Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.     

巨噬细胞杀伤白色念珠菌作用的探讨

本研究经杀菌试验和免疫后保护力试验探讨小鼠巨噬细胞在抗白色念珠菌感染中的作用,结果表明白色念珠菌酵母形体对巨噬细胞杀伤作用的抵抗力及对小鼠的毒力均较菌丝形体强。小鼠体内不同部位巨噬细胞杀伤白色念珠菌的作用不同,脾脏巨噬细胞作用大于腹腔残存巨噬细胞。经白色念珠菌活菌静脉免疫后脾巨噬细胞杀白色念珠菌作用增强,但其对再感染的抵抗力不增强。     

Changes in Neutrophil Oxidative Potential in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Oxygenators

Neutrophil oxidative metabolism, C3d and beta 2 microglobulin levels, were assessed in nine consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenators for open cardiac operations. Generation of oxygen free radicals by neutrophils was measured as luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence after stimulation with opsonized Zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate. A significant increase in light emission was detected by using both of the chemiluminescence stimulators. Moreover, a remarkable and significant increase in C3d levels was found already at 10 min. Conversely minimal changes in levels of beta 2 microglobulin were detected during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. These data suggest that the impact of the patient blood with the foreign surface of cardiopulmonary bypass results in activation of phagocyte cells with increased potential in oxygen consumption. These effects could be partially complement-mediated.     

Biochemical evidence for the involvement of central serotonergic neurotransmission in the action of the antidepressant drug Medifoxamine

Medifoxamine, an antidepressant agent which has an original chemical structure, has been shown through in vitro studies, utilising radioligand binding in tissue homogenates, to bind with moderately high affinity to 5-HT_1c and 5-HT₂ receptor subtypes and to 5-HT uptake sites (IC₅₀ 950, 980, and 1,500 nM, respectively). It has been shown to bind in vivo to rat brain 5-HT₂ receptors after acute treatment with high dose (50 mg/kg, i.e., 133.9 μmol/kg). After 14 days continuous treatment with low dose (20 mg/kg, 53.6 μmol/kg), a decrease in the capacity of [³H]-5-HT uptake and a dose-dependent down-regulation of 5-HT₂ receptors in rat cerebral cortex were observed. These results indicate that medifoxamine, which has been shown previously to act through dopaminergic systems, interacts also with central serotonergic neurotransmission and particularly with the 5-HT₂ receptors, which could contribute to its antidepressant effect.     

REPERFUSION FOLLOWING MYOCARDIAL ISCHAEMIA ENHANCES INOSITOL PHOSPHATE RELEASE IN THE ISOLATED PERFUSED RAT HEART

1. Global myocariial ischaemia (MI) for periods greater tan 5 min caused an inhibition of phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C (PtdIns-PLC) activity. 2. Two min reperfusion following a 20 min MI period, a time point associated with reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, resulted in an activation of PtdIns-PLC activity, dependent on endogenous noradrenaline and mediated via al-adrenoceptors. 3. This 2 min reperfusion response, in contrast to healthy myocardium, resulted in: (i) enhanced PtdIns-PLC activity; (ii) increased sensitivity to endogenous noradrenaline; (iii) rapid increases in inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3); and (iv) PLC hydrolysis primarily of PtdIns(4,5)P₂, such that the majority of InsP isomers derive from Ins(1,4,5)P₃. 4. Together, these data suggest a functional role for Ins(1,4,5)P3 under postischaemic reperfusion conditions, and provide a possible link between al-adrenoceptor stimulation of the PtdIns turnover pathway and reperfusion injury.     

