Whole-cell recordings from sympathetic preganglionic neurons in rat spinal cord slices

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings (WCR) were made from sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPN) in neonate rat spinal cord slices. SPN were identified histologically by filling them with the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow contained within the patch pipette solution. Current clamp recordings were obtained from SPN with a potassium based pipette solution. The cells exhibited many of the characteristic properties of SPN seen previously with intracellular recordings in both the rat and the cat. However, we found an order of magnitude increase in both cell input resistance (950 MΩ) and time constant (118 ms) over those seen with conventional recordings. We believe these values approximate better the situation in intact cells, and will have a vital bearing upon how SPN integrate inputs. We conclude that WCR in spinal cord slices provides a powerful tool for investigating the cellular properties of SPN.     

应用结合于内皮细胞的尿激酶预防血栓形成

提纯出受损伤内皮细胞的特异性抗原，再用免疫学方法制得相应抗体，并把它与尿激酶形成结合物。在人工造成血管内皮细胞损伤的动物中，分别用尿激酶结合物、单纯特异性抗体处理，各组动物处死后进行形态学观察。结果显示：在未用尿激酶结合物处理的动物血管内和使用结合物处理的血管内，血栓形成的程度有明显的差别，前者明显，后者轻微。这种方法既能预防血栓形成，又不会产生继发性出血的危险。     

活性炭纤维在地方性氟中毒方面的应用展望

介绍了活性炭纤维（ＡＣＦｓ）的制造，特性及其应用。它具有优异的结耕与性能特征。含碳量高，比表面积大，微孔丰富，从而吸附力强，而且活性炭纤维还可制成纱、布、毡等形状，它可用于去除燃煤氟中毒区室内空气中氟化氢、二氧化硫、氧化氮、氨等污染物，利用它的高吸附性能还可较好的去除饮水中的氟化物及其他有害物质。活性炭纤维是一种新型高效吸附材料。在氟中毒防治方面有广阔的前途。     

Sequences in the proximal 5′ flanking region of the rat neuron-specific enolase (NSE) gene are sufficient for cell type-specific reporter gene expression

We investigated the regulation of the rat neuron-specific enolase gene using a transient transfection approach. Recent transgenic mouse studies have shown that a 1.8-kb segment of the ratNSE gene 5′ flanking region, including the first (noncoding) exon but not the first intron, is able to drive expression of a reporter gene in parallel with endogenousNSE. These data suggest thatcis-acting elements responsible for the spatial and temporal pattern ofNSE gene expression are located within the proximal 1.8 kb of the 5′ flanking sequence. To further investigate this region, we joined the 1.8-kb regulatory cassette to thecat reporter gene and generated a number of constructs in which the flanking sequence was progressively deleted from the 5′ end. These constructs were tested by transient transfection into neuronal and nonneuronal cells, followed by an assay for CAT activity. We found that as little as 255 bp of 5′ flanking sequence was able to confer cell type-specificity on the reporter gene. Further truncation to 120 bp of 5′ sequence resulted in a sharp downregulation of reporter activity in PC12 cells but a significant rise in both Neuro-2A neuroblastoma cells and nonneuronal Ltk- cells, indicating thatcis-acting elements controlling the regulation ofNSE in Ltk-, Neuro-2A, and PC12 cells may lie within the 135 bp region covered by this deletion. This region contains an AP-2 site and an element similar in sequence and position to a motif identified in the proximal promoter region of the neuron-specific peripherin gene. Reduction to 95 bp of 5′ sequence resulted in a slight downregulation of CAT activity in all cell lines tested, and further truncation to 65 bp of 5′ sequence caused a universal reduction to background levels of CAT activity, concomitant with the disruption of the basalNSE promoter. Our results show that the 5′ flanking region of theNSE gene is capable of conferring cell type-specificity on a heterologous gene in transfected cells and that elements responsible for this are located within the proximal 255 bp.     

Responses of tonically discharging neurons in the monkey striatum to primary rewards delivered during different behavioral states

In the primate striatum, the tonically discharging neurons respond to conditioned stimuli associated with reward. We investigated whether these neurons respond to the reward itself and how changes in the behavioral context in which the reward is delivered might influence their responsiveness. A total of 286 neurons in the caudate nucleus and putamen were studied in two awake macaque monkeys while liquid reward was delivered in three behavioral situations: (1) an instrumental task, in which reward was delivered upon execution of a visually triggered arm movement; (2) a classically conditioned task, in which reward was delivered 1 s after a visual signal; (3) a free reward situation, in which reward was delivered at irregular time intervals outside of any conditioning task. The monkeys′ uncertainty about the time at which reward will be delivered was assessed by monitoring their mouth movements. A larger proportion of neurons responsive to reward was observed in the free reward situation (86%) than in the classically conditioned (57%) and instrumental tasks (37%). Among the neurons tested in all situations (n = 78), 24% responded to reward regardless of the situation and 65% in only one or two situations. Responses selective for one particular situation occurred exclusively in the free reward situation. When the reward was delivered immediately after the visual signal in the classically conditioned task, most of the neurons reduced or completely lost their responses to reward, and other neurons remained responsive. Conversely, neuronal responses invariably persisted when reward was delivered later than 1 s after the visual signal. This is the first report that tonic striatal neurons might display responses directly to primary rewards. The neuronal responses were strongly influenced by the behavioral context in which the animals received the reward. An important factor appears to be the timing of reward. These neurons might therefore contribute to a general aspect of behavioral reactivity of the subject to relevant stimuli. Received: 16 September 1996 / Accepted: 1 April 1997     

Fluorotyping of HLA-C: differential detection of amplicons by sequence-specific priming and fluorogenic probing

