Influence of α-tocopherol over the time course of experimental IgA nephropathy

 The present study investigated the pathogenesis and the time course of kidney injury in experimental IgA nephropathy. In order to determine an appropriate period in the course of experimental IgA nephropathy to study renal injury and repair, we examined proteinuria and IgA deposition in the renal mesangium after 4, 8, and 16 weeks of mucosal challenge by bovine gamma globulins (BGG) provided in the drinking water. The hallmark of IgA deposition in the mesangium was present after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of BGG inoculation, but by 16 weeks, the mesangial IgA deposition had resolved. In addition, we confirmed our previous report on the beneficial effects of α-tocopherol in reducing proteinuria in IgA nephropathy at 8 weeks, and extended this observation to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of α-tocopherol at both 4 weeks and 16 weeks. Proteinuria resolved spontaneously at 16 weeks. There is oxidative stress, as suggested by the elevation in plasma and renal malondialdehyde content, and increased fibrogenic cytokine message, as suggested by elevated transforming growth factor β1 mRNA. These increases were clearly blunted by α-tocopherol at both 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Treatment with α-tocopherol was associated with a significant reduction in the severity of proteinuria. Thus, our data suggest that the period between 4 and 8 weeks of BGG vaccination could be relevant in designing an appropriate model to study the molecular biology of the pathogenesis of renal injury and the effects of treatment. The 16-week model may be useful in exploring gene expression involved with spontaneous resolution. Received: 17 February 1998 / Revised: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 3 June 1998     

Dendritic cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis

The mechanisms by which autoimmune diseases are triggered and by which the activation of autoreactive T cells is initiated and maintained are not yet fully understood. As the most potent antigen presenting cells (APC), and also being responsible for antigen transport as well as primary sensitisation of T cells, dendritic cells (DC) are capable of breaking the state of self-ignorance and inducing aggressive autoreactive T cells. In the development of autoimmune diseases, different types of DC exhibit distinct properties for inducing Th1/Th2 cell responses. Appropriate cytokines can convert immunogenic DC to tolerogenic DC. Utilizing the possibility to promote the tolerogenic effects of DC, a new therapeutic tool might soon become available to treat multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.     

Single-handed practices – their contribution to an undergraduate teaching network in the first year of the new curriculum

OBJECTIVES: The new curriculum at King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, which commenced in September 1996, requires all medical undergraduates to have a general practice placement throughout the 5 years of their medical education. DESIGN: This paper discusses recruitment, training and support of teaching practices for the new curriculum, reviews the distribution of single-handed general practices in the network and, via a selection of monitoring and evaluation procedures, discusses the implications of a policy which is inclusive of single-handed practices. The findings relate to the experience of the first semester of the first year of the new curriculum. It also examines the contributions that single-handed practices have made to the teaching network and the kind of support needed, if single-handed practices are to continue to contribute to the King's teaching network. SETTING: King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry. SUBJECTS: Medical undergraduates. RESULTS: The findings of this paper revealed that over a third of general practice provision is via single-handed practices in South-east London. Within the undergraduate teaching network, 10% of practices are single-handed. Students are welcomed and receive a learning experience comparable to those students in larger practices. Attendance at training events has proved difficult for some of these tutors, but the extra input from the department, in order to address this deficit, has not been onerous. Indeed, single-handed practices have not been unique with regard to difficulties in attendance at training events. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that single-handed practices can make satisfactory provision for undergraduates in the new curriculum and there is no evidence from this study to suggest otherwise.     

Experimental pharmacological Parkinsonism (preliminary report)

The purpose of our project was to analyse membrane-bound proteins in Haloperidol-treated rats with clear Parkinson type motor inhibitions. Membrane bound protein was chosen because the main sites of functional changes in the Parkinson syndrome may be the plasma membrane and postsynaptic membranes of nerve cells. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with Haloperidol for 67 days. The areas analyzed were the hippocampus and the caudate nucleus. The electrophoretic analyses were done by the method of Ballou (1974) as further elaborated by Booth (1977). Double-labeling analysis of 7 protein fractions after gel electrophoresis showed the presence of a 50 000-dalton protein infraction 3 of the caudate nucleus (see block diagrams) in the haloperidol-treated animals but not in the hippocampus material.

