The kinetics of intermediate processes in the photolysis of bovine rhodopsin--II. The intermediate decay sequence from lumirhodopsin497 to metarhodopsin380 II.

The kinetics of early intermediate processes in the thermal decay sequence following illumination of the bovine visual pigment, rhodopsin, have been studied using flash photolysis. It is found that the conversion of lumirhodopsin₄₉₇ to metarhodopsin₄₈₀ I in rod disc suspensions above 0°C can best be interpreted as a second-order process exhibiting pseudo first-order behavior in its terminal stages. The subsequent conversion of metarhodopsin₄₈₀ I to metarhodopsin₃₈₀ II is a single first-order process in rod disc suspensions.At low temperatures (from ?40 to ?50°C) the lumirhodopsin₄₉₇→ metarhodopsin₄₈₀ I reaction is characterized by relatively large, positive values ofΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, white at higher temperatures, above 3°C, this same process has a very small ΔH^≠ and slightly negative ΔS^≠. In addition the ratios of initial concentrations of the reactants varies by a factor of ~10 in the two temperature ranges studied. The subsequent metarhodopsin ₄₈₀ I → metarhodopsin ₃₈₀ II reaction most likely involves rather marked protein configurational changes as indicated by the large, positive values of ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ for this first-order process.     

Added value of the presence of blue nodes or hot nodes in sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Combined use of blue dye and radiocolloid is considered to be useful for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of breast cancer. Whether both techniques together is superior to either alone was analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 308 cases of breast cancer who underwent SLN biopsy using the combination technique was used. The frequency of a blue node or hot node was analyzed in all cases and only node-positive cases. Furthermore, the frequency of a blue node and hot node together, or either alone, and the highest radiocount of the SLNs in each case were examined for correlation with 8 clinicopathologic features. Three types of SLN containing both blue dye and radioactivity (blue-hot node), blue dye alone (blue-only node) and radioactivity alone (hot-only node), and the SLN radiocounts were analyzed for correlation with metastatic tumor. RESULTS: Of 308 cases, a blue node was present in 298 (97%), a hot node in 295 (96%), and either a blue or hot node in 306 (99%). The presence of a blue node or hot node was similarly affected by previous surgical biopsy and body mass index (BMI), and the presence of a hot node was also affected by age and tumor location. However, the presence of either a blue node or hot node was not affected by any of these characteristics. Of 77 node-positive cases, 8 (10%), 15 (19%) and 6 (8%) were considered to be node-negative based on blue node, hot node and either blue node or hot node positivity, respectively. The frequency of positivity for SLN metastasis decreased in order from blue-hot, blue-only to hot-only nodes. Of 62 cases with metastatic hot nodes, six (10%) were negative when the hottest node was examined, but the second-hottest node was positive. CONCLUSIONS: The added value of the presence of blue node or hot node was confirmed in the SLN biopsy using the combination technique, which suggests that all blue nodes and hot nodes need to be harvested.     

Pain sensitivity is altered in animals after subchronic ketamine treatment

Rationale Clinical observations have shown that pain sensitivity is altered in some schizophrenic patients.Objectives To study alterations in pain sensitivity, the ketamine model in schizophrenia research was employed.Materials and methods Rats were subchronically injected with the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine (Ket, ten injections of 30 mg/kg, one injection per day over a period of 10 days). Two weeks after treatment completion, the animals’ pain sensitivity was assayed in the hot plate test and they were subjected to electrical stimulation of the tail root. In addition, the effect of morphine was studied.Results In group-housed animals, there was no difference between Ket-injected animals and control rats as measured in both nociceptive tests. In singly housed Ket-injected rats, pain threshold was increased in the electrical stimulation test. This suggests that stress due to single housing might be essential for modifications of pain sensitivity. Moreover, the antinociceptive effect of morphine was modified after single housing. Interestingly, the effect of morphine on locomotor activity was similar in both groups. In group-housed rats, μ receptor binding was unchanged in the frontal cortex, whereas Ket-injected animals had decreased levels in the hippocampus. In singly housed animals, μ receptor binding in Ket-injected rats increased in the frontal cortex and decreased in the hippocampus. ³⁵S-GTPγ-S binding increased in the frontal cortex in both singly housed groups, but remained unchanged in the hippocampus.Conclusions The data suggest that the ketamine model might be useful for studying altered pain sensitivity in schizophrenia. Moreover, the data suggest that modifications in μ opioid receptor binding contribute to this phenomenon.     

