Organ distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in SARS patients: implications for pathogenesis and virus transmission pathways

We previously identified the major pathological changes in the respiratory and immune systems of patients who died of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) but gained little information on the organ distribution of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In the present study, we used a murine monoclonal antibody specific for SARS-CoV nucleoprotein, and probes specific for a SARS-CoV RNA polymerase gene fragment, for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively, to detect SARS-CoV systematically in tissues from patients who died of SARS. SARS-CoV was found in lung, trachea/bronchus, stomach, small intestine, distal convoluted renal tubule, sweat gland, parathyroid, pituitary, pancreas, adrenal gland, liver and cerebrum, but was not detected in oesophagus, spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, heart, aorta, cerebellum, thyroid, testis, ovary, uterus or muscle. These results suggest that, in addition to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract and other organs with detectable SARS-CoV may also be targets of SARS-CoV infection. The pathological changes in these organs may be caused directly by the cytopathic effect mediated by local replication of the SARS-CoV; or indirectly as a result of systemic responses to respiratory failure or the harmful immune response induced by viral infection. In addition to viral spread through a respiratory route, SARS-CoV in the intestinal tract, kidney and sweat glands may be excreted via faeces, urine and sweat, thereby leading to virus transmission. This study provides important information for understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV infection and sheds light on possible virus transmission pathways. This data will be useful for designing new strategies for prevention and treatment of SARS.     

Fuzzy rules to predict degree of malignancy in brain glioma

The current pre-operative assessment of the degree of malignancy in brain glioma is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical data. 280 cases were studied, of which 111 were high-grade malignancies and 169 were low-grade, so that regular and interpretable patterns of the relationships between glioma MRI features and the degree of malignancy could be acquired. However, as uncertainties in the data and missing values existed, a fuzzy rule extraction algorithm based on a fuzzy min-max neural network (FMMNN) was used. The performance of a multi-layer perceptron network (MLP) trained with the error back-propagation algorithm (BP), the decision tree algorithm ID3, nearest neighbour and the original fuzzy min-max neural network were also evaluated. The results showed that two fuzzy decision rules on only six features achieved an accuracy of 84.6% (89.9% for low-grade and 76.6% for high-grade cases). Investigations with the proposed algorithm revealed that age, mass effect, oedema, post-contrast enhancement, blood supply, calcification, haemorrhage and the signal intensity of the T1-weighted image were important diagnostic factors.     

The PKD1 gene product, "polycystin-1," is a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that colocalizes with alpha2beta1-integrin in focal clusters in adherent renal epithelia.

Mutations in the PKD1 gene are responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Although PKD1 has been cloned and shown to be expressed at high levels in the fetal ureteric bud and ADPKD cystic epithelia in the human kidney, the function of its encoded protein, "polycystin-1" is unknown. In this study we used primary and immortalized human renal epithelial cell lines derived from normal fetal, adult, and ADPKD kidneys, that endogenously express PKD1, to study the biologic function of the polycystin-1 protein. ADPKD renal epithelial cells expressed high levels of polycystin-1 protein and showed increased adhesion to type I collagen by comparison with normal adult human renal epithelia that expressed little polycystin. Adherent ADPKD cells also expressed high levels of alpha2beta1-integrin and their attachment was inhibited by a functional monoclonal antibody to alpha2-integrin. Double labeling and confocal microscopy as well as coimmunoprecipitation analysis showed overlapping colocalization of polycystin-1 with alpha2beta1-integrin as well as with the focal adhesion proteins vinculin and paxillin in multiprotein clusters localized to focal areas of cell membrane contact with type I collagen matrix after short periods of attachment. Immunoprecipitation and Western immunoblot studies also showed that polycystin-1 was posttranslationally modified by tyrosine phosphorylation. These studies suggest that the PKD1-encoded protein is part of a large multiprotein complex in epithelial cells that functions in the regulation of extracellular matrix interactions with the plasma membrane and cell cytoskeleton.     

孕妇睡眠质量与焦虑、抑郁的相关性研究

目的,了解孕妇在妊娠期睡眠质量与焦虑抑郁情绪状态的相关关系。方法：采用匹茨堡睡眠质量指数量表,症状自评量表,状态－特质焦虑问卷,焦虑自评量表,抑郁自评量表定,对83例孕妇的睡眠质量,状态－－特质焦虑,焦虑和抑郁状态水平进行调查分析。结果：孕妇的睡眠质量,入睡时间,睡眠时间,白天功能与焦虑和抑郁情绪症状呈正相关（P＜0．05）;孕妇睡眠质量与状态焦虑呈正相关关系（P＜0．05）,而入睡时间与特质焦虑呈正相关关系（P＜0．05）,结论;孕妇妊娠期睡眠质量与焦虑和抑郁情绪症状有正相关关系。     

