肝硬化门脉高压症患者胃左静脉组织ET-1和NO的变化与静脉压的关系

目的探讨肝硬化门脉高压症患者胃左静脉组织中内皮素-1(ET-1)和一氧化氮(NO)比值的变化及其与胃左静脉压力的相关性。方法放射免疫法和硝酸酶还原法检测肝硬化门脉高压症患者及对照组患者胃左静脉组织中ET-1和NO含量,术中测定胃左静脉压力,比较两组ET-1/NO比值的变化,并对ET-1/NO比值与胃左静脉压力进行相关性分析。结果门脉高压症患者胃左静脉组织中ET-1/N0比值较对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。ET-1/N0比值与胃左静脉压力呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。结论肝硬化门脉高压症患者存在ET-1和NO失衡,ET-1产生相对过多,可能是门脉高压症形成和发展的重要原因之一。ET-1/N0比值与胃左静脉压力相关,可以用来间接反映门静脉压的高低,从而对预测曲张静脉破裂出血有一定的意义。     

基于USB2.0的医用内窥镜超声探头旋转扫描成像系统

介绍基于USB2．0接口的医用超声内窥镜旋转扫描成像的设计与实现。根据超声成像的特点，本系统采取脉冲回波成像方式，文中介绍了超声波激发、接收电路以及收发隔离电路。针对旋转扫描的特点，设计了基于FPGA的同步控制电路和基于USB2．0接口的数据传输电路。对采集到的原始图像，进行坐标变换，获得了按直角坐标显示的灰度图像。利用连续旋转马达对实际物体扫描成像的实验结果，验证了系统的正确性。     

抗衰老中药复方福寿威的实验研究

本研究发现福寿威能延长果蝇寿命;明显提高老年大鼠肝、脑组织中SOD活性,降低肝、脑组织中的脂褐素含量,降低脑、肝组织和血清中LPO含量;提高老年小鼠皮肤中羧脯氨酸的含量;表明该品具有延缓衰老作用。结果还显示,该品能提高机体免疫机能,提高机体核酸、蛋白质代谢能力,提高智力、增强性腺功能等作用,是中老年人提高生命质量的理想保健品。     

Effect of stretch on calcium channel currents recorded from the antral circular myocytes of guinea-pig stomach

The effect of membrane stretch on voltage-activated Ba²⁺ current (I _Ba) was studied in antral circular myocytes of guinea-pig using the whole- cell patch-clamp technique. The changes in cell volume were elicited by superfusing the myocytes with anisosmotic solutions. Hyposmotic superfusate (202 mosmol/l) induced cell swelling and increased peak values of I _Ba at 0 mV (from −406.6 ± 45.5 pA to −547.5 ± 65.6 pA, mean ± SEM, n = 8) and hyperosmotic superfusate (350 mosmol/l) induced cell shrinkage and decreased peak values of I _Ba at 0 mV (to −269.5 ± 39.1 pA, n = 8). Such changes were reversible and the extent of change was dependent on the osmolarity of superfusate. The values of normalized I _Ba at 0 mV were 1.43 ± 0.04, 1.30 ± 0.06, 1.23 ± 0.04, 1.19 ± 0.04, 1 and 0.68 ± 0.06 at 202, 220, 245, 267, 290 and 350 mosmol/l, respectively (n = 8). I _Ba was almost completely blocked by nicardipine (5 μM) under hyposmotic conditions. The values of steady-state half-inactivation voltage (−37.7 ± 3.3 and −36.5 ± 2.6 mV, under control and hyposmotic conditions, respectively) or the half-activation voltage (−13.6 ± 2.3 and −13.9 ± 1.9 mV) of I _Ba were not significantly changed (P > 0.05, n = 6). Cell membrane capacitance was slightly increased from 50.00 ± 2.86 pF to 50.22 ± 2.82 pF by a hyposmotic superfusate (P < 0.05, n = 6). It is suggested that cell swelling increases voltage-operated L-type calcium channel current and that such a property is related to the response of gastric smooth muscle to mechanical stimuli. Received: 14 November 1995/Received after revision and accepted: 8 January 1996     

氟达拉宾对系统性红斑狼疮BXSB小鼠狼疮活动的影响

目的 :探讨氟达拉宾对系统性红斑狼疮BXSB小鼠狼疮活动的影响 ,氟达拉宾治疗重型系统性红斑狼疮的可能性、有效性及其可能的机制。方法 :用 30mg (m2 ·d) ,连续 3天氟达拉宾尾静脉注入BXSB小鼠体内 ,用血液分析仪分析用氟达拉宾前后不同时间小鼠外周血白细胞的变化 ,用ELISA方法测定BXSB小鼠血清抗ds DNA抗体、抗核抗体的变化 ,免疫荧光检查肾组织的病理改变 ,尿蛋白试纸检测用氟达拉宾前后BXSB小鼠的蛋白尿 ,流式细胞仪分析T淋巴细胞表面CD4 + Fas+ 、CD8+ Fas+ 、、CD4 5RO+ Fas+ 表达的变化。结果 :用氟达拉宾后BXSB小鼠外周血白细胞数从第 3天开始下降 ,至第 7天时白细胞下降至最低值〔(0 5± 0 2 )× 10 9L- 1 〕 ,白细胞上升至 1 0× 10 9L- 1 的时间是用药后 19天 ;BXSB小鼠血清抗ds DNA抗体、抗核抗体的水平明显下降 ,分别出现在用氟达拉宾后第 14、2 1天时 ;用药后第 2 8天氟达拉宾组 72 7%的BXSB小鼠肾组织进行免疫荧光病理检查 ,其荧光强度由 +～ ++→± ;用氟达拉宾后第 2 1、2 8天尿蛋白从 ++～ +++转±～ -占 81 8% ;用Flu后BXSB小鼠CD4 + Fas+ 、CD8+ Fas+ 、CD4 5RO+ Fas+ 的表达均明显低于用Flu前。结论 :氟达拉宾可明显减少BXSB小鼠血清抗ds DNA抗体、抗核抗体的水平 ,减少BXSB小     

