染料木黄酮通过上调血红素氧合酶-1表达减缓野百合碱诱导的大鼠肺动脉高压

目的研究染料木黄酮对野百合碱诱导的肺动脉高压大鼠肺组织血红素氧合酶-1(heme oxygenase-1,HO-1)表达的影响,探讨其减缓肺动脉高压的可能机制。方法 40只雄性SD大鼠随机分成正常对照组(n=10)、野百合碱组(n=10)、小剂量染料木黄酮治疗组(20μg/kg;n=10)、大剂量染料木黄酮治疗组(80μg/kg;n=10)。监测血流动力学变化及通过电子显微镜观察肺小动脉结构重塑,Westernblot检测肺组织HO-1的表达。结果染料木黄酮治疗组较野百合碱组大鼠平均肺动脉压降低(P<0.01),右心肥厚指数下调(P<0.01),大剂量组更显著(P<0.01)。染料木黄酮治疗组较野百合碱组大鼠肺组织HO-1表达上调(P<0.01),大剂量组更显著(P<0.01)。结论染料木黄酮能减缓野百合碱诱导的大鼠肺动脉高压,可能与上调大鼠肺组织HO-1表达有关。     

肺挫裂伤的CT与X线对比分析

目的探讨肺挫裂伤的CT和X线诊断价值。方法对45例临床拟诊为肺挫裂伤的患者行CT扫描及X线检查,并对检查结果进行对比分析。结果螺旋CT显示肺挫伤31例,肺裂伤14例;X线平片漏诊8例,误诊4例。结论 CT能明确挫裂伤的部位、性质及程度,对肺挫裂伤的诊断准确率明显高于X线平片,是目前诊断肺挫裂伤的最重要的检查手段。     

Potential allergenicity research of Cry1C protein from genetically modified rice

With the development of genetically modified crops, there has been a growing interest in available approaches to assess the potential allergenicity of novel gene products. We were not sure whether Cry1C could induce allergy. We examined the protein with three other proteins to determine the potential allergenicity of Cry1C protein from genetically modified rice. Female Brown Norway (BN) rats received 0.1 mg peanut agglutinin (PNA), 1 mg potato acid phosphatase (PAP), 1 mg ovalbumin (OVA) or 5 mg purified Cry1C protein dissolved in 1 mL water by daily gavage for 42 days to test potential allergenicity. Ten days after the last gavage, rats were orally challenged with antigens, and physiologic and immunologic responses were studied. In contrast to sensitization with PNA, PAP and OVA Cry1C protein did not induce antigen-specific IgG2a in BN rats. Cytokine expression, serum IgE and histamine levels and the number of eosinophils and mast cells in the blood of Cry1C group rats were comparable to the control group rats, which were treated with water alone. As Cry1C did not show any allergenicity, we make the following conclusion that the protein could be safety used in rice or other plants.     

Atrial septostomy in treatment of end-stage right heart failure in patients with pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) failure is the main cause of death in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) is believed to relieve symptoms of PH by increasing systemic flow and reducing RV preload. METHODS: Fourteen BAS procedures were performed in 11 patients (5 men and 6 women; mean [+/- SD] age, 33 +/- 12 years) with RV failure in the course of PH that was refractory to conventional treatment. BAS consisted of a puncture of the interatrial septum and subsequent dilatations with balloons of increasing diameter in a step-by-step manner. RESULTS: After BAS, the mean oxygen saturation of aortic blood decreased (before, 93 +/- 4%; after, 84 +/- 4%; p = 0.001), while mean cardiac index increased (before, 1.54 +/- 0.34 L/min/m(2); after, 1.78 +/- 0.35 L/min/m(2); p = 0.001), resulting in a positive trend for mean systemic oxygen transport (before, 270 +/- 64 mL/min; after, 286 +/- 81 mL/min; p = 0.08). Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) slightly increased immediately after the procedure, and this rise inversely correlated with mixed venous blood partial oxygen pressure both before BAS (r = -0.69; p = 0.009) and after BAS (r = -0.64; p = 0.018). Mean functional class improved from 3.2 +/- 0.4 to 2.6 +/- 0.7 (p = 0.03) after 1 month. At follow-up (mean time to follow-up, 8.1 +/- 6.2 months; range, 0.8 to 20.2 months), seven patients died and two underwent lung transplantation. There was no difference in the survival rate compared to that obtained from National Institutes of Health equation. A significant size reduction in the created defect was observed in six patients, requiring repeat BAS procedures in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: The current BAS technique improves cardiac index and functional class without significant periprocedural complications, except for a transient increase in PVR related to acute desaturation of mixed venous blood. At long-term follow-up, a high incidence of spontaneous decrease in orifice size has been observed.     

