Dexamethasone treatment attenuates early seawater instillation-induced acute lung injury in rabbits.

There is very little evidence on the value of giving corticoids in cases of seawater drowning induced acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether dexamethasone treatment can attenuate seawater instillation-induced acute lung injury in rabbits. Seawater (4 ml/kg body weight) was instilled into the lower trachea of ventilated, anesthetized rabbits. Then these rabbits were assigned randomly 20 min later to receive intravenous injection of 1mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone (dissolving in 2 ml of normal saline) or 2 ml of normal saline. All animals demonstrated immediate drops in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and the total thoracic compliance, which were significantly improved after 2 h of dexamethasone treatment. Histopathological study also indicated that dexamethasone treatment markedly attenuated lung histopathological changes, alveolar hemorrhage and inflammatory cells infiltration with evidence of decreasing of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration in lung tissue. In addition, dexamethasone treatment reduced extravascular lung water and lung epithelial-endothelial barrier permeability, up-regulated the expression of surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and alpha-epithelial Na+ channel, and increased Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+-ATPase) activity and Na+/K+-ATPase-alpha1 protein abundance. Thus, these data indicate that dexamethasone treatment might be of benefit in patients with seawater aspiration-induced ALI.     

Abnormal spinal interactions from hand afferents to forearm muscles in writer's cramp.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal reflexes from hand to wrist muscles were investigated in writer's cramp. METHODS: Stimulus-triggered rectified EMG averages after ulnar nerve and cutaneous stimulation, in wrist flexors and extensors during tonic contraction, were compared in 18 controls and 19 patients. RESULTS: On the patient dystonic side, ulnar-induced EMG suppression was decreased in wrist extensors, and facilitation in wrist flexors modified dependent on the dystonic wrist posture during writing. No change was found on the patient non-dystonic side. Cutaneous stimulation increased wrist flexor EMG on both sides of the patients with normal wrist posture during writing, but had no effect in controls and patients with abnormal wrist posture. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison between cutaneous and mixed nerve stimuli suggests that spindle afferents from intrinsic hand muscles may mediate patients' ulnar-induced EMG modulations. Abnormal proprioceptive control was only observed on dystonic side, while bilateral unusual cutaneous control was found in patients. Changes in spinal transmission were partly related to the dystonic wrist posture, suggesting that systems involved in sensory processing can be differentially altered in writer's cramp. SIGNIFICANCE: Changes in spinal transmission, probably related to peripheral and/or cortical inputs, might either take part in primary or adaptive mechanisms underlying writer's cramp.     

The diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in distinguishing between peritoneal mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas: a comparative study.

The histologic distinction between peritoneal epithelioid mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas diffusely involving the peritoneum may be difficult, but it can be facilitated by the use of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. D2-40 and podoplanin are two recently recognized lymphatic endothelial markers that can be expressed in normal mesothelial cells and mesotheliomas. The purpose of this study is to compare the value of these new mesothelial markers with those that are commonly used for discriminating between mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas, and also to determine the current role of electron microscopy in distinguishing between these malignancies. A total of 40 peritoneal epithelioid mesotheliomas and 45 serous carcinomas of the ovary (15 primary, 30 metastatic to the peritoneum) were investigated for the expression of the following markers: D2-40, podoplanin, calretinin, keratin 5/6, thrombomodulin, MOC-31, Ber-EP4, B72.3 (TAG-72), BG-8 (Lewis(Y)), CA19-9, and leu-M1 (CD15). All 40 (100%) of the mesotheliomas reacted for calretinin, 93% for D2-40, 93% for podoplanin, 93% for keratin 5/6, 73% for thrombomodulin, 13% for Ber-EP4, 5% for MOC-31, 3% for BG-8, and none for B72.3, CA19-9, or leu-M1. All 45 (100%) serous carcinomas were positive for Ber-EP4, 98% for MOC-31, 73% for B72.3, 73% for BG-8, 67% for CA19-9, 58% for leu-M1, 31% for keratin 5/6, 31% for calretinin, 13% for D2-40, 13% for podoplanin, and 4% for thrombomodulin. After analyzing the results, it is concluded that Ber-EP4 and MOC-31 are the best negative mesothelioma markers for differentiating between epithelioid mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas. The best discriminators among the positive markers for mesotheliomas are D2-40, podoplanin, and calretinin. From a practical point of view, Ber-EP4 and MOC-31, in combination with calretinin, and/or D2-40 or podoplanin allow the differential diagnosis to be established between mesothelioma and serous carcinoma in nearly all instances. As a clear distinction could be made between these two malignancies in all of the cases in which electron microscopy was performed, this technique can be very useful in establishing the correct diagnosis when the immunohistochemical results are equivocal or further support of a diagnosis of either mesothelioma or serous carcinoma is needed.     

Did the gradual loss of GLUT2 cause a shift to diabetic disorders in the New Zealand obese mouse (NZO/Hl)?

The New Zealand obese mouse (NZO/Hl) is characterised by hereditary obesity and type-2 diabetes, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia, and glucose intolerance. In other diabetic models, it has been revealed that the proper functioning of the glucose transporter isoform 2 (GLUT2) is essential for adequate secretion of insulin. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of islet cells and GLUT2, as well as the expression of GLUT2-mRNA, in the pancreas of NZO mice and metabolically unimpaired NMRI (Naval Medical Research Institute) mice. Pancreas tissue was obtained from different stages of development. For molecular determination of the expression level of GLUT2-mRNA, total-RNA was extracted from the pancreas and analysed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. All investigated NZO mice displayed increased weight, elevated hyperinsulinaemia, and slightly enhanced blood glucose levels compared with the NMRI control mice. By means of immunofluorescence microscopy drastically reduced insulin levels were detected, which might be compensated by the observed islet cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Furthermore, the normally peripheral localisation of the alpha-cells within islets was disturbed. By contrast, there were no changes in somatostatin cell distribution. However, considerable differences appeared with regard to GLUT2: whereas the beta-cells of NMRI mice showed dense immunostaining of the GLUT2 transporter on the cell surface, in all age groups of NZO mice, GLUT2 on the plasma membranes was reduced and dispersed in the cytoplasm. These findings agree with the molecular biological results, which displayed decreased mRNA-expression of GLUT2. In summary, the observed alteration of islet morphology and of GLUT2 expression in diabetic mice complements our previous results from a superfusion protocol and further clarifies the mechanisms of diabetogenesis in NZO mice.     

