Improved anchorage in osteoporotic vertebrae with new implant designs.

The goal of our study was to evaluate two newly developed implant designs and their behavior in terms of subsidence in lumbar vertebral bodies under cyclic loading. The new implants were evaluated in two different configurations (two small prototypes vs. one large prototype with similar load-bearing area) in comparison to a conventional screw-based implant (MACS TL). A pool of 13 spines with a total of 65 vertebrae was used to establish five testing groups of similar bone mineral density (BMD) distribution with eight lumbar vertebrae each. In additional to BMD assessment via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, cancellous BMD and structural parameters were determined using a new generation in vivo 3D-pQCT. The specimens were loaded sinusoidally in force control at 1 Hz for 1000 cycles at three load levels (100, 200, and 400 N). A survival analysis using the number of cycles until failure (Cox regression with covariates) was applied to reveal differences between implant groups. All new prototype configurations except the large cylinder survived significantly longer than the control group. The number of cycles until failure was significantly correlated with the structural parameter Tb.Sp. and similarly with the cancellous BMD for three of five implants. In both large prototypes the cycle number until failure significantly correlated with the preoperative distance to the upper endplates. Although the direct relationship between bone structure or density and mechanical breakage behavior cannot be conclusively proven, all the prototypes adapted for poor bone structure performed better than the comparable conventional implant.     

应用电泳技术分析飞行员富含三酰甘油脂蛋白亚组分及其代谢特征

目的 分析富含三酰甘油脂蛋白(TRLs)分子组成及其代谢特征.方法应用脂蛋白电泳技术,对30例飞行员空腹和脂肪负荷餐后血浆做脂蛋白分析,以扫描图面积表示各亚组分构成,观察脂蛋白亚组分变化特点.结果 30例飞行员TRLs清除延迟发生率46.67%.TRLs分子脂蛋白亚组分由极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL)、中密度脂蛋白(IDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、乳糜微粒(CM)和脂蛋白a[LP(a)]组成.TRLs清除延迟典型扫描图特征为LDL左侧区面积增高,呈双峰或多峰.LDL、VLDL区面积增高,伴有高密度脂蛋白(HDL)面积降低.结论 高三酰甘油血症致动脉粥样硬化作用是在代谢水平异常所致的TRLs清除延迟,TRLs清除延迟是核心环节.     

抗龋IgY和IgY牙膏对体外培养细胞影响的形态学观察

目的：了解抗龋IgY和IgY牙膏对体外培养细胞的影响。方法：体外培养人成纤维细胞（human skin fibrobasts,HSF）和中国仓鼠卵巢癌细胞（chinese hamster ovary,CHO），分别经不同浓度的抗龋IgY和IgY牙膏处理后常规培养，通过倒置显微镜和电子显微镜观察细胞生长情况和细胞超微结构。结果：经抗龋IgY处理的HSF和CHO细胞生长旺盛，超微结构无变化；经抗龋IgY牙膏处理的HSF和CHO细胞加药后部分细胞出现变圆或脱落、细胞生长缓慢和细胞器变性等变化，第2天恢复良好生长状态。结论：抗龋IgY对体外培养细胞生长、形态无影响；抗龋IgY牙膏中的某些成分可能对培养细胞有短暂的不良影响。     

芳香烃羟化酶活性与苯并[a]芘中间代谢产物生成关系的研究

100mg香烟烟油,多氯联苯诱导大鼠肝S_9组分中芳香烃羟化酶代谢B[a]P为3-OH-B[a]P的活性分别升高约40,20倍,而代谢B[a] P生成6-OXY-B [a]P自由基产物却仅由多氯联苯诱导的S_9组分作用中才被观察到。     

Crystal structure and conformation of polypeptides: L-leucylglycylglycylglycine

Crystals of L-leucylglycylglycylglycine, LGGG (C₁₂H₂₂N₄O₅), grown from an ethanol-water solution, are orthorhombic, space groups P2₁2₁2₁, with unit cell dimensions (at 22 ± 3°) a = 9.337(1), b = 10.995(1), c = 15.235(1)Å, v = 1563.4 ų, Z = 4 with a density of D_obs= 1.29 g-cm^-3 and D_calc= 1.279 g°cm^-3. The crystal structure was solved by the application of direct methods and refined to an R value of 0.029 for 1018 reflections with I ± 2s?. The molecule exists as a zwitterion in the crystal. The trans peptide backbone takes up a folded conformation at the middle glycylglycyl link accompanied by a significant nonplanarity up to Δω of 8° at the middle peptide and is relatively more extended at the two ends. The molecules are linked together intermolecularly in an infinite sequence of head to tail 1–4′ hydrogen bonds, as is typical of charged peptides. It is interesting to note that while glycylglycylglycine takes up an extended β-sheet conformation, addition of Leu to the N-terminal results in a bent conformation.     

