Neural network forecasts of the tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures.

A nonlinear forecast system for the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies over the whole tropical Pacific has been developed using a multi-layer perceptron neural network approach, where sea level pressure and SST anomalies were used as predictors to predict the five leading SST principal components at lead times from 3 to 15 months. Relative to the linear regression (LR) models, the nonlinear (NL) models showed higher correlation skills and lower root mean square errors over most areas of the domain, especially over the far western Pacific (west of 155 degrees E) and the eastern equatorial Pacific off Peru at lead times longer than 3 months, with correlation skills enhanced by 0.10-0.14. Seasonal and decadal changes in the prediction skills in the NL and LR models were also studied.     

Association of the GNAS1 gene variant with hypertension is dependent on alcohol consumption.

The beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding (Gs) protein system has been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system. The gene encoding the alpha-subunit of Gs proteins (GNAS1) is a candidate genetic determinant for hypertension. Because alcohol consumption is known to affect blood pressure partly through the beta-AR-Gs protein system, we examined the possible interaction between GNAS1 T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with hypertension in the present study. As a result, a non-significant but reasonable trend supporting the presence of an interaction was shown (p = 0.076). In line with this trend, the T393C polymorphism significantly interacted with drinking status in the association with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). Moreover, supporting the presence of an interaction, T allele carriers consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than CC homozygotes in non-drinkers and light drinkers. In contrast, CC homozygotes consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than T allele carriers in moderate to heavy drinkers. The present study also showed a significant interaction between the T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with pulse pressure (p = 0.026), reflected by a significant association between the T393C polymorphism and pulse pressure in moderate to heavy drinkers (p = 0.026). These findings may be helpful in conducting further molecular and biological studies on the relationship among the effects of alcohol, the beta-AR-Gs protein system, and hypertension.     

Ureteral obstruction caused by L-asparaginase-induced pancreatitis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

L-asparaginase, an effective antileukemia and antilymphoma agent, is toxic to many organ systems. We report a case of ureteral obstruction caused by L-asparaginase via the inflammatory complication of acute pancreatitis. The patient was an 11-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Six days after completing a 4-week induction therapy containing 9 doses of L-asparaginase, severe left abdominal pain developed. Abdominal computed tomography showed phlegmon formation anterior to the pancreatic head and in the left posterior pararenal space. The strands of inflammatory soft tissues encased the upper third of the left ureter, causing left hydroureter and left hydronephrosis. The ureteral obstruction resolved after insertion of a double-J catheter that remained in place for 66 days. This case suggests that L-asparaginase may play a role in the pathogenesis of ureteral obstruction in children receiving chemotherapy.     

多种底物在免疫金银染色检测抗核抗体试验中的联合应用

将多种底物联合应用于免疫金银染色检测ANA试验,与各底物单独应用比较,可明显改善检测的敏感性与核型显示。其中,两种鼠脏器印片联合应用的结果可与Hep-2细胞的结果相当,三种及四种鼠脏器印片联合应用的结果可与Hep-2细胞和一种鼠脏器印片联合应用的结果相当,且均不使正常人ANA阳性率明显升高。     

The epidemiology and surveillance of blood lead in Taiwan (R.O.C.): A report on the PRESS-BLL project

 To monitor the lead hazards in industries and to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in lead-exposed workers, a lead surveillance system (PRESS-BLLs) has been established and operated in Taiwan, Republic of China, since July 1993. A cohort of lead-exposed workers who received a periodic annual health examination at 55 accredited hospital laboratories was constructed. A total of 9807 separate BLL measurements were reported to the system in 1994. The mean BLL was 15.8 μg/dl in male workers and 11.6 μg/dl in female workers. The mean BLL of lead-exposed workers was significantly (P<0.05, z-test) higher than that of the general Taiwanese population (8.6 μg/dl for males and 6.7 μg/dl for females). In addition, the BLLs of 983 (10.0%) workers exceeded the regulatory action level (40 μg/dl for males; 30 μg/dl for females). The workplaces and homes of 57% of the workers with elevated BLLs were thoroughly investigated to determine the sources of lead contamination. These actions identified the causes of elevated BLLs and set up strategies to reduce workers’ lead exposure. The establishment of this occupational lead surveillance system represents a method for monitoring of lead hazards from occupational and environmental settings to prevent lead poisoning. The information acquired from the system can help in the setting up of a priority of prevention and the development of control measures. It is also useful for further monitoring of changes in the BLLs of the lead-exposed-worker cohort. The Health Department of Taiwan can use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of current industrial hygiene practice. Subjects with elevated BLLs have been medically treated and placed on long-term follow-up for sequelae. Received: 2 September 1996/Accepted: 29 November 1996     

