Adenovirus-expressed human hyperplasia suppressor gene induces apoptosis in cancer cells

Hyperplasia suppressor gene (HSG), also called human mitofusin 2, is a novel gene that markedly suppresses the cell proliferation of hyperproliferative vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rat arteries. This gene encodes a mitochondrial membrane protein that participates in mitochondrial fusion and contributes to the maintenance and operation of the mitochondrial network. In this report, we showed that an adenovirus vector encoding human HSG (Ad5-hHSG) had an antitumor activity in a wide range of cancer cell lines. We further focused on the lung cancer cell line A549 and the colon cancer cell line HT-29 and then observed that Ad5-hHSG induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy revealed that cells infected with Ad5-hHSG formed dose-dependent perinuclear clusters of fused mitochondria. Adenovirus-mediated hHSG overexpression induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) reduction and release of cytochrome c, caspase-3 activation, and cleavage of PARP in vitro. Overexpression of hHSG also significantly suppressed the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice both ex vivo and in vivo. In addition, Ad5-hHSG increased the sensitivity of these cell lines to two chemotherapeutic agents, VP16 and CHX, and radiation. These results suggest that Ad5-hHSG may serve as an effective therapeutic drug against tumors.     

Dextromethorphan efficiently increases bactericidal activity, attenuates inflammatory responses, and prevents group a streptococcal sepsis

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from mild throat and skin infections to severe invasive diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Dextromethorphan (DM), a dextrorotatory morphinan and a widely used antitussive drug, has recently been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of DM in GAS infection using an air pouch infection mouse model. Our results showed that DM treatment increased the survival rate of GAS-infected mice. Bacterial numbers in the air pouch were lower in mice treated with DM than in those infected with GAS alone. The bacterial elimination efficacy was associated with increased cell viability and bactericidal activity of air-pouch-infiltrating cells. Moreover, DM treatment prevented bacterial dissemination in the blood and reduced serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1β and the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), and RANTES. In addition, GAS-induced mouse liver injury was reduced by DM treatment. Taken together, DM can increase bacterial killing and reduce inflammatory responses to prevent sepsis in GAS infection. The consideration of DM as an adjunct treatment in combination with antibiotics against bacterial infection warrants further study.     

糖尿病对腰椎管狭窄症患者术后康复效果的影响：1：1配对分析

目的：探讨腰椎管狭窄症合并糖尿病患者术后康复效果的特点。 方法：选择1992-01／1999-07在重庆市涪陵中心医院骨科接受腰椎管减压术的患者56例，均自愿参加观察。分为2组，糖尿病组和非糖尿病组各28例。对两组患者的临床特点进行1：1回顾性配对分析。患者在康复后1～6个月开始检查，随访时间2-5年，对术后康复效果进行评估。临床效果评估为优、良、可、差。优为腿痛完全消失，正常活动完全恢复。良为偶而出现腿痛，不需药物可缓解，可以正常活动。可为中等度疼痛，常需药物才能缓解，正常活动轻度受限。差为术前症状改善不明显或无改善，或正常活动严重受限。客观评估标准为神经传导速度检测记录。 结果：56例患者全部进入结果分析，无脱落。①两组患者临床特点比较：除糖尿病组患者有突然发作、夜间痛、疼痛非体位性缓解等特点外，两组的其他术前症状相似。周围血管供血不足在糖尿病组占29％、非糖尿病组占4％。②两组患者电生理检查结果比较：糖尿病组78％的患者及非糖尿病组25％的患者出现神经传导速度减慢。③两组患者术后康复效果比较：糖尿病组28例患者术后康复效果优、良、可、差分别为5，15，5，3例；非糖尿病组分别为6，16，5，1例，两组相比差异无显著性意义（x^2=0．56，P〉0．05）。 结论：神经传导检查是腰椎管狭窄症合并糖尿病最有价值的客观评估手段，糖尿病不影响腰椎管狭窄症患者的术后康复。     