A randomised, double-blind, cross-over study into the effect of sequential mestranol and norethisterone on climacteric symptoms and biochemical parameters

A randomised, double-blind, cross-over study into the effect of graded sequential mestranol and norethisterone on climacteric symptoms was performed. The study group consisted of 23 post-menopausal women who had previously undergone hysterectomy. Active therapy resulted in a significant reduction in hot flushes and night sweats. There was a slight improvement in insomnia, lack of energy and confidence but the other symptoms were not significantly altered. A small placebo effect was noted but this was only significant 1 mth after active treatment had been discontinued in the group of women receiving placebo second. Active treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in serum sodium, calcium, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol, and increase in serum triglycerides, but no alteration in the other biochemical parameters, weight or blood pressure.     

Short-term combinational therapy of low-dose estrogen with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (fluvoxamine) for oophorectomized women with hot flashes and depressive tendencies

AIM: To examine whether low-dose and short-term estrogen-replacement therapy (ERT) plus selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment is effective or not in the treatment of climacteric disorders, hot flashes and depressive symptoms, in oophorectomized women. METHOD: Forty-two oophorectomized women with hot flashes and depressive symptoms were assigned randomly to two groups. We examined the efficacy rates of climacteric disorders, particularly hot flashes and depressive symptoms in 21 women on low-dose ERT (conjugated equine estrogens [CEE] 0.3125 mg/day) and 21 women on low-dose ERT (CEE 0.3125 mg/day) plus SSRI (fluvoxamine 50 mg/day) treated for 8 weeks. We used questionnaires to evaluate the efficacy for depression, namely the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Self-rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D), and for anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In the statistical analysis, in the mixed-effect model, for the score against time and adjusted with age, treatment and treatment as the fixed effects. RESULTS: The average scores on the SDS in both groups were decreased by the treatment (P < 0.001). But the efficacy of the ERT + SSRI group in the time x treatment SDS and SRQ-D scores was significantly higher compared with those of ERT (P = 0.0025, 0.0162) and there was a significant difference in the decrease in the frequency of hot flashes by 8 weeks between the two groups (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of low-dose and short-term ERT + SSRI is more effective than low-dose estrogen alone in relieving the depressive symptoms and hot flashes of oophorectomized women.     

吻合血管的脐旁皮瓣联合分叶带蒂皮瓣修复手部热压伤

目的探讨吻合血管的脐旁皮瓣联合分叶带蒂皮瓣修复手背及指背热压伤的方法。方法切取脐旁皮瓣,近端皮瓣血管蒂与手部鼻烟壶部桡动脉深支及其伴行静脉吻合,皮瓣远端分成四叶瓣并与腹部带蒂相连,以保证指背远侧皮瓣血供。一期分指,重建指蹼,修复手背热压伤。结果皮瓣完全成活,质地柔软,色泽均匀,随访5个月功能及外形均比较满意。结论吻合血管的脐旁皮瓣联合分叶带蒂皮瓣修复手背及指背热压伤,可一期分指,减少了手术次数和瘢痕形成,有利于手部功能及外形的恢复。     

