rhGM—CSF对小鼠口腔粘膜损伤的防治作用

目的：观察rhGM-CSF对TMX致实验性小鼠口腔粘膜损伤的疗效。方法：按随机分组原则将501只昆明种小白鼠分成8组，分别在相应时间给予不同药物（MTX，CF或rhGM-CSF）的处理因素，于第1－10天光镜下观察小鼠口腔粘膜的病理改变和积分情况。结果：IDMTX致口腔粘膜损伤病变率（45％－63％）和积分率（19．4％－56％）较其它组高，且死亡率很低（小于5％）；IDMTX＋GM0（或GM2）组的口腔粘膜损伤病变率（30．53％和30．99％）和积分率（19．47％和17．25％）比IDMTX组（55．56％和36．31％）明显减少，且溃疡严重程度较轻，二者相差显著（P＜0．01）。结论：IDMTX致小鼠口腔粘膜损伤模型可以用于粘膜损伤的研究；rhGM-CSF可以减少MTX致小鼠口腔粘膜损伤，并促进粘膜损伤恢复。     

Molecular basis of severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy

Severe myoclonic epilepsy (SMEI) or Dravet syndrome is caused by mutations of the SCN1A gene that encodes voltage-gated sodium channel alpha-1 subunit. Recently, we generated and characterized a knock-in (KI) mice with an SCN1A nonsense mutation that appeared in three independent SMEI patients. The SCN1A-KI mice well reproduced the SMEI disease phenotypes. Both homozygous and heterozygous knock-in mice developed epileptic seizures within the first postnatal month. In heterozygous knock-in mice, trains of evoked action potentials in inhibitory neurons exhibited pronounced spike amplitude decrement late in the burst but not in pyramidal neurons. We further showed that in wild-type mice the Nav1.1 protein is expressed dominantly in axons and moderately in somata of parbalbumin (PV) – positive inhibitory interneurons. Our immunohistochemical observations of the Nav1.1 are clearly distinct to the previous studies, and our findings has corrected the view of the Nav1.1 protein distribution. The data indicate that Nav1.1 plays critical roles in the spike output from PV interneurons and further, that the specifically altered function of these inhibitory circuits may contribute to epileptic seizures in the mice. These information should contribute to the understanding of molecular pathomechanism of SMEI and to develop its effective therapies.     

Children's categorisation of play and learning based on social context

While much time has been spent deliberating about the definition of play, little emphasis has been placed on what children themselves perceive as play. The aim of the present study was to examine social context as a cue for children's perceptions of play and learning. Ninety-two children aged between four and six years (mean four years nine months) participated in the study and completed the Activity Apperception Story Procedure. Children were asked to sort photographic stimuli into those they believed depicted play/not play and learning/not learning. Each of the stimuli were identified by independent raters as containing one of the following social cues; teacher absence (solitary activity, parallel activity or cooperative activity) or teacher presence (teacher involved activity or teacher directed activity). Findings revealed that children associated teacher absence with play. More specifically, children made links between play and the presence of peers (parallel and cooperative activity). Findings are discussed in relation to play in the early years curriculum, differences in children's early educational experiences and the importance of understanding children's perceptions of play.     

In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Whole and Half Tablets of Sustained-Release Adinazolam Mesylate

The mechanism of release from sustained-release adinazolam mesylate tablets was assessed by the Higuchi equation and by analysis of drug release profiles through 60% released using the Peppas equation. Computed values of the diffusional exponent, n, ranged from 0.59 to 0.66. Values of n in this range are consistent with a mixed mechanism of release, with diffusion of drug through the hydrated polymer matrix and relaxation of this matrix being the principal processes controlling release. The rate of in vitro drug release was increased for half tablets relative to whole tablets and is attributed to an increase in the surface to volume ratio of half tablets of about 16%. This increase in surface-to-volume ratio of half tablets was reflected by an increase in the constant, k, from the Peppas equation of 20–23% and by an increase in the slope of Higuchi plots of 12–18% for four lots of tablets. In vivo/in vitro relationships from two bioavailability studies were thoroughly evaluated. Using either a linear or a quadratic relationship, an in vivo/in vitro correlation exists for sustained-release adinazolam mesylate tablets.     

Immunohistological identification of cell subsets in human gingival after local treatment for gingivitis or periodontitis

The cellular infiltrate present in human diseased gingiva was analyzed in biopsies from 12 patients with gingivitis or periodontitis. The samples studied had been obtained in the course of surgery at inflammatory sites remaining after institution of periodontal treatment. Histological and immunological techniques were used to identify macrophages, B-cells, plasma-cells, T-cells and T cell subsets, as well as cells expressing class II HLA membrane antigens. T-cells appeared as the predominant population, but plasma-cells were also visualized in nearly all samples. Both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells were seen in all cases, the latter being more numerous in periodontitis patients. Interdigitating-like cells were observed, positively labelled for class II antigens, as well as macrophages which were more numerous in periodontitis patients. These results suggest the participation of all components of the immune response in gingival disease, in a way resembling chronic recurrent inflammatory diseases.     

