Vascular endothelium and inflammatory process, in patients with combined Type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary atherosclerosis: the effects of vitamin C.

AIMS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are both associated with endothelial dysfunction and elevated oxidative and inflammatory state. We examined the effect of vitamin C on endothelial function and levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), in DM patients with or without CAD and in non-diabetic subjects. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with DM + CAD, 17 patients with DM without CAD and 21 non-diabetic subjects were divided into groups receiving vitamin C 2 g/day or no anti-oxidant for 4 weeks. Forearm blood flow was determined using venous occlusion gauge-strain plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia was considered as index of endothelium-dependent dilation. RESULTS: Baseline levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in patients with DM + CAD compared with patients with DM (P < 0.01) or non-diabetic subjects (P < 0.01). IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were also higher in DM compared with non-diabetic subjects (P < 0.05). sVCAM-1 levels were lower in non-diabetic controls compared with DM + CAD (P < 0.05) or DM (P < 0.05). Reactive hyperaemia was higher in non-diabetic controls compared with DM + CAD (P < 0.001) or DM (P < 0.001). Vitamin C significantly increased reactive hyperaemia only in the DM + CAD group, while it had no effect on serum levels of sVCAM-1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and sVCAM-1, especially in patients with DM and CAD. Vitamin C significantly increased forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperaemia only in patients with combined DM and CAD.     

Determination of residual Kryptofix 2.2.2 levels in [F]-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for human use

4,7,13,16,21,24-Hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (Kryptofix^® 2.2.2) is used in the routine preparation of [¹⁸F]-labeled tracers employed in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Confirming the absence of Kryptofix^® in radiopharmaceuticals is a quality control criterion required before they can be released for human use. Analysis of Kryptofix^® levels using the iodoplatinate spot-test can be complicated by false-positive results due to nitrogen containing tracers and/or false-negative results caused by added stabilizers. To overcome this issue, we have developed a universal TLC method for the rapid and reliable determination of Kryptofix^® levels in the wide range of fluorine-18 radiopharmaceuticals we prepare, including complex multi-component formulations.     

Optimization of localized 19F magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the detection of fluorinated drugs in the human liver.

Fluorine MR spectroscopy ((19)F MRS) is an indispensable tool for assessing the pharmacokinetics of fluorinated drugs. Since the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), a frequently used cytotoxic drug, is expected to be different in normal liver and in tumor tissue, spatial localization is required for detection by MRS. In this study, three independent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optimizations were combined to enable chemical shift imaging (CSI) as a localization method in the detection of 5FU and its metabolites in tumor tissue. First, the hardware was optimized by using circularly polarized coils together with integrated preamplifiers. Second, the optimal pulse angle (Ernst angle) was determined on the basis of T(1) relaxation time measurements of 5FU. Finally, averaging of CSI phase-encoding steps was optimized by using the applied Hamming filter as a weighting function. The combination of these three methods enables the in vivo detection of 5FU and alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) by (19)F MRS, localized in three dimensions in tumor and liver tissue at a time resolution of 4 min at 1.5 Tesla.     

颞叶癫痫大鼠海马CA1区Sema3C、Np1的表达变化研究

目的探讨颞叶癫痫的发病机制。方法取健康雄性SD大鼠制成颞叶癫痫模型，用免疫组织化学和原位杂交技术对匹罗卡品致痫后不同时间点CA1区的Sema3C mRNA、Np1 mRNA和蛋白表达进行分析。结果在匹罗卡品致痫后7d，实验组CA1区Sema3C、Np1的表达明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论CA1区Sema3C、Np1的表达下凋可能参与了海马CA1区内的轴突出芽机制。     

降纤酶对ACI患者血清sCRP的影响及改善神经缺损的作用

目的:探讨降纤酶对急性脑梗死(ACI)患者血清超敏C反应蛋白(sCRP)水平的影响及其在改善神经功能缺损方面的作用。方法:46例ACI患者随机分为2组,对照组23例,静脉滴注曲克芦丁注射液,0.6g/d;治疗组23例,入院后立即给予降纤酶10IU溶入250ml生理盐水静脉滴注,1~1.5h滴完,第3、5天各给予降纤酶5IU,其他用药同对照组;应用免疫比浊法检测2组治疗前及治疗后第7天、14天的血清sCRP水平变化,并对神经功能缺损进行评分。结果:2组sCRP水平在治疗后第7天最高,随后逐渐降低。治疗组治疗前血清sCRP水平和治疗前、第7天的神经功能缺损总分与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗组治疗后第7天、14天sCRP水平分别为(7.73±2.16)、(2.92±2.24)mg/L,对照组分别为(10.18±3.16)、(4.66±2.42)mg/L,治疗组明显低于对照组(P<0.05~0.01);第14天治疗组神经功能缺损总分为(10.68±4.08)分,明显低于对照组[(16.81±4.86)分](P<0.01)。结论:降纤酶能明显降低ACI患者血清sCRP水平,有利于减轻炎症反应,改善神经功能缺损程度。     

