Patch testing with beryllium alloy samples in guinea pigs

An experimental study was conducted in guinea pigs for the predictive assessment of the beryllium alloy hazard in occupational exposure of the skin to beryllium compounds. Guinea pigs were sensitized to beryllium sulfate according to the maximized Magnusson and Kligman test, and challenged with beryllium alloys and metallic copper, beryllium and aluminum samples. Results showed a delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction in 30 to 60% of pre-sensitized guinea pigs challenged with copper-beryllium alloys and aluminum-beryllium alloy. An inflammatory follicular reaction was induced by copper in both controls and pre-sensitized guinea pigs.     

CMSS-VEPs: Contrast modulated steady state visual evoked potentials: Its neuronal origin and clinical use

CMSS-VEPs are presented as a sensitive, non-invasive functional investigation technique of the visual function, applicable in clinical practice. New improvements of the technique are presented. The underlying neuronal mechanisms are discussed. The clinical use is illustrated in a case of optic neuritis.     

预防肝硬化上消化道出血的临床研究

目的　探讨普萘洛尔和低剂量兰索拉唑长期维持治疗对预防肝硬化门脉高压消化道出血的疗效。方法　1 1 9例肝硬化门脉高压患者随机分为 3组 :Ⅰ组 :给予口服普萘洛尔加上护肝治疗。Ⅱ组 :联合给予低剂量兰索拉唑和普萘洛尔。Ⅲ组 :仅给予护肝治疗。兰索拉唑维持服药 6个月 ,普萘洛尔及一般对症治疗维持 1年。观察治疗前后各组患者所伴发溃疡、门脉高压性胃病 (PHG)、急性胃黏膜病变 (AGML)情况 (发生率 ) ,各组消化道出血的复发率、门静脉直径 (PVD)、脾静脉直径 (SVD)的变化。结果　经 1年观察 ,结果显示 ,普萘洛尔组、联合治疗组、对照组出血的复发率分别为 1 5 0 %、2 2 %、48 5 % ,组Ⅰ、组Ⅱ复发率显著低于组Ⅲ ,同时 ,组Ⅰ与组Ⅱ间的差异有显著性意义。治疗可见组Ⅰ、组Ⅱ患者所伴发的溃疡、PHG、AGML明显改善 ,PVD、SVD缩小。结论　普萘洛尔组联合抑制酸维持治疗 ,可预防引起消化道出血多种病因 ,较单用普萘洛尔的疗效好     

ADM对LNNA诱导的高血压心肌肥大的作用及机制探讨

本工作在ＬＮＮＡ经慢性ＮＯ封闭诱导的大鼠高血压心肌肥大模型上研究了ＡＤＭ对其心肌肥大和Ｍ５ＬＶ钠一钙交换功能损伤的作用。结果：一、较之对照组，ＬＮＮＡ组ＭＡＯ和ＬＶＩ分别增加５７．４％和１８。０％（Ｐ＜０．０１）．其ＭＳＬＶ经钠－钙交换蛋白的钙摄取则明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０１或０．０５）：二．ＡＤＭ组的ＭＡＰ和ＬＶＩ则分别较ＬＮＮＡ组降低１９．６％和１１．３％，而其ＭＳＬＶ的钙摄取则高于ＬＮＮＡ组（Ｐ＜０．０５）；三、对照组、ＬＮＮＡ组和ＡＤＭ组钠－钙交换蛋白摄取钙的Ｋｍ值分别为７．５１．７．０４和７．５７ｕＭ，而Ｖｍａｘ则分别为６．３８，４．３２和５．４５ｎｍｏｌ／。ｍｇｐｒ／ｍｉｎ。表明：ＡＤＭ能拮抗ＬＮＮＡ诱导的高血压心肌肥大和减轻其ＭＳｌｌＶ钠－钙交换功能的损伤，并且后者可能是ＡＤＭ拮抗心肌肥大的机制之一。揭示内源性ＡＤＭ的诱导和外源性给予ＡＤＭ可能有预防和／或延缓高血压心肌肥大发生发展的作用。     

Identification and characterization of a DR4-restricted T cell epitope within chlamydia heat shock protein 60

