Changes in retinoblastoma gene expression during cervical cancer progression

The role of tumour suppressor genes in the development of human cancers has been studied extensively. In viral carcinogenesis, the inactivation of suppressor proteins such as retinoblastoma (pRb) and p53, and cellular oncogenes overexpression, such as c-myc, has been the subject of a number of investigations. In uterine-cervix carcinomas, where high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) plays an important role, pRb and p53 are inactivated by E7 and E6 viral oncoproteins, respectively. However, little is known about the in situ expression of some of these proteins in pre-malignant and malignant cervical tissues. On the other hand, it has also been demonstrated that c-myc is involved in cervical carcinogenesis, and that pRb participates in the control of c-myc gene expression. By using immunostaining techniques, we investigated pRb immunodetection pattern in normal tissues, squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and invasive carcinomas from the uterine cervix. Our data show low pRb detection in both normal cervical tissue and invasive lesions, but a higher expression in SILs. C-Myc protein was observed in most of the cellular nuclei of the invasive lesions, while in SILs was low. These findings indicate a heterogeneous pRb immunostaining during the different stages of cervical carcinogenesis, and suggest that this staining pattern could be a common feature implicated in the pathogenesis of uterine-cervix carcinoma.     

How do patch clamp seals form? A lipid bleb model

Individual ion channels are electrically isolated and studied in living cells with the tight patch voltage clamp method. Channels are identified, categorized, and sometimes named on the basis of the biophysical properties obtained with this method. Although it is usually presumed that these recordings are from native, undisturbed membrane, the physical basis of this technique is not well established. Observations that lipid blebs readily form when suction is applied to patch clamp electrodes suggest that many single channel recordings are from ion channels in these blebs.     

Extradural Extranasal Combined Transmaxillary Transsphenoidal Approach to the Cavernous Sinus: A Minimally Invasive Microsurgical Model

The authors have previously described an extradural transmaxillary approach to the anterior compartment of the cavernous sinus. In an effort to expand the surgical access to that area without necessitating a craniotomy or wide transfacial dissection, they present a modification of the transmaxillary approach to the sellar region and cavernous sinus. Methods: The approach was developed on 12 fresh and 12 embalmed cadaveric specimen, and 2 dry skulls. The initial sublabial incision is followed by a maxillotomy to expose the course of the infraorbital nerve (terminal branch of maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve) on the roof of the maxillary sinus. The route of the infraorbital nerve is traced to the pterygopalatine fossa as a guide to the foramen rotundum. Superomedial drilling of the foramen rotundum is then performed to reveal the contents of the superior orbital fissure. After the nerves are safely identified in the superior orbital fissure, medial enlargement of the window into the cavernous sinus is made possible by drilling the lateral and posterior wall and septum of the sphenoid sinus. Results: The combined transmaxillary transsphenoidal approach offers an excellent exposure of the sellar and infrasellar region. The approach offers clear visualization of the ipsilateral loop of the carotid artery, the pituitary fossa, and the cranial nerves of the ipsilateral cavernous sinus. Mean operative reach is 38 mm from the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus to the ipsilateral carotid loop and 56 mm to the contralateral loop. The width of the operative window is 26 mm at the base within the cavernous sinus. Conclusion: The model offers a minimally invasive approach that avoids the need for craniotomy or violating the nasal cavity. It may be safely employed to access vascular as well as invasive lesions of the sellar and infrasellar region. The approach offers excellent visualization of the ipsilateral intracavernous carotid artery with both proximal and distal control, as well as cranial nerves III, IV, VI, V2, the hypophyseal region, and the medial aspect of the contralateral cavernous sinus.     

行为干预及生物反馈治疗对老年高血压患者降压疗效的影响

目的 研究应用行为干预治疗及生物反馈治疗对老年高血压患者降压药物的影响。方法 在应用降压药物的基础上,增加行为干预及生物馈治疗,观察综合性行为干预措施对降压疗效的影响。结果 增加行为干预及生物反馈治疗后,降压和情绪障碍矫正的效果比单用药物明显改善。结论 老年高血压患者给予综合性行为干预措施可增加降压药物的疗效。     

肺癌外科治疗技术的改进

目的 为在肺癌的外科治疗过程中减少并发症的发生率,提高手术治疗效果。方法 对前期（１９７２年２月至１９８９年２月）与后期（１９８９年３月至１９９９年２月）的１１７８例肺癌病例在麻醉方法、手术入路、肺根及癌灶的处理、手术并发症的发生率和死亡率等方面进行了分析比较。结果 手术时间由平均２１７ｍｉｎ减少至１２９ｍｉｎ;术中输血量由平均８３０ｍｌ减少至４６０ｍｌ;呼吸衰竭发生率由３．４％降至１．５％;急性     

Determination of microviscosity and location of 1,3-Di(1-pyrenyl)propane in brain membranes

