SPARC, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein containing the follistatin module, is expressed by astrocytes in synaptic enriched regions of the adult brain

Although extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins play important roles in neural development, their levels are generally believed to decrease in the adult brain. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that the anti-adhesive ECM glycoprotein SPARC/osteonectin, which contains a follistatin ‘module’, is expressed in the adult rabbit nervous system. In the cerebellum, SPARC is present in Bergmann glia, with a strong signal along their radial fibres. SPARC, while enriched in membrane fractions, is not a transmembrane protein. In the hippocampus, colocalization of SPARC is observed in cells which express the astrocytic marker GFAP. The expression of SPARC by a subset of astrocytes, particularly in synaptic enriched areas, suggests a continuing role for the ECM in the adult brain.     

Eating to beat breast cancer: Potential role for soy supplements

Background: The study reviews the anticancer properties of naturalisoflavones which occur in especially high concentration in soybeans. Itconsiders the suitability of soybean products for clinical trials aiming toreduce the progression of breast cancer.Methods: Evidence is reviewed that plant isoflavones such asgenistein show cytostatic activity against human mammary cancer cell linesin vitro and can also suppress carcinogen-induced mammary cancer inyoung and mature rats.Results: Plant isoflavones are converted in the bowel to compoundswith potential antioestrogenic and antioxidative properties. These compoundsshow cytostatic activity for both oestrogen receptor-positive and negativehuman mammary cancer cell lines, and also inhibit growth and progress of therat mammary cancer model. The high content of soybean products in the diet ofAsian women has been postulated as one reason for their relatively low breastcancer incidence.Conclusion: Preclinical studies suggest that soybean products begiven priority for clinical trials in breast cancer protection. A pilot studycould test soy protein supplements as long-term adjuvant dietary treatmentafter primary surgery for early breast cancer, looking for a decrease in therisk of recurrence or of second primary tumours.     

Cytochrome P-45011 beta in rat brain

The presence of cytochrome P-45011 beta in rat brain was studied by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal rabbit antibodies raised against purified bovine adrenocortical P-45011 beta, which is involved in the steroid 11 beta-hydroxylation and glucocorticoid formation. The results showed that cytochrome P-45011 beta immunoreactivity is selectively localized to the tracts of myelinated fibers throughout the brain. The specificity of immunohistochemical stainings with P-45011 beta antibodies was established by control tests including nonimmune rabbit immunoglobulin Gs and P-45011 beta antibodies absorbed with purified antigen. Western immunoblots of homogenates from different brain areas with P-45011 beta antibodies, together with biochemical enzymatic assays for cytochrome P-45011 beta monooxygenase activity in these homogenates, confirmed the selective localization of this enzyme observed with immunohistochemistry. Cytochrome P-45011 beta and 11 beta-hydroxylase activity were detected in a homogenate from the cortical white matter (brain area rich in myelinated fibers) as in that from the rat adrenal, but were not detectable in a homogenate from the cerebral cortex (brain area poor in myelinated fibers). Furthermore, quantitation of the P-45011 beta bands on the immunoblots by the areal density revealed that the cortical white matter contains approximately 1.4 pmol of cytochrome P-45011 beta/mg of tissue protein, the value of which was about one sixth of the corresponding value estimated in the rat adrenal. This relatively high content of cytochrome P-45011 beta was also reflected in a relatively high level of 11 beta-hydroxylase activity measured in a homogenate of this brain area by biochemical enzymatic assays using [4-14C]-11-deoxycorticosterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Active production of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM antibody in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

We investigated the presence of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM in sera and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) by Western blot analysis. Analyses of 36 serum samples revealed that most patients (31/36; 86.1%) had anti-HTLV-I IgM, whereas only four of 23 (17.4%) HTLV-I carriers had it. In studies of cerebrospinal fluid, anti-HTLV-I IgM was detected in 24 of 36 (66.7%) HAM patients, whereas none was detected in nine HTLV-I carriers. The differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that persistent active replication of HTLV-I occurs in the central nervous system as well as in the peripheral blood of HAM patients, and may contribute to the development of HAM.     

识时度势保持特色力求发展--中西医合校的回顾与思考

新疆医科大学为全国第二家中西医合并院校.在新疆进行中西医合校,实属时势所使,事在必行.强弱相合,处于弱势的中医学院只有坚持相对独立,才能保证于合校后发扬中医药特色、办好中医药教育.中西医合校,给原本弱小的新疆高等中医药教育事业的发展带来了诸多可供凭借和利用的积极因素,同时也存在不少负面影响.新疆医科大学在实践中认清了中西医同校的优势与缺憾,采取扶持和爱护中医的策略,不断尝试规避冲突、化解矛盾、趋利祛弊、务期和谐,终喜事业有成,使高等中医药教育得以在新疆生存,并越过低谷,走上健康发展之路.     

亚低温治疗患者鼻饲营养并发症的观察及护理

报道48例亚低温治疗患者采用一次性投给、间歇滴注和连续输注营养膳的方式鼻饲营养，其并发症有：腹泻、腹胀、肠蠕动亢进，便秘，食物反流，吸入性肺炎，代谢紊乱，高血糖，水、电解质失衡，鼻胃管堵塞等。护理中体会到亚低温治疗患者鼻饲营养的时机最好在急性期1～2d后，应用鼻饲泵连续输注，适时使用胃肠动力药西沙比利．掌握营养膳的配制和正确的鼻饲方法，严密观察，发现异常及时处理，可大大降低并发症的发生。     

性倒错：大丈夫变娇娇娇娘

“你太不懂女人了！”每次吵架妻子都会甩给他这句话，这让他产生了破解女人密码的强烈愿望。[编者按]     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

中国汉译西医学著作在日本的流传和影响

调查了十九世纪汉译西洋医学著作在日本的出版和流传情况，有９种汉译西洋医学著作曾在日本出版，其中６种曾多次再版，７种有和训或和译本，这些著作曾在日本医生中广泛流传，促进了西洋医学在日本的传播和普及，对日本医学从传统医学向现代医学的转变起过一定的作用。本文还分析了汉译西洋医学著作能够在日本广泛流传的原因