系统康复治疗对年轻肩关节脱位患者肩关节稳定性的作用

目的对年轻患者肩关节脱位进行系统的康复治疗,以检验系统康复疗法疗效优于单纯固定的假设。方法根据所采用的治疗方法,将43例40岁以下的急性肩关节脱位患者分成实验组23例,对照组20例。实验组患者进行包括关节活动范围锻炼、发展肩胛骨周围肌的肌力训练、发展肩袖肌的肌力、适度的外展、外旋锻炼及耐力训练在内的系统康复治疗。对照组只进行单纯固定后未经系统康复治疗。对两组患者的临床效果进行比较。结果实验组复发率为17%(4/23),对照组复发率为45%(9/20),两组复发率比较差异有显著性意义(χ2=3.866,P<0.05);随访结果显示肩关节ASES评分实验组为90.9±4.87,对照组为75.4±4.94,两组差异有非常显著性意义(t=9.94,P=2.99×10-12<0.01)。结论肩关节脱位年轻患者进行系统的康复锻炼,可以提高患肩的稳定性。     

Volume control associated with better cardiac function in long-term peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of long-term blood pressure (BP) reduction, achieved with salt restriction and strict volume control, on frequency and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: 56 patients who had been treated for more than 2 years under our care were enrolled. After echocardiographic (Echo) evaluation, 46 patients were included in the follow-up study. In our unit, we aim to keep patients' BP below 130/85 mmHg and cardiothoracic index below 0.50. To reach these targets, moderate salt restriction is advised, and if necessary, hypertonic PD solutions are used. Echo was performed at the beginning of the study (after a mean period of 36 months on PD) and at the end of the prospective follow-up period (24 months later). RESULTS: At the time of the first Echo, LVH was detected in only 8 (21%) patients. Residual urine volume was significantly decreased compared to data taken when they first started PD (658 +/- 795 vs 236 +/- 307 mL/day). Mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was 107 +/- 26.5 g/m2. LVMI was significantly decreased at the end of the follow-up in patients who had LVH at baseline. No LVH developed in patients who had normal LVMI at baseline. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that control of hypertension is possible when extracellular fluid volume is kept under control using hypertonic PD solutions in case of recruitment in addition to salt restriction in long-term PD patients. Sustained normovolemia is associated with low incidence and regression of LVH.     

Altered apoptosis in bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes after allergen exposure of atopic asthmatic subjects.

The increased number of lymphocytes in airways during an asthmatic response is believed to be the result of increased recruitment of these cells. However, it is possible that a decreased apoptotic rate could also contribute to the increased number. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether allergen airway provocation influences the apoptotic phenotype of lung and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in subjects with atopic asthma. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytes and PBL from 12 asthmatic subjects previously challenged with allergen (n = 7) or saline (n = 5) were exposed to the apoptotic stimulus tributyltin (TBT) in vitro and assayed for apoptosis. Airway allergen provocation resulted in decreased sensitivity of BAL lymphocytes to TBT-induced apoptosis, with 42.2% (range 33.9-62.5%) apoptotic cells before challenge versus 23.5% (range 15.3-42.4%) after challenge, while PBL were unaffected. The increased apoptosis resistance correlated with higher numbers of Bcl-2-expressing lymphocytes. Interestingly, baseline caspase-3-like activity was significantly elevated in viable BAL lymphocytes compared with viable PBL, and was unaltered by allergen exposure. In conclusion, allergen inhalation renders bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes more resistant to apoptosis while peripheral blood lymphocytes were not influenced at all, indicating that the apoptotic phenotype of airway lymphocytes may play a role in asthmatic inflammation.     

椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄

目的：探讨椎管扩大成形术治疗腰椎管狭窄的效果。方法：椎板减压后复位，用棘突或髂骨植于一侧开槽处扩大椎管，并进行椎板及关节突关节植骨，对54例随访病人的手术前后临床表现及X线和CT进行比较。结果：随访6—39个月，临床优良率为81．1％。随访X线片显示椎板明显后移，CT测量与术前对比显示椎管内径扩大明显。结论：椎管扩大成形术操作简单，效果满意，术后并发症少，是治疗腰椎管狭窄的又一选择。     

骨质疏松相关基因的研究进展

骨质疏松(osteoporosis,OP)在很大程度上受基因的影响。在OP的相关基因中,维生素D受体(VDR)基因、雌激素受体(ER)基因、Ⅰ型胶原基因及转化生长因子基因都是重要的候选基因。VDR基因中BB基因型者比Bb及bb基因型者的腰椎骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)低,骨丢失率高。FokⅠ基因型与腰椎BMD降低有明显相关性,ff基因型者腰椎BMDXx基因型者>xx基因型者。Ⅰ型胶原基因与骨量呈显著相关性,COLIA1基因突变可致低骨量、骨脆性增加。转化生长因子β(TGF-β)基因对调节骨形成和骨吸收有重要作用,TGF-β基因中可发生碱基丢失,这种变异多见于OP患者。