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Sommario La presente nota riguarda i risultati di analisi delle proteine legate alla membrana cellulare di neuroni in ratti trattat i con Haloperidol fino alla comparsa di chiari segni di inibizione motoria di tipo parkinsoniana. Il motivo per il quale sono state scelle le proteine della membrana cellulare è che le alterazioni funzionali nella sindrome di Parkinson possono maggiormente localizzarsi nella membrana plasmatica e postsinaptica della cellula nervosa. Sono stati trattati 20 ratti per 67 giorni con Haloperidol. Le aree analizzate sono state l'ippocampo e il nucleo caudato. Le analisi elettroforetiche sono state eseguite secondo il metodo sviluppato da Ballon (1974) e successivamente da Booth (1977). I risultati di queste analisi (nucleo caudato) e del tessuto di controllo (ippocampo) di 7 frazioni proteiniche dopo gel elettroforesi hanno dimostrato la presenza di 50,000-dalton proteina nella frazione 3 del nucleo caudato (vedi grafico) nel materiale trattato con Haloperidol. Tale valore non è présente nell'ippocampo.

     

针刺对实验性变态反应性神经炎TNF-α和IL-4的影响

目的 探讨肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素-4(IL-4)与实验性变态反应性神经炎(EAN)发病的关系，从细胞因子水平研究针刺疗法对本病的免疫调节作用。方法 40只大鼠分为正常对照组、模型组、针刺组、药物组，建立大鼠EAN动物模型，观察大鼠发病率及致病程度，针刺组取腰。夹脊、足三里、悬钟穴，药物组用泼尼松灌胃给药。采用双抗体夹心ELISA法，检测大鼠血清的TNF-αa和IL-4的含量变化。结果 模型组TNF-α含量较正常组明显升高。针刺组和药物组均能降低TNF-α的含量，使其水平接近正常，尤以药物组抑制作用明显。IL-4的含量各组间均无明显差异。结论 提示本病存在Th1／Th2细胞因子间的失衡，其中以Th1型细胞占优势。针刺主要是通过抑制TNF-α等Th1细胞，来重建细胞因子间的平衡。     

Lanzoprazole promotes gastric carcinogenesis in rats with duodenogastric reflux

Background Duodenogastric reflux is known to cause an increased frequency of cancer in the glandular portion of the stomach in rats. Furthermore, it is debated whether inhibition of gastric acid secretion may promote gastric carcinogenesis. In the present study we examined the combined effect of gastroduodenal reflux and acid inhibition with respect to the development of gastric carcinoma in the rat.Methods Following the construction of a gastrojejunostomy in male Wistar rats, half of them were given the proton pump inhibitor lanzoprazole for 1 year. The rats were then killed and the pH in the stomach and gastrin in blood were measured. The stomach was examined macroscopically as well as histologically.Results Gastrin levels at autopsy were significantly increased in treated rats compared to the control group, confirming an effect of lanzoprazole on gastric acid secretion. Body weight was significantly reduced in the treated rats. Thirty of 79 rats developed gastric cancer, and they were all adenocarcinomas of the Lauren intestinal type. Gastric cancers occurred significantly more often in lanzoprazole-treated rats (50%) compared with controls (27%).Conclusion Lanzoprazole given orally enhances the carcinogenic effect of duodenogastric reflux in rats.     

中医药院校公共事业管理专业人才培养方案及课程体系科学化研究

为优化专业培养方案,使课程设置更加符合培养目标,采用文献分析、专家访谈、召开毕业生座谈会等方法,对中医药院校公共事业管理专业人才培养的总体思路、基本原则、培养目标和课程体系的科学化进行了研究,制定出医药经营管理、医疗保险、医院管理3个专业方向的本科学分制改革培养计划,并针对教学实践中存在的主要问题提出了相应的建议,为中医药院校公共事业管理专业的建设与发展提供参考.     

澳大利亚护理硕士专业学位人才培养现状及启示

通过比较我国与澳大利亚护理硕士专业学位研究生人才培养项目在办学规模、师资情况、教育模式、课程设置、临床实践与评估、毕业要求方面的现状,提出了立足我国实际的教学改革建议,为完善具有中国特色的护理硕士专业学位研究生教育培养体系,培养健康中国建设所需要的高级护理人才提供参考。     

木犀草素对实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎大鼠SPH/SPHK1/S1P1通路及神经元凋亡的影响

目的 探讨木犀草素(Luteolin)对实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(Experimental autoimmune en-cephalomyelitis,EAE)大鼠神经酰胺-鞘氨醇(Sphingosine,SPH)/鞘氨醇激酶1(Sphingosine kinase 1,SPHK1)/1-磷酸鞘氨醇受体1(Sphing...