Possible contribution of follicular interleukin-1beta to nitric oxide generation in human pre-ovulatory follicles

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between follicular nitric oxide (NO) metabolite concentrations and several related variables, with special reference to follicular interleukin- 1beta (IL-1beta). The follicular fluid from the leading and secondary follicles was collected individually from 20 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, and the concentrations of nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) were determined fluorometrically using 2,3- diaminonaphthalene. Both follicular nitrite (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and nitrate (r = 0.49, P < 0.001) were found to be significantly correlated with follicular IL-1beta concentrations. There were also significant positive correlations between follicular nitrate and the number of oocytes retrieved (P < 0.01) and serum oestradiol concentration on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration (P < 0.05). When follicular cells were incubated in vitro with 10 ng/ml of IL-1beta for 24 h, nitrate generation was significantly (P < 0.01) elevated compared with the control. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that follicular IL-1beta and the number of developing follicles are significant variables that affect follicular NO concentrations, and points to the possible contribution of IL-1beta to NO generation in human preovulatory follicles.      

Lack of correlation between expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein and bcl-2 oncoprotein in vivo.

AIMS--To evaluate whether there is any correlation between the expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein (LMP) and oncoprotein bcl-2 in the lymph node biopsy specimens of a Chinese patient with EBV-related reactive lymphoproliferation who later developed T cell lymphoma after a short period of time. METHODS--Immunohistochemistry, with a standard alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method and New Fuchsin as a chromogen, was used for single staining of bcl-2 or LMP. Double immunostaining combining APAAP and indirect immunofluorescence was performed for dual labelling of LMP and bcl-2. RESULTS--bcl-2 was expressed in 10-30% of cells in the first lymph node biopsy specimen (EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder) and 30-50% of cells in the second lymph node biopsy specimen (T cell lymphoma). LMP was expressed in the first biopsy specimen but not in the second. Double immunostaining results showed that around 78% of LMP positive cells were bcl-2 negative and 94% bcl-2 positive cells were LMP negative. Among the very small fraction of LMP and bcl-2 double positive cells, the intensity of bcl-2 staining was heterogeneous and was not always stronger than that observed in LMP negative bcl-2 positive cells. CONCLUSIONS--The expression of bcl-2 protein is independent of LMP protein status in vivo. Several mechanisms may be involved in EBV associated lymphomagenesis, and bcl-2 induction may occur independently of LMP expression.     

The influence of normal human ageing on automatic movements

There is evidence that aged normal subjects have more difficulty in achieving automaticity than young subjects. The underlying central neural mechanism for this phenomenon is unclear. In the present study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the effect of normal ageing on automaticity. Aged healthy subjects were asked to practice self-initiated, self-paced, memorized sequential finger movements with different complexity until they could perform the tasks automatically. Automaticity was evaluated by having subjects perform a secondary task simultaneously with the sequential movements. Although it took more time, most aged subjects eventually performed the tasks automatically at the same level as the young subjects. Functional MRI results showed that, for both groups, sequential movements activated similar brain regions before and after automaticity was achieved. No additional activity was observed in the automatic condition. While performing automatic movements, aged subjects had greater activity in the bilateral anterior lobe of cerebellum, premotor area, parietal cortex, left prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, caudate nucleus and thalamus, and recruited more areas, including the pre-supplementary motor area and the bilateral posterior lobe of cerebellum, compared to young subjects. These results indicate that most healthy aged subjects can perform some complex motor tasks automatically. However, aged subjects appear to require more brain activity to perform automatically at the same level as young subjects. This appears to be the main reason why aged subjects have more difficulty in achieving automaticity.     

