Organization of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in human striatum: receptor autoradiographic studies in Huntington's disease and schizophrenia

The technique of quantitative autoradiography was used to examine the effects of Huntington's disease (HD) and schizophrenia on the organization of striatal dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors. Whereas the striatum of HD cases showed a reduction in the density of D1 ([3H]SCH 23390) and D2 ([3H]spiroperidol) receptors, the patterning of D2 receptor loss did not match that of the D1 receptor loss. The HD loss of D1 D1 receptors (65%) is far greater than the loss of D2 receptors (28%). Whereas there was a dorsal-ventral gradient of effect on both receptor subtypes, the effects of HD on D2 receptors in the ventral putamen (PUT) and nucleus accumben septi (NAS) were minimal. Similarly, muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors demonstrate different patterns of alteration in HD. The M2 subtype, labeled with [3H]N-methylscopolamine (in the presence of excess pirenzepine to occlude M1 sites), was depleted far more than the M1 receptor subtype, labeled with [3H]pirenzepine. Although the effects of HD on [3H]mazindol labeling of DA terminals were more heterogeneous, there appeared to be a relative preservation of this afferent input to the striatum of the HD cases. In the schizophrenic cases, our autoradiographic studies confirm previous reports of an elevation of D2 receptor density in the striata of many schizophrenics. This increase was evident even though two of the three cases were known to have not been treated with neuroleptics, and the third case may also have been drug naive. However, the increase was far greater in the NAS (164%) and ventral PUT (173%) than more dorsally in the striatum (68%). The density of D1 receptors and DA terminals labeled with [3H]mazindol in the striatum of schizophrenics was not significantly different from that of control cases. Thus in both HD and schizophrenia, the ratio of D2/D1 receptors is altered in favor of the D2 population, particularly in the NAS.     

S波段高功率微波辐射对原代培养乳鼠心肌细胞的影响

目的研究S波段高功率微波（HPM）辐射后乳鼠心肌细胞的损伤效应及其机制。方法采用平均功率密度为5～30mW/cm^2的S波段HPM模拟源辐射原代培养的乳鼠心肌细胞，应用流式细胞术、原子力显微镜观察辐射后心肌细胞凋亡和坏死率、[Ca^2＋]。及细胞膜形态。结果10—30mW／cm^2的S波段HPM辐射后6h，心肌细胞凋亡和坏死率增加（P〈0．05或P〈0．01），且随辐射剂量增大，坏死细胞增多；30mW/cm^2 HPM辐射后即刻[Ca^2＋]i升高（P〈0．01），细胞膜发生穿孔。结论10—30mW/cm^2的S波段HPM辐射可造成心肌细胞凋亡和坏死，[Ca^2＋]；升高以及细胞膜穿孔，是S波段HPM辐射致心肌细胞损伤的重要机制。     

The interaction of von Willebrand factor-A1 domain with collagen: mutation G1324S (type 2M von Willebrand disease) impairs the conformational change in A1 domain induced by collagen

BACKGROUND: It is established that the A3 domain in von Willebrand factor (VWF) contains the major collagen-binding site. However, there are conflicting reports describing the capacity of the A1 domain to interact with collagen types I and III. METHODS: In this study, we have used recombinant VWF-A1 polypeptides, as well as conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb), to analyze the A1-collagen interaction. RESULTS: The A1 domain bound to collagen with K(d) approximately 8.0 nm and this binding was blocked by the mAb 6G1, which blocks the interaction between ristocetin and VWF. In addition, collagen-bound A1 protein was able to support flow-dependent adhesion of platelets, demonstrating that the binding sites for collagen and glycoprotein (GP)Ib are different. Analysis with two conformation-specific mAb demonstrated that the structure of the A1 domain changed as a result of the binding to collagen. In contrast, the antibodies failed to detect conformational change in the G1324S mutant (type 2M von Willebrand disease). Thus, direct binding to collagen induces a change in the structural conformation within the VWF-A1 domain, and the G1324S substitution prevents this conformational change. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the isolated A1 domain can simultaneously bind to collagen and platelet GPIb, supporting platelet adhesion under high-flow conditions. In addition, this study has used mAb to demonstrate that the binding of the isolated A1 domain or full-length VWF to collagen is accompanied by a conformational change in A1 domain.     

Interventions to promote optimal health outcomes in children with Type 1 diabetes—are they effective?

