Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in induced sputum in asthmatic patients

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly expressed in the airway of asthmatic patients. As VEGF increases airway vascular permeability, consequent thickening of the airway wall mucosa may lead to narrowing of the airway lumen. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the relationship between VEGF levels in induced sputum and eosinophilic inflammatory profiles, and the degree of airway vascular permeability in asthmatic patients and we evaluated the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on VEGF levels in induced sputum. METHODS: Induced sputum specimens were obtained from 28 glucocorticosteroids free asthmatics and 11 healthy control subjects. We examined VEGF levels and airway vascular permeability index in induced sputum. After the initial sputum induction, 21 asthmatics received 8-week inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP, 800 micro g/day) therapy, then sputum induction was repeated. RESULTS: The VEGF levels in asthmatics were significantly higher than in healthy control subjects (P < 0.0001). The VEGF levels were negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume of 1 s (FEV1, % predicted, r = - 0.68, P < 0.001), the percentage of eosinophils (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) and ECP levels (r = 0.39, P < 0.05). Moreover, the VEGF levels were significantly correlated with airway vascular permeability index (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). After 8-week inhaled BDP therapy, the VEGF levels were significantly decreased compared to pretreatment levels (P < 0.0001) and the VEGF levels were significantly correlated with airway vascular permeability index even in post-treatment asthmatics (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The VEGF levels in induced sputum were increased in asthmatics and its levels were associated with degree of airway narrowing and airway vascular permeability. These findings provide strong evidence that VEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.     

Salivary prekallikrein output during the ranger training‐induced stress

Saliva can be considered a mirror of the body, reflecting its general conditions. The present study was conducted to identify the changes in specific neurotransmitter and prekallikrein levels in saliva and the correlations between changes in neuroendocrine factors in plasma and saliva after intensive physical training of rangers of Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF). The subjects were 14 young uniformed males (aged 20–26 years old) who underwent ranger training under the control of the 4th Division of the JGSDF. Before training began and after 30 days of hard training, the levels of prekallikrein, β‐endorphin, serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in saliva and plasma were routinely measured. The level of prekallikrein in saliva was significantly increased after training, and the level of β‐endorphin in saliva showed an upward trend after the training. The level of prekallikrein in plasma showed a significant decrease after the training, while the level of β‐endorphin was unchanged. Average concentrations of values in serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in plasma were significantly increased after the training. These findings suggest that the comparison of levels of prekallikrein and β‐endorphin in saliva and plasma may give useful insights for the estimation of stress‐induced analgesia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

孕34～37周合并胎膜早破的处理

目的 :比较孕 34～ 37wk合并胎膜早破引产与观察2种方法何者为合理 .方法 :对孕 34～ 36 + 6wk合并胎膜早破产妇 4 6例 ,随机分成 2组 :催产素引产组 (2 5例 )及观察组(2 1例 ) .结果 :两组胎膜早破时孕周及新生儿体质量无显著差异 ,母亲住院时间观察组明显延长 (P <0 .0 1) ,新生儿发病率无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) .结论 :孕 34wk以上合并胎膜早破积极引产处理是安全的 ,可以降低母亲及新生儿发病率     

IL-2对正常人外周血活化淋巴细胞经Fas系统介导凋亡的影响

目的：观察白细胞介素2（IL－2）对正常人外周血淋巴细胞经Fas系统介导凋亡的敏感性变化。方法：经植物血凝素活化的人外周血淋巴细胞用IL－2培养1，4，7d后，经抗Fas单抗诱导其凋亡，分别检测其凋亡现象，比较各组凋亡率，并以四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法分别检测细胞存活率。结果：活化的人外周血淋巴细胞用IL－2培养0,1,4,7d后，经抗Fas单抗诱导24h，其凋亡率随IL－2培养时间的延长及抗Fas单抗剂量的增加而显著增中，存活率显著降低，即与IL－2的培养有时间依赖性，与抗Fas单抗有剂量依赖性。结论：IL－2的孵育可增加活化淋巴细胞对经Fas途径介导凋亡的敏感性。     

CIK细胞的表型分析及生物学活性研究

目的　体外诱导培养细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞 (CIK) ,并研究其表型及生物学活性。方法　从外周血分离淋巴细胞 ,经过IFN γ、CD3McAb及IL 2诱导并培养 ,获得大量的CIK细胞。FACS测定CIK表面CD3CD5 6、CD3、CD5 4、HLA DR、CD11a、CD2 8、CD86、CD80等CD分子表达情况及其百分率 ,3 H TdR检测其增殖能力 ,MTT法检测CIK对胃癌MGC 80 3细胞、肝癌Bel 74 0 2细胞的杀伤活性。结果　CIK细胞高度表达CD3、CD5 4、CD11a,中度表达CD3CD5 6、HLA DR、CD2 8CD5 4、CD2 8,不表达CD86、CD80 ,且具有较强的增殖能力及非MHC限制性杀瘤活性。结论　IFN γ、CD3McAb及IL 2三种细胞因子体外诱导单个核细胞可获得具有高增殖活性及较强杀瘤活性的CIK细胞     

The balance between endotoxin accumulation and clearance during particle-induced osteolysis in murine calvaria.

