中心性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变的两种眼底自发荧光特征观察

背景 眼底自发荧光(AF)成像是一种新的非侵人性眼底荧光检测技术,可利用共焦激光扫描检眼镜获得两种眼底AF,包括脂褐素相关的AF(FAF)和黑色素相关的近红外AF(NIA).目的 探讨中心性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变(CSC)患者眼底FAF和NIA两种AF特征.方法 对CSC患者23例28眼进行FAF、NIA和荧光素眼底血管造影(FFA)检查,其中急性期CSC 15例17眼,慢性迁延性CSC 8例11眼.结果 急性期CSC患者FFA荧光素渗漏点AF改变有3种特征:(1)AF增强,包括FAF增强2眼,占11.76％;NIA增强4眼,占23.53％.(2)无AF,包括FAF 10眼,占58.82％;NIA 13眼,占76.47％.(3)AF正常,包括FAF 5眼,占29.42％;NIA 0眼.视网膜浆液性脱离区AF改变有2种特征:(1)AF减弱,包括FAF减弱12眼,占70.59％;NIA减弱10眼,占58.82％.(2)AF增强,包括FAF增强5眼,占29.41％;NIA增强7眼,占41.18％.慢性迁延性CSC患者AF像中,FFA检查视网膜色素上皮(RPE)渗漏点位置表现为无AF,部分无AF点在相应位置的FFA像未见RPE渗漏点,而N1A像中所见的无AF点常常多于FAF.慢性CSC视网膜浆液性脱离区常表现为颗粒样无AF、AF增强及AF减弱等多种AF改变并存的复合病灶,并且AF像显示的异常荧光范围常常大于对应的FFA显示的异常荧光区.结论 AF技术为研究CSC提供了一种活体观察RPE细胞代谢和功能改变的手段.     

Increased anthralin irritation response in vitiliginous skin

Summary The irritation response to anthralin was studied using the chamber-testing technique in 17 patients with vitiligo. Anthralin concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, and 5% in lanette wax were applied to both vitiliginous and adjacent pigmented skin for 24 h. The extent of the erythematous reaction was evaluated on the 2nd day after application. The visual assessment of the paired anthralin patches indicated that the erythema was more intense in pigmented skin than in vitiliginous skin in 15 out of 17 patients. Chromometer readings, however, clearly indicated that the erythematous response was stronger in the vitiliginous skin than in the pigmented skin, confirming the known fact that the human eye is not accurate in the quantitative assessment of complex colors. Immunophenotypification of cellular infiltrates, using the combination of different monoclonal antibodies and the peroxidase technique, showed that inflammatory cell infiltrates caused by the anthralin exposure contained increased numbers of granulocytes and monocytes in vitiliginous skin when compared with normal skin. The percentage of T-cell subsets, Langerhans cells, and mast cells in the same infiltrates of both types of skin were similar. Our results are discussed in accordance with the view that anthralin-induced radical species of the pigmented skin can be neutralized by the scavenging properties of melanin.Part of this work was presented at the annual meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research, 1987, at Amsterdam, The Netherlands     

Sleep & metabolism: The multitasking ability of lateral hypothalamic inhibitory circuitries

The anatomical and functional mapping of lateral hypothalamic circuits has been limited by the numerous cell types and complex, yet unclear, connectivity. Recent advances in functional dissection of input-output neurons in the lateral hypothalamus have identified subset of inhibitory cells as crucial modulators of both sleep-wake states and metabolism. Here, we summarize these recent studies and discuss the multi-tasking functions of hypothalamic circuitries in integrating sleep and metabolism in the mammalian brain.     

Specific molecular probes for mechanistic studies in toxicology and molecular epidemiology for risk assessment

The human melanocytes of the skin, hair, eyes, inner ears, and covering of the brain provide physiologic functions important in organ development and maintenance. Melanocytes develop from embryonic neural crest progenitors and share certain traits with other neural crest derivatives found in the adrenal medulla and peripheral nervous system. The distinctive metabolic feature of melanocytes is the synthesis of melanin pigments from tyrosine and cysteine precursors involving over 100 gene products. These complex biochemical mechanisms create inherent liabilities for melanocytic cells if intracellular systems necessary for compartmentalization, detoxification, or repair are compromised. Melanocyte disorders may involve pigmentation, sensory functions, autoimmunity, or malignancy. Environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation and chemical exposures, combined with heritable traits, represent the principal hazards associated with melanocyte disorders.     

