Analgesic and antipyretic effects of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Richard. Extract in rodents

The dried (elaterium) or fresh juice from Ecballium elaterium fruit is used in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions in popular medicine. In this study the elaterium is examined for its analgesic and antipyretic effects in several animal models. The elaterium exhibits both analgesic and antipyretic activities.     

前哨淋巴结活检术应用于外阴癌的初步研究

目的 探讨前哨淋巴结活检术(SLNB)应用于外阴癌的可行性.方法 选择2004年10月-2008年4月间于中国医学科学院肿瘤医院接受手术治疗、术中采用SLNB的外阴癌患者21例,其中处于研究前期(即2005年5月前)的11例患者采用染料法识别前哨淋巴结(SLN)、处于研究后期的10例患者采用核素-染料联合法识别SLN,术后行常规病理检查.以病理检查结果为金标准,观察SLNB的检测效果;并观察与SLNB相关的并发症的发生情况.结果 21例患者中,20例(95%)检出SLN,其中8例为单侧腹股沟、12例为双侧腹股沟.20例SLN阳性患者共检出83枚SLN,每例患者平均检出4.2枚(1～9枚),每侧腹股沟平均2.6枚(1～6枚).其中,染料法每例患者平均检出4.4枚、每侧腹股沟平均2.5枚,核素-染料联合法每例患者平均检出3.9枚、每侧腹股沟平均2.7枚,分别比较,差异均无统计学意义(t=0.459,P=0.652;t=-0.421,P=0.717).20例SLN阳性患者腹股沟浅组淋巴结中均检出SLN,其中1例双侧腹股沟深组淋巴结中也检出SLN.20例SLN阳性的患者中,8例(10侧腹股沟)术后病理检查显示腹股沟淋巴结转移,其中7例患者(9侧腹股沟)的转移淋巴结中均包括有SLN、1例(1侧腹股沟)出现假阴性.以SLN识别预测同侧腹股沟淋巴结转移的假阴性率为10%(1/10),阴性预测值为96%(22/23).未发现与SLNB相关的损伤及不良反应.结论 SLNB应用于外阴癌安全、可行,以SLN预测同侧腹股沟淋巴结转移具有较高准确性.     

Urinary mercapturic acid diastereoisomers in rats subchronically exposed to styrene and ethanol

 Styrene is stereoselectively oxidized by cytochrome P450 to its reactive metabolite, styrene oxide. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of styrene oxide can be conjugated with glutathione (GSH) to both (R)- and (S)-diastereoisomers of the specific mercapturic acids, N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (M1) and N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (M2). Several investigations have indicated different toxic potential of the (R)- and (S)-configurations of styrene oxide and its GSH- and N-acetyl-conjugates. In this study the mercapturic acid diastereoisomers were measured in the urine of rats exposed to styrene in combination with ethanol, a good inducer of styrene metabolism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given an isocaloric liquid diet containing ethanol (5% w/v) for 3 weeks. Starting from the 2nd week, the animals were also exposed to styrene vapours (300 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week) in a dynamic exposure chamber. Both the (R)- and (S)-diastereoisomers of the M1 and M2 as well as the conventional biomarkers, mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) were measured in urinary samples. Approximately 30 and 25% reduction of the levels of brain non-protein sulfhydryls (NPS) was observed in the animals given styrene and ethanol, respectively, while the combined ethanol and styrene treatment resulted in a 60% decrease. Ethanol consumption also resulted in higher urinary levels of the M1-R, M1-S and M2 metabolites associated with increased M1-R/S ratio and higher urinary MA excretion compared to animals treated with styrene. These results suggest that the urinary mercapturic acid diastereoisomers may be used as a noninvasive tool to examine stereoselective patterns of styrene metabolism in vivo, as well as their alterations caused by ethanol. These compound-specific mercapturic acids may also be valuable indicators of styrene-induced disorders of GSH homeostasis in nonaccessible organs. Received: 19 December 1995/Accepted: 10 May 1996     

Ultraviolet Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy Diagnosis of Human Stomach Malignant Tissues

