The effect of varying impact energy on diffuse axonal injury in the rat brain: a preliminary study

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is seen as widespread damage in the white matter of brain characterized by morphological changes to axons throughout the brain and brain stem. The current study attempted to investigate the effect of increasing impact energy on the presence and severity of DAI in corpus callosum (CC). DAI was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats using an injury model adapted from Marmarou et al. in 1994. A 450-g cylindrical brass weight was dropped from three different heights (2.0 m, 1.5 m and 1.0 m) on to a metal helmet affixed to the skull of the rats. In the sham group, rats underwent a surgical procedure with no impact. After a 24-h survival period the animals were transcardially perfused. The brain was removed and the cerebral hemispheres were sectioned with a vibrotome and stained by silver impregnation technique. The CC of all the impacted rats showed DAI in the form of beaded axons, retraction balls and vacuole-like enlargements. The axonal injury was most severe in the 2-m group, while mildest in the 1-m group. In the sham group, axons appeared to be normal. This study demonstrates evidence of graded DAI depending on the impact energy. Such data is useful for mathematical modeling of axonal injury in rat brain using the same impact parameters and potential determination of injury thresholds for neural trauma. Electronic Publication     

Intraspecific density-dependent effects on growth and fecundity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplosentis nudus</Emphasis> (Harada, 1938) Pichelin et Cribb, 2001 (Acanthocephala,Cavisomidae)

During June and July of 2007, a total of 130 specimens of the fish Rastrelliger kanagurta Cuvier (Teleostei, Scombridae), ranging between 19–31 cm in total length, were caught in the Red Sea off the coast of Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt, and examined for infections by acanthocephalans (65 fish/month). Of this number, 29 (22.30%) were slightly or heavily parasitized by the acanthocephalan Diplosentis nudus (Harada, 1938) Pichelin et Cribb, 2001 (Cavisomidae); no other helminth parasites were found in the intestine of R. kanagurta. Twenty-nine infrapopulations of D. nudus, ranging from 23–218 individuals were collected from the infected fishes. These infrapopulations were distributed in a well-defined fundamental niche along the intestine of R. kanagurta, where the distribution of male worms was not random with respect to female worms size and position and suggests that the male-male competition for access to female may be intense and may select for large males. No correlation between fish size and infrapopulation size was observed. Correlations between female-to-male sex ratio and infrapopulation size, numbers of females and their mean lengths, numbers of males and their mean lengths, mean female length and mean male length within infrapopulation were very strong, and clearly suggest that as the infrapopulation size increased, the number of females and their mean lengths decreased and the number of males and their mean lengths increased. Combination of these results strongly suggests density-dependent effects and competition between male worms. The relationship between the mean female length or size and the number of eggs within its pseudocoel was strongly positive; egg production by female worm significantly decreases as the infrapopulation size increases, suggesting density-dependent reduction in female worm fecundity. Tendency for the variability in male testes size was not significant in infrapopulations of D. nudus. All of these results are discussed.     

Fibrinolytic system of the armadillo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetophractus villosus</Emphasis> (Xenarthra,Dasypodidae)

The fibrinolytic mechanism in the armadillo Chaetophractus villosus (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Dasypodidae) quite unknown until now was studied. Results were compared with those corresponding to healthy adult human beings. Whole blood lysis time and diluted blood lysis time were not detectable in armadillos. Euglobulin clot lysis time and plasminogen activity (Plg) were lower than in healthy humans. We established the presence of the fibrinolytic system in Ch. villosus through the measurement of fibrin fibrinogen degradation products. The activity of the plasminogen activator inhibitor was two to four times greater than in healthy humans. The activity of the alpha 2 anti-plasmin (α2AP) was similar and displaced toward lower values. The Plg/α2AP relation was lower. The results obtained suggest that Ch. villosus has a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic profile. Our findings are not only the first contribution to elucidate the physiology of the fibrinolytic system in Xenarthra but also contribute to develop an animal model for studies in haemostasis and thrombosis.     