Essential role for caspase 8 in T-cell homeostasis and T-cell-mediated immunity

Defects in death receptor-mediated apoptosis have been linked to cancer and autoimmune disease in humans. The in vivo role of caspase 8, a component of this pathway, has eluded analysis in postnatal tissues because of the lack of an appropriate animal model. Targeted disruption of caspase 8 is lethal in utero. We generated mice with a targeted caspase 8 mutation that is restricted to the T-cell lineage. Despite normal thymocyte development in the absence of caspase 8, we observed a marked decrease in the number of peripheral T-cells and impaired T-cell response ex vivo to activation stimuli. caspase 8 ablation protected thymocytes and activated T-cells from CD95 ligand but not anti-CD3-induced apoptosis, or apoptosis activated by agents that are known to act through the mitochondria. caspase 8 mutant mice were unable to mount an immune response to viral infection, indicating that caspase 8 deletion in T-cells leads to immunodeficiency. These findings identify an essential, cell-stage-specific role for caspase 8 in T-cell homeostasis and T-cell-mediated immunity. This is consistent with the recent identification of caspase 8 mutations in human immunodeficiency.     

Genetic diagnoses and associated anomalies in fetuses prenatally diagnosed with esophageal atresia

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital anomaly occurring in 2.3 per 10,000 live births. Due to advances in prenatal imaging, EA is more readily diagnosed, but data on the associated genetic diagnoses, other anomalies, and postnatal outcome for fetuses diagnosed prenatally with EA are scarce. We collected data from two academic medical centers (n = 61). Our data included fetuses with suspected EA on prenatal imaging that was confirmed postnatally and had at least one genetic test. In our cohort of 61 cases, 29 (49%) were born prematurely and 19% of those born alive died in the first 9 years of life. The most commonly associated birth defects were cardiac anomalies (67%) and spine anomalies (50%). A diagnosis was made in 61% of the cases; the most common diagnoses were vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, radial or renal dysplasia, and limb anomalies association (43%, although 12% met only 2 of the criteria), trisomy 21 (5%), and CHARGE syndrome (5%). Our findings suggest that most fetuses with prenatally diagnosed EA have one or more additional major anomaly that warrants a more comprehensive clinical genetics evaluation. Fetuses diagnosed prenatally appear to represent a cohort with a worse outcome.     

Synergistic antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vibrio vulnificus causes primary bacteremia and necrotizing wound infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of V. vulnificus infection. METHODS: We investigated the dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines and their modulation by antimicrobial agents using a murine model of V. vulnificus infection. The change in cytokine levels was followed over a time course to identify the antimicrobial activity of the drugs against V. vulnificus. BALB/c female mice were challenged with an intraperitoneal infection using a clinical invasive isolate of Vv05191, and their cytokine levels were assayed over various time points. RESULTS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and IL-6 post-infection were found to be inoculum dose-dependent and positively correlated to the subsequent fatality rate in the infected mice. With an inoculum of 6.6 x 10(6) colony-forming units and intraperitoneal administration of cefotaxime, minocycline, or both, the serum and peritoneal fluid cytokine levels increased and then declined gradually. Comparison of the 3 antimicrobial regimens revealed that the magnitude of reduction in cytokine levels was greatest in mice treated with cefotaxime-minocycline combination. Moreover, the peritoneal fluid cytokine level in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the groups treated with minocycline or cefotaxime alone. CONCLUSIONS: The current results support the superiority of the combination therapy in treating invasive V. vulnificus infections.     

De novo mutation in the BTK gene of atypical X-linked agammaglobulinemia in a patient with recurrent pyoderma.

BACKGROUND: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), characterized by a profound deficiency of all immunoglobulins and the absence of mature B cells, is caused by mutations in the gene encoding Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Most patients have recurrent sinopulmonary infection. Infections usually occur in multiple locations across time, but single infection may be limited to one anatomic location. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of atypical XLA with recurrent pyoderma and to observe the immunologic changes in the patient in 10 years. METHODS: Immunologic investigations, skin wound culture, and molecular study with DNA sequencing were performed. RESULTS: The patient was originally diagnosed as having common variable immunodeficiency disease because of the presence of circulating B cells (CD19+ B cells: 7%) at 11 years old. On further evaluation at the age of 20 years, flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes showed only 0.4% B cells. The molecular study with DNA sequencing of the patient showed a point mutation in complementary DNA 1630 A>G(p.R544G) in the BTK gene, indicating that the patient has XLA. The mutation analysis of the BTK gene revealed a normal DNA sequence in the other family members. CONCLUSIONS: This case is an important example of a possible presentation of XLA with a predominant skin manifestation, and it demonstrates that maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion is essential for the diagnosis of XLA in a child with recurrent pyoderma.