An effective regimen for early medical abortion: a report of 2000 consecutive cases

A combination of the anti-progesterone mifepristone and gemeprostprovides an effective non-surgical method for the inductionof abortion at gestations up to 63 days, achieving completeabortion rates of over 95%. We report our experience with analternate regimen, comprising a reduced dose of mifepristonein combination with vaginal misoprostol. A consecutive seriesof 2000 women requesting early medical abortion at gestationsup to 63 days was studied retrospectively. Each woman receivedmifepristone 200 mg orally, followed 36–48 h later bymisoprostol 800 µg vaginally. Of the 2000 women, 39 (2.0%)aborted completely following administration of mifepristonealone and a further 1912 experienced complete abortion followingadministration of misoprostol (a complete abortion rate of 97.5%).Surgical intervention was required in 49 women (2.5%): for incompleteabortion in 27 (1.4%), for missed abortion in seven (0.4%),for continuing pregnancy in 11 (0.6%) and to exclude ectopicpregnancy in four (0.2%). The surgical intervention rate wassignificantly higher among women at gestations 49 days thanamong those at 49 days (3.3 versus 1.5%, P = 0.0193). The regimenappears as effective, in terms of high complete abortion rateand low continuing pregnancy rate, as any published alternative.This regimen has the benefit of being less costly as the doseof mifepristone is 67% lower and misoprostol is substantiallyless expensive than gemeprost. Additionally, misoprostol doesnot require special transport or storage requirements. As such,the combination of mifepristone and gemeprost.     

妊娠高血压患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的测定及其临床意义

本文测定了３０例正常育龄妇女，２８例正常妊娠以及３６例妊娠征患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的水平，结果发现，轻度妊高生与正常妊娠相比，血浆中ＣＧＲＰＫ是有下降但不显著（Ｐ〉０．０５）。中重度妊高征与正常妊娠相比，差异有非常显著性，因此推测，妊娠状态下血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的减少可能是妊娠高血压症产生的重要原因之一。     

Expression of the PD-1 antigen on the surface of stimulated mouse T and B lymphocytes

A mAb J43 has been produced against the product of the mousePD-1 gene, a member of the Ig gene superfamily, which was previouslyisolated from an apoptosis-induced T cell hybridoma (2B4.11)by using subtractive hybridization. Analyses by flow cytometryand immunoprecipitation using the J43 mAb revealed that thePD-1 gene product is a 50–55 kDa membrane protein expressedon the cell surface of several PD-1 cDNA transfectants and 2B4.11cells. Since the molecular weight calculated from the aminoacid sequence is 29,310, the PD-1 protein appears to be heavilyglycosylated. Normal murine lymphoid tissues such as thymus,spleen, lymph node and bone marrow contained very small numbersof PD-1⁺ cells. However, a significant PD-1⁺ population appearedin the thymocytes as well as T cells in spleen and lymph nodesby the in vivo anti-CD3 mAb treatment. Furthermore, the PD-1antigen expression was strongly induced in distinct subsetsof thymocytes and spleen T cells by in vitro stimulation witheither anti-CD3 mAb or concanavalin A (Con A) which could leadT cells to both activation and cell death. Similarly, PD-1 expressionwas induced on spleen B cells by in vitro stimulation with anti-IgMantibody. By contrast, PD-1 was not significantly expressedon lymphocytes by treatment with growth factor deprivation,dexamethasone or lipopolysaccharide. These results suggest thatthe expression of the PD-1 antigen is tightly regulated andinduced by signal transduction through the antigen receptorand do not exclude the possibility that the PD-1 antigen mayplay a role in clonal selection of lymphocytes although PD-1expression is not required for the common pathway of apoptosis.     

Correlation between IgA antibody and eosinophil cationic protein levels in induced sputum from asthmatic patients

Background Eosinophils are known to be main effector cells in allergic inflammation and IgA antibody has been shown to be a potent stimulus for eosinophil degranulation in in vitro conditions. Objective To evaluate the possible role of IgA antibodies on eosinophil degranulation in lower respiratory mucosa of asthmatics, we tried to find a correlation between total IgA and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in induced sputum from asthmatics. Methods We measured total IgA and albumin levels by nephelometry, and eosinophil cationic protein levels by Pharmacia CAP system in induced sputum from 23 atopic asthmatics and 12 healthy controls. Results IgA and albumin levels in induced sputum from asthmatics with sputum eosinophilia (sputum eosinophil count 5% of 200 counted non-squamous cells) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those from controls. However, IgA and albumin levels in induced sputum from asthmatics without sputum eosinophilia were not significantly different with those from controls (P > 0.05). In induced sputum from asthmatics, ECP levels were significantly correlated with albumin (r= 0.44, P= 0.04) and IgA levels (r= 0.67, P= 0.002). ECP/albumin ratio was also significantly correlated with IgA/albumin ratio (r= 0.61, P= 0.004). Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that IgA antibodies in tracheobronchial secretion may be involved in eosinophil degranulation in asthma, and further study is needed to prove this hypothesis.     

