A comparative study of using comet assay and gammaH2AX foci formation in the detection of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced DNA damage.

Comet assay is a useful technique in the detection of DNA damages, particularly DNA strand breaks; and it has been utilized to show that a potent carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), can induce such damages. Recently, gammaH2AX foci formation has been suggested as another sensitive way to detect DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). However, there is no systematic comparison being conducted to evaluate the consistency of these two methods. Using MNNG as a model chemical, the sensitivity of neutral comet assay and gammaH2AX foci formation in detecting MNNG-induced damage was studied. It was found that at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 microg/ml, both methods can detect MNNG-induced damage in human amnion FL cells. However, at 0.1 microg/ml, comet assay revealed more percentage of cells with DNA damage than gammaH2AX fluorescence revealed. On the other hand, while gammaH2AX foci were readily formed at very early times by 10 microg/ml MNNG treatment, neutral comet assay did not detect any significant DNA damage at the same time points. In addition, 10 microg/ml MNNG induced a distinct whole nuclei staining pattern of gammaH2AX, a type of DNA damage which was not detected by neutral comet assay but could be detected by alkaline comet assay. Therefore, gammaH2AX may be used as a sensitive indicator for DNA damage.     

影响肝外伤手术死亡的危险因素分析

目的分析影响肝外伤手术死亡的危险因素,探讨其临床意义。方法根据AAST和ISS标准,回顾性分析90例肝外伤手术病例,对影响手术死亡的危险因素进行单因素比较和Logistic回归分析。结果死亡15例,其中Ⅲ级2例、Ⅳ级4例、Ⅴ级9例,总体手术死亡率17%。Ⅳ~Ⅴ级肝外伤手术方式的单因素比较提示:清创性肝切除术的相对危险度是0.73;而规则性肝切除术、肝静脉或肝后下腔静脉修补术相对危险度分别是1.32、1.52。Logistic回归分析提示:ISS分会和术中失血量是影响手术死亡率的2个独立因素。结论ISS分值、术中失出血量和手术方式是影响肝外伤手术死亡的3个重要因素,娴熟的手术技能和合理的手术方式可以减少术中出血量和降低手术死亡率。     

Disseminating tumor cells and their interactions with leukocytes visualized in the brain.

Brain tumors are increasingly prevalent. Recent advances focus attention on individual, disseminated tumor cells that cannot be imaged or eliminated. Cells of the immune system may be ideally suited to attack individual tumor cells, but more basic understanding is needed. We describe a rat model, using the lacZ reporter gene, that allows identification of individual tumor cells, and tumor-leukocyte interactions in vivo. The model demonstrates how widely tumor can disseminate, without secondary tumorigenesis or recruitment of nonneoplastic cells. It demonstrates that leukocytes have access to disseminating tumor. Among its many applications, this work lays a foundation for developing cell-mediated immunotherapy against individual brain tumor cells.     

Cell transplantation to improve ventricular function in the failing heart

Current therapies for congestive heart failure are limited in efficacy or in applicability. Cardiac cell transplantation offers a novel therapeutic approach to improve heart function. Although significant progress has been made over the past decade in the development of cell transplantation, only recently have investigators studied the changes in ventricular function following cell transplantation. This review article describes the latest research developments, evaluates recent studies of ventricular function after cell transplantation, and discusses the future directions of cell transplantation as a new therapy to ‘repair broken hearts’.     

基于实验均方误差F值的基因表达数据最佳聚类评判方法研究

目的 近年来产生了一些用于分析基因表达数据的聚类算法，却很少有关于评价聚类算法方法的研究。本研究的目的是尝试建立一个定量的评价基因表达数据聚类结果的方法。方法 本研究提供了一个系统的评价聚类结果的方法，利用我们提出的实验均方误差F值对几个常见的聚类算法进行比较。结果 利用F值对类质量的评价和利用已有的生物学知识对类进行分析的结果一致。结论 实验均方误差F值可以定量地评判用于基因表达数据的聚类算法。     

A quantitative analysis of valgus torque on the ACL: a human cadaveric study.

