Increased plasma cathepsin D concentration in hepatic carcinoma and cirrhosis but not in breast cancer

Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay, plasma total cathepsin D concentration was assayed in 40 breast cancer patients and 84 patients with various liver diseases and compared to that of 52 normal subjects. There were no significant variations found in breast cancer patients related to tumor size, node invasiveness or metastases. In normal women, cathepsin D levels were slightly but not significantly increased in the luteal phase and in pregnancy. By contrast, plasma cathepsin D concentration was significantly increased in 70-75% of patients with liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma, hepatitis), but not in those with liver steatosis. Cathepsin D was independent of most of the plasma hepatic function tests and was correlated with alpha-fetoprotein in cirrhosis and with alpha-fucosidase in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. We conclude that plasma cathepsin D is not a useful marker in breast cancer. However, since the cellular level of this protease is associated with risk of metastasis in breast cancer, clinical follow-up will be required to test whether high cathepsin D plasma concentration has any prognostic value in liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocarcinoma.     

早期DSA检查对蛛网膜下腔出血的临床意义

蛛网膜下腔出血（subarachnoid hemorrhage，SAH）是临床发病率和死亡率均较高的急性脑血管病之一，并呈逐年增高趋势。随着神经介入影像学的发展，对急性SAH患早期（72h内1开展数字减影血管造影（digital subtraction angiography．DSA）检查，使SAH的早期病因诊断及病因治疗成为可能，患的预后也得到显改善。我院自2003年1月至2006年4月收治96例SAH患行早期DSA检查并给予相应的病因治疗．取得较好的临床疗效。现将有关资料与临床治疗总结报道如下。[第一段]     

Monoclonal antibody production to human and bovine 2′:3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase): high-specificity recognition in whole brain acetone powders and conservation of sequence between CNP1 and CNP2

Monoclonal antibodies against human and bovine 2′:3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) were generated by fusing FOX-NY myeloma cells with spleen cells from RBF/Dn mice previously immunized with the purified brain antigens. The enzyme isolated from bovine brain was quite basic, with an isoelectric point of 9.71 and both the bovine and human enzymes consisted of a closely spaced doublet at approximately 44 and 46 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Six monoclonals were identified as strongly recognizing the enzyme on both ELISA plates and on immunoblots of whole brain protein. Four monoclonals very weakly cross-reacted with guinea pig myelin basic protein. In contrast with two previous reports, some of our monoclonal antibodies did immunostain 2 or 3 protein bands in peripheral nerve, two bands closely corresponding to those immunostained in central nervous system (CNS) myelin, the Wolfgram protein fraction and in acetone powders of whole brain. Each of the 6 monoclonals reacting strongly on immunoblots recognized the enzyme in from 2 to 5 of the species examined (human, bovine, rat, mouse and rabbit). In addition, all 6 monoclonals that immunostained the enzyme in whole brain, myelin and Wolfgram protein immunoblots recognized both CNP1 (44 kDa) and CNP2 (46 kDa). The two closely spaced protein bands observed on SDS-PAGE and previously stained on immunoblots of CNS CNPase using polyvalent rabbit anti-bovine CNPase antisera, and now different monoclonal antibodies, appear to be immunologically related and to contain highly conserved sequences.     

颞耳岩锥长轴方向的确定和应用

用头颅表面两个标志点确定岩锥长轴方向，指导梅氏（Ｍａｙｅｒ）位和斯氏（Ｓｔｅｎｖｅｒｓ）位摄影操作。对１２０例正常头颅ＣＴ图像进行测量，进行统计学处理，确定正常人岩锥长轴前延长线与头颅表面交点的大概位置。结果为：岩锥长轴前延长线交于对侧听眦线外眦后０．８２～２．９０ｃｍ区间，平均值左为１．６６ｃｍ，右为１．８２ｃｍ。结论，以平均值的邻值２ｃｍ为常数，即对侧听眦线外眦后２ｃｍ为岩锥长轴前延长线的前端体表定位标志，与其后端的乳突最突点共同确定岩锥长轴方向。     

Chemical traumatization of adult mouse olfactory epithelium in situ stimulates growth and differentiation of olfactory neurons in vitro

This study demonstrates that ZnSO₄ induced chemical trauma results in an in situ regeneration of the olfactory epithelium which, when maintained in vitro, provides an enriched population of olfactory neurons. Therefore, the ability of the olfactory epithelium to respond to chemical trauma with increased mitotic activity can be used to increase growth of neurons in culture. Tissue obtained from normal or vehicle-treated adult mice produced few olfactory neurons, when maintained in culture, compared to cultures established from tissue following an in situ ZnSO₄ trauma. Maximal neuronal yields were obtained in cultures established from tissue that was removed 4–6 days following chemical trauma. The morphological appearance and the presence of cell specific intermediate filament proteins were used to classify the cell types in these olfactory epithelial cultures. Single cells and aggregates of cells which were immunopositive for keratin, but immunonegative for neurofilament protein and GFAP, were identified as epithelioid. Flattened polygonal cells immunopositive for GFAP were identified as glia. A small population of flattened cells was immunonegative for all of the antibodies used in this study. Cells that had processes were immunonegative for GFAP and keratin. Some were immunopositive for 200 kDa and 160 kDa neurofilament proteins but immunonegative for the 68 kDa neurofilament protein. A few of these cells showed positive immunoreactivity with the olfactory marker protein (OMP) antibody and most likely represented the most mature olfactory neurons in the cultures. This trauma-induced culture model using olfactory tissue from adult mice can serve as a source of CNS neurons for comparison with cultured embryonic neurons.     