脐血来源的树突状细胞增强CIK细胞的杀伤作用

为确认体外诱导出的成熟脐血来源树突状细胞 (CBDC )可以引发强大抗肿瘤免疫反应 ,CBDC培养 12d后用电镜分析形态 ,用流式细胞仪检测其表型。在不同培养时间 ,用3 H TdR掺入法检测CBDC和细胞因子诱导杀伤细胞 (CIK )的扩增功能 ;用MTT法检测被CBDC激活的CIK抗肿瘤活性。结果表明 ,体外诱导出形态典型的DC ,高表达主要组织相容性抗原I、II类分子、CD5 4 ,也表达CD80、CD83、CD1a,不表达CD6 8。体外培养 12d成熟的CBDC ,能使CIK以最高的比率扩增 ,2种细胞最佳混合比为 1∶10时被激活的CIK杀伤BEL 74 0 2肝癌细胞的功能最强 ,最佳效靶比为 80∶1     

Hypoglycaemic Activity of Nauclea Latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae) in Experimental Animals

Aqueous, ethanolic and hexane extracts of the leaves of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) were assessed for their fasting blood glucose lowering effect in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin - diabetic rats. Wistar strain albino rats were given different doses of the extracts after 18 hrs fast and their blood glucose measured at 0,1,2,4 and 6 hours after treatment. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose levels of the STZ-diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose administered (400mg/kg) lowered the fasting blood glucose of the diabetic rats by 31.7% (aqueous) and 36.1% (ethanolic) extracts. The aqueous extract did not significantly lower the glucose levels of normoglycaemic rats (maximum 6.6%), nor was any significant decrease seen in the rats administered with the hexane (maximum of 4.0% for normoglycaemic and 2.4% for diabetics) extract. The hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic potentials of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were comparable to that of glibenclamide (1mg/kg).These results further support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

eNOS基因和MTHFR基因多态性与妊娠高血压综合征发病的相关性研究进展

〔摘要〕 妊娠高血压综合征（妊高征）产科常见的并发症，是引起孕产妇和围产儿死亡的主要原因之一，对其发病原因和机理尚不清楚。一般认为是由环境因素和遗传因素共同作用造成的，目前的研究热点是易感基因与妊高征的关系。本文对内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）基因和亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因多态性与妊高征发病的相关性进行了综述。     

Immunolocalization of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte functional associated antigen-1 in schistosomal soluble egg antigen-induced granulomatous hyporesponsiveness

In this work, the changes in expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1/LFA-1 on inflammatory cells of the liver were studied by immunohistochemistry. Mice sensitized with SEA and infected with S. mansoni and S. mansoni-infected controls were examined from day 35 to day 56 postinfection. A significant upregulation of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in both the SEA group and the infected control group started shortly after egg deposition at day 35 and persisted up to day 56 p.i. Notably, both ICAM-1 and LFA-1 expression peaks were shifted earlier to day 38 p.i. in the SEA group compared to day 40 in the infected control group. The distribution of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in both groups was comparable. At the early phase of infection before granuloma formation, both ICAM-1 and LFA-1 were detected along the sinusoidal wall of small blood vessels. At the acute cellular granuloma phase, they were homogeneously distributed all over the inflammatory cells, while at the chronic fibrocellular stage a non-homogeneous staining of granuloma cells at the periphery of the granuloma was apparent. The present data suggest that adhesion molecules play a role in the initiation and maintenance of granuloma formation. Thus, the granulomatous hyporesponsiveness induced by sensitization with SEA was associated with reduced expression of adhesion molecules.     

通痹灵对于IL-2及其受体α链影响的体内外研究

从体内体外两个方面 ,研究通痹灵对于CIA大鼠关节滑膜原代细胞分泌IL 2 ,以及通痹灵总碱对于IL 2受体α链CD2 5表达的影响。体内实验采用CIA大鼠动物模型。容积法测量足肿胀度 ,原代滑膜细胞培养、放免法检测培养液上清 ,观察通痹灵对滑膜内IL 2的影响 ;体外实验 ,分离大鼠淋巴细胞 ,佛波醇酯 (PDB )或刀豆蛋白 (ConA )体外刺激 ,双色免疫荧光标记 ,流式细胞仪检测 ,观察通痹灵总碱对CD3+CD2 5 +表达的影响。结果是体内实验 ,通痹灵高剂量可明显减轻CIA大鼠的足肿胀度 ,与MTX比较无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ,通痹灵高、低剂量可明显抑制CIA大鼠滑膜内IL 2的合成 (P <0 0 1) ;体外实验 ,通痹灵总碱显著抑制ConA刺激下的CD3+CD2 5 +的表达 ,而对PDB加ionomycin没有明显作用。提示通痹灵可以通过抑制IL 2合成及ConA激活的IL 2受体α链CD2 5信号转导通路 ,减轻局部关节的炎症 ,为其用于类风湿性关节炎的治疗提供了实验依据