Enhancement of performance by methyl β-carboline-3-carboxylate, in learning and memory tasks

Benzodiazepines are known to induce a profound anterograde amnesia in man. In this report, it is shown that methyl β-carboline-3-carboxylate (β-CCM), an inverse agonist of the benzodiazepine receptor, has the opposite effect; it enhances performance in learning and memory tasks. Three different learning models were used: habituation to a new environment and passive avoidance in mice and imprinting in chicks. The opposite effects of both β-CCM and the benzodiazepine diazepam were blocked by administration of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788, provicling evidence that the benzodiazepine receptor is involved in these effects.     

The localization of CD44 and moesin in osteoclasts after calcitonin administration in mouse tibiae

We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of CD44, hyaluronate receptor, and moesin, of the ezrinradixin-moesin (ERM) family, in osteoclasts after calcitonin adminstration using confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to clarify the role of CD44 and moesin in their cytoskeletal organization and cell polarity. We also elucidated the localization of osteopontin (OPN) to confirm its possible role in cell-matrix recognition via CD44. In untreated mice, intense immunoreactivities for CD44 and moesin were detected on the basolateral plasma membrane of osteoclasts. Rhodamine-phalloidin reactivity was seen in a bandlike pattern on the region of contact between osteoclasts and bone and was also detected moderately along their basolateral plasma membrane. At 30 min after calcitonin administration, osteoclasts did not show either clear zones or ruffled borders. The bandlike reactivity of rhodamine-phalloidin in the contact region was diminished, although labeling was seen along osteoclasts. CD44 and moesin were colocalized along their plasma membranes, including the region facing the bone surface. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the microvillus processes in the contacting region with bone surface, as well as the basolateral plasma membrane, showed immunoreactivities to CD44 and moesin. At 60 min, some osteoclasts attached to bone and showed a bandlike pattern of rhodamine-phalloidin. On the other hand, OPN was localized under CD44-positive cytoplasmic processes and the clear zone of osteoclasts. These findings suggest that calcitonin effects on the cell polarity of osteoclasts and the CD44-moesin-actin filament system in osteoclasts plays an imporant role in cell polarity and cell-matrix recognition.     

Absence of predictable phenotypic expression in proximal 15q duplications

We describe ten individuals with an insertional duplication 15q12----q13. Phenotypic analysis of these individuals and 15 previously reported cases of proximal 15q duplications fails to show any consistent clinical manifestations. It appears that a duplication of this region is phenotypically silent.     

原发性食管癌中胸苷磷酸化酶表达和血管生成的临床意义

目的　观察原发性食管癌中胸苷磷酸化酶 (thymidinephosphorylase,TP)的表达情况 ,探讨肿瘤组织中胸苷磷酸化酶表达、肿瘤微血管密度 (microvesseldensity ,MVD)和临床病理特征之间的关系 ,分析TP表达和肿瘤MVD的预后意义。方法　应用单克隆抗体对 6 5例食管癌标本进行免疫组化染色 ,测定TP表达及MVD。结果　TP在食管癌中的表达 (4 5 / 6 5 ,6 9.2 % )明显 (P <0 .0 0 1)高于正常食管粘膜 (4 / 2 4 ,16 .7% )。食管癌的MVD(4 5 .0 9± 8.76 )与正常食管粘膜的MVD(2 7.4 8± 8.4 4 )的差别显著 (P <0 .0 0 1)。食管癌TP阳性的MVD的均值是 (4 6 .5 3± 7.18) ,TP阴性的MVD的均值是 (4 1.85± 11.0 8) ,前者明显 (P =0 .0 4 6 ) 高于后者。食管癌的TP表达与临床病理特征无相关性 ,MVD却与肿瘤的浸润深度(P =0 .0 35 ) 及分期(P =0 .0 18) 有关 ,而且只有MVD才是食管癌的一个预后指标(P <0 .0 0 1)。结论　食管癌的TP表达与MVD密切相关。TP表达与食管癌的临床病理特征无关。MVD与肿瘤的浸润发展有关 ,同时只有MVD才是食管癌的一个预后指标     

乳腺癌组织中基质金属蛋白酶MMP-9和CD44v6表达及其意义

目的探讨基质金属蛋白酶MMP-9和CD44v6在乳腺癌中的表达及其与乳腺癌侵袭、转移的关系.方法采用免疫组化方法对46例乳腺癌(10例导管内癌,36例乳腺浸润癌),10例乳腺增生组织MMP-9、CD44v6进行标记和分析.结果MMP-9和CD44v6在乳腺增生组织中几乎不表达,导管内癌、乳腺浸润癌表达率显著增高,各组间差异有显著性(P＜0.05),而且MMP-9与CD44v6过表达与淋巴结转移有关.结论MMP-9和CD44v6的过表达在乳腺癌侵袭和转移中发挥重要作用,可作为乳腺癌侵袭和转移的重要分子学标志.     