An epitope within the 60 kD Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein (hsp) 60, recognized by a HLA-DRB1*0401-restricted T cell clone from a reactive arthritis patient, has been characterized. Stimulatory peptides contained a nine amino acid sequence (residues 38–46) predicted by algorithm to confer strong binding to DRB1*0401, with valine in the P1 position. The overall length of the peptide was critical for efficient recognition; peptides with at least one residue N-terminal to the putative P1 position were markedly more stimulatory than a peptide whose N-terminal is the P1 valine. Optimal responses were seen with 14mer peptides having two to three amino acids N- and C-terminal to the core 9mer. The sequence of the defined epitope is identical in hsp60 from both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. Since the latter is a common respiratory pathogen, patients infected with C. trachomatis may already be primed for responses to hsp60 by prior infection with C. pneumoniae. Such secondary responses are important in the pathogenesis of chlamydia-induced inflammatory diseases such as trachoma. Priming by infection with enteric organisms was considered because of the similarity of the epitope sequence in Escherichia coli hsp60. However, although an E. coli-related peptide was recognized, intact E. coli hsp60 was not, suggesting that the epitope is cryptic in E. coli hsp60. Human hsp60 has six amino acid differences from chlamydial hsp60 in the epitope sequence and was not recognized. Thus cross-reactive recognition of self hsp60 could not be implicated in the pathogenesis of chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis in this patient.     

槐耳的研制及临床应用

槐耳是一种人药1500余年但已湮没300余年的重要药用真菌。它和其原料药材槐耳菌质近年来已被批准为中药国家一类新药，就有关槐耳的研制及其在肿瘤疾病方面的应用作一综述。     

Expression of Human Recombination Activating Genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) in Lymphoma

Two recently discovered genes, the recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (RAG-1 and RAG-2), are necessary to perform variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) recombination. They synergistically activate VDJ recombination to generate immunocompetent lymphocytes. Disruption of either gene results in a maturation arrest at a very early B and T cell progenitor stage. Expression and downregulation of RAG's are closely associated with interleukin 7, sIgM and TCR-CD3 complex, respectively. Assessment of RAG mRNA expression is a valuable marker in identifying the genotypic maturation status of leukemias and lymphomas. Persistent RAG expression in otherwise mature lymphoid proliferations may explain puzzling biological and clinical observations such as multiple rearrangements in lymphomas with a mature phenotype. Lack of RAG expression in Hodgkin's disease with abundant Reed-Stern-berg cells is consistent with a mature phenotype of the latter. Availability of a anti-RAG-1 monoclonal antibody in the near future will facilitate RAG analysis of lymphomas.     

Laparoscopic cecal ligation and puncture in the rat

Background: We describe a technique of laparoscopic cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the rat analogous to open CLP which may facilitate the study of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and peritonitis. Methods: Forty-four rats were randomized to either laparoscopic or open CLP and their 3-day mortality was recorded. Autopsies were performed for peritoneal fluid cultures, measurement of the length of ligated cecum, and scoring of the degree of cecal necrosis. Results: Laparoscopic CLP required slightly longer operating times compared to open CLP (average 15.6 vs 13.1 min, p= 0.002). Three-day postoperative mortality was 36.4% and 22.7% for open and laparoscopic CLP, respectively (p= NS). There were no differences in the length of ligated cecum or the cecal necrosis score between the open and laparoscopic CLP groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopic CLP is feasible and produces a fecal peritonitis with similar characteristics to those of traditional open CLP. Received: 3 July 1996/Accepted: 7 January 1997     

低温洗涤红细胞肺保护液对体外循环术后肺保护作用的研究

目的:探讨体外循环(cardiopulmonarybypass,CPB)术中采用低温洗涤红细胞肺保护液实施肺动脉灌注对肺的保护效果。方法:随机选取20例风湿性单纯二尖瓣病变合并中度肺动脉高压的患者,分为肺动脉灌注组和对照组(每组各10例)。灌注组在主动脉阻断后,经肺动脉根部间断灌注低温洗涤红细胞肺保护液,测定两组患者围术期的机械通气时间、肺血管阻力、白细胞比值(静脉血/动脉血)、肺循环血浆MDA含量。结果:体外循环术后灌注组机械通气时间显著低于对照组(P<0.05);各时点肺血管阻力、白细胞比值(静脉血/动脉血)、肺循环血浆MDA含量均显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:低温洗涤红细胞肺保护液肺动脉灌注对体外循环术后肺损伤有明显的保护作用.     

A retrospective mortality study of workers exposed to arsenic in a gold mine and refinery in France

A historical mortality study of a cohort of employees of a gold mining and refining company was carried out in Salsigne, France. A major goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between lung cancer mortality and exposure to arsenic, radon, silica, and other contaminants of the working environment. A twofold excess of lung cancer was found both among miners and smelters, mainly concentrated among workers who had experienced exposure to past levels of arsenic, radon, and silica. The consistency of the results in the mine and the refinery are suggestive of a carcinogenic risk from both soluble and insoluble arsenic, although the potential role of other factors cannot be dismissed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.