Vasomotion in rat diaphragm microcirculation at rest and during stepwise arterial pressure reduction

The effect of haemorrhagic hypotension on the incidence, frequency and relative amplitude of vasomotion in rat diaphragm microcirculation was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Graded bleeding to four hypotension levels (80, 60, 40 and 30% of the control state) were performed in 24 Sprague–Dawley rats. The incidence of vasomotion was 83% in the control state, 96% at the 80% level, 100% at the 60% level, 96% at the 40% level, and 46% at the 30% level. The median fundamental frequency of vasomotion determined manually during the control state and at the hypotension levels (in descending order) was 4.11 (range, 3.29–5.58) cycles min^?1 (cpm), 4.48 (3.21–5.92) cpm, 4.20 (3.5–5.56) cpm, 4.01 (3.33–5.36) cpm, 3.71 (3.25–4.49) cpm (P < 0.01 from the fundamental frequency at 80 and 60% hypotension levels). The median relative amplitudes determined manually during the control state and descending hypotension levels were 44.5% (range, 24.9–135.9%), 69.4% (26.6–147.2%), 84.0% (40.3–177.1%) (P < 0.01 from resting and last stage of bleeding), 90.40% (26.2–189.6%) (P < 0.01 from resting and last stage of bleeding), 69.2% (35.6–93.2%). We concluded first that during the resting condition, vasomotion was frequently present in diaphragm microcirculation, which is distinct from other vascular beds of skeletal muscles. Second, the relative amplitude of vasomotion during haemorrhagic hypotension plotted against decreasing blood pressure exhibited a reverse U-shaped curve with a maximum at 40–60% of the control blood pressure, while the frequency of vasomotion remained relatively constant until the last stage of haemorrhage and centred around 3–5 cpm.     

Dll4-Notch信号传递途径在血管发生中的作用

血管发生(angiogenesis)依赖多种促进血管发生因子和抑制血管发生因子之综合的交互作用所调控。血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和Notch信号传递途径(Notch signaling pathway)参与此过程。之前研究已证明Notch信号传递途径在胚胎发育和肿瘤血管发生(tumour angiogenesis)中扮演重要的角色,而最近研究则发现在血管发育过程中Dll4-Notch信号传递途径扮演着前所未知的新角色,并阐明因Notch信号传递减少而引起血管缺陷之机制,从而揭示破坏肿瘤血管发生的新药物靶点。本文着重于介绍Notch信号传递途径的组成;Dll4-Notch在血管发生中的作用;以及Dll4-Notch对肿瘤治疗的意义。     

Cell kinetics of repair after allyl alcohol-induced liver necrosis in mice

The cellular kinetics of repair and scarring which occurs after induction of periportal necrosis in mice by allyl alcohol were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry. Thirty-six six-week-old female C57Bl/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with two doses of allyl alcohol on day 0 and tissue sections were taken at various times and stained by haematoxylin and eosin or immunostained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), bile duct/oval cell marker A-6, and DNA fragments (apoptosis). Within 6 hours, periportal necrosis was seen extending to produce large zones of confluent, pan-acinar irregular necrosis, predominantly in the right and medial lobes with sparing of the left and caudate lobes. Restoration of liver mass was accomplished mainly by proliferation of mature hepatocytes in the surviving lobes of the liver (hyperplasia). In the right and medial lobes where necrosis was limited to the periportal zone, there was some, but much less, proliferation of small, oval periportal cells. The large necrotic zones in the right and median lobes shrank and were replaced by granulomatous inflammation. This cellular contribution of liver regeneration in the mouse was different from that previously reported in the rat and provides a means of inducing only a small proliferation of oval cells.     

