Relation of ST-segment elevation after healing of acute myocardial infarction to the presence of left ventricular aneurysm

Persistent ST elevation after healing of myocardial infarction (MI) is often cited as an electrocardiographic sign of left ventricular (LV) aneurysm. This sign is rare in patients with coronary artery disease who have normal or only mildly deranged LV function and is most often associated with QRS patterns indicative of large MI, especially anterior wall MI. To determine whether ST elevation identifies a distinctive abnormality of LV function that might be labeled LV aneurysm, global and regional LV function in 12 patients with QRS patterns of anterior MI and ST elevation were compared with that in 12 patients with similar QRS abnormalities but without ST elevation by means of radionuclide ventriculography. All measured parameters of ventricular function were similar in the 2 groups. ST elevation could not be demonstrated to predict a distinctive abnormality that might be labeled LV aneurysm.     

Tolerogenic dendritic cells induce antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in insulin- and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-autoreactive T lymphocytes from type 1 diabetic patients

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDC) constitute a promising therapy for autoimmune diseases, since they can anergize T lymphocytes recognizing self-antigens. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) have autoreactive T cells against pancreatic islet antigens (insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 -GAD65-). We aimed to determine the ability of tDC derived from T1D patients to inactivate their insulin- and GAD65-reactive T cells. CD14 + monocytes and CD4 + CD45RA- effector/memory lymphocytes were isolated from 25 patients. Monocyte-derived DC were generated in the absence (control, cDC) or presence of IL-10 and TGF-β1 (tDC), and loaded with insulin or GAD65. DC were cultured with T lymphocytes (primary culture), and cell proliferation and cytokine secretion were determined. These lymphocytes were rechallenged with insulin-, GAD65- or candidin-pulsed cDC (secondary culture) to assess whether tDC rendered T cells hyporesponsive to further stimulation. In the primary cultures, tDC induced significant lower lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion than cDC; in contrast, tDC induced higher IL-10 production. Lymphocytes from 60% of patients proliferated specifically against insulin or GAD65 (group 1), whereas 40% did not (group 2). Most patients from group 1 had controlled glycemia. The secondary cultures showed tolerance induction to insulin or GAD65 in 14 and 10 patients, respectively. A high percentage of these patients (70–80%) belonged to group 1. Importantly, tDC induced antigen-specific T-cell hyporesponsiveness, since the responses against unrelated antigens were unaffected. These results suggest that tDC therapy against multiple antigens might be useful in a subset of T1D patients.     

DC2.4表面分子与RelB基因表达的关系

目的 探讨DC2.4表面分子表达水平与RelB基因表达间的关系.方法 用RPMI 1640完全培养液培养DC2.4细胞系,光学显微镜观察培养细胞的形态特征;透射电镜观察DC2.4的细胞结构;流式细胞术分析DC2.4的表面标记(MHC-Ⅱ、CD86和CD40);RT-PCR检测DC2.4的RelB表达水平.结果 光镜观察DC2.4细胞表面有明显的树突状突起,形态极不规则;透射电镜显示DC2.4细胞内含许多质地均匀的脂滴,可见吞噬小泡样的结构.流式细胞术显示MHC-Ⅱ类分子和CD40呈低水平表达,而CD86分子却呈高水平表达;RT-PCR结果显示RelB呈低水平表达,与骨髓源性DC中的未成熟状态DC的RelB表达水平接近.结论 DC2.4具有强吞噬功能,其表面CD40分子和细胞内RelB基因均呈低水平表达,提示DC2.4是一种未成熟状态的细胞系.     

Host-Species Variation and Environment Influence Endophyte Symbiosis and Mycotoxin Levels in Chinese Oxytropis Species

Oxytropis plants are widely distributed in the grasslands in northern China. Some Oxytropis species have been reported to contain the mycotoxin swainsonine, an alkaloid which causes poisoning in livestock, referred to as locoism. Previous studies showed that endophytic fungi (Alternaria oxytropis) symbiotically associate with these Oxytropis species to produce swainsonine. However, the influence of variation within the Oxytropis genus on the fixation or loss of symbiosis and toxicity is poorly understood, as is the influence of environmental factors. Here we used a collection of 17 common Oxytropis species sampled in northern China to assess genetic diversity using genotyping by sequencing which was compared with the levels of the endophyte and swainsonine. Results showed that nine Oxytropis species have detectable A. oxytropis colonisation, and seven Oxytropis species contain sufficient swainsonine to be considered poisonous, whereas the rest may be non-toxic. Species variation rather than the genetic lineage was associated with the fixation or loss of endophyte and swainsonine production, which appears to have resulted from genetic drift. Genotype × Environment (G × E) effects were also found to influence endophyte and swainsonine levels amongst species of the Oxytropis genus. Our study will provide a better understanding about the evolutionary basis of A. oxytropis symbiosis and swainsonine biosynthesis in locoweeds.     

