Effect of an oxytocin antagonist on plasma oxytocin levels during nocturnal uterine contractions in the pregnant baboon.

TT-235 is a potent oxytocin (OT) antagonist that blocks the action of OT at the receptor level. Previous studies have shown that pregnant baboons demonstrate nocturnal uterine contractions induced by OT as they near delivery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in plasma OT levels following uterine contraction blockage with TT-235. A tethered pregnant baboon model in its last trimester of pregnancy was used. Three blocks of arterial blood samples, immediately before, plus 1 h and plus 2 h following an OT antagonist injection, were collected once nocturnal uterine contractions were detected. Each block consisted of a continuous 10 min withdrawal with 10 samples per block (1 ml/min). A TT-235 dosage of 300 micrograms/kg and saline for control were utilized. Uterine activities were monitored as pressure changes in the amniotic fluid, and the frequency and mean amplitude of contractile activity per 10 min intervals were expressed as contractile force. Plasma OCT levels were determined by a radioimmunoassay following plasma extraction with petroleum ether. The contractile force was decreased by 77% (p < 0.05) within 2 h after TT-235 administration while it increased 23% following saline infusion. Plasma OT levels were unchanged following saline infusion while they increased 82% (p < 0.05) 2 h after the administration of TT-235. If a positive feedback existed between uterine contractions and OT release, one would expect plasma OT levels to be decreased with contractile activity following TT-235 infusion. Since this is not the case in the present study, the data suggest that there is either a negative feedback or an independent relationship between nocturnal uterine contractions and OT release.     

遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系分析

目的:分析一遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系的发病情况及病变特征,明确其遗传方式,为进一步基因定位和克隆奠定基础。方法:2003-05在中国山东某市发现一遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系,先证者为1名43岁男性牙釉质发育不全患者。该家系现存活3代,共有36名家庭成员。对先证者及其家族进行口腔检查和全身检查,制备牙齿磨片镜下观察,对该患者及其亲属成员进行家系调查,系谱分析,明确可能的遗传方式。结果:①口腔及全身临床表现:口腔检查可见大量牙石,釉质病变涉及全口牙齿,牙体呈黄褐色,磨耗重,釉质易碎裂剥脱。X射线显示牙釉质密度基本与牙本质相同,髓腔形态未见异常。临床表现符合Witkop1989年分类中的钙化不全型牙釉质发育。全身系统检查排除系统性疾病。无四环素用药史,家族中无近亲结婚者,附近居民无相似病变。②牙齿磨片观察结果:可见釉丛及釉板明显,且数目增多,表明釉质发育较差。③遗传方式:该家系36名成员,3代中均有患者,共检出遗传性牙釉质发育不全患者13人,其中男7例,女6例,传递方式符合常染色体显性遗传的特点。结论:该家系为常染色体显性遗传性钙化不全型牙釉质发育不全家系,为下一步定位该家系致病基因奠定基础。     

The Treatment of Septicemia in Pacemaker Patients

The authors analyzed the data of seven patients who had undergone open heart surgery because of pacemaker endocarditis in the past 4 years. Repeated surgical interventions on the pacemaker system were found to be the most common predisposing factors. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common causative organisms. Two-dimensional echocardiography was important in the diagnosis of cases with atypical clinical picture and negative blood cultures. We concluded that: (1) any pacemaker patient with fever should be considered to have a pacemaker endocarditis; (2) all of these patients should be examined by two-dimenensional echocardiography; and (3) the total removal of the infected hardware seems to be the only way to achieve complete recovery.     