The incidence of Type 1 diabetes is increasing worldwide, imposing enormous public health costs, as well as profoundly affecting individual quality of life. There is evidence that psychological problems are increased in children with diabetes and this morbidity is often associated with poor metabolic control. Specific risk factors for this dual morbidity are emerging from empirical studies. The next challenge is to identify effective interventions for use with children at risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes. The intervention literature is reviewed. It is noted that most studies have used diabetes-specific, unstandardized interventions in groups of adolescents, with few interventions trialled with younger children. No study has targeted a specific psychological disorder such as behaviour problems or depression, both of which are known to be increased in children with diabetes and for which effective standardized interventions are available. Attention is drawn to methodological limitations in many of the studies conducted to date and suggestions made to reduce these in future interventions attempting to reduce the burden of illness in children with diabetes.     

Probing the regioselective C‐deuteriation of lithium enolates derived from 2‐methyl‐tetralone in the presence of substituted tertiary amines

Results are reported on the regioselective C‐deuteriation of 2‐methyl‐tetralone using a series of D‐sources and tertiary amines as potential mediators. The results presented further aid the understanding of kinetic deuteriation of both ‘base‐containing’ and ‘base‐free’ enolates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

胃癌、肝癌和肺癌与ABO血型相关性研究

目的探讨胃癌、肝癌、肺癌与ABO血型之间的关系。方法应用疾病关联分析方法,对2004-01—2005-12两年间在我院住院的286例恶性肿瘤患者,与同期本地区正常人群5419例ABO血型资料进行对比分析。结果含A抗原(A,AB血型)者患胃癌的危险率较高,B型人患肝癌的危险率较高,而肺癌患者ABO血型与正常人群无显著性差异。结论通过对血型的分析可以窥测恶性肿瘤的遗传倾向,但更应重视对环境因素的控制,以减少发病危险。     

晚发性抑郁患者情绪调节机制的ERPs研究

目的采用事件相关电位探讨晚发性抑郁患者情绪调节障碍的神经生理机制。方法被试者包括16例晚发性抑郁患者（发病年龄≥60岁）与16名健康老年人。采用Go／Nogo实验范式，要求被试者对刺激序列中双个三角形进行按键反应（Go），单个三角形不反应（Nogo）。记录32导脑电。结果健康老年人中，Nogo刺激产生了明显的额中央区分布的N2Nogo和P3Nogo；与对照组相比，病例组的N2Nogo。波幅明显增高，而P3Nogo波幅显著降低，两者潜伏期无显著差异。结论晚发抑郁患者存在情绪调节障碍，其电生理学指标为N2Nogo明显增高和P3Nogo的显著降低，为晚发性抑郁的诊断和治疗提供了一定的客观评价指标。     

2,4-二氨基-5-取代苯胺基嘧啶类化合物的合成及抗菌活性

在嘧啶类化合物中,以2,4-二氨基嘧啶类化合物对二氢叶酸还原酶的抑制作用较强。甲氧苄胺嘧啶(TMP)已作为磺胺类药物及某些抗生素的抗菌增效剂广泛用于临床。为了寻找抑酶活性或对细菌选择性抑制作用比TMP更强的化合物,对2,4-二氨基-5-取代苄基嘧啶类的苯环上取代基的改造已做了大量的工作;对这类化合物抑酶活性的构效关系也进行了较多的研究。但对这类化合物中嘧啶环与苯环间的桥键次甲基的改造则报道不多。为了     

Hormone replacement therapy is associated with increased C-reactive protein in women with Type 2 diabetes in the Diabetes Heart Study.

AIMS: Increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers, especially C-reactive protein (CRP), are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and sudden cardiac death. Medical interventions that increase CRP levels, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in post-menopausal women, are under increasing scrutiny. The effect of HRT on CRP levels in women with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is not well documented, and conflicting conclusions have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of HRT on women with diabetes in a large cross-sectional study. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-seven post-menopausal women with T2DM from the Diabetes Heart Study participated. Current use of HRT was determined and serum CRP levels were measured using a high-sensitivity ELISA kit. Generalized estimating equation methods were used to assess the relationship of multiple clinical and lifestyle (e.g. smoking) measures on CRP levels including differences between women taking HRT (HRT+) and not taking HRT (HRT-). RESULTS: Overall serum CRP levels were strongly associated with body mass index (P < 0.0001) and age (P < 0.0001). Of the women, 243 were not using HRT and 84 were using HRT. HRT+ and HRT- women did not differ significantly in measures of clinical traits, with the exception of higher mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in HRT- women (P = 0.004). In all models tested, HRT+ women had significantly higher circulating CRP levels, with P-values ranging from 0.0045 to 0.010. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of serum CRP concentration as a function of HRT in women with Type 2 diabetes, there was consistent evidence for increased circulating CRP levels in women receiving oestrogen-containing HRT. Whether HRT-induced increases in CRP can account for the adverse cardiovascular effects of HRT remains to be established; however, based on these data, there is little reason to believe that diabetic women would be spared from such an effect.