Neutralization of heparin activity by neutrophil lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a prominent component of neutrophil secondary granules, and its blood concentration is increased in certain inflammatory diseases. In contrast to the well-described biochemical characterization of lactoferrin as an iron-binding protein, its physiologic role in the regulation of inflammation and other host defense mechanisms is unclear. In this report, we provide evidence that lactoferrin has a potent heparin-neutralizing activity during thrombin inhibition by the serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) antithrombin and heparin co-factor II. Activated neutrophil supernatant, which contains lactoferrin and other heparin-binding proteins, could neutralize the heparin-dependent antithrombin-thrombin inhibition reaction. The addition of lactoferrin to plasma corrected the heparin- induced prolongation of blood plasma coagulation as measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Treatment of whole blood with specific inflammatory mediators, fMLP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increased the concentration of both plasma lactoferrin and platelet factor 4 while inhibiting the blood anticoagulant activity of heparin as measured by the aPTT. These results suggest that the prothrombotic sequelae of some inflammatory processes may be partly due to various agonists that release neutrophil lactoferrin, which can then neutralize glycosaminoglycan-dependent serpin-thrombin inhibition reactions.     

Long‐term leisure‐time physical activity has a positive effect on bone mass gain in girls

The purpose of this 7‐year prospective longitudinal study was to examine whether the level and consistency of leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) during adolescence affected the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) attained at early adulthood. The study subjects were 202 Finnish girls who were 10 to 13 years of age at baseline. Bone area (BA), BMC, and BMD of the total body (TB), total femur (TF), and lumbar spine (L₂–L₄) were assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Scores of LTPA were obtained by questionnaire. Girls were divided into four groups: consistently low physical activity (G_LL), consistently high (G_HH), and changed from low to high (G_LH) and from high to low (G_HL) during 7 years of follow‐up. At baseline, no differences were found in BA, BMC, and BMD among the groups in any of the bone sites. Compared with the G_LL group, the G_HH group had higher BMC (11.7% in the TF, p < .05) and BMD at the TB (4.5%) and the TF (12.2%, all p < .05) at age 18. Those in the G_LH group also had higher a BMC at each site (8.5% to 9.4%, p < .05) and a higher BMD in the TB (5.4%) and the TF (8.9%) than that of G_LL (all p < 0.05) at the age 18. Our results suggest that long‐term leisure‐time physical activity has a positive effect on bone mass gain of multiple bone sites in girls during the transition from prepuberty to early adulthood. In addition, girls whose physical activity increases during adolescence also benefit from bone mass gain. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research     

Acute reversible inactivation of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis induces antidepressant-like effect in the rat forced swimming test

Background  

The bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) is a limbic forebrain structure involved in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation and stress adaptation. Inappropriate adaptation to stress is thought to compromise the organism's coping mechanisms, which have been implicated in the neurobiology of depression. However, the studies aimed at investigating BNST involvement in depression pathophysiology have yielded contradictory results. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of temporary acute inactivation of synaptic transmission in the BNST by local microinjection of cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) in rats subjected to the forced swimming test (FST).     

先天性无肛直肠舟状窝瘘手术186例

1临床资料1988-06/2003-12我院共186例,均为女性,无肛门,其中0～6月龄21例,0.5～1岁96例,1～3岁53例,3～8岁15例,13岁1例.以大便从会阴部舟状窝瘘口处排出而就诊,患儿有不同程度的排便困难,严重时伴腹胀呕吐,多数患儿有营养不良性贫血.瘘口直径0.3～0.6 cm,直肠盲端到肛穴皮肤之间的距离1.0～2.5 cm,属于中、低位肛门直肠畸形.本组有3例合并先天性心脏病-室间隔缺损,2例合并骶前囊肿,1例合并脐疝.     

Scar modulation in subacute and chronic CNS lesions: Effects on axonal regeneration

After injury of the adult mammalian CNS axonal regeneration across or around the lesion scar is negligible. Previously, we have shown that the lesion-induced basal membrane (BM) within the lesion center participates in a growth barrier for axon regeneration and that its reduction by means of pharmacological or immunochemical treatment is a prerequisite and sufficient condition for regrowing axons to cross the lesion site. The present study was designed to further investigate this observation by analyzing the effect of a delayed treatment on the regeneration of both subacutely and chronically lesioned axons.Adult rats underwent unilateral transection of the postcommissural fornix. At one to five days after transection one group of animals received a local injection of 2, 2'-dipyridyl (DPY), an inhibitor of collagen triple helix formation and synthesis. Another group received a second transection within the former lesion site followed by an immediate DPY-injection at five days or 4 weeks after transection. Six weeks after the last surgery BM deposition and axonal regeneration were analysed using immunocytochemical methods.A local injection of DPY clearly reduced the lesion-induced BM deposition when applied within the first 3 days after transection. Under these conditions regrowing axons still crossed the former impermeable lesion site and regenerated within their normal pathway up to their former target, the mammillary body. However, in late subacute (5 d) and chronic stages (4 w) the double transection+injection paradigm failed to reduce BM deposition and, in consequence, also to induce axonal regeneration.These results demonstrate the potential of the collagen IV-reducing strategy to promote axonal regeneration across the lesion scar not only in acute but also in early subacute traumatic injuries.     

血清HBV-DNA水平的变化与慢性乙型活动性肝炎的关系

目的:研究慢性肝炎患者HBV-DNA水平与病情变化的关系. 方法:采用荧光标记定量PCR的方法,测定慢性乙型肝炎急性发作患者(HBeAg阳性45例,抗HBe阳性30例)其活动期和恢复期的血清HBV-DNA含量. 结果:HBeAg阳性组血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在活动期显著高于恢复期[(10.2±1.6) vs (5.3±2.1), P<0.05],抗-HBe阳性组血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在活动期显著高于恢复期[(7.6±1.3) vs (4.0±2.0), P<0.05]. 另外,活动期血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在HBeAg阳性组显著高于抗HBe阳性组[(10.2±1.6) vs (7.6±1.3), P<0.05]. 血清HBV-DNA水平与丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)及总胆红素(T-BLLI)之间无相关性. 结论:HBV-DNA复制水平与慢性乙型病毒性肝炎的活动密切相关.     

胎-母输血综合征对围产儿的影响--附2例报告

胎－母输血综合征对围产儿的影响——附２例报告丁新黄醒华胎－母输血综合征，即胎儿血液由胎盘的绒毛间隙进入母体血循环，引起胎儿不同程度的失血及母体溶血性输血反应的一组症候群。大量胎－母输血可导致胎儿贫血、休克、死胎、死产；新生儿贫血、休克、死亡。我院在近...     

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and chromosomally abnormal spermatozoa

An infertile couple was referred for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) because of primary infertility and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) in the male. It was observed that although the sperm cells presented with an unusual head size and multiple tails they were able to fertilize the oocytes after ICSI. Subsequent molecular cytogenetic analysis demonstrated de-novo chromosome abnormalities in virtually all sperm cells with 40% diploidy and 24% triploidy in addition to aneuploidy for the sex chromosomes.