肺结核患者PBMC膜白介素-2受体(CD25)表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)膜白介素-2受体(CD25)表达在肺结核病鉴别诊断中的应用价值.方法:用生物素-链霉亲和素(BSA)法检测肺结核、支气管肺炎患者T细胞亚群及植物血凝素(PHA)诱导前后CD25表达水平.结果:支气管肺炎患者CD3+、CD4+、CD8+水平分别为(62.32±6.34)%、(47.52±7.16)%、(32.12±6.55)%,CD4+/CD8+ 比值为1.52±0.43,PHA诱导前后CD25水平分别为(4.56±1.52)%、(35.12±7.21)%.空洞型肺结核CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+水平分别为(41.13±5.25)%、(43.38±5.15)%、(36.25±3.46)%和1.15±0.21,非空洞型肺结核CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+水平分别为(46.29±5.60)%、(47.21±4.86)%、(32.36±4.03)%、1.46±0.25,相互比较CD3+、CD4+/CD8+差异均有显著性(P＜0.01和P＜0.05).空洞型肺结核与非空洞型肺结核患者PHA诱导前后CD25水平分别为(2.13±1.14)%、(27.25±3.50)%和(3.43±1.35)%、(31.14±4.11)%,两者相比差异均有显著性(P＜0.01).结论:肺结核病患者体内存在明显的细胞免疫功能紊乱,主要表现为CD25表达水平降低,CD25表达水平与肺结核病的病情似有一定关系,其对肺结核病鉴别诊断具有重要价值.     

Ontogeny and cellular expression of MHC and leucocyte antigens in human retina

We have investigated the ontogeny of MHC class I, class II, CD45, and macrophage antigens in wholemounts of normal human fetal retina at 10–25 weeks gestation (WG) using monoclonal antibodies and immunogold histochemistry. MHC class I antigens were expressed on retinal vascular endothelial cells and provided a useful marker of vessel organization from 14–25 WG. Microglial cells expressed immunoreactivity to MHC class I, class II, and CD45 antigens from 10 WG (pre-vascularization) and macrophage S22 (Mac S22) antigen from 14 WG (post-vascularization), although none of the antigens tested were detected on neuronal or macroglial elements. Microglia expressing MHC, CD45, and macrophage antigens occurred in both ramified and rounded forms with no close correlation being observed between morphology and antigenicity. The numbers of immunoreactive cells labeled with each of the four markers increased steadily throughout gestation in all specimens studied. Equivalent numbers of microglia expressed MHC class I, class II, and CD45 antigens in retinae at similar gestational ages; however, our data indicate that microglia expressing Mac S22 antigen comprise approximately 40% or less of the population of MHC and CD45-immunoreactive cells during development. Topographical analyses suggest that MHC class I, class II, and CD45-positive microglia enter the retina from both the peripheral retinal margin and the optic disc from at least 10 WG; Mac S22-positive cells appear in association with the development of the retinal vasculature and enter the retina via the optic disc after 14 WG. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Search for coloured objects in natural surroundings by people with abnormal colour vision

Background: People with abnormal colour vision often report difficulty seeing coloured berries and flowers in foliage, which suggests they will have a diminished capacity for visual search when target objects are marked out by colour. There is very little experimental evidence of the effect of abnormal colour vision on visual search and none relating to search for objects in natural foliage. Method: We showed 79 subjects with abnormal colour vision (seven protanopes, 10 deuteranopes, 16 protanomals and 46 deuteranomals) and 20 subjects with normal colour vision photographs of natural scenes and asked them to locate clumps of red berries, to trace the length of a red string on grass and to name the season depicted in a photograph taken in the Autumn and the same scene photographed in the Summer. Colour vision was assessed using the Ishihara, the Medmont C100, the Farnsworth D15, the Richmond HRR and the Nagel anomaloscope. Results: All the subjects with abnormal colour vision located fewer clumps of red berries than those with normal colour vision. The subjects who failed the Farnsworth D15 performed significantly worse than those who passed but the distribution of scores in the two groups overlaps. The majority of subjects with abnormal colour vision could not trace the full length of the string: only 38 per cent of anomalous trichromats who passed the Farnsworth D15 test and three per cent of those who failed it were able to trace the full length of the string. Fifty‐five per cent of those classed as having a mild deficiency by the HRR test could trace the whole string. Most dichromats were unable to identify the Autumn season and those who did may have been assisted by guessing. Most (94 per cent) of those who passed the Farnsworth D15 test and all those classified as having a ‘mild’ deficiency by the HRR test could identify the season. Conclusions: All people with abnormal colour vision, even those with a very mild deficiency, have some degree of impairment of their ability to see coloured objects in natural surroundings. A pass at the Farnsworth D15 test or a ‘mild’ classification with the Richmond HRR test identifies those likely to have the least problems with visual search and identification tasks. The results have practical implications for the selection of personnel in occupations that involve visual search in natural terrain.     

CD44分子与眼部疾病关系研究进展

CD44作为细胞粘附分子的一种特殊类型，广泛分布于细胞表面，通过介导细胞与细胞、细胞与基质粘附及信号转导等作用，参与组织发育、炎症反应、创伤修复等多种生理病理过程。近年来研究发现，CD44参与了某些眼部疾病的发生发展，深入探讨CD44与眼部疾病的关系，对于阐明某些眼部疾病的发病机制以及指导治疗具有重要意义。