定量RT-PCR法检测CK20 mRNA、CEAmRNA在胃肠道肿瘤外周血中的表达

目的检测胃癌、大肠癌、健康人外周血cK20 mRNA、CEA mRNA的表达，探讨其临床意义。方法用定量RT—PCR法检测外周血白细胞中CK20 mRNA、CEA mRNA的含量，肿瘤组30人，健康对照组23人。结果试验结果显示肿瘤组CEA mRNA、CK20 mRNA表达水平明显高于健康对照组（P=0．000、P=0．000）。分组比较中Ⅳ期CK20 mRNA明显高于Ⅰ～Ⅲ期，P为0．000，差异显著；Ⅳ期与Ⅰ～Ⅲ期CEA mRNA没有差别。肿瘤组其中之一阳性28人，阳性率93．75％；两指标同时阳性22人，阳性率73．33％。结论本试验胃癌、大肠癌外周血检测CEA mRNA敏感性和特异性高于CK20 mRNA，但CEA mRNA数值高低与分期无关，CK20 mRNA的表达量与肿瘤分期有关。两指标联合检测未提高阳性率。     

CK19、RET、Survivin在甲状腺乳头状癌及淋巴细胞性甲状腺炎中表达的意义

目的:探讨淋巴细胞性甲状腺炎(LT)与甲状腺乳头状癌(PTC)之间的关系。方法:选取手术切除并经病理证实的26例LT、26例PTC及28例LT合并PTC组织,应用免疫组织化学法检测细胞角蛋白19、RET、Sur-vivin蛋白的表达。结果:CK19、RET、Survivin在LT合并PTC中的癌组织与癌周淋巴细胞性甲状腺炎组织中的表达均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。在单纯PTC及LT合并PTC两组淋巴结转移状况的比较中,Survivin的阳性率在周围淋巴结转移组均高于无淋巴结转移组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:(1)LT与PTC的关系密切,LT可被认为是一种癌前病变。(2)Survivin蛋白的表达与PTC及LT合并PTC的淋巴结转移呈正相关,可以作为判断其转移倾向的参考指标。     

Clinical features, laboratory findings and differential diagnosis of benign acute childhood myositis

We report clinical and laboratory data from 32 children with benign acute childhood myositis (BACM), children who presented with calf tenderness and gait abnormality. Laboratory evidence of a viral infection was evident in 23 patients, while serum creatine phosphokinase was uniformly increased (558 to 6800 U/L). Twenty-five patients (78.1%) were given a diagnosis other than BACM by their general practitioner or paediatrician. All patients made a rapid recovery within one week. We conclude that BACM should be encountered among the main causes of sudden-onset gait abnormality in young children.     

RA患者血清CK组分定量检测及其临床意义

目的:探讨RA病人血清CK组分定量检测及临床意义。方法:采用美国全自动免疫散射速率比法,对32名RA患者和30名正常人血清分析测定RF、Ig组分和CRP水平。结果:CRP和IgG-CO水平均高于正常对照组水平。结论:分析Ig和CRP水平可用于RA的病情判断及其预后判断,有十分重要实用价值。     

Reduced tolerance to reperfusion-associated injury in hearts from myopathic hamsters

Summary This study was done to evaluate the response of myopathic hearts from dystrophic hamsters to 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Hearts from male and female normal animals recovered 77±6% and 64±5% of their contractile force respectively following reperfusion whereas only 34±8% (male) and 34±7% (female) recovery was seen in myopathic hearts (P<0.01). Substantial sustained contractures were observed ruring reperfusion in hearts from dystrophic animals irrespective of gender whereas none were seen with control hearts. Reperfusion produced a rapid release of CPK that peaked at 5 minutes (approximate coronary effluent concentration of 40 mU/ml) and remained elevated for the reperfusion duration. Peak CPK values for normal hearts were reached at 10 minutes following reperfusion, were significantly lower from the myopathic hearts and returned to near control levels at the end of the 30 minute reperfusion period. Reducing Ca²⁺ in the perfusion medium by up to 80% or perfusing the hearts with the Ca²⁺-channel blocker verapamil produced no beneficial effects. Changes in the above parameters produced by ischemia or heart rate alterations throughout the perfusion sequence were not different between normal and myopathic hearts. This study shows a sensitivity of myopathic hearts that is manifested during reperfusion. Possible mechanisms for this reduced tolerance are discussed.     