Ser80Ile mutation and a concurrent Pro25Leu variant of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">VHL</Emphasis> gene in an extended Hungarian von Hippel-Lindau family

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by development of cystic and tumorous lesions at multiple sites, including the brain, spinal cord, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, epididymis and eyes. The clinical phenotype results from molecular abnormalities of the VHL tumor suppressor gene, mapped to human chromosome 3p25-26. The VHL gene encodes two functionally active VHL proteins due to the presence of two translational initiation sites separated by 53 codons. The majority of disease-causing mutations have been detected downstream of the second translational initiation site, but there are conflicting data as to whether few mutations located in the first 53 codons, such as the Pro25Leu could have a pathogenic role. In this paper we report a large Hungarian VHL type 2 family consisting of 32 members in whom a disease-causing AGT80AAT (Ser80Ile) c.239G>A, p.Ser80Ile mutation, but not the concurrent CCT25CTT (Pro25Leu) c.74C>T, p.Pro25Leu variant co-segregated with the disease. To our knowledge, the Ser80Ile mutation has not been previously described in VHL type 2 patients with high risk of pheochromocytoma and renal cell cancer. Therefore, this finding represents a novel genotype-phenotype association and VHL kindreds with Ser80Ile mutation will require careful surveillance for pheochromocytoma. We concluded that the Pro25Leu variant is a rare, neutral variant, but the presence such a rare gene variant may make genetic counseling difficult.     

Active Cyclin A-CDK2 Complex, a Possible Critical Factor for Cell Proliferation in Human Primary Lung Carcinomas

Expression of cyclins A and E and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) was examined immunohistochemically in 190 cases of human lung carcinoma. Cyclin A and CDK2 were expressed in the majority of squamous cell carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and large cell carcinomas, but in significantly fewer cases of adenocarcinomas. Cyclin E was expressed in a minority of all subtypes. In particular, well differentiated cells in squamous cell carcinoma stained positively for cyclin E; in contrast, cyclin A was expressed in the nonkeratinized proliferating areas of the tumor nests. Immunoblotting revealed that all these proteins were expressed at higher levels in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Immunoprecipitation also revealed higher levels of cyclin A and cyclin E associated with CDK2 in tumor tissues. Furthermore, tumor tissues which exhibited higher cyclin A and CDK2 expression also had higher CDK2 kinase activity. However, cyclin E-associated kinase activity was barely detectable even in tumor samples exhibiting higher cyclin E expression. Consistent with these data, elevated expression of cyclin A correlated to shorter survival periods in contrast to expression of cyclin E, which correlated to longer survival periods. These results suggest that in human lung carcinomas, elevated expression of active cyclin A-CDK2 complexes with associated higher CDK2 kinase activity is critical for promoting cell cycle progression and unrestrained proliferation of tumor cells and can be a predictive marker for patients’ prognosis. On the other hand, immunohistochemical detection of cyclin E-CDK2 reflects accumulation of inactive forms of protein complexes, implying differentiation or senescence of the tumor and the better prognosis.     

中国汉族人群APOE等位基因频率的初步研究

载脂蛋白Ｅ（ａｐｏｌｉｐｏｐｒｏｔｅｉｎＥ，ＡＰＯＥ）基因是一个多功能基因，除调节脂类及脂蛋白代谢之外，近年来还发现它与Ａｌｚｈｅｉｍｅｒ病及Ⅲ型高血脂症等病之间有密切关系。为对上述疾病进行病因学研究，作者采用一步法ＰＣＲ技术对４３８名无亲缘关系的中国汉族健康受试者的ＡＰＯＥ基因进行分型，并计算其基因频率分布，结果表明，中国治疗人群ＡＰＯＥ３种等位基因的频率分别为：Ｅ２＝０．０４００，Ｅ３＝０．８     

Hematological reference intervals in argentine lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tupinambis merianae</Emphasis> (Sauria—Teiidae)

In order to establish referential hematological parameters, blood samples were taken from 100 healthy specimens of the Argentine tegu lizard (Tupinambis merianae) by means of venipuncture of ventral coccigeal vein. The determination of red blood cells, leukocyte and thrombocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, hematometric index and differential leukocyte count were performed, and compared with other saurian species. No statistically significant changes were observed as function as sex and age (p > 0.01). During winter, high values of red blood cell counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed (p < 0.01), while in summer significantly increased leukocyte and thrombocyte counts were observed (p < 0.01). The differential leukocyte counts were not affected by the studied factors.     