脂多糖对大鼠肺微血管内皮细胞Gsα和Giα蛋白亚型的影响*

目的：观察脂多糖（LPS）对大鼠肺微血管内皮细胞（RPMVECs)G蛋白的影响及甲基强的松龙的干预作用。方法：用流式细胞技术（FCM）检测G蛋白亚型的变化。结果：①10μg/ml LPS作用于RPMVECs30和90min后,Gsα蛋白水平较对照组显著下降。甲基强的松龙干预30和90min后,对LPS致RPMVECs膜Gsα蛋白水平的变化有显著抑制作用。②10μg/ml LPS作用于RPMVECs30和90min后,Giα蛋白水平较对照组显著下降。甲基强的松龙干预30和90min后,对LPS致RPMVECs膜Giα蛋白水平的变化有显著抑制作用。结论：①LPS诱导RPMVECS Gsα和Giα蛋白水平的变化可能是LPS诱导RPMVECs单层通透性增加的机制之一。②甲基强的松龙参与抑制LPS诱导RPMVECs单层通透性增加的作用。     

实验性肺纤维化肺灌洗液磷脂组分分析

对博莱霉素肺纤维化大鼠模型不同时期作支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)细胞计数与分类、蛋白含量测定和磷脂及其组分测定,并与肺病理变化作对照分析。结果发现BALF细胞计数和分类与肺组织细胞浸润基本一致,BALF蛋白含量增加,磷脂酰甘油(PG)随病变进展而下降,磷脂酰肌醇(PI)和磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)升高。PG／PI比值下降,PG／PI比值可作为肺纤维化的一种标志。     

聚吡咯／聚合物固体电解质双层复合膜研究

在聚合物固体电解质（聚乙二醇不饱和聚酯网络－LiClO4)中进行吡咯聚合原位制得了聚吡咯／聚合物固体电解质双层复合膜。用扫描电镜观察复合膜的界面结构,用循环伏安和交流阻抗法研究了复合膜的电化学杂脱掺杂性能。结果表明,聚吡咯／聚合物固体电解质双层复合膜具有相互穿插渗透的固／固密接界面结构,这种界面结构改善了聚吡咯和聚俣物固体电解质间的界面接触,提高了聚吡咯在聚俣物固体电解质中的电化学掺杂脱掺杂性能。     

人参皂甙Rg1对缺氧豚鼠心肌细胞游离钙浓度降低作用的研究

目的探讨人参皂甙(ginsentosides,Gin)单体Rgl及维拉帕米(verapamil,Ver)对豚鼠心肌细胞内游离钙浓度([Ca2+]i)变化的影响.方法采用离体豚鼠心脏Langendorff法灌注,胶原酶Ⅰ型分离心肌细胞,用荧光指示剂方法(Fura-2/AM)标记心肌([Ca2+]i)变化.将心肌细胞悬液分为3组对照组、Rgl组和Ver组.观察缺氧后心肌[Ca2+]i的变化.结果(1)正常氧状态心肌[Ca2+]i均值为(125.4±10.3)nmol/L(n=20).(2)缺氧状态下,心肌[Ca2+]i增加与缺氧时间(程度)直线相关,相关系数r为0.98左右.(3)Rgl对缺氧后心肌[Ca2+]i增加明显延缓.结论Rgl在缺氧条件下,使心肌[Ca2+]i明显下降,从而阻止心肌细胞内钙超载,其作用与Ver相似,我们认为Rgl具有心肌细胞的保护作用.     

氟伐他丁对血管损伤后内皮素、血栓素A2和前列环素的作用

目的探讨兔髂动脉急性损伤后,血清中内皮素(ET)、血栓素A2(TXA2)和前列环素(PGI2)水平的变化及氟伐他丁的作用. 方法 12只新西兰大耳白兔行右髂动脉球囊导管内膜剥脱术.6只予氟伐他丁8 mg·kg-1·d-1灌胃治疗,余6只作对照,术前、术后3 h及3天放射免疫法测定血清中ET、TXA2和PGI2浓度. 结果兔髂动脉损伤后血清ET即明显增加,氟伐他丁治疗显著抑制血管损伤后ET水平的升高;血管急性损伤后,血清中TXA2浓度明显增加,PGI2水平则显著下降,氟伐他丁治疗在明显提高血清PGI2水平的同时,抑制了TXA2的升高. 结论氟伐他丁抑制血清ET和TXA2的升高、促进PGI2的生成,可能减轻血管损伤后血栓形成和内膜肥厚.