Arthrobacter scleromae sp. nov. isolated from human clinical specimens

A gram-positive, coryneform bacterium was isolated from swollen scleromata of a dermatosis patient. An analysis of its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic characteristics showed that this bacterium is closely associated with Arthrobacter oxydans and Arthrobacter polychromogenes but that it belongs to a distinct species, for which the name Arthrobacter scleromae sp. nov. is proposed.     

Apoptosis-inducing protein derived from hepatocyte selectively induces apoptosis in lymphocytes

The liver is where lymphocytes undergo activation-induced cell death (AICD) at the resolution phase of an immune response, which is crucial for homeostasis of the immune system and prevention of autoimmunity. Exploring the machinery of AICD in the liver, we found that a primary culture supernatant of murine hepatocytes had an antiproliferative effect on antigen-stimulated T clone and T lymphoma cells. Biological study showed that the antiproliferation was due to induction of apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. The apoptosis-inducing potential was sensitive to trypsin, heat (> 70 degrees ) and acid (< pH 5) treatment but could not be neutralized by anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha, anti-Fas ligand, or anti-transforming growth factor-beta antibodies. Biochemical study of the isolated and purified apoptosis-inducing component from the supernatant showed that it was a protein with a molecular mass of about 68,000-70,000. It induced apoptotic change in murine T and B cells, and to a lesser degree, in human lymphoid cells, but not in macrophages. Biochemical and biological characteristics distinguish this protein from others that have been reported to induce apoptosis of lymphocytes. The identification of an apoptosis-inducing protein derived from murine hepatocytes, which selectively induces apoptosis in lymphocytes, suggests one possible mechanism for immune suppression in the liver.     

Interlaboratory validation of a CD71-based flow cytometric method (Microflow) for the scoring of micronucleated reticulocytes in mouse peripheral blood

An interlaboratory study was performed to validate an anti-CD71/flow cytometry-based technique for enumerating micronucleated reticulocytes (MN-RETs) in mouse peripheral blood. These experiments were designed to address International Workshop on Genotoxicity Test Procedures validation criteria by evaluating the degree of correspondence between MN-RET measurements generated by flow cytometry (FCM) with those obtained using traditional microscopy-based methods. In addition to these cross-methods data, flow cytometric MN-RET measurements for each blood sample were performed at two separate sites in order to evaluate the reproducibility of data between laboratories. In these studies, groups of male CD-1 mice were treated with vehicle (saline or vegetable oil), a negative control (saline or vegetable oil), or four dose levels of five known genotoxicants (clastogens: cyclophosphamide, benzo[a]pyrene, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate; aneugen: vincristine sulfate). Exposure occurred on 3 consecutive days via intraperitoneal injection, and blood samples were obtained approximately 24 hr after the final treatment. MN-RET frequencies were determined for each sample based on the analysis of 2,000 (microscopy) and 20,000 (FCM) reticulocytes. Regardless of the method utilized, each genotoxic agent was observed to cause statistically significant increases in the frequency of MN-RETs, and each response occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs) for FCM versus microscopy-based MN-RET measurements (nine experiments, 252 paired measurements) was 0.740, indicating a high degree of correspondence between methods. The rs value for all flow cytometric MN-RET measurements performed at the two independent sites was 0.857 (n = 248), suggesting that the automated method is highly transferable between laboratories. Additionally, the flow cytometric system offered advantages relative to microscopy-based scoring, including a greater number of cells analyzed, much faster analysis times, and a greater degree of objectivity. Collectively, data presented in this report suggest that the overall performance of mouse peripheral blood micronucleus tests is enhanced by the use of the flow cytometric scoring procedure.     

正常人周围神经内膜中的纤维性长间距体及神经束膜细胞的超微结构

本文报道在电镜下观察了正常人腹壁神经小分支的神经束膜细胞的超微结构,并在神经内膜间质中发现了纤维性长间距体(FLS)。 1.2～5层神经束膜细胞紧密地包绕着神经束。束膜细胞呈扁平样排列,胞质内有丰富的微丝和吞饮小泡,基膜明显而连续。紧贴其外的和神经内膜中的成纤维细胞均无基膜。两相贴的束膜细胞之间可见缝管连接和丰富的桥粒,也可见胶原纤维。神经内膜间质中胶原原纤维细,有FLS体存在;而束膜外侧的胶原原纤维较粗,未见FLS体。 2.多数FLS体与无髓神经纤维的Schwann细胞基膜相连,个别处周围为一般胶原原纤维,未见基膜;有髓神经纤维的Schwann细胞处未见FLS体。纵切面上,多数FLS体呈纺锤状,大小不等,其长轴与相邻胶原原纤维的长轴平行,有时可见两者相互延续移行。偶见FLS体呈桥样架于两Schwann细胞之间,FLS体的暗带与两侧Schwann细胞的基膜相延续。还见2～3个FLS体并为一体,但横纹错开。FLS体的斜断面近似长方形,也呈横纹样结构,与纵断面没有很大区别。FLS体的横纹周期长约133nm,暗带约53nm,主要由电子较密的颗粒状物构成;明带约80nm,由方向大致相同的微丝网构成;横纹周期中无细横纹存在。本文并对神经束膜细胞可能的作用、FLS体与基膜的关系、FLS体的横纹周期问题进行了讨论。     

内皮祖细胞在血管组织工程的应用

内皮祖细胞是一群具有游走特性,能进一步增殖分化成为成熟内皮细胞的幼稚内皮细胞.内皮祖细胞参与了出生后缺血组织的血管发生和血管损伤后的修复.内皮祖细胞的发现为血管组织工程种子细胞增添了一个新来源.本文重点介绍成体内皮祖细胞的来源、鉴定、生物学特性、功能以及在血管组织工程中的应用.     

胰岛素、胰岛素样生长因子Ⅰ及其受体在PCOS患者子宫内膜的表达

目的探讨胰岛素及其受体、胰岛素样生长因子I及其受体在多囊卵巢综合征患者子宫内膜的表达特点。方法利用免疫组化实验技术分析INS、INS-R、IGF-I和IGF-IR在多囊卵巢综合征和非多囊卵巢综合征不孕症患者子宫内膜中的表达情况,对结果进行图像分析,并利用SPSS10.0软件进行统计学分析,比较各组间的差异。结果1.多囊卵巢综合征患者子宫内膜IGF-I和INS-R表达水平明显高于对照组,差异有显著性(P<0.01)。其中多囊卵巢综合征中子宫内膜增生症患者的IGF-I和INS-R表达水平高于多囊卵巢综合征组增殖期患者,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。2.IGF-IR和INS在多囊卵巢综合征患者与对照组子宫内膜的表达水平无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论多囊卵巢综合征患者子宫内膜异常增生可能与局部IGF-I和INS-R表达异常有关。     

首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用调查

目的 了解首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用情况。方法 采用回顾性调查研究方法对我院2001年1-6月住院的206例首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用情况进行调查。结果 单一用药到出院者114例，因用药后疗效不好致换药者24例，合并用药者68例；单一用药频度排列前4位的是氯氮平，氯丙嗪、舒比利，维思通；联用抗胆碱药物者63例。结论 非典型抗精神病药物氯氮平仍是一线抗精神病药物，我院对首发精神分裂症患者精神药物使用基本合理，但应减少联合用药。     

The gut microbiome in food allergy

Objective

To review observational human, murine, and interventional trial studies that have examined the gut microbiome in food allergy, and to provide perspective on future investigations in this field.