Diverse immune functions of hemocyanins

Substantial evidence gathered recently has revealed the multiple functionalities of hemocyanin. Contrary to previous claims that this ancient protein is involved solely in oxygen transport within the hemolymph of invertebrates, hemocyanin and hemocyanin-derived peptides have been linked to key aspects of innate immunity, in particular, antiviral and phenoloxidase-like activities. Both phenoloxidase and hemocyanin belong to the family of type-3 copper proteins and share a high degree of sequence homology. While the importance of phenoloxidase in immunity and development is well characterised, the contribution of hemocyanin to biological defence systems within invertebrates is not recognised widely.     

一氧化氮和TGF-β1的血浆水平与进展性脑卒中的关系

目的探讨一氧化氮（Nitric oxide,NO）和转化生长因子-β1（Transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1）血浆水平与进展性脑卒中（progression stroke,PS）的关系。方法对发病24h内住院经头颅CT和/或MRI检查证实为大脑中动脉（MCA）供血区脑梗死的患者,以斯堪的那维亚卒中量表（SSS）在住院72h内评分较入院时下降2分以上者判定为PS的标准。诊断为PS患者51例。以入院时SSS评分相近的MCA供血区非PS患者为对照组（54例）;在住院48h内空腹抽取静脉血进行NO、TGF-β1测定,并对双侧颈动脉作彩色多普勒检查。结果2组年龄、入院时评分SSS及合并症（高血压病、糖尿病、冠心病、高胆固醇血症史）无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。PS组NO和TGF-β1水平显著低于对照组（P〈0.01）,PS组颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度（inti ma-media thickness,I MT）显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论NO和TGF-β1水平显著下降是PS发生发展的因素之一,脑梗死早期检测其血浆NO和TGF-β1水平有助于预测PS的发生,为临床的治疗决策和预后判断具有重要意义。     

Interlaboratory assessment of mitotic index by flow cytometry confirms superior reproducibility relative to microscopic scoring

A flow cytometric procedure for determining mitotic index (MI) as part of the metaphase chromosome aberrations assay, developed and utilized routinely at Pfizer as part of their standard assay design, has been adopted successfully by Covance laboratories. This method, using antibodies against phosphorylated histone tails (H3PS10) and nucleic acid stain, has been evaluated by the two independent test sites and compared to manual scoring. Primary human lymphocytes were treated with cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C, benzo(a)pyrene, and etoposide at concentrations inducing dose‐dependent cytotoxicity. Deming regression analysis indicates that the results generated via flow cytometry (FCM) were more consistent between sites than those generated via microscopy. Further analysis using the Bland–Altman modification of the Tukey mean difference method supports this finding, as the standard deviations (SDs) of differences in MI generated by FCM were less than half of those generated manually. Decreases in scoring variability owing to the objective nature of FCM, and the greater number of cells analyzed, make FCM a superior method for MI determination. In addition, the FCM method has proven to be transferable and easily integrated into standard genetic toxicology laboratory operations. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

新生大鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤时Bcl-2和P53蛋白的表达

目的研究Bcl-2的P53蛋白在新生儿缺氧缺血性脑损伤(HIBD)中的表达及与细胞凋亡的关系。方法将新生7日龄Wistar大鼠制成HlBD模型,应用免疫组织化学-SP法及原位缺口末端标记(TUNEL)研究Bcl-2和P53蛋白在新生大鼠及缺氧缺血(HI)后脑中表达及与凋亡的关系。结果新生大鼠HIBD时凋亡与坏死并存,以凋亡为主。Bcl-2免疫蛋白在正常新生大鼠脑内广泛表达(+～++++);Hl后脑病变处Bcl-2免疫强度明显下降(-～+);P53蛋白在正常新生大鼠脑内基本无表达;HI后病变部位散在分布阳性凋亡细胞。结论Hl后Bcl-2免疫表达减弱,P53的免疫表达增强,提示Bcl-2可抑制凋亡,P53可能促进凋亡。     

APP/PS1小鼠肠道菌群特点及补肾法干预对其的影响

目的:探究不同月龄APP/PS1双转基因模型小鼠的肠道菌群特点及补肾法对其肠道菌群失衡的影响.方法:将8只6个月龄雄性APP/PS1小鼠随机分为模型组和补肾组;4只6个月龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠作为正常对照组.补肾组小鼠给予补肾法中药灌胃3个月,模型组和正常对照组小鼠均予以等体积羧甲基纤维素(CMC)溶液灌胃.留取小鼠...     

