Human khat (Catha edulis) chewers have elevated plasma leptin and nonesterified fatty acids

In this study, the effect of regular khat (Catha edulis Forsk) chewing (200 and 400 g) in humans on plasma leptin, nonesterified fatty acid, triacyglycerol, and total cholesterol levels was investigated. The results presented show that khat chewing increases plasma leptin concentration particularly in individuals who chew 400 g of khat leaves. The significance of increased plasma leptin is in explaining the underlying mechanism of the observed effects associated with khat chewing such as loss of appetite, decreased body weight, and hyperthermia. The decreased body weight was evident from the significantly lower body mass index of the khat leaves chewers group as compared to the non–khat leaves chewers group (control). Moreover, like leptin, the plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acids were significantly higher in those chewing 400 g of khat leaves. On the other hand, the plasma levels of triacylglycerol were significantly lower in the 2 khat-chewers groups (200 and 400 g of khat leaves), whereas plasma cholesterol levels were not affected by the 2 levels of khat leaves used in this study. The significance of these results may suggest that khat leaves may contain a component(s) that has the ability to reduce body weight via decreasing appetite.     

运用siRNA建立稳定低表达IGF1R基因的肝癌细胞株的实验研究

目的运用siRNA技术在肝癌细胞株中建立稳定低表达人胰岛素样生长因子1类受体(IGF1R)基因的细胞株。方法构建包含封闭IGF1R基因的真核表达载体pSUPER-IGF1R-siRNA,转染SMMC7721和Hep3B细胞,G418筛选表达稳定的细胞株。通过RT-PCR、Western-blot分析与鉴定IGF1R mRNA和蛋白及cyclin D1、cyclinB1蛋白的表达,并绘制细胞生长曲线。结果在SMMC7721和Hep3B细胞中成功建立低表达IGF1R基因的细胞株,其生长明显减慢(P<0.05),且其cyclinD1表达亦明显下降(P<0.05)。结论pSUPER-IGF1R-siRNA能抑制SMMC7721和Hep3B细胞的生长。     

汉族人群组织激肽释放酶基因调控序列多态性分析

目的　分析组织激肽释放酶基因 5’端启动子区域多态性在四川地区汉族人群中的分布。方法　应同PCR技术结合等位基因特异寡核苷酸片段分析的方法 (ASO)对 13 2例四川地区健康汉族人的组织激肽释放酶基因用十种探针进行检测 ,分析等位基因频率的分布。结果　组织激肽释放酶基因的A、B、C、D、E、H、K、P的频率分别为 2 2 .7%、9.8%、9.8%、3 .0 %、9.1%、2 3 .1%、16.3 %、6.1%。结论　在我国四川地区的健康汉族人群中 ,该位点确实存在多态性。     

创伤性复发性腓骨肌腱脱位的手术治疗

目的研究创伤性复发性腓骨肌腱脱位的手术方法. 方法回顾分析1986年1月～2003年12月手术治疗的21例创伤性复发性腓骨肌腱脱位的病例,所有病例均应用Watson Jones手术. 结果 15例得到随访,随访时间1～15年,平均4.9年.1例因外伤再次脱位,其余14例未再出现脱位,均恢复正常运动或训练,比赛. 结论 Watson Jones手术治疗复发性脱位操作简单,损伤小,效果满意.     

国人髌腱长度测量在髌骨不稳诊断中的意义

[目的]比较国人正常膝关节与髌骨不稳膝关节的髌腱长度,探讨国人髌腱长度的测量在髌骨不稳诊断中的意义。[方法]2003年1月~2005年12月诊治的43例髌骨不稳患者共49膝(男15例,女28例,6例为双侧髌骨不稳);平均年龄21.4岁(18~28岁);平均身高163(155~173)cm。正常对照组为50例健康体检者共50膝(男16例,女34例);平均年龄24.2岁(18~35岁);平均身高165(154~177)cm。在屈膝30°X线侧位片上测量髌腱长度、胫骨结节至胫骨平台的距离、Insall-Salvati指数。[结果]髌骨不稳组髌腱长度为(53.3±2.7)mm,对照组为(47.3 3.3)mm,统计学上具有显著差异性(P<0.05)。Insall-Salvati指数在髌骨不稳组(1.33±0.17)和对照组(1.06±0.14)也具统计学差异(P<0.05)。胫骨平台与胫骨结节之间的距离在髌骨不稳组为(27.8±3.6)mm,对照组为(28.9±4.1)mm,统计学上无显著性差异(P<0.05)。[结论]髌腱长度过长是髌骨不稳的重要特点之一。联合测量髌腱长度和Insall-Salvati指数有助于髌骨不稳的诊断。     

Mesh fixation with human fibrin glue (Tissucol) in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair: a preliminary report

