Point mutation in the parkin gene on patients with Parkinson’s disease

Summary To investigate the distribution of possible novel mutations from parkin gene in variant subset of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in China and explore whether parkin gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, 70 patients were divided into early-onset group and late-onset group; 70 healthy subjects were included as controls. Genomic DNA from 70 normal controls and from those of PD patients were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by using standard procedures. Mutations of parkin gene (exon 1–12) in all the subjects were screened by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and further sequencing was performed in the samples with abnormal SSCP results, in order to confirm the mutation and its location. A new missense mutation Gly284Arg in a patient and 3 abnormal bands in SSCP electrophoresis from samples of another 3 patients were found. All the DNA variants were sourced from the samples of the patients with early-onset PD. It was concluded that Parkin point mutation also partially contributes to the development of early-onset Parkinson’s disease in Chinese. WANG Tao, male, born in 1961, Associate Professor This work was supported by grants from the key program of the special scientific project of Scientific & Technologic Agency of Hubei Province (Serial No. 2001AA308B01) and the Hygienic Research Project of Hygienic Agency of Hubei province (Serial No. WJ 01529).     

Production and characterization of genetically engineered antibody molecules

Expression of antibody heavy- and light-chain genes by transfection permits the production of monoclonal antibodies with improved biological and antigen-binding properties. The immunoglobulin genes are placed in vectors containing a gene for encoding a protein that provides a biochemically selectable function in eukaryotic cells; these vectors are transfected into myeloma and hybridoma cells. Selection of drug-resistant cells permits the efficient isolation of the rare cells that express the transfected DNA. By placing heavy and light chains on plasmids with different selectable markers, one can deliver heavy- and light-chain genes simultaneously to the same cell. The transfected immunoglobulin genes are efficiently expressed and the proteins produced are a faithful mirror of the genes that were introduced. Using the standard techniques of genetic engineering and gene transfection, we can now produce antibodies of widely varying structures, including chimeric antibodies with segments derived from different species. These antibodies provide useful reagents to study structure-function relationships within the antibody molecule. Ultimately it will be possible to produce a new generation of antibody molecules with improved antigen-binding properties and effector functions.     

上颌阻生尖牙的临床诊断与治疗

目的：对阻生上颌尖牙的病因、临床检查、诊断及其相应的治疗进行了临床研究。方法：选取57例上颌尖牙阻生患者，通过病史询问、临床检查、X线片和模型测量的综合分析，从临床角度对阻生牙进行了诊断分类，采用不同的方法进行了矫治，并对矫治效果进行了评估。结果：采取适宜有效的治疗办法，均取得了满意的治疗效果，牙周膜愈合成功率达100％，活髓牙成功率达93．6％，牙龈形态良好者达89．4％。结论：尖牙阻生情况各异，治疗方法多样，根据临床分类选择合适的治疗方法，是矫治成功的关键。     

Changes in total sodium intake do not lead to proportionate changes in total sodium removal in CAPD patients.

BACKGROUND: Dietary salt and fluid restriction is important in controlling fluid balance in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). However, it is often difficult to monitor patients' dietary total sodium intake (TSI). Usually, total sodium removal (TSR), the sum of urinary sodium removal (USR) and dialysate sodium removal (DSR), is suggested to represent TSI. In the present study, we investigated the reliability of using TSR as a surrogate to TSI in CAPD patients. METHODS: 40 clinically stable CAPD patients were closely followed for 3 months. Their TSI, USR, DSR, and fluid status were measured twice: at baseline and at the end of this study respectively. Fluid status was evaluated by bioimpedance analysis. Patients with increased sodium intake (group ISI) or decreased sodium intake (group DSI) (both >0.5 g/day or >21.74 mmol/day elemental sodium) were included in this study. RESULTS: There were 15 patients in group ISI and 9 patients in group DSI. During the follow-up, although TSI increased in group ISI and decreased in group DSI (p < 0.05), there were no significant changes in USR, DSR, or TSR in either group. No relationship was found between TSI and TSR. Changes in weight, blood pressure, urine volume, ultra-filtration, and small solute removal (Kt/V and creatinine clearance) were not statistically significant between the two groups. Fluid status deteriorated in group ISI and improved in group DSI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that changes in total sodium intake do not lead to proportionate changes in total sodium removal in CAPD patients. Therefore, TSR (the sum of USR and DSR) should be used cautiously to monitor TSI in this patient population.     

Phase II study of high-dose ifosfamide in hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary A phase II study of high-dose ifosfamide in hepatocellular carcinoma was conducted among 17 Chinese patients. The dose of ifosfamide used was 2.5 g/m² daily given as a continuous infusion for 5 days. In all, 15 patients were evaluable for tumour response. There was no complete or partial responder. The treatment was well tolerated. The most frequent toxicity was alopecia, which occurred in 11 patients, and 5 patients developed mild haematological toxicity. There was no evidence of liver or bladder toxicity. Overall, 14 patients were evaluable for survival. The median survival was 92 days (range, 30–568 days). We conclude that high-dose ifosfamide is well tolerated but ineffective in hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese patients.     

Membrane lipids of B16 melanoma cells and heat-resistant variants

Membrane lipid composition and fluidity of a series of B16 melanoma cell variants with increased resistance to heat were analysed for changes within the lipid component that may contribute to the acquisition of heat resistance. Within one series of heat-resistant lines the cholesterol content of the cells decreased as their heat resistance increased. The most heat-resistant line, WH75, had 40 per cent less cholesterol than the parent line. No change in the composition of phospholipid fatty acids was found. An increased level of membrane fluidity in WH75 was demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance using 5- or 12-doxyl stearic acid. When challenged by heat the increase in membrane fluidity was similar for WH75 and for the parent line. Thus the increased heat resistance of the variants is probably not due to their ability to adapt to heat challenge by increasing membrane thermostability. The inverse relationship between heat resistance and cholesterol content was not demonstrated in two other series of heat-resistant variants. The cholesterol decrease, therefore, is not a universal response of cells as they acquire heat resistance.     

截瘫患者医院感染的监测及预防措施

目的了解截瘫患者医院感染的病原菌对药物敏感情况. 方法回顾分析我院自1996年9月～2003年11月,316例截瘫患者的有关临床资料. 结果 98例患者发生医院感染,医院感染率为31.01%,感染部位主要以呼吸道、皮肤软组织、手术切口、泌尿道感染为多;医院感染的病原菌主要是条件致病菌,以G-菌为主.结论医护人员必须严格无菌操作,根据细菌药敏结果合理选用抗菌药物,加强营养,提高患者机体抵抗力.     

不同方法治疗声带良性病变的疗效观察

1999年1月～2006年12月我科应用显微支撑喉镜术、电视喉内窥镜术及间接喉镜术治疗声带良性病变108例，报道如下。     

准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术患者主客观因素与疗效的相关性分析

目的：通过对准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术(LASIK)患者主客观因素与疗效的相关性分析，了解临床影响术后视力的主观、客观因素。方法：对2002年间在我院行ASIK的164例患者325只眼(其中3例为单眼)进行连续性临床观察研究，分别进行术前、术后问卷式主客观因素调查，并对患者手术疗效进行相关性统计学分析。结果：患者术前对手术效果的期望值、手术中疼痛程度与手术后视力有显著相关性。结论：解除患者术前忧虑及避免术中疼痛对提高术后疗效有重要意义。