Membrane flow within the myelin sheath in IDPN neuropathy

This report describes some aspects of beta,beta'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) neuropathy in rats as observed by ultrastructural methods and X-ray diffraction. Light microscopy shows gross swelling of the axons in proximal lumbar spinal roots 8 days after intraperitoneal injection of IDPN. Mean axon cross-sectional area and mean axon perimeter increased to 280% and 160% of their control values, respectively. At the same time, myelin membrane packing was not visibly disturbed. In addition, X-ray diffraction patterns, recorded under physiological conditions, demonstrate that the myelin lipid bilayer thickness and widths of the aqueous spaces between bilayers did not change. Related observations are made on posterior tibial nerve (PNS myelin) and ventral spinal cord (CNS myelin). The various observations together are interpreted in terms of a fluid myelin membrane. It is proposed that the myelin membrane flows during axon swelling even though normal membrane-membrane contacts are maintained within the sheath. Membrane flow and slippage between membranes are explained in terms of a molecular model of the myelin multilayer.     

Penicillamine-Induced Degenerative Dermatoses: Report of a Case and Brief Review of Such Dermatoses

We describe a case of elastosis perforans serpiginosa with additional findings of degenerative skin changes. A 20-year-old man with hepatolenticular degeneration, under prolonged treatment with D-penicillamine, presented with a circular or serpiginous arrangement of nuchal papules. Histopathologically, transepidermal channels were accompanied by granulomatous reactions, with several giant cells engulfing elastic fibers. In addition to these findings of a typical elastosis perforans serpiginosa, we observed scar-like skin changes inside the circular arrangement of the papules. At the scar-like tissue, we found electron-microscopical evidence of randomly aggregated thin collagen fibers with no tendency toward systemic combined bundle formation, which is a characteristic feature of normal collagen fiber formation. Pseudoxanthoma-elasticum-like changes were observed on his neck. On his axillae and groin, slight skin thickening and wrinkling were detected. The diagnosis of elastosis perforans serpiginosa does not represent all of the manifestations or the pathological background described above. The skin manifestations described here represent not only an elastosis but also a total degenerative dermatosis with over-healed collagenosis. Thus, those dermatoses should be summarized as one entity, penicillamine-induced degenerative dermatosis. After considering the pathogenic background and clinical similarities, we further propose to simplify the penicillamine-induced skin manifestations to three categories: acute sensitivity reactions, bullous dermatoses, and degenerative dermatoses.     

人皮质骨矿化基质中骨盐框架结构

目的：研究人皮质骨矿化基质中骨盐的框架结构及框架中骨微间隙。方法：应用透射电镜、场发射扫描电镜观察、电脑图像分析及能谱分析，分析无骨病成人长骨、扁骨２００例骨盐分布特征。结果：骨盐框架结构由微柱、微梁、微小梁、弓状梁、致密点、隔板和骨微间隙构成。骨微间隙由洞、内衬和壁组成，洞平均直径为８４．４±７５．６ｎｍ，与骨小管相比有显著差异（Ｐ值＜０．００１），平均密度为１１～１７个／μｍ２，与骨小管之比超过１０：１。骨盐分针形结晶和微颗粒结晶。结论：骨盐框架结构及骨微间隙是骨盐在人皮质骨矿化基质中的存在形式，可能与骨盐吸收、沉着有关。     

Retinal photoreceptor fine structure in the velvet cichlid (Astronotus ocellatus).

Summary The structure and arrangement of the retinal photoreceptors of the velvet cichlid fish (Astronotus ocellatus) have been studied by light and electron microscopy. Rods, single cones and double (twin) cones are present. In the light-adapted state, rods are very tall cells that reach deep into the retinal epithelial (RPE) layer. The long outer segment is composed of discs of uniform diameter displaying one or two incisures. The rod inner segment shows a distal ellipsoid of mitochondria, and then narrows dramatically in the myoid region. Rod nuclei are electron dense and located deep in the outer nuclear layer. Rod synaptic spherules are small and show two to three invaginated synaptic sites as well as superficial synapses. Single cones are similar to the individual members of a double cone and all display a short tapering outer segment, a large ellipsoid of mitochondria and a myoid rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum, polysomes, Golgi zones and autophagic vacuoles. Double cones have extensive subsurface cisternae along their entire contiguous surfaces. Cone nuclei are large and vesicular and located close to or through the external limiting membrane. The synaptic pedicles of cones are larger, more electron lucent, and display more invaginated (ribbon) synapses as well as conventional (superficial) synaptic sites than do the rod spherules. Rod photoreceptors certainly undergo retinomotor movements and it is probable that cones do as well. In the light-adapted state the cone photoreceptors are arranged in a repeating square mosaic pattern with one single cone surrounded by four double (twin) cones.