原发性肝癌,肝硬化患者血清中丙肝病毒抗体的检测

应用国产ELISA试剂盒对157例肝癌、肝硬化病人血清中抗-HCV及HBV-M进行检测，101例肝癌10例抗-HCV阳性，阳性率为9．9％；56例肝硬化6例抗-HCV阳性，阳性率为10．7％；肝癌组抗HCV与HBsAg双阳性率79％（8／101），HBsAg阳性率为723％（73／101），明显高于HCV感染率，说明HBV仍是乙肝流行地区的主要相关因素。14例抗-HCV阳性（包括可疑阳性），肝癌外周血中8例（57．1％）HBsAg阳性，推测HCV可单独作用但更常与HBV形成混合感染参与慢性肝病的癌变过程。     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 2, hepatitis C

Abstract End-stage liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus is a major indication for liver transplantation. However, recurrence of hepatitis in the graft is a major issue. HCV re-infection after transplantation is almost constant, and recent data confirm that it significantly impairs patient and graft survival. Factors that may influence disease severity and consequent progression of HCV graft injury remain unclear. Chronic HCV infection develops in 60%–80% of patients, and 6%–28% ultimately progress to cirrhosis within 5 years. Pre-transplantation antiviral treatment is not easily related to poor tolerance. Attempts to administer prophylactic post-transplantation antiviral treatment are under evaluation but are limited by antiviral drug side effects. Treatment of established graft lesions with interferon or ribavirin as single agents has been disappointing. Combination therapy gave promising results, with sustained virological response in 25% of patients, but indications, modality and duration of treatment should be assessed.     

新的高强度高选择性阿片μ受体激动剂[11C]-羟甲芬太尼的合成

羟甲芬太尼(I)是一个新的高强度高选择性阿片μ受体激动剂。本文用cis-A-N-[1-(2-羟基-2-苯乙基)-3-甲基-4-哌啶基]-苯胺(II)或cis-N-[1-(苯甲酰甲基)-3-甲基-4-哌啶基]-苯胺(III)作为前体合成了[¹¹C]-羟甲芬太尼,以便用正电子发射断层扫描(PET)来观察μ受体。通过水解cis-A-羟甲芬太尼(I)和cis-N-[1-(苯甲酰甲基)-3-甲基-4-哌啶]-N-苯基丙酰胺(cis-IV)的4-N-丙酰基分别获得II和III。溴乙烷的格氏试剂与回旋加速器产生的[¹¹C]-二氧化碳反应后继而直接加入邻苯二甲酸二酰氯和2,6-二叔丁基吡啶生成同位素标记中间体[¹¹C]-丙酰氯。[¹¹C]-丙酰氯与OH-前体(II)反应后再经HPLC分离纯化直接得[¹¹C]-羟甲芬太尼;[¹¹C]-丙酰氯与酮-前体(III)反应后,再用硼氢化钠甲醇溶液处理,然后进行HPLC分离纯化得[¹¹C]-羟甲芬太尼。两种方法均可获得ll.1～14.8GBq/μmol的特异性放射化学纯[¹¹C]-羟甲芬太尼。总共耗时为40～50min(EOB)。     

血浆蛋白C、蛋白S与脑梗死的相关性研究

目的研究血浆蛋白C、蛋白S与脑梗死发病的关系。方法对64例脑梗死患者及15例正常对照组进行血浆蛋白C(PC)、蛋白S(PS)检测,并分析其与脑梗死严重程度、年龄及其它脑梗死危险因素之间的关系。结果实验组血浆PC浓度(4.97±1.82μg/ml)与对照组血浆PC浓度(4.74±1.95μg/ml)之间差别无统计学意义;首发组血浆PC浓度(5.28±1.85μg/ml)与复发组血浆PC浓度(4.03±1.40μg/ml)之间差别有统计学意义(P=0.016);实验组血浆PS浓度(7.47±3.87μg/ml)与对照组血浆PS浓度(12.06±3.99μg/ml)之间差别有统计学意义,中老年组血浆PS浓度(6.58±3.33μg/ml)与青年组血浆PS浓度(9.28±4.33μg/ml)之间差别有统计学意义。结论PC降低是复发性脑梗死的危险因素之一;游离PS降低是脑梗死的危险因素;PS水平的降低导致PC功能的降低,进而凝血功能障碍,导致脑梗死的发生。