普罗布考和抗氧化维生素不影响体外实验条件下内皮细胞的白细胞粘附

为探讨预防动脉粥样硬化的药物普罗布考,维生素C和维生素E是否抑制内皮细胞表面粘附分子表达和白细胞一内皮细胞的粘附,以及这种抑制是否通过影响核因子－kB的活性来实现的,在液体流动小室中进行细胞粘附实验。用ELISA方法测定内皮细胞粘附分子E－选择素的表达;用电泳迁移率分析测定内皮细胞核因子－kB的活性,经肿瘤坏死因子α刺激的内皮细胞核因子－B活性增加,粘附分子E－选择素的表达上调（是基础水平的3．5倍）,其表面HL60细胞的粘附增加（是基础水平的4－26倍）,而抗氧化剂PDTC使所有这些变化都受到抑制。PDTC浓度为18umol/L时对粘附分子E－选择素的表达呈最大半抑制;PDTC浓度为52umol/L时对内皮细胞表面HL60细胞的粘附呈最大半抑制,普罗布考,维生素C和维生素E对肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的粘附分子表达和HL60细胞与内皮细胞的粘附没有作用,对核因子－kB的活性没有影响,临床上常用的这三种抗氧化剂并未影响作为动脉粥样硬化始动机制之一的E－选择素介导的白细胞－内皮细胞粘附水平。     

Shear‐induced unfolding activates von Willebrand factor A2 domain for proteolysis

Summary. Background: To avoid pathological platelet aggregation by von Willebrand factor (VWF), VWF multimers are regulated in size and reactivity for adhesion by ADAMTS13‐mediated proteolysis in a shear flow dependent manner. Objective and methods: We examined whether tensile stress in VWF under shear flow activates the VWF A2 domain for cleavage by ADAMTS13 using molecular dynamics simulations. We generated a full length mutant VWF featuring a homologous disulfide bond in A2 (N1493C and C1670S), in an attempt to lock A2 against unfolding. Results: We indeed observed stepwise unfolding of A2 and exposure of its deeply buried ADAMTS13 cleavage site. Interestingly, disulfide bonds in the adjacent and highly homologous VWF A1 and A3 domains obstruct their mechanical unfolding. We find this mutant A2 (N1493C and C1670S) to feature ADAMTS13‐resistant behavior in vitro. Conclusions: Our results yield molecular‐detail evidence for the force‐sensing function of VWF A2, by revealing how tension in VWF due to shear flow selectively exposes the A2 proteolysis site to ADAMTS13 for cleavage while keeping the folded remainder of A2 intact and functional. We find the unconventional ‘knotted’ Rossmann fold of A2 to be the key to this mechanical response, tailored for regulating VWF size and activity. Based on our model we discuss the pathomechanism of some natural mutations in the VWF A2 domain that significantly increase the cleavage by ADAMTS13 without shearing or chemical denaturation, and provide with the cleavage‐activated A2 conformation a structural basis for the design of inhibitors for VWF type 2 diseases.     

祛白酊质量标准的实验研究

目的：建立祛白酊的质量标准。方法：采用薄层色谱法鉴别其中的补骨脂素,异补骨脂素,栀子苷;导数分光光度法测定其中醋酸氢化可的松的含量。结果;薄层色谱鉴别方法有良好的重现性,专属性;醋酸氢化可的松在11－19ug.ml^-1呈良好的线性关系（r=0.9996)其含量测定平均回收率100．9％,RSD＝0．9％（n=5)。结论：制定的质量标准可以保证祛白酊的质量。     

The antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of methanolic extracts from Njavara rice bran

Background  

Free radical-induced oxidative stress is the root cause for many human diseases. Naturally occurring antioxidant supplements from plants are vital to counter the oxidative damage in cells. The main objective of the present study was to characterize the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of rice bran extracted from an important Indian rice variety, Njavara and to compare the same with two commercially available basmati rice varieties: Vasumathi, Yamini and a non medicinal variety, Jyothi.     

Complex orofacial movements and the disappearance of cerebellar mutism: report of five cases

A syndrome of mutism and subsequent dysarthria occurs frequently in children after resection of a cerebellar tumour. The role of orofacial and speech motor control in this syndrome has not been studied systematically. We examined simple and complex orofacial movements during the mute phase and shortly after the resumption of speech in five children with mutism and subsequent dysarthria. The recovery of complex orofacial movements coincided with the disappearance of the mutism     

Interleukin-5 is at 5q31 and is deleted in the 5q- syndrome

Human interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a selective eosinophilopoietic and eosinophil-activating growth hormone. By in situ hybridization this gene is mapped to chromosome 5q23.3 to 5q32. It is shown to be deleted in two patients with the 5q-syndrome and in one patient previously diagnosed with myelodysplasia whose condition had progressed to acute myeloblastic leukemia. The clustering of other genes involved in hematopoiesis (IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, colony-stimulating factor 1) to the same region as IL-5 suggests a nonrandom localization and raises interesting questions concerning the evolution and regulation of these genes.     

CQI-2 — a new measure of holistic interpersonal care in primary care consultations

BACKGROUND: The Consultation Quality Index (CQI) is a holistic quality marker for GPs based on patient enablement, continuity of the care and consultation length. AIM: To evaluate the CQI-2, a new version of the CQI incorporating a process measure of GP empathy (the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure). DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. SETTING: General practice in the west of Scotland. METHOD: Empathy, enablement, continuity, and consultation length were measured in 3044 consultations involving 26 GPs in 26 different practices in the west of Scotland. CQI-2 scores were calculated and correlated with additional data on GPs' and patients' attitudes. Comparisons were also made with the UK-wide data from which the original CQI had been calculated. RESULTS: CQI-2 scores were independent of deprivation, access, demographics, and case-mix. GPs with lower CQI-2 scores valued empathy and longer consultations less than these GPs with higher CQI-2 scores. 'Below average CQI-2' GPs (those in the bottom 25%) also felt less valued by patients and colleagues. Patients' showed less confidence in and gained less satisfaction from these doctors. Data ranges from the study were comparable with the UK data ranges used to construct the original CQI. CONCLUSIONS: The CQI-2 is a new measure of holistic interpersonal care. In a small but representative sample of GPs it appears to differentiate between below and above average doctors. CQI-2 scores may reflect important aspects of morale, core values and patient-centred care. There may be potential for its use as part of professional development and as a component of the general medical services contract.     

Large umbilical cord: a normal finding in some fetuses

We report two cases in which the umbilical cords of fetuses were large on prenatal ultrasound scans. The pregnancies terminated uneventfully, however, and the babies were healthy at birth and on follow-up visits. We discuss the various etiologies of a large umbilical cord and conclude that, although a large cord may suggest the presence of an underlying abnormality, in some instances it may represent a normal finding.