Conventional PCR-SSP, which is based on an agarose gel-based read-out, has the disadvantages of time-consuming post-PCR steps and low potential for automation. The aim of our study was to sort out these drawbacks by establishing a fluorescence-based PCR-SSP system for HLA-C. The assay relies on the sequence-specific identification of amplicons with individually labeled probes that are cleaved during successful PCR by the 5'-3' exonuclease activity of the Taq-DNA Polymerase. The oligonucleotides are labeled with a unique and spectrally resolvable fluorescent reporter dye at the 5' terminus (FAM or TET) and a common quencher dye at the 3' terminus (TAMRA). In case of amplification, the reporter escapes from the quenching control caused by the physical separation of the dyes, resulting in a significant increase of the reporter fluorescence. This allows simultaneous and differential detection of the specific HLA (FAM) and internal control (TET) product. The HLA-C fluorotyping information is based on the individual reporter fluorescence released by 18 PCR primer mixes. Using this method, we analyzed 145 samples previously typed with conventional PCR-SSP and found a concordance rate of 100%. Furthermore, fluorotyping revealed quantitative results that may indicate the presence of homozygosity by high signal intensities. This provided extra protection not to miss new alleles which are not amplified by the current primer mixes. These features as well as the capability of high sample throughput and the possibility of automation makes fluorotyping an attractive tool for PCR-based HLA typing.     

前列腺癌患者PSA、PSAD、PSAT测定

目的：探讨前列腺特异抗原（PSA）及前列腺特异抗原密度（PSAD）、前列腺特异抗原移行区密度（PSAT）作为前列腺癌肿瘤标志物的临床价值。方法：选择前列腺癌患者30例、前列腺增生患者30例、健康志愿者20例，采用放射免疫法检测PSA并计算PSAD、PSAT，比较3组间的变化情况。结果：前列腺增生组PSA升高，与对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05），前列腺癌组PSA、PSAD、PSAT均升高，与对照组及前列腺增生组对比差异有统计学意义（P＜0．001）。结论：PSA作为前列腺癌肿瘤标志物有重要临床价值，但单纯测定血PSA含量有时不易区分前列腺增生与前列腺癌；PSAD、PSAT在前列腺增生与前列腺癌的鉴别诊断中优于PSA。     

大鼠延髓腹外侧区在可乐定心血管效应中的作用

目的：探讨大鼠延髓腹外侧区（VLM）在介导可乐定心血管效应中的作用。方法：氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉SD大鼠，应用微量注射和细胞外记录等方法观察尾端延髓腹外侧区（CVLM）和头端延髓腹外侧区（RVLM）内局部给予可乐定导致的心血管活动变化。结果：单侧CVLM微量注射可乐定（5nmol/100nl,n=10)不仅能明显升主动脉血压（AP）和增加心率（HR）（P＜0．01），而且能增加同侧RVLM压力敏感性神经元（n=80)的放电频率（P＜0．01），而单侧RVLM微量注射可乐定（5nmol/100nl,n=9)，明显降低AP和HR（P＜0．01）。结论：RVLM和CVLM在介导可乐定的心血管效应中具有不同的作用。     

前列腺癌患者外周血中前列腺特异抗原,前列腺特异膜抗原和人腺体激肽释放酶mRNA的表达及临床意义

目的:采用巢式RT-PCR方法,检测前列腺癌合并骨转移的患者外周血中前列腺特异抗原(PSA)、前列腺特异膜抗原(PSMA)和人腺体激肽释放酶mRNA的表达,探讨其临床意义.方法:应用巢式RT-PCR的方法,检测外周血中PSA、PSMA和hK2mRNA表达.结果:巢式PCR能够检测到经淋巴细胞稀释的LNCaP细胞的PSA、PSM和hK2mRNA的灵敏度,稀释浓度分别为10-6、10-6及10-7.检测初发伴骨转移的前列腺癌患者外周血PSA、PSMA和hK2mRNA的阳性率分别为59.45%、51.35%、59.46%,其中三种检测同时阳性的为32.43%;检测接受内分泌治疗后出现骨转移的前列腺癌患者的阳性率分别为57.14%、85.71%、83.33%,其中三种检测同时阳性的为52.48%.局限性前列腺癌患者、健康男性及健康女性的检测结果均为阴性.以β-actin mRNA做为内参照,所有临床标本检测均为阳性.结论:采用巢式RT-PCR检测前列腺癌患者外周血PSMA、hK2和PSA mRNA有助于发现进入循环系统的前列腺癌细胞,提示隐匿性转移的存在.PSMA和hK2较适合用于内分泌治疗后患者的检测.三种指标联合检测有助于提高敏感性.     

The predictive value of specific immunoglobulin E levels for the first diagnosis of cow''s milk allergy. A critical analysis of pediatric literature

Investigators have tried to identify a level of seric specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) that had a sufficient predictive value to diagnose a food allergy without having will resort to the food challenge. To search in literature, all the studies that have estimated the possibility to identify a level of seric specific cow milk IgE with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95% for the first diagnosis of cow's milk allergy (CMA) in pediatric age. We have identified six studies, nearly all studies suffer from relevant methodological bias. Proposed cut-off are all different. The studied pediatric populations were highly selected. Also neglecting the methodological bias of the studies and the great difference of value between the proposed cut-off, it always remains to consider that the pre-test probability of having a CMA between the children enrolled in the six studies included in this review is particularly high. The likelihood ratio helps to transfer the results of a study on a diagnostic test just to our population, and it is more realistic rather than to entrust itself to the PPV or the negative predictive value, that are much influenced from the prevalence of the disease in the studied population.