Coexistence of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits with nNOS in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rat

We previously showed that most neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-containing neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) contain NMDAR1, the fundamental subunit for functional N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Likewise, we found that almost all nNOS-containing neurons in the NTS contain GluR1, the calcium permeable AMPA receptor subunit. These data suggest that AMPA and NMDA receptors may colocalize in NTS neurons that contain nNOS. However, other investigators have suggested that non-NMDA receptors are located primarily on second-order neurons and NMDA receptors are located predominantly on higher-order neurons in NTS. We now seek to test the hypothesis that NMDA receptors, AMPA receptors and nNOS are colocalized in NTS cells. We performed triple fluorescent immunohistochemical staining of nNOS, NMDAR1 and GluR1, and performed confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of the NTS. The distributions of nNOS immunoreactivity (IR), NMDAR1-IR and GluR1-IR in the NTS were similar to those we reported earlier. Superimposed images revealed that almost all NMDAR1-IR cells contained GluR1-IR and almost all GluR1-IR cells contained NMDAR1-IR. Some double-labeled cells were additionally labeled for nNOS-IR. All nNOS-IR neurons contained both GluR1-IR and NMDAR1-IR. These studies support our hypothesis that NMDA and AMPA receptors are colocalized in NTS neurons and are consistent with a role of both types of ionotropic receptors in transmission of afferent signals in NTS. In addition, these data provide support for an anatomical link between ionotropic glutamate receptors and nitric oxide in the NTS.     

妊娠糖尿病对母婴影响的分析

目的探讨妊娠糖尿病（GDM）对母婴影响。方法观察妊娠糖尿病患者36例及健康孕妇36例,分析其妊娠结局。结果GDM组妊娠期高血压疾病、早产、巨大儿及剖宫产发生率分别为41.7%、27.7%、25%及58.3%,明显高于对照组16.7%、8.3%、5.5%及27.7%,差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。结论GDM是危害孕产妇和围产儿的妊娠并发症,早期诊断GDM及控制血糖是减少母婴并发症的关键。     

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia: comparison of clinical features and outcome between Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical features and outcome of patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia. METHODS: Patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia treated at a medical center in northern Taiwan between November 1998 and July 2006 were reviewed. Clinical and bacteriological characteristics of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were compared. RESULTS: Twelve patients (6 males and 6 females) were included for analyses. The mean age was 69.3 years (range, 40 to 86 years), and 8 cases (66.7%) were older than 65 years. All patients had underlying disease. Two patients received total hip replacement before development of VRE bacteremia. Twelve patients had prior exposure to broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. Ten patients had prior intensive care unit stay and prior mechanical ventilation before VRE bacteremia. All of the patients (n = 12) had an intravascular catheter in place. Bacteremia was caused by E. faecalis in 4 patients and by E. faecium in eight. The portals of entry included urinary tract (8.3%), skin, soft tissue and bone (41.7%) and unknown sources (50.0%). E. faecium showed a higher rate of resistance to ampicillin and teicoplanin than E. faecalis (87.5% vs 0.0%, p=0.01). The 60-day mortality rate was higher in patients with E. faecium bacteremia than E. faecalis bacteremia (62.5% vs 0.0%), although statistical significance was not obtained (p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: VRE bacteremia may have an impact on the mortality and morbidity of hospitalized patients. Patients with bacteremia caused by vancomycin-resistant E. faecium had a grave prognosis, especially immunosuppressed patients. The prudent use of antibiotics and strict enforcement of infection control may prevent further emergence and spread of VRE.     

右旋糖酐40、70对红细胞与内皮细胞粘附的影响

采用流室显微观察系统，定量研究右旋糖酐４０（ＤＸ４０）和右旋糖酐７０（ＤＸ７０）对红细胞与内皮细胞动态粘附特性的影响。统计分析处理数据，得到反映切应力与细胞间动态粘附数关系的经验公式及粘附特征常数ａ，ｂ值。ａ值反映红细胞的初始粘附数，ｂ值反映随切应力增大，粘附数减小的速率。ＤＸ７０实验组的ａ值大于ＤＸ４０组的，而ｂ值的情况相反。故结果显示切应力越大，粘附的红细胞越少；ＤＸ４０使红细胞的粘附明显减少；ＤＸ７０使红细胞粘附显著增加。由此提示不同长度的细胞桥接分子对红细胞的粘附影响不同，且临床上选用ＤＸ４０作血浆扩容剂较ＤＸ７０优越得多     

T细胞性淋巴瘤组织CD56的检测及其与EB病毒的关系

目的探讨Ｔ细胞性淋巴瘤（ＴＣＬ）中ＣＤ５６的表达情况及ＣＤ５６阳性表达同爱波斯坦－巴尔病毒（ＥｐｓｔｅｉｎＢａｒＶｉｒｕｓ,ＥＢＶ）感染的关系。方法对４６例ＴＣＬ进行ＣＤ５６的免疫组织化学ＬＳＡＢ法检测及ＥＢＥＲｓ的原位杂交检测。结果（１）４６例ＴＣＬ中８例ＣＤ５６阳性（１７．４％）,其中鼻腔、咽部和口腔阳性率最高（５／１７例,２９．４％）。弥漫性大细胞型淋巴瘤ＣＤ５６阳性率最高（６／１６例,３７．５％）。（２）４６例ＴＣＬ中２４例ＥＢＥＲｓ阳性（５２．２％）。（３）８例ＣＤ５６阳性病例中,４例ＥＢＥＲｓ阳性。结论ＣＤ５６的表达同ＴＣＬ发生部位和类型有一定关系。ＣＤ５６阳性表达与ＥＢ病毒感染未发现相关性     

