Plasmid DNA encoding transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses chronic disease in a streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model.

Transforming growth factor beta is a potent immunomodulator with both pro- and antiinflammatory activities. Based on its immunosuppressive actions, exogenous TGF-beta has been shown to inhibit autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To further explore the potential therapeutic role of TGF-beta, we administered a plasmid DNA encoding human TGF-beta1 intramuscularly to rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. A single dose of 300 microg plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1, but not vector DNA, administered at the peak of the acute phase profoundly suppressed the subsequent evolution of chronic erosive disease typified by disabling joint swelling and deformity (articular index = 8.17+/-0. 17 vs. 1.25+/-0.76, n = 6, day 26, P < 0.01). Moreover, delivery of the TGF-beta1 DNA even as the chronic phase commenced virtually eliminated subsequent inflammation and arthritis. Both radiologic and histopathologic as well as molecular evidence supported the marked inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 DNA on synovial pathology, with decreases in the inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, cartilage and bone destruction, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines that characterize this model. Increases in TGF-beta1 protein were detected in the circulation of TGF-beta1 DNA-treated animals, consistent with the observed therapeutic effects being TGF-beta1 dependent. These observations provide the first evidence that gene transfer of plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1 provides a mechanism to deliver this potent cytokine that effectively suppresses ongoing inflammatory pathology in arthritis.     

糖耐量试验对评价肝癌患者肝脏储备功能的价值

绝大多数肝细胞性肝癌患者合并肝硬变，为预测其对肝切除的耐受性，给正确选择切肝患者提供依据，作者对６２例切肝者和４９例未切肝者手术前后的糖耐量试验（ＯＧＴＴ）和肝组织病理学进行了对比研究。结果：术前ＯＧＴＴ曲地Ｐ型者切肝后恢复顺利；Ｌ型者对肝切的耐受性差，术后易发生肝功能衰竭等并发症，其肝硬化和蔼多为ＣⅢ或ＣⅣ级，曲线形态界于Ｐ和Ｌ型之间的Ｉ型患者２９例用肝门区域血管阻断法切肝，并在阻断血管前使用预     

慢性缺氧大鼠肺组织钙调素活性研究

为探讨钙调素在慢性缺氧性肺动脉高压发病中的作用，将４０只Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠随机分为四组，Ｉ组为正常对照组，不接受任何处理。Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组为实验组，分别间断缺氧１、２、３周，而后采用火焰原子吸收分光光度法及磷酸二酯酶法测定四组大鼠肺组织Ｃａ＾２＋含量及ＣａＭ活性。     

High-resolution loading tests in the study of genetic heterogeneity in gangliosidosis fibroblasts

Summary GM₁- and GM₂-gangliosides were isolated from brain and radio-labelled. The labelled moieties were localized by hydrolysis with lysosomal enzymes, followed by thin-layer chromatography of the products. High-resolution loading tests with labelled gangliosides were developed and found to differentiate infantile and juvenile forms of GM₁- and GM₂-gangliosidoses as well as the identification of B, O and AB types of GM₂-gangliosidosis.     

发育期大鼠高热惊厥前后海马γ-氨基丁酸B受体亚基表达的变化

目的：研究高热惊厥(febrile seizures，FS)对发育期大鼠脑内γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid，GABA)B受体亚基GABABR1与GABARR2蛋白表达的影响。方法：采用热水浴诱导大鼠高热惊厥模型。隔日诱导惊厥1次，共诱导10次，末次惊厥后24h处死大鼠。发育期大鼠随机分为3组：对照组(n＝24)，1次高热处理组(n＝28)，10次高热处理组(n＝40)。高热处理组根据是否出现惊厥再分为1次高热惊厥组(FS1，n＝16)与1次高热未惊厥组(F1，n＝12)，10次高热惊厥组(FS10，n＝15)与10次高热未惊厥组(F10，n＝13)。采用免疫组化方法观察不同次数高热惊厥大鼠脑内GABABR1与GABABR2蛋白表达的变化。结果：FS10大鼠海马齿状回、CAl-CA3区GABABRl和GABABR2蛋白表达明显低于F10、F1、FSl和对照组；F10大鼠上述脑区GABABRl和GABABR2蛋白表达低于F1、FS1和对照组；F1及FS1大鼠与对照组相比差异无显著性；海马各区GABABR1与GABABR2表达的改变大部分平行，但10次高热惊厥后GABABR2在CA1—CA3区下降更明显，而GABABR1在齿状回下降更明显。结论：反复高热惊厥及反复高热均可使发育期大鼠脑内GABABR亚基蛋白表达降低，高热惊厥的影响较单纯高热更为明显，提示GABABR亚单位与发育期大鼠高热惊厥及其脑损伤密切相关。GABABR1与GABABR2改变的不平行可能与受体亚单位组合的可塑性改变有关，这种改变可能导致抑制功能的改变。     

Prior immunologic experience potentiates the subsequent antibody response when Salmonella strains are used as vaccine carriers.

Prior immunologic experience with homologous and heterologous serotype Salmonella strains potentiated the subsequent antibody response when the same strains were used as vaccine carriers of foreign antigens. This potentiation was positively correlated with the appearance of antibody directed against the lipopolysaccharide of the carrier strain. Both serum and mucosal antibody responses against the foreign antigen increased over time. Antibody responses in sera of animals primed with either the homologous or heterologous serotype strain were not statistically significantly different, while animals primed with the homologous serotype strain developed significantly better mucosal antibody responses against the foreign antigen.     

脾脏钝伤的CT诊断

本文回顾性分析了３２例脾脏钝伤ＣＴ平扫的表现；对脾损伤进行ＣＴ分类；指出腹腔积血和脾周血块（“哨兵血块征”）在诊断脾损伤方面的作用。ＣＴ平扫诊断钝性脾脏损伤是一种敏感、可靠的方法，可帮助外科医生制订治疗方案。ＣＴ平扫诊断钝性脾损伤的灵敏度为９４％，诊断正确率为９１％     

Case Control Study of Chronic Bronchitis in glass Bangle Workers

Eighty-nine cases of chronic bronchitis were matched against167 asymptomatic controls from the glass bangle industry ofFirozabad. Factors of age, social status, smoking habit andduration of exposure were studied. Duration of exposure wasfound to be a factor contributing significantly to the causationof disease. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Dr B. N. Gupta, Division of Epidemilogy, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow P.O. Box 80, 226001, India