Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Interphotoreceptor Matrix: Vectorial Secretion and Regulation

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play an essential role in both normal and pathological extracellular matrix degradation, and a TIMP has been associated with at least one type of retinal degeneration. We have studied expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 by zymography, immunocytochemistry, and immunoblotting in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from normal, aged and diseased retinas. MMPs and TIMPs were found in the rat RPE, interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM), and in media conditioned by human and rat RPE in culture. In other polarized cells, MMPs and TIMP-2 are secreted vectorially towards the basal lamina. In the RPE, however, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were secreted preferentially from the apical surface, the surface bordering the IPM. These findings provide new evidence that MMPs and TIMPs could play a role in the turnover of IPM components.Cell homogenates and conditioned media from RPE isolated from mutant Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with inherited retinal dystrophy had similar amounts of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 as those from congenic control rats. The secretion of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 from RPE cell cultures isolated from young and aged human donors varied widely. However, with increasing cell passage number, secretion of MMPs and TIMPs from human RPE increased dramatically. Also, growing human RPE on bovine corneal endothelial cell-generated extracellular matrix instead of plastic reduced the secretion of both MMPs and TIMPs. These data suggest that the integrity of Bruch's membrane may serve to regulate RPE functions in MMP and TIMP secretion and that extracellular matrices contain signals that regulate MMP and TIMP synthesis and/or secretion by the RPE.     

组织扩张术皮肤胶原的代谢改变

目的：研究常规扩张（ＩＴＥ）和持续快速扩张（ＣＴＥ）对皮肤胶原代谢的影响。方法用白色小家猪制作组织扩张术动物模型，用Ｇｏｒｄｅｌａｄｚｅ法测定血清和扩张组织的羟脯氨酸（ＨＰ）含量，藻酸盐印模材膜片法测量标记区面积；光镜测量真皮厚度。结果：ＩＴＥ组血清ＨＰ含量升高，０．８倍，ＣＴＥ组升高１．２倍，ＩＴＥ和ＣＴＥ组皮肤含量与正常皮肤相同，组织中ＨＰ总量均明显升高，持续扩张皮瓣组（ＣＴＥＦ）术后４ｗｋ皮     

The role of cytogenetics in the classification of soft tissue tumours

 Soft tissue tumours represent a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal lesions, and their classification is the subject of continuous debate. Chromosome analysis, molecular cytogenetics and molecular assays may become increasingly useful in diagnosis, and this review summarises advances in the cytogenetic characterisation and classification of soft tissue tumours. Among the group of fibrous lesions, superficial fibromatosis exhibits trisomy 8. This genomic change is also observed in desmoid fibromatosis in association with trisomy 20. Trisomy 11 is the most frequently observed chromosomal aberration in congenital fibrosarcoma. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and giant cell fibroblastoma share a translocation t(17;22), which supports the concept of the existence of a common differentiation pathway. Adipose tissue tumours is the group in which integration of genetics and pathology has been most fruitful. Ordinary lipomas cytogenetically show an abnormal karyotype in about half the cases. Genomic changes of the 11q13 region are observed in hibernoma. Lipoblastoma exhibits a specific 8q rearrangement in 8q11-q13. Loss of material from the region 16q13-qter and 13q deletions are observed in spindle cell/pleomorphic lipomas. The well-differentiated liposarcoma/atypical lipoma group is characterised karyotypically by the presence of one extra ring and/or extra giant chromosome marker. Myxoid and round cell liposarcoma share the same characteristic chromosome change: t(12;16)(q13;p11) in most cases. In the group of smooth muscle lesions most data are derived from uterine leiomyomas, which can be subclassified cytogenetically into seven different types. Half of all leiomyomas are chromosomally normal; the other half have one of six possible consistent chromosome changes. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is characterised cytogenetically by two variant translocations t(2;13)(q35;q14) and t(1;13)(p36;q14). Among tenosynovial tumours, the localised type of giant cell tumour of tendon sheath exhibits two different karyotypic changes. One involves 1p11 in a translocation with chromosome 2 or with another chromosome. A second type involves 16q24. Synovial sarcoma is characterised cytogenetically by a translocation occurring between chromosome 18 and presumably two adjacent loci on the X chromosome. In neural tumours, abnormalities of chromosome 22 have been reported in benign schwannomas and perineuriomas. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours exist in two main forms: sporadic and associated with the NF-1 syndrome. Karyotypes are very complex, but chromosomes 17q and 22q are very often involved. Clear cell sarcoma is characterised cytogenetically and molecularly by a translocation t(12;22)(q13;q12). The Ewing’s sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumour category shows a central karyotypic anomaly represented by the translocation t(11;22). The two variants t(21;22) and t(7;22) are found in some cases. Among cartilaginous lesion, the most frequently described anomaly is the t(9;22)(q22;q12) in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma. Intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumour is characterised by a t(11;22)(p13;q12). Received: 5 February 1997 / Accepted: 24 February 1997     

