Reversal of ischemic liver failure by intrasplenic liver cell transplantation

A model of ischemic hepatic failure in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) with 100% mortality has been developed by one-hour occlusion of the right portal vein and hepatic artery followed by left 70% hepatectomy. The intrasplenic injection of 40 x 10(6) syngeneic adult or three-day neonatal single liver cell suspensions decreased the mortality from 100% to 50% and 36%, respectively. Mortality decreased with increasing time from the intrasplenic injection of neonatal liver cells to the time of acute hepatic ischemia. Mortality also decreased with increasing interval between hepatic ischemia and removal of the transplanted liver cells by splenectomy. Intrasplenic injection of graded doses of neonatal liver cells decreased mortality from 75% at a dose of 10 x 10(6) cells, to 36% at 160 x 10(6) cells. Treatment of neonatal liver cells with metabolic inhibitors did not significantly affect their ability to reverse acute hepatic ischemia.     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

输卵管积水造口术对体外受精与胚胎移植的影响

【目的】探讨在体外受精与胚胎移植 (IVF ET)之前输卵管积水患者行输卵管造口术对IVF ET治疗效果的影响。【方法】回顾分析 1999年 2月至 2 0 0 1年 1月因女性输卵管因素不孕行IVF ET治疗的 90 8个周期的资料。按输卵管积水患者在IVF ET前是否治疗分 3组 ,A组 :输卵管积水未手术治疗行IVF ET 2 3个周期 ,B组 :在IVF ET之前行输卵管积水造口术 (腹腔镜下或开腹 ) 2 2个周期 ,C组 :对照组 (输卵管阻塞 ,未发现输卵管积水 ) 86 3个周期。【结果】A组、B组、C组的IVF ET的种植率分别为 9 7%、17 9%、16 7% ,临床妊娠率分别为 2 1 7%、4 0 9%、39 2 %。A组的种植率及临床妊娠率比其它组低 ,经 χ2 检验 ,有统计学意义。【结论】输卵管积水未治疗行IVF ET的种植率及临床妊娠率较低 ,但在IVF ET之前行输卵管造口术可改善IVF ET的种植率及临床妊娠率     

Postprandial induction of chaperone gene expression is rapid in mice.

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.