Breast tumor-derived factors stimulate reduction of estrone to estradiol in nonmalignant breast tissue

Summary This study examines the paracrine influence by human breast carcinoma cells (UISO-BCA-1) on nonmalignant breast tissuein vitro. The 17-OH-SDH-mediated reductive pathway (estroneestradiol) was significantly increased in nonmalignant breast tissue coincubated with human breast carcinoma cells, compared to control tissues incubated in the media alone. No influence on the enzyme activity was noticed in coincubated breast cancer cells. Preincubation of breast cancer cells with estradiol (10^–8 M) significantly decreased the enzyme activity in coincubated nonmalignant breast tissue, which was restored to control levels by addition of R5020 (10^–8 M), tamoxifen (10^–6 M), or a combination of both. In nonmalignant tissues incubated in the presence of growth factor TGF, enzyme activity was reduced to between 46% and 76%. No other growth factors (IGF I, IGF II, PDGF) influenced enzyme activity. In nonmalignant tissues incubated with malignant tumor cytosol, enzyme activity was increased in 16% cases, inhibited in 21%, and not significantly changed in 63%.The data from the present study suggest that factors produced by breast carcinoma cells may influence interconversion of estradiol in nonmalignant tissue. In patients, factors produced by malignant tumor mass may have paracrine influence on surrounding nonmalignant breast tissue and, thereby, may influence the estrogen availability to tumor mass.     

3-Hydroxydicarboxylic aciduria due to long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency associated with sudden neonatal death: protective effect of medium-chain triglyceride treatment

Two siblings were found to be affected by longchain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, one of which died suddenly and unexpectedly on the 3rd day of life suffering from extreme hypoketotic hypoglycaemia. The younger sibling started to have feeding problems, lowered consciousness, and liver dysfunction at the age of 5 months. Her urine contained large amounts of C₆–C₁₄ 3-hydroxydicarboxylic acids and conjugated 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid, as verified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plasma long-chain acylcarnitine was increased. A clue to the diagnosis was given by the results of a phenylpropionic acid loading test. This revealed small, but significant amounts of conjugated 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (phenylhydracrylic acid) in the patient's urine. Subsequently, the activity of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was found to be deficient in cultured skin fibroblasts. Based on the findings obtained by a medium-chain triglyceride load, a diet enriched in this type of fat was prescribed. On this regimen the patient started to thrive, signs of cardiomyopathy disappeared, and her liver function normalized.     

Immunocytochemical localization of 11 Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in hippocampus and other brain regions of the rat

The dehydrogenase form of 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-DH) which catalyzes the oxidation of the biologically active steroid, corticosterone, to its inactive metabolite, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, is found in rat brain. The distribution and localization of 11-DH-like labeling in the rat brain was examined by immunocytochemistry. 11-DH-like immunostaining was found in all subfields of the hippocampus and in many other parts of the brain, including the preoptic area (POA), central nucleus of the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (NIST) and the cerebral cortex. Percentages of 11-DH-positive cells ranged from 10% in the POA and NIST to 50% to 60% in the hippocampus. When combined with neuronal or glial markers, 11-DH-like immunostaining was found to be predominantly localized within neurons, ranging from 10% or less glial labeling in hippocampus, amgydala and cortex to 22% glial labeling in the POA and NIST. Immunostaining was present in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear components of some cells in addition to their projections. In the kidney, 11-DH has been postulated to be a key component in a mechanism by which aldosterone gains access to renal Type I receptors despite the presence of much higher concentrations of glucocorticoids. The present data is consistent with a similar mechanism occurring in at least some parts of the brain, although the hippocampus appears to be an important exception because it does not appear to be differentially responsive to aldosterone in spite of its high 11-DH activity and immunoreactivity. However, the hippocampus is not implicated in neural control of salt appetite and fluid balance, whereas some of the other brain regions like the POA, NIST and amygdala are believed to be involved. Other aspects of 11-DH localization must therefore be examined in future studies, including the co-presence of mineraiocorticoid receptors and 11-DH in the same or adjacent cells and the possible significance of the relatively high glial localization of 11-DH immunoreactivity in the POA and NIST.     

Effects of lead,copper, and zinc on the rat's lactate dehydrogenase in vivo and in vitro

Following subacute intoxication of rats with Pb-, Cu-, and Zn-salts (separately or in mixture) for 5 weeks, the chelating agent D-penicillamine was administered for 3 weeks. In the course of the 3-month experiment, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was estimated in serum and in cytoplasmic fraction of the kidney. Pb²⁺ treatment resulted in an increase of LDH activity, Cu²⁺ in a slight decrease, whereas Zn²⁺ had no effect, respectively. Mixture of these metals caused a significant rise in the enzymatic activity. Seven weeks after the stoppage of the administration of toxic substances, altered LDH activity, both in serum and in kidney returned to normal. D-penicillamine treatment was found to accelerate a restoration of the enzyme activity.In the experiments in vitro, Cu²⁺ inhibited significantly the kidney LDH activity, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ being 100- and 400-times less efficient, respectively. Cu²⁺ inhibition was reversed by D-penicillamine, whereas inhibition of LDH by Zn²⁺ or Pb²⁺ was irreversible.     