武汉市4～16岁儿童青少年行为问题发生情况的调查与分析

目的：了解儿童青少年行为问题的流行病学情况，探讨行为问题发生的相关因素。方法：采取整群随机抽样方式于2003—09／12在武汉市随机抽取2所幼儿园、2所小学、2所初中、2所高中。选取其中幼儿园中班、大班，小学1-6年级，初中1-3年级，和高中一年级共12个年级，按年级名册各随机选取男50名，女50名，共2400名。均为年龄4-16岁儿童，监护人同意参加。调查工具为行为问题调查量表。该量表包括：①一般项目：有性别、年龄、儿童生活主要照顾者、父母职业等。②环境量表：有亲子关系、父母经济状况、家庭大小、父母心理知识认知、教育认知、环境、父母对自己与孩子相处是否需要建议等项目（对各项目进行同趋势化处理，转换为低优即分越低越好，按1～5分共5个等级进行评分，并采用合计方式计算各纬度的得分，按人数计算各维度的平均分）。③应用Achenbach儿童行为量表中国标准化版做父母调查（113条行为问题，每条有0，1或2分称为粗分，113条粗分加起来称总粗分，再归纳为8～9个因子，计量其因子分），将该量表因子分与Achenbach儿童行为量表中国标准化版（父母用）诊断标准对照，判断该儿童是否具有该项行为异常。由各班主任将调查表分发给所选调查对象的家长，并负责向家长讲解调查表内容和填写方法，在发表1周后负责回收表格。结果：纳入儿童2400名，发放调查表2400份，回收调查表2205份，其中内容完整的2199份。由于年龄不符合的有71名，对2128名符合年龄条件和填写完整符合要求的调查表进入结果分析。①男童行为问题发生率明显高于女童（x^2CMH=1722．6350，P〈0．01）。不同年龄段儿童行为异常发生率相似（P〉0．05）。②12～16岁行为异常儿童中非父母照顾者所占百分比明显高于行为正常儿童（17．07％，3．64％,x^2CMH=15．7005,P〈0．01）。③4～5岁行为异常男童父母的精神心理认知、家周围噪音污染和亲子关系评分和正常儿童相近（P〉0．05）；6～16岁行为异常儿童上述3项指标平分普遍高于正常儿童（t=-2．06--6．77,P〈0．05～0．01），随着年龄的增加，呈上升趋势。④4～5岁行为异常女童父母的精神心理认知和亲子关系评分均明显高于正常儿童（t=-2．26，-2．10,P〈0．05）。结论：①儿童行为问题发生率存在性别差异，男性高于女性。②12～16岁行为异常儿童中非父母照顾者多于由父母照顾的正常儿童。③行为问题发生率可能与儿童的生活照顾者、亲子关系、父母的精神心理认知及家周围的噪音有关。④4～5岁儿童行为异常的发生与父母的精神心理认知、家周围噪音污染和亲子关系无关，但与性别有关。     

Characterization and gene transfer in mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical-cord blood

It has been shown that the stromal-cell population found in bone marrow can be expanded and differentiated into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, muscle, neural, and fat cells. However, whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in human umbilical-cord blood (UCB) has been the subject of ongoing debate. In this study, we report on a population of fibroblastlike cells derived from the mononuclear fraction of human UCB with osteogenic and adipogenic potential, as well as the presence of a subset of cells that have been maintained in continuous culture for more than 6 months. These cells were found to express CD29, CD44, CD90, CD95, CD105, CD166, and MHC class, but not CD14, CD34, CD40, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD117, CD152, or MHC class II. We also compared gene expression after gene transfer using lenti- and adenoviral vectors carrying the green fluorescence protein to the MSCs derived from UCB because a reliable gene-delivery system is required to transfer target genes into MSCs, which have attracted attention as potential platforms for the systemic delivery of therapeutic genes. The lentiviral vectors can transduce these cells more efficiently than can adenoviral vectors, and we maintained transgene expression for at least 5 weeks. This is the first report showing that UCB-derived MSCs can express exogenous genes by way of a lentivirus vector. These results demonstrate that human UCB is a source of mesenchymal progenitors and may be used in cell transplantation and a wide range of gene-therapy treatments.     

