Age-dependent and iron-independent expression of two mRNA isoforms of divalent metal transporter 1 in rat brain

The DMT1(Nramp2/DCT1) is a newly discovered proton-coupled metal-ion transport protein. The cellular localization and functional characterization of DMT1 suggest that it might play a role in physiological iron transport in the brain. In the study, we evaluated effects of dietary iron and age on iron content and DMT1 expression in four brain regions: cortex, hippocampus, striatum, substantia nigra. Total iron content in all regions was significantly lower in the low-iron diet rats and higher in the high-iron diet rats than that in the control animals, showing that dietary iron treatment for 6-weeks can alter brain iron levels. Contrary to our expectation, there was no significant alternation in DMT1(+IRE) and (-IRE) mRNA expression and protein content in all brain regions examined in spite of the existence of the altered iron levels in these regions after 6-weeks' diet treatment although TfR mRNA expression and protein level were affected significantly, as was expected. The data demonstrates that expression of DMT1(+IRE) and (-IRE) was not regulated by iron in these regions of adult rats. The lack of response of DMT1 to iron status in the brain suggests that the IRE of brain DMT1 mRNA might be not really iron-responsive and that DMT1-mediated iron transport might be not the rate-limiting step in brain iron uptake in adult rats. Our findings also showed that development can significantly affect brain iron and DMT1(+IRE) and (-IRE) expression but the effect varies in different brain regions, indicating a regionally specific regulation in the brain.     

The affinity of anti-HBc antibodies in acute and chronic hepatitis B infection.

Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) are found in the sera of all individuals infected with hepatitis B virus. A role for these antibodies has been suggested in determining the outcome of infection. In this study, the affinity of anti-HBc antibodies in asymptomatic virus carriers was compared with that of antibodies present in the sera of patients with chronic liver disease. Persistently infected individuals with no evidence of clinical disease were found to have anti-HBc antibodies of greater affinity, compared with the chronic liver disease group. Sera from patients with chronic hepatitis contained high levels of low-affinity antibody whereas antibody levels in asymptomatic carriers were significantly lower. These findings are discussed in relation to the predicted role of anti-HBc antibodies in mediating hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular injury.     

实验性肺水肿大鼠血浆中内皮素、一氧化氮含量的变化以及硝普钠、川芎嗪对其的影响

在肾上腺素所致大鼠肺水肿实验中，发现其血浆中内皮素（ET－1）明显升高，一氧化氮（NO）稍有增高，但ET－1的增幅远远大于NO的增幅，动物均在15min内死亡。ET的增高与儿茶酚胺的升高有密切关系。经硝普纳（NP）、川芎嗪（TMP）预防后，ET－1与NO基本恢复正常，趋于平衡，动物长期存活。提示：肺水肿时NO相对于ET－1明显降低，NP、TMP可对NO与ET的平衡起调节作用。     

基于边界特征的乳腺肿瘤超声图像识别

通过对乳腺肿瘤边界特征的分析，得到边界的特征量似圆度，面积比率，长宽比组成的特征矢量，最后用反向传播人工神经网络（BP）的算法对经病理证实的119幅乳腺良、恶性肿块超声图像进行分类识别。BP神经网络对良、恶性肿瘤正确识别率分别为89．7％、73．5N。量化后的乳腺超声图像肿瘤轮廓特征结合BP神经网络可以比较有效的用于肿瘤的良、恶性识别。     

Polyarteritis Nodosa with Atrophy of the Left Hepatic Lobe

A 73-year-old Japanese man with a history of partial gastrectomy due to gastric cancer 4 years previously was admitted because of intermittent fever. The patient developed abdominal pain, erythema, and myalgia in addition to the fever during the final clinical course, and died of acute heart failure. Autopsy disclosed atrophy of the left lobe of the liver and acute myocardial infarction. Neither metastasis nor recurrence of the cancer was observed. Small and medium-sized arteries of the visceral organs showed various stages of necrotizing vasculitis with narrowing of the lumina. The vasculitis was most prominent in the left lobe of the liver and in the heart. Narrowing of the portal vein due to portal tract inflammation in addition to vasculitis of the hepatic arteries may have induced ischemia and infarction, which had resulted in atrophy of the left hepatic lobe. Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 662–666, 1992.     

