Effect of Cu2+ on relaxations to the nitrergic neurotransmitter, NO and S-nitrosothiols in the rat gastric fundus.

1. The effects of addition of Cu2+ and chelation of Cu2+ were studied on relaxations in response to S-nitrosothiols and on relaxations to non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve stimulation, nitric oxide (NO) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the rat gastric fundus. 2. The S-nitrosothiols S-nitroso-L-cysteine (NOCys, 1-300 nM), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, 0.01-3 microM) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, 0.01-3 microM) induced concentration-dependent relaxations of the rat gastric fundus muscle strip. The relaxant potencies of the S-nitrosothiols were NOCys > SNAP > GSNO. Relaxations to NOCys were transient and comparable to those to NANC nerve stimulation and NO whereas relaxations to GSNO and SNAP were sustained. The relaxations to NOCys, GSNO and SNAP were significantly and concentration-dependently enhanced by CuSO4 (3-30 microM). The order of relaxant potency in the presence of CuSO4 was reversed to GSNO approximately SNAP > NOCys. 3. In the presence but not in the absence of 0.1 microM GSNO, CuSO4 (1 microM) induced a rapid and transient relaxation which was inhibited by the superoxide radical generator, pyrogallol (30 microM). CuCl2 but not FeSO4 mimicked the effect of CuSO4. 4. Electrical stimulation (0.5-8 Hz) of the rat gastric fundus strips induced frequency-dependent relaxations which were previously shown to be nitrergic in nature and which were not affected by CuSO4 (3-30 microM). Relaxations to NO (3-100 nM) and GTN (0.01-1 microM) were not affected by 3 and 10 microM CuSO4 but were inhibited by 30 microM CuSO4. 5. The Cu2+ chelator, bathocuproine (3-30 microM) significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited the relaxations to NOCys (0.01-3 microM), GSNO (0.01-10 microM) and SNAP (0.01-3 microM). The inhibitory effect of 10 microM bathocuproine was reversed by 3 microM CuSO4. 6. Bathocuproine (3-30 microM) had no effect on the relaxations to NANC nerve stimulation (0.5-8 Hz) or on the concentration-response curve to NO (0.01-0.3 microM), whereas relaxations to GTN (0.01-1 microM) were significantly inhibited by 30 microM bathocuproine. 7. From these results we conclude that relaxations to S-nitrosothiols and to nitrergic stimulation of the rat gastric fundus are differentially affected by addition and chelation of Cu2+, suggesting that the nitrergic NANC neurotransmitter in the rat gastric fundus is not an S-nitrosothiol but is more likely to be free nitric oxide.     

Features of pediatric head injury in Hong Kong

Head injury in children causes special concern in most communities. From 1989 to 1994, 2,785 children younger than 16 years old were admitted to our neurosurgical service because of head injury. Fall from a height was the major cause of head injury leading to admission in infants and children in preschool age groups, whereas traffic-related or bicycle-related accidents were more likely to be the cause of head injury for those aged 11–15 years. In all age groups there was a male preponderance. The overall mortality was 0.6%. Traffic-ralated accidents caused more severe injury and accounted for 67% of all fatalities. For patients under 6 years old, about 40% of head injuries occurred at home. Preventive measures for pediatric head injury in Hong Kong are suggested.     

多巴酚丁胺负荷及运动试验~(99m)Tc-MIBI心肌断层显像与冠状动脉造影的对比研究

比较６９例冠心病患者多巴酚丁胺负荷９９ｍＴｃ甲氧基异丁基异腈（ＭＩＢＩ）心肌断层显像与８２例运动试验９９ｍＴｃＭＩＢＩ心肌断层显像的结果，以探讨它们对冠心病的诊断价值。结果表明：以冠状动脉造影结果为标准，多巴酚丁胺负荷诊断冠心病的敏感性和特异性分别为９１２％和８００％，运动试验分别为８９４％和８２９％。多巴酚丁胺负荷检出冠状动脉病变的敏感性和特异性：左前降支为７８１％和９１３％，回旋支为６６７％和９８２％，右冠状动脉为１００％和８３７％；运动试验分别为７８３％和９１１％，６００％和９６８％，９０９％和８５０％，差异均无显著性（Ｐ＞００５）。提示两者结果相近，对于不能进行运动试验的病人，多巴酚丁胺试验是一种有价值的诊断冠心病的方法。     

Starch, gloves and extradural catheters

We have investigated contamination of extradural catheters during normal handling with starch powdered gloves. In the laboratory, extradural catheters were handled in sterile fields with both powdered and non-powdered gloves, simulating preparation for patient insertion. The catheters together with glove samples were then examined using a Zeiss 940 scanning electron microscope. Microscopy of samples revealed starch contamination of the catheters handled with powdered gloves, especially in the side hole areas. We conclude that extradural catheters may be contaminated easily by starch powder from surgical gloves. This powder may then be deposited into the extradural space. The effect of starch in the extradural space is not known but starch is known to cause inflammatory and granulomatous reactions in other parts of the body as well as being directly allergenic. Powder contamination of catheters may be avoided easily by the use of powder-free gloves and we feel that these should be used whenever possible.      