14-3-3σ调控p27抑制Rat1-Akt细胞增殖

目的： 研究腺病毒介导14-3-3·σ（Ad-14-3-3·σ）对Akt过表达Rat1-Akt细胞增殖的影响，并探讨其作用是否通过调控p27而实现。 方法： 通过5-溴-2′脱氧尿嘧啶（BrdU）实验检测Ad-14-3-3·σ对Rat1-Akt细胞增殖的影响，并通过激酶分析法和免疫荧光实验探讨Ad-14-3-3·σ对p27磷酸化水平及其在细胞内定位的影响。 结果： Ad-14-3-3σ转染的细胞BrdU阳性率（45%）低于PBS处理组（100%）或Ad-β-gal转染的对照组细胞（98%）。14-3-3σ可降低磷酸化p27的水平和减少Akt介导的p27在胞浆中的定位。 结论： 转染14-3-3σ基因能抑制Akt过表达细胞株Rat1-Akt增殖，14-3-3σ通过降低Akt激酶磷酸化p27的活性，阻断Akt介导的p27胞浆错位，从而发挥其抑制Rat1-Akt细胞增殖。     

公众对自杀的态度量表的编制及在社区和大学学生中的应用

目的:编制公众对自杀的态度量表(the Scale of Public Attitudes about Suicide,SPAS),并在社区和大学学生中检验其信效度。方法:采用多阶段分层随机取样,抽取山东农村居民604例、天津城市居民548例及重庆的大学学生626例,用SPAS进行调查。首次调查后5～8天,顺序选择1063例被试进行重测。将受教育程度≥9年(n=580)的社区居民随机分为自评(n=243)和由调查员提问并填写问卷(n=337),将自评的大学学生随机分为署名(n=321)和匿名(n=305)。结果:(1)SPAS包含47个条目,分为7个分量表。(2)自杀问题的社会重要性分量表的内部一致性和重测一致性偏低(Cronbachα=0.48,ICC=0.59);其他6个分量表的内部一致性α在0.62～0.87之间,重测一致性ICC在0.62～0.82之间。(3)农村居民、城市居民和学生之间,除对自杀的正性态度分量表得分外,其余6个分量表得分的差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05),农村组得分最高而学生组得分最低。自评组和由调查员提问并填写组相比,除自杀行为的自我不可控制性和对自杀的正性态度2个分量表外,其余5个分量表得分均是后者高于前者(均P<0.05)。署名和匿名组各分量表得分差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论:公众对自杀的态度量表是一个可靠的评估国内社会对自杀的态度的工具。     

Simultaneous Bilateral Stenosis of the Vertebral Arteries Treated by Unilateral Decompression: A Case Report

A 56-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of progressive dizziness. His dizziness was aggravated when his head was rotated to the right side. Diagnostic angiography showed that a normal right-sided vertebral artery in the neutral position became an abnormal vertebral artery with two stenotic lesions at the C3–4 and C5–6 levels when the patient’s head was turned to the right. A normal left-sided vertebral artery also showed a stenotic lesion at the C2 level when the patient’s head was turned right. The axial dimensions of the bilateral vertebral arteries were similar. The patient was successfully treated with decompression of only one level (C5–6). We conclude that if a bilateral stenosis is found upon one directional head rotation and the bilateral vertebral arteries are similarly sized, a one-sided treatment may suffice.     

Ceramic Inlays: A Case Presentation and Lessons Learned from the Literature

Ceramic dental restorative materials offer an esthetic alternative to dental amalgam or gold. There is uncertainty relative to the longevity of ceramic inlay restorations. Recently published long-term research studies reveal general clinical performance trends. These trends are discussed while presenting a ceramic inlay case. Successful clinical use of ceramic inlay materials is absolutely dependent on the creation of an uncompromised adhesive tooth/ceramic interface. Ceramic inlay restorations perform well in terms of long-term retention, color match, and anatomic contour stability. These restorations all experience limited margin deterioration that does not predispose to marginal discoloration or secondary caries. Patients rarely suffer from postoperative sensitivity secondary to ceramic inlay placement.
Ceramic inlays fail predominantly as a result of crack propagation from material flaws leading to bulk fracture. Some superficial ceramic defects may be repaired with composite resin. Internal material flaws are minimized by industrial production of indirect pressable glass-ceramic materials or ceramic blocks designed for computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM). External surface flaws are limited by careful polishing techniques. Strategic placement of ceramic inlays in teeth that are not subject to heavy occlusal loading will result in more predictable long-term performance. Preparation design to prevent flexure of ceramic inlay materials is essential.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Use of ceramic inlays to restore defects in posterior teeth requires careful attention to detail. Placement of ceramic inlay materials in high-stress areas may result in less predictable long-term performance. Ceramic inlays are advantageous for restoring moderately sized defects when optimal control of restoration contours and esthetics is desired.     