色素代谢异常的中药治疗研究进展

黑素代谢紊乱会引发色素障碍性疾病。随着对色素代谢机制不断深入研究,国内外对于应用药物治疗色素疾病的研究越来越深入细化。中药由于源自天然、不良反应小成为研究者治疗色素障碍性疾病一个重要研究领域。现综述黑素代谢的机制、常用于研究治疗色素疾病的中药剂型、实验模型、药物功效评价方法和中药的发展前景以及存在的问题。     

内耳色素与爆震性听损伤

目的 探讨内耳色素与爆震性听损伤的关系。方法 选用豚鼠４８只，分为：白化豚鼠爆震组，杂色豚鼠爆震组，正常对照组。爆震前及爆震后６小时、１、２、７、１４、２１天测定Ａ、Ｂ组豚鼠ＡＢＲ阈值。处死豚鼠做耳蜗铺片、耳蜗树脂包埋半薄切片、耳蜗扫描电镜制样，观察耳蜗内色素及耳蜗损伤情况。结果 光镜下杂色豚鼠可见耳蜗内色素颗粒，而白化豚鼠未见。爆震后白化豚鼠听力损伤比杂色豚鼠严重，其听力恢复亦较杂色豚鼠慢。爆震     

Nm23与RANTES在B16荷瘤鼠的表达和意义

目的检测荷瘤鼠体内Nm23(肿瘤转移抑制因子)与RANTES(T细胞特异性趋化因子)的表达,探讨其与肿瘤发生、转移的关系。方法将B16恶性黑色素瘤细胞人工植入C57小鼠体内,待肿瘤形成后,处死,取肿瘤病变组织皮肤,用4%多聚甲醛固定、切片,作免疫组化染色。结果正常对照组与早期肿瘤Nm23与RANTES表达的比较差异显著(P<0.05),早期肿瘤与晚期肿瘤Nm23与RANTES表达的差异显著(P<0.05)。结论在B16黑色素瘤荷瘤鼠Nm23与RANTES的表达与肿瘤的发生、转移呈负相关。     

Distinctive distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">AIM1</Emphasis> polymorphism among major human populations with different skin color

The genetic background for human skin color has been a major topic in human genetics; however, its molecular basis is still unclear. The gene for the AIM-1 protein (AIM1) was recently found to be responsible for the body color of medaka fish. In the search for the genes controlling human skin color variations, we have investigated genetic polymorphisms of this gene, and we have found a single-nucleotide polymorphism that has clear association with major human populations in terms of skin color. Received: October 9, 2001 / Accepted: December 3, 2001     

Neural differentiation in the OTT-6050 mouse teratoma: Enzymatic and immunofluorescence characterization of a tumor fraction showing melanogenesis in neuroepithelial cells

Summary A pigmented tumor fraction, designated IB-9, obtained following cellular dissociation and elutriation procedures applied to the solid transplants of the OTT-6050 mouse teratoma cell line, was characterized enzymatically and by immunofluorescence for the presence of tyrosinase and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Enzymatic assays of the pigmented tumors were compared with those obtained on non-pigmented teratoma-derived tumors, on pigmented tumors obtained from the mouse melanoma B16 line as a control for tyrosinase activity, and on whole brains of adult 129/J mice as a control for TH activity.All the teratoma-derived tumors, including the IB-9 fraction, showed a predominance of TH over tyrosinase activity. The levels of TH activity appeared independent of the presence or the extent of melanin pigment. All pigmented teratoma-derived tumors showed low levels of tyrosinase activity.On the basis of the enzymatic assays, the IB-9 tumors were divided into two groups: group I, which showed low enzyme activity, almost certainly entirely tyrosinase; and group II, in which the enzyme activity appeared largely due to TH, with presumably a very low background of tyrosinase activity. Immunofluorescence demonstrated the localization of TH activity to non-pigmented cells of the IB-9 fraction, whereas the pigmented cells showed absence of TH activity.These findings, taken in conjunction with the presence by electron microscopy of premelanosomes and melanosomes, indicate that pigment formation associated with melanosomal differentiation in the neural cells of IB-9 with the histologic patterns of primitive CNS neuroepithelium results from tyrosinase activity only and is therefore unrelated to the metabolic pathways involved in catecholamine synthesis and degradation. It is suggested that, at this stage of differentiation and in this system, the expression of catecholamine synthesis via tyrosine hydroxylase in neuroepithelial cells, and of melanin pigment via tyrosinase, are probably mutually exclusive.Supported by Research Grant CA 11689 of the National Cancer Institute; MH 23861 of the National Institute of Mental Health; and Neuropathology Training Grant NS 5 T32 NS 7111 of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke, USPHS