Background: The Lichtenstein technique for inguinal hernia repair is easy to learn and associated with few complications. However, recent studies have suggested that this technique is inferior to some ‘sutureless’ repair systems in terms of perceived difficulty, operating time, surgeon satisfaction, etc. Methods: We employed a sutureless Lichtenstein technique in 80 consecutive patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia, to assess patient and trainee surgeon outcomes. Human fibrin glue was used in place of conventional sutures. Results: The mean operating time was 36 min and all patients were discharged 5–6 h after the operation. On a 100-point visual analogue scale, the surgeons rated the difficulty of the operation as low (mean score, 31), and perceived satisfaction as high (mean score, 84). No complications were observed at 12-month follow-up. Conclusion: This study confirms the efficacy of mesh fixation with human fibrin glue, and supports the viability of a sutureless Lichtenstein procedure.     

The effect of intraosseous graft length on tendon-bone healing in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using flexor tendon

The current study was performed to understand the relationship between graft length placed within the bone tunnel and intraosseous graft healing in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Twenty-four adult beagle dogs were divided into two groups of 12 animals each. In each animal, ACL reconstruction using a 4-mm diameter autogenous flexor tendon graft was done in the left knee. In groups I and II, the graft having a length of 15 and 5 mm, respectively, was placed within the tibial tunnel. The proximal end of the graft was placed through the over-the-top route in all animals. In each group, five animals were sacrificed immediately after surgery, and the remaining seven were sacrificed at 6 weeks postoperatively. Biomechanical and histologic evaluations were performed. In pull out testing, the ultimate failure load and the linear stiffness of the graft-tibia complex harvested at 6 weeks were significantly greater than those harvested at the time-zero period. There were no significant differences in those parameters between groups I and II at 6 weeks. In each group, the perpendicular collagen fibers connecting the tendon to the bone tunnel wall were observed only in the narrow area located close to the intra-articular tunnel outlet. In conclusion, excessively long placement of the flexor graft within the bone tunnel does not result in an additional increase of anchoring strength and stiffness of the graft in ACL reconstruction.     

人脑外伤后皮层核因子-κB的表达

目的 探讨核因子-κB（nuclear factor—κB，NF—κB）在人创伤性脑损伤（traumatic brain injury，TBI）后挫伤皮层中的表达情况，包括表达位置、表达强度和表达时相。方法 挫伤区皮层的标本来自24例TBI患者，取样时间为伤后5h-5d，利用凝胶电泳迁移分析法（electrophoretic mobility shift assay，EMSA）和免疫组化技术测定NF—κB的活性和表达强度。结果 在人TBI后的挫伤区皮层中，NF—κB表达明显上调，表达高峰为伤后48—72h，NF—κBP65主要在血管内皮细胞和神经胶质细胞中表达，NF—κBP50主要在神经胶质细胞和少量神经元中表达，NF—κBP65的表达强度高于NF—κBP50。结论 NF—κB在人TBI后的挫伤区皮层中表达上调，提示其可能在TBI后的病理生理过程中起着重要作用。     

Localizing and photosensitizing mechanism by tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphin in vivo on human malignant melanoma xenografts in athymic nude mice

Observations on time-dependent localization of tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphin (3-THPP) in human malignant melanoma transplanted to athymic nude mice from 1 to 120 h after intraperitoneal (i.p.) 10 mg kg^–1 b.w. administration were made by means of fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence was found on the membrane of the melanoma cells and in the cytoplasm with a peak fluorescence intensity at 24 h post-injection of 3-THPP. The growth of the tumour cells was obviously inhibited at an early stage after PCT. Morphological changes of the tumour at various intervals after treatment by PCT with 3-THPP were also observed. Diffuse degeneration of the tumour cells with swelling of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, heterochromatin aggregation and margination, etc., and subsequently diffuse necrosis with little or no the background of tumorous vascular response were found at an early stage after PCT. On the other hand, it was also observed that the necrosis of the melanoma areas was caused as a consequence of tumorous vascular injury at a later stage after PCT. Thus, two tumoricidal processes caused by PCT with 3-THPP were seen: a direct phototoxic action on tumour cells at an early stage after PCT and an indirect effect secondary to tumorous vascular injury at a later period after PCT.     

Effects of scopolamine,trimipramine and diazepam on explicit memory and repetition priming in healthy volunteers

The effects of scopolamine, an anticholinergic drug, of trimipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant with both anticholinergic and sedative properties, of diazepam and a placebo, on explicit memory and repetition priming were assessed using a free-recall task and a word-stem completion task. Forty-eight healthy volunteers took part in this double-blind study. Diazepam provoked a dissociation between free recall, which was profoundly impaired, and word completion, which was spared. No significant changes in memory performances were observed in the scopolamine group; however, a significant correlation between explicit and implicit memory performances was observed in this group. At the low dose used, the effects of trimipramine on memory were mild. The results suggest that the cholinergic system is involved in the priming effect.