Amino acid signatures in the developing mouse retina

This study characterizes the developmental patterns of seven key amino acids: glutamate, γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA), glycine, glutamine, aspartate, alanine and taurine in the mouse retina. We analyze amino acids in specific bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cell sub-populations (i.e. GABAergic vs. glycinergic amacrine cells) and anatomically distinct regions of photoreceptors and Müller cells (i.e. cell bodies vs. endfeet) by extracting data from previously described pattern recognition analysis. Pattern recognition statistically classifies all cells in the retina based on their neurochemical profile and surpasses the previous limitations of anatomical and morphological identification of cells in the immature retina. We found that the GABA and glycine cellular content reached adult-like levels in most neurons before glutamate. The metabolic amino acids glutamine, aspartate and alanine also reached maturity in most retinal cells before eye opening. When the overall amino acid profiles were considered for each cell group, ganglion cells and GABAergic amacrine cells matured first, followed by glycinergic amacrine cells and finally bipolar cells. Photoreceptor cell bodies reached adult-like amino acid profiles at P7 whilst Müller cells acquired typical amino acid profiles in their cell bodies at P7 and in their endfeet by P14. We further compared the amino acid profiles of the C57Bl/6J mouse with the transgenic X-inactivation mouse carrying the lacZ gene on the X chromosome and validated this animal model for the study of normal retinal development. This study provides valuable insight into normal retinal neurochemical maturation and metabolism and benchmark amino acid values for comparison with retinal disease, particularly those which occur during development.     

Current understandings and perspectives on non-cancer health effects of benzene: A global concern

Objective

Benzene, as a volatile organic compound, is known as one of the main air pollutants in the environment. The aim of this review is to summarize all available evidences on non-cancerous health effects of benzene providing an overview of possible association of exposure to benzene with human chronic diseases, specially, in those regions of the world where benzene concentration is being poorly monitored.

Methodology

A bibliographic search of scientific databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scirus was conducted with key words of “benzene toxic health effects”, “environmental volatile organic compounds”, “diabetes mellitus and environmental pollutants”, “breast cancer and environmental pollution”, “prevalence of lung cancer”, and “diabetes prevalence”. More than 300 peer reviewed papers were examined. Experimental and epidemiologic studies reporting health effects of benzene and volatile organic compounds were included in the study.

Results

Epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that benzene exposure can lead to numerous non-cancerous health effects associated with functional aberration of vital systems in the body like reproductive, immune, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory.

Conclusion

Chronic diseases have become a health burden of global dimension with special emphasis in regions with poor monitoring over contents of benzene in petrochemicals. Benzene is a well known carcinogen of blood and its components, but the concern of benzene exposure is more than carcinogenicity of blood components and should be evaluated in both epidemiologic and experimental studies. Aspect of interactions and mechanism of toxicity in relation to human general health problems especially endocrine disturbances with particular reference to diabetes, breast and lung cancers should be followed up.     

Alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate modulates hepatobiliary transporters in sandwich-cultured rat hepatocytes

Alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induces intra-hepatic cholestasis mixed with hepatocellular injury mainly by bile ductular damage. However, its direct effect on hepatic parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) is unclear. Sandwich-cultured rat hepatocytes (SCRH) were applied to clarify this question. Though cytotoxicity was not observed (0–180 μM) in ANIT-treated SCRH, metabonomics analysis of the hepatocytes revealed a shift in the metabolic pattern and a decrease in cellular cholesterol level, accompanied by an increase in total bile acids after 48 h ANIT (5–45 μM) treatment. To assess the function of major hepatic bile acid transporters, the accumulation and efflux of [D-Pen^2,5]-enkephalin (DPDPE), 5 (and 6)-carboxy-2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (CDF) diacetate promoiety and deuterium-labeled sodium taurocholate (d8-TCA) were measured. ANIT incubation for either 30 min or 48 h led to dose-dependent decreases in the biliary excretion index (BEI) of DPDPE and CDF, as well as the intracellular accumulation of d8-TCA, CDF and DPDPE. The basolateral efflux of d8-TCA was also decreased with its BEI barely changed. mRNA expression of multiple uptake transporters and bile acid synthesizing enzymes was down-regulated after 48 h incubation. In conclusion, ANIT could directly induce retention of bile acids in hepatocytes by inhibiting the function of bile acid transporters, which might contribute to its cholestatic effect.     

健康查体者体重指数与肝酶及脂肪肝关系的探讨

目的：探讨健康查体者体重指数（BMI）与肝酶及脂肪肝的关系。方法选取笔者所在医院2014年1~5月的107例健康查体者,测量其身高、体重、肝功能,行肝脏彩超检查。根据BMI进行分组,对每组肝酶及脂肪肝情况进行分析。结果3组肝酶指标比较显示仅超重者和肥胖者ALT、GGT与正常组的ALT、GGT比较差异有统计学意义,其余指标比较差异无统计学意义;3组脂肪肝患者的情况比较差异均有统计学意义。结论超重者和肥胖者的ALT、GGT与正常组比较均升高,其余指标比较无异常,对于因肥胖导致的脂肪肝,ALT及GGT变化最早、最敏感,随着体重指数的增加,脂肪肝患病率越来越高,脂肪肝程度越来越严重。     

