Recombinant α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen is an effective regulator of retinal capillary endothelial cell proliferation and inhibits pre-retinal neovascularisation

Background A recombinant form of the α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen has been shown to have potent anti-angiogenic activity although this peptide has not been studied in the context of proliferative retinopathies. In the current investigation we examined the potential for α2(IV)NC1 to regulate retinal microvascular endothelial cell function using a range of in vitro and in vivo assay systems. Materials and methods α2(IV)NC1 at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 μg/ml was added to retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) followed by assessment of cell attachment, proliferation and survival. This agent was also tested within a novel in vitro three-dimensional retinal angiogenesis assay and the number of angiogenic sprouts quantified. α2(IV)NC1 was also delivered intra-vitreally to mice with oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy (OIR) and neovascularisation evaluated in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. Results RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μg/ml) showed delayed attachment at 3 h post-seeding, although this deficit had been restored at the 6-h time point. BrdU assay of DNA replication revealed that confluent RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 showed no measurable response in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. By contrast, proliferation of sub-confluent RMECs was significantly reduced by α2(IV)NC1 at 0.5 μg/ml (P<0.01). α2(IV)NC1 also induced apoptosis in RMECs and inhibited angiogenesis of pre-existing retinal vascular networks in vitro (P<0.001). Intra-vitreal injection of α2(IV)NC1 in the OIR model significantly inhibited pre-retinal neovascularisation compared with vehicle-treated controls (P<0.001). Conclusion α2(IV)NC1 inhibits angiogenesis in the retinal microvasculature. This recombinant protein has potential for the treatment of neovascularisation in proliferative retinopathies. BioStratum Inc. did not sponsor this research in any way. None of the authors are paid consultants with this company.     

东林书院讲经活动与道德救世理念

明中后期，王学盛极一时，程朱式微，以顾宪成、高攀龙为首的东林学人以东林书院为依托，起而纠王学空疏之流弊。究明儒学道脉，“提撕天下万世”，成为其讲经活动的主要目的，儒家经典成为其讲经活动的主要内容，体现了学术与政治相结合的道德救世理念。     

Before-birth climatologic data may play a role in the development of allergies in infants

While an exacerbation in allergic symptoms corresponding to seasons has long been reported, few studies have investigated the association between the season of birth and allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the climatologic data before and after birth affected the incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the results of allergy-related blood tests in early infancy. From February 1995 to January 2000, 2136 infants were tested for AD and followed for 12 months. AD patients were tested by using allergy-related blood tests. Data were compared according to the month of birth and the climatologic data using a computed statistical software package. Six hundred and thirty infants had AD before 12 months old, and significant differences were found according to the season of birth (p < 0.0001). Infants born in spring showed the lowest (22.3%) incidence, while those born in autumn showed the highest (34.6%). In 369 patients, total serum IgE levels, and serum specific IgE levels with egg white at 3 months old were also different according to the season of birth. All of these levels were lower in patients born in spring and summer, and higher in patients born in autumn and winter. Furthermore, the cumulative sunshine amount during the 3 months before and after birth was inversely correlated, while the average temperature over the 3 months before birth was positively correlated to the incidence of AD according to the month of birth. The climatologic data around birth may play an important role in whether an infant develops allergies.     

Clinical Observation on the Efficacy of Babaodan Combined with Interventional Therapy for Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Babaodan combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Selected patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One group accepted TACE only and the other group accepted TACE and took 2 Babaodan capsules orally 3 times a day for 8 weeks. Results After 8 weeks＇ treatment, the size of the tumors and the alpha foetal protein （AFP） concentration in all the patients in the two groups diminished and was not significantly different between the two groups （P〉0.05）. The ratio of stability and improvement in the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome was higher in the Babaodan plus TACE group than it was in the TACE only group （P〈0.05）. There were more complications in the TACE only group than in the Babaodan plus TACE group. The one-year survival rate in the Babaodan plus TACE group was higher than in the TACE group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Babaodan can improve TCM syndrome, reduce complications and prolong survival of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.     

庆大霉素中毒性耳聋

庆大霉素目前仍是主要的致聋抗生素，庆大霉素中毒性耳聋的发病机制包括自由基损伤学说、内耳微循环障碍学说、毛细胞线粒体功能失常学说、细胞凋亡等，并发现一些与耳聋相关的基因。聚DL-天冬氨酸（PAA）、表皮生长因子（EGF）表皮生长因子（EGF）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）、神经营养凼子3（NT3）、高压氧等对庆大霉素的耳毒性有一定的拈抗作用。中医药丹参、天鼓冲剂、复聪片、耳聋左慈丸等也可减轻庆大霉素的耳毒性。庆大霉素中毒性耳聋基因治疗具有良好的前景。制造一种由病毒DNA序列和非病毒载体结构共同组成的复合型载体，也许是未来基因治疗载体得到完善、基因治疗得到突破性进展的着手点之一。     

