 and the mean HVSDS +0.01 for boys and -0.16 and +0.13 for girls, respectively. Growth retardation took place soon after the start of the treatment, the most profound decrease in the growth velocity (the change in the mean HVSDS from +0.05 to -0.88) occurring during the first year of treatment. The growth-retarding effect of inhaled glucocorticoids was not dose dependent. In the covariance analysis the increasing severity of asthma had a significant interaction with repeated measurements, showing more growth retardation along with more severe asthma, especially during long-term treatment. Asthma per se does not impair growth, but inhaled glucocorticoids may do so. Careful monitoring of the growth of all asthmatic children receiving inhaled glucocorticoids is necessary because the growth-retarding effect of the medication is not dose dependent. Individual sensitivity might explain the differences seen in the growth patterns of children receiving inhaled glucocorticoids.     

胃癌雌激素受体的研究

自20世纪60年代发现雌激素受体以来,学者们开展了对各种不同器官肿瘤受体的研究,并形成了激素作用机制的3种模式(二步模式、核模式和平衡模式).目前已在众多的肿瘤中发现了性激素受体,如孕酮激素(PR)、雌激素(ER)和雄激素(AR).这些肿瘤包括激素依赖性器官和非依赖性器官的肿瘤.     

Confirmation of hepatitis C infection: a comparison of five immunoblot assays

BACKGROUND: Recently, new immunoblot assays for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) became available. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The performance of five confirmatory anti-HCV immunoblot assays was studied with samples with known HCV antibody and HCV RNA status. The assays were a third-generation strip recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-3, Chiron Corp., Emeryville, CA), a second-generation HCV blot (DB-2 blot, Diagnostic Biotechnology, Singapore), the Wellcozyme HCV Western blot (Murex blot, Murex Diagnostics, Dartford, UK), an immunodot HCV assay (Matrix, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL), and the third-generation HCV line immunoassay (Liatek-III, Organon Teknika, Boxtel, The Netherlands). RESULTS: Sensitivity on samples from 48 HCV RNA-positive, second-generation RIBA (RIBA-2)-positive persons and specificity on samples from 31 low-risk donors was 96 percent or better for all assays. The sensitivity on 31 HCV RNA-positive, RIBA-2- indeterminate samples was as follows: Liatek-III, 94 percent; RIBA-3, 90 percent; Murex blot, 61 percent; Matrix, 55 percent; and DB-2 blot, 39 percent. In testing 39 HCV RNA-negative, RIBA-2-indeterminate donor samples, the percentage found to be negative was Liatek-III, 77 percent; RIBA-3, 67 percent; Murex blot, 49 percent; DB-2 blot, 33 percent; and Matrix, 15 percent. The order of sensitivity on four HCV seroconversion series was (from high to low): RIBA-3, Liatek-III, DB-2 blot, Murex blot, and Matrix; the differences were small. CONCLUSION: Detection of HCV antibodies was not refined by the addition of new HCV antigens (NS5, E2/NS1), but by improved classical antigens (core, NS3, NS4). Replacement of the commonly used RIBA-2 will resolve the status of a high proportion of RIBA-2-indeterminate samples.     

针刺足三里和悬钟治疗缺血性脑卒中

目的:观察针刺足三里、悬钟2穴对缺血性脑卒中脑血管功能的影响,分析其可能的作用机制,并对临床疗效做出评价。方法:选择2004-11/2006-05湖北中医药高等专科学校附属古城医院针灸科、荆州市第五人民医院中医康复科、荆州市第三人民医院中医科3单位缺血性脑卒中患者合适病例160例,采用查随机数字表的方法,将其随机分为对照组和针刺组,各80例。对照组采用现代医学常规干预方法进行治疗:卧床,保持呼吸道通畅,预防感染,控制颅内压、血压,维持水电解质平衡。针刺组在此基础上加针刺足三里、悬钟2穴,采用慢速捻转进针法针刺,留针20～30min,每隔5min行针1次。1次/d。两组患者治疗30d。并以经颅多普勒检测观察缺血性脑卒中患者治疗前后脑血管舒缩反应能力、脑血流自动调节功能、大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能的变化,同时以治疗前后神经功能缺损程度为指标评价其临床疗效。结果:160例病例全部进入结果分析。①针刺组与治疗前相比,脑血管舒缩反应能力明显加强,差异有显著性意义(t=2.97,P<0.05),且优于对照组(t=2.45,P<0.05)。②针刺组与治疗前相比,脑血流自动调节能力明显改善,差异有非常显著性意义(t=8.01,P<0.01),且优于对照组(t=7.67,P<0.05)。③针刺组与治疗前相比,大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能得到加强,差异有显著性意义(t=3.15,P<0.05),且优于对照组(t=5.16,P<0.05)。④针刺组与治疗前相比,神经功能缺损积分明显降低,差异有非常显著性意义(t=4.83,P<0.01),且优于对照组(t=5.43,P<0.05)。结论:针刺足三里、悬钟2穴对缺血性脑卒中患者脑血管舒缩反应能力、脑血流自动调节功能、大脑半球侧枝循环代偿功能有明显改善作用,并能促进神经功能的恢复。     

