培养心肌细胞牵张刺激装置的建立及应用

1　方法　牵张刺激装置的制作如模式图 1.制作实验模型采用材料为有机玻璃板、2 4孔培养板、硅胶膜 (厚度 0 .2 2 μｍ) .硅胶膜从平面圆形变为球形时 ,面积扩大的百分比 =(Ｓ球 -Ｓ园 ) /Ｓ园 ,其中Ｓ球 =ＡＤ2 ,Ｓ园 =ｒ2 ,而ＡＤ2 =ｈ2 +ｒ2 ,其中ｒ为孔的半径 ,ｈ为膜升高的高度图 2 .通过控制ｈ的大小 ,可控制膜被牵拉的强度 .本实验采用使膜面积扩大 2 0 %的强度 ,故ｈ =4ｍｍ[1] .参照Ｋａｓｓｉｒｉ等[2 ,3 ] 方法进行心肌细胞的分离培养 .生长有贴壁心肌细胞的 2 4孔板被固定于牵张装置 ,缓慢充气使硅胶膜向上凸起 4ｍｍ ,分别维持…     

Atracurium is associated with postoperative residual curarization

Background. Residual paralysis following the use of neuromuscularblocking drugs remains a clinical problem. As part of departmentalquality assurance, we examined the degree of postoperative residualcurarization (PORC) following atracurium. Methods. Forty patients undergoing general anaesthesia involvingatracurium were studied. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring(mechanomyography, Myograph 2000, Biometer, Denmark) was performedby assessing the response to supramaximal train-of-four (TOF)stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Anaesthesia was provided bynon-participating clinicians who were blinded to the study data.A TOF ratio     

Melanocytes are not absent in lesional skin of long duration vitiligo

This paper provides evidence that melanocytes are still present in the depigmented epidermis of patients with vitiligo even after stable disease of 25 years' duration. Melanocyte cultures were successfully established from depigmented epidermal suction blister tissue of all 12 randomly selected patients and these cells produced melanin. Even under in vitro conditions, vacuolation of melanocytes was demonstrated in five patients with active disease, which was reversible upon exogenous addition of bovine catalase to the culture medium. Full skin biopsies from 17 patients with vitiligo, obtained from depigmented and normally pigmented areas, confirmed the involvement of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and Langerhans cells in this disorder. In addition, the presence of clustered and single pre-melanosomes in basal and supra-basal keratinocytes of lesional and normal epidermis, as well as the retention of single melanocytes in lesional epidermis, was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. Upon topical application of a narrow band UVB-activated pseudocatalase, vacuolation, granulation, and dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum completely recovered, but the ectopic pre-melanosome shedding remained. Taken together, these observations indicate that melanocytes are never completely absent in the depigmented epidermis and that these melanocytes can recover their functionality in vivo and in vitro upon the removal of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, this study supports the concept that vitiligo involves the entire epidermal unit in both depigmented and 'normal' pigmented skin.     

Recurrent chest pain as the presenting manifestation of spinal meningioma

We report the case of a 9-year-old boy with a spinal cord meningioma whose only manifestations were recurrent episodes of chest pain lasting for 2 years. This case shows that spinal cord meningioma should be considered among the possible causative factors of chronic chest pain in childhood. Chest pain, meningioma, spinal tumors     

Hyponatremia associated with desmopressin for the treatment of nocturnal polyuria

Desmopressin diacetate arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) is a synthetic analogue of the mammalian arginine vasopressin used in the treatment of central diabetes insipidus, bleeding disorders, and incontinence. The primary adverse reaction associated with DDAVP is hypotonic hyponatremia. Hyponatremia has been reported in adults treated with DDAVP for Von Willebrand's disease and hemophilia and in children treated for enuresis, but as yet few cases of hyponatremia developing in enuretic adults treated with DDAVP have been reported. We report the cases of two elderly women taking DDAVP for nocturnal polyuria who developed severe hyponatremia. One patient died in the hospital.     

Are we beta-ARKing up the wrong tree? Casein kinase 1 alpha provides an additional pathway for GPCR phosphorylation

Although originally linked to receptor desensitization, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) phosphorylation has now been implicated in coupling receptors to specific signalling pathways. Generally, this phosphorylation event is thought to be mediated by one of the members of the GPCR kinase (GRK) family. However, recent studies have indicated that protein kinases distinct from the GRK family might also be involved in agonist-mediated GPCR phosphorylation. This review analyses the approaches employed to investigate the nature of GPCR phosphorylation and discusses recent developments implicating other kinases, particularly casein kinase 1 alpha, in the phosphorylation of GPCRs.     

Primary care trusts. Called to account

Primary care trusts are set to control three-quarters of the NHS budget. Many will be hindered in their new roles by inexperienced managers, unproven processes and fledgling support systems. Workforce planning and the appointment of dedicated project managers to drive change is an urgent priority.     

Atrophic vulvovaginitis in women aged 50 years and above, both current and non-users of hormone replacement therapy, attending a genitourinary medicine clinic

INTRODUCTION: In women aged 50 years and over attending a genitourinary medicine (GUM) department the commonest presentation was with symptoms of vulval soreness, irritation or dryness. Atrophic vulvovaginitis (AVV) was the commonest diagnosis made. This study was undertaken to determine if the presence of AVV was related to the use, or not, of systemic hormone replacement therapy (HRT). METHOD: A prospective study was made of all women aged 50 years and over attending a GUM department over a 3-month period. RESULTS: Of the 124 women seen in this age group, 60 (40%) had AVV and 28 (23%) had vaginal candidiasis. No difference was found in current users or non-users of HRT. CONCLUSION: Accurate diagnosis is essential in women with vulval symptoms to ensure that appropriate therapy is given. In the present study symptomatic women aged 50 years and over were more likely to have AVV than candidiasis irrespective of their use of systemic HRT.