Use of the 90Sr applicator for intraoperative radiation therapy in a mouse tumor model

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) research is limited by the lack of small-animal models. We have implanted B16 melanoma into mouse kidneys, which we subsequently operated upon and irradiated with beta rays from a ⁹⁰Sr ophthalmic applicator. The IORT has effectively prolonged survival and produced some cures. The strategy should be applicable to other murine tumors and to other internal implantation sites.     

A clinical and genetic study of 56 Saudi Wilson disease patients: identification of Saudi-specific mutations

Wilson disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder, with recessive transmission and genetic heterogeneity. Several mutations of ATP7B, the gene underlying WD, were reported in many ethnic groups. In this study, mutation screening in ATP7B of 56 Saudi Arabian WD patients was undertaken. The clinical data of all patients were recorded. The entire ATP7B coding sequence, including intron-exon boundaries were screened for mutation by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mutation detection technique and DNA sequencing. Thirty-nine patients were symptomatic at presentation and 17 subjects were pre-symptomatic siblings of affected patients. Fourteen patients had neurological, 11 patients had mixed (hepatic and neurological), and 14 patients had hepatic presentations. Family history suggestive of WD was present in 72% of cases and 68% had consanguineous parents. Genetic analysis showed disease-causing mutations in three exons (exons 8, 19 and 21) of the ATP7B gene in 28 patients (50%). Mutations in exons 21 (18 cases) and 19 (one case) were unique for Saudis. This large series of Saudi patients with WD has shown wide variability in the genomic substrate of WD. There is no correlation between genotype and clinical presentation.     

异氟醚控制性降压对颅内动脉瘤夹闭术血中S100B含量的影响

目的　测定颅内动脉瘤夹闭前后血中S1 0 0B蛋白含量 ,研究异氟醚控制性降压对脑功能的影响。方法　择期颅内动脉瘤夹闭术病人 30例 ,ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级 ,随机分为两组 :异氟醚降压组 (n=1 5 )和异氟醚非降压组 (n =1 5 )。非降压组术中吸入 1MAC异氟醚维持麻醉。降压组行异氟醚控制性降压 ,平均动脉压下降幅度 30 %～ 4 0 % ,夹闭动脉瘤后降低异氟醚吸入浓度 ,终止降压。分别于切皮前、动脉瘤夹闭后即刻、2、4h、术后第 1、2天取血测定S1 0 0B蛋白含量 ,并于术后 1周随访病人 ,记录有无术后神经系统并发症。结果　 (1 )异氟醚降压后 30min平均动脉压由诱导前的 (95 2± 1 2 3)mmHg降至 (5 8 8± 5 4 )mmHg ,停止降压后 30min血压回升至 (75 1± 8 3)mmHg。降压后外周血管阻力及心肌收缩加速度下降 ,但心率及心输出量均无显著性变化 ;(2 )异氟醚降压组与非降压组间同一时间点血中S1 0 0B蛋白浓度无明显差异。降压组术后第 1天及第 2天血中S1 0 0B蛋白浓度均显著升高 (F =2 94 4 ,P =0 0 1 8)。结论　在颅内动脉瘤夹闭术中应用异氟醚控制性降压可能加重了术后脑损伤 ,不利于病人围麻醉期脑功能的保护     

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus DNA replicative intermediate forms by recombinant interferon-γ

