Eotaxin is required for the baseline level of tissue eosinophils

Eotaxin is an eosinophil-selective chemokine that is constitutively expressed in a variety of organs such as the intestine. Previous studies have demonstrated that the recruitment of eosinophils during inflammation is partially dependent on eotaxin, but the function of constitutive eotaxin during homeostasis has not been examined. To elucidate the biological role of this molecule, we now examine tissue levels of eosinophils in healthy states in wild-type and eotaxin-deficient mice. The lamina propria of the jejunum of wild-type mice is demonstrated to express eotaxin mRNA, but not mRNA for the related monocyte chemoattractant proteins. Wild-type mice contained readily detectable eosinophils in the lamina propria of the jejunum. In contrast, mice genetically deficient in eotaxin had a large selective reduction in the number of eosinophils residing in the jejunum. The reduction of tissue eosinophils was not limited to the jejunum, because a loss of thymic eosinophils was also observed in eotaxin-deficient mice. These studies demonstrate that eotaxin is a fundamental regulator of the physiological trafficking of eosinophils during healthy states. Because a variety of chemokines are constitutively expressed, their involvement in the baseline trafficking of leukocytes into nonhematopoietic tissue should now be considered.     

ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law 10: surrogacy

This 10th statement of the Task Force on Ethics and Law considers ethical questions specific to varied surrogacy arrangements. Surrogacy is especially complex as the interests of the intended parents, the surrogate, and the future child may differ. It is concluded that surrogacy is an acceptable method of assisted reproductive technology of the last resort for specific medical indications, for which only reimbursement of reasonable expenses is allowed.     

瘦素在大鼠心肌缺血-再灌注损伤中作用的探讨

目的:观察瘦素对心肌缺血/再灌注损伤(MIRI)大鼠模型心肌的影响及在MIRI中的作用.方法:24只雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组,分别为假手术组、MIRI组、瘦素预处理(Leptin+MIRI)组和瘦素处理(MIRI+Leptin)组,每组各6只.4组在MIRI手术后120min处死大鼠,观察心肌梗死面积、心肌瘦素水平以及血清瘦素、磷酸肌酸激酶(CK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、肌钙蛋白T(TnT)水平.结果:与MIRI组比较,瘦素处理增加心肌梗死面积和升高心肌瘦素水平及血清瘦素、LDH、AST、TnT水平,瘦素预处理可减少心肌的梗死面积和降低心肌瘦素水平及血清瘦素、CK、LDH、AST、TnT水平.结论:瘦素处理和高水平的瘦素加重了MIRI,瘦素预处理可能通过减少心肌和血清的瘦素水平以减轻MIRI.     

加压空心钉式外固定架治疗股骨粗隆间骨折的生物力学分析

目的 通过加压空心钉式外固定架和普通外固定支架两种固定方式治疗老年股骨粗隆间骨折,行生物力学实验分析,评价两者固定的生物力学效果,为临床提供理论依据.方法 采集8具新鲜人体股骨标本,进行贴片模拟临床生物力学试验,比较两者的生物力学特性.结果 加压空心钉式外固定架与普通外固定支架相比,在抗压、抗弯和抗扭等生物力学性能上具有优势.抗压强度提高14％ ～ 17％、刚度提高17％～18％,抗扭转强度提高了27％,扭转刚度增大25％,失效载荷提高16％.结论 应用加压空心钉式外固定架治疗老年股骨粗隆间骨折安全、有效,生物力学性能优越,固定可靠,尤其对于老年股骨粗隆间骨折的治疗是十分理想的选择.     

Health-related quality of life of children with a positive carrier status for inherited cardiovascular diseases

Familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and long QT Syndrome are genetic cardiovascular conditions which may lead to sudden cardiac death at a young age. Preventive measures include lifestyle modifications, medications, and/or cardiac devices. Hence, identification of carrier children can protect them for the potentially life threatening consequences at a young age. Yet, informing children about their genetic risk status and subjecting them to treatment may have negative consequences. This preliminary study aimed to explore (1) how the health-related quality of life of carrier children compares to the quality of life of Dutch children in general; and (2) to what extent the carrier children's quality of life and their parents' perception thereof concur. Our method involved carrier children (n = 35), aged between 8 and 18 years, and their parents (n = 37) who completed a self-report questionnaire. Children's health-related quality of life was assessed with a children and parent version of the KIDSCREEN. Dutch reference data were available from a representative national sample. Our results show no statistically significant differences in scores between carrier children and the reference group. Also, no differences were found between carrier children and their parents' ratings, with the exception of the scale "psychological well being". Parents rated their child's psychological well being significantly lower. We identified no problems with the well-being of carrier children as compared to a representative sample of peers. This may offer some initial reassurance to those who have concerns about the implications of genetically testing children for one of these cardiovascular conditions. Yet, attention to possible problems in these children remains warranted.