Importance of nitric oxide in hepatic arterial blood flow and total hepatic blood volume regulation in pigs

The importance of nitric oxide in regulating basal arterial blood flow has been examined in several different vascular beds by intra-arterial infusion of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis, but not in the arterial vascular bed of the liver. In the present study, N^G-nitro-L -arginine (L -NNA), in a dose of 0.5 and 1.0 μmol mL^?1 of hepatic arterial blood flow, was infused for 5 min into the hepatic artery in seven pigs anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The haemodynamic effects observed by the first infusion were not further enhanced by the second infusion. Hepatic arterial resistance increased by 143 ± 38% and hepatic arterial blood flow declined by 38 ± 10%. A systemic effect due to `spillover' was observed, as evidenced by an increase in mean aortic blood pressure of 24 ± 4 mmHg. However, no significant increase in arterial mesenteric resistance was observed and total liver blood flow remained unchanged. Hepatic arterial vasodilation in response to occlusion of the portal vein, the arterial buffer response, remained intact after inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. Liver lobe thickness, measured by an ultrasonic technique,was not found to change with inhibition of arterial nitric oxide synthesis, excluding a significant direct effect of arterial nitric oxide on liver capacitance. In conclusion, nitric oxide is an important regulator of hepatic arterial resistance, but does not mediate the hepatic arterial buffer response and was not found to play any significant role in total hepatic capacitance regulation.     

Protective and therapeutic effect of hydrogen sulfide on hemorrhagic cystitis and testis dysfunction induced with cyclophosphamide

Backround/aimCyclophosphamide (CP) is a drug used for treatment of many malignant diseases. However, it can cause serious side effects such as hemorrhagic cystitis and male infertility. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous mediator and is suggested to have antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. In this study, dose-dependent effects of H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and testicular dysfunction were investigated in rats.Material and methodsRats were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control, CP, NaHS25 μmol/kg, NaHS50 μmol/kg, and NaHS100 μmol/ kg. After treatment for 7 days intraperitoneally (ip), a single ip dose of CP 200 mg/kg was given on the 8th day. Then, treatment was continued for 7 days. In bladder and testicular tissues, IL 6, IL 10, cGMP, NO, H2S, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. Histopathological examination with H&E staining, as well as immunohistochemical staining for acrolein in bladder and caspase-3 and APAF-1 in testis were performed.ResultsNaHS prevented the increased IL 6 and IL 10 values induced by CP as well as prevented the decrease in cGMP values associated with CP. There was no significant change in FSH values, but the LH value, which increased with CP, decreased with 25, 50, and 100 μmol/kg NaHS. In contrast, testosterone decreased in the CP group and increased in the treatment groups. NaHS was effective in many biochemical and histopathological parameters at 25 and 50 μmol/kg doses, and this effect decreased at 100 μmol/kg dose.ConclusionH2S has a protective and therapeutic effect on hemorrhagic cystitis and testicular dysfunction induced by cyclophosphamide. It can be suggested that H2S is a promising molecule in facilitating cancer treatment.     

Expression Profiles of 290 ESTs Mapped to Chromosome 3 in Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines Using DNA Expression Oligonucleotide Microarrays

We have investigated previously the utility of oligonucleotide expression microarray technology in an analysis of four spontaneously transformed epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cell lines, TOV-21G, TOV-81D, OV-90, and TOV-112D. Here, we examine the expression of 290 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that map to human chromosome 3 in a primary culture derived from normal ovarian surface epithelium (NOSE), NOV-31, and the four spontaneously transformed EOC cell lines. One of these cell lines, OV-90, harbors a deletion of an entire chromosome 3p arm. Whereas the most aggressive cell lines (OV-90, TOV-112D, and TOV-21G) exhibited the highest levels of expression, assessed by the mean of expression values of all ESTs, OV-90 showed the lowest mean of expression of ESTs that map to the 3p arm in comparison with TOV-112D and TOV-21G. This difference in expression profile of 3p ESTs in OV-90 is also reflected in the ratio of expression of ESTs on 3p versus the 3q arm and in that the expression values of ESTs that map to 3p were more often lower than higher in OV-90 in two-way comparisons with NOV-31, TOV-21G, and TOV-112D. The loss of a 3p arm does not affect the pattern of differential expression in analyses based on the range of numeric expression values of each EST or fold differences in expression for each EST in comparison with NOV-31. However, 25 differentially expressed ESTs were identified on the basis of threefold differences in expression values between NOV-31 and any EOC cell line; and six of these ESTs were differentially expressed uniquely in OV-90. The investigation of these ESTs could facilitate the identification of novel chromosome 3 genes implicated in ovarian tumorigenesis.     