Digital movement analysis,a new objective method of measuring tardive dyskinesia and drug-induced parkinsonian tremor: acceptability,reliability and validity

Digital movment analysis (DMA) is a new instrumental approach to assessing oral tardive dyskinesia (TD) by means of digital image processing of a video signal, tracking five paper dots placed around the patient's mouth. A total of 40 schizophrenic patients, 30 with and 10 without TD, were examined twice (with a 3-month interval) with this new device. The patients were further examined with two TD rating scales: the St. Hans Rating Scale for extrapyramidal syndromes (SHRS) and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).The schizophrenic patients accepted the instrumental assessment without any anxiety or resistance. The internal relibility of the apparatus was high, with correlation coefficients of 0.80–0.99. The DMA TD values correlated with the SHRS and AIMS scores with correlation coefficients of 0.48–0.73 indicating an acceptable, although not strong, concurrent validity. Fluctuations occurred from the first to the second examination independent of medication. For these fluctuations no correlation was found between DMA values and rating scores. Finally, the DMA device was able to detect perioral tremor as a sign of parkinsonism.It has been concluded that DMA is a useful supplement to classical TD rating, although further validity evaluation is warranted.     

EVALUATION OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DIAGNOSIS OF RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

Objective To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of regularly used immunohistochemical markers, including Vimentin (Vim), Desmin (Des), Myoglobin (MG), Myosin (MS), Smooth-muscle actin (SMA) and Sarcomeric actin ( Sr-A ) , in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Methods After resection, 24 RMSs and other childhood tumor specimens were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin and embeded in paraffin. The immunohistochemical staining was performed by LSAB procedure. Heat-induced epitope retrieval of Des, MS, Sr-A was processed in order to enhence positive rate and positive strength. Results Vim, MG, MS, Des, Sr-A, SMA were arranged in the order of sensitivity from higher to lower. About specificity, Sr-A, Des, SMA, MG, Vim standed in a sequence from higher to lower ( the data of MS is insufficient) ; Des, MG, Sr-A possessedhigher experimental efficiency, followed by SMA, Vim in a succession. Conclusion Vim and MG are of the higher sensitivity but lower specificity. On the reverse, Sr-A and Des hoM the better specificity but lower sensitivity. So the combination of multiple antibody reactions shouM be considered to improve the diagnostic ability in poorly differentiated RMS. According to the result of experimental efficiency, we suggest that the combination of Des, MG and Sr-A can make it possible to diagnose the majority of RMS clearly.     

肝癌病人血浆和癌组织中血栓调节蛋白的检测

目的　检测肝癌病人血浆和肝癌组织中血栓调节蛋白 (TM )的表达 ,探讨TM与肝癌临床病理特征的关系。方法　用酶联免疫吸附夹心法检测 45例肝癌和 6例肝良性占位病人手术前后的血浆TM水平 ;用免疫组织化学法检测肝癌及肝良性占位组织中的TM蛋白表达水平。结果　术前肝癌组血浆TM水平 ( 10 .2± 5 .7)ng/mL明显高于肝良性占位组 ( 6.1± 2 .2 )ng/mL和正常人对照组 ( 5 .7± 1.0 )ng/mL ,P <0 .0 5 ;术前TM血浆水平肝癌伴门静脉癌栓组 ( 6.9± 4.5 )ng/mL和多发肝癌结节组 ( 8.1± 4.6)ng/mL明显低于无门静脉癌栓组( 11.4± 5 .6)ng/mL和单发肝癌结节组 ( 11.5± 5 .9)ng/mL ,P <0 .0 5 ;40例肝癌病人肝癌切除术前TM水平( 10 .8± 5 .3 )ng/mL与肝癌切除术后 ( 7.6± 4.2 )ng/mL相比差异显著 ,P <0 .0 5。肝良性占位组术前与术后相比差异无显著性 ,P >0 .0 5。肝癌组织中TM蛋白表达阳性的病人术前血浆TM水平明显高于TM表达阴性者 ,P <0 .0 5 ;而术后血浆TM水平两者则无显著性差异 ,P >0 .0 5。结论　肝癌病人血浆中TM水平升高 ,TM水平的高低与门静脉癌栓的形成有关     

Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.