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus and human T cell leukaemia virus

To clarify the prevalence of concurrent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human T cell leukaemia virus (HTLV), we measured HCV antibody in the population of a district endemic for HBV and HTLV infection. Blood samples were collected in June 1990 from 579 inhabitants of four islands of Uwa Bay in the southwest of Ehime Prefecture in Japan. Anti-HCV antibody against C100-3 protein was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Ortho Diagnostics). Thirteen of the 579 inhabitants (2.2%) were positive for anti-HCV, and this prevalence rate was not significantly different from the frequency of anti-HCV in Tokyo blood donors. A total of 11% (64 of 579) of the subjects were positive for HBsAg and 3.3% (19 of 579) were positive for anti-HTLV. These frequencies of HBsAg and anti-HTLV positivity were distinctly higher than the respective means of Japanese. All anti-HCV positive individuals were negative for HBsAg and anti-HTLV, while 54% (7 of 13) had increased alanine aminotransferase levels. These data suggest that the prevalence of HCV infection is not high even in an area endemic for HBV and HTLV infection.     

抗氧化剂对糖尿病大鼠肾小球蛋白激酶C的影响

目的　通过大鼠糖尿病模型 ,观察抗氧化剂对糖尿病大鼠肾小球蛋白激酶的影响。方法　将 75只雄性Wistar大鼠分为正常对照组、糖尿病未治疗组、抗氧化剂治疗组各 2 5只 ,共观察 8周 ,分别测定尿白蛋白排泄量(UAE) ,内生肌酣消除率 (Ccr)、血浆及肾脏组织一氧化氮 (NO)、一氧化氮合成酶 (NOS)、内皮素 (ET)和肾小球蛋白激酶C(proteinkinaseC ,PKC)。结果　给予维生素E治疗组 8周时 ,Ccr[(5 .2 8± 0 .5 4)ml/(min·kg) ]及尿白蛋白排泄量 [(14.2 7± 1.16 ) μg/2 4h]显著低于未治疗组 ,肾小球细胞膜PKC[(6 8.2 7± 12 .33) pmol/(min·mgprotein) ],2周时N0 [(34 .2 3± 3.91) μmol/L]及NOS[(32 .0 7± 3.76 )U/L]明显低于未治疗组 ,维生素E治疗组 2周时与 8周时的NO及NOS下降幅度明显小于未治疗组。结论　维生素E具有抑制PKC活性作用。     

Fabricating fixed partial dentures using existing restorations

A technique has been described for utilizing an existing fixed splint in the fabrication of a fixed partial denture to replace splinted teeth that are extracted.     

再论妊娠期糖尿病与胎儿生长发育

目的 研究妊娠期糖尿病与胎儿生长发育中糖代谢特点的关系。方法 选择妊娠期糖尿病25例（GDM组），正常孕妇20例（对照组），分别测孕妇空腹血糖、糖耐量、C肽、IGF－I、新生儿出生2h内空腹血糖，并依据新生儿出生体重分为大于胎龄儿组（LGA组，≥4000g），适于胎龄儿组（AGA组，2500－3999g)。结果 C肽及新生儿出生2h内空腹血糖GDM组与对照组差异有显著性；糖耐量各时点血糖值餐后2h血糖值LGA和AGA组差异有显著性。结论 血糖始终是影响胎儿生长发育的重要因素，孕妇餐后2h血糖水平与巨大儿的发生呈正相关。     

Interactions Between Cytomegalovirus, Human Herpesvirus-6, and the Recurrence of Hepatitis C After Liver Transplantation

Recurrence of hepatitis C (HCV) following liver transplantation is common. Herpesvirus reactivation following transplant may have an immunomodulatory effect resulting in increased HCV replication. We studied whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) may be associated with HCV recurrence and viral load after transplant. We prospectively followed 66 HCV liver-transplant recipients with serial viral load testing for CMV and HHV-6. Infection and viral load were correlated with the development of biopsy-proven HCV recurrence and HCV viral loads. Histologic recurrence of HCV occurred in 41/66 (62.1%) patients. In the primary analysis, CMV infection and disease, and HHV-6 infection were not associated with HCV recurrence. Peak CMV and HHV-6 viral loads were not significantly different in patients with and without recurrence. No correlation was observed between HCV viral loads at 1 and 3 months post-transplant and peak HHV-6 or CMV viral loads. In a subgroup analysis, HHV-6 infection was associated with the development of more severe recurrence (hepatitis and/or fibrosis score > or = 2) (p = 0.01). Also, fibrosis scores at last follow up were higher in patients with CMV disease (1.67 vs. 0.56; p = 0.016) and in patients with HHV-6 infection (1.18 vs. 0.55; p = 0.031). In conclusion, HHV-6 and CMV infection and viral load were not associated with increased overall rates of HCV recurrence or HCV viral load after liver transplantation but may be associated with more severe forms of recurrence.