Ischemic rat brain extracts induce human marrow stromal cell growth factor production

Intravenous administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats provides functional benefit. We tested the hypothesis that these functional benefits are derived in part from hMSC production of growth and trophic factors. Quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of hMSCs cultured with normal and MCAo brain extracts were performed. hMSCs cultured in supernatant derived from ischemic brain extracts increased production of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These neurotrophins and angiogenic growth factors increased in a post‐ischemia time‐dependent manner. The hMSC capacity to increase expression of growth and trophic factors may be the key to the benefit provided by transplanted hMSCs in the ischemic brain.     

Warfarin or Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Therapy does not Prolong Pig-To-Primate Cardiac Xenograft Function

Microvascular thrombosis is a prominent feature in cardiac delayed xenograft rejection (DXR). We investigated the impact of warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) anti-coagulation on xenograft function using a heterotopic pig-to-primate model. Donor hearts were from CD46 transgenic pigs and baboon immunosuppression included tacrolimus, sirolimus, anti-CD20 and TPC, an alpha-galactosyl-polyethylene glycol conjugate. Three groups of animals were studied. Group 1 (n = 9) was treated with warfarin, Group 2 (n = 13) with LMWH and Group 3, received no anti-coagulant drugs. The median duration of xenograft function was 20 days (range 3-62 days), 18 days (range 5-109 days) and 15 days (range 4-53 days) in Groups 1 to 3 respectively. Anti-coagulation achieved the targeted international normalized prothrombin ratio (INR) and anti-factor Xa levels consistent with effective in vivo therapy yet, no significant impact on median xenograft function was observed. At rejection, a similar histology of thrombosis and ischemia was apparent in each group and the levels of fibrin deposition and platelet thrombi in rejected tissue was the same. Anti-coagulation with warfarin or LMWH did not have a significant impact on the onset of DXR and microvascular thrombosis. However, a role for specific anti-coagulant strategies to achieve long-term xenograft function cannot be excluded.     

Laparoscopic Local Resection Based on Sentinel Node Evaluation for Early Gastric Cancer: A Preliminary Report

We previously reported that lymphatic mapping using isosulfan blue can be used to identify sentinel nodes (SNs). This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of using the SN technique in treating early gastric cancer and to explore its usefulness for minimal invasive surgery. Twenty-three patients with early gastric cancer who underwent SN biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. Based on SN evaluation, individualized surgery was performed in five patients with T1N0M0 gastric cancer. When pathological examination of frozen sections revealed metastasis in SNs, we performed a standard D2 gastrectomy. Laparoscopic local resection was applied when the SN biopsy was negative. Our results showed that the success rate with SN biopsy in early gastric cancer was 100%, as were the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. All five patients with early gastric cancer had SNs negative for metastases both by frozen section and by postoperative pathology. Thus, all these patients underwent laparoscopic local resection without extended lymphadenectomy. We conclude that SN biopsy is a useful tool to individualize the operative procedure, and laparoscopic local resection can be safely performed using SN guidance in selected patients with early gastric cancer.     

Flerobuterol: a potential antidepressant drug related to β-adrenergic agonists. Experimental profile in mice

The potential antidepressant effect of flerobuterol (dl-(fluoro-2 phenyl)-1 t-butylamino-2 ethanol), a new drug related to beta-adrenoceptor agonists, was evaluated and compared with imipramine and salbutamol using classical psychopharmacological tests in mice. Like imipramine and salbutamol, flerobuterol (0.5-32 mg kg-1, ip) fully prevented apomorphine (16 mg kg-1, sc)- and partly reversed reserpine- and oxotremorine-induced hypothermia. At higher doses (16-32 mg kg-1), flerobuterol enhanced the toxic effects of yohimbine. Unlike imipramine, flerobuterol and salbutamol did not reduce immobility duration in the behavioural despair test. Salbutamol and flerobuterol decreased locomotor activity. Flerobuterol did not induce mydriasis, did not prevent oxotremorine-induced tremors or salivary and lacrimal gland secretion and did not reduce reserpine-induced palpebral ptosis. Propranolol (8 mg kg-1, ip) but not alpha-methyl-paratyrosine (75 mg kg-1, ip) prevented the flerobuterol-induced antagonism of apomorphine-induced hypothermia. Our results suggest that flerobuterol demonstrates potential antidepressant activity, which could be related to beta-adrenoceptor activation in mice.     