Aging defined by a chronologic-replicative protein network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: An interactome analysis

Aging is a multifactorial condition that results in the loss of an organism's fitness over time. Different theories have been formulated to explain the mechanisms of aging, but a synthesis of these theories has not been possible until now. In addition, the increase in molecular data gathered by proteomics projects utilizing different organisms has permitted a better picture of proteins that function in aging. In this sense, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a biological model for aging, and it shows two distinct aging states: a replicative state termed the replicative lifespan (RLS) and a quiescent state known as the chronological lifespan (CLS). Interestingly, both RLS and CLS appear to share common groups of proteins, but a combined model of both aging mechanisms has not been defined. Thus, by applying systems biology tools that allow mining of the yeast proteins associated with aging, it was possible to obtain an interactome network in which both RLS and CLS are represented. In addition, four subgraphs comprising ubiquitin-dependent proteasome/regulation of cell growth, nucleic acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism/RNA metabolism, and carbohydrate-organic acid-amino acid/DNA metabolism were found within the interactome, defining a new model of aging for yeast termed the chronologic-replicative protein network (CRPN).     

An approach to post‐radical trachelectomy vaginal‐isthmus cytology

Radical trachelectomy (RT) is the surgical amputation of the uterine cervix with paracervical lymphadenectomy, performed in reproductive age women to treat invasive squamous‐cell carcinoma or endocervical adenocarcinoma while preserving the uterine corpus for potential child bearing. Post‐RT patient monitoring includes isthmic‐vaginal cytology. This study reviews our experience with liquid based preparation of post‐RT cytology samples. Fifty‐four post‐RT vaginal‐isthmic cytology specimens were reviewed from nine patients, seven with adenocarcinoma, and two with squamous‐cell carcinoma. Five patients had normal (NILM) or normal with reactive changes on all cytology samples. Two patients had isolated squamous abnormalities (atypical squamous‐cells of uncertain significance (ASC‐US) and low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)); both follow‐up biopsies were negative. Two patients had repeatedly abnormal specimens interpreted as atypical glandular cells (AGC), one of whom also had a concurrent ASC‐US. Only one sample was tested for high risk human papilloma virus (hrHPV), with negative results. All patients with abnormal cytology went on to have biopsies which were interpreted as benign. The cytology specimens most often interpreted as AGC contained many groups of hyperchromatic crowded glandular cells and/or stromal cells derived from direct sampling of the lower uterine segment. The crowding often limits visualization of all the cells in a group, plus sampled endometrium may harbor mitoses, adding to the atypical appearance. Cytologists should become familiar with the spectrum of changes in the post‐RT cytology. Testing for hrHPV should be considered for use in the management of abnormal cytology results. Post RT cytology should be compared with presurgical cytology since one would anticipate similarities in post‐RT true positive cases. In particular, a primary diagnosis of adenocarcinoma makes differentiating benign reactive glandular cells from recurrence a critical issue. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Biochemical markers in oncology. Part I: molecular basis. Part II: clinical uses

The investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression has led to the development of numerous biochemical markers. Biochemical markers may serve for early prediction of tumor recurrence, progression and development of metastases including bone metastases and for prediction of response to therapy. Tumor antigens have been used for more than a decade and although they have shown promising clinical results, their sensitivity and specificity remain limited. A lot of knowledge on the key molecules which control cell cycle, apoptosis and angiogenesis has been acquired during recent years, but their clinical value remains uncertain. Molecular markers which are linked to malignant transformation may provide a non-surgical therapeutic approach by targeting these molecules through gene therapy or antisense molecules. Because of the complexity of the physiopathogical processes involved in tumorogenesis and metastases, we first provide a review on the molecular basis of the various tumor markers and then discuss their potential clinical utility for the major cancers. The review of the current literature indicates that at the exception of a few examples, such as the use of Her-2 to predict response of the targeted Herceptin therapy, no single marker is sensitive and specific enough to perform an accurate diagnosis, predict disease progression or response to treatment. A combination of different biochemical and imaging markers appears to be the most promising strategy to monitor patients with cancer.