Association of the CTLA-4 gene with rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han population

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is important for downregulation of T-cell activation, and CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms have been implicated as risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies of the association between the +49 polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene in RA have provided conflicting results. In order to determine association of the CTLA-4 gene with RA in Chinese Han population, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to genotype polymorphisms of four SNPs (MH30, +49, CT60 and JO31) of the CTLA-4 gene in 326 RA patients and 250 healthy controls. Furthermore, meta-analysis of all available studies relating +49 polymorphism to the risk of RA was performed to confirm the disease association. Among the SNPs examined, the genotype frequencies of CTLA-4 +49 and CT60 in RA patients differed significantly from controls (P=0.028 and 0.007). In addition, the distribution of four haplotypes constructed by these two SNPs was significantly different between patients and controls (chi(2)=10.58, d.f. =3, P=0.014). The meta-analysis also revealed that in both European and Asian populations, the CLTA-4 +49 G allele was associated with the risk of RA. These results suggested that the CTLA-4 gene might be involved in the susceptibility to RA in the Chinese Han population and both +49 and CT60 of CTLA-4 gene might be the causal variants in RA disease.     

损毁单侧黑质-纹状体通路的大鼠SVZ、纹状体和黑质神经前体细胞的变化

研究成年大鼠脑室下区 (SVZ)神经前体细胞 (neural precursors)在黑质 -纹状体通路损伤后的反应 ,本研究用 6-羟多巴胺单侧纹状体注射以损毁黑质 -纹状体通路 ,损毁 10 d后腹腔注射 Brd U ,连续 4d,每日两次 ;在 SVZ、纹状体和黑质部位用免疫组化方法检测 Brd U、nestin以及 GFAP阳性细胞。结果显示 :(1) 6-羟多巴胺损毁黑质 -纹状体通路后 ,伤侧 SVZ的 Brd U阳性细胞数明显增多 ,并成簇分布 ;nestin和 GFAP阳性细胞数也增多 ,但以 GF AP阳性细胞增多明显 ;(2 )伤侧纹状体可见大量 Br-d U、GFAP以及少量 nestin阳性细胞分布 ,而健侧只有少量 GFAP阳性细胞 ;(3 )伤侧可见 Brd U阳性细胞在 SVZ和纹状体之间呈条带样分布 ;(4 )伤侧黑质除酪氨酸羟化酶阳性神经元减少外 ,未见 Brd U、GFAP和 nestin阳性细胞表达。上述结果表明 ,6-羟多巴胺损毁黑质 -纹状体通路后 ,SVZ神经前体细胞活动增强 ,有向纹状体迁移的趋势。     

重点高中生的心理状态与高考成绩的相关性研究

目的;了解重点高中学生的心理状态与高考成绩之间的关系。方法：以398例应届生为对象,应用16PF人格测验,气质测量工具（STI,TTI）及焦虑自评量表（SAS）,对考生进行测试分析,结果：文理科学生的16PF的人格特质有明显的差别,判别分析和多因素回归分析显示16PF人格特质中的Q1因素（实验性F＝8．76,P＜0．01）,Q2因素（独立性F＝8．23,P＜0．01）,与高考成绩呈正相关,与M因素（幻想性F＝4．88,P＜0．01）,呈负相关;气质中的神经过程灵活性（F＝8．15,P＜0．01）和时间特质中的灵活性（F＝12．36,P＜0．01）与高才成绩呈正相关。结论：高考生的实验性,独立性高分及幻想性低分的个性特质和气质上的灵活性有助于高考成绩的发挥,学生文理科分班宜参考学生人格特质这一特点,。     

