Role of retinol in protecting epithelial cell damage induced by Clostridium difficile toxin A

Vitamin A (retinol), a fat-soluble vitamin, is an essential nutrient for the normal functioning of the visual system, epithelial cell integrity and growth, immunity, and reproduction. Our group has investigated the effect of high doses of oral vitamin A on early childhood diarrhea in our prospective community-based studies from Northeast Brazil and found a beneficial role in reducing the mean duration but not incidence of diarrheal episodes. In this study, we explored the role of retinol supplementation in intestinal cell lines following Clostridium difficile toxin A (TxA) challenge. C. difficile is the most common anaerobic pathogen borne with antibiotic-borne diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Since retinol is critical for the integrity of tight junctions and to modulate the cell cycle, we have focused on changes in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in Caco-2, a more differentiated intestinal cell line, and on models of cell proliferation, migration and viability in IEC-6 cells, an undifferentiated crypt cell line, following TxA injury. In this model, retinol therapy reduced apoptosis, improved cell migration and proliferation, and prevented the reduction in TEER, following C. difficile TxA challenge in a glutamine-free medium. These results suggest the role of retinol in protecting intestinal epithelial barrier function from C. difficile TxA enterotoxic damage.     

载脂蛋白E基因多态性与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性研究

目的:研究载脂蛋白E(ApoE)基因多态性与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性。方法:应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)技术,对25例B超检测颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)增厚患者(增厚组)和25例同期健康体检者(对照组)的ApoE基因多态性进行分析。结果:IMT增厚组ε3等位基因频率较对照组降低(P<0.05),ε4等位基因频率较对照组升高(P<0.01)。IMT增厚组的ε3/ε4基因型频率显著要高于对照组。对以上两组再按ApoE基因型分别分为3组:ApoE2(ε2/2 ε2/3),ApoE3(ε3/3)和ApoE4(ε3/4 ε4/4)。结果显示颈动脉IMT在不同基因型间差异显著,ApoE4组显著增加,颈动脉多发斑块率在此组也显著增加。结论:ApoE基因多态性与颈动脉粥样硬化形成有相关性,ε4基因是颈动脉粥样硬化形成的危险因子。     

应用前列腺素E1注射治疗勃起功能障碍8年经验

目的观察前列腺素E1(PGE1)注射治疗勃起功能障碍(ED)的长期疗效、副作用及预后。方法使用PGE1行阴茎海绵体注射,阴茎硬度检查仪(Rigiscan)连续记录1h,并根据观察结果,调查PGE1注射剂量,确定每例患者合适的注射量,掌握注射方法后回家自行注射。共筛选出ED患者410例,随访患者阴茎勃起情况、药量调整和副作用。结果410例ED患者中,心理性139例,静脉性83例,动脉性36例,神经性78例,混合性74例。对治疗满意的患者有256例(62.44%),其中21例(5.1%)在使用PGE15次后停用,并能达到满意的性生活而治愈。293例(71.46%)患者自述注射时有胀痛感。171例(43.17%)因疼痛(105例)、操作不便(25例)、副作用顾虑(37例)和其他原因(4例)而于6个月后放弃治疗。204例(49.76%)患者使用时间已超过1年,24例(5.85%)患者使用时间已超过5年,7例(1.7%)使用已有8年。未发现阴茎异常勃起和阴茎海绵体纤维化。注射损伤阴茎表面血管致瘀斑者有20例。有27例患者失访。结论PGE1是治疗ED的一种安全有效的药物,可以长期使用。其最常见的副作用是阴茎疼痛。Rigiscan能帮助确定PGE1的注射剂量。     