骨髓间充质干细胞向胰岛素分泌细胞诱导分化的动态观察

目的:探讨体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向胰岛素分泌细胞分化的可能性,并观察其动态变化。方法:实验于2005-09/2007-03在山东大学齐鲁医院完成。①标本来源:骨髓标本15例来自山东大学齐鲁医院成人骨髓检查结果正常者,均签署捐献同意书。②实验方法:无菌条件下取骨髓2.0～5.0mL,采用percoll分离液和贴壁法获得纯化的成人骨髓间充质干细胞。③实验评估:流式细胞仪行细胞表面抗原检测,在适当的条件下诱导其分化为成骨细胞和脂肪细胞。采用两步法向胰岛素分泌细胞诱导,观察其在碱性成纤维细胞生长因子、活化素A、胰岛素样生长因子、尼克酰胺等因子刺激下向胰岛素分泌细胞分化的动态变化。双硫踪染色鉴定胰岛样细胞团,酶联免疫吸附试验检测细胞分泌胰岛素的情况,RT-PCR检测胰岛细胞特异基因的表达。结果:①骨髓间充质干细胞的生长特性及免疫表型:分离培养获得的贴壁细胞,呈形态均一的梭形,流式细胞仪检测CD34、CD45表达阴性,CD29、CD44表达阳性。②向成骨细胞和脂肪细胞的诱导分化:此类细胞经茜素红染色、油红O染色均呈阳性,可诱导分化为成骨细胞和脂肪细胞。③向胰岛素分泌细胞的诱导分化:第1步诱导后出现细胞簇,双硫腙染色不着色,胰岛素分泌量少,仅检测到PDX-1基因的表达,证实其为胰岛前体细胞。第2步诱导后细胞簇数目逐渐上升,至诱导14d大部分细胞簇经双硫腙染色都呈红色。④诱导后培养上清中胰岛素含量:诱导第3,7,14,21天的胰岛素分泌量分别为(15.3±4.9),(34.1±5.6),(40.4±5.3),(39.8±5.1)mU/L。⑤胰岛细胞特异基因的表达:诱导7d仅检测到PDX-1基因的表达,insulin1、insulin2和Glut2基因均不表达。诱导14,21d检测到insulin2、PDX-1基因表达,insulin1基因弱表达,Glut2基因不表达。结论:体外分离、纯化得到的骨髓间充质干细胞诱导7d可分化出胰岛前体细胞,不具功能性;诱导14d后可成功地分化出成熟的具有功能性的胰岛素分泌细胞。     

三维重建射频损伤区域观察猪舌根射频损伤体积与射频能量及时间的关系

目的：目前临床进行隧道法舌根射频治疗时,其作用参数的设置仍缺乏统一的标准,故通过计算机三维重建射频损伤区域,分析猪舌根射频损伤体积与射频能量、时间的关系,从中得出应用舌根隧道法射频治疗的最佳作用能级和作用时间。 方法：实验于2006-06/2007-05在上海交通大学耳鼻喉科研究所完成。将36只实验用猪以射频作用能级1,2,3,4,5,6随机分成6组,每组6头猪,各个猪舌的作用时间分别设置为2,5,10,15,20,25s。用Coblation射频发生仪及Reflex55刀头进行猪舌根射频操作。射频作用后的舌根组织行连续冰冻切片,苏木精-伊红染色后,进行序列组织切片的全貌二维图像采集,对拟重建的结构进行边界提取和图像分割。将提取分割图像导入Image-Pro Solution图像处理软件,利用3D Constructor插件进行三维重建,并根据设定参数进行体积计算。用SPSS10.0统计学软件对所测数据进行统计学分析。 结果：①作用能级固定时,舌根组织射频损伤体积随时间延长而增大,符合Logarithmic回归曲线。②作用时间固定时,舌根组织射频损伤体积随能级增大而增大,符合直线回归。③射频损伤体积随能量增大而增加亦符合Logarithmic回归曲线。④Coblation射频治疗系统在能级6时,在作用10s之前,损伤体积随作用时间增加而迅速增加,其后变化趋势平缓,超过20s后损伤体积无显著增加。 结论：①舌根区域射频治疗时,舌根组织射频损伤体积与时间或能量呈Logarithmic曲线相关,与能级呈直线相关。②Coblation射频治疗系统在能级6时,最佳作用时间范围为10-20s。