Kombucha tea ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), in which an inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage occurs. Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage made from kombucha mushroom, brewed tea, and sugar. In recent years kombucha tea has attracted interest due to its pharmacological properties like antioxidant effects. The aim of the present research was to test the therapeutic effect of kombucha tea in EAE. We induced EAE model in 18 female C57BL/6 mice by inoculation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-35-55 (MOG_35-55) in complete Freund’s adjuvant emulsion. Then, in order to ameliorate EAE symptoms, we used kombucha tea. During the course of study clinical evaluation was assessed, and on the day 21 post-immunization, for evaluation of nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidants capacity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), blood samples were taken from the heart of mice. The mice were sacrificed and brains and cerebellums of mice were removed for histological analysis. Our findings demonstrated that kombucha tea had beneficial effects on EAE by lower incidence, attenuation in the severity, and also a delay in the onset of disease. Histological analysis showed that inflammatory criteria including the number of infiltrated immune cells and plaques as well as demyelination in kombucha tea dosed mice were significantly lower than the control group. Also, in comparison with control mice, the serum levels of NO and TNF-α in kombucha tea-treated mice were significantly decreased. Kombucha tea with its potential therapeutic effects and immunomodulatory properties might be proposed, after additional necessary tests and trials, for treatment of MS.     

非活动性结核性胸膜炎与活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像特征分析

目的: 探讨非活动性结核性胸膜炎与活动性结核性胸膜炎CT扫描影像表现。方法: 对2012年6月1日至2021年3月30日在首都医科大学附属北京胸科医院就诊的单纯非活动性结核性胸膜炎患者68例和同期活动性结核性胸膜炎44例的CT扫描影像表现进行比较。结果: (1) 68例非活动性结核性胸膜炎患者 CT扫描影像表现中胸膜粘连62例(91.2%),胸膜有钙化者28例(41.2%),叶间裂受累22例(32.4%),胸腔积液12例(17.6%),包裹性胸腔积液8例(11.8%)。(2)44例活动性结核性胸膜炎患者CT扫描影像表现中胸膜粘连30例(68.2%),未见胸膜钙化,叶间裂受累32例(72.7%),胸腔积液43例(97.7%),包裹性胸腔积液26例(59.1%)。(3)非活动性与活动性结核性胸膜炎CT扫描影像比较:胸膜粘连、胸膜钙化发生率高,差异均有统计学意义(χ²=9.630,P=0.002;χ²=23.737,P=0.000);叶间裂受累、胸腔积液、包裹性胸腔积液的发生率低,差异均有统计学意义(χ²=12.692,P=0.000;χ²=68.548,P=0.000;χ²=28.301,P=0.000)。结论: 非活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像与活动性结核性胸膜炎比较胸膜粘连、胸膜钙化的发生率高,胸腔积液、包裹性胸腔积液、叶间裂受累的发生率低。识别非活动性和活动性结核性胸膜炎的CT扫描影像特点,对患者临床治疗有指导意义。     

完美主义与基督教信仰

目的 考察个体的宗教信仰与完美主义心理之间的关系。方法 采用质的研究方法，对两位受访者（分别为功能障碍型完美主义与健康的完美主义）追行个案研究。结果 两名受访者的基督教（新教）信仰封其完关主义的负面倾向有所矫正，受访者的人际关系和自我认知因为宗教信仰而有所改善。结论 基督教（新教）信仰有利于修正受访者自体表象与权威客体表象的关系。在象征意义上，“上帝”的概念可以理解为“较好的”权威客体表象。     

启发式教学在生理学教学中的应用研究

针对生理学课程理论抽象、实验操作复杂等特点,阐述了启发式教学方法取代传统填鸭式教学方法的必然性。因生理学教学难度大、实验操作条件高,故着重介绍了问答式、讨论式、演绎式、归纳式、直观式等五种启发式教学方法在生理学教学中的应用。     

细胞间黏附分子-1在实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎大鼠中表达的动态变化及作用

目的探讨细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)在实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(EAE)大鼠中表达的动态变化及其作用。方法分别取免疫后第4、6、8、10、12、14、16、18、20天EAE大鼠脑和脊髓制成石蜡切片,行HE染色和ICAM-1半定量免疫组化分析。结果免疫后第8天ICAM-1表达即出现明显上调,早于临床症状的发生;随免疫后时间的延长,ICAM-1表达呈逐渐增高后缓慢下降的变化趋势,并且与EAE大鼠病情评分呈显著正相关(r=0.57,P=0.003)。结论ICAM-1的表达上调可能在EAE发病中具重要作用。     

