Increase of prolactin mRNA in the rat hypothalamus after intracerebroventricular injection of VIP or PACAP

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the structurally homologous pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and the pituitary hormone, prolactin (PRL) enhance rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). VIP and PACAP are both inducers of PRL gene expression and release in the pituitary gland. Little is known about PRL regulation in the brain although it is hypothesized that the REMS-promoting activity of i.c.v. administered VIP may be mediated via the activation of cerebral PRL. To test whether VIP or PACAP in fact increase intracerebral mRNA, the peptides (VIP: 30 or 300 pmol; PACAP: 220 pmol) were injected i.c.v. into rats at dark onset. 1 h later, cDNA was synthesized from purified hypothalamic mRNA. Standardized amounts were analysed for PRL using the polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blotting and hybridization. Compared with β-actin mRNA levels, both VIP and PACAP increased PRL mRNA levels in a dose-dependent fashion though VIP was more effective on a molar basis. The previously reported alternatively spliced PRL mRNA (lacking exon 4) was not detected. The data support the hypothesis that the REMS-promoting activity of central VIP and PACAP might be mediated by cerebral PRL.     

丁型肝炎病毒中国SZ株的cDNA克隆及基因变异分析

以四川地区１例无症状携带丁型肝炎病毒（ＨＤＶ）和乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）患者的外周血为标本，采用逆转录－ＰＣＲ技术，获得了ＨＤＶ全基因组的ｃＤＮＡ克隆（ＨＤＶＳＺ９３株），全长１６８４ｂｐ。与世界其他七个地区株相比，其核酸同源性为８１．８％～９５．４％；丁肝病毒抗原蛋白编码区核酸同源性为８８．９％～９６．１％，氨基酸同源性为８６，４％～９３．０％。另从１例慢性重型肝炎患者血清内克隆了丁肝病毒抗原蛋白（ＨＤＡｇ）编码基因（ＨＤＶ－ＳＺ９２株），与ＳＺ９３株相比，亦存在若干变异。对这些不同地区、不同病情ＨＤＶ株变异的可能意义进行了讨论。     

Respiratory symptoms associated with the use of azodicarbonamide foaming agent in a plastics injection molding facility

Respiratory health variables were studied cross-sectionally in 227 employees of a plastics molding facility where numerous complaints had been apparently associated with the use of azodicarbonamide foaming agent in injection molding. Pre- and postshift respiratory status measures and azodicarbonamide concentrations were also obtained for 17 employees. Cross-sectional pulmonary function differences by injection molding status were not observed. Modest decrements in pulmonary function measures were observed between start and end of shift but with no dose-effect relationship. A strong association was observed for injection molding workers for eye/nose/throat irritation, cough, and wheezing. Additionally, wheezing, chest tightness, and symptoms of chronic bronchitis were strongly associated with work in injection molding during periods in which azodicarbonamide was in use. These results suggest respiratory symptom causation by some combination of azodicarbonamide itself, reaction products of azodicarbonamide formed during injection molding, or other unidentified agents uniquely associated with the process of injection molding with azodicarbonamide foaming agent.     

Association between alcohol consumption and aeroallergen sensitization in Danish adults

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that alcohol consumption may be one of the lifestyle factors associated with a westernized, urban, and affluent lifestyle contributing to the rise in atopic disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and atopy (aeroallergen sensitization). METHODS: In 1982, a population-based cross-sectional study of 3608 Danes (79% of the invited), aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, was carried out. Information on alcohol consumption was obtained by a questionnaire. Aeroallergen sensitization was defined as a positive test for the detection of specific IgE against a panel of 19 common inhalant allergens in stored serum samples. A total of 3317 subjects with complete information on all variables were included in the analyses. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and aeroallergen sensitization (independent of the type of alcoholic drink consumed). This association appeared to relate only to those who consumed more than 8 drinks/week. After adjustment for confounders this association was only statistically significant for those who consumed 15-21 drinks/week (adjusted odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.8). CONCLUSION: In this adult general population, self-reported alcohol consumption was positively associated with aeroallergen sensitization.     