氯丙嗪剂量、给药方式与副反应的关系研究

调查1997年4月至1997年9月出院病例服用氯丙嗪的精神病患者389例,出现药物副反应的为200例(51.4％),其中心电图改变者131例(65.5％),锥体外系副反应57例(28.6％),SGPT升高52例(26.0％),脑电图改变26例(13.0％),皮疹22例(11.0％),胃肠道副反应16例(8.0％),造血系统副反应12例(6.0％),体位性低血压9例(4.5％),内分泌系统副反应4例(2.0％),其他12例(6.0％)。对上述副反应发生的原因和处理作了分析。     

The severity of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in children is significantly associated with plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines

Cytokines are intimately involved with the innate and adaptive immune response to bacterial infections. This study was designed to determine the expression of inflammatory cytokines in children by the severity of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) infections. The study population consisted of 16 invasive, 20 noninvasive, and 24 pharyngeal colonization, and 21 healthy controls. All children underwent the laboratory tests and cytokine measurement. GAS isolates were analyzed for emm gene typing. Patients with invasive GAS diseases had significantly higher interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18 than those with noninvasive diseases, colonization, and healthy controls. There was no difference in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-12, and IL-2 levels among the groups. Elevated white blood cell counts and levels of C-reactive protein and C3 were detected only in patients with invasive diseases. emm1 and emm12 predominated in invasive disease and colonization. Children with invasive GAS infections exhibited significant up-regulation of plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18, and suppression of TNF-α and IL-12 during the acute phase of their illness. An exuberant cytokine response was associated with the severity of illness.     

Impact of a transtheoretical model on the psychosocial factors affecting exercise among workers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise intervention on improvement of perceived exercise benefit, perceived exercise barrier, and exercise self-efficacy. A quasi- experimental design was utilized and purposive sampling was conducted at a telecom worksite in southern Taiwan. One hundred and ninety-three subjects were assigned to an experimental and a control group. The experimental group, which consisted of 133 subjects, participated in a program of exercise intervention. The intervention program applied a transtheoretical model to aid subjects in developing effective approaches within different stages of the exercise change. It included written materials and teaching activities for the different stages of exercise. The control group, which consisted of 60 subjects, had no treatment. All subjects completed a structured questionnaire, including perceived exercise benefits, perceived exercise barriers, exercise self-efficacy, and stages of exercise, pre-test and post-test. Statistical analyses included Chi-square test, paired t-test, analysis of covariance, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe's post hoc comparison. After the exercise intervention, the results post-test of the experimental group showed that (1) perceived exercise benefit, perceived exercise barriers, and exercise self-efficacy improved significantly, and (2) perceived exercise benefit and exercise self-efficacy were significantly higher than those of the control group post-test while perceived exercise barriers were significantly lower than those of the control group post-test.     

消炎痛灌肠降温疗效观察

对体温在３８．５℃以上的患儿进行了消炎痛灌肠与安痛定肌注降温疗效观察。结果表明：消炎痛灌肠组的显效率为７８％，安痛定肌注组的显效率为３４％。     

Automatic removal of the eye blink artifact from EEG using an ICA-based template matching approach

Independent component analysis (ICA) proves to be effective in the removing the ocular artifact from electroencephalogram recordings (EEG). While using ICA in ocular artifact correction, a crucial step is to correctly identify the artifact components among the decomposed independent components. In most previous works, this step of selecting the artifact components was manually implemented, which is time consuming and inconvenient when dealing with a large amount of EEG data. We present a new method which automatically selects the eye blink artifact components based on the pattern of their scalp topographies, which can be exemplified as a template matching approach. The feasibility of using a fixed template for singling out the eye blink component after ICA decomposition was validated by an experiment in which 18 subjects among the 21 subjects involved exhibited a highly consistent pattern of eye blink scalp topographies. Since only the spatial feature is employed for singling out the eye blink component, the proposed method is very efficient and easy to implement. Objective evaluation of the real results shows that the proposed algorithm can remove the eye blink artifact from the EEG while causing little distortion to the underlying brain activities.