肿瘤光动力治疗中组织氧含量的动态模型研究

目的：分析肿瘤光动力治疗中的组织氧含量的变化规律，研究影响肿瘤光动力治疗效果的与氧相关的因素,探讨改进光动力治疗的途径。方法：建立肿瘤光动力治疗中氧含量的动态模型，并采用Crank—Nicolson离散方法解析该模型，在时间域和空间域上，分析光动力过程中肿瘤氧含量的动态变化过程，研究光照的光功率密度、肿瘤初始氧含量等因素对光动力疗效的影响，并比较间断光照和连续光照两种方式的不同疗效。结果：肿瘤氧含量随着治疗时间和离血管的距离呈衰减趋势，光动力反应只发生在血管附近的有限区域，且区域大小与初始氧含量密切相关．在较高的初始氧含量下，更大区域的氧含量因为处于阈值Cth以上，所以能发生光动力反应。当采用较低的光功率密度光照治疗时,肿瘤氧含量衰减比高功率密度下慢；当采用间断光照进行光动力治疗时，在治疗黑暗期肿瘤氧含量能得到回升．有利于光照期的治疗。结论：初始氧含量较高的情况下治疗效果更好；在较低的光功率密度下，光动力反应较难进行，但是有利于保护肿瘤供氧源的工作。在较低的初始氧含量下，间断光照方式的疗效要比连续光照要好。     

环孢素A体外诱导HL—60细胞凋亡的研究

目的：观察环孢素Ａ是否有诱导白血病细胞凋亡的作用。方法：应用细胞形态学检查、二苯胺法ＤＮＡ片段化定量，ＤＮＡ凝胶电泳及流式细胞术等方法观察细胞凋亡。结果：ＣｓＡ５０ｍｇ／Ｌ作用ＨＬ－６０细胞４ｈ，ＤＮＡ片段率显著增高，达（２８．２±５．８）％，而对照组仅为（１２．５±１．７）％（Ｐ＜０．０１，ｎ＝１０）。光镜及电镜检查见细胞核固缩，碎裂，有凋亡小体形成。ＤＮＡ电泳显示典型的ＤＮＡｌａｄｄｅｒ。流式细胞术检测发现ＣｓＡ５０ｍｇ／Ｌ作用ＨＬ－６０细胞６ｈ凋亡细胞率为４９．７％，而空白组仅为９．１％。ＣｓＡ诱导ＨＬ－６０细胞ＤＮＡ片段化呈剂量和时间依赖性。结论：ＣｓＡ在体外能诱导ＨＬ－６０细胞凋亡。     

CD3ζ链基因在脐带血T细胞及其CD4+和CD8+T细胞亚群中的表达特点

目的 了解脐带血T细胞及其CD4 和CD8 T细胞亚群的信号传导分子CD3ζ基因的表达特点.方法 采用SYBR Green Ⅰ荧光定量PCR和相对定量分析法检测60例脐带血单个核细胞和12例纯化脐带血CD4 及CD8 T细胞的CD3ζ基因的表达情况,以β2微球蛋白基因(β2M)作为内参,采用相对定量公式:2-△Ct×100%,计算CD3ζ基因相对mRNA表达量,60例健康成人作为对照.并根据荧光定量PCR熔解曲线特点和序列分析了解CD3ζ基因突变情况.结果 全部脐带血和健康成人外周血单个核细胞均表达CD3ζ基因,不同个体CD3ζ基因表达量有所差异,脐带血T细胞CD3ζ基因相对mRNA表达量为6.7%±5.56%,CD4 和CD8 T细胞的CD3ζ基因相对mRNA表达量分别为6.74%±2.0%和6.88%±1.76%,三者CD3ζ基因表达量均明显高于健康成人(P=0.000,P=0.034,P=0.000).序列分析结果显示尚未发现国外文献所报道的ζ链剪接异构体.结论 本研究率先报道了脐带血T细胞及其CD4 和CD8 T细胞亚群的CD3ζ基因mRNA的表达水平,为进一步了解脐带血T细胞免疫学特点提供新的基础资料.     

神经营养素受体在人外周血T细胞中表达的研究

目的 研究人外周血CD4^ /CD8^ T细胞4种神经营养素受体基因的转录。方法 应用尼龙手法分离出T细胞，磁式细胞分离法（MACS）分离CD4^ /CD8^ T细胞亚群，再以RT－PCR法研究4种神经营养素受体在两种T细胞亚群上的表达。结果 未经刺激的CD4^ /CD8^ T细胞亚群不表达任何神经营养素受体。经PHA或PPD刺激后，CD4^ /CD8^ T细胞亚群表达trkA,CD8^ T细胞亚群表达trkC；而在各种状态下的T细胞上均未见表达trkB及p75^NGFR。结论神经营养素受体在两种T细胞亚群中有不同的表达格局，提示不同T细胞亚群受神经营养素调节的模式可能各不相同。