气雾熏蒸法与浸泡消毒法消毒吸痰管效果比较

目的比较2%强化戊二醛(下称戊二醛)气雾熏蒸法与浸泡消毒法消毒吸痰管的效果.方法消毒按5周期(1个周期12 d)进行,每周期将200根使用过的吸痰管经初步处理,即5% 84消毒液浸泡30 min后清水冲洗干净晾干.将每周期200根吸氮管随机均分为实验组和对照组,实验组采用戊二醛原液气雾熏蒸法消毒4 h,对照组采用戊二醛原液浸泡消毒30 min,12 d为1个周期.两组分别于第1、6、12天对消毒后的吸痰管及消毒过程中的戊二醛采样行细菌菌落数计数,并观察有无细菌生长.结果两组每周期第1、6天吸痰管和消毒液标本均未检测出细菌,且无致病微生物生长;每周期第12天对照组吸痰管和消毒液标本均检测出细菌,实验组未检测出细菌.结论气雾熏蒸法消毒灭菌效果可靠,具有节约开支、使用方便、有利于吸痰管的保存与放置等优点.     

MBP对PBMC产生IFN-γ和NO的影响

目的探讨T细胞非特异性活化在CNS脱髓鞘性疾病中的作用。方法分离实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(EAE)易感性BALB/c小鼠外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),采用体外细胞培养方法在体外与碱性髓鞘蛋白(MBP)共培养,测定培养上清液中IFN-γ、NO水平。结果经MBP刺激的PBMC产生IFN-γ[(43.83±6.06)pg/mL]和NO[(180.76±20.75)μmol/L]明显增加,与对照组产生的IFN-γ[(28.52±2.18)pg/mL]和NO[(95.61±13.09)μmol/L]相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论在CNS脱髓鞘性疾病发病过程中,活化的T细胞、单核细胞等分泌致炎细胞因子和其他有害物质增多。     

Cause-specific and total mortality in the Canterbury (New Zealand) insulin-treated Diabetic Registry population: a 15-year follow-up study.

AIMS: To establish all-cause and cause-specific death rates, and risk factors for mortality in insulin-treated diabetic individuals living in the province of Canterbury, New Zealand. METHODS: Insulin-treated diabetic subjects (n = 995) on the Canterbury Diabetes Registry were followed up over 15 years and vital status determined. Death rates were standardized and hazard regression was used to model the effects of demographic covariates on relative survival time. RESULTS: There were 419 deaths in 11 226.3 person-years of follow-up with a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-2.2). Relative mortality was greatest for the group aged 0-29 years (SMR 3.0 (95% CI 2.4-3.7)). After controlling for diabetes duration and gender, a 10-year increment in age of onset was associated with a 33% decrease in relative hazard (95% CI 29-36%), indicating that excess mortality due to diabetes declines with rising age of onset. After controlling for age of onset and gender, each 10-year increment in duration of diabetes is associated with a 26% decrease in relative hazard (95% CI 24-29%), indicating that with longer survival the mortality hazard approaches the general population hazard. Relative mortalities were increased for cardiovascular, renal and respiratory disease, but not malignancy. Relative mortality from acute metabolic complications was increased in the subgroup with age of onset of diabetes < 30 years and requiring insulin within 1 year of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates are high for insulin-treated diabetic individuals relative to the general population.     

Clinical significance of urinary white blood cell count and serum C-reactive protein level for detection of non-palpable prostate cancer

AIM: The clinical significance of the urinary white blood cell (U-WBC) count and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level was evaluated in an effort to improve the efficiency of prostate biopsies. METHODS: We enrolled 228 consecutive patients with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ranging from 3.0 to 20.0 ng/mL, normal digital rectal examination findings, and who underwent prostate biopsies between January 2001 and August 2004. Of these, 157 patients had histologically confirmed benign prostatic disease and the remaining 71 patients had prostate cancer. Patients with a pretreatment U-WBC count < or =3 or >3/high power field were defined as non-pyuria and pyuria, respectively. The patients were also separated into two groups based on the serum CRP level prior to biopsy. Several clinical factors were compared among these subgroups. RESULTS: Inflammation was histologically detected at rates of 58.1% and 34.1% in the pyuria and non-pyuria groups, respectively (P = 0.0014). The rates of cancer detection were significantly lower in the pyuria, than in the non-pyuria group (P = 0.0384). The cancer detection rates did not significantly differ according to serum CRP levels prior to biopsy. CONCLUSION: The U-WBC count appears to be a reliable indicator of minute prostatic inflammation. The serum PSA level was elevated in patients with asymptomatic prostatitis. Counting U-WBC is a simple, convenient and non-invasive method that should be valuable part of routine urological examinations.