Transfection with bacterial genes as a marker for cells seeded on vascular flow surfaces

Autologous seeding of vascular grafts has been in use since 1972; however, the fate of seeded cells has never been determined. While short-term retention has been determined by radioactively labeling cells, long-term studies of seeded cells have not been possible due to the lack of an appropriate marker system. We have developed a long-term marker system for endothelial cells by transfecting the cells with bacterial genes that can be detected by fluorescentally-labeled antibodies to these markers. Two bacterial genes, neo and cat both carried by a pSV2 plasmid construct were used to co-transfect cells. Transfects were selected by growth in the presence of G418. Transfected clones were expanded into monolayers that stained positive for cat by fluorescence, and retained the normal cobblestone morphology and factor VIII staining of endothelial cells. By stably transfecting cells with bacterial genes these cells can now be used to seed vascular grafts and follow the long-term fate of seeded cells.     

家犬实验性附睾淤积症及其超声波治疗对附睾起始部超微结构的影响

实验性附睾淤积症引起家犬附睾起始部主细胞超微结构异常改变,但较附睾体部所见为轻;经超声波处理后(功率0.75W/cm~2,每日一次,每次8min,连续7日)则见其明显改变、或完全恢复,且未造成附睾起始部主细胞新的损伤。本实验结果在与附睾体部主细胞相应变化进行比较后,发现由于附睾淤积症对附睾管不同部位的影响是不同的,因而这种形态和功能均已不同程度改变了的附睾不同部位的主细胞对超声波作用的反应也各不相同,这除因主细胞功能状态不同外,尚与超声波声场的不均匀有关,提示探寻超声波治疗最适宜的量不仅必要,而且是有可能找到的。     

Convergence of Genetic, Nutritional and Inflammatory Factors in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal cancers account for 20% of all cancer incidences worldwide. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of all cancer-related mortality and is increasing in Western societies. Infection and inflammation contribute to 15–20% of all malignancies, and are predisposing risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers. Helicobacter pylori infection is commonly associated with gastric cancers, and chronic inflammation increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 1% per year. Micronutrient status and common genetic variations in human populations modify risk for gastrointestinal cancer. Chronic inflammation promotes carcinogenesis by inducing gene mutations, inhibiting apoptosis, and stimulating an-giogenesis and cell proliferation. Inflammation also induces epigenetic alterations that are associated with cancer development. Two key genes in the inflammatory process, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), provide a mechanistic link between inflammation and cancer and are targets for chemoprevention. Dietary components, and human genetic variation that affects nutrient utilization, can directly modify inflammatory processes and/or suppress genomic alterations that are the molecular antecedents of cancers. The present report focuses on the convergence of genetic, nutritional, and inflammatory factors in the initiation and progression of gastrointestinal cancers, and the emerging dietary strategies for cancer prevention.     

Pyridoxine Deficiency and Ethanol-induced Liver Injury

It has been suggested that pyridoxine deficiency may potentiate ethanol-induced liver injury. Our purpose was to clarify the effect of pyridoxine deficiency on ethanol-associated liver injury by comparing liver histology, serum liver enzymes, and the viability of cultured hepatocytes from pyridoxine-deficient and pyridoxine-sufficient rats that had been chronically fed ethanol-enriched diets. Our data fail to substantiate that pyridoxine-deficient animals are more susceptible to the hepatotoxic effects of ethanol than pair-fed pyridoxine-sufficient controls. Furthermore, the addition of pyridoxine to hepatocyte cultures fails to prevent in vitro cytotoxicity of added ethanol. Pyridoxine deficiency may augment ethanol-induced enhancement of hepatic urea synthesis. These data suggest that pyridoxine deficiency may contribute to the abnormal plasma amino acid profiles and nitrogen balance of chronic alcoholics, but that it does not potentiate ethanol-induced liver injury.     