艾纳香特选种质组培特性及克隆后代L-龙脑含量比较研究

目的 建立高效的艾纳香Blumea balsamifera特选种苗克隆技术体系并获得高质量的候选种质。方法 特选了通过初筛的3种L-龙脑不同含量（低、中、高）的种质母株,优化组培培养基配方,再比较母株和克隆苗中L-龙脑的含量。结果 确定了最佳培养基配方,GC-MS分析证实,克隆苗中L-龙脑的含量与母株呈一致趋势。结论 成功地建立了一种保持遗传稳定性的高效组织培养技术。添加适量的胺鲜酯（diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate）可显著提高再生苗的生根效率。研究还表明,所选艾纳香种质（H）中的高L-龙脑含量是由遗传因素决定的,并且高L-龙脑的特性保留在克隆苗的后代中。为艾纳香无性繁殖选育优良种苗提供了宝贵的优质候选种质,具有较好推广前景。     

HPLC指纹图谱结合化学模式识别和多成分定量不同产地甘松的质量评价

目的 建立不同产地甘松Nardostachys jatamansi的HPLC指纹图谱及多成分含量测定方法,并结合化学模式识别法探究不同产地甘松化学成分差异,评价不同产地、不同批次甘松药材的质量。方法 采用HPLC法建立甘肃、青海、四川16批次甘松的指纹图谱,并对指标成分进行含量测定。进行相似度评价结合聚类分析（cluster analysis,HCA）、主成分分析（principal component analysis,PCA）和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析（orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis,OPLS-DA）等模式识别技术进行分析。结果 16批次甘松HPLC指纹图谱共匹配到60个共有峰,通过与对照品比对,指认出绿原酸、丁香酸、蒙花苷、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮5个色谱峰,指纹图谱相似度范围为0.943～0.999。16批次甘松样品中绿原酸、丁香酸、蒙花苷、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮含量测定变化范围分别为1.046 5～4.975 3、0.028 4～0.108 7、0.016 7～0.157 4、7.442 1～37.869 1、0.673 7～4.306 5 mg/g,5种成分在不同产地间均具有显著性差异。HCA将16批次甘松分为3类;PCA得不同批次甘松质量差异较大;经OPLS-DA筛选出了绿原酸、丁香酸、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮等31个差异成分。指纹图谱综合评价结果表明S4、S7、S10甘松样本质量较好。结论 确定了绿原酸、丁香酸、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮4种指标成分作为评价甘松质量差异的潜在标志性成分,建立的甘松HPLC指纹图谱及多成分含量测定方法稳定、可靠,可为甘松药材的质量控制、综合评价和临床应用的有效性提供科学依据。     

Left ventricular false tendons in children: Prevalence as detected by 2-dimensional echocardiography and clinical significance

During a 28-month period, consecutive 2-dimensional echocardiograms were reviewed to determine the prevalence of left ventricular (LV) false tendons, their associated anomalies and clinical significance. LV false tendons were found in 31 (0.8%) of 3,847 consecutive 2-dimensional echocardiograms. Of 31 LV false tendons, 30 passed longitudinally from papillary muscle to septum and 1 went from free wall to free wall. The 31 patients were aged 1 day to 15 years. Associated heart disease, most often ventricular septal defect, bicuspid aortic valve and coarctation of the aorta, was present in 48%, of whom 73% were girls. Of those without heart disease, 69% were boys. In patients with heart disease, precordial murmurs were due to the underlying cardiac anomaly. Of those without heart disease, 15 of 16 (94%) had a precordial murmur, usually of the Still's type over the lower left sternal border. Four of 31 (13%), 1 with and 3 without heart disease, had unifocal premature ventricular contractions that were rate-dependent in the 2 patients undergoing stress testing. LV false tendons appear to occur in 0.8 % of pediatric patients and usually are accompanied by a Still's type innocent murmur if unassociated with heart disease. Some LV false tendons are associated with rate-dependent premature ventricular contractions.     

Emerging roles of basophils in allergic inflammation

Basophils have long been neglected in immunological studies because they were regarded as only minor relatives of mast cells. However, recent advances in analytical tools for basophils have clarified the non-redundant roles of basophils in allergic inflammation. Basophils play crucial roles in both IgE-dependent and -independent allergic inflammation, through their migration to the site of inflammation and secretion of various mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and proteases. Basophils are known to produce large amounts of IL-4 in response to various stimuli. Basophil-derived IL-4 has recently been shown to play versatile roles in allergic inflammation by acting on various cell types, including macrophages, innate lymphoid cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Basophil-derived serine proteases are also crucial for the aggravation of allergic inflammation. Moreover, recent reports suggest the roles of basophils in modulating adaptive immune responses, particularly in the induction of Th2 differentiation and enhancement of humoral memory responses. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in understanding the roles of basophils in allergic inflammation.