Enhancing effect of staurosporine on NO production in rat peritoneal macrophages via a protein kinase C-independent mechanism.

Staurosporine (3-100 nM), frequently used as a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, increased accumulation of nitrite in the culture medium of rat peritoneal macrophages up to 6 times above the control level. Moreover, when used in combination with the stable analogue of cyclic AMP, dibutyrylcyclic AMP (db cyclic AMP; 0.1 mM), and/or a cytokine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha; 100 u ml-1), staurosporine synergistically potentiated, up to 30 times, nitrite accumulation. On the other hand, the other PKC inhibitors, calphostin C and H-7 (10 nM-10 microM) were not effective under the same conditions. The staurosporine-induced nitrite accumulation, in both the presence and the absence of TNF alpha and/or db cyclic AMP was effectively inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, or by the nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Thus our data suggest that staurosporine may enhance NO production in macrophages via intracellular mechanisms unrelated to the PKC inhibition.     

Body composition in the elderly: Total body water and anthropometry

Body composition measured with isotopic dilution was compared with anthropometric measurements. The study was carried out in 47 subjects from both sexes, 65 to 92 years old. Total body water (TBW), anthropometric measurements, and dynamometry were assessed. TBW was significatively higher in men than women and decreased with age. Dynamometry and fatfree mass were well correlated (r=0.73 in males and r=0.58 in females) and significantly different between sexes. A negative correlation was found for dynamometry with age, being significant for women. Linear regression equations to predict TBW from anthropometric measurements in males and females were obtained: Males: TBW(I)=19.349+0.617 weight(kg) — 0.931 mid-arm circumference(cm)+0.122 dynamometry (kg) Females: TBW(l)=−5.531+0.343 weight(kg)-0.213 triceps skinfold (mm)+ 0.148 dynamometry(kg) + 3.424 wrist diameter (cm). This simple model is proposed for use in epidemiological and field studies where other more sophisticated methods can not be applied.     

光动力学疗法与局部化疗联合治疗进展期食管贲门癌

作应用光动力学疗法（ＰＤＴ）对进展期食管贲门癌５５例进行治疗，并对其中１５例联合应用内镜下局部注射抗癌药物。对每一患均先静脉滴注血卟啉衍生物（ＨＰＤ）５ｍｇ／ｋｇ，于用药后２４，４８和７２ｈ分别用波长６３０ｎｍ的铜蒸汽激光照射肿瘤部位。联合治疗组除ＰＤＴ治疗外，于每次光照前肿瘤局部注射５－Ｆｕ２５０～５００ｍｇ。结果：联合治疗组的近期显效率高于单纯ＰＤＴ组（Ｐ〈０．０５）。病例随访６～１６月，     

硫酸多糖对体外人脐静脉内皮细胞损伤的保护作用

研究表明,硫酸多糖体外对多聚阳离子和氧自由基损伤的人脐静脉内皮细胞有保护作用。肝素、硫酸软骨素A抗多聚阳离子损伤作用比同浓度低分子肝素和甘糖酯强。肝素、硫酸软骨素A、甘糖酯抗氧自由基损伤作用优于同浓度低分子肝素。结果显示硫酸多糖有保护血管内皮的作用,其作用可能与所带阴离子基团有关。     

Good regulation of acupuncture in simple obesity patients with stomach-intestine excessive heat type

In order to investigate the regulatory effect of acupuncture on obesity patients with the Stomach-Intestine Excessive Heat Type, the pre-acupunctureal and post-acupunctural obesity index and biochemical indices of 718 simple obesity patients with Stomach-Intestine Excessive Heat Type were observed. It was showed that the marked weight loss effect was achieved in the cases by acupuncture, and the biochemical indices improved. It suggests that acupuncture had a optimal regulatory effect on the function of nerve, endocrine, digestion and energy metabolism.     

维甲酸改变人肝癌细胞表面N－糖链的结构及其酶学机制

用３Ｈ－甘露糖标记７７２１人肝癌细胞表面糖蛋白的Ｎ－糖链，经提取和去唾液酸后，用ＣｏｎＡ和ＤＳＡ亲和柱顺序层析将３Ｈ－标记的Ｎ－糖链分成４个类型和天线数不同的组分来研究维甲酸（ＲＡ）对细胞表面Ｎ－糖链的影响。结果：１０μｍｏｌ／ＬＲＡ处理细胞３～５ｄ后，可使Ｃ２Ｃ２二天线复杂型Ｎ－糖链增加，而高甘露糖型及三、四天线，特别是带有Ｃ２，６分支结构的复杂型Ｈ－糖链减少。用ＬＣＡ亲和柱还证明二天线糖链中的核心岩藻糖也减少。进一步发现上述改变的酶学机制是ＲＡ降低Ｎ－乙酰氨基萄葡糖转移酶Ｖ和α－１，６－核心岩藻糖转移酶的活力。结论：ＢＡ通过改变某些糖基转移酶活力而改变细胞表面糖链结构，这可能是ＲＡ使７７２１细胞诱导分化的机理之－。     

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection in a patient with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy.

A 29 year old Bengali male patient on chemotherapy for angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy developed Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome 3 months after being treated with a single 3 day course of thiabendazole. His complicated hospitalization and successful management are described. Prevention of this potentially fatal disease in immunocompromised patients by early diagnosis and proper management of intestinal strongyloidiasis is emphasized.     

Mortality league tables: do they inform or mislead?

OBJECTIVE--To examine certain methodological issues related to the publication of mortality league tables, with particular reference to severity adjustment and sample size. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of inpatient hospital records. SETTING--22 hospitals in North West Thames health region for the fiscal year 1992-3. SUBJECTS--All admissions with a principal diagnosis of aortic aneurysm, carcinoma of the colon, cervical cancer, cholecystectomy, fractured neck of femur, head injury, ischaemic heart disease, and peptic ulcer. MAIN MEASURES--In hospital mortality rates adjusted by disease severity and calculated on the basis of both admissions and episodes. RESULTS--The numbers of deaths from specific conditions were often small and the corresponding confidence intervals wide. Rankings of hospitals by death rate are sensitive to adjustment for severity of disease. There are some differences that cannot be explained using routine data. CONCLUSIONS--Comparison of crude death rates may be misleading. Some adjustment for differences in severity is possible, but current systems are unsatisfactory. Differences in death rates should be studied, but because of the scope for manipulating data, this should be undertaken in a collaborative rather than a confrontational way. Any decision to publish league tables of death rates will be on political rather than scientific grounds.