To evaluate the potential of laser-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy for the detection of premalignant lesions of human stomach, fluorescence properties of stomach tissues have been investigated in vitro and in vivo. A specially made optical fibre probe and the multichannel fluorescence collection system have been used successfully in our research. Paper received 26 June 1997; accepted in revised form 31 October 1997.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor regulates normal urothelial regeneration

Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family and their receptors are involved in many cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, and differentiation. We have previously reported that these growth factors are expressed and have specific regulatory functions in an organ-like culture model of normal human urothelial cells. Here, we used this model to investigate the involvement of EGF receptor (EGFR) in human urothelial regeneration. Three 4-mm-diameter damaged areas were made in confluent normal human urothelial cell cultures with a biopsy punch. Regeneration was measured, on fixed stained cultures, with an image analyzer, at 4, 24, and 48 hours after injury. Cell proliferation was assessed by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. To identify EGF family factors potentially involved in the healing process, we studied the effect of these factors on damaged confluent cultures and the level of expression of mRNAs extracted from these cultures. EGFR inhibition of the proliferation and migration of urothelial cells was tested with (1). a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (AG1478) and (2). a blocking anti-EGFR antibody (LA22). Exogenously added amphiregulin, EGF, transforming growth factor-alpha and heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF) stimulated urothelial regeneration. The damaged areas were repaired by regrowth within 48 hours. Both AG1478 and LA22 inhibited the repair (by 50% and 30%, respectively), as well as proliferation and migration. This regeneration was accompanied by increased HB-EGF mRNA expression in cultures of cells from four of six subjects, but no corresponding change in EGFR protein level was observed. These results indicate that the EGFR signaling pathway is involved in urothelial regeneration. Our data support an autocrine role of HB-EGF in this process and suggest that the EGFR pathway is a potential therapeutic target for modulating urothelial cell proliferation.     

A novel autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness locus (DFNB35) maps to 14q24.1-14q24.3 in large consanguineous kindred from Pakistan

Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness is one of the most frequent forms of inherited hearing impairment. Over 30 autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss loci have been mapped, and 15 genes have been isolated. Of the over 30 reported autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) loci, the typical phenotype is prelingual non-progressive severe to profound hearing loss with the exception of DFNB8, which displays postlingual onset and DFNB13, which is progressive. In this report we describe a large inbred kindred from a remote area of Pakistan, comprising six generations and segregating autosomal recessive nonsyndromic prelingual deafness. DNA samples from 24 individuals were used for genome wide screen and fine mapping. Linkage analysis indicates that in this family the NSHL locus, (DFNB35) maps to a 17.54 cM region on chromosome 14 flanked by markers D14S57 and D14S59. Examination of haplotypes reveals a region that is homozygous for 11.75 cM spanning between markers D14S588 and D14S59. A maximum two-point LOD score of 5.3 and multipoint LOD score of 7.6 was obtained at marker D14S53. The interval for DFNB35 does not overlap with the regions for DFNA9, DFNA23 or DFNB5.     

人FascDNA的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中表达的研究

为获得高质量及充足的Ｆａｓ蛋白，采用ＰＣＲ技术调整Ｆａｓ基因的开放阅读框架，使之与生物素化蛋白基因阅读框架一致；缺失了ＦａｓｃＤＮＡ基因的起始密码子并增加一个大肠杆菌偏性终止密码子，构建ＦａｓｃＤＮＡ和生物素化融合原核表达质粒ＰｉｎＰｏｉｎｔ－Ｆａｓ。将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌ＨＢ１０１，经５００ｍｍｏｌＩＰＴＧ在３７℃条件下诱导４ｈ，ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ及Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹检测融合蛋白在大肠杆菌得以高效表达，表达量为细菌总蛋白的１３．８％。用亲和层析树脂对生物素化融合蛋白进行亲和层析纯化，得到Ｆａｓ重组的蛋白，且表达的Ｆａｓ融合蛋白具有抗体结合活性。此蛋白的表达成功将解决Ｆａｓ膜蛋白不易提取的难题，为深入研究Ｆａｓ提供了良好材料来源