Ultrastructural localization of blood group antigen A in normal and neoplastic urothelium

The subcellular distribution of the blood group antigen A in the transitional epithelium of the urinary tract and its neoplastic growths was studied using transmission immuno-electronmicroscopy. Sixty-five tissue specimens from 50 blood group A1 patients were processed according to an immunogold procedure which was optimized for preservation of both antigen and ultrastructure. The reactions were stronger in the glycocalyx of the luminal surfaces and at the interdigitating cytoplasmic processes of the cells. In the intracellular compartment the reactions were associated with tubulovesicular membrane-bound structures and with the Golgi complexes. Secretory products, intra- or extra-cellular, were also positive. The greatest variability was noted in the cell surface reactions, which were positive in 88% of normal but only 41% of neoplastic urothelial specimens. An inverse correlation was found between malignant behaviour and cell surface, but not intracellular, reactions. We conclude that, in transitional cell carcinomas, there is a quantitative defect in the processing of substance A which affects predominantly the cell surface component and may involve either the transport-insertion steps, the plasma membrane-associated glycosyltransferases or internalization of blood group antigen A.     

Perfusion imaging by a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (Fair) technique: Application to functional brain imaging

Perfusion is a crucial physiological parameter for tissue function. To obtain perfusion-weighted images and consequently to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF), a newly developed flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) technique was used. Dependency of FAIR signal on inversion times (TI) was examined; signal is predominantly located in large vessels at short TI, whereas it is diffused into gray matter areas at longer TI. CBF of gray matter areas in the human brain is 71 ± 15 SD ml/100 g/min (n = 6). In fMRI studies, micro- and macrovessel inflow contributions can be obtained by adjusting TIs. Signal changes in large vessel areas including the scalp were seen during finger opposition at a TI of 0.4 s; however, these were not observed at a longer TI of 1.4 s. To compare with commonly used BOLD and slice selective inversion recovery techniques, FAIR and BOLD images were acquired at the same time during unilateral finger opposition. Generally, activation sites determined by three techniques are consistent. However, activation of some areas can be detected only by FAIR, not by BOLD, suggesting that the oxygen consumption increase couples with the CBF change completely. Relative and absolute CBF changes in the contralateral motor cortex are 53 ± 17% SD (n = 9) and 27 ± 11 SD ml/100 g/min (n = 9), respectively.     

Indirect detection of anti-acetylcholinesterase compounds in microcolumn liquid chromatography using packed bed reactor with immobilized human red blood cell acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase

The inhibiting compounds were separated by micro-column liquid chromatography in the mobile phase containing the natural substrate acetylcholine. A home-made packed bed microbioreactor system containing immobilized enzyme acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) in human red blood cell membrane and choline oxidase (CHO) from alcaligenes was used for the post-column conversion of acetylcholine to hydrogen peroxide which was detected by an electrochemical detector. The inhibition effect of the solutes caused a decrease in the acetylcholinesterase activity, a decrease in the formation of hydrogen peroxide and also a decrease in the response corresponding to the concentration of the solutes. The rate of the enzyme regeneration was also recorded. The micro-system was compared with a conventional LC system comprising commercially prepared enzyme reactor. The stability of the enzymes is at least 3 weeks at ambient temperature. The limit of detection depends on biological activity of inhibition and for galanthamine was 1 pmol.     

Hyperaemia in rat neocortex produced by acute exposure to methylenedioxymethamphetamine

Cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization were measured in rat neocortex, hippocampus and striatum following methylenedioxymethamphetamine injection (5 mg/kg, i.v.), using the tracers [¹⁴C]iodoantipyrine and [¹⁴C]2-deoxyglucose, respectively. In control rats, blood flow was coupled to glucose metabolism, but in methylenedioxymethamphetamine-treated rats, marked hyperperfusion was measured in frontal and parietal cortex with no change in glucose use. This suggests that methylenedioxymethamphetamine has the potential to disrupt cerebrovascular control.     

Effects of substance P on the spontaneous binding of Salmonella minnesota R345 (Rb) to human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The effects of substance P (SP) on Salmonella minnesota R345 (Rb) binding to human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were evaluated. Two parameters of bacterial cytoadherence were considered, namely the binding lymphocytes (BL) and the number of bound-bacteria/lymphocyte (BB). The results showed that SP inhibits both BL and BB in a significant manner. Furthermore, distribution of Salmonella binding to CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was studied following SP pretreatment of lymphoid cells. This neuropeptide is able to hamper the bacterial cytoadherence to both T-cell subpopulations and, in particular, the inhibitory effect on the T-suppressor/cytotoxic subset was more pronounced. These findings are discussed in terms of SP intervention in the mechanism of host protection against invading microorganisms.     

The pros and cons of fecal occult blood testing for colorectal neoplasms

Testing feces for occult blood is widely recommended as a means of detecting subclinical colorectal tumors. Guaiac tests such as Hemoccult^® are the most widely used, but chemical sensitivity is relatively low and the tests are affected by dietary peroxidases, the state of fecal hydration, and certain drugs. The newly devised HemoQuant^® and immunologic techniques appear more sensitive and specific, but they require further evaluation before widespread clinical usage can be recommended.Occult blood screening has both merits and weaknesses. Testing does uncover subclinical colorectal cancer, often at a relatively early stage, but whether this actually improves the prognosis remains to be proven. Benign neoplastic polyps are also detected, although it is debatable whether this is a valid rationale for screening. Test sensitivity for malignancy varies from good to moderate, but is poor for benign polyps. Specificity is usually around 97%–98%, yet the predictive value of a positive test for cancer is only about 10%: hence most test-positive individuals are needlessly subjected to invasive colonic investigations. Reported figures on public compliance with occult blood testing vary widely from excellent to poor. Published costs of screening are usually quite low, but these overlook important indirect and hidden expenses and are therefore misleading.On balance, the problems of occult blood testing currently appear to outweight the merits. This could change, however, with the newer testing techniques and with awaited mortality data from controlled clinical trials now underway.     

尼卡地平控制性降压对家犬脊髓血流的影响

目的　观察尼卡地平控制性降压对家犬脊髓血流的影响。方法　成年杂种犬 6只 ,体重 12 5～ 16kg ,以 2 5 %硫喷妥钠麻醉。股动脉置管监测MAP。以尼卡地平 8μg·kg 1·min 1持续静脉注射控制性降压。以激光多普勒血流仪测定脊髓血流 (SCBF)。结果　降压前MAP为 (12 5 7±10 6 )mmHg ,降压后为 (72 0± 11 2 )mmHg ,平均下降 4 2 8%。降压前SCBF为 (9 80± 1 0 5 )v ,降压后为 (8 0 4± 0 96 )v ,降低幅度为 18%。结论　尼卡地平控制性降压对SCBF影响较小 ,可安全用于脊髓手术。     

血脂代谢紊乱与冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系

目的:分析血脂代谢异常与冠状动脉狭窄程度的关系.方法:对366例因胸痛而就诊的患者行选择性冠状动脉造影,按冠状动脉狭窄程度分为正常对照组、单支病变组、双支病变组、多支病变组.同时观察患者血脂各成分,并对各组指标进行统计学分析.结果:总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三脂(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C),在各组之间存在差异,尤其多支病变组与正常组之间差异显著(P＜0.01).TC、TG、LDL-C随冠状动脉病变加重而增加,HDL-C随冠状动脉病变加重而减少,LDL-C与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈正相关,HDL-C与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈负相关.结论:血脂代谢紊乱与冠状动脉狭窄的发生发展有内在的联系,对于预测有无冠状动脉病变及其进展有一定临床意义.