在动态模拟体液中致密CaP陶瓷表面形貌对类骨磷灰石层形成的影响研究

磷酸钙陶瓷植入体内后其表面类骨磷灰石层的形成是诱导成骨的先决条件。本实验在模拟体液 (Simu-lated body fluid,SBF)以人体骨骼肌组织的正常生理流率 (2 ml/ 10 0 m l· min)下 ,研究在动态 SBF中致密磷酸钙陶瓷表面形貌对类骨磷灰石层形成的影响。结果表明 :在生理流速条件下 ,材料的粗糙表面有利于类骨磷灰石层的形成 ,加大 SBF中 Ca2 +、HPO4 2 -离子浓度 ,类骨磷灰石层的形成速度加快。本研究进一步证实了材料的几何形貌对类骨磷灰石形成的影响 ,加深了对磷酸钙陶瓷在体内诱导成骨机理的理解     

Serum neopterin for early assessment of severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome

Neopterin and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined in serum samples from 129 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients and 156 healthy blood donors. In the patients with confirmed SARS, an early neopterin elevation was detected already at the day of onset of symptoms and rose to a maximum level of 45.0 nmol/L 3 days after the onset. All SARS patients had elevated neopterin concentrations (>10 nmol/L) within 9 days after the onset. The mean neopterin concentrations were 34.2 nmol/L in acute sera of SARS patients, 5.1 nmol/L in convalescent sera, and 6.7 nmol/L in healthy controls. In contrast, the mean CRP concentrations in both acute and convalescent sera of SARS patients were in the normal range (<10 mg/L). Serum neopterin level in SARS patients was associated with fever period and thus the clinical progression of the disease, while there was no significant correlation between the CRP level and the fever period. Serum neopterin may allow early assessment of the severity of SARS. The decrease of neopterin level was found after steroid treatment, which indicates that blood samples should be collected before steroid treatment for the neopterin measurement.     

结直肠癌淋巴管生成的特点及其临床病理意义

目的探讨结直肠癌中淋巴管的分布特点、增殖状态及其与转移和预后的关系。方法采用淋巴管特异标记podoplanin对96例结直肠癌及其相应正常组织进行免疫组织化学染色检测微淋巴管密度,以CD34标记血管检测微血管密度作为对比,并分别与Ki-67进行双标免疫组织化学染色检测淋巴管和血管增殖活性,结合结直肠癌临床病理参数和预后分析。结果结直肠癌中心及浅表部淋巴管多为闭锁的条索状,边缘区淋巴管多呈管样扩张状。结直肠癌边缘区淋巴管密度(51.2±25.5)及较正常结直肠组织(29.4±9.0)和肿瘤其他区域显著性增高(P<0.01),并且其淋巴管内皮Ki67指数(0.23±0.17)也较其他区域显著性增高(P<0.05)。结直肠癌边缘区微淋巴管密度与淋巴管受累、淋巴结转移、远处器官转移及预后密切相关(P<0.01或P<0.05)。结论结直肠癌组织中存在新生淋巴管,且主要分布于肿瘤边缘区,癌周围淋巴管密度增加与癌细胞转移相关,结直肠癌边缘区微淋巴管密度测定对评估其淋巴结转移和预后判断可能具有意义。     

Custom step wedge blocking using dynamic multileaf collimation for parametrial pelvic boost irradiation following brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix

Carcinoma of the cervix is typically treated with a combination of intracavitary brachytherapy and external beam radiation. The external beam dose is delivered with whole pelvis fields followed by split fields that protect midline organs at risk (bladder and rectum) while treating the parametria. Three approaches have been developed to shield midline structures: a simple rectangular block, a block customized to a single brachytherapy isodose line, and a step wedge filter constructed to conform to multiple brachytherapy isodose lines. A customized step wedge filter has the potential to produce a more homogeneous dose distribution but has not achieved widespread use due to labor intensive construction. We have developed a simple, novel method to produce a custom midline step wedge using dynamic multileaf collimation (dMLC). A comparison of film measurements in a phantom with the dose calculated by a commercial treatment planning system demonstrated agreement within 3% or 3 mm. The technique requires delivery times comparable to conventional techniques.     

Validation of target volume and position in respiratory gated CT planning and treatment

The capability of a commercial respiratory gating system based on video tracking of reflective markers to reduce motion-induced CT planning and treatment errors was evaluated. Spherical plastic shells (2.8-82 cm3), simulating the gross target volume (GTV), were placed in a water-filled body phantom that was moved sinusoidally along the longitudinal axis of the CT scanner and the accelerator for +/- 1 cm at 15-30 cycle/min. During gated CT imaging, the x-ray exposure was initiated by the gating system shortly before the end of expiration (so that the imaging time would be centered at the end of expiration); it was terminated by the scanner after completion of each slice. In nongated CT images, the target appeared distorted and often broken up. GTVs volume errors ranged 16%-110% in axial scans, and 7%-36% in spiral scans. In gated CT images, the spheres appeared 3 and 5 mm longer than their actual diameters (volume errors 2%-16%), at the respective respiration rates of 15 and 20 cycles/min. At 30 cycles/min the target appeared 1 cm longer, and volume error ranged 25%-53%. During treatment, gating kept the beam on for a duration equal to the CT acquisition time of 1 s/slice. The difference in positional errors between gated CT and portal films was 1 mm, regardless the size of residual motion errors. Because of the potential of suboptimal placement of the gating window between CT imaging and treatment, an extra 1.5-2.5 mm safety margin can be added regardless of the size of residual motion error. For respiratory rates > or = 30 cycles/min, the effectiveness of gating is limited by large residual motion in the 1 s CT acquisition time.