大鼠下丘脑室旁核及其邻近区域至室管膜的传出联系

用20只Wistar大鼠以PHA—L免疫组织化学顺行追踪技术研究了下丘脑室旁核及其邻近区域对脑室系统室管膜的传出联系。在脑室系统某些部位的室管膜层或其下方见有丰富的标记纤维并见许多膨结和终末膨突。这些纤维似乎参与形成室管膜上、下丛,构成脑—脑脊液神经体液回路的重要环节。     

Endoscopic sealing of infected bronchus stump fistulae with fibrin following lung resections

Summary Bronchus stump insufficiency following lung resection, with an average incidence of 4%, is a serious complication which carries a mortality of up to 90%. Operative transthoracic approaches have been largely unsatisfactory because of the high operative risk and rapidly spreading infection. In an experimental study on 18 pigs, endoscopic occlusion of infected bronchus stump fistulae was achieved with fibrin sealant (1 ml, 500 units/ml thrombin, 3500 units/ml aprotinin) applied via a flexible bronchoscope. During autopsy, all bronchus stump fistulae were found to have healed after the second postoperative week. Transitory local abscesses of the pleura could be prevented by high-dose systemic antibiotic therapy for 5 postoperative days but not by antibiotics added to the fibrin sealant. This endoscopic method has already been performed successfully in 3 clinical cases; additional sclerotherapy with (2–3 ml Ethoxysclerol applied around the fistula orifice was carried out before fibrin sealing to stimulate fibrosis. Endoscopic controls demonstrated fistula closure by granulation tissue after 2 weeks. This procedure could become the method of choice for infected postoperative fistulae of the bronchus stump and should be attempted in any case before operative approaches are considered.     

Immune complexes in CSF and serum in various neurological diseases

A technique whereby immune complexes (ICs) are detected in the CSF and serum from their inhibitory effect on the agglutination of IgG-coated latex particles by rheumatoid factor (RF) has been applied to patients with the following neurological diseases: multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory diseases, extradural peripheral neuropathies (EPN), CNS tumors, dementia, and a control group of other neurological diseases (OND). The groups did not differ significantly in respect of IC positivity either in CSF or serum. The MS group was tested for correlations between percentage of IC positives and CSF IgG/Albumin ratio on the one hand and presence of oligoclonal bands on isoelectric focusing on the other. The specificity of ICs to the dysimmune condition is discussed.

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Sommario È stata applicata una tecnica di inibizione della reazione di agglutinazione del Fattore Reumatoide (RF) su particelle di latice, ricoperte di immunoglobuline umane, per il dosaggio degli immunocomplessi (ICs) nel liquor e net siero di pazienti affetti da malattie neurologiche. Sono stati considerati 5 gruppi di malattie neurologiche, rappresentate da: sclerosi multipla (MS), malattie infiammatorie, polinevriti, tumori del SNC, demenza ed un gruppo di controllo composto da malattie neurologiche miste (OND).Non sono state riscontrate differenze significative tra le percentuali di positività nei diversi gruppi esaminati, compreso il gruppo di controllo, tanto sul liquor che su siero.Particolare attenzione è stata posta allo studio della MS, ove la percentuale di positività degli ICs è stata raffrontata con il rapporto IgG/Albumina liquorale e con la presenza di bande oligoclonali IgG all'isoelectrofocusing (IEF).La specificità della formazione degli ICs in relazione alla situazione disimmune è stata inoltre discussa.

     

用稳定性同位素~(58)Fe中子活化法测定缺铁性贫血儿童膳食铁吸收率

本文报告了应用稳定性同位素~(58)Fe对三组缺铁性贫血儿童,分别摄取平衡膳、平衡膳加大豆蛋白膳和平衡膳加大豆蛋白加维生素C膳时,各组儿童膳食铁的吸收率。测定结果顺次分别为12.0±3.6％、10.7±4.7％和18.1±3.6％。后者高于前二者,差异显著。据此,作者同意国际营养性贫血咨询小组(INACG)以及大多数学者的主张,即大豆制品不利于或降低膳食铁的生物利用率(bioavailability)。本文并结合实验讨论了本法的原理、操作技术及误差控制等问题,评价了本法在类似工作中的重要意义。     

Continuous recording of urethral activity in healthy female volunteers

The pressure variations at the maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) were continuously recorded in healthy female volunteers by means of a two-point microtip transducer catheter for one hour. Before the investigation a normal voiding was assured objectively and bladder instability was excluded. All women showed pressure variations both at the MUCP and more distally. The pressure variations, from 3 to 66 cm H₂O, showed rhythmicity and three frequency ranges could be identified. Slow pressure waves with a frequency of one in eight to 19 minutes were observed. Relatively fast-pressure waves were observed (one every one to four minutes) and relatively fast-frequency pressure waves were observed (rate: one to eight per minute). The pressure variations of the urethra seem to be an aspect of normal urethral physiology possibly contributing to continence and urinary tract infection prevention.