Association of hemoglobin H disease with Hb J-Iran (beta 77 His---- Asp): impact on subunit assembly

A young Iranian female was found to be heterozygous for hemoglobin (Hb) J-Iran (beta 77 His----Asp) in combination with Hb H disease. The proportion of Hb J in the patient's hemolysate was surprisingly high: 65% Hb J, 30% Hb A. Thus, the interaction of a negatively charged beta subunit variant of Hb with alpha-thalassemia leads to a marked increase in the relative amount of the variant Hb within red cells. This observation provides further support for an electrostatic model of Hb subunit assembly.     

Neutralization of heparin activity by neutrophil lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a prominent component of neutrophil secondary granules, and its blood concentration is increased in certain inflammatory diseases. In contrast to the well-described biochemical characterization of lactoferrin as an iron-binding protein, its physiologic role in the regulation of inflammation and other host defense mechanisms is unclear. In this report, we provide evidence that lactoferrin has a potent heparin-neutralizing activity during thrombin inhibition by the serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) antithrombin and heparin co-factor II. Activated neutrophil supernatant, which contains lactoferrin and other heparin-binding proteins, could neutralize the heparin-dependent antithrombin-thrombin inhibition reaction. The addition of lactoferrin to plasma corrected the heparin- induced prolongation of blood plasma coagulation as measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Treatment of whole blood with specific inflammatory mediators, fMLP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increased the concentration of both plasma lactoferrin and platelet factor 4 while inhibiting the blood anticoagulant activity of heparin as measured by the aPTT. These results suggest that the prothrombotic sequelae of some inflammatory processes may be partly due to various agonists that release neutrophil lactoferrin, which can then neutralize glycosaminoglycan-dependent serpin-thrombin inhibition reactions.     

Long‐term leisure‐time physical activity has a positive effect on bone mass gain in girls

The purpose of this 7‐year prospective longitudinal study was to examine whether the level and consistency of leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) during adolescence affected the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) attained at early adulthood. The study subjects were 202 Finnish girls who were 10 to 13 years of age at baseline. Bone area (BA), BMC, and BMD of the total body (TB), total femur (TF), and lumbar spine (L₂–L₄) were assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Scores of LTPA were obtained by questionnaire. Girls were divided into four groups: consistently low physical activity (G_LL), consistently high (G_HH), and changed from low to high (G_LH) and from high to low (G_HL) during 7 years of follow‐up. At baseline, no differences were found in BA, BMC, and BMD among the groups in any of the bone sites. Compared with the G_LL group, the G_HH group had higher BMC (11.7% in the TF, p < .05) and BMD at the TB (4.5%) and the TF (12.2%, all p < .05) at age 18. Those in the G_LH group also had higher a BMC at each site (8.5% to 9.4%, p < .05) and a higher BMD in the TB (5.4%) and the TF (8.9%) than that of G_LL (all p < 0.05) at the age 18. Our results suggest that long‐term leisure‐time physical activity has a positive effect on bone mass gain of multiple bone sites in girls during the transition from prepuberty to early adulthood. In addition, girls whose physical activity increases during adolescence also benefit from bone mass gain. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research     

Acute reversible inactivation of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis induces antidepressant-like effect in the rat forced swimming test

Background  

The bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) is a limbic forebrain structure involved in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation and stress adaptation. Inappropriate adaptation to stress is thought to compromise the organism's coping mechanisms, which have been implicated in the neurobiology of depression. However, the studies aimed at investigating BNST involvement in depression pathophysiology have yielded contradictory results. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of temporary acute inactivation of synaptic transmission in the BNST by local microinjection of cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) in rats subjected to the forced swimming test (FST).     

先天性无肛直肠舟状窝瘘手术186例

1临床资料1988-06/2003-12我院共186例,均为女性,无肛门,其中0～6月龄21例,0.5～1岁96例,1～3岁53例,3～8岁15例,13岁1例.以大便从会阴部舟状窝瘘口处排出而就诊,患儿有不同程度的排便困难,严重时伴腹胀呕吐,多数患儿有营养不良性贫血.瘘口直径0.3～0.6 cm,直肠盲端到肛穴皮肤之间的距离1.0～2.5 cm,属于中、低位肛门直肠畸形.本组有3例合并先天性心脏病-室间隔缺损,2例合并骶前囊肿,1例合并脐疝.     

Surgical parotitis

Surgical parotitis is an acute inflammation of the parotid gland which occurs in the postoperative period and carries a high mortality. The most commonly accepted mechanism is penicillin resistant staphylococci ascending through Stensen's duct. Eleven cases which occurred at the University of Nebraska and Omaha Veterans Administration Hospital between 1948-1971 were studied from the standpoint of etiology, treatment and prognosis. The disease was noted to occur in patients with poor oral hygiene and dehydration from six to 107 days postoperatively, but frequently appeared within two weeks. The disease manifested itself as a red, swollen, tender parotid gland, leukocytosis, and a low grade to moderate temperature elevation. Staphylococcus aureus was uniformly recovered in those cases which included culture. The organism was usually hemolytic and resistant to penicillin. Important points concerning prevention and treatment are outlined below. Preventive Measures.

• 1 Making sure the patient has an adequate fluid intake.
• 2 Correction of nutritional and vitamin deficiencies.
• 3 Frequent gargles and mouth irrigations.
• 4 Pre-operative correction of dental caries, pyorrhea, and pharyngitis.
• 5 Minimal use of belladonna drugs pre-operatively.
• 6 Minimize trauma during anesthesia.
• 7 Discourage use of prophylactic-antibiotics.

Non-Operative Measures.

• 1 Correction of dehydration, nutritional metabolic and vitamin deficiencies.
• 2 Warm, moist packs.
• 3 Lemon or orange juice to stimulate salivary flow.
• 4 Mouth irrigations.
• 5 Antibiotics.
• 6 Irradiation, 75R to gland daily for five days, has been used in selected cases with success.

Operative. Incision and drainage of the gland parenchyma. Prognosis depends upon the basic disease entity and response to measures for parotitis.     

血清HBV-DNA水平的变化与慢性乙型活动性肝炎的关系

目的:研究慢性肝炎患者HBV-DNA水平与病情变化的关系. 方法:采用荧光标记定量PCR的方法,测定慢性乙型肝炎急性发作患者(HBeAg阳性45例,抗HBe阳性30例)其活动期和恢复期的血清HBV-DNA含量. 结果:HBeAg阳性组血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在活动期显著高于恢复期[(10.2±1.6) vs (5.3±2.1), P<0.05],抗-HBe阳性组血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在活动期显著高于恢复期[(7.6±1.3) vs (4.0±2.0), P<0.05]. 另外,活动期血清HBV-DNA含量(Logarrithm copy/mL)在HBeAg阳性组显著高于抗HBe阳性组[(10.2±1.6) vs (7.6±1.3), P<0.05]. 血清HBV-DNA水平与丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)及总胆红素(T-BLLI)之间无相关性. 结论:HBV-DNA复制水平与慢性乙型病毒性肝炎的活动密切相关.     

胎-母输血综合征对围产儿的影响--附2例报告

胎－母输血综合征对围产儿的影响——附２例报告丁新黄醒华胎－母输血综合征，即胎儿血液由胎盘的绒毛间隙进入母体血循环，引起胎儿不同程度的失血及母体溶血性输血反应的一组症候群。大量胎－母输血可导致胎儿贫血、休克、死胎、死产；新生儿贫血、休克、死亡。我院在近...