Culture Medium Modulates Proinflammatory Conditions of Human Pancreatic Islets Before Transplantation

A portion of transplanted islets is lost during engraftment as a result of stressful events, involving hypoxia and production of proinflammatory molecules by islets. Two of these molecules (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, CCL2/MCP-1 and tissue factor, TF) are directly correlated with reduced graft function. We evaluated which factors reduce islet proinflammatory conditions. In particular the effects of different culture media supplemented with proteins or antioxidant agents on CCL2/MCP-1 and TF human islet release were evaluated. We observed that human islets after culture in final wash culture medium (FW) significantly decreased CCL2/MCP-1 release and TF production compared with CMRL and M199. These effects were independent from the type of protein added to the media (human serum, human albumin, fetal calf serum). Glutathione in FW further decreased CCL2/MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Culture conditions can modulate the proinflammatory state of islets, and could be used in clinical islet transplantation to reduce inflammation during engraftment.     

Delusion symptoms are associated with ApoE ε4 allelic variant at the early stage of Alzheimer''s disease with late onset

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with mixed cognitive and behavioural clinical manifestations. The possession of apolipoprotein-E (ApoE) epsilon4 allelic variant is one of the most important risk factors for developing late-onset AD (LOAD). In this study we analysed the relationship between the entire range of behavioural symptoms, cognitive deficit, and sociodemographic characteristics and ApoE epsilon4 allele possession with multivariate logistic regression models in LOAD patients. Patients included (n = 171) were consecutively admitted in a memory clinic for the first diagnostic visit. Levels of behaviour and cognition within the last month were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and Mini Mental State Examination. Presence of clinically significant psychosis, delusions and hallucinations at the early stage of the illness, from the onset to the first visit, was measured with diagnostic criteria. ApoE epsilon4 allele possession was associated with increased levels of delusions within the last month from the first visit (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.50; P < 0.05) and with the presence of categorical delusions at the early stage until the first visit (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.21-8.01; P < 0.02). In this study, which considers the entire range of behavioural expressions in LOAD patients at the early stage of the illness, the relationship between behaviour and ApoE epsilon4 allele is confirmed for delusions only.     

Effect of Kang''''ai Injection(康艾注射液) on Serum Level of Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma during Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy(RT)is an important ap-proach for treatment of esophageal carcinoma(EC),especially for patients who have missedthe chance of surgical section.The efficacy ofRTis not satisfactory for its1-year,3-year and5-year survival rates being merely50%,20%,and10%respectively(1).Researches in recent years showed thatbetter efficacy can be obtained by combiningRTwith Chinese herbal medicines for EC thatincapable to be resected.Kang ai Injection(康艾注射液,KAI)is a Chinese herbal prep-arati…     

血管内皮生长因子与妊娠高血压综合征发病的关系

目的　探讨血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)在妊娠高血压综合征发病中的作用。方法　分别采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测 40例妊高征孕妇的血清VEGF水平 ,免疫组化检测胎盘及蜕膜组织VEGF及CD3 4表达情况 ,35例正常孕妇作对照。结果　①妊高征组孕妇的外周血VEGF水平及胎盘组织MVD明显低于正常妊娠组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;②两组胎盘绒毛滋养叶细胞和蜕膜组织中均有VEGF阳性表达 ,胎盘组织强阳性表达高于蜕膜。与对照组比较 ,其胎盘组织VEGF强阳性表达的轻度妊高征无显著性差异 ;而中度和重度妊高征与对照组相比 ,则明显降低 ,差异显著 (P <0 0 5 )。各组孕妇蜕膜组织中VEGF的表达强度和差异无显著性。③孕妇外周血VEGF水平与新生儿出生体重 (r =0 2 9,P <0 0 5 )和胎盘重量 (r =0 34,P <0 0 1)均存在直线正相关关系。结论　妊高征患者血清VEGF水平和胎盘组织MVD降低 ,胎盘组织VEGF表达明显下降 ,都可能在妊高征的发病中起一定的作用。     

酪氨酸激酶抑制剂对气管上皮细胞生长的影响

目的探讨酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(Tyrosine kinase inhibitor,TKI)对培养气管上皮细胞生长的影响.方法通过MMT法、3H-胸腺嘧啶(3H-TdR)掺入法及流式细胞计数,观察3种TKIs:Tyrphostin AG1478、Genistein(Sigma)及金转停对原代培养的大鼠气管上皮细胞增殖、周期及凋亡的影响,以及TKIs对表皮生长因子(EGF)的阻断作用.结果MTT法显示3种TKI均对气管上皮细胞的生长具有时间和剂量依赖性抑制作用,同时,TKI阻断EGF对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用,3种TKIs的作用无明显差异;1μmol/L的Tyrphostin AG1478、Genistein及金转停分别使气管上皮细胞的TdR掺入率降低18.3%、20.9%及19.7%,与MTT比色法结果一致.同时,Tyrphostin AG1478不仅加速气管上皮细胞的凋亡而且阻止细胞有丝分裂.TKIs可阻断表皮生长因子(EGF)对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用.结论TKIs不仅抑制对原代培养的大鼠气管上皮细胞的生长,加速其凋亡,而且可阻断EGF对气管上皮细胞生长的刺激作用,3种抑制剂的作用无明显差异.     

Hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α may be a marker for vasculitic neuropathy

Neuromuscular biopsy is still an essential method for diagnosing vasculitic neuropathy, although its diagnostic sensitivity is at most 60%. Our objective was to examine the expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) in peripheral nerves and to evaluate its usefulness in diagnosing vasculitic neuropathy, especially for discrimination from other axonal neuropathies. Forty‐one patients with vasculitic neuropathy consisting of 20 definite, 14 probable and seven possible diagnoses, 15 patients with metabolic neuropathy, five with motor neuron disease and six with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy were included. Nerve biopsy specimens were immunohistochemically examined for HIF‐1α and various cell markers. Distinct immunoreactivity (IR) was observed in nuclei of endoneurial cells in 54% (22/41) of vasculitic patients, while specimens from metabolic neuropathies showed less nuclear IR and the difference of mean density of HIF‐1α‐positive nuclei was significant. Two patients with possible vasculitis who showed HIF‐1α‐positive nuclei in endoneurium, were later confirmed to have vasculitis by skin biopsies. Most of the cells expressing HIF were demonstrated to be Schwann cells. There was a trend in the vasculitic patients with early phase nerve damage to display higher endoneurial HIF‐1α‐IR. HIF‐1α may be an immunohistochemical marker for vasculitic neuropathy, especially when the observed section contains no vasculitic lesions.     

Non-HIV-Related Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): A Tertiary Cancer Center Experience

In the course of 1 year at a tertiary cancer center, 3 patients (2 men; 1 woman; age 51-75 years) were seen in neurological consultation (1.5% of all consultations). Clinical course in all patients was of a progressive neurologic disorder not consistent with either a primary or secondary malignancy. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was most informative with respect to diagnosis and subsequent management. Brain biopsy was performed in all patients to assist in both diagnosis and prognostication. All patients were determined to have progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) by brain biopsy.     

The structure and mode of action of different botulinum toxins

The seven serotypes (A–G) of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) are proteins produced by Clostridium botulinum and have multifunctional abilities: (i) they target cholinergic nerve endings via binding to ecto‐acceptors (ii) they undergo endocytosis/translocation and (iii) their light chains act intraneuronally to block acetylcholine release. The fundamental process of quantal transmitter release occurs by Ca²⁺‐regulated exocytosis involving sensitive factor attachment protein‐25 (SNAP‐25), syntaxin and synaptobrevin. Proteolytic cleavage by BoNT‐A of nine amino acids from the C‐terminal of SNAP‐25 disables its function, causing prolonged muscle weakness. This unique combination of activities underlies the effectiveness of BoNT‐A haemagglutinin complex in treating human conditions resulting from hyperactivity at peripheral cholinergic nerve endings. In vivo imaging and immunomicroscopy of murine muscles injected with type A toxin revealed that the extended duration of action results from the longevity of its protease, persistence of the cleaved SNAP‐25 and a protracted time course for the remodelling of treated nerve–muscle synapses. In addition, an application in pain management has been indicated by the ability of BoNT to inhibit neuropeptide release from nociceptors, thereby blocking central and peripheral pain sensitization processes. The widespread cellular distribution of SNAP‐25 and the diversity of the toxin's neuronal acceptors are being exploited for other therapeutic applications.     

外消旋聚乳酸复合神经生长因子缓释导管促周围神经再生的形态学研究

目的 建立外消旋聚乳酸复合神经生长因子（poly-D，L-lactic acid／nerve growth factor，PDLLA／NGF）可吸收性缓释导管桥接修复大鼠坐骨神经缺损的动物模型，观察复合导管对大鼠坐骨神经缺损再生的促进作用。方法利用溶剂挥发法制备PDLLA单纯导管和PDLLA／NGF缓释导管，每根缓释导管含NGF450U。SD大鼠40只随机分成4组，每组10只，切除中段坐骨神经10mm之后分别行自体神经移植（A组）、单纯导管桥接（B组）、单纯导管加一次性给药（C组）、PDLLA／NGF缓释导管桥接（D组）修复坐骨神经，除A组外，均保留10mm缺损。术后3个月观察神经再生情况，比较各组光镜、电镜及图像分析等指标。结果术后3个月导管与周围组织粘连松，并开始降解，但外形仍保持完整。再生神经均顺利通过导管腔，组织学观察A组和D组内神经纤维数目多，大小均匀，成熟良好；B组和C组纤维结缔组织多，神经纤维细小，髓鞘薄。图像分析显示除神经纤维计数D组高于A组外，A组和D组在纤维直径、轴突直径和髓鞘厚度方面差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05），并明显优于B组和C组（P〈0．05）。结论 PDLLA／NGF缓释导管能够有效促进大鼠坐骨神经缺损再生，组织学观察指标接近自体神经移植。     

Attempts to make models for Alzheimer''s disease

Profound reductions in cortical acetylcholine levels together with degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain have been reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A similar loss of the cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and impairment of learning and memory occur in animals injected with a nerve growth factor-diphtheria toxin conjugate, suggesting that this animal model is suitable to analyze cholinergic roles on learning and memory processes, and also the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, animal models constructed by electrolytic or neurotoxic lesioning of the basal magnocellular nucleus, and models made by transgenetic technology were described.