Improvement in Wound Healing by Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Ointment. I. Effect of Nafamostat,Gabexate, or Gelatin on Stabilization and Efficacy of EGF

The healing effect of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) on open wounds was studied in rats. No improvement in wound healing was found by topical application of EGF alone to open wound sites. We found an ointment containing EGF and a protease inhibitor, nafamostat mesilate or gabexate mesilate, or gelatin accelerated the healing rate of open wounds. Significant increases in the dry weight of the wound site granulation tissue, uronic acid (as an index of acid mucopolysaccharide) and hydroxyproline (as an index of collagen) were observed by treatment with EGF ointment containing nafamostat compared with the controls. The effects of the protease inhibitor on wound healing were dose dependent. Nafamostat was more efficient than gabexate or gelatin on wound healing. The degradation of ¹²⁵I-EGF in wound tissue homogenate was significantly decreased in the presence of a protease inhibitor, such as nafamostat or gabexate, or gelatin. These findings indicate that the stabilization of EGF at the wound site is an important factor in permitting the expression of its healing effects and suggest that the ointment containing EGF and a stabilizing agent would be a suitable dosage form for acceleration of wound repair.     

青蒿琥酯钠对体外大鼠红细胞膜钠-钾交换ATP酶的抑制

体外测定青蒿琥酯钠(SA)对大鼠红细胞膜Na~( )-K~( )-交换ATP酶活性的影响.方法:在反应系统中分别加入不同浓度的SA(0,0.5,1,5和10 μmol·L~(-1)),通过测定反应系统中释放的无机磷含量,计算酶活性.结果:随着SA浓度(O,0.5,1,5和10 μmol·L~(-1))的增高,对Na~( )-K~( )-交换ATP酶活性的抑制作用也随之增强,抑制率分别为15％,29％,46％和75％.将底物ATP浓度增加为125,250,375和500 μmol·L~(-1),进行了酶的动力学测定.用直线回归分析作Eadie-Hofstee动力学曲线,结果表明,SA对该酶的抑制作用为竞争性抑制.结论:提示SA可影响宿主红细胞膜的离子转运及膜的功能.     

Physiological neutrophilia of pregnancy is not associated with a rise in plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)

A patient with neutropenia and life-threatening infections secondary to T-γ lymphoproliferative disease, who did not respond to treatment with recombinant human G-CSF (filgrastim), was treated with filgrastim plus cyclosporine A (CyA). The patient achieved a good response in the absolute neutrophil count and subsequently required a dose reduction in the filgrastim. The patient was eventually discontinued from the CyA but continues on filgrastim alone. While on therapy, the large granular lymphocytes disappeared from the circulation and the beta-TCR rearrangement, which was present prior to beginning therapy, became undetectable. The patient had no significant toxicity to the CyA or the filgrastim and he has not experienced any serious infections or required hospitalization. Filgrastim has proven to be relatively nontoxic and of some benefit to patients with this disease and should probably be utilized first when treatment is necessary. However, if improvement is not observed, these findings suggest that a trial of the combination of CyA plus filgrastim may be beneficial.     

33例肝占位性病变MRI误诊的分析

我院１９８８年以来４０００余例腹部ＭＲＩ中，发现肝占位性病变误诊３３例。所用机型为美国Ｄｉｓｏｎｉｃｓ公司０．５Ｔ超导ＭＲＩ，自旋回波序列（ＳＥ序列）、常规Ｔ１加权（Ｔ１ＷＩ）、质子加权（ＰＤＷＩ）、Ｔ２加权（Ｔ２ＷＩ），覆盖全肝。其中，ＰＨＣ误诊为ＭＨＣ５例、ＭＨＣ误诊为ＰＨＣ６例、ＰＨＣ误为ＨＨＥ５例、ＭＨＣ误诊为ＨＨＥ２例、ＨＨＥ误诊为ＰＨＣ６例、肝硬化结节误诊为ＰＨＣ２例、炎性假瘤误诊为ＰＨＣ３例、肝结核误诊为ＰＨＣ１例、ＨＣＹ误诊为ＨＨＥ３例。本文从病变的影像学特征和扫描技术方面详细探讨了误诊的原因和鉴别诊断要点。     