We determined the microviscosity of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex and liposomes of total lipids (SPMTL) and phospholipids (SPMPL) extracted from SPMV. Changes in the microviscosity induced by the range and rate of lateral diffusion were measured by the intramolecular excimerization of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)-propane (Py-3-Py). The microviscosity values of the direct probe environment in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 38.17, 31.11 and 27.64 cP, respectively, at 37°C and the activation energies (E_a) of the excimer formation of Py-3-Py in SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were 8.236, 7.448 amd 7.025 kcal/mol, respectively. Probe location was measured by polarity and polarizability parameters of the probe Py-3-Py and probe analogues, pyrene, 1-pyrenenonanol and 1-pyrenemethyl-3β-hydroxy-22,23-bisnor-5-cholenate (PMC), incorporated into membranes or solubilized in reference solvents. There existed a good linear relationship between the first absorption peak of the¹L_a band and the polarizability parameter (n ²−1)/(2n ²+1). The calculated refractive index values for SPMV, SPMTL and SPMPL were close to 1.50, which is higher than that of liquid paraffin (n=1.475). The probe location was also determined by using a polarity parameter (f−1/2f¹). Here f=(ε−1)/(2ε+1) is the dielectric constant function and f'=(n ²−1)/(2n ²+1) is the refractive index function. A correlation existed between the monomer fluorescence intensity ratio and the solvent polarity parameter. The probes incorporated in SPMV, SPMTL, and SPMPL report a polarity value close to that of 1-hexanol (ε=13.29). In conclusion, Py-3-Py is located completely inside the membrane, not in the very hydrophobic core, but displaced toward the polar head groups of phospholipid molecules, e.g., central methylene region of aliphatic chains of phospholipid molecules.     

Amyloid-P-component-like immunoreactivity in β/A4-immunoreactive deposits in Alzheimer-type dementia brains

An immunohistochemical study using the mirror-image technique was performed in order to establish whether amyloid P component is involved in the mechanism of deposition of amyloid fibrils in senile plaques (SPs) in Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD). Ninety percent of /A4 protein-immunoreactive SPs were also stained by the anti-amyloid P component immunchistochemistry, and this applied to all of the diffuse, primitive and classical types of /A4 deposits. These findings may suggest an involvement of amyloid P component in the formation of amyloid fibrils in senile plaques in ATD brains.     

Belt-Fuqua operation for penile hypospadias repair

Between 1983 and 1993, 41 patients underwent a first-stage Belt-Fuqua operation for penile hypospadias repair and 39 completed the second stage. Minor complications were observed after the first stage. The primary success rate following the second stage was 82%. Major complications noted after the second stage consisted mainly of fistula formation. The surgical technique is described and alternative methods are discussed.     

Intrapulmonary gas mixing and dead space in artificially ventilated dogs

In this study we have investigated the effects of breath holding and of the physical properties of gases on four different respiratory dead spaces (V _D): the Fowler, the physiological, the washout and the inert gas dead space. The experiments were performed with dogs which were ventilated artifically with breathing patterns with different post-inspiratory breath holding times (t _a) of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 s. Tracer amounts of acetone, ether and enflurane were infused continuously into a peripheral vein and a bolus of a mixture of krypton, Freon12 and SF₆ was introduced into the peritoneal cavity. After reaching steady state, samples of arterial blood, mixed venous blood and mixed expired air were taken simultaneously. From the partial pressures (P _a, P _¯V and P respectively) we determined the excretion (=P/P_¯V), retention (R=P_a/P_¯V) and the physiological dead space fraction (V _D,phys/V _T=(1 P/P_a) for each gas, where V _T is tidal volume. Further, we recorded the expirograms of the six tracer gases and of CO₂ from which the Fowler dead space fractions (V _D,Fowler/V _T) of the different gases were determined. Also the washout dead space fractions (V _D,washout/V _T) for He and SF₆ were determined as well as the inert gas dead space fraction (V _D,MIGET/V _T) with the use of the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET).With the exception of V _D,phys/V _T for SF₆, all dead space fractions decreased with increasing t _a. V _D,phys/V _T for the poorly soluble gas SF₆ was considerably larger than V _D,phys/V _T for the remaining gases. For the highly soluble acetone V _Fowler/V _T was considerably smaller than V _D,Fowler/V _T for the other gases. V _{D,washout,SF6}/V _T was always larger than V _D,washout,He/V _T and V _D,Fowler,SF6/V _T. Further, V _D,phys/V _T was larger than V _D,Fowler/V _T for SF₆ and acetone. However, for gases with intermediate solubility in blood V _D,phys/V _T tended to be smaller than V _D,Fowler/V _T. We conclude that the respiratory dead spaces are affected by the breathing pattern and by the physical properties of gases, i.e. their diffusivity in alveolar gas and their solubility in blood or lung tissue.