Effect of phosphatidylserine on the shape of McLeod red cell acanthocytes

The rare McLeod blood group phenotype is characterized by weak Kell antigens, lack of the common Kx antigen, and acanthocytic morphology. Previous studies that did not detect membrane or cytoskeletal protein abnormalities suggested a lipid disturbance. In normal red cells, dimyristoyl phosphatidylserine (DMPS) is transported across the membrane by an enzymatic process and accumulates in the inner leaflet of the membrane bilayer causing discocyte to stomatocyte shape changes. Scanning electron microscopy of McLeod red cells shows a mixture comprised of 15% discocytes, 51% with irregular surfaces, and 34% acanthocytes. On incubation with various concentrations of DMPS at 37 degrees C for periods up to two hours, McLeod red cells transported DMPS across the membrane and caused irregularly shaped and acanthocytic McLeod red cells to attain normal discocyte shape and later to become stomatocytes. Chlorpromazine, which at 0 degrees C preferentially partitions into the inner monolayer of the membrane, had a similar effect on the shape of McLeod red cells. This suggests that in McLeod cells acanthocytosis is due to a lack of lipid in the inner leaflet of the membrane bilayer but that the imbalance is not caused by defective transport of phosphatidylserine across the membrane.     

The discharge liaison nurse at the interface of hospital and community nursing services

The organization of nursing into hospital and community services makes the smooth transition of care between hospital and community difficult to establish. This paper describes the function of discharge liaison nurses as one facet of a study designed to determine how hospital and community nurses perceive their provision of continuing patient care. Semi-focused interviews were conducted with 12 hospital nurses and 12 community nurses to explore their perceptions of discharge planning related experiences. Hospital and community nurses both relied on discharge liaison nurse to provide a link between hospital and community services. The practice of discharge liaison nurses as facilitators and co-ordinators of discharge planning are discussed.     

Anti-angiogenic effects of pterogynidine alkaloid isolated from Alchornea glandulosa

Background  

Angiogenesis, a complex multistep process that comprehends proliferation, migration and anastomosis of endothelial cells (EC), has a major role in the development of pathologic conditions such as inflammatory diseases, tumor growth and metastasis. Brazilian flora, the most diverse in the world, is an interesting spot to prospect for new chemical leads, being an important source of new anticancer drugs. Plant-derived alkaloids have traditionally been of interest due to their pronounced physiological activities. We investigated the anti-angiogenic potential of the naturally occurring guanidine alkaloid pterogynidine (Pt) isolated from the Brazilian plant Alchornea glandulosa. The purpose of this study was to examine which features of the angiogenic process could be disturbed by Pt.     

针药结合对慢性抑郁症小鼠行为学的改善及Treg的调节作用

目的:观察针药结合对慢性抑郁小鼠的行为学影响及对调节性T细胞(Treg)的作用,探讨其免疫作用机制.方法:Balb/c小鼠60只,正常对照组(A组)10只,其余50只以慢性不可预见性中等强度的应激造成小鼠抑郁模型,造模成功后的50只小鼠,再随机分为5组:模型组(B组)、氟西汀组(C组)、针刺组(D组)、针药结合组(E组...     

A collaborative, double-blind randomized study of cetiedil citrate in sickle cell crisis

We have recently completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, noncrossover study, the goal of which was to determine whether cetiedil citrate (cetiedil) could affect the course of vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease. Patients, who presented to the emergency room at least 4 but no more than 24 hours after the onset of a painful vasoocclusive crisis severe enough to require hospitalization, were considered candidates for the study. Each patient received either placebo or cetiedil at one of the following three dosages: 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4 mg/kg body weight. The assigned drug dosage was given as a 30 minute intravenous infusion every 8 hours for 4 consecutive days. A total of 67 patients was enrolled in the study. Cetiedil, at its highest dosage (0.4 mg/kg body weight), was found to be significantly superior to placebo both in reducing the number of painful sites present on all 4 treatment days and in shortening the total time in crisis. No serious adverse reactions were observed during the course of the study. We conclude that cetiedil, given at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg body weight, is therapeutically advantageous for sickle cell crisis.     

A mutation in human keratin K6b produces a phenocopy of the K17 disorder pachyonychia congenita type 2

Type I and type II keratins form the heteropolymeric intermediate filament cytoskeleton, which is the main stress-bearing structure within epithelial cells. Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a group of autosomal dominant disorders whose most prominent phenotype is hypertrophic nail dystrophy accompanied by other features of ectodermal dysplasia. It has been shown previously that mutations in either K16 or K6a, which form a keratin expression pair, produce the PC-1 variant (MIM 184510). Mutations in K17 alone, an unpaired accessory keratin, result in the PC-2 phenotype (MIM 184500). Here, we describe a family with PC-2 in which the K17 locus on 17q was excluded and linkage to the type II keratin locus on 12q was obtained (Z max 3.31 at straight theta = 0). Mutation analysis of candidate keratins revealed the first reported missense mutation in K6b, implying that this keratin is the previously unknown expression partner of K17, analogous to the K6a/K16 pair. Co-expression of these genes was confirmed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining. These results reveal the hitherto unknown role of the K6b isoform in epithelial biology, as well as genetic heterogeneity in PC-2.