热休克蛋白47在转化生长因子β1诱导肾小管间质纤维化中的作用

目的 探讨热休克蛋白47（HSP47）在肾小管间质纤维化中的作用及其可能机制。 方法 常规培养人肾小管上皮细胞（HK-2）,分为对照组、转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）组、HSP47-siRNA组。RT-PCR检测HSP47、胶原Ⅳ、纤连蛋白（FN）、组织型纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂1（PAI-1）的mRNA表达。Western印迹检测HSP47、胶原Ⅳ、FN蛋白表达。ELISA检测PAI-1的蛋白量。 结果 HK-2细胞有HSP47表达。不同浓度TGF-β1（0、2.5、5、10 μg/L）干预不同时间（12、24、48 h）时,HSP47基因和蛋白表达呈浓度和时间依赖性增高,10 μg/L TGF-β1干预HK-2细胞48 h时,HSP47 mRNA和蛋白表达最强。不同浓度 TGF-β1（0、5、10 μg/L）干预HK-2不同时间（12、24、48 h）时,胶原Ⅳ、FN 、PAI-1 mRNA和蛋白表达亦呈浓度和时间依赖性增高,10 μg/L TGF-β1作用48 h时,3者mRNA和蛋白表达最强。与TGF-β1组比较,HSP47-siRNA组的HSP47、胶原Ⅳ、FN、PAI-1 mRNA和蛋白表达都明显下调。 结论 HSP47可促进肾小管间质纤维化,其机制可能与上调胶原Ⅳ、FN、PAI-1表达有关。     

Flash‐Heating‐Enhanced Ring‐Opening Polymerizations of ε‐Caprolactone under Conventional Conditions

Summary: Flash conventional heating (FCH) and microwave heating (MH) were matched in their effects on the ROP of ε‐CL catalyzed by Sn(Oct)₂. The temperature of the ROP, heated by a hot salt bath, increased from room temperature to 215 °C within 3 min, which rose a little faster than that by MH (213 °C at 6 min), and the way of heating was considered as FCH. The kinetic results indicate that the chain propagation of PCL was significantly accelerated under FCH conditions and the ratio of the chain propagation rate constant by FCH to that by MH (k/k) was 4.48, if the concentrations of their propagating species were the same. The largest number‐average molar mass ( ) of PCL obtained by FCH was 13.0 × 10⁴ g · mol^?1 at 6 min, but that by MH was 4.1 × 10⁴ g · mol^?1 at 15 min. The ratio of the concentrations of propagating species under the two conditions was around one‐fifth at 4, 6, and 8 min.

Thermal and kinetic behavior of the ROP of ε‐CL.     

KST5468, a new T-type calcium channel antagonist, has an antinociceptive effect on inflammatory and neuropathic pain models

The T-type Ca²⁺ channel is a low-voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channel related to nociceptive stimuli. Increases in Ca²⁺ due to calcium channel activation enhance pain sensitivity through both peripheral and central pain pathways. We have developed a novel compound, KST5468, which is a T-type calcium channel antagonist. The new synthetic compound may have an antinociceptive effect, and thus we evaluated KST5468 as a putative analgesic in a hot plate test, a formalin test, and two neuropathic pain models. KST5468 caused a significant increase in latency in the hot plate test at 30 min after a 10 mg/kg peritoneal injection of the compound. Interestingly, in the second phase of formalin test, KST5468 decreased pain behaviors in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in two neuropathic pain models induced by chronic constriction and spared nerve injury, KST5468 significantly increased the mechanical pain threshold. Using immunohistochemistry, expression of two well known pain-related molecular markers, c-Fos and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) were found to be decreased in the laminae I-II layers of the ipsilateral L4-L5 spinal dorsal horn in KST5468 treated mice. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that KST5468 may be an effective antinociceptive agent for neuropathic pain.     

在电力隧道加固工程上钢绞线-聚合物砂浆加固法 的应用研究

试验研究了在发动机喷管中加装金属辐射板前后,喷管壁面温度、热喷流温度与喷管红外辐射特征的变化。结果表明,加装金属辐射板后,热喷流与喷管壁面之间的热量传递显著增强,热喷流中心温度降低,壁面温度明显升高,在90°方向上,热喷流3～5μm波段的红外辐射强度降低了38.5%。文中从热喷流、喷管壁面以及金属辐射板等相关部件的温度变化情况对红外辐射强度的变化原因进行了解释。 