Colored neon flanks and line gap enhancement

When a colored line connects two black (or differently colored) lines across a gap, colored neon flanks are seen on either side of it. These flanks extend over gap sizes of 50 min arc foveally and are not explained by Bezold-type assimilation. They may be elicited by black lines as short as 6 min arc adjoining the colored line at each end. To maximize these flanks, the black and colored lines must appear linearly continuous. Nonaligned junctions weaken the effect and an angular tilt of more than 40 dog destroys it. In this and other respects, (local) neon flanks are similar to van Tuijl's (global) neon color spreading (1975). Both phenomena have analogs in brightness perception. We propose that neon spreading is a lateral extension of neon flanks across the empty space between them, and discuss similarities of these effects with other brightness illusions (Schumann, Prandtl, Ehrenstein). For this group of illusions the term "line gap enhancement" is introduced to imply perceptual enhancement of changes in brightness and/or color along lines. Correspondences between the psychophysical properties and structural prerequisites for line gap enhancement on one hand and neuronal response properties of end-zone inhibited (hypercomplex) cortical cells on the other are discussed.     

Specular microscopy of hard contact lens wearers

Wide-field specular microscopy, slit-lamp examination, and pachometry were performed on 22 successful hard contact lens wearers and 22 controls matched for age, race, sex, and refractive error. A minimum of 600 cells per control and 1200 per contact lens wearer were manually digitized from the specular photomicrographs. Frequency distributions of cell areas were compared between the two groups using the parameters of mean, median, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, skewness and kurtosis. Slit-lamp examination was normal and there was no significant difference in corneal thickness between the patient group and the control group. Comparison of mean, median, and standard deviation also revealed no significant difference, but skewness (P less than .001), kurtosis (P less than .001) and coefficient of variation (P less than .004) were greater in the hard contact lens wear group. Hard contact lens wearing time correlated with increasing pleomorphism (P less than .05). Specular microscopy also revealed morphologic changes including deep stromal striae, intra- and extracellular "blackout" areas, and clustering of extremely small and large cells. The possible relationship between endothelial hypoxia and structural stromal changes are discussed.     

Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用

目的 探索Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用,为砷中毒的人群防治提供依据。方法 收集贵州省兴仁县雨樟镇交乐病区砷中毒人群以及格沙屯正常人群分别作为砷中毒组和对照组,实时荧光定量PCR检测各组人群Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平。同时,分别以不同剂量亚砷酸钠、不同时间处理MIHA细胞,流式细胞术测定细胞周期改变情况,实时荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹法分别检测Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平和蛋白表达情况。在上述实验基础上,针对Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因分别设计的siRNA作用于染砷的MIHA细胞,反向验证Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因在砷致细胞周期改变过程中的影响。统计学分析采用独立样本t检验比较两组间差异,采用单因素方差比较多组间差异。结果 人群实验研究发现,与对照组相比,砷中毒患者Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平升高（t = 2.576,P = 0.011;t = 2.312,P = 0.022）;MIHA细胞中,随亚砷酸钠染毒剂量、染毒时间增加,细胞G2/M期比例明显升高（F剂量 = 340.136,P＜0.001;F时间 = 49.194,P＜0.001）;在相对较低亚砷酸钠浓度（低于20 μmol/L）、一定时间内（低于48 h）Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平随染砷剂量、染砷时间升高而升高,超过该浓度范围和作用时间后,出现表达下降的现象（Gadd45β:F剂量-蛋白 = 37.568,P＜0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 9.771,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 61.144,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 46.366,P = 0.001;Gadd45γ:F剂量-蛋白 = 12.989,P = 0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 23.613,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 27.425,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 37.969,P＜0.001）。转染siRNA分别下调Gadd45β和Gadd45γ的表达后,细胞周期都出现G2/M期比例下调（t = 3.053,P = 0.038;t = 14.47,P＜0.001）。结论 砷致Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因表达水平升高在其诱导MIHA细胞出现G2/M期阻滞过程中发挥重要作用。     

基于“阴火”理论探讨内皮细胞代谢重塑与肿瘤血管化关系及中医药干预思考

血管内壁的内皮细胞借助调节血管稳态、血管张力、细胞黏附、细胞增殖、凝血抗性、炎症因子等来响应机体的物理和化学信号,进而维持血管处于衡动稳定的状态。血管生成是肿瘤发生发展所需的关键条件,肿瘤血管化的病理模式为瘤体生长提供所需的营养和氧气,以促进其增殖。近年来,内皮细胞参与肿瘤血管渗入,驱动血管生成被认为是促进肿瘤转移的关键环节。血管内皮细胞可通过调控代谢重塑以满足肿瘤血管化过程中对物质和能量的需要,其异常的代谢特征使得其能更好地适应肿瘤微环境的变化,这种代谢的改变常被看作是肿瘤血管化进程的重要基础。中医“阴火”理论源自《黄帝内经》,原指“阴虚生内热”,属内伤之火范畴,后经历代医家推演变化,逐步形成“脾胃气虚-阴火上乘-气火失调”的病机认识。内皮细胞代谢重塑的发病过程是“阴火”病理表征的客观体现,而阴火造化生息、燔灼妄动之性又与肿瘤新生血管增生无制、亢变为害的疾病状态相吻合。脾胃亏虚与气机失衡的改变可致水谷精微不得布散,发生代谢障碍,停久为痰为瘀,与血脉相搏结,致使局部环境异化（肿瘤微环境形成）、脉道不利（内皮细胞代谢失衡）,异变形成肿瘤新生血管。在“阴火”证候要素指导下,围绕气与火的相关性,运用“扶正调气”的治法遣方用药,可调节内皮细胞代谢功能,达到机体相对平衡状态,进而抑制肿瘤血管新生。基于以上认识,该文围绕内皮细胞代谢重塑与阴火相关理论,阐发学术微旨,以期为中医药干预肿瘤血管化进程提供一定的理论支持。     

