Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease: morphological and microanalytical features

The light microscopic and polarization appearances of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposits in tissues are reviewed. In routine sections haematoxylinophilic crystalline deposits with a feathery or brush-like pattern are typical of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. Short rhomboidal crystals showing positive birefringence are seen on polarization; X-ray microanalytical and infrared spectroscopic data support the specificity of these appearances. The appearances of the crystal deposits in decalcified specimens are also described. We include six cases of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition within periarticular bone; to the best of our knowledge this has not previously been described.     

Expression of the calcium receptor CaR in the parathyroid of secondary hyperparathyroidism patients

The effects of calcium on parathyroid hormone (PTH) has further discovered in recent years. It has been known that calcium ion concentration in the extracellular fluid is a major determinant of PTH secretion. The relationship between serum intact PTH (iPTH) and calcium ion levels is described by a sigmoidal curve. The calcium concentration that produces half-maximal change in PTH release (the midpoint between maximal and minimal     

Autonomic Regulation of Voltage-Gated Cardiac Ion Channels

Altering voltage-gated ion channel currents, by changing channel number or voltage-dependent kinetics, regulates the propagation of action potentials along the plasma membrane of individual cells and from one cell to its neighbors. Functional increases in the number of cardiac sodium channels (Na_V1.5) at the myocardial sarcolemma are accomplished by the regulation of caveolae by β adrenergically stimulated G-proteins. We demonstrate that Na_V1.5, Ca_V1.2a, and K_V1.5 channels specifically localize to isolated caveolar membranes, and to punctate regions of the sarcolemma labeled with caveolin-3. In addition, we show that Na_V1.5, Ca_V1.2a, and K_V1.5 channel antibodies label the same subpopulation of isolated caveolae. Plasma membrane sheet assays demonstrate that Na_V1.5, Ca_V1.2a, and K_V1.5 cluster with caveolin-3. This may have interesting implications for the way in which adrenergic pathways alter the cardiac action potential morphology and the velocity of the excitatory wave.     

粉防己碱舒张离体新西兰白兔阴茎海绵体平滑肌的机制研究

目的观察粉防己碱(tetrandrine,Tet)对阴茎海绵体平滑肌胞内钙释放和胞外钙内流的影响,初步探讨其舒张作用的机制。方法采用离体阴茎海绵体平滑肌肌条张力记录法,观察Tet对去氧肾上腺素(phenylephrine,PE)和氯化钾(KCI)诱导收缩的肌条的影响；采用无Ca~(2 )-复Ca~(2 )实验法,观察Tet对PE诱导的依赖细胞内钙和细胞外钙的肌条收缩反应的影响。结果Tet对PE或kcl诱导的肌条收缩均具有浓度依赖性的抑制作用。100μmol/L Tet可抑制20μmol/L PE引起的依赖细胞内钙和细胞外钙的肌条收缩(P＜0．05)；结论Tet可通过阻滞电压依赖性钙通道、受体依赖性钙通道和抑制细胞内钙库释放,从而介导其对海绵体平滑肌的舒张作用。     

Fumonisins as a possible contributory risk factor for primary liver cancer: A 3-year study of corn harvested in Haimen, China, by HPLC and ELISA

Employing HPLC fluorometry, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and a novel enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody, 40 corn samples, each collected in 1993 from agricultural stocks for human consumption in Haimen (Jiangsu County) and Penlai (Shandong Province), high- and low-risk areas for primary liver cancer (PLC) in China, respectively, were analysed for fumonisins (FBs), aflatoxins (AFs) and trichothecenes. Levels and positive rates of FBs and deoxynivalenol (DON) were significantly higher in Haimen than in Penlai. ELISA of the 40 corn samples harvested in the two areas in 1994 revealed that FB contamination levels and rates in these areas were comparable to those observed in 1993 in Haimen. ELISA analysis of 1993 and 1994 products revealed a wide occurrence of AFB₁ but the positive rates as well as levels were not significantly different between these areas. ELISA of the same sample number of corn harvested in 1995 revealed that FB contamination in Haimen was significantly higher than in Penlai. These 3-yearly surveys of corn samples (240 in total) demonstrated that corn harvested in Haimen was highly contaminated with FBs and that the contamination level, as well as positive rate in 1993 and 1995, were 10–50-fold higher than those in Penlai, suggesting FBs as a risk factor for promotion of PLC in endemic areas, along with the trichothecene DON. Co-contamination with AFs, potent hepatocarcinogens, was assumed to play an important role in the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

