Decreased insulin secretory capacity and normal pancreatic B-cell glucose sensitivity in non-obese patients with NIDDM

We investigated the dose-response characteristics of glucose-induced insulin release and the influence of hyperglycaemia on arginine-induced insulin secretion in eight non-obese subjects with NIDDM and in eight non-diabetic volunteers. Plasma C-peptide levels, achieved during 60 min hyperglycaemic clamps with and without the infusion of a primed continuous infusion of arginine (infusion rate 15 mg kg-1 min-1) during the last 30 min, were analysed with a modified Michaelis-Menten equation. The insulin secretory capacity (Vmax) for glucose-stimulated insulin release showed a trend towards a negative correlation with the fasting blood glucose in the NIDDM subjects (r = 0.68, P = 0.6); it was lower than the Vmax of non-diabetic controls (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs 4.2 +/- 0.4 nmol l-1 respectively; P less than 0.001). The ED50 (half maximal stimulating blood glucose concentration) of the second-phase glucose-stimulated insulin release (determined from the plasma C-peptide levels at 60 min) was not significantly different from the ED50 of the controls (11.9 +/- 0.8 vs 13.3 +/- 1.9 mmol l-1 respectively; P greater than 0.2). Combined glucose-arginine stimulation significantly increased insulin release. The Vmax for both phases were significantly lower in NIDDM patients than in controls (2.3 +/- 0.2 vs 5.0 +/- 0.9 and 3.8 +/- 0.5 vs 8.5 +/- 0.9 nmol l-1 respectively; P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

穹窿切断并摘除肾上腺后大鼠下丘脑AVP表达变化

目的:探讨海马参与肾上腺(HPA)轴调节的机制,观察精氨酸加压素(arginine vasopressin,AVP)与糖皮质激素的关系。方法:建立大鼠穹窿切断模型,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测穹窿切断0、4、7、10 d血中糖皮质激素的浓度;建立大鼠穹窿切断同时摘除肾上腺7 d的模型,采用免疫组织化学方法检测AVP的表达变化。结果:穹窿切断7 d后血中糖皮质激素的浓度升高,穹窿切断同时摘除肾上腺7 d后,下丘脑AVP表达升高。结论:海马通过穹窿对HPA轴发挥负反馈调节作用,糖皮质激素负反馈调节下丘脑AVP。     

精氨酸联合纳洛酮治疗肝性脑病合并碱中毒33例

目的观察精氨酸联合纳洛酮治疗肝性脑病合并碱中毒的疗效。方法肝性脑病患者33例,均有不同程度的碱中毒。治疗前后测定患者血氨的含量,并观察精氨酸联合纳洛酮对肝性脑病的疗效。结果肝性脑病合并碱中毒患者血氨含量明显增加,且与肝性脑病程度相关。精氨酸联合纳洛酮治疗后血氨含量下降程度较为明显,治疗前后相比具有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。此外,精氨酸联合纳洛酮治疗患者清醒率达81.82%,效果良好。结论精氨酸联合纳洛酮对肝性脑病合并碱中毒具有明显疗效。     

蛇毒精氨酸酯酶Agkihpin上调人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721中表皮钙黏素的表达研究

目的探讨蛇毒精氨酸酯酶Agkihpin对人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株中表皮钙黏素(E-CD)表达的影响及Agkihpin抑制人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞的机制。方法采用不同浓度的Agkihpin处理肝癌细胞株72 h后,应用免疫细胞化学、Western Blotting和逆转录PCR(RT-PCR)法检测E-CD在SMMC-7721细胞中的表达。结果不同浓度Agkihpin作用SMMC-7721细胞72 h后E-CD表达均上升,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),并呈现出一定的剂量依赖效应。Agkihpin可显著上调SMMC-7721细胞中E-CD表达。结论在人低分化肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株中,Agkihpin能促进E-CD的表达,因而可能抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和降低肝癌组织的恶性程度。     

丛菔的理化鉴别与含量测定

目的完善丛菔的质量标准。方法采用对口药材的采集、TLC鉴别、HPLC法测定含量的方法。结果 TLC法专属性强;在HPLC定量分析中,精氨酸的线性范围为0.0695～1.388μg(r=0.9997),平均回收率为98.02%,RSD=1.0%。结论所用方法操作简便、结果准确、重复性好,可作为丛菔药材的质量控制方法。     

Oxytocin, vasopressin, and human social behavior

There is substantial evidence from animal research indicating a key role of the neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the regulation of complex social cognition and behavior. As social interaction permeates the whole of human society, and the fundamental ability to form attachment is indispensable for social relationships, studies are beginning to dissect the roles of OT and AVP in human social behavior. New experimental paradigms and technologies in human research allow a more nuanced investigation of the molecular basis of social behavior. In addition, a better understanding of the neurobiology and neurogenetics of human social cognition and behavior has important implications for the current development of novel clinical approaches for mental disorders that are associated with social deficits (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder). This review focuses on our recent knowledge of the behavioral, endocrine, genetic, and neural effects of OT and AVP in humans and provides a synthesis of recent advances made in the effort to implicate the oxytocinergic system in the treatment of psychopathological states.     