应用RNA干扰技术抑制神经元E3B1基因表达及对轴突生长的影响

目的:探讨应用RNA干扰(RNAi)技术抑制神经元E3B1基因表达及其对轴突生长的影响.方法:选择针对E381(NCBI:NM-024397)RNAi的3个靶位点Abil1、Abil2、Abil3和1个不针对任何mRNA的RNAi靶位点(阴性对照)以及甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶(GAPDH,阳性对照),用带有neoR选择标志和GFP绿色荧光标志的真核表达载体pGenesil-1构建E381 RNAi质粒,分别转染培养的神经元,在荧光显微镜下观测转染率,经G418筛选得到单一的转染细胞,并用Western blot法检测各转染组神经元E3B1蛋白的表达情况,选出具有最佳抑制效应的siRNA转染神经元,加人轴突生长抑制物,观测轴突生长情况.结果:成功构建了RNAi质粒,各组细胞的转染率相近,均为34%左右.与阴性对照组相比,Abil1、Abil2和Abil3转染组细胞内E3B1 mRNA的表达都受到了不同程度的抑制,其中Abil3转染组细胞的E381 mRNA和蛋白的表达抑制最为显著,加入轴突抑制剂后Abil3转染组神经元轴突仍能继续生长.结论:应用RNA干扰技术能高效特异地抑制神经元E3B1基因的表达,E3B1基因的表达下调可促进神经元轴突的生长.     

Causes of B chromosome variant substitution in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans

We have analysed B chromosome frequency for three consecutive years, B transmission rate at population and individual levels, clutch size, egg fertility and embryo–adult viability in a natural population of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans containing two different B chromosome variants, i.e. B₂ and B₂₄, the second being derived from the first and having replaced it in nearby populations. From 2002 to 2003 the relative frequency of both variants changed, although the differences did not reach significance. A mother–offspring analysis showed no significant effect of any of the two B variants on clutch size, egg fertility or embryo–adult viability, but B₂₄ was more efficiently transmitted than B₂ through males from the 2002 season, which explains the observed frequency change. Controlled crosses, at individual level, showed significant drive through some females for B₂₄ but not for B₂, suggesting that this difference in transmission rate might also be important for the substitution process. The analysis of relative fitness for B₂ and B₂₄ carriers for all fitness components, as a whole, showed a significantly better performance of B₂₄-carrying individuals, suggesting that the cumulative effect of these slight differences might contribute to the replacement of B₂ by B₂₄. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

早期大剂量维生素C对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠核因子-κB的影响

目的:观察早期大剂量应用抗坏血酸(维生素C)对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠的核因子-!B(NF-!B)的影响,研究其作用机制。方法:将72只SAP模型SD大鼠随机分成3组,每组各24只。A组:由大鼠股静脉滴注生理盐水5 ml/kg。B组:大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 15 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。C组:由大鼠股静脉滴注Vit C 150 mg/kg加生理盐水至5 ml/kg。另取8只SD大鼠作为正常对照组。各组分别于8 h和24 h处死8只大鼠,采血测淀粉酶、脂肪酶、维生素C(PV-C)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、TNF-αI、L-6。大鼠处死时分别取胰头组织3份,一份组织HE染色,行光镜检查,按Kusske的方法,对水肿、炎症、出血和坏死分别评分;一份制成超薄切片,行电镜检查;另一份SP法进行免疫组化染色,检测NF-!B的表达。每组另外8只大鼠观察3 d内存活情况,计算3 d成活率。结果:各组大鼠3 d内的生存率为正常对照组100%(8/8),A组0%(0/8),B组12.5%(1/8),C组50%(4/8),C组的3 d生存率显著高于其他两组(P<0.05)。各组的4项病理学评分均高于正常对照组(P<0.01),C组的4项病理学评分均低于A、B组(P<0.05)。透射电镜检查示C组中分泌颗粒较少,其包膜完整、内质网轻度肿胀、线粒体清晰,未见大片坏死。SAP大鼠体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6的水平明显增高,血清SOD和P-VC降低,胰腺组织中NF-!B活化阳性胰腺细胞数明显增多。C组的血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶低于A、B组(P<0.05),SOD和P-VC水平高于A、B组(P<0.05),血清TNF-αI、L-6水平低于A、B组(P<0.05),胰腺组织NF-!B活化水平低于A、B组(P<0.05)。结论:早期大剂量应用Vit C有助于及时提高SAP大鼠的P-VC、E-SOD水平,降低体内淀粉酶、脂肪酶、TNF-αI、L-6水平,其作用机制可能与大剂量Vit C抑制SAP大鼠体内NF-!B活化、在整体水平上抑制细胞因子基因表达、有助于机体免受自由基和过量细胞因子的损伤及减轻胰腺组织的病理性改变等因素有关。     