赣州市酒精性肝病人群的调查研究

目的：对赣州市酒精性肝病的调查结果进行分析探讨,为今后的防治工作提供可靠的参考依据。方法选取2013年1月~2014年12月赣州市上报酒精性肝病患者1233例,对其临床资料进行整理,并展开统计分析。结果调查中发现,男性患者多于女性患者（P<0.05）,跃40岁患者所占比例最高（P<0.05）;日均酒精摄入量、饮酒年限与酒精性肝病肝脏损伤程度呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论饮酒年龄、年限、职业、受教育程度等均与酒精性肝病的发生存在显著相关性,值得关注。     

胃食管反流病合并心房颤动患者的临床特点及危险因素

目的分析胃食管反流病（GERD）患者发生心房颤动（AF）的可能危险因素。 方法回顾性纳入2008年1月到2021年1月在新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院住院的胃食管反流病患者7417例。为研究GERD患者中AF发生的危险因素,采用单因素logistic 回归逐步法筛选有意义自变量,后通过多因素logistic 回归进行进一步分析。 结果本研究纳入研究对象平均年龄59岁,其中男性占54.8%,14.2%患者合并2型糖尿病,32.5%合并高血压,12.1%合并冠状动脉粥样硬化心脏病。入组的患者中共有合并 AF患者54例。通过logistic 回归进行单因素变量筛选。控制已知的AF的混杂因素后（年龄、性别、吸烟、饮酒、糖尿病病史、高血压病史、冠心病病史、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、总胆固醇）后进行多因素logistic 回归,结果提示年龄（OR=1.06,95%CI：1.04~1.09）、血清谷草转氨酶（OR=1.004,95%CI：1.001~1.005）和γ-谷氨酰基转移酶（OR=1.001,95%CI：1.000~1.003）是 GERD患者发生AF的危险因素。 结论本研究提示高龄、谷草转氨酶 和γ-谷氨酰基转移酶水平可能是GERD 患者发生 AF 的危险因素。     

Pharmacotherapy Approaches in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) comprise a heterogeneous group of organisms, with only a small subset known to cause disease in humans. Although NTM infection is not a reportable disease, both the increasing clinical recognition and recent advancements in laboratory diagnostic capabilities of NTM infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients are rapidly evolving. We reviewed antimicrobial agents used to treat the most frequently encountered NTM infections and examined optimized drug dosing strategies, toxicity profiles, drug-drug interactions, and the role of therapeutic drug monitoring. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and patient monitoring on therapy were also examined. We used PubMed to review the published literature on the management of select NTM pathogens, the common syndromes encountered since 2000, and select pharmacokinetic principles of select antimicrobial agents used since 1990. We included select clinical trials, systematic reviews, published guidelines, and observational studies when applicable. The prolonged duration and the necessity for combination therapy for most forms of NTM disease can be problematic for many patients. A multidisciplinary care team that includes pharmacy engagement may help increase rates of optimal patient tolerability and successful treatment completion.     

Preoperative predictors of choledocholithiasis in patients presenting with acute calculous cholecystitis

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乙型肝炎e抗原阴性慢性乙型肝炎和肝硬化患者病毒基因型及丙氨酸氨基转移酶水平分析

目的观察乙型肝炎e抗原(HBeAg)阴性慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)及肝硬化患者的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)基因型及丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)水平。方法采用酶联免疫吸附法检测62例CHB和41例肝硬化患者HBV标志物和血清ALT水平,用聚合酶链反应法检测其HBV基因型。结果CHB患者中,21 例(33.9%)为HBeAg阴性,41例(66.1%)为HBeAg阳性;肝硬化患者中,28例(68.3%)为HBeAg阴性,13例(31.7%)为HBeAg阳性。CHB患者中,53例(85.5%)为C基因型,9例(14.5%)为B基因型; 肝硬化患者中39例(95.1%)为C基因型,2例(4.9%)为B基因型。HBeAg阴性CHB患者ALT>40 U/L 者的比例低于HBeAg阳性组(分别为47.6%和85.4%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。HBeAg阴性肝硬化患者ALT>40 U/L者的比例低于HBeAg阳性组(分别为64.3%和92.3%)但差异无统计学意义。结论CHB 和肝硬化患者中,HBeAg阴性者的比例较高,此类患者的ALT水平较低,以C基因型占优势。     

2型糖尿病患者血清肝酶谱与甲状腺激素和中国人内脏脂肪指数的关系

目的探讨2型糖尿病患者血清肝酶谱与甲状腺激素和中国人内脏脂肪指数(Chinese visceral adipose index,CVAI)的关系,分析影响肝酶的因素。方法选取700例于本院内分泌科住院的2型糖尿病患者,根据肝酶是否升高分为肝酶升高组和肝酶正常组,再将丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、谷氨酰胺转肽酶(GGT)分别进行三等分分组。比较2组间及ALT、AST、GGT三等分分组间甲状腺激素和CVAI的差异,分析ALT、AST、GGT与甲状腺激素和CVAI的相关性。结果肝酶升高组较肝酶正常组T4、CVAI升高(P<0.05)。随着ALT、AST的升高,FT3、T3、T4逐渐升高(P<0.05);随着ALT、GGT的升高,CVAI也逐渐升高(P<0.05)。相关性分析显示,ALT、AST与FT3、T3、T4呈正相关;ALT、GGT与CVAI呈正相关;CVAI与FT3、T3呈正相关;HbA1C与FT3、T3和T4呈负相关。回归分析显示,FT3、CVAI和HbA1C是ALT的影响因素,T4是AST的影响因素,T3和HbA1C是GGT的影响因素。结论2型糖尿病患者中甲状腺激素和CVAI与肝酶水平均有一定相关性。