Cartilage destruction in small joints by rheumatoid arthritis: assessment of fat-suppressed three-dimensional gradient-echo MR pulse sequences in vitro

Purpose. To assess the accuracy of different MR sequences for the detection of articular cartilage abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis. Design and patients. Ten metacarpophalangeal joints and 10 metatarsophalangeal joints (specimens from arthritis patients undergoing ablative joint surgery) were examined with a fat-suppressed (FS) 3D FLASH, a FS 3D FISP, a FS 2D fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and a 2D FS spin-echo T1-weighted sequence. Each cartilage lesion and each cortical lesion was graded from 0 to 4 (modified Outerbridge staging system). Subsequently, the results of each sequence were compared with the macroscopic findings and statistically tested against each other. Results. The study shows that 3D gradient-echo sequences with fat suppression were best for imaging and grading of cartilage lesions in arthritis of the small joints of the hands and feet. Using 3D techniques, all grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 lesions of cartilage or cortical bone were detected. Conclusion. FS 3D gradient-echo techniques were best for the detection and grading of hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone lesions in rheumatoid arthritis. MRI has a great potential as an objective method of evaluating cartilage damage and bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis.     

MR imaging of viscoelastic properties

Mechanical waves in magnetic resonance imaging, which have been suggested for possible clinical applications, were analyzed with regard to imaging of the viscoelastic properties of large objects. The method is based on the Larmor frequency modulation caused by the application of mechanical waves. Possible clinical applications include all diseases that result in a change in the mechanical properties of biologic tissues (eg, atherosclerosis).     

OODG-Ulrich and OPG-Gee: a comparative study

For an adequate assessment of both the ophthalmological and the neurological consequences of carotid obstruction measurement of the blood pressure in the carotid flow area is essential.To this end there are two objective, registrating methods available at the moment: OPG-Gee and OODG-Ulrich. A comparative study was made into the basic principles, calibration curves and application methods of these systems. By both methods the systolic retinal - and ciliary - as well as the diastolic ocular blood pressure can be measured. OODG is more exact for the differentiation and measurement of the two systolic blood pressures. OPG-Gee, however, offers the unique additional possibility of a judgement on the systolic blood pressure in the carotid siphon without, however, taking into acount a (difference in) pre-existing intraocular pressure. Our own investigation shows that in order to obtain a correct assessment of the carotico-brachial relation both blood pressures should be measured simultaneously. The results of the graphic analysis of the curves are compared to those by Ulrich. For the diagnosis of carotid obstructions this analysis of the shape had no advantages over the determination of the pressure values.Finally, a survey is given of possible applications of OPG and OODG in various other syndromes.     

Dose-response differences in the ability of ramipril to improve retention in diabetic mice

Ramipril blocks the conversion of angiotensin I to II. The literature indicates that diabetes is often associated with mild impairment of learning and memory. The study reports the effects of ramipril on memory retention in diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Mice were made diabetic by an injection of streptozocin. After overt signs of diabetes were present, diabetic or vehicle-treated mice were partially trained on a footshock active avoidance task. Immediately after training, ramipril (0.5–1.5 mg/kg s.c.) was administered and retention was tested by continuing training one week later until mice avoided footshock on five out of six trails. The results indicate that ramipril enhanced retention of both diabetic and control mice but it required about 5 times as much ramipril in diabetic as control mice to achieve the same effect on retention. Increased sensitivity to angiotensin II may play a role in cognitive impairment in diabetes.     

Assessment of tardive dyskinesia by means of digital image processing

A wireless device for the assessment of tardive dyskinesia by means of digital image processing is presented. Four skin-cream dots placed around the subjects' mouth are recorded by a video camera. The image is passed to a framegrabber with a signal processor, where it is converted from analogue to digital. A fast spot-detecting algorithm implemented on the signal processor tracks the dots and passes the information to a personal computer, where a Fourier transformation is performed to calculate the frequency spectrum of the movements. The device provided detailed information on the magnitude and on the frequencies of the movements. Data from a longitudinal investigation suggest a higher sensitivity and reliability than conventional rating scales to detect and evaluate abnormal perioral movements. The device might be useful for the early detection, for the longitudinal assessment (p.e. clinical trials) and in some cases for the differential diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia, thus providing a tool for both research and clinical purposes.