云南省600例0~5岁儿童维生素A缺乏调查

目的:了解云南省城乡0~5岁儿童维生素A营养状况及影响因素。方法:省、地、县随机整群抽取600例儿童,采用微量荧光光度法检测VitA含量。结果:VitA缺乏发生率16·17%,地、县明显高于省会城市;0岁儿童明显高于其他年龄组;腹泻儿童明显高于正常儿童;VitA缺乏的影响因素:近1周内进食鸡蛋、奶类制品、鱼虾类、肝类、黄绿色蔬菜、鱼肝油等食物有利于维生素A的吸收,急性呼吸道感染、发烧与维生素A缺乏发生率差异不明显。结论:维生素A缺乏发生率城市明显低于农村地、县两级,说明维生素A缺乏防治工作重点在农村,特别是0岁儿童,防治的主要措施是采取合理膳食,均衡营养,控制腹泻流行。     

大鼠维生素D受体蛋白表达载体的构建及遗传性高钙尿性结石大鼠十二指肠维生素D受体cDNA序列分析

目的构建大鼠维生素D受体（VDR）蛋白表达载体，测定并分析遗传性高钙尿性结石（GHS）大鼠VDRcDNA序列。方法采用半定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）方法扩增含VDR蛋白编码基因序列，将扩增产物克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3．1／Zero（＋），对5只GHS大鼠和4只正常尿钙对照（NC）大鼠十二指肠VDRcDNA序列进行测序分析。结果琼脂糖凝胶电泳示PCR扩增产物碱基数目与目的片段大小一致。对重组质粒的分析表明，插入片段的序列与发表的VDR基因编码序列相同。5只GHS鼠和4只NC鼠肠VDR cDNA序列均有3个相同的位点不同于已公布的大鼠肠VDR cDNA序列：在256bp位点：C取代G；569bp位点：G代替A；1658位点：A替代G。另外，GHS鼠在1795bp位点发生改变，G取代A，而NC鼠则无改变。结论大鼠维生素D受体蛋白编码序列被成功地克隆至表达载pcDNA3．1／Zero（＋）上。GHS大鼠基因编码区的序列组成同NC大鼠相一致，但GHS鼠1795bp位点的碱基改变未见于NC鼠。     

硒和/或维生素E预防大鼠内皮细胞损伤的实验研究

用含硒（Ｓｅ０．５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）和／或维生素Ｅ（ＶＥ０．６ｇ／ｋｇ）的高脂饲料喂养成年雄性Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠１２周。结果：高脂对照组大鼠血浆前列腺素Ｆｌα（６－酮－ＰＧＦ１α）水平下降，而血清脂质过氧化物（ＬＰＯ）、血浆血栓素（ＴＸＢ２）及内皮素（ＥＴ）水平上升；补Ｓｅ、ＶＥ及Ｓｅ＋ＶＥ可明显降低大鼠血清ＬＰＯ、血浆ＴＸＢ２、ＥＴ及ＴＸＢ２／６－酮－ＰＧＦ１α比值。同时，除了明显提高血浆谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活力外，血浆６－酮－ＰＧＦ１α浓度明显升高。实验提示，Ｓｅ和／或ＶＥ有调节花生四烯酸代谢及保护内皮细胞的作用。