Primary cardiovascular amyloidosis with benign monoclonal gammopathy

Summary A 54-year-old woman is reported whose primary amyloidosis was diagnosed at autopsy. Amyloid deposits were found in the myocardium, the striated muscles, the smooth muscle layers of the gut and the wall of the blood vessels. The deposits showed resistance to induced proteolysis. A large number of mature plasma cells was demonstrated in the bone marrow, and immunocytochemical studies revealed a considerable increase in the proportion of plasma cells which were positive for kappa light chains of immunoglobulins, indicating a monoclonal gammopathy. This view was strongly supported by the unexpected finding that amyloid deposits were positive for kappa light chains. The relationship between the kappa positive reaction of amyloid and its resistance to induced proteolysis are discussed.     

苦瓜蛋白对BALB/C小鼠柯萨奇B3病毒性心肌炎核因子κB的调节作用

为探讨苦瓜蛋白对BALB／C小鼠柯萨奇B3病毒性心肌炎的治疗作用机制，以核因子κB为对象，来观察苦瓜蛋白的调节作用。从苦瓜果肉中提取苦瓜蛋白后，将动物分为5组：病毒对照组、正常对照组、药物对照组、高剂量治疗组、低剂量治疗组，分别在实验的第0d,3d,7d,14d和第21d处死动物，提取核蛋白，在用BCA方法进行蛋白定量后作凝胶滞留分析（EMSA），测定核因子κB的活性，并进行比较分析。结果发现：（1）病毒对照组在第21天时仍然有一定量的核因子κB活化，且其活化程度明显高于正常对照组；（2）高、低剂量的苦瓜蛋白对核因子κB表现出不同程度的抑制作用，其中高剂量组核因子κB几乎看不到活化，低剂量组比病毒对照组核因子κB活化程度明显降低；（3）正常对照组和药物对照组核因子κB只有低水平活化。结果提示，苦瓜蛋白对病毒性心肌炎的治疗作用可能与其降低核因子κB的活性有关。     

Antigen nature and complexity influence human antibody light chain usage and specificity

Human antibodies consist of a heavy chain and one of two possible light chains, kappa (κ) or lambda (λ). Here we tested how these two possible light chains influence the overall antibody response to polysaccharide and protein antigens by measuring light chain usage in human monoclonal antibodies from antibody secreting cells obtained following vaccination with Pneumovax23. Remarkably, we found that individuals displayed restricted light chain usage to certain serotypes and that lambda antibodies have different specificities and modes of cross-reactivity than kappa antibodies. Thus, at both the monoclonal (7 kappa, no lambda) and serum levels (145 μg/mL kappa, 2.82 μg/mL lambda), antibodies to cell wall polysaccharide were nearly always kappa. The pneumococcal reference serum 007sp was analyzed for light chain usage to 12 pneumococcal serotypes for which it is well characterized. Similar to results at the monoclonal level, certain serotypes tended to favor one of the light chains (14 and 19A, lambda; 6A and 23F, kappa). We also explored differences in light chain usage at the serum level to a variety of antigens. We examined serum antibodies to diphtheria toxin mutant CRM197 and Epstein-Barr virus protein EBNA-1. These responses tended to be kappa dominant (average kappa-to-lambda ratios of 4.52 and 9.72 respectively). Responses to the influenza vaccine were more balanced with kappa-to-lambda ratio averages having slight strain variations: seasonal H1N1, 1.1; H3N2, 0.96; B, 0.91. We conclude that antigens with limited epitopes tend to produce antibodies with restricted light chain usage and that in most individuals, antibodies with lambda light chains have specificities different and complementary to kappa-containing antibodies.     

Des-tyrosine dynorphin A-(2–13) improves carbon monoxide-induced impairment of learning and memory in mice

The effects of des-tyrosine¹ dynorphin A-(2–13) (dynorphin A-(2–13)) on carbon monoxide (CO)-induced impairment of learning and memory in mice were investigated using a Y-maze task and a passive avoidance test. The lower percentage alternation and shorter step-down latency of the CO-exposed group indicated that learning and/or memory impairment occurred in mice 5 and 7 days after CO exposure, respectively. Administration of dynorphin A-(2–13) (1.5 and/or 5.0 nmol/mouse, intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.)) 30 min before behavioral tests improved the CO-induced impairment in alternation performance and the CO-induced shortened step-down latency. We previously reported that dynorphin A-(1–13) improved the impairment of learning and/or memory via kappa opioid receptor mediated mechanisms. To determine whether the effect of dynorphin A-(2–13) was also mediated via kappa opioid receptors, we attempted to block its action using a selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI). Nor-BNI (4.9 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) did not block the effects of dynorphin A-(2–13) on the CO-induced impairment of learning and/or memory. These results indicate that dynorphin A-(2–13) improves impairment of learning and/or memory via a non-opioid mechanism.     