Remodelling of action potential and intracellular calcium cycling dynamics during subacute myocardial infarction promotes ventricular arrhythmias in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts

We hypothesize that remodelling of action potential and intracellular calcium (Ca_i) dynamics in the peri-infarct zone contributes to ventricular arrhythmogenesis in the postmyocardial infarction setting. To test this hypothesis, we performed simultaneous optical mapping of Ca_i and membrane potential ( V _m) in the left ventricle in 15 rabbit hearts with myocardial infarction for 1 week. Ventricular premature beats frequently originated from the peri-infarct zone, and 37% showed elevation of Ca_i prior to V _m depolarization, suggesting reverse excitation–contraction coupling as their aetiology. During electrically induced ventricular fibrillation, the highest dominant frequency was in the peri-infarct zone in 61 of 70 episodes. The site of highest dominant frequency had steeper action potential duration restitution and was more susceptible to pacing-induced Ca_i alternans than sites remote from infarct. Wavebreaks during ventricular fibrillation tended to occur at sites of persistently elevated Ca_i. Infusion of propranolol flattened action potential duration restitution, reduced wavebreaks and converted ventricular fibrillation to ventricular tachycardia. We conclude that in the subacute phase of myocardial infarction, the peri-infarct zone exhibits regions with steep action potential duration restitution slope and unstable Ca_i dynamics. These changes may promote ventricular extrasystoles and increase the incidence of wavebreaks during ventricular fibrillation. Whereas increased tissue heterogeneity after subacute myocardial infarction creates a highly arrhythmogenic substrate, dynamic action potential and Ca_i cycling remodelling also contribute to the initiation and maintenance of ventricular fibrillation in this setting.     

不同年龄人脑视皮质毛细血管密度的计量分析

本文应用碱性磷酸酶染色,按立体学方法观测了不同年龄(14岁以下儿童4例,成年人2例,60岁以上老人2例)共8例人脑视皮质有纹区各层毛细血管的密度(各层均取40个数据).结果:成年组视皮质第三层血管网3c亚层(位于皮质第Ⅳc层)毛细血管密度平均为1580.79±47.73mm/mm~3;儿童组为1087.19±44.90mm/mm~3;老年组为619.95±21.39mm/mm~3.经方差分析检验,P<0.01,说明在第三层血管网3c亚层三个年龄组之间具有非常显著性差异.讨论了各年龄组之间视皮质有纹区毛细血管密度差异与机能的关系.     

In vitro effects of interleukins on human mesangial cells: Implications for glomerulonephritis

Intrinsic glomerular cells, especially mesangial cells, are considered to be actively involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis (GN), but the precise mechanism(s) remains elusive. We have previously demonstrated that nephritogenic IgA immune complex can stimulate human mesangial cells (HMCs) to increase their production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In order to evaluate the roles of cytokines such as IL-1 and/or IL-6 and mesangial cells as mediators of renal injury in GN, we have now examined the changes of HMCs and their secreted products in vitro, after stimulation with various concentrations of IL-1 and IL-6. Cytokine-activated HMCs showed the following changes: (1) increased cell size, with intracytoplasmic vaculoes, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, increased free ribosomes and polysomes, and mitochondrial swelling; (2) increased cell proliferation, reflected in thymidine incorporation and an increased proportion of S and G2/M phase cells by cell cycle analysis; (3) enhancement of IL-6 mRNA expression in HMCs with stimulation of IL-6 alone or IL-1 plus IL-6; and (4) release of large amounts of platelet activating factor (PAF), thromboxane B2 (TxB2), and superoxide anion. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that mesangial cell proliferation and increased production of immune/chemical mediators and superoxide anion can be directly induced by IL-1 plus IL-6. These changes may lead to ongoing renal injury.     

Diversity of rotavirus strains among children with acute diarrhea in China: 1998-2000 surveillance study

As part of a national rotavirus surveillance activity, we collected fecal specimens from 3,177 children with acute diarrhea in 10 regions of China between April 1998 and April 2000 and screened them for rotavirus. Rotavirus was detected in 41% (n = 1,305) of specimens, and in these, G1 was the predominant serotype (72.6%), followed by G3 (14.2%), G2 (12.1%), G4 (2.5%), G9 (0.9%), and G untypeable (0.7%). Among 327 G-typed strains tested for P genotype, 14 different P-G combinations were identified, with the globally common strains P[8]G1, P[4]G2, P[8]G3, and P[8]G4 representing 75.6% of all typed rotavirus strains. Among the uncommon strains, 11 were P[6]G9, and others included P[6]G1, P[6]G3, and five novel P-G combinations (P[9]G1, P[4]G1, P[4]G3, P[4]G4, and P[8]G2). Our results indicate that while the common rotavirus strains remain predominant, the diversity of strains is much greater than was previously recognized.