Burnout and psychological distress among nurses in a Nigerian tertiary health institution

Background

The role of nurses in the health care delivery system cannot be overemphasized. Nurses are needed at all levels of healthcare and the profession requires a lot of dedication, time and energy with regards to patient management and service delivery. This time investment and dedication to duty is likely to lead to burnout and psychological distress among the nurses.

Objective

This study assesses the prevalence of burnout and psychological distress among nurses working in Nigerian tertiary health institution.

Method

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used to assess 210 nurses working in this health institution for symptoms of burnout and psychological distress.

Results

High levels of burnout were identified in 42.9% of the respondents in the area of emotional exhaustion, 47.6% in the area of depersonalization and 53.8% in the area of reduced personal accomplishment, while 44.1% scored positive in the GHQ-12 indicating presence of psychological distress.

Conclusion

Prevalence of burnout and psychological distress is high among nurses.     

自血混合丙球穴位注射对哮喘豚鼠肺超微结构变化的观察

目的与方法　利用透射式电子显微镜观察自血混合丙球穴位注射对过敏性哮喘豚鼠肺超微结构变化情况。结果　丙球穴注组豚鼠肺组织内EOS、纤维组织减少;自血穴注组比丙球穴注组疗效好,而自血混合丙球穴注组过敏性豚鼠肺组织内EOS基本消失,基底膜无增厚,胶原纤维无增生,镜下观察与正常组基本无区别。结论　自血混合丙种球蛋白穴位注射治疗哮喘有可靠的超微结构依据。     

强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径实施的变异程度分析

目的 通过分析强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径实施的变异程度,研究该临床路径可能存在的不足并提出适当的改进方案。方法 收集自2012年1月至2013年12月的350例符合强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径适应证的患者的资料,并根据变异的标准及类型进行统计分析。结果 350例病例中有290例发生变异,包括了16种变异情况,类型以负性变异、患者病情变化、不可控变异为主。结论 强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径需要完善运行流程、制定详细的纳入和排除标准、同时加强社区医院及康复医院的相应诊疗过渡,从而更好地开展强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径,最终提高患者医护质量、减少住院天数、降低住院费用。     

Baroreflex improvement in shr after ace inhibition involves angiotensin-(1-7)

ACE inhibitors are extensively used in the treatment of hypertension mainly because of their efficiency in reducing blood pressure levels and decreasing vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, ACE inhibitors improve baroreceptor reflex control. Chronic inhibition of ACE produces (in addition to decreased angiotensin II levels) a severe increase in angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] levels in several species. We have previously shown that Ang-(1-7) produces a facilitation of the baroreflex control of heart rate. In this study, we evaluated the participation of endogenous Ang-(1-7) in the improvement of baroreflex sensitivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats after central infusion of ramiprilat, an ACE inhibitor. Reflex changes in heart rate were elicited, in conscious rats, by bolus injections of phenylephrine (baroreflex bradycardia) before and after intracerebroventricular infusion of (1) saline (8 microL/h), 4 hours (n=5); (2) ramiprilat (14 microg/h), 4 hours (n=6); (3) ramiprilat for 2 hours, followed by ramiprilat combined with A-779 (4 microg/h), a selective Ang-(1-7) antagonist, for an additional 2 hours (n=6); and (4) A-779 for 2 hours, followed by A-779 combined with ramiprilat for an additional 2 hours (n=5). Intracerebroventricular infusion of ramiprilat produced an important increase ( approximately 40%) in baroreflex sensitivity (evaluated as the ratio between changes in heart rate and changes in mean arterial pressure) that was completely reversed by A-779. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular infusion of A-779 prevented the improvement of the baroreflex sensitivity produced by ramiprilat. Intracerebroventricular infusion of saline or A-779 alone did not significantly alter the baroreflex sensitivity. These results suggest that endogenous Ang-(1-7) is involved in the improvement of baroreflex sensitivity observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats during central ACE inhibition.     