钾通道开放剂降低血管平滑肌细胞内游离钙浓度(英文)

目的:研究PCO—Pin,Nic,Lem及RP对VMSC内[Ca~(2 )]_i的改变及其可能机制。方法:VSMC加入Fura-2 AM 2.5μmol·L~(-1)37℃下孵育50min,[Ca~(2 )]_i用荧光分光光度计检测。结果:4种PCO能较弱地抑制K~ 30 mmol·L~(-1)诱导的[Ca~(2 )]_i增加,但明显抑制ATP 0.1mmol·L~(-1)诱导的[Ca~(2 )]_i峰相及持续相增加,且呈剂量依赖性。格列苯脲完全阻断Pin,Lem及RP的作用,只部分抑制Nic的作用。无钙液中先给4种PCO,能显著抑制ATP诱导的[Ca~(2 )]_i峰相增加。结论:4种PCO均抑制ATP诱导的[Ca~(2 )]_i增加,此作用与减少细胞外钙内流及细胞内钙释放有关。     

Artificial bone of porous tricalcium phosphate ceramics and its preliminary clinical application

Summary The authors have prepared the artificial bone of porous tricalcium phosphate ceramics according to an appropriate formula and manufacturing technology. Physical and chemical testing shows that it possesses several distinguishing features: the communicating pores and macro/micropores; mean pore size, 380 μm (from 240 μm to 510 μm); porosity, 46.4 %; and compressive strength, 97.4 kg/cm². It consists of CaO (49.09 %) and P₂O₅ (48.84 %). The testing of its biocompatibility shows that it is devoid of systemic or local toxicity, and free of irritation or foreign body response in tissues, and it does not result in hemolysis or mutation. The new bone readily grows into its pores with direct contact to the implanted material. 11 cases of bone defects were treated with this artificial bone with satisfactory results.     

Repetitive firing properties in subpopulations of the chick Edinger Westphal nucleus.

The avian Edinger Westphal nucleus, through the ciliary ganglion, controls accommodation, iris constriction, and blood flow through the choroid. In live brainstem slices, the nucleus is easily identifiable as an olive-shaped cluster of neurons dorsal to the oculomotor nerve and nucleus. Intracellular recordings from neurons in the nucleus identified two classes of responses to sustained (300 to 500 ms) injections of depolarizing current. One set of cells fired action potentials for the duration of the pulse while a second set of cells fired action potentials only transiently, during the first 50 to 100 ms, after which they remained silent regardless of the size of the depolarization. Intracellular recordings followed by injections of the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow revealed that repetitively firing cells were located in the lateral half of the nucleus while non-repetitively or transiently firing cells were located in the medial half. These locations correspond to different Edinger Westphal subdivisions which have distinct inputs and target populations. The varying firing patterns are discussed with reference to the known functions of the subdivisions in which they occur. Replacement of calcium by magnesium in the extracellular medium had no effect on the number of action potentials fired by non-repetitively firing cells, suggesting that a calcium-activated potassium current is not responsible for suppressing repetitive firing in these cells. In contrast, in repetitively firing cells removal of extracellular calcium increased the frequency of action potential discharge and decreased the amplitude of afterhyperpolarizations following single action potentials. Addition of cadmium to the bath medium had similar effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

铁骨晶对大鼠钙代谢、骨密度的影响及临床观察

本实验以铁骨晶（多肽钙），进口脱脂奶粉，活性钙冲剂，贝壳钙为钙源添加于大鼠正常饲料中。观察结果表明：上述４组钙的吸收率分别为６４．４％，６９．１％，５９．９％，５１．６％；钙的储留率分别为８９．８％，９３．３％，８５．２％，７９．０％；钙的存留率分别为４３．６％，４９．０％，３２．４％，２６．８％；股骨指数分别为７．０２×１０（－３），６．４３×１０（－３），６．８４×１０（－３）。６．８８×１０（－３）；折断力（牛顿）分别为６０．５４±１２．５５，４６．８１±９．３２，４３．２６±１６．６２，３８．２４±１０．７９。同时以铁骨晶为钙源对７０例（５～６岁）儿童进行了血清Ｃａ，Ｆｅ，Ｚｎ，Ｈｂ及生长发育的检测。铁骨晶组的身高，体重，胸围分别比对照组增加。铁骨晶组血清Ｃａ，Ｆｅ，Ｚｎ，Ｈｂ也均有较好的改善。这表明铁骨晶具有较好的促进钙吸收利用作用，同时能增加骨强度作用。