Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system: a new avenue for atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is thought to be functionally active in atherosclerosis (AS) lesions. Aspirin was found to be a potent inhibitor of the UPS in some tumour studies; however, its effect on AS remains to be demonstrated in vivo. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were placed on a normal diet (N) or on a normal diet with aspirin (NI) or on an atherogenic diet without (H) or with aspirin (HI) for 12 weeks. Proteasome activity, concentrations of plasma lipids and levels of peroxidation were determined. Ubiquitin/ubiquitin-conjugates (Ub), IkappaBalpha, phosphorylated IkappaB (pIkappaBalpha) and p65 were investigated by Western blotting or immunochemistry. RESULTS: Concentrations of plasma lipids and peroxidation levels were higher in H or HI vs. N or NI. Histological analysis showed that atheroma was increased in H. Ub and IkappaBalpha were mainly localised in subendothelium and media vascular smooth muscle cells. Western blots revealed that Ub, IkappaBalpha, and pIkappaBalpha were increased, whereas p65 was lower in HI vs. H. The activity of the 20S proteasome was functionally active in H vs. N, NI or HI, while the 26S proteasome was not affected in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin can attenuate the pathogenesis of atheroma formation, the degradation of IkappaBalpha and pIkappaBalpha, and lower the expression of p65, indicating that its therapeutic effects on AS may be via inhibition of the UPS.     

Histamine and tryptase modulate asthmatic airway smooth muscle GM-CSF and RANTES release.

Degranulating mast cells are increased in the airway smooth muscle (ASM) of asthmatics, where they may influence ASM function. The aim of the present study was to determine whether histamine and tryptase modulate ASM cell granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) release and also to examine which receptors are involved in this release. Confluent, quiescent ASM cells from asthmatic and nonasthmatic donors were treated with histamine (1 microM-100 microM) with and without histamine receptor antagonist pre-treatment, or the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 agonists tryptase (0.5-5 nM) and SLIGKV (100 and 400 microM). The cells were then stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1beta and/or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (10 ng.mL(-1)) or left unstimulated for 24 h. Release of GM-CSF and RANTES was determined by ELISA and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) measured by enzyme immunoassay. Neither histamine nor tryptase induced ASM GM-CSF or RANTES secretion. However, histamine increased IL-1beta-induced GM-CSF release and markedly reduced TNF-alpha-induced RANTES release by both asthmatic and nonasthmatic cells to a similar extent, but did not modulate PGE(2) release. All changes involved activation of the histamine H1 receptor as they were partially or fully blocked by chlorpheniramine, but not ranitidine. Tryptase, via its proteolytic activity, also potentiated GM-CSF, but not RANTES, release from asthmatic and nonasthmatic ASM cells induced by both cytokines. PAR-2 involvement in the tryptase potentiation was unlikely because SLIGKV had no effect. In conclusion, mast cells, through histamine and tryptase, may locally modulate airway smooth muscle-induced inflammation in asthma.     

Fat and water separation in balanced steady-state free precession using the Dixon method.

In this work the feasibility of separating fat and water signals using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique is demonstrated. The technique is based on the observation (Scheffler and Hennig, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003;49:395-397) that at the nominal values of TE = TR/2 in SSFP imaging, phase coherence can be achieved at essentially only two orientations (0 degrees and 180 degrees ) relative to the RF pulses in the rotating frame, under the assumption of TR < T2, and independently of the SSFP angle. This property allows in-phase and out-of-phase SSFP images to be obtained by proper choices of the center frequency offset, and thus allows the Dixon subtraction method to be utilized for effective fat-water separation. The TR and frequency offset for optimal fat-water separation are derived from theories. Experimental results from healthy subjects, using a 3.0 Tesla system, show that nearly complete fat suppression can be accomplished.     