T_3对人神经干细胞分化过程中甲状腺激素受体表达的影响

目的　探讨三碘甲状腺原氨酸 (T3)在神经干细胞 (NSC)分化中的作用以及甲状腺激素受体(TR)mRNA在NSC分化过程中的表达变化。方法　在体外成功诱导扩增NSC ,用T3 对NSC进行诱导分化 ,半定量RT PCR法检测NSC在分化前后TRsmRNA的表达变化 ,免疫细胞化学方法鉴定分化后的细胞类型。结果　T3 可诱导NSC分化为神经元、少突和星形胶质细胞 ,其中髓鞘碱性蛋白 (MBP)阳性细胞约占 80 %。当NSC分化时存在不同的TRsmRNA的时间顺序表达。结论　T3 能诱导NSC向胶质细胞分化 ,是少突胶质细胞分化的重要调控因子 ,并通过TRs的时间顺序表达来发挥其重要生理作用     

辛伐他汀对冠心病患者血管内皮细胞功能障碍的治疗作用（英文）

目的：研究辛伐他汀对冠心病患者血管内皮细胞功能障碍的干预作用。方法：90例冠心病患者按LDL-C水平分为三组：辛伐他汀20mg组（37例,LDL-C≥2.5mmol/L）,辛伐他汀10mg组（35例,2.5mmol/L〉LDL-C≥1.8mmol/L）,常规治疗组（18例,LDL-C〈1.8mmol/L,未服辛伐他汀）,疗程均为8周。应用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪测量受试者肱动脉血流介导的舒张功能（FMD）。应用硝酸还原酶法检测受试者一氧化氮（NO）的含量。常规检测血清TC、TG、LDL-C及HDL-C的浓度。结果：8周后,与治疗前比较,辛伐他汀20mg,10mg组TC、TG和LDL-C浓度明显下降（P均〈0.05）,而HDL-C明显升高（P均〈0.05）;辛伐他汀20mg组与10mg组间各指标差异无显著性（P〉0.05）;与常规治疗组比较,辛伐他汀20mg、10 mg组FMD[（6.01±0.49）%比（9.01±0.39）%比（9.01±0.47）%]明显改善（P均〈0.01）、血清NO含量[（38.97±8.89）μmol/L比（47.67±10.89）μmol/L比（45.61±9.09）μmol/L]明显升高（P均〈0.05）,辛伐他汀20mg、10 mg组两组间NO和FMD亦无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结论：辛伐他汀可增加冠心病患者一氧化氮含量,改善血管内皮细胞功能,其作用机制与降低血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白可能有一定关系,但该作用无明显的量效关系,可能独立于降脂作用之外。     

Strong Suppression by Mononuclear Leukocytes From Cord Blood of Human Newborns on Maternal Leukocytes Associated With Differences in Sensitivity to Prostaglandin E2*

ABSTRACT: We have tested peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (PML) from the cord blood of newborns, from sera of their mothers, and from sera of nonrelated nonpregnant adult women for sensitivity to suppressive exogenous prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Endogenous PG production was simultaneously inhibited by indomethacin 2.8 μM. The phytohemagglutinin-stimulated (PHA-stimulated) uptake of tritiated thymidine (³H-TdR) by PML from the mothers and the nonpregnant women was suppressed by the exogenous PGE₂ at a concentration of 1.4 × 10^?8 M, 100 times less than the one required to suppress the PML from newborns (1.4 × 10^?6 M). In addition, 1.4 × 10^?7 M or less of PGE₂ reversed the suppression of neonatal PML to stimulation. The maternal PML were reversed into stimulation at 1.4 × 10^?9 of exogenous PGE₂. The amount of endogenous PGE₂ synthesized by 1 × 10⁶ fresh, nonstimulated neonatal PML according to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay was 5 ng (1.4 × 10^?8 M). The synthesis increased to 27 ng/10⁶ cells after 18 hours' incubation. These concentrations are similar to the ones of exogenous PGE₂ at which neonatal PML were slightly stimulated but the maternal cells were still suppressed. Preincubation for 18 h at 37°C decreased the PGE₂-induced suppression of the adult PML but did not change the response of the neonatal PML.