Bacterial endotoxin may contribute to aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants even in the absence of clinical or microbiological evidence of infection. One potential source of endotoxin during aseptic loosening is systemically circulating endotoxin, derived from intestinal flora, minor infections, or dental procedures, that may bind to wear particles. The current study demonstrates that systemically derived endotoxin accumulates when 'endotoxin-free' titanium and polyethylene particles are implanted on murine calvaria. Time-course experiments and experiments using germ-free mice rule out the possibility that the observed endotoxin accumulation may be due to bacterial contamination. In contrast, endotoxin is cleared from titanium particles that originally carry high amounts of adherent endotoxin. The mechanism of endotoxin clearance is not dependent on induction of a respiratory burst. Taken together, these results indicate that a balance between endotoxin accumulation and endotoxin clearance controls the steady-state level of endotoxin surrounding orthopedic wear particles implanted on murine calvaria. This balance may regulate the rate of osteolysis in the murine calvaria model as well as in patients with aseptic loosening.     

Mechanical and thermal effects in striated muscle irradiated by ns-laserpulses

The therapeutic application of laser light is required to minimize defects in the non-irradiated tissue. The primary mechanism of interaction is determined by the duration of laser action. In the case of continuous wave laser light a tissue layer surrounding the irradiated volume is thermally affected. With the pulses of a Q-switched laser (duration some ns) tissue cutting will be obtained by the laser-induced breakdown. To be able to distinguish between thermal and mechanical effects by histological examination, experiments were performed with laser pulse durations of 8ns and 100μs under the same conditions with a Nd-YAG laser at 1064nm. The beam was focused through air below the tissue surface. The beam geometry in the focal region was identical for both cases. The defective region after irradiation could be divided into four zones surrounding a crater. In the μs-experiments the zones corresponded to the temperature distribution in the tissue, so the changes were all classified as thermal. In the ns-experiments, in general larger craters were found. Increasing the number of pulses to 200 the picture is similar to that produced with μs-pulses. These results show that a few ns-pulses suffice to form a crater. Additional ns-pulses lead to heat accumulation and produce thermal lesions like those of the μs-case.     

新生儿脐血浆内皮素与妊高征的关系

目的 :探讨新生儿脐血浆内皮素 (ET)水平与妊高征严重程度的关系。方法 :应用放射免疫法分别对 31例妊高征孕妇的新生儿 ,10例正常妊娠妇女的新生儿脐血浆ET水平测定。结果 :妊高征孕妇的新生儿脐血浆ET水平明显高于正常孕妇的新生儿 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,但在妊高征Ⅲ度之间无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :妊高征引起的ET升高是导致胎儿宫内窘迫的重要原因之一。无论妊高征的严重程度如何都会引起新生儿血浆ET水平的升高     

雷凡诺尔中期引产孕妇血清SP_1、hPL、hCG水平测定

本文应用放射免疫法对雷凡诺尔引产孕妇进行了血清SP_1、hPL、hCG水平测定,其结果血清SP_1、hPL、hCG于注药前、注药后24小时、流产或流产后4小时内,逐渐下降。作者认为雷凡诺尔引产并非药物对子宫机械性刺激及药物本身作用引起宫缩导致流产,而是同时伴有胎盘功能改变,从而导致血清SP_1、hPL、hCG含量下降。     

精氨酸加压素和禁水大鼠氧惊厥潜伏期延长的关系

急性氧中毒又称惊厥型氧中毒或氧惊厥。尽管人们很早认识到这种疾病 ,而且其发病原因非常明确 ,但目前对其发病的具体机制仍不清楚 ,有关急性氧中毒研究的报道 ,以递质代谢失常[1] 及药物预防[2 ] 方面的居多。我们以往的研究发现 ,在氧惊厥过程中 ,某些神经肽 ,如精氨酸加压素(ＡＶＰ)、内啡肽等的含量出现显著变化 ,外源性注射ＡＶＰ有抗氧惊厥作用[3 ] 。但内源性ＡＶＰ是否也能发挥这样的作用 ?目前还没有明确的证据。本研究通过观察不同禁水时程对动物中枢及外周ＡＶＰ水平及氧惊厥潜伏期的影响 ,初步探讨内源性ＡＶＰ与氧惊厥的关系。…