Can clinical signs identify newborns with neuromuscular disorders?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively the prevalence of neuromuscular disorders in 83 newborns referred to a tertiary care center because of hypotonia and weakness and/or contractures, with a possible diagnosis of neuromuscular disorder. We also aimed to establish whether clinical signs could help to identify infants with neuromuscular disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-six of the 83 infants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (79.5%) had an identifiable disorder, which was a neuromuscular disorder in 39 (46.9%). RESULTS: Absent or extremely reduced antigravity movements were mainly found in infants with neuromuscular disorders (sensitivity and specificity 97.4% and 75%), whereas partial range antigravity movements were more frequent in infants with other diagnosis. Contractures were mainly found in infants with peripheral nerve or muscle involvement but also were relatively frequent in infants with genetic or metabolic syndromes (sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 61.3%). Reduced fetal movements and abnormal liquor were frequent but not present consistently in infants with neuromuscular disorders (sensitivity 46.1% and 38.4%) and were found rarely in infants with other disorders (specificity 88.6% and 75.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Severe muscle weakness and contractures are the most reliable indicators of a neuromuscular disorder and should be carefully assessed in an infant with neonatal hypotonia.     

Cytokeratin CK 7 and CK 20 expression in pituitary adenomas

The pattern of immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins 7 (CK 7) and 20 (CK 20) is commonly used to assess possible primary sites of metastatic carcinomas. Because pituitary tumors are almost always benign, there has been little interest in their cytokeratin profile. However, we recently reported the use of CK 7/20 expression to document malignant progression and metastasis of a pituitary tumor, indicating the potential diagnostic usefulness of the CK 7/20 profile of pituitary adenomas. We analyzed CK 7/20 expression in 97 pituitary adenomas subclassified by immunohistochemical hormone expression. In about 90% of all subtypes, CK 7 was either negative or reactive in only a few scattered cells. Corticotrophs and sparsely granulated growth hormone-positive adenomas were consistently CK 20 positive (and CK 7 negative) whereas all other subtypes were almost always CK 20 negative. This CK 20-positive, CK 7-negative profile is previously described consistently only in colonic adenocarcinomas. This study documents that subtypes of pituitary adenomas have different CK 7/20 profiles. Whereas this pattern is likely to have diagnostic usefulness in only rare adenomas, the presence of a unique CK signature in corticotrophs and sparsely granulated growth hormone-positive adenomas, subtypes particularly noted for invasive and aggressive behavior, merits further investigation.     

Effect of atorvastatin upon platelet activation in hypercholesterolemia, evaluated by flow cytometry

Hyperlipidemia is a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherothrombotic events, in which platelet activation also plays a significant role. However, very few studies have addressed platelet activation in hypercholesterolemia, the potential effect of lipid lowering drugs upon platelet hyperfunction, and the question of whether changes in the latter are correlated to normalization of plasma lipids. This study used whole blood flow cytometry to assess in vivo and in vitro platelet activation in a group of 33 patients with hypercholesterolemia, and also the ex vivo effect of atorvastatin (20 mg/day) upon such activation. A control group of 40 normolipidemic volunteers matched in terms of age, sex and added risk factors to the patient group was used. The results showed that hypercholesterolemic patients had in vivo a significantly greater percentage of GPIIb/IIIa- and phosphatidylserine-positive platelets compared with the control group (4.62+/-3.51% and 2.58+/-1.19% versus 2.73+/-1.08% and 1.54+/-0.68%, respectively). In vitro response of CD62 expression to thrombin was also greater in the patients than in the controls (92.51+/-6.00% versus 89.63+/-10.72%, p<0.05). Atorvastatin therapy normalized platelet hyperfunction in the patients studied and reduced GPIIb/IIIa response to ADP (from 82.65+/-6.43% to 75.84+/-4.89%, p<0.01). A significant correlation can be seen between such normalization and the decrease in plasma levels of total and LDL cholesterol.     

Possible association between HPV16 E7 protein level and cytokeratin 19

The mechanisms employed by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) to control the replication of the viral genome and the expression of the viral genes are extremely complex and further complicated by the fact that the viral life cycle is intricately tied to the differentiation program of its host epithelial tissue. Indeed, HPV-induced immortalization of keratinocytes and disruption of the normal cytokeratin (CK) expression pattern progress pari passu during the stepwise process that preludes to squamous cell carcinoma. In our study, we have analyzed the interaction occurring between HPV type 16 E7 mRNA and the intermediate cytokeratin filaments 7 and 19 and report data in favor of a possible association between HPV16 E7 protein level and CK19.