Reversal of ischemic liver failure by intrasplenic liver cell transplantation

A model of ischemic hepatic failure in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) with 100% mortality has been developed by one-hour occlusion of the right portal vein and hepatic artery followed by left 70% hepatectomy. The intrasplenic injection of 40 x 10(6) syngeneic adult or three-day neonatal single liver cell suspensions decreased the mortality from 100% to 50% and 36%, respectively. Mortality decreased with increasing time from the intrasplenic injection of neonatal liver cells to the time of acute hepatic ischemia. Mortality also decreased with increasing interval between hepatic ischemia and removal of the transplanted liver cells by splenectomy. Intrasplenic injection of graded doses of neonatal liver cells decreased mortality from 75% at a dose of 10 x 10(6) cells, to 36% at 160 x 10(6) cells. Treatment of neonatal liver cells with metabolic inhibitors did not significantly affect their ability to reverse acute hepatic ischemia.     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

冠状动脉造影正常的急性心肌梗死患者的临床特点

目的：探讨冠状动脉造影（CAG）正常的急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者的发生机制及临床特点。方法：分析2000年6月至2001年10月86例AMI患者的CAG结果及冠心病相关危险因素。结果：86例中CAG正常者8例，年龄（39＋11．4）（25－52）岁；多无心绞痛史、高血压史、糖尿病史、血脂异常史及家族史；以情绪波动、精神压抑、大量吸烟、饮酒史者居多。结论：冠状动脉痉挛、血栓自溶或溶栓治疗后血栓消失是其主要发生机制；冠状动脉正常的AMI患者其貌似正常，实属高危人群，应高度重视。     

“亚地克病”诊断标准探讨及修正建议

在新疆石河子市远郊缺碘地甲病区7～17岁儿童中取样,检测智力、精神运动功能、身高、体重和骨龄,发现精神运动发育障碍和骨龄落后的程度及发生频度明显高于非病区;而智力落后和体格发育落后两区无显著差异。根据这一发现认为在“亚地克病”诊断中,“精神运动发育测验”较“比内测验”更具有特异性和敏感性;建议在“出生、居住于缺碘地甲病区”前提下,将精神运动发育障碍和智力落后并列为主要条件。另根据地克病的分型原则,提出“亚地克病”的分型标准。     

Postprandial induction of chaperone gene expression is rapid in mice.

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.