实验性胸部挤压伤的脑诱发电位研究

本文探索胸部挤压伤后的体感诱发电位(SEPs)和脑干听觉诱发电位(BAEPs)改变。实验以16只健康杂种犬为对象,通过制成挤压伤模型,在各时间点记录上述两种诱发电位。结果:发现挤压伤初期BAEPsⅠ波不受影响,Ⅲ、Ⅴ波延长;后期三波均受累。三波消失揭示脑功能衰竭;SEPs早期5个波潜伏期延长,晚期均消失。将两种检测方法结合对判断伤情、估计预后更有帮助。     

Migration and wear of hydroxyapatite-coated press-fit cups in revision hip arthroplasty: A radiostereometric study

Screw-fixated and hydroxyapatite-coated press-fit cups were studied using radiostereometry in 29 revision and 14 primary arthroplasties. The acetabular defects in the revision cases varied from none to type 3 (wall defects) according to Gustilo—Pasternak. Morsellized allograft was used in 25 revisions. Nine of these cups rested on less than 50% living bone. After 2 years, the mean migration in the revised group reached 0.36, 0.21, and 0.49 mm in the horizontal, longitudinal, and anteroposterior (AP) directions. The mean rotations varied between 0.5° and 0.7° depending on direction. The primary implants displayed smaller mediolateral migration and AP tilt. The mean proximal wear rate for the whole group was 0.11 mm/y. A central gap on the postoperative AP view implied less migration. The size of the preoperative bone defects or amount of bone—graft used had no influence on the migration. Despite extensive use of morsellized allograft, this implant displayed the smallest migration so far reported in revision hip arthroplasty.     

军团菌肺炎的临床特点探讨

作者对１０例军团菌肺炎和１０例非军团菌肺炎患者临床资料进行分析。本组军团菌肺炎特点为：病情重、进展快、消化道症状及肌肉关节痛、低钠血症、低氧血症、代酸或呼碱发生率较高，Ｘ线胸片多见双侧或多叶肺浸润伴胸膜反应，病死率高。     

不同分娩方式妇女放置三种IUD的术时评价

目的:研究不同分娩方式妇女放置三种新型含铜宫内节育器(CulUD)的术时评价。方法:将观察对象按经阴道和经剖宫产的不同分娩方式分为两组,每组均随机放置CyneFix IN IUD、MCu功能性IUD和TCu380A IUD,记录两组放置不同种IUD的扩宫情况、置器疼痛反应和置器时间。结果:放置GyneFix IN IUD和TCu380A IUD在不同分娩方式组中扩宫率、痛觉评分、置器时间无显著差异(P>0.05)。放置MCu功能性IUD在剖宫产分娩组扩宫率为92.5％,显著高于阴道分娩组的33.3％(P<0.05);痛觉评分为8.62±0.82分,显著高于阴道分娩组(P<0.01);置器时间为(9.62±3.15)min,较另两种IUD置器时间显著延长(P<0.05)。结论:GyneFix IN IUD和TCu380A IUD置器术时扩宫率低、费时少,疼痛反应轻,不受分娩方式影响。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of β2-agonists: Inhibition of TNF-α release from human mast cells

β₂-Agonists inhibit the release of preformed mediators such as histamine and newly synthesized mediators such as prostaglandin D₂ from mast cells. However, although mast cells have been identified as an important source of several cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), there is no information about their regulation by β₂-agonists. Thus given the importance of TNF-α in inflammation and the widespread use of β₂-agonists, we investigated the effect of long-acting (salmeterol) and short-acting (salbutamol) β₂-agonists on the secretion of TNF-α from human skin mast cells. Treatment of mast cells with salmeterol or salbutamol (100 nmol/L) inhibited the IgE-dependent release of TNF-α (82% and 74%, respectively). Moreover, 2-hour treatment with salmeterol, isoproterenol, or salbutamol inhibited mast cell cytotoxicity against a TNF-α–sensitive cell line, WEHI-164, with an IC₅₀ of 71, 50, and 29 nmol/L, respectively. Specificity for β-adrenergic receptors was shown with propranolol. The inhibitory effect of β₂-agonists was observed after only 20 minutes of treatment but was lost by 24 hours after removal of salbutamol and isoproterenol (7% and 11% inhibition remaining, respectively). In contrast, the inhibition of TNF-α release was increased 1 hour after removal of salmeterol and remained significant 24 hours later. Furthermore, β₂-agonists did not show tachyphylaxis for the inhibition of TNF-α release. Thus selective β₂-agonists demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the release of TNF-α from mast cells stimulated through their IgE receptor or by a tumor target cell. This inhibitory effect of β-agonists may be important in their mode of action in the treatment of allergic diseases. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:825-31.)