Histamine differentially interacts with tumor necrosis factor-α and thrombin in endothelial tissue factor induction: the role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase

BACKGROUND: Histamine plays an important role in vascular disease. Tissue factor (TF) expression is induced in vascular inflammation and acute coronary syndromes. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of histamine on tumor necrosis factor-alpha- (TNF-alpha-) vs. thrombin-induced endothelial TF expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Histamine (10(-8)-10(-5) mol L-1), TNF-alpha (5 ng mL-1), and thrombin (1 U mL-1) induced TF expression in human endothelial cells. Although TF expression by TNF-alpha and thrombin was identical, histamine augmented TNF-alpha-induced expression 7.0-fold, but thrombin-induced expression only 2.6-fold. Similar responses occurred with TF activity. The H1-receptor antagonist mepyramine abrogated these effects. Differential augmentation by histamine was also observed at the mRNA level. Histamine-induced p38 activation preceded a weak second activation to both TNF-alpha and thrombin. Histamine-induced c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was followed by a strong second activation to TNF-alpha, and less to thrombin. Selective inhibition of this second JNK activation by SP600125 reduced TF induction to histamine plus TNF-alpha by 67%, but to histamine plus thrombin by only 32%. Histamine augmented TNF-alpha- and thrombin-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression to a similar extent. Consistent with this observation, VCAM-1 induction to TNF-alpha and thrombin was mediated by p38, but not by JNK. CONCLUSIONS: Histamine differentially augments TNF-alpha- vs. thrombin-induced TF expression and activity, which is mediated by the H1-receptor, occurs at the mRNA level, and is related to differential JNK activation.     

Latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of latex allergy in children is increasing worldwide. Previous multiple operations or atopic predisposition are known risk factors. In contrast, only sporadic cases of latex allergy have been reported in infants younger than 1 year, and the causative latex-containing products or symptoms in young infants have not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyse the symptoms and risk factors of latex allergy in young infants. METHODS: Cases of latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year were studied in detail. Clinical course, causative latex-containing products were spotted and detailed analysis for latex allergy in patients and patients' parents was performed. CONCLUSION: We report nine cases of latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year. None of them have any abnormality or previous operations. Six patients had atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome, one patient had bronchial asthma, whereas two patients had no overt allergic diseases. Symptoms of latex allergy were wheezing, swelling of face or lips, facial rash, or anaphylaxis, and causative latex-containing products were teat, pacifier, nose cleaner, teether, balloon, or enema tube. All of the nine patients had positive skin prick test to latex and extract from causative latex-containing products, whereas eight patients had positive serum latex-specific IgE. Study for family history revealed that latex allergy was noted in either father or mother in six patients, in both father and mother in one patient, whereas no latex allergy was noted in parents in two patients. It should be noted that all of these patients had latex-induced symptoms at home. Latex allergy in young infants may not be unusual. Physicians should be aware of latex allergy, and care should be taken to avoid contact with latex in young infants, especially when there is family history for latex allergy.     

MR血管成像在诊断下肢深静脉血栓形成中的价值并与DSA对照研究

目的探讨下肢深静脉血栓形成MR血管成像（MRA）的临床价值。方法对30例怀疑下肢深静脉血栓形成的患者进行了MRA和DSA检查，MRA采用二维时间飞越法（2DTOF）。对MRA与DSA表现进行对照分析。结果下肢深静脉血栓形成的MRA表现有1静脉充盈缺损（14例）、静脉闭塞和中断（8例）、静脉再通（3例）、侧支循环形成（25例）。以DSA为标准，MRA诊断出所有病变，但有1例假阳性。结论MRA作为无创性检查，是诊断下肢深静脉血栓有效的检查方法之一。     

Co-segregation of the PROS1 locus and protein S deficiency in families having no detectable mutations in PROS1.

Inherited deficiency of protein S constitutes an important risk factor of venous thrombosis. Many reports have demonstrated that causative mutations in the protein S gene are found only in approximately 50% of the cases with protein S deficiency. It is uncertain whether the protein S gene is causative in all cases of protein S deficiency or if other genes are involved in cases where no mutation is identified. The aim of the current study was to determine whether haplotypes of the protein S gene cosegregate with the disease phenotype in cases where no mutations have been found. Eight protein S-deficient families comprising 115 individuals where previous DNA sequencing had failed to detect any causative mutations were analyzed using four microsatellite markers in the protein S gene region. Co-segregation between microsatellite haplotypes and protein S deficiency was found in seven of the investigated families, one family being uninformative. This suggests that the causative genetic defects are located in or close to the protein S gene in a majority of such cases where no mutations have been found.     

认知矫正治疗前后慢性精神分裂症患者功能磁共振成像的对照研究

目的 探讨认知矫正治疗对精神分裂症患者工作记忆相关脑区活动的影响.方法 对10例病情稳定的慢性精神分裂症患者进行为期6个月的认知矫正治疗,分别于治疗前后进行韦克斯勒记忆量表(WMS)测查及功能磁共振成像(fMRI)测量.结果 (1)WMS测查:治疗后再认[(8.11±4.34)分]和再生[(10.22±3.35)分]以及Benton错误[(3.75±2.92)分]均较治疗前[分别为(5.78±2.95)分、(8.56±3.21)分和(8.00±6.28)分]改善,均P＜0.05.(2)fMRI:治疗前后的反应时和正确率比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).治疗后在高负荷条件下,背侧前额叶皮质(DLPFC)区域(Brodmann46区)的激活范围(x,y,z=-51,36,15;k=40,t=7.21)小于治疗前的激活范围(x,y,z=-48,24,24,k=154,t=12.72),治疗前后DLPFC区域激活(x,y,z=-24,36,18,k=12,t=3.75)的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.005);在低负荷条件下,治疗前后DLPFC区域激活的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 认知矫正治疗能改善精神分裂症患者工作记忆相关脑区的活动.     

汽车后送伤员附加装置隔振设计

采用钢丝绳隔振器设计了运输车后送伤员附加装置的隔振结构，并进行了隔振性能试验。5名受试者的试验结果表明，隔振装置的隔振性能良好，可衰减40％—70％的振动能量。本文为运输车后送伤员附加装置的隔振设计提供了一种新方法。     

Vascular Access for Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Abstract: Adequate venous access is an essential component of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPEX). The simplest kind of venous access is venipuncture of antecubital veins, but this technique may be limited by venous size or scarring following the procedure, requiring the placement of a specialized vascular access device (VAD). VADs provide reliable central venous access and may remain in place for several weeks or months, depending on the VAD and the venous site chosen. Their use, however, is potentially limited by the risk of complications. We discuss indications for insertion, choice of catheter and access site, and complications of VAD placement for TPEX.     

空管药物疗法治疗牙髓病和根尖周病疗效观察

用ＳＭＴＤ复合药物对牙髓病和根尖周病实施空管药物疗法。７８例１０３颗获得完整随访资料患牙经两年观察，９２．２％治愈率。文章介绍了治疗方法，讨论了空管药物疗法的愈合机理、优点、失败原因及其预防措施。