AIM: To evaluate the in vitro anti-HBV activity of recombinant human IFN-γ, alone and in combination with lamivudine. METHODS: A recombinant baculovirus-HBV/HepG2 culture system was developed which could support productive HBV infection in vitro. Expression of HBsAg and HBeAg in infected HepG2 culture medium was detected by commercial enzyme immunoassays. HBV DNA replication intermediates were detected in infected cells by Southern hybridization and viral DNA load was determined by dot hybridization. RESULTS: IFN-γat 0.1 to 5μg/L efficiently down regulated HBsAg expression in transduced HepG2 cells. At 5μg/L, IFN-γalso suppressed HBV DNA replication in these cells. While treatment with a combination of lamivudine and IFN-γshowed no additive effect, sequential treatment first with lamivudine and then IFN-γwas found to be promising. In this culture system the best HBV suppression was observed with a pulse of 2μmol/L lamivudine for two days, followed by 1μg/L IFN-γfor another four days. Compared to treatment with lamivudine alone, the sequential use of 0.2μmol/L lamivudine for two days, followed by 5μg/L IFN-γfor six days showed a 72% reduction in HBV cccDNA pool. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study warrants further evaluation of a combination of IFN-γand lamivudine, especially in IFN-αnon-responder chronic hepatitis B patients. A reduced duration of lamivudine treatment would also restrict the emergence of drug-resistant HBV mutants.     

An Unusual Form of Skin Tuberculosis Following B.C.G. Vaccination

A 25-year-old female has had brown to erythematous telangiectatic patches and grouped papules on her face, neck, arm, and trunk since childhood following B.C.G. vaccination. Histopathologically, the lesions consisted of hyperkeratosis, slight acanthosis, tuberculoid granulomas with some Langerhans type giant cells in the mid-dermis. Although various forms of cutaneous tuberculosis after B.C.G. vaccination have been reported, it was difficult for us to assign the patient's skin lesion to any specific disease entity. Remission of her cutaneous lesions occurred clinically and histopathologically after treatment with isoniazid and rifampin.     

甲乙型肝炎血清MAO同工酶活性变化研究

用荧光分光光度法检测了血清单胺氧化酶（ＭＡＯ）同工酶Ａ（ＭＡＯ－Ａ）和同工酶Ｂ（ＭＡＯ－Ｂ）活性，结果表明血清ＭＡＯ－Ｂ活性急性期甲肝组较正常对照组显著升高，慢性期乙肝极显著升高；二型肝炎组的ＭＡＯ－Ａ活性升高程度无统计学意义。二型肝炎ＭＡＯ同工酶活性改变与其它肝功生化指标无明显相关性，表现血清ＭＡＯ同工酶活性与肝功损害程度不相关。     

糖尿病中促动脉粥样硬化因素的探讨

我们对64例糖尿病患者和20名正常人的糖代谢、脂代谢、血小板和血管内皮细胞前列腺素代谢的水平进行了临床观察。发现糖尿病患者载脂蛋白B、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、总脂固醇、甘油三酯和血栓素B_2的浓度均有不同程度的升高,而载脂蛋白A_1、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和6-酮前列腺素F_(1α)的浓度则下降。同时糖代谢异常与脂代谢紊乱、糖代谢异常与前列腺素代谢物水平、以及脂代谢紊乱与前列腺素代谢物水平之间均无明显关系。推想糖尿病中促动脉粥样硬化的各种高危因素可能从不同的角度作用于血管壁,促进动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展。     

Abnormalities in immune regulation precede the development of multiple myeloma.

Immunosuppression of immunoglobulin synthesis seen in patients with multiple myeloma is in part due to immunosuppressive CD5 positive B cells. In a 13 year longitudinal study of an IgA-deficient blood donor who developed multiple myeloma, the presence of immunosuppressive CD5 positive B cells and T cells preceded the diagnosis of overt multiple myeloma and the appearance of immunosuppressive monocytes. These data argue that certain immune defects may be involved in the development of myeloma and are not simply a consequence of overt malignancy.     

前列腺素E1治疗慢性乙型肝炎黄疸的观察

目的观察前列腺素E1治疗慢性乙型肝炎重度黄疸的疗效。方法在综合治疗基础上，分别使用前列腺素E1（治疗组）和门冬氨酸钾镁（对照组）治疗慢性乙型肝炎重度黄疸患者各35例，并观察其症状、体征及肝、肾功能等，疗程4周。结果治疗组的症状、体征及肝功能指标及总有效率，均显著优于对照组，两组比较差异有显著意义（P〈0．05）。结论前列腺素E1治疗慢性乙型肝炎重度黄疸能显著地促进黄疸消退和改善肝功能。