Comparative patterns of i-antigen expression, F-cell frequency and Hb A2 level in acute myeloid leukemia and in acute lymphoid leukemia

Hb F, Hb A₂ and i-antigen expression were investigated in adulthood acute leukemias. The study of i-antigen expression by immuno-agglutination and immunofluorescence showed that it is preferentially increased among AML patients. A similar result was obtained for F-cell frequency which was often increased in AML, while it was normal in ALL. Hb A₂ level was significantly lower in AML than in ALL. These differences between AML and ALL red cell patterns further suggest that the leukemic clone involves the erythroid lineage in AML but not in ALL.     

SARS患者白细胞、淋巴细胞和乳酸脱氢酶水平分析

目的：研究严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)患者白细胞、淋巴细胞和乳酸脱氢酶变化，探讨其与肺损伤的关系。方法：测定SARS患者激素治疗前后白细胞、淋巴细胞和血清乳酸脱氢酶含量并与健康正常人(对照组)进行比较；将SARS患者依据临床重症诊断标准分为重症组和普通组进行以上指标的比较。结果：SARS患者的白细胞、淋巴细胞绝对值均比对照组显著减少，乳酸脱氢酶明显高于对照组；经过7～10d激素治疗后的SARS患者白细胞、乳酸脱氢酶数量显著提高，淋巴细胞绝对值无显著变化。以上3项指标重症组明显高于普通组。结论：SARS患者白细胞数量、淋巴细胞绝对值显著降低，但可恢复正常；糖皮质激素治疗仅能使白细胞数量增多，而淋巴细胞绝对值未见明显改善。SARS患者的血乳酸脱氢酶升高，其水平与肺损伤的活动性相关。     

神经管发育不良患儿及其核心家庭MTHFR基因A1298C多态性分布的研究

目的　通过对神经管发育不良 (NDTs)患儿及核心家庭MTHFR基因A1 2 98位点多态性分布的研究 ,探讨该基因多态性与NDTs之间的关系。方法　 2 0 0 0年 9月～ 2 0 0 2年 3月 ,40例 3～ 1 5岁NDTs患儿 (男 2 8例 ,女 1 2例 )及其中 2 6个核心家庭进行研究。应用聚合酶链反应 限制性片段长度多态性分析 (PCR RFLP)技术 ,分析MTHFR基因第 1 2 98位核苷酸基因型 (野生型、杂合型、突变纯合型 )的分布情况 ;并对 2 6个核心家庭进行以父母为对照的病例对照研究 ,计算传递失衡指数 (TDT)及基于单体型的单体型相对危险度 (HHRR)。结果　NDTs患儿、核心家庭与正常对照中均未发现纯合突变。基因型构成比采用 χ2 检验 ,NDTs患儿及患儿母亲野生型分别占 1 7.50 % ,1 1 .54 % ,杂合型分别占 82 .50 % ,88.46 % ,与正常对照之间差异无显著性意义 (分别为P >0 .2 5 ;P>0 .90 )。患儿父亲野生型占 30 .77% ,杂合突变型占 69.2 3 % ,低于正常对照 (P <0 .0 5)。等位基因频率比较采用u检验 ,患儿为 41 .2 5 % ,与对照间差异无显著性意义 (P >0 .0 5) ;患儿父母分别为69 .2 3 % ,88.46 % ,均高于正常对照 (P <0 .0 1 )。核心家庭分析结果 :TDT(χ2 ) =0 .36 ,P >0 .0 5 ;HHRR(χ2 ) =0 .369,P >0 .0 5。结论　MTHFR基因第 1 2     

TNF-α和IL-6对绒毛膜11β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶I型和前列腺素合成酶II型的调节

目的 :研究肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF α)、白细胞介素 6(IL 6)对胎膜糖皮质激素代谢酶 11β 羟基类固醇脱氢酶I型 (11β HSD1)和前列腺素合成酶II型 (PGHS 2 )的影响 ,以探讨细胞因子导致分娩启动的机制。方法 :利用薄层层析法 (TLC)和Westernblot杂交法分别从酶活性、蛋白表达水平 ,研究IL 6、TNF α对原代培养的人类绒毛膜细胞 11β HSD1及PGHS 2水平的影响。结果 :TNF α和IL 6对绒毛膜滋养层细胞 11β HSD1还原酶活性有促进作用 ,对绒毛膜细胞 11β HSD1和PGHS 2的蛋白表达均有上调作用。 结论 :IL 6、TNF α对胎膜 11β HSD1及PGHS 2的诱导作用可能是其导致分娩启动的机制之一     

心气虚细胞模型的研制

目的探索心气虚细胞模型的制作方法。方法ＮＩＨ小白鼠乳鼠培养心肌细胞用缺氧（１～３小时）再给氧损伤方法研制心气虚细胞水平动物模型。结果培养心肌细胞采用缺氧再给氧损伤后，出现ＬＤＨ和ＣＫ含量增加，ＳＯＤ活性降低，ＭＤＡ含量上升，与对照组比较，差别有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０５）或高度显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论根据缺血缺氧是导致心气虚证的重要因素之一，探索采用缺氧再给氧损伤制作离体心气虚细胞模型具有一定的研究价值