Kappa角在眼科手术中的临床应用及研究进展

人眼具有多种轴线和角度,其中Kappa角是反映人眼居中性的重要指标,在眼科手术中应用广泛。术前正确的评估与应用Kappa角,有利于恢复术后最佳视觉质量。μ弦是近几年为了更好地表达Kappa角而出现的一个新术语。临床上这两个概念未被很好地理解,限制了其实用性。因此,为了更好地理解Kappa角和μ弦,本文分别阐述了两者的定义和联系。同时,总结了Kappa角在斜视手术中的应用,探讨了在角膜屈光手术中补偿大Kappa角的方法以及在超声乳化联合多焦点人工晶状体(MIOL)植入术中参考Kappa角预测术后MIOL居中性的临床意义,以期为临床工作提供一定的参考。     

高氧与核因子Kappa B

高氧可引起体内活性氧的增加,导致多种细胞和组织的损伤。NF-κB是一种氧化应激敏感性转录调控因子,高氧可以通过对NF-κB的调控,从而调控不同的下游基因和蛋白。本文从高氧介导的活性氧产生、上下游通路对NF-κB的调控及细胞成熟分化对NF-κB的研究进展做一综述。     

关于眼球轴线和角度的研究进展

在眼球这个复杂的光学系统中,存在着各种不同的轴线(视轴、光轴、瞳孔轴)和角度(Alpha角和Kappa角).视轴指连接光源和视网膜黄斑中心凹并通过节点的连线,瞳孔轴是经过瞳孔中心垂直角膜前平面的线,两者之间的夹角被称作Kappa角.Alpha角是指视轴和光轴之间的夹角.在屈光手术确定角膜削切中心的正确位置和斜视手术设计更为准确的矫正量时,Kappa角是一个很重要的参数;在白内障手术植入多焦点人工晶状体时,Alpha角和Kappa角是很重要的参数.近年来,眼科医生对Kappa角越来越关注,认为Kappa角的大小会影响植入多焦点人工晶状体患者的视觉质量.本文回顾Alpha角和Kappa角认识的历程,阐述两者的定义和影响因素,并对两者在眼科领域的应用进行综述.     

Effects of repeated ritanserin on middle-aged poor sleepers

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of U-50, 488H, a highly selective kappa opioid agonist, on ipsilateral and contralateral circling behavior induced by methamphetamine and by apomorphine, respectively. U-50, 488H (3.2–10 mg/kg IP) by itself failed to induce either ipsilateral or contralateral circling in rats with unilateral nigral lesions produced by an injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. U-50, 488H produced a significant dosedependent inhibition of methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg SC)elicited ipsilateral circling. However, it had no effect on contralateral circling induced by apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg SC). The present results indicate that U-50, 488H presynaptically inhibits the release of dopamine in the rat striatum.     

应用蛋白质组学研究白斑差异表达蛋白

目的:通过筛选口腔白斑及正常黏膜组织的差异表达蛋白,为研究白斑发生机制提供实验依据。方法:收集口腔白斑组织及正常口腔黏膜组织,提取组织蛋白,进行二维电泳,选择在表达差异量较大的11个点进行质谱和生物信息学分析,确定所分析的蛋白质类型。结果:人口腔白斑及正常黏膜组织的二维电泳图谱的平均蛋白质点数分别为1726±67和1608±73,蛋白质点重复性较好。人口腔白斑与正常黏膜组织的双向凝胶电泳图谱,差异表达蛋白质点数为38个,其中16个点在白斑中为高标达,22个点在白斑中为低表达,选择11个表达差异量较大的蛋白质点进行质谱和生物信息学分析,鉴定出其中的5个点,分别为膜联蛋白A2,角蛋白8,角蛋白1,II型角蛋白亚基,免疫球蛋白(Ig)κ型轻链的恒定区(C区)片段等。结论:膜联蛋白A2,角蛋白8,角蛋白1,II型角蛋白亚基,Igκ型轻链的C区片段等在口腔白斑发生发展过程中发生了改变。