不同剂量精氨酸对急性肝衰竭大鼠肝功能的影响

目的：探讨精氨酸对急性肝衰竭大鼠肝功能影响的剂量效应关系。方法：60只健康雄性Wistar大鼠按体重随机分为6组：A正常对照组,B肝衰竭对照组,C精氨酸强化Ⅰ组[0．4g/（kg·d）],D精氨酸强化Ⅱ组[0．8g/（kg·d）],E精氨酸强化Ⅲ组[1．6g／（kg·d）],F精氨酸强化Ⅳ组（3．2g／（kg·d）],观察给药14d后不同剂量精氨酸对肝衰竭大鼠肝功能的影响。结果：肝衰竭大鼠肝功能明显下降,转氨酶升高、血浆蛋白合成下降、凝血酶原时间延长。精氨酸强化后,各组肝功能指标均优于肝衰竭对照组,其中以0．8g／（kg·d）和1．6g／（kg·d）较好。结论：精氨酸剂量为1．6g／（kg·d）时对肝衰竭大鼠安全有效。     

The effect of rosiglitazone on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in critically ill patients

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) plays a crucial role in the arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Critically ill patients have elevated levels of ADMA which proved to be a strong and independent risk factor for ICU mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonist rosiglitazone on ADMA plasma levels in critically ill patients.In a randomized controlled pilot study, ADMA, arginine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were measured in 21 critically ill patients on the intensive care unit (ICU). Twelve patients received 4 mg rosiglitazone once a day for a maximum of 6 weeks or until discharge or death. Nine patients served as control patients. In addition, total sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA score), kidney function and liver function were determined.Compared to the ADMA levels of healthy individuals as specified in earlier studies, ADMA plasma levels of critically ill patients were significantly higher (0.42 ± 0.06 versus 0.73 ± 0.2 μmol/L, respectively; p < 0.001). Both ADMA (B = 3.5; 95% CI: 0.5–6.5; p = 0.023) and SDMA (B = 1.7; 95% CI: 0.7–2.7; p = 0.001) were independently related to SOFA scores. Overall, rosiglitazone treatment had no effect on ADMA levels, which only significantly differed between the rosiglitazone and control groups at day 7 (p = 0.028). The SOFA score in the rosiglitazone group was lower compared to the control group but the difference was only statistically significant at day 10 (p = 0.01).In conclusion, in critically ill patients plasma ADMA levels were elevated and associated with the extent of multiple organ failure, but no significant ADMA-lowering effect of the PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone was observed.     

Assay of AVP, CRP, and LPS in leukemia

The genesis and development of tumor are closely connected with immune system and neuroendocrine system. To investigate the changes of neuroendocrine and immune system in leukemia patients and their probable connection with leukemia, we studied five groups of patients including leukemia patients with normal temperature, leukemia patients with high temperature and infection (high-leukocyte count group and low leukocyte count group), general patients with fever and healthy Chinese adult blood donors as control group. We determined their blood cell counts by blood count meter, determined their arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels in blood plasma by radioimmunoassay and their cross-reacting protein (CRP), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels by immunoturbidimetry. Then we studied the difference and association among these indexes. Our results revealed a significant increase of AVP, LPS, and CRP levels in the blood of leukemia patients with normal temperature vs. normal people; Individual leukemia patients had high AVP levels although they had normal LPS and CRP levels; In the group of leukemia patients with high temperature and low leukocyte counts, the CRP level is significantly higher than some of other groups, while there was no significant increase in its AVP level. We conclude that no matter the temperature is normal or not, there were always neuroendocrine disturbance, inflammation, and inapparent infection in leukemia patient; To the leukemia patients with low leukocyte counts, the relationship between inflammation and neuroendocrine is more complicated.     

精氨酸对胰腺癌介入治疗患者血清VEGF和bFGF水平的影响

目的探讨精氨酸增强胃肠外营养对胰腺癌导管动脉化疗栓塞术（TACE）患者血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和碱性纤维母细胞生长因子（bFGF）水平的影响及其临床意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测52例中晚期胰腺癌患者行TACE前后血清VEGF和bFGF水平的改变,并与健康对照组比较分析。结果胰腺癌组介入治疗前VEGF和bFGF水平增高,与对照组比较有显著性差异（P〈0.01）;行TACE后,患者血清VEGF和bFGF水平降低,治疗前后有显著性的差异（P〈0.05）;应用精氨酸治疗组较未用组血清VEGF和bFGF水平下降更显著（P〈0.05）。结论检测胰腺癌患者血清VEGF和bFGF水平,有助于了解患者的浸润转移状况,TACE辅以合理的免疫营养素能增强患者的抗浸润转移功能。