C2H2-171 : A novel human cDNA representing a developmentally regulated poz domain/zinc finger protein preferentially expressed in brain

We describe a novel human zinc finger cNDA, C2H2-171. This cDNA represents an mRNA which encodes a protein of 484 amino acids and a calculated molecular weight of 54 kD. Four zinc finger-like domains are found in the C-terminal end of the protein. At the N-terminus, C2H2-171 contains a POZ/tramtrack-like domain similar to that found in the tumor associated zinc finger proteins LAZ-3/BCL-6 and PLZ-F, as well as in non-zinc finger proteins. C2H2-171 RNA is preferentially expressed in the brain, and increases during the course of murine development, with maximal expression in the adult. C2H2-171 RNA is differentially expressed in brain regions, with the highest level of expression in the cerebellum. C2H2-171 RNA was expressed at high levels in primary cerebellar granule cell neurons compared to astrocytes. The gene encoding C2H2-171 is highly conserved in vertebrates, and maps to the terminus of human chromosome 1 (1q44-ter). This chromosomal location is associated with a number of cytogenetic aberrations including those involving brain developmental anomalies and tumorigenesis. These data suggest that C2H2-171 may play an important role in vertebrate brain development and function.     

Role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as adjunct therapy for septicemia in children with acute leukemia

The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to accelerate recovery from severe neutropenia and to decrease the incidence of documented infections after intensive chemotherapy in cancer patients. However, the routine prophylactic use of G-CSF is expensive. This study was conducted to determine the role of G-CSF as adjunct therapy for septicemia following neutropenia caused by chemotherapy in children with acute leukemia. Fifty consecutive episodes of septicemia were studied involving 34 episodes of Gram-negative, 7 episodes of Gram-positive, 5 episodes of polymicrobial bacterial septicemia, one episode of fungemia, and 3 episodes of disseminated fungal infection. In the first 25 episodes, G-CSF was not used (group A). For the next 16 episodes, G-CSF 200 μg per square meter per day subcutaneously was given immediately after the septicemia was documented until the absolute neutrophil count was maintained at more than 1,500 per cubic millimeter (group B). Thereafter, G-CSF at the same dose as that of group B was prophylactically used in all the children who received high-dose cytosine arablnc-side-containing regimens. Nine episodes of septicemia occurred (group C). The incidences of mortality per episode of septicemia in groups A, B, and C were 12.0% (3/25), 12.5% (2/16) and 0% (0/9), respectively. Statistically, there was no difference between the three groups overall and in pair-wise comparisons (all P > 0.5). The durations of G-CSF administration in group B ranged from 6 to 26 days with a median of 12 days and the durations of G-CSF administration in group C ranged from 10 to 23 days with a median of 19 days. With or without G-CSF, there may be no significant difference in the mortality of septicemia following neutropenia caused by chemotherapy in children with acute leukemia.     

磺化聚乙烯中空纤维膜渗透蒸发分离水／乙二醇混合物的研究

采用异相氯磺化的方法，使聚乙烯（ＰＥ）中空纤维膜进行氯磺化反应，并将反应产物进一步水解和离子交换，可获得具有离子交换功能的磺化聚乙烯（ＳＰＥ）中空纤维离子交换膜。应用渗透蒸发膜分离方法，研究磺化聚乙烯中空纤维离子交换膜对水／乙二醇混合物的分离效果。讨论了反离子的种类、渗透蒸发分离温度和水／乙二醇混合液的组成等对磺化聚乙烯中空纤维离子交换膜的分离效果的影响。     