Effect of Central Muscarine Receptor Blockade with DKJ-21 on the Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Stress-Induced Hypertensive Rats

Da-Nian Zhu, Long-Mei Xue, Peng Li. Effect of central muscarine receptor blockade. with DKJ-21 on the blood pressure and heart rote in stress-induced hypertensive rats.

The experiments were performed on Wistar or Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes divided at random into stress and control groups. The rats in the stress groups were put into cages and subjected to electric foot-shocks and noises for 9-15 days, which caused an increase in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). In hypertensive rats DKJ-21 (4mg/lml) was injected intravenously (i.v.), and 0.5-1.0h after administration the BP and HR dropped from the high level to normotensive level. In normotensive rats, however, administration of DKJ-21 had no effect on BP or HR. In separate groups of normotensive rats, pretreatment of DKJ-21 (4 mg/l ml, i.v.) blocked the pressor and tachycardiac effect induced by microinjection of physostigmine (0.4μg/0.1 /μl/site), corticosterone (40μg/0.1μl/site) or aldosterone (40 μg/0.1 μl/site) into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM). Furthermore, DKJ-21 also attenuated the enhancement of the pressor response to stimulation of the defense area in the midbrain, which was induced by microinjection of drugs (mentioned above) into the rVLM. These results indicate that i.v. DKJ-21 can selectively block the muscarinic receptors in the rVLM in stress-induced hypertensive rats, which suggests that abnormal enhancement of cholinergic mechanism in the rVLM may be related to hypertensive effects of corticoids in this area.     

大鼠脊髓缺血再灌流时脊髓神经元对躯体和内脏传入刺激的反应

５０只大鼠用乌拉坦麻醉，箭毒制动。通过阻断腹主动脉血流以模拟腰段脊髓的局部缺血和再灌流损伤，玻璃微电极记录Ｌ２节段脊髓单位放电（ＳＣＵＤｓ），观察缺血再灌流时脊髓神经元对腓神经刺激（ＰＮＶ），内脏大神经刺激（ＶＬＮＶ）及两者同时刺激（ＳＶ）的反应。结果在缺血前所记录的１３３个自发放电单位中，对３种刺激均产生兴奋（Ｅ）、抑制（Ｉ）及无反应（ＮＲ）３种形式的反应，表明大鼠Ｌ２节段脊髓存在躯体、内脏和躯体内脏反应性神经元，并有会聚和阻塞现象。在脊髓缺血再灌流时，神经元对ＰＮＶ、ＶＬＮＶ、ＳＶ也产生Ｅ、Ｉ、ＮＲ３种形式的反应，提示脊髓缺血再灌流时神经元对躯体和内脏传入刺激的反应形式不受影响；但缺血时ＳＣＵＤｓ对ＰＮＶ、ＶＬＮＶ产生反应的单位数减少，这表明脊髓缺血损伤时神经元对躯体和内脏传入刺激的反应性减弱，随着缺血损伤加重，脊髓神经元对躯体内脏信号的整合功能下降     

卡托普利对.OH所致异常血流动力学的保护作用

．ＯＨ生成液０．０５ｍｌ．１００ｇ＾－１经胶静脉注入心脏，可使麻醉大鼠的左心室收缩压力、左心室压力与心率乘积、左心室压力上升最大速率和左心室压力下降最大速率明显下降。