Elevated serum levels of the apoptosis related molecules TNF-α, Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: The serum circulatory levels of apoptosis related molecules measured in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and healthy individuals in order to investigate possible alterations associated with the clinical forms of OLP. METHODS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble Fas (sFas) and Bcl-2 studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole blood samples in 13 OLP reticular, 13 OLP atrophic-erosive form patients and 26 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha and sFas detected in OLP patients as compared with controls. Serum concentrations of Bcl-2 although increased in 17/26 patients, they were not statistically significant. Reticular OLP exhibited slightly elevated TNF-alpha and significantly elevated Bcl-2 serum levels, compared with erosive OLP. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a putative dysfunction in the Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis might be involved in the OLP pathogenesis. A downregulation of Bcl-2 serum levels in the atrophic-erosive OLP may be associated with promotion of the disease activity.     

Preparation and evaluation of temperature sensitive liposomes containing adriamycin and cytarabine

Temperature sensitive liposomes (TSL) containing adriamycin (ADM) and cytarabine (Ara-C) were prepared. ADM and Ara-C were selected as model compounds of amphiphilic and hydrophilic drug, respectively. Encapsulation efficiency of ADM entrapped into TSL was about twice greater than that of Ara-C. It might be due to different polarity of the drugs. Lipid compositions of TSL had no effect on the encapsulation efficiency of drugs. Thermal behavior of TSL using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was also investigated. Phase transition temperature (T_c) of TSL was dependent on the lipid compositions of TSL.ADM broadened thermogram of TSL but Ara-C did not. However, T_c of TSL was not changed by any drug. Release rate of drugs was highly dependent on temperature. The release profile of ADM was similar to that of Ara-C. The maximum release rate of drugs from TSL was occurred at the near T_c and observed at 39–41°C for DPPC (Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) only, 52–54°C for DSPC (Distearoylphosphatidylcholine) only, 41–43°C for DPPC and DSPC (3∶1), and 43–45°C for DPPC and DSPC (1∶1), respectively. Effect of human serum albumin (HSA) on the release rate of ADM was investigated. HSA had no significant effect on the release of ADM below T_c. However, ADM release from TSL was increased at the near and above T_c. The HSA-induced leakage of drug may result from the interaction of liposomal constituents with HSA structure at the near T_c. From the fact that the release profiles of ADM from freshly prepared TSL and stored TSL for 1 week at 4°C was not changed, the TSL was considered to be stable for at least 1 week at 4°C. Based on these findings, TSL may be useful to deliver drugs to preheated target sites due to its thermal behaviors.     

Investigation of, the cause of low sperm motility in asthenozoospermic patients by multiple quantitative tests

Multiple tests were done on the ejaculates of 10 asthenozoospermic patients and nine healthy normozoospermic volunteers in an attempt to identify individually the cause of low sperm motility in these patients. Possible defects in the sperm plasma membrane and the motility apparatus of sperm, and in epididymal function affecting the development of motility, were investigated. The presence of seminal sperm antibodies or any motility-inhibiting factors in the seminal plasma that could be removed by washing were also tested. Each test was positive in only one or two patients but axonemal dysfunction was identified in nine patients. Removal of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermic samples did not improve sperm motility to any greater extent than with donor ejaculates, and the motile sperm of these patients exhibited characteristics mostly similar to those of donors under various incubation conditions. Selection procedures are, therefore, required to obtain samples of good quality sperm from such asthenozoospermic ejaculates.     

二硫化碳对大鼠胚胎发育及血清锌和铜含量影响的研究

本文观察了CS_2对大鼠胚胎发育及血清锌、铜含量的影响。发现胚胎着床前死亡率升高,胎鼠皮下出血、心包淤血及骨骼骨化不金的发生率增高。但无明显的致畸效应。14.1及103.9ng/m~3的CS_2对妊娠大鼠的血清锌、铜含量无明显影响。说明CS_2对大鼠的胚胎毒性与其对妊娠大鼠血清锌、铜含量的影响之间没有关联。     

中枢神经系统白血病血清神经元特异性烯醇酶测定的临床意义

目的 探讨血清神经元特异性烯醇酶与中枢神经系统白血病之间的关系。方法 对确诊的30例急性白血病患者及匹配的正常人的血清神经元特异性烯醇酶进行测定。结果 中枢神经系统白血病组血清神经元特异性烯醇酶含量21．92 7．5μg/L均明显高于白血病组、对照组，差异有显著性。结论 血清神经元特异性烯醇酶可作为反映中枢神经系统白血病病情的生化指标。     

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus DNA replicative intermediate forms by recombinant interferon-γ

AIM: To evaluate the in vitro anti-HBV activity of recombinant human IFN-γ, alone and in combination with lamivudine. METHODS: A recombinant baculovirus-HBV/HepG2 culture system was developed which could support productive HBV infection in vitro. Expression of HBsAg and HBeAg in infected HepG2 culture medium was detected by commercial enzyme immunoassays. HBV DNA replication intermediates were detected in infected cells by Southern hybridization and viral DNA load was determined by dot hybridization. RESULTS: IFN-γat 0.1 to 5μg/L efficiently down regulated HBsAg expression in transduced HepG2 cells. At 5μg/L, IFN-γalso suppressed HBV DNA replication in these cells. While treatment with a combination of lamivudine and IFN-γshowed no additive effect, sequential treatment first with lamivudine and then IFN-γwas found to be promising. In this culture system the best HBV suppression was observed with a pulse of 2μmol/L lamivudine for two days, followed by 1μg/L IFN-γfor another four days. Compared to treatment with lamivudine alone, the sequential use of 0.2μmol/L lamivudine for two days, followed by 5μg/L IFN-γfor six days showed a 72% reduction in HBV cccDNA pool. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study warrants further evaluation of a combination of IFN-γand lamivudine, especially in IFN-αnon-responder chronic hepatitis B patients. A reduced duration of lamivudine treatment would also restrict the emergence of drug-resistant HBV mutants.     

Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay of Pro-gastrin-releasing Peptide for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Comparison with Neuron-specific Enolase Measurement

Our previous study demonstrated that pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(31–98), or ProGRP, is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Using a newly developed, highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ProGRP, we analyzed 1,446 samples including those obtained from 478 lung cancer patients to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this ELISA. Several properties indicated that ProGRP is a useful tumor marker for SCLC. First, ProGRP was specifically elevated in SCLC patients. In non-SCLC patients and patients with non-tumorous lung diseases, its serum level was very rarely elevated. Secondly, ProGRP was a reliable marker, in terms of the marked elevation of serum ProGRP levels in SCLC patients. Thirdly, serum ProGRP levels were elevated in SCLC patients even at a relatively early stage of this disease. Fourthly, changes in the serum ProGRP level showed an excellent correlation with the therapeutic responses in SCLC patients. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is accepted as a tumor marker of SCLC patients. With the aim of comparing ProGRP and NSE as tumor markers for SCLC patients, we measured serum NSE levels in all samples collected in the present study. We found that ProGRP was superior to NSE in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reliability. Therefore, we consider that ProGRP can play a major role as a clinical tumor marker for SCLC patients.     

不同婴儿食品铝含量的测定

本文应用原子吸收光谱法测定母乳、牛奶、奶粉及不同喂养方式婴儿血清中锌、铜、铁及铝含量。母乳中锌、铜、铁含量均较牛奶丰富，铝含量低于牛奶；奶粉中锌、铜、铁含量高于牛奶，与母乳无显著差异，铝含量高于牛奶。母乳、牛奶及奶粉喂养的贫血患儿血清铝含量无显著差异，均明显低于铝中毒的血清铝水平。     

烧伤患者急性期反应物的变化及其临床意义

用环状免疫单扩散法观察了２７例烧伤患者伤后４６天以内血清急性期反应物前白蛋白、铜蓝蛋白、α＿１酸性糖蛋白、α＿１抗胰蛋白酶、转铁蛋白、Ｃ反应蛋白、纤维连接蛋白、补体成分Ｃ＿４、Ｃ＿（３ｃ）、触珠蛋白的变化趋势、试图探讨它们与病情发生、发展规律之间的关系。结果：Ｃ反应蛋白、α＿１酸性糖蛋白和α＿１抗胰蛋白酶在所有患者都升高，提示烧伤后组织损伤逐渐加重及伴发炎症、感染的存在；白蛋白、铜蓝蛋白、转铁蛋白和纤维连接蛋白在伤后均明显降低，提示伤后的分解代谢增加、贫血及网状内皮系统功能降低与之有关；触珠蛋白伤后明显降低且死亡组更明显，提示其作为具有过氧化物酶活性的保护作用降低是促进死亡的原因之一；伤后补体Ｃ＿４、Ｃ＿（３ｃ）在存活组升高而死亡组明显降低，因而可能被用于对患者病情和预后的判断。总之，观测急性期反应蛋白的变化规律，有助于及时发现患者病情的变化，以便临床及时采取相应措施。     

Reduction of Mortality in the Stockholm Ischaemic Heart Disease Secondary Prevention Study by Combined Treatment with Clofibrate and Nicotinic Acid

Consecutive survivors of a myocardial infarction from the Southern Hospital, below 70 years of age, were randomized into a Control group (n=276) and a Treatment group (n=279). The latter was openly prescribed the combination of clofibrate and nicotinic acid for serum lipid lowering. Each patient should remain in the study for 5 years and be seen regularly every 4 months at a special IHD outpatient clinic within the hospital. The concentration of serum cholesterol and triglyceride was lowered by 13% and 19%, respectively, in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. Total mortality was 82 cases in the Control group and 61 in the Treatment group, a 26% reduction (p<0.05). For patients above 60 years of age in the Treatment group the reduction in mortality was 28% (p<0.05). IHD mortality was reduced by 36% (p<0.01)in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. The beneficial effect of the serum lipid lowering treatment was related to the serum triglyceride concentration in two ways. First, it only occurred in patients with a triglyceride level >1.5 mmol/l (n=216). Secondly, it was most pronounced in the 44% of the treated patients who had a lowering of the serum triglyceride concentration by 30% or more, and in this subgroup the reduction of IHD mortality was 60% (p<0.01). For serum cholesterol there were no such relations. The difference between serum triglycerides and cholesterol concerning these relations to the treatment outcome may be due to the fact that hypertriglyceridaemia was the most common hyperlipidaemia among our patients, occurring in 50%, while hypercholesterolaemia only occurred in 13 %. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the results as the trial was not blind. However, the fact that the decrease in IHD deaths was directly related to the degree of serum triglyceride lowering indicates that it was the drug effect on serum lipids that was reponsible for the beneficial effect of the treatment.