重组人表皮生长因子对胬肉切除-羊膜移植后眼表上皮愈合速度的影响

目的观察重组人表皮生因子(rhEGF)对眼表上皮修复的影响及羊膜移植治疗翼状肉的疗效。方法对36例患者40眼的翼状肉施行肉切除－羊膜移植术,术后随机分为(rhEF治疗组(20眼)和药物赋型剂对照组(20眼),分别观察两组角膜上皮愈合速度和结膜上皮覆盖羊膜植片的愈合速度,对全部患者随访3-12个月。结果rhEGF治疗组术后角膜上皮愈合速度[(74983±1998)μm/h]显著高于对照组[(59372±17.197)μm/hP＜0.01];rhEGF治疗组结膜上皮愈合速度[(36.584±7.888)μm/h显著高于对照组[(29．181±5.450) μmh,P＜0.01]。随访全部病例未见复发,结论rhEGF可有效促进眼表上皮的损伤修复,羊膜移植为治疗翼状肉的较好方法。     

福建省部分县市健康人群发铬调查

本文用气相色谱法对居住福州、长乐、宁化三个地区270名健康人群发铬含量进行调查。结果表明:福州地区发铬值高于其它两地区,并有非常显著性差异。总体发铬算术平均数与国内外部分地区所报导的结果比较接近,但在性别及年龄间差异不明显。对三个地区发铬值与当地土壤铬含量进行相关分析,r=0.9978,二者呈正相关,并有非常显著性意义。     

Effect of exercise on plasma atrial natriuretic factor and cardiac function in men and women

In order to provide an integrated view of the physiology of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) during exercise, we studied changes of its plasma concentrations in 13 normal subjects (seven males, six females) during three graded exercise levels and two periods of recovery (5 and 30 min), concomitantly with an assessment of cardiac function and ventricular volumes by multigated radionuclide angiography. Mean ANF levels (+/- SEM) increased in all patients at the second (P less than 0.002) and third (P less than 0.002) exercise levels, and after 5-min recovery (P less than 0.01): in males from 16 +/- 7 to 30 +/- 11 pg ml-1 at the third level, in females from 27 +/- 12 to 61 +/- 33 pg ml-1. Normal values were observed after 30-min recovery. Even if mean ANF levels were all higher in females, this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.06). Significant decreases of ventricular volumes, as well as increases of ejection fraction and rate pressure product, were noted during exercise and were similar in both sexes. The kinetics of plasma ANF concentrations, compared with the increase of rate pressure product, was characterized by a latency and a remanence in recovery. This remanence, also present in the changes of ventricular volumes, supports the hypothesis that other factor(s) like catecholamines might still exert their influence after the exercise stops.     

Studies on the optimal conditions for inactivation of Bordetella pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde for preparation of a safe and potent pertussis vaccine

The optimal conditions for inactivation of Bordetella pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde for the production of a safe and potent whole cell pertussis vaccine were investigated. Two bacterial harvests from B. pertussis strain 10536 were treated with glutaraldehyde, each with 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1% concentrations of glutaraldehyde for 10, 60 and 120 min. The nine types of glutaraldehyde-inactivated pertussis vaccine (GIPV) and conventional heat-inactivated pertussis vaccine (HIPV) preparations made from two bacterial harvests were comparatively evaluated for the mouse weight gain test (MWGT), potency, and the histamine-sensitization (HS) and leucocytosis-promoting-factor (LPF) tests. The minimum period for killing the B. pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde was>10 min for 0.025%, 10 min for 0.05% and 5 min for 0.1% concentration. The average loss in opacity varied from 5 to 10% for GIPV preparations and was 14% for HIPV preparations. The GIPV preparations except those inactivated with 0.025% glutaraldehyde for 10 min (GIPV-A) were much less toxic than the HIPV preparations in the MWGT. The GIPV-A preparations did not pass the MWGT. The GIPV preparations were also much less toxic in HS and LPF tests than the HIPV preparation. The potency of GIPV preparations inactivated with 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 10 min (GIPV-D) was similar to that of HIPV preparations. The prolonged treatments with glutaraldehyde reduced the potency. The GIPV-D preparation with good potency and less toxicity was found to be inactivated with glutaraldehyde under optimal conditions. All the preparations were innocuous in the abnormal toxicity test.