The loads needed to elicit a positive pivot shift test in a knee with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture have not been quantified. The coupled anterior tibial translation (ATT), coupled internal tibial rotation (ITR), and the in situ force in the ACL in response to a valgus torque, an inherent component of the pivot shift test, were measured in 10 human cadaveric knee specimens. Using a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system, valgus torques ranging from 0.0 to 10.0 Nm were applied in nine increments on the intact and ACL-deficient knee in flexion ranging from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. At 15 degrees of knee flexion, the coupled ATT and ITR were significantly increased in the ACL-deficient knee when compared to the intact knee. Coupled ATT increased a maximum of 291% (6.7 mm, p<0.05), while coupled ITR increased a maximum of 85% (5.1 degrees, p<0.05). At 30 degrees, the increases in coupled ATT and ITR were significant at valgus loads of 3.3 Nm and greater with a maximum increase in coupled ATT of 137% (6.3 mm, p<0.05) and a maximum increase in coupled ITR of 38% (3.6 degrees, p<0.05). At 45 degrees, coupled ATT increased significantly (maximum of 69%, 4.4 mm, p<0.05), but only at torques > or =6.7 Nm. The in situ force in the ACL was less than 20 N for all flexion angles when a torque between 3.3 and 5.0 Nm was applied. Low valgus torque elicited tibial subluxation in the ACL-deficient knee with low in situ ACL forces, similar to a positive pivot shift test. Thus, application of a valgus torque may be suitable to evaluate ACL-deficient and ACL-reconstructed knees, since subluxation can be achieved with minimal harm to the ACL graft. This work is important in understanding one load component needed for the pivot shift examination; further studies quantifying other load components are essential for better comprehension of the in vivo pivot shift examination.     

Effect of link protein concentration on articular cartilage proteoglycan aggregation

Previous work has shown that alterations in proteoglycan aggregates are among the first changes detected with aging, disuse, and degeneration of articular cartilage, yet the cause or causes of these alterations remain unknown. To determine if differences in link protein concentration can explain alterations in the assembly, size, and stability of articular cartilage proteoglycan aggregates, we isolated proteoglycan monomer (aggrecan) and link protein from adult bovine articular cartilage and then assembled proteoglycan aggregates from aggrecan and 0.8% hyaluronan relative to aggrecan weight, in the presence of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 20% concentrations of link protein relative to aggrecan weight. We determined the amount, sedimentation coefficient, and stability of the aggregates by analytical ultracentrifugation and measured their dimensions by electron microscopy with use of the monolayer technique. Increased aggregate size, as determined by ultracentrifugation, was directly correlated with an increased number of aggrecans per aggregate and with increased hyaluronan length, as determined by electron microscopy. The concentration of link protein significantly influenced aggregation: concentrations of 6–8% produced maximum aggregation, aggregate stability, and uniformity of aggrecan spacing; concentrations greater than 10% led to the formation of superaggregates (aggregates with sedimentation velocities greater than 100 S that may result from linking two or more hyaluronan filaments) but decreased aggregate stability; and concentrations of less than 4% link protein significantly decreased aggregation, the size and stability of aggregates, and the regularity of aggrecan spacing. The latter observations suggest that a decline in the concentration of link protein could decrease the organization and stability of the articular cartilage matrix.     

安徽省农村居民哮喘病现况调查

本文通过对安徽省农村居民哮喘病的现况调查发现，哮喘病患病率为１．３３％，男性为１．４８％，女性为１．１９％；成人患病率为１．３４％，儿童为１．３２％。儿童哮喘患病率随年龄增长而下降，而成人哮喘病患病率随年龄增长而增加；儿童大部分婴幼儿起病，各年龄组中男性起病较女性晚，成人女性５０％起病２０岁前，而男性５０％起病３０岁前。农村哮喘以感染型为主，发病以冬季多见，发作主要诱因是感冒，哮喘病具有明显家族聚集性。     

颈椎骨折类型与脊髓损伤关系之临床观察

通过对９２例颈椎骨折病例的分析，发现屈曲型损伤最多见（５３％），其次为过伸型（２６％），压缩型（２１％）。屈曲型和压缩型多见于年轻人，而屈曲损伤导致的脱位及过伸型则多见于年龄较大者。爆裂骨折引起的神经损害最重，其次为屈曲型、过伸型及压缩（非爆裂）骨折。神经功能改善率以爆裂型骨折最差，死亡率亦最高，以压缩（非爆裂型）骨折最好，其次为过伸型及屈曲型。文内对各型的特点进行了详细讨论。