ALS and SAD-like nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes are widely distributed in insects

Segments of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α sub-unit genes have been isolated from a panel of insect species by polymerase chain reaction, using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed to recognize conserved regions of the Drosophila melanogaster ALS and SAO genes. The amplified segments encode elements of typical a-subunits anticipated to play roles in ligand binding and ion channel formation. Each is also clearly either ALS or SAD-like. The predicted protein sequences display extremely high levels of conservation (over 85% for each subtype) even though derived from very distantly related insect species.     

The synchronization of respiration and swallow sounds with videofluoroscopy during swallowing

Simultaneous recording of adult subjects sipping small amounts of fluid from a cup have been obtained by videofluoroscopy together with feeding respiratory patterns and swallow sounds from the Exeter Dysphagia Assessment Technique (EDAT). These allowed visual representations of respiration and swallow sounds to be superimposed on a videofluoroscopy recording using a split-screen technique. Sequentially numbered, 1/50 sec, half-frame photographic prints were examined and schematic drawings of the relevant radiographs were made. These were superimposed on to the actual EDAT printed chart of the same swallow event, theri exact time relationship with respiration and cervical swallow sounds being preserved. The results allow events in the barium videofluoroscopy to be related to events in the feeding respiratory pattern and swallow sounds recorded by EDAT.     

pH control in rat skeletal muscle during exercise,recovery from exercise,and acute respiratory acidosis

We used ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare the response of rat skeletal muscle to three kinds of proton load. During exercise (tetanic sciatic nerve stimulation), protons from lactic acid were buffered passively and consumed by net hydrolysis of phosphocreatine (PCr). During recovery from exercise, the pH-dependent efflux of protons produced by PCr resynthesis could be partially inhibited by amiloride or 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulphonate (DIDS), implicating both sodiudproton and bicarbonatelchloride exchange, but was not inhibited by simultaneous respiratory acidosis. In early recovery, up to 30% of proton efflux was mediated by lactatelproton cotransport. During acute respiratory acidosis at rest, the eventual change in muscle pH was consistent with passive buffering and was unaffected by amiloride or DIDS, implying no significant contribution of proton fluxes.     

Detection of human papillomavirus in organs of upper genital tract in women with cervical cancer

In this study, we evaluated the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in organs of the female upper genital tract, using nine hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy specimens affected by HPV-positive invasive cervical carcinomas, to establish if cervical HPV infection can spread to upper tracts of the female genital system. HPV DNA was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all cervical carcinomas as well as in all tracts of the genital system. Then, these data were compared with the results obtained from PCR study of five other hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy specimens (control cases). The criteria used for selection of the control cases were informed consent of the patients for research at the time of surgery, absence of neoplasms, absence of any anatomic lesion caused by HPV in cervix, and external genitalia. All selected cases were squamous cervical carcinomas. PCR analysis revealed HPV DNA in all cases of cervical carcinoma. The HPV DNA was detected as weak positivity on PCR analysis in other organs of the genital system. However, the distribution of HPV DNA varied in the various cases and in the different tracts of the same hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy specimen. We believe that the HPV DNA, detected as a weakly positive signal, in the upper genital tract of patients who have a cervical squamous carcinoma could be a reflection of a latent HPV infection, as well as a sign of the existence of micrometastases containing HPV DNA, which cannot be detected by conventional histologic techniques.     

食管癌3p24等位基因LOH及其扩增产物克隆的研究

目的；研究3p24EAβMD位点与食管癌的关系。为寻找该位点附近可能存在的抑癌基因奠定基础。方法：采用PCR—RFLP法检测45例食管癌患者3p24位点杂合缺失情况。并对该片段进行克隆。结果：在22例食管癌信息个体中共检出9例杂合缺失。并通过序列分析可知变化为点突变。结论：3p24EAβMD较高的杂合缺失率显示该位点附近可能存在潜在的抑癌基因。     

传染性非典型肺炎患者泪液和血液中特异性抗体检测的对比研究

目的：通过传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)患者泪液病毒特异性抗体的检测，寻找SARS病毒是否通过泪液或眼结膜传播的理论依据，了解泪液和血液中SARS病毒特异性抗体检测结果的一致性程度。方法：用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测18例不同病程的SARS患者泪波及血清SARS病毒特异性抗体。结果：18例SARS患者泪液中的特异性IgM类和IgG类抗体均为阴性，而同组患者有13例其血液中的特异性IgM类和IgG类抗体呈阳性。结论：SARS病毒可能不通过泪液或结膜传播。