Analysis of clozapine response and polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) in schizophrenic patients

We have examined the hypothesis that a variable number of tandem repeats in the third cytoplasmic loop of the dopamine D4 receptor influences clinical response to clozapine using a sample of 189 schizophrenic patients. Alleles of the 48-bp repeat, which range from two to ten copies in the normal human population, were analysed by the polymerase chain reaction using genomic DNA as template. Association between these alleles and response to clozapine was tested using the difference in pre-and post-treatment GAS scores as a measure of response. We found no statistically significant variation between genotypic groups and response by analysis of variance. We conclude that the variation of the number of 48-bp repeats alone does not determine response to clozapine. Larger studies are underway to determine if there is a more subtle relationship with sequence variation within the repeats or at other polymorphic sites within the gene that may provide evidence for a component of clozapine's action being at D4 receptors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

非甲—戊型病毒性肝炎患者血清庚型肝炎病毒感染的研究

采用ＥＬＩＳＡ法及逆转录—ＰＣＲ（简称ＲＴ—ＰＣＲ）法检测３６例非甲—戊型肝炎患者血清庚型肝炎病毒抗体（简称抗ＨＧＶ）和庚型肝炎病毒（简称ＨＧＶＲＮＡ）。结果：７例（１９．４％）抗ＨＧＶ阳性，２例（５．４％）同时ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性；急性肝炎抗ＨＧＶ阳性者临床表现与抗ＨＧＶ阴性者无显著差异，慢性肝炎抗ＨＧＶ阳性者较抗ＨＧＶ阴性者轻。提示：ＨＧＶ可引起急、慢性肝炎，在非甲—戊型肝炎中占有一定比例，但不是主要原因。     

Use of commercially available cell culture inserts for primary culture and electrophysiologic studies of guinea pig gastric mucous epithelial cells

Summary The adherence, growth, and electrophysiologic properties of guinea pig gastric mucous epithelial cells were investigated using porous membrane filters. We also tested three commercially available Ussing-type chambers that were designed to be used with the various porous membrane supports. Overall, the 0.45-µm Falcon-Cyclopore porous membrane was found to be very favorable for the consistent attachment and growth of our cells. This same filter also gave good results in the detection of periodic acid Schiff-positive mucous glycoprotein and Nile red neutral lipid fluorescence in the gastric mucous cells. Our cells grew poorly on collagen-coated Costar-Snapwells and Millipore Millicell-CM porous filters. For measurement of transepithelial potential difference resistance, and short-circuit current, the Costar-Snapwell with the Costar-Snapwell Diffusion-chamber system was superior in design and operation when compared to the Costar Transwell-COL, Falcon-Cyclopore, or Anotec-Anocell porous inserts used with conventional Ussing-chambers. The gastric mucous cells grew best on ICN-Cellagen membranes, but these filters routinely detached from their plastic holder and therefore could not be used for Ussing-chamber studies. The large 24.5-mm, 0.40-µm pore size Costar-Transwell-COL and the 24.1-mm, 0.45-µm Falcon-Cyclopore membranes gave good results when used in a modified horizontal-chamber for microelectrode analysis of membrane potentials and resistances of the gastric mucous cell monolayers.     

性激素受体及相关生长因子在前列腺基质细胞中的表达

目的：探讨前列腺基质增生的发病机制与性激素以及相关生长因子的关系。方法：应用RT－PCR的方法研究了在人前列腺不同细胞类型中Smoothelin的表达，研究了雄、雌激素受体及相关生长因子在前列腺基质细胞中的表达，以及它们在前列腺基质细胞分化中表达的变化。结果：Smoothelin是前列腺平滑肌细胞特异性的标记蛋白；雄激素受体（AR）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF)、角化细胞生长因子（KGF）主要在前列腺成纤维细胞中表达，而雌激素受体（ER）、转移生长因子β1（TGFβ1）主要在平滑肌细胞中表达。结论：前列腺基质增生与雌激素受体和转移生长因子β1的过度表达密切相关。     

荷瘤鼠乳腺癌组织的飞秒双光子荧光诊断

目的：检测荷瘤鼠乳腺癌组织的双光子荧光光谱。方法：乳腺癌荷瘤鼠腹腔注射血卟啉（HpD)。以飞秒激光照射小鼠的癌组织部位及周围正常组织部位。观察HpD双光子荧光光谱。结果：小鼠的癌组织部位可观察到外源性HpD双光子荧光光谱，而正常组织部位未观察到明显的双光子荧光光谱。结论：结论：飞秒激光外源性血卟啉双光子荧光诊断可作为癌症诊断的新方法。     

电镜和荧光显微技术在细胞凋亡研究中的应用

目的：探讨荧光显微技术在检测细胞凋亡中的作用。方法：应用拓扑异构酶Ⅱ抑制剂VP-16及化学毒物叠氮钠分别诱导HL-60细胞凋亡和死亡，用透射电镜和经Hoechst 33258染色的荧光显微镜对凋亡及死亡动态观察和定量分析。结果：HL-60细胞在VP16处理后，荧光显微镜下可见核浓缩、染色质凝集、核碎裂等凋亡特征；而叠氮钠诱导的细胞死亡则出现核溶解、核染色质弥散，但无上述改变；两者电镜的观察与荧光显微镜的改变一致；凋亡细胞及坏死细胞荧光显微镜下呈不同的形态特征。对处理的不同时间点细胞的荧光显微镜观察发现：处理后4h核形态开始变化，有核浓缩的细胞比例在处理8h达高峰，然后下降，核碎裂细胞的比例在24h达高峰，约占80％，表明核浓缩发生在核碎裂之前。结论：荧光显微镜技术可明确观察判断细胞凋亡及坏死，并可进行动态及定量分析，是良好的凋亡检测方法。     

缺失型DMD／BMD患者PCR快速检测的可行性与意义

应用对应于Ｄｙｓｔｒｏｐｈｉｎ基因缺失热区的二对ＰＣＲ引物和一对内对照无关引物，在同一反应体系中扩增，检测６６例ＤＭＤ／ＢＭＤ患者。发现其中２５例存在１７号或４９号外显子缺失，与同时采用ｃＤＮＡ探针杂交检测出的３５例基因缺失相比．检出率达７１．４％。说明该扩增系统能够作为快速筛查缺失型ＤＭＤ／ＢＭＤ患者的有效手段。这对指导合理选用探针，尤其在产前诊断方面，具有重要意义。