Ketamine inhibits LPS-induced calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activation in monocytes

Objective:To investigate whether ketamine could inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intracellular calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activation in monocytes. Materials and methods:Isolated rat monocytes were challenged with 10 g/ml LPS with or without the presence of various concentrations of ketamine (10, 100, 1000 M). Intracellular calcium was monitored by laser confocal microscopy. NF-kappa B activity of the nuclear extracts of monocytes was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results:LPS provoked a significant calcium elevation and enhanced NF-kappa B activity in monocytes. Ketamine above concentration of 100 M inhibited endotoxin-induced intracellular calcium elevation and NF-kappa B activity. Ketamine itself had no effect on either of them. Conclusions:These findings suggest that ketamine could suppress NF-kappa B in monocytes exposed to endotoxin, and this anti-inflammatory effect might act through attenuating intracellular calcium elevation.Received 31 October 2003; returned for revision 18 December 2003; accepted by I. Ahnfelt-Rønne 26 Januaryy 2004     

The role of mPer1 in morphine dependence in mice

Investigations using Drosophila melanogaster have shown that the circadian clock gene period can influence behavioral responses to cocaine, and the mouse homologues, mPer1 and mPer2, modulate cocaine sensitization and reward. In the present study, we applied DNAzyme targeting mPer1 to interfere the expression of mPer1 in CNS in mice and studied the role of mPer1 on morphine dependence. We found that the DNAzyme could attenuate the expression of mPer1 in CNS in mice. Mice treated with DNAzyme and morphine synchronously did not show preference to the morphine-trained side, whereas the control group did. In contrast, mice treated with DNAzyme after morphine showed preference to the morphine-trained side as well as the control group did. These results indicate that drug dependence seems to be influenced at least partially by mPer1, but mPer1 cannot affect morphine dependence that has been formed.     

Polyhedron-like Inclusion Body Formation by a Mutant Nucleopolyhedrovirus Expressing the Granulin Gene from a Granulovirus

The polyhedrin gene inBombyx morinucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was replaced with the granulin gene ofTrichoplusia nigranulovirus (TnGV). The substitution was verified by Southern hybridization, and expression of granulin by the mutant virus, BmGran, was demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by amino acid sequencing of the predominant protein of BmGran inclusion bodies (IBs). Light and electron microscopy examination of BmGran-infectedB. moriand BmN cells revealed large, cuboidal, polyhedron-like IBs in the nucleus and cytoplasm, but granules were not seen. IBs contained small, parallel, electron-dense streaks, which defined the geometric pattern of crystallization. Geometric patterns of nuclear IBs were frequently disrupted by occlusion of polyhedron envelope fragments, resulting in IB instability and fracturing. Virions were not embedded in most of the polyhedron-like IBs, but accumulated with polyhedron envelope fragments. Some virions were coated with matrix protein and were partially wrapped by polyhedron envelope. These results suggested that (1) the amino acid sequence of granulin is insufficient for determining IB morphology in TnGV-infected cells, and TnGV may have genes, not present in BmNPV, that control granule formation, and (2) interactions among the virion, the IB envelope, and the matrix protein may be important in virion occlusion and IB morphology and stability.     

慢性肾功能衰竭患者血清C—PTH变化与并发症的关系探讨

探讨慢性肾功能衰竭(CRF)患者血清羧基端甲状旁腺素(C-PTH)的变化及与钙磷代谢、高血压和贫血的关系。方法44例CRF患者用放免法测定血清C-PTH,血清尿素氮(BUN)、血清肌酐(Scr)、血清钙(Ca     

针刺足三里穴治疗颞颌关节综合征24例

颞颌关节综合征也称颞颌关节功能紊乱症 ,是颞颌关节的常见病之一 ,临床主要症状是颞颌关节疼痛和功能障碍。笔者近年来采用针刺足三里穴治疗颞颌关节综合征 2 4例 ,疗效佳 ,现报告如下。1　临床资料　　本组 2 4例 ,均为门诊病人 ,男 1 4例 ,女 1 0例 ,年龄最大 65岁 ,最小 1 7岁 ,平均 2 6岁 ,病程最长 1年半 ,最短 1天。中医辨证分型属风寒外袭 1 2例 ,其中男 8例 ,女 4例 ;厥气上逆 9例 ,其中男 4例 ,女 5例 ;筋骨劳损 2例 ,均为男性 ;肾气不充 1例 ,女性 ,年龄 65岁[1] 。所有病例都符合《中西医结合骨伤科学》[2 ] 中颞颌关节功能紊乱…     

Preparation of Iron Carbon Composite Material by Extracting Iron from Bauxite Residue and Its Adsorption of Heavy Metal Cd(II)

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - An effective method of iron extraction from bauxite residue was explored, and iron was used to prepare iron carbon composite material, which...