Pathways from first health care seeking to diagnosis: obstacles to tuberculosis care in rural China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine health care seeking pathways for patients with tuberculosis (TB) and barriers related to these pathways in counties under the National TB Control Programme in rural China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two counties of east China in 2004-2005. A total of 557 TB patients were recruited and interviewed by physicians at the time of TB diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 557 participants, 13.3% had presented to a specialised county TB dispensary (CTD) directly after onset of symptoms, 31.4% had first sought care at a village health station and 51.2% had visited a township or county hospital first. The proportion of referral by a first health care provider to a CTD was highest in county level hospitals (73.5%) and lowest in village health stations (21.7%). The most prompt pathway from first health care seeking to TB diagnosis was to visit a CTD directly, with a median provider's delay of only one day. There was an increase in provider's delay when more health facilities were involved. CONCLUSION: To improve direct referral from general health care providers, especially village health care workers, to TB specialists would significantly shorten the delays in TB diagnosis in rural China.     

研究生主观幸福感与人格特征相关研究

目的探讨研究生的主观幸福感与人格的关系。方法采用艾森克人格问卷量表与总体主观幸福感量表（GWB）对200名研究生进行测验。结果（1）在专业、性别、年级、年龄、婚姻状况上及来源上，研究生的主观幸福感不存在显著差异。（2）相关分析表明外向性人格纬度与总体幸福感存在显著的正相关，神经质与总体幸福感存在显著的负相关。稳定外向型和稳定内向型人格的总体幸福感水平最高，其次是不稳定外向型人格，总体幸福感水平最低的是不稳定内向型人格。结论外向性与神经质等人格特征是影响研究生幸福感的重要因素。     

《麦克白》主人公的悲剧心理

《麦克白》在现代莎评中自身几乎转换成了充满原型的心理悲剧，它在女巫、鬼魂、超自然因素及阴暗的色彩等笼罩下充分展示悲剧主人公的潜意识心理及其极力保持心灵内外对统一的平衡的努力；主人公本我狂野的欲望及其在事后的病态心理表现正是他们意识内外失控的心态，犹如进入黑夜的漫长旅程。     

Cytotoxic lipid esters from Peucedanum ledebourielloides

Two cancer cell growth inhibitory esters, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-glucosyl glycerol (1) and 1,6-dihydroxy-hexane-bis-palmitoyl ester (2), together with arachidic acid-2-hydroxy-glycerol ester, daucosterol, and oleanolic acid, were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum ledebourielloides (Apiaceae family). The structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The esters 1 and 2 displayed significant activity against the SGC-7901, HT-29, and HL-60 cancer cell lines.     

食管癌患者血缘亲属及不同性别食管癌患病风险比较研究

目的 对比分析食管癌病例组与对照组血缘亲属食管癌患病风险,并了解食管癌家族中危险亲属人群患病的新线索.方法 采用病例对照研究方法 ,对食管癌病例组及对照组各720例进行逐层分析,以比较两组各血缘亲属父系、母系食管癌患病危险度(OR)的大小及差异.结果 (1)病例组Ⅰ级亲属食管癌患病危险度(1.34%～2.24%)显著高于对照组(0.78%～1.21%)(P＜0.01);Ⅰ级亲属中病例组父母亲食管癌患病危险度为6.11%,显著高于对照组父母亲食管癌患病危险度2.97%(P＜0O01).(2)以血缘亲属中父系和母系亲属逐层分析可见,病例组父系食管癌患病危险度(0.87%～1.01%)与母系患病危险度(0.50%～0.79%)均显著高于对照组父系食管癌患病危险度(0.53%～0.65%)与母系患病危险度(0.38%～0.47%)(P＜0.05).进一步分析显示,病例组父系中男性亲属与母系中女性亲属,即父系中祖父、父亲、叔伯食管癌患病危险度为2.68%与母系中外祖母、母亲、姨的食管癌患病危险度1.91%均显著高于对照组父系中男性亲属食管癌患病危险度1.50%与母系中女性亲属食管癌患病危险度0.92%(P＜0.01).结论 山西省食管癌患者血缘亲属发病危险主要是父亲及其兄弟、母亲及其姐妹,其下代患食管癌风险要大.