Enhanced transcription factor DNA binding and gene expression induced by arsenite or arsenate in renal slices

Although the kidney represents a target for the accumulation and toxicity of arsenic, little is known about the molecular targets of arsenic in this organ. Therefore, these studies were designed to examine the molecular impact of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] at low (nanomolar) concentrations. Precision-cut rabbit renal cortical slices were challenged with As(III) or As(V) for up to 8 h. Neither form of the metal induced overt cytotoxicity as assessed by intracellular K+ levels over this time period at concentrations from 0.01-10 microM. In addition, no alterations in the expression of Hsp 60, 70, or 90 were observed. However, induction of heme oxygenase-1 (Hsp 32) was seen following a 4-h challenge with As(III), but not with As(V). As(III) and As(V) induced DNA binding of AP-1 at 2- and 4-h exposure; following a 6-h exposure there was no difference. Although no alteration in the DNA binding activity of ATF-2 was induced by As(III) or As(V), both forms enhanced the DNA binding activity of Elk-1. Enhanced DNA binding activity of AP-1 and Elk-1 correlated with increased gene expression of c-fos, but not c-jun, at 2 h. c-myc gene expression was also induced by As(III) and As(V), albeit at a later time point (6 h). These results suggest that acute arsenic challenge, by either As(III) or As(V), is associated with discrete alterations in the activity of signaling pathways and gene expression in renal tissue.      

INADEQUACY OF ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION ALONE IN PREVENTION OF RABIES (A Case Report)

A case of dog bite where prompt immunization with antirabies vaccine alone proved inadequate in prevention of fatal rabies is reported to emphasize upon the need of concomitant passive immunization with either human rabies immune globulin or equine antiserum.KEY WORDS: Rabies, Active immunization, Passive immunization     

人工肩关节置换翻修术3例报告

①探讨人工肩关节置换术后翻修术中的指证和方法。②选择2001-09/2002-04上海长征医院收治的肩关节置换术后患者3例,例1(男,36岁),例3(男,75岁)为急性肱骨近端4部分粉碎性骨折,分别行单极人工肩关节置换术、全肩关节置换术各1例;例2(女,63岁)为肱骨近端骨巨细胞瘤,行双极人工肩关节置换术。3例术后均表现肩关节活动受限,例2,例3三角肌萎缩,肩关节脱位(人工肱骨头置位不当)或半脱位。例1,例2均行人工肩关节置换翻修术;例3行肩关节镜检查,发现肩关节假体置位理想,但所用关节盂过厚,与肱骨头假体关节面不够匹配,关节囊修复理想。未予再次置换假体。3例患者术后分别随访36,40和9个月。③结果:例1人工肩关节置换术后翻修患者术后完全不疼。例2由于人工肱骨头置位不当、脱位,肩关节假体突至皮下,显著疼痛,翻修术后疼痛缓解。例3全肩关节置换术翻修术后患者所用关节盂过厚,致关节活动受限,而腋神经损伤致三角肌瘫痪,肩关节不稳,易脱位、被动运动痛。例1肱骨近端骨折单极人工肩关节置换术翻修术后患者上举120°,外旋60°,内旋80°。例2,例3患者由于三角肌萎缩,术后肩关节半脱位,肩关节活动受限。3例患者假体X射线表现置位较好,假体周围无透亮区、无松动;肿瘤术后患者未见肿瘤复发迹象;患者均较满意。④人工肩关节置换翻修术的基本指证为假体周围骨折;假体松动;假体置位不当、关节脱位或半脱位、活动受限。行人工肩关节置换术,对于神经肌肉功能应特别注意,并加以必要的保护;肱骨头的上下位置对于植入物的功能极为重要。     

基于象素形态测量法分析精神分裂症患者脑白质结构

目的:应用基于象素的形态测量学方法,分析精神分裂症大脑白质结构与健康人的差异。方法:①分组:精神分裂症组为10名北京大学精神卫生研究所和北京回龙观医院2005-04/2006-03收治,符合ICD-10、DSM-Ⅳ精神分裂症偏执型诊断标准的患者;健康对照组是年龄、性别和受教育程度与精神分裂症组相匹配的健康志愿者10名。所有受试者均签署知情同意书。②检测方法和参数:采用西门子1.5TSonataMRI成像系统,对所有受试者行全脑扫描,解剖图像采用T1加权序列矢状成像(MPRAGE),共采集96层。TR=1900ms,TE=3.93ms,flip15°,FOV=220mm×220mm,图像分辨率0.43mm×0.43mm×1.70mm。③数据处理:在SPM5平台上,使用VBM5工具箱进行技术进行处理。采用MNI的标准脑图谱配准,配准后图像分辨率2mm×2mm×2mm;采用HMRF算法进行组织分割,目标是测量白质密度,故未经体积调制;用12mm半高全宽高斯核对脑白质密度图进行平滑;然后采用SPM的组分析方法,对两组进行成组t检验,t>3.61,P<0.001(未校正)、相连象素大于20个的信号变化脑区视为有差异脑区。结果:20名受试者均完成测试进入结果分析。精神分裂症组密度低于对照组的区域有双侧颞下回、双侧额下回、双侧梭状回、左侧海马旁回、左侧胼胝体、左侧丘脑、左侧顶下叶、左侧楔前叶、右侧额中回、右侧颞中回,没有发现精神分裂症组白质密度高于对照组的区域。结论:①精神分裂症患者白质缺陷部位广泛。结合同一研究对象的功能磁共振成像研究结果提示左侧丘脑和双侧梭状回与精神分裂症有密切关系。②基于象素的形态测量学的方法有快速和全自动的特点,具有不受分析人员主观影响等优点。     

基质金属蛋白酶基因多态性在食管癌中的研究进展

基质金属蛋白酶(MMPs)是一族结构与功能上相关的蛋白水解酶类,不仅可以介导肿瘤细胞对宿主细胞外基质的降解,还控制肿瘤新生血管的生成,影响细胞黏附分子的功能及调控肿瘤细胞的生长．大量研究已发现,MMPs与食管癌的发生发展有密切关系．基因多态性是指由遗传因素造成的个体差异,其本质是各种原因引起染色体中核苷酸排序变化,即产生的DNA片段和DNA序列在个体内的差异,终生保持不变．近年来研究表明,MMPs基因一些多态性位点可能影响其表达及功能,且与疾病的发生、发展有关．我们就近年来对MMPs基因多态性在食管癌中的研究进展作一综述．     

A prospective randomized study to assess the clinical efficacy of gonadotrophins administered subcutaneously and intramuscularly

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of gonadotrophins administered s.c. or i.m., in a prospective randomized study of women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a tertiary referral centre. In all, 71 patients undergoing a total of 162 IVF treatment cycles were randomized to receive either s.c. (n = 41) or i.m. (n = 30) administration of gonadotrophins. Up to three cycles of IVF were assessed for each patient. The main outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, the total amount of gonadotrophins used, the number of follicles recruited and the cumulative pregnancy and live birth rates. The mean number of oocytes retrieved was 10.5 for each group. The number of days of stimulation was significantly shorter for the s.c. group (11.7 +/- 1.9 days, mean +/- SD) than the i.m. group (12.6 +/- 2.3 days). The cumulative conception and live birth rates after three cycles of treatment were similar between the two groups. Our results suggest that the clinical efficacy of s.c. and i.m. administration of gonadotrophins is comparable. Both routes are well tolerated by patients.