原花青素的抗氧化作用

目的:概述原花青素的结构特点、药理特性,探讨并分析原花青素的抗氧化作用及其在体育领域内的发展前景,旨在为此天然高效的抗氧化剂的开发利用提供一些理论的支持。方法:应用计算机检索Medline 1960-01/2006-08关于原花青素文章。检索词“proanthocyanidin”并限定文章的语种类为English。同时利用计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1960-01/2006-08的相关文章,限定文章语言种类为中文,检索词“原花青素”。结果:原花青素是一种良好的氧游离基清除剂和脂质过氧化抑制剂。可有效清除超氧阴离子自由基和羟基自由基,也参与磷脂、花生四烯酸的新陈代谢和蛋白质磷酸化,保护脂质不发生过氧化损伤。原花青素为强有力的金属螯合剂,可螯合金属离子,在体内形成惰性化合物。有保护和稳定维生素C,有助于维生素C吸收的作用。结论:原花青素拥有强有力的抗氧化、清除自由基以及改善体循环的特殊功效,并以高效、低毒、高生物利用度而著称,原花青素的多种生物学功效在预防和治疗疾病中将发挥越来越大的作用。     

Cerebral Embolism Due to a Retained Pacemaker Lead: A Case Report

There are only a few reported cases of a pacemaker lead migrating inadvertently into the left atrium or ventricle. An unusual complication of unremoved, unwanted pacemaker lead is presented. The free tip of the lead caused cerebral embolism after perforating the interatrial septum.     

Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA Sequences in Liver in HBsAg Seronegative Patients with Liver Disease with and without Anti-HBc Antibodies

Excluding studies from Brechot and co-workers, little supporthas been found for a role of the hepatitis B virus in the pathogenesisof HBsAg seronegative patients with predominantly chronic liverdiseases, including primary liver cancer. In this study liverDNA from 59 predominantly British patients (four cases withpaired biopsies, 6–12 months apart) with different, mostlychronic, liver diseases was analysed by molecular hybridization.All were seronegative for HBsAg and serum hepatitis B virusDNA (dot blot hybridization) and their liver diseases were believedto be unrelated to hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis Bvirus DNA was detected in liver of 11 (18.6 per cent) patients;nine had episomal(3.2 Kb) DNA and eight had higher molecularweight bands suggesting integrated forms. Six patients werealso seronegative for anti-HBc. Patients of UK and non-UK originwere equally represented. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detectedin serum of six of nine patients tested using the polymerasechain reaction. The detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in liverand in serum by this assay in a significant proportion of patientswith chronic liver disease, hitherto unsuspected of being hepatitisB virus-related, suggests a possible role for this virus inlow- as well as high-prevalence countries.     

跟骨定量超声骨质测量参数与骨密度及骨组织形态计量学指标的关系

目的:分析跟骨定量超声骨质测量中各参数与骨密度及形态计量学指标的相关性。方法:选择2004-01/2005-12广州市第六人民医院和中山大学三院骨科小腿以上截肢患者38例,将其跟骨定量超声测定的超声振幅衰减平均值与健康青年人骨峰值进行比较,>-2.5 SD者为骨量正常组(12例),<-2.5 SD者为骨质疏松组(26例)。分别进行跟骨定量超声、双能X线骨密度测量仪及骨形态计量学测量,应用直线相关分析法分析跟骨定量超声测定中各参数与骨密度及骨组织形态计量学各指标的相关性。结果:38例全部进入结果分析。①骨质疏松组跟骨超声振幅衰减平均值和骨硬度指数值均小于骨量正常组(P<0.01)。②骨量正常组跟骨骨密度值显著高于骨质疏松组[(352±16),(233±14)mg/cm2,P<0.01]。③骨量正常组跟骨平均骨小梁间距或弥散度低于骨质疏松组而松质骨体积高于骨质疏松组(P<0.05)。④超声振幅衰减平均值和骨硬度指数与骨密度呈直线正相关(r=0.814,0.326,P<0.01,0.05)。⑤超声传播速度与骨小梁游离末端、平均骨小梁间距呈直线负相关(r=-0.688,-0.712,P<0.01),与小梁间连点数、松质骨体积呈直线正相关(r=0.672,0.794,P<0.01);骨硬度指数与平均骨小梁间距呈直线负相关(r=-0.358,P<0.05),与松质骨体积呈直线正相关(r=0.513,P<0.01)。结论:跟骨定量超声测量中,超声振幅衰减平均值能较好地反映骨的密度,超声传播速度能较好地反映骨的质量,而骨硬度指数能较综合地反映骨强度的改变。