Ureteral cancer associated with dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory myopathy that has characteristic cutaneous lesions. Although many malignancies are associated with dermatomyositis, urogenital malignancies have rarely been reported to be associated with dermatomyositis. We report here on the first case of ureteral cancer associated with dermatomyositis. A 42-year-old man presented to us with a skin rash. A clinical diagnosis of dermatomyositis was made due to the skin lesions, muscle weakness, arthralgia, the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the increased creatine kinase level. The patient revealed microscopic hematuria and abnormal urine cytology during the investigation for the underlying malignancy. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated a suspicious lesion in the right mid-ureter, and the ureteroscopic biopsy revealed the urothelial carcinoma. Although an operation was recommended, the patient died of pneumonia associated with his interstitial lung disease, which is one of the poor prognostic indicators of dermatomyositis.     

Effects of sevoflurane on collagen production and growth factor expression in rats with an excision wound

Background: Sevoflurane is a widely used inhalation anesthetic, but there are no studies on its effect on the wound‐healing process. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of exposure time to sevoflurane on wound healing. Method: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Two circular full‐thickness skin defects 8 mm in diameter were made on the dorsum of the rats. The animals were divided into six groups according to exposed gas type and time: S1 (sevoflurane, 1 h), S4 (sevoflurane, 4 h), S8 (sevoflurane, 8 h), O1 (oxygen, 1 h), O4 (oxygen, 4 h), and O8 (oxygen, 8 h). The surface area of the wounds was measured 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. Separately, the mean blood pressures (MBP) and arterial oxygen pressures (PaO₂) were monitored during the sevoflurane exposure. Collagen type I production and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression on the wound surface were analyzed. Routine histological analysis was also performed. Result: Exposure duration to sevoflurane had no influence on MBP and PaO₂. The reduction in wound size and collagen type I production was delayed in S8. The expression of TGF‐β1 and bFGF on the wound surface in S8 was significantly attenuated in S8. The histology of the S8 demonstrated a delayed healing status. Conclusions: Prolonged exposure to sevoflurane might alter the inflammatory phase of the wound‐healing process by attenuation of growth factor expression such as TGF‐β1 and bFGF and subsequently by reduced collagen production.     

Upregulation of hyaluronan and its binding receptors in an experimental model of chronic cyclosporine nephropathy

Aim: Hyaluronan (HA) is an important extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycan. The localization of HA and its binding receptors, CD44 and LYVE‐1, was evaluated in an experimental model of chronic cyclosporine A (CsA)‐induced nephropathy. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats maintained on a low‐salt diet (0.05% sodium) received an s.c. injection of vehicle (1 mL/kg per day olive oil; VH groups) or CsA (15 mg/kg per day; CsA groups) for 1 or 4 weeks. Induction of chronic CsA nephropathy was evaluated according to renal function and pathology and expression of HA, CD44, LYVE‐1, ED‐1 and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA). Results: CsA treatment for 4 weeks caused renal dysfunction, which was accompanied by typical striped interstitial fibrosis. In the VH group, HA immunoreactivity was observed only in the inner medulla. However, the area of HA immunoreactivity increased with the duration of CsA treatment: CsA treatment for 1 week extended HA immunoreactivity to the outer medulla, and CsA treatment for 4 weeks caused a further extension of HA immunoreactivity to the cortex, which was vulnerable to CsA‐induced renal injury. HA binding receptor, CD44 and LYVE‐1 expression were also upregulated in the CsA groups, and were localized to the area of fibrosis and the peritubular capillaries of the cortex. In the CsA groups, ED‐1 and α‐SMA were predominantly expressed in fibrotic areas in which HA had accumulated. Conclusion: These findings suggest that upregulation of HA and its binding receptors are involved in interstitial fibrosis in chronic CsA‐induced renal injury.