In vivo electrochemical demonstration of potassium-evoked monoamine release from rat cerebellum

In vivo electrochemical methods were employed to study the potassium (K⁺-evoked release of monoamines from the cerebellum of the chloral hydrate anesthetized rat. K⁺-evoked releases were elicited using micropipette-Nafion-coated graphite epoxy electrode arrays in the granule/Purkenje cell layer, molecular layer, and white matter. These recorded releases were generally found to be reversible, moderately dose-dependent, and reproducible. However, the temporal dynamics of the releases were different for the cell layer versus molecular layer records. Releases were infrequently observed in cerebellar white matter, an area which is relatively devoid of monoamine containing terminals. The signals recorded from the cell and molecular layers were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with nomifensine, a potent catecholamine reuptake blocker, significantly prolonged the K⁺-evoked signals observed in both the granule/Purkenje cell and molecular layers. These data, taken together with earlier reports on the electrophysiological responses to activation of cerebellar noradrenergic inputs, support the conjecture that in vivo electrochemical recording methods have the sensitivity and spatial resolution for studies of functional monoamine release from brain regions that have a diffuse or laminated monoamine innervation.     

Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

阴道粘膜上皮细胞的分离培养和鉴定

目的 初步建立阴道粘膜上皮细胞体外培养方法,为阴道粘膜上皮研究提供实验模型.方法 取雌性新西兰大白兔阴道粘膜组织小块,胶原酶Ⅳ和胰蛋白酶联合消化分离法收集上皮细胞,接种于角朊细胞无血清培养液中静置培养、传代.动态观察细胞生长增殖情况,扫描和透射电镜观察超微结构,流式细胞仪测定细胞增殖周期,并进行免疫组织化学鉴定.结果 体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞为二倍体细胞,增殖状态良好,细胞间可见桥粒连接,免疫组化角蛋白染色阳性.细胞的超微结构和免疫组化染色均具有上皮细胞特征.结论 在本实验条件下,体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞具有较好的增殖能力,可作为阴道粘膜上皮研究的理想实验模型.     

In vivo Intracellular Recording of Neurons in the Supraoptic Nucleus of the Rat Hypothalamus

Intracellular recordings were made from cells in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus in the urethane-anaesthetized male rat using the ventral surgical approach. Impalements lasted from 5 min to 1 h and recorded cells had an input resistance of 55 to 170 megohms. Spikes of over 50 mV were recorded from 14 cells which could be antidromically activated by stimulation of the neural stalk. The spikes showed a hyperpolarizing afterpotential and the broadening characteristic of rapidly firing magnocellular neurons, which recovered rapidly (<200 ms). When depolarized, the cells showed evidence of a transient potassium current. Recurrent synaptic coupling between the recorded cell and adjacent cells would be expected to alter the hyperpolarizing afterpotential of an antidromic spike as compared with a spontaneous spike; no perceptible difference in the waveforms of the different types of spike could be detected in 11 spontaneously active cells. Application of just subthreshold stimuli to the neural stalk did not evoke depolarizing or hyperpolarizing potentials. Suprathreshold shocks to the neural stalk, when the antidromic spike was prevented by collision, also had no discernible effect on membrane potential. Thus intracellular recordings from magnocellular neurons in vivo revealed electrophysiological properties similar to those seen in vitro. No evidence for synaptic interconnection between magnocellular neurons was found in male rats.     

Fluorimetric assay of rufloxacin in serum and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and rapid fluorimetric method for the determination of 9-fluoro-10-[N-(4′-methyl)piperazinyl]-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-d,e][1–4]benzothyazin-6-carboxylic acid hydrochloride (MF 934), in serum and in pharmaceutical formulations, has been developed based on its strong fluorescence, in 0.1 N H₂SO₄, at 526 nm (excitation wavelength at 340 nm). The procedure which involves the direct dilution of the sample requires only a few minutes and the sample volume is only 20–100 μl of serum, depending on the drug concentration. Tedious sample preparation procedures such as extraction, deproteinization, or centrifugation are not necessary. The minimum concentration that can be detected is 0.3 ng ml⁻¹, the standard curve in 0.1 N H₂SO₄ was found to be linear from 0.005 to 1.5 μg ml⁻¹ and from 0.01 to 0.07 g in plasma after dilution with 0.1 N H₂SO₄.