利福昔明对比环丙沙星治疗急性肠炎临床研究

目的　研究利福昔明对比环丙沙星治疗急性肠炎的有效性和安全性。　方法　采用随机对照方法 ,共治疗 5 1例急性肠炎。利福昔明治疗 2 5例 ,环丙沙星 2 6例 ,用药时间方法相同。观察治疗前后临床症状、大便性状、大便次数、便常规、血常规、尿常规及肝肾功能 ,以了解其疗效及不良反应情况。　结果　利福昔明组 (治疗组 )与环丙沙星组 (对照组 )相比 ,显效率分别为 92 .0 %和 80 .8% ,总有效率分别为 92 .0 %和 96 .2 % ,止泻时间治疗组 2 8.6 7± 15 .92h ,对照组 36 .12± 2 0 .70h ,均未见明显毒副作用。以上各项指标及两组在治疗过程中大便次数变化、大便常规复常率经统计学处理均无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 )。　结论　利福昔明可用于治疗急性肠炎 ,与环丙沙星比较 ,疗效相仿 ,但耐受性好 ,口服不吸收 ,故值得推广     

PR01“A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS”– THE USE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE INTERNET IN MONITORING FREE TISSUE TRANSFER

Purpose Post operative monitoring is crucial for the success of microsurgical free tissue transfer. Sophisticated and expensive methods are available for monitoring. We propose a novel technique using digital photography and the internet as a reliable and cost effective method to monitor free tissue transfers. Methods 163 micro‐vascular procedures were monitored using this technique over 8 months. Serial photographs taken to show flap color. Capillary refill time, pin prick‐ bleed time and color and hand held Doppler signal was recorded in the movie mode of a standard 5 mega pixel camera with duration of 15 seconds. Data was sent to the surgeon at regular intervals and or as deemed necessary. Results Analysis of the 67 cases is presented. 5 re‐explorations were done. The early diagnosis of venous congestion was possible using this technique. Timely intervention contributed to the success of the re‐explorations and these flaps could be salvaged. The file size of images was in the range of 1 MB–6 MB. The file size of an entire set of images ranged about 7 MB–9 MB. These were sent across the ADSL internet lines. Conclusion The use of the digital images and the internet allow reconstructive surgeons to have a reliable picture of the state of their free tissue transfers. This permits decrease in observer error and saves valuable time which otherwise needs to be spent to verify situations of doubt and offers an ideal solution to the logistic problem of having to visit the patient in case of doubt.     

晕可消胶囊治疗椎—基底动脉缺血性眩晕疗效观察及其对红细胞膜流动性的影响

目的:较大样本观察晕可消胶囊治疗椎-基底动脉缺血性眩晕疗效及其对红细胞膜流动性的影响。方法:符合入选标准的门诊病例203例随机分为观察组(晕可消组)102例,对照组(维脑路通组)101例,治疗10d后行疗效评定并以荧光偏振法检测红细胞膜流动性的变化。结果:观察组疗效优于对照组,并显著改善了红细胞膜的流动性。结论:晕可消胶囊具有改善红细胞膜流动性作用,用于治疗椎-基底动脉缺血性眩晕疗效肯定,值得推广。     

乳房聚丙烯酰胺水凝胶取出术的手术配合

对81例患者行乳房内聚丙烯酰胺水凝胶（PAHG）取出术。结果手术均获成功，手术时间1．5～5．5h，平均2．6h。术中出血量90～1080ml，平均645．0ml。住院时间7～15d，平均8．9d。无血肿、感染等并发症，MRI复查PAHG清除率均达95．0％。提出术前加强心理护理并完善术前准备，术中密切监测生命体征和出入量，及时补充血容量，保证手术野照明，充分灌洗手术腔隙，减少PAHG在体内残留等措施是保证手术成功的重要环节。     

Reactivation of dormant lumbar methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis after 12 years.

The adequate treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis has intrigued clinicians for some time. As the resistance of these pathogens, coupled with the increase in community-acquired cases, continues steadily to rise, clinicians are finding it useful to employ multi-modal approaches for efficacious treatment. The authors present a single case report of a patient with recurrent MRSA osteomyelitis, lumbar paraspinal and epidural abscess. He was found to have decreased muscle strength and was hyporeflexic in the involved extremity. Serum testing demonstrated MRSA bacteremia. Neuroimaging studies revealed evidence of paraspinal abscess and a presumed herniated nucleus pulposus at the L5/S1 interspace with significant nerve root compromise. Despite antimicrobials, his symptoms persisted, necessitating surgical exploration. At surgery, paraspinal and epidural abscesses were encountered and debrided; however, no herniated disc was visualized. This case demonstrates the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas with which these lesions present. We postulate that the MRSA osteomyelitis/discitis pathogens were walled off in the disc space and subsequently inoculated the soft tissues with ensuing bacteremia. We concur that antimicrobial treatment should be the first line of therapy for these patients; however, surgical debridements and cautious spinal instrumentation should be employed where appropriate.