Spherical lesion phantoms for testing the performance of elastography systems

A set of three cubic one-litre phantoms containing spherical simulated lesions was produced for use in comparing lesion detection performance of different elastography systems. The materials employed are known to be stable in heterogeneous configurations regarding geometry and elastic contrast identical with (storage modulus of lesion material) / (storage modulus of background material), and regarding ultrasound and NMR properties. The materials mimic soft tissues in terms of elastic, ultrasound and NMR properties. Each phantom has only one value of elastic contrast (3.3, 4.6 or 5.5) and contains arrays of 1.6 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm diameter spherical simulated lesions. All the spheres of a given diameter are arranged in a regular array with coplanar centres. Elastograms of an array made with ultrasound allow determination of the depth range over which lesions of that diameter and elastic contrast can be detected. Two phantoms are made from agar-plus-gelatin-based materials, and one is made from oil-in-gelatin dispersions. The methods for producing the phantoms are described in detail. Lesion detection performances for two ultrasound systems, both operating at about 7.5 MHz and focused at about 5 cm, were quantified with distinctions between the two systems demonstrated. Neither system was capable of detecting any of the 1.6 mm lesions. Phantoms such as these should be useful in research labs that are refining hardware and/or software for elastography.     

烫伤后IL-6和IL-1α对大鼠外周血中性粒细胞凋亡的影响

目的:研究严重烫伤后血IL-6和IL-1α对中性粒细胞(PMN)凋亡的影响。方法:复制30%体表面积Ⅲ度烫伤大鼠模型;分离PMN,TUNEL荧光标记,流式细胞仪分析细胞凋亡;PMNcaspase3活性以荧光免疫吸附酶法测定;血清IL-6和IL-1α水平以酶联免疫法测定。结果:血清IL-6水平(μg/L)在伤后各组(3、6、12、24、48h依次分别为9.14±1.16、12.49±1.14、3.01±0.75、1.41±0.28和1.56±0.43)和IL-1α水平(ng/L)在伤后3、6、12h组(90.08±8.39、320.93±14.48和47.84±5.19)均分别显著高于伤前对照组IL-6(0.24±0.07)和IL-1α(27.65±4.86)水平(P<0.05);伤后各组PMN凋亡率(%)按时点依次为9.89±2.00、4.98±1.35、1.31±0.72、2.49±1.87和6.88±1.13显著少于伤前组13.66±3.88(P<0.05);PMNcaspase-3的活性测定结果与PMN的凋亡表现相一致。结论:大鼠烫伤后外周血PMN凋亡明显延迟;IL-6和IL-1α等细胞因子是重要的影响因素,减少细胞内caspase-3的激活可能是其机制之一。     

大鼠失血性休克对内毒素诱导TNFα产生的影响及其分子机制

笔者观察了大鼠失血性休克（ＨＳ）对内毒素诱导肿瘤坏死因子α（ＴＮＦα）产生的影响及其细胞来源，并结合休克后组织内脂多糖结合蛋白（ＬＢＰ）ｍＲＮＡ的表达变化，对其分子机制进行了初步分析。研究结果显示，静脉注射ＬＰＳ后９０ｍｉｎ，ＨＳ＋ＬＰＳ组血浆ＴＮＦα水平分别较ＨＳ组高２０倍（Ｐ＜０．０１），ＬＰＳ组高２．７倍（Ｐ＜０．０５）；休克和复苏后，外周血白细胞产生ＴＮＦα的能力明显受抑，而肝Ｋｕｐｆｅｒ＇ｓ细胞产生ＴＮＦα的能力却明显增强；休克后不仅肝组织内ＬＢＰｍＲＮＡ表达增多，肺、肾组织内ＬＢＰｍＲＮＡ也相继表达增加。研究结果提示，失血性休克能显著增敏内毒素诱导ＴＮＦα的产生作用，其机制可能与休克后组织内ＬＢＰ表达上调有关，组织巨噬细胞群（如Ｋｕｐｆｅｒ细胞）可能是休克后细胞因子产生的主要来源。