Vitamin D and Allergy Susceptibility during Gestation and Early Life

Worldwide, the prevalence of allergies in young children, but also vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and in newborns is rising. Vitamin D modulates the development and activity of the immune system and a low vitamin D status during pregnancy and in early life might be associated with an increased risk to develop an allergy during early childhood. This review studies the effects of vitamin D during gestation and early life, on allergy susceptibility in infants. The bioactive form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, inhibits maturation and results in immature dendritic cells that cause a decreased differentiation of naive T cells into effector T cells. Nevertheless, the development of regulatory T cells and the production of interleukin-10 was increased. Consequently, a more tolerogenic immune response developed against antigens. Secondly, binding of 1,25(OH)2D to epithelial cells induces the expression of tight junction proteins resulting in enhanced epithelial barrier function. Thirdly, 1,25(OH)2D increased the expression of anti-microbial peptides by epithelial cells that also promoted the defense mechanism against pathogens, by preventing an invasive penetration of pathogens. Immune intervention by vitamin D supplementation can mitigate the disease burden from asthma and allergy. In conclusion, our review indicates that a sufficient vitamin D status during gestation and early life can lower the susceptibility to develop an allergy in infants although there remains a need for more causal evidence.     

Cellular Immunity in COVID-19 Convalescents with PCR-Confirmed Infection but with Undetectable SARS-CoV-2–Specific IgG

We investigated immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among a group of convalescent, potential blood donors in Germany who had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sixty days after onset of symptoms, 13/78 (17%) study participants had borderline or negative results to an ELISA detecting IgG against the S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed participants with PCR-confirmed infection who had strong antibody responses (ratio >3) as positive controls and participants without symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and without household contact with infected patients as negative controls. Using interferon-γ ELISpot, we observed that 78% of PCR-positive volunteers with undetectable antibodies showed T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2. We observed a similar frequency (80%) of T-cell immunity in convalescent donors with strong antibody responses but did not detect immunity in negative controls. We concluded that, in convalescent patients with undetectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG, immunity may be mediated through T cells.     

Human Diversity of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors and Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Alleles and Ebola Virus Disease Outcomes

We investigated the genetic profiles of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in Ebola virus–infected patients. We studied the relationship between KIR–human leukocyte antigen (HLA) combinations and the clinical outcomes of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD). We genotyped KIRs and HLA class I alleles using DNA from uninfected controls, EVD survivors, and persons who died of EVD. The activating 2DS4–003 and inhibitory 2DL5 genes were significantly more common among persons who died of EVD; 2DL2 was more common among survivors. We used logistic regression analysis and Bayesian modeling to identify 2DL2, 2DL5, 2DS4–003, HLA-B-Bw4-Thr, and HLA-B-Bw4-Ile as probably having a significant relationship with disease outcome. Our findings highlight the importance of innate immune response against Ebola virus and show the association between KIRs and the clinical outcome of EVD.     

干细胞治疗子宫内膜损伤的研究进展

感染因素或宫腔手术操作导致的子宫内膜损伤阻碍胚胎的着床和发育,严重影响妇女的身心健康与生育能力。但目前治疗手段有限且效果欠佳。干细胞具有自我更新和分化潜能,在病变损伤组织的修复过程中发挥重要作用。骨髓间充质干细胞、脐带间充质干细胞、子宫内膜干细胞、脂肪干细胞和人羊膜上皮细胞等多种干细胞治疗子宫内膜损伤已在动物模型和临床研究中开展,并展现出巨大的潜力。干细胞治疗可促进子宫内膜细胞再生,改善子宫内膜厚度和微血管密度,提高受孕率并改善生育结局。干细胞治疗从形态和功能上改善子宫内膜,促进月经和生殖功能的恢复,为治疗子宫内膜损伤提供一种新策略。     

炎症细胞与淋巴细胞在鼻息肉发病机理中的相关性研究

目的：探讨炎症细胞、淋巴细胞及浆细胞在鼻息肉发病中的作用;方法：采用免疫组化SP法及HE、甲苯胺兰染色对34例鼻息肉和30例正常中鼻甲粘膜进行研究;结果：鼻息肉中嗜酸性粒细胞阳性率显著高于对照组织（P＜0.01）;鼻息肉中肥大细胞数量显著多于对照组织（P＜0.01）,肥大细胞数量在吸入性变应原皮肤试验阳性组与阴性组间无显著性差异;鼻息肉中T淋巴细胞阳性细胞（CD43）和B淋巴细胞阳性细胞（CD20）、浆细胞数量显著多于对照组织（P＜0.01）,鼻息肉中T淋巴细胞与B淋巴细胞之间无显著性差异;结论：鼻息肉中存在活跃的细胞免疫和体液免疫,与嗜酸性粒细胞、肥大细胞及中性粒细胞共同参与鼻息肉的发病。