Bio—Normalizer（BN）对体外鼠胚大脑神经细胞缺氧损伤保护作用的研究

目的：为研究Bio-Normalizer(BN)对大脑神经细胞缺氧损伤的保护作用,并探讨其机制。方法：本研究采用无血清体外细胞培养方法,培养鼠胚大脑神经细胞,将神经细胞造成缺氧损伤,在无血清培养液中加入不同剂量的BN,观察BN对缺氧损伤的保护作用。将细胞分为4组,Ⅰ组为缺氧BN浓度为0mg/ml组;Ⅱ组为缺氧BN浓度为0．1mg/ml组,Ⅲ组为缺氧BN浓度为0．5mg/ml组;Ⅳ组为非缺氧BN浓度为0mg/ml组。在倒置显微镜下观察细胞生长发育的情况,于细胞培养后的第4天收集细胞,测定生化指标,同时进时光镜和电镜病理检查。结果：缺氧0．1mgBN/ml组的神经细胞MTT及NSE活性均高于缺氧0mgBN/ml组,并有显著差别（P＜0．05）;形态学观察结果也显示缺氧0．1mgBN/ml组和0.5mgBN/ml组的神经细胞缺氧损伤后恢复明显好于缺氧0mgBN/ml组。结论：BN对大脑神经细胞缺氧损伤恢复具有明显的促进作用。     

腹膜透析相关性腹膜炎兔模型的病理形态学观察

用 12只新西兰大白兔分为腹膜炎组和对照组。腹膜炎组注射含活金黄色葡萄球菌的透析液 ,对照组为含生理盐水的透析液 ;观察腹膜透析相关性腹膜炎兔模型的病理变化。结果发现 :(1)腹膜炎组腹膜间皮细胞增生 ,水肿 ,血管扩张 ,炎症细胞浸润 ,对照组无变化。 (2 )腹膜炎组腹膜透液中葡萄糖浓度除 0min外 ,其他各时间点D/D0 葡萄糖均低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。 (3)腹膜炎组腹透液中肌酐浓度与血浆肌酐浓度比值 (D/Dcr)显著高于对照组中的浓度比值 (P <0 .0 5 )。 (4 )腹膜炎组透析液中WBC计数除O点外 ,其余各时间点明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。提示新西兰兔腹膜注射含活金黄色葡萄球菌 48h后 ,进行腹膜透析时 ,其腹膜病理改变与临床腹膜透析并发腹膜炎特征基本一致     

Interphotoreceptor Retinol-Binding Protein Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Retinal Dysfunction and Neurodegeneration Through Rhodopsin

Patients with diabetes often experience visual defects before any retinal pathologies are detected. The molecular mechanism for the visual defects in early diabetes has not been elucidated. Our previous study reported that in early diabetic retinopathy (DR), rhodopsin levels were reduced due to impaired 11-cis-retinal regeneration. Interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein (IRBP) is a visual cycle protein and important for 11-cis-retinal generation. IRBP levels are decreased in the vitreous and retina of DR patients and animal models. To determine the role of IRBP downregulation in the visual defects in early DR, we induced diabetes in transgenic mice overexpressing IRBP in the retina. IRBP overexpression prevented diabetes-induced decline of retinal function. Furthermore, IRBP overexpression also prevented decreases of rhodopsin levels and 11-cis-retinal generation in diabetic mice. Diabetic IRBP transgenic mice also showed ameliorated retinal oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and retinal degeneration compared with diabetic wild-type mice. These findings suggest that diabetes-induced IRBP downregulation impairs the regeneration of 11-cis-retinal and rhodopsin, leading to retinal dysfunction in early DR. Furthermore, increased 11-cis-retinal–free opsin constitutively activates the phototransduction pathway, leading to increased oxidative stress and retinal neurodegeneration. Therefore, restored IRBP expression in the diabetic retina may confer a protective effect against retinal degeneration in DR.     

Donor Choriocarcinoma Transmission From Solid Organ Transplantation: A Case Report

Transplantation of any organ has some inherent risk of disease transmission, such as infection and malignancy. The present study aims to describe 2 cases of choriocarcinoma transmission after kidney and liver transplantation originating from the same patient. The donor was a 17-year-old woman who died of cerebral hemorrhage. Both organ recipients died of metastatic choriocarcinoma few months after the transplantation, within days after starting chemotherapy. Retrospective hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) analysis in donor's blood stored at the time of donation had a result of 9324 mIU/mL. Despite its rarity, clinicians should be aware of the risk of transplant-related choriocarcinoma from female donors in childbearing age. In some cases, hCG dosage should be performed before donation.