Effect of hyperthermia and anoxia on glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor expression in neonatal rat hippocampus

Brief periods of neonatal asphyxia are frequently observed. Within the CNS, the hippocampus is known to be particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of hypoxia/ischaemia. The hippocampus contains the highest concentration of both mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors and the balance between MR/GR activation influences cell birth and death. MR occupation appears to promote prosurvival actions, while GR overactivation favours neurodegeneration. It has been widely recognized that core body temperature is a critical determinant of the severity of hypoxic–ischemic brain injury; indeed, hyperthermia exacerbates the degree of damage. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of elevated body temperature in newborn rats under control conditions or during neonatal exposure to a critical anoxia, on changes of MR and GR mRNA expression in the rat hippocampus. 2-day-old rats were exposed to anoxia in 100% nitrogen atmosphere. Rectal temperature was kept at 33 °C (typical for the rat neonates), or elevated to a level typical for febrile (39 °C) adults. Control rats were exposed to atmospheric air under the respective thermal conditions. The changes in MR and GR mRNA expression in hippocampus were examined 24 h after exposure. Our data show that hyperthermia with or without added anoxia, causes induction of MR mRNA expression in neonatal rat hippocampus without any effect on GR mRNA expression. We suggest this elevation of MR plays an important role in modulating the survival of neurons in the injured hippocampus.     

Disparities in the treatment of patients with IL-2 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

ObjectivesThe incidence of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) is rising. To date, interleukin-2 (IL-2) is the only treatment offering a complete response rate for mRCC. We wish to test the hypothesis that the combination of restricted availability and expense associated with IL-2 administration results in differential access to the medication based on race and sex, despite similar clinical indications for its use.MethodsWe used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) to clinically characterize subjects with mRCC diagnosed from 1992 through 2002. We linked these subjects to claims identified in the CMS databases. We then assigned subjects to cohorts receiving radical nephrectomy, IL-2, both, or neither. A logistic model was created to identify factors that had significant independent effects on the receipt of IL-2.ResultsThree thousand seven hundred thirty individuals were identified with mRCC. After controlling for other variables, female subjects were less likely to receive IL-2 (O.R. 0.80). African American subjects were also less likely to receive IL-2 (O.R 0.55). Married individuals were much more likely to receive IL-2 (O.R 1.9).ConclusionsAfrican Americans and women were much less likely to be treated with IL-2 after controlling for relevant clinical variables. These data document that the only therapy offering a complete response to patients with mRCC is less frequently given to those who are African American or female. It is possible that the racial and gender-based disparities in treatment with IL-2 will be replicated with newer, expensive treatment options for mRCC. Further prospective investigation into mitigating barriers to receipt of effective care for mRCC is urgently needed.     

广东地区变应性结膜炎变应原筛选及预防

目的 观察广东地区变应性结膜炎患者气源性变应原的分布情况,为预防方案提供科学依据.方法 采用17种吸入性变应原对广东地区138例患有变应性结膜炎的患者进行皮内试验.结果 138例符合条件的变应性结膜炎患者的变应原皮肤实验阳性率以螨(122/138,88.41%)最高,其次为屋尘(88/138,63.71%)、刺苋菜(87/138,63.04%)、蟑螂(79/138,57.24%)、秋季花粉(75/138,54.35%)、垫料(75/138,54.35%)、蚕蛹(74/138,53.62%)、蜜蜂(65/138,47.10%)等.结论 螨、屋尘是广东地区变应性结膜炎的最常见变应原,临床上应重视环境对其预防的重要意义.     

乌梅丸的组方配伍特点与慢性肝病的治疗

通过分析《伤寒论》厥阴病篇的条文，得出厥阴病的病机是寒热夹杂、上热下寒；厥阴病主方是乌梅丸；乌梅丸的组方配伍特点是：辛酸温为主，佐以苦甘，寒温并用，辛开苦降，刚柔共济，有收有发，攻补兼施，体用同调，和水火而顺阴阳。比较慢性肝病与厥阴病的临床表现及病机，二者有相通之处，认为乌梅丸可以用于指导慢性肝病的治疗。     

中药药效/药动学(PK/PD)研究进展

综述了中药药效/药动学(PK/PD)近十几年来的研究进展,包括其研究目的和内容、研究方法等,以及所面临的问题。