Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Immunoregulatory Role at the Periapex: Associative and Mechanistic Evidences from Human and Experimental Periapical Lesions

IntroductionThe balance between the host proinflammatory immune response and the counteracting anti-inflammatory and reparative responses supposedly determine the outcome of periapical lesions. In this scenario, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may exert a protective role because of its prominent immunoregulatory capacity. In this study, we investigated (in a cause-and-effect manner) the potential involvement of VIP in the development of human and experimental periapical lesions.MethodsPeriapical granulomas (n = 124) and control samples (n = 48) were comparatively assessed for VIP and multiple immunologic/activity marker expression through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Experimental periapical lesions (C57Bl/6 wild-type mice) were evaluated regarding endogenous VIP expression correlation with lesion development and the effect of recombinant VIP therapy in lesion outcome. CCR4KO and IL4KO strains and anti-glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein inhibition were used to test the involvement of Treg and Th2 cells in VIP-mediated effects.ResultsVIP expression was more prevalent in periapical granulomas than in controls, presenting a positive association with immunoregulatory factors and an inverse association/correlation with proinflammatory mediators and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio. Endogenous VIP expression up-regulation was temporally associated with lesion immunoregulation and a decline of bone loss. VIP therapy in mice prompted the arrest of lesion development, being associated with an anti-inflammatory and proreparative response that limits the proinflammatory, Th1, Th17, and osteoclastogenic response in the periapex. The VIP protective effect was dependent of Treg migration and activity and independent of interleukin 4.ConclusionsOur results show that VIP overexpression in human and experimental periapical lesions is associated with lesion inactivity and that VIP therapy results in the attenuation of experimental lesion progression associated with the immunosuppressive response involving Treg cells.     

以病人选择医生为契机 全力推进人事分配制度改革

介绍了邯郸市中心医院在病人选医生中,努力完善制度,提高素质,深化内容,并以此为突破口,建立了灵活、高效的人事分配制度.用较为低廉的医疗费用,为人民群众提供了较好的医疗服务.     

Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and healthy individuals

BACKGROUND: Stress can aggravate the allergic inflammation, but determinants of disturbed immune regulation are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine systemic immunological, local inflammatory and functional airway responses to stress in healthy and atopic individuals. METHODS: Forty-one undergraduate students, 22 with allergy of whom 16 had asthma, and 19 healthy controls, were studied in a low-stress period and in association with a large exam. Subjects completed questionnaires on stress and health behaviours, underwent lung function tests, bronchial methacholine challenge, measurements of exhaled nitric oxide and urine cortisol. Blood cells were phenotyped, and cytokines from mononuclear blood cells were analysed. RESULTS: Perceived stress and anxiety increased in both groups during the exam period while cortisol increased only in the atopy group. Cytokine production decreased broadly in response to stress in both groups, which was paralleled by an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells (CD4(+)CD45RO(+)CD25(bright)). Interestingly, atopic individuals, but not controls, reacted with a decreased T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 (Th1/Th2) ratio and a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell numbers in response to stress. In control subjects only, exhaled nitric oxide decreased and forced expiratory volume in one second increased during stress. CONCLUSION: Atopic and non-atopic subjects shared some immune changes in response to stress, such as a dramatic decline in cytokines and an increase in the number of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood. However, other stress-induced immune changes were unique to atopic individuals, such as a skewed Th1/Th2 ratio and reduced NK cell numbers, indicating that some pathogenic mechanisms in atopics may be more strongly affected by stress than others.     

提高与保证生物化学教学质量的探讨

随着生物化学和分子生物学的快速发展,生物化学的理论和技术被广泛应用于各种研究领域.因此不断提高教师的业务素质、采用先进的教学手段和教学模式、改革生物化学的实验教学,是提高与保证生物化学教学质量的前提,也是衔接后期研究生教学的重要环节.     

Nursing and motherhood constructions: implications for practice

The present paper addresses the relationship between community based child health nursing services and social constructions of motherhood within Australia during the 1920s. Following the First World War, child health nursing services (then generally known as infant welfare or child welfare services) were established in all Australian states. The focus of the paper is mainly upon the development of the Tasmanian child health service, with some reference to similar services in other states. Within two decades of their establishment, most child-bearing women in Tasmania were in contact with child health services and this apparent success meant that, thereafter, women in Tasmania cared for their children under the 'expert' guidance of nurses. As the 1920s progressed, child health nurses increasingly promoted one particular, and ultimately extremely influential, construction of motherhood, 'scientific motherhood', based upon the philosophy of Dr Truby King. I argue that an understanding of how nursing services have historically reinforced and promoted ideological constructions of motherhood enhances the practice of present day nurses working with women. This argument is supported by reference to present day nursing practice in relation to postnatal depression.     

论现代医院技术创新

创新是医院发展主题,本文采用综合分析、收集资料、对比方法,对技术创新内容、技术创新原则、技术创新趋势进行了较详细的分析研究.     

心理学研究中的科学方法与非科学方法

自心理学被界定为一门科学以来 ,对心理学的研究便十分强调研究方法的科学性。那些被认为是不科学的方法 ,如内省、思辨、假设、演绎等被长期排斥在主流心理学的研究方法之外。这虽是学科研究进步的表现 ,但也暴露出心理学研究中唯科学方法的缺陷。由于心理学研究对象的特殊性 ,非科学方法仍是心理学研究中的一种重要方法 ,心理学史上的一些重要成就表明了非科学方法的应用价值。心理学研究中的科学方法与非科学方法并不是对立的。人本主义心理学大胆引进非科学方法 ,兼收并蓄 ,其主张被越来越多的人接受。