A comprehensive study of smoking in primary school children in Hong Kong: implications for prevention.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with smoking behaviour in primary school children in Hong Kong. DESIGN: A cross sectional survey in which both children and parents completed questionnaires. The main outcome measure was the smoking status of the children; and risk factors (knowledge of and attitude to smoking and demographic and socioeconomic background) were identified as predictors of ever/never smoking. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Altogether 9598 primary school children, aged 8-13 years, and attending 27 schools from two districts in Hong Kong participated. MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of ever-smoking was 12% (1119)-15% (760) in boys and 7% (359) in girls. It ranged from 3% in 8 year old girls to 52% in 13 year old boys. The factors associated with ever-smoking included the following: being a boy (adjusted odds ratio 2.21; 95% confidence interval 1.89, 2.59), increasing age per year (1.48; 1.40, 1.57), living in Kwai Tsing district (1.29; 1.10, 1.50), having one or more smokers at home (2.07; 1.78, 2.39), and having a father who was not working (1.41; 1.19, 1.67). Children who were ever-smokers had both seen and approved of their friends' smoking (8.79; 5.33, 14.50), had a more positive attitude towards smoking (3.35; 2.21, 5.09), and were more successful in recognising cigarette brand names and logos (1.67; 1.42, 1.96), but they lacked confidence (1.78; 1.32, 2.39). CONCLUSIONS: The influences on child smoking are multifactorial and programmes in Hong Kong are falling to curb them. The control of these risk factors must be incorporated in the smoking prevention policy of Hong Kong and supported by future enforced legislation.     

Neurofibromatosis and insulinoma.

A 45-year-old man with neurofibromatosis presented with recurrent seizures due to hypoglycaemia caused by an insulinoma. The attacks were abolished after the successful removal of the insulinoma. This probably represents another example of the association between neurofibromatosis and a tumour consisting of cells with amine-precursor-uptake and decarboxylation.     

重组跨膜型人CD55分子在小鼠NIH3T3细胞上的表达及其补体溶破保护功能的研究

目的 :在小鼠NIH3T3细胞转染表达人天然GPI锚固型CD5 5和重组跨膜型CD5 5 TM分子 ,观察比较它们对人补体溶破异源细胞的抑制功能。方法 :将带有CD5 5cDNA、CD5 5 TMcDNA的重组逆病毒表达质粒CD5 5 pLXSN、CD5 5TM pLXSN经脂质体法转染PA317细胞 ,用病毒上清感染小鼠成纤维母细胞NIH3T3。经G418加压筛选 ,利用FACS检测获得表达CD5 5和CD5 5 TM分子的阳性细胞克隆 ,通过MTT比色法比较两种分子对人血清补体溶破细胞的抑制功能有无差别。结果 :细胞转染筛选获得多个表达跨膜型人CD5 5分子的NIH3T3细胞克隆 ,补体杀伤试验证实其具有抑制人补体溶破的功能 ,且两种分子的补体抑制功能无明显差异。结论 :成功地建立了稳定表达天然CD5 5、跨膜型CD5 5分子的小鼠NIH3T3细胞 ,证实其表达的GPI型CD5 5分子和CD5 5TM分子均具有抑制人补体溶破细胞的功能 ,为进一步探讨应用跨膜型的CD5 5分子对PNH进行基因治疗奠定了基础。     

Attitudes towards mental illness: testing the contact hypothesis among Chinese student nurses in Hong Kong

This study investigated whether previous contact with mental illness affected the attitudes to mental illness (AMI) of general student nurses in Hong Kong — the contact hypothesis. We employed a quasi-experimental design. We compared the attitudes to mental illness of students who had previous contact with mental illness through having taken a psychiatric secondment with those who had not taken a psychiatric secondment. Also, we compared the AMI of: students who had taken other courses related to mental illness with those who had not; those who had a family history of mental illness with those who had not; and those who lived with a mentally ill relative with those who did not. We found that previous contact with mental illness had no significant effect on the attitudes to mental illness of the students. In other words our findings do not support the contact hypothesis. Our sample expressed positive general attitudes to mental illness when presented with general issues about mental illness. However, their attitudes were less positive when presented with specific issues about mental illness that might impinge upon their daily lives. We discuss the implications of these findings for mental health nursing practice, education and research.     

子宫内膜异位症及卵巢癌腹腔IL-6、IL-8变化的临床意义

目的:探讨白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素8(IL-8)与子宫内膜异位症(endomotriosisEMs)卵巢癌的发生发展关系。方法:采用双抗体夹心ABC-酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)对EMs患者30例、血清及腹腔液中IL-6、IL-8进行检测,并以卵巢癌患者10例、卵巢良性肿瘤患者30例、正常妇女血清30例做对照组。结果:EMs组与卵巢癌组患者血清及腹腔液中IL-6、IL-8水平明显高于对照组(P<0.01),EMs组与卵巢癌组对比无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:EMs患者腹腔液中IL-6、IL-8异常增高是腹腔免疫内环境失衡,与EMs的发生发展有关,在药物治疗中血清IL-6、IL-8可作为EMs疗效和预后的指标之一。