DCTN1-related neurodegeneration: Perry syndrome and beyond

Perry syndrome (PS) is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by autosomal dominant parkinsonism, psychiatric symptoms, weight loss, central hypoventilation, and distinct TDP-43 pathology. The mutated causative gene for PS is DCTN1, which encodes the dynactin subunit p150^Glued. Dynactin is a motor protein involved in axonal transport; the p150^Glued subunit has a critical role in the overall function. Since the discovery of DCTN1 in PS, it has been increasingly recognized that DCTN1 mutations can exhibit more diverse phenotypes than previously thought. Progressive supranuclear palsy- and/or frontotemporal dementia-like phenotypes have been associated with the PS phenotypes. In addition, DCTN1 mutations were identified in a family with motor-neuron disease before the discovery in PS. In this review, we analyze the clinical and genetic aspects of DCTN1-related neurodegeneration and discuss its pathogenesis. We also describe three families with PS, Canadian, Polish, and Brazilian. DCTN1 mutation was newly identified in two of them, the Canadian and Polish families. The Canadian family was first described in late 1970’s but was never genetically tested. We recently had the opportunity to evaluate this family and to test the gene status of an affected family member. The Polish family is newly identified and is the first PS family in Poland. Although still rare, DCTN1-related neurodegeneration needs to be considered in a differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders, frontotemporal dementia, and motor-neuron diseases, especially if there is family history.     

Selective modifications in the de novo biosynthesis of retinal phospholipids and glycerides by propranolol or phentolamine

The effects of propranolol or phentolamine on the metabolism of phospholipids, diacylglycerol, and triacylglycerol were studied in the bovine retina in vitro. Lipid labeling was followed during short-term incubation of intact bovine retinas with [U-₁₄C]glycerol and [1-¹⁴C]palmitic acid. Each of these precursors was recovered in the appropriate lipid moiety. Most of the [¹⁴C]glycerol appeared progressively in triacylglycerol (TG) through the sequence from phosphatidic acid (PA) to diacylglycerol (DG). Labeled palmitate appeared in much lower quantities than labeled glycerol in all glycerolipids except phosphatidylcholine (PC). Propranolol and phentolamine greatly enhanced the [¹⁴'C]glycerol specific activities of PA, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS), whereas labeling in other glycerolipids was much lower than in controls. The labeling in TG with both precursors was found to be less than 50% of the control values; however, a late increase in DG labeling was observed. The effects of these drugs on broken cell preparations were also described, although lipid synthesis from labeled glycerol in these preparations was only 9% that of intact retinas. It appeared that an amphiphilic cationic structure was necessary to produce these drug effects; propranolol glycol, the hydrophobic moiety of propranolol, did not elicit the same effects. It is suggested that, among other changes, the drugs inhibited phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and redirected the flux predominantly toward PI. Support for the proposed multiple lipid effects elicited by these drugs was provided by the dual changes found in the labeling of DG.     

Surgical myectomy versus alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A propensity score–matched cohort

Objectives

In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract can be relieved by surgical septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation, but uncertainty remains regarding long-term results and comparative effectiveness of alcohol septal ablation. This study aims to compare short- and long-term outcomes of the 2 procedures.

成人肺隔离症16例临床病理学分析

 目的 总结分析肺隔离症(pulmonary sequestration,PS)的临床及病理学特征,提高对该病的认知和诊疗水平。方法 回顾性分析2015年至2020年复旦大学附属华山医院收治的16例PS患者的临床、影像及病理资料。结果 16例患者中,男性10例(62.5%),女性6例(37.5%),年龄22~66岁,平均年龄(47±12)岁。PS临床症状无特异性,主要表现为反复咳嗽、咳痰、发热及咯血。胸部CT检查表现为圆形及团块状的实性肿块影8例,囊状或蜂窝状影5例,片状致密影2例,梭形致密灶1例,术前经增强CT结合CT血管造影(CT angiography,CTA)确诊11例、误诊5例,误诊率为31.25%。所有患者均接受手术治疗,其中15例(93.75%)接受胸腔镜手术(video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery,VATS),1例(6.25%)接受开胸手术,术后均恢复良好。病变组织的病理学表现为肺组织发育不良,肺泡间隔呈迷路样,围成不规则蜂窝状囊腔改变,囊腔内见分泌物;周围慢性炎症反应与纤维化,可见畸形或者闭塞性的动静脉血管。结论 PS临床表现无特异性,容易误诊,增强CT和CTA有助于术前诊断;治疗方法常为外科手术切除,术后病理表现为肺组织发育不良,呈慢性炎性反应伴纤维化;病理学改变需与慢性阻塞性肺病、支气管扩张症等疾病鉴别。