平板式探测器和常规X射线数字化成像未来

本文综合论述、分析和讨论了平板检测器（FPD）主要组成部分和整体检测器工作机理，优良特性和现有水平，将用于数字化X射线摄影（DR）的FPD和传统射线摄影用胶片-增感屏系统（简称屏-片系统）进行了比较，提及了FPDDR系统代表着数字摄影系统优点且较其它系统具有优势，将用于数字化X射线透视（DF）的FPD和传统射线透视用图像增强器-摄像器件系统（简称IIT系统）进行了对比。也简述了FPDDR和DF系统某些产品的应用，文中分析认为，未来常规X射线成像系统是和FPD技术联系在一起的。     

Identification of natural coumarin compounds that rescue defective DeltaF508-CFTR chloride channel gating

1. Deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (DeltaF508) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel is the most common mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF). Effective pharmacological therapy of CF caused by the DeltaF508-CFTR mutation requires the rescue of both intracellular processing and channel gating defects. 2. We identified a class of natural coumarin compounds that can correct the defective DeltaF508-CFTR chloride channel gating by screening a collection of 386 single natural compounds from Chinese medicinal herbs. Screening was performed with an iodide influx assay in Fischer rat thyroid epithelial cells coexpressing DeltaF508-CFTR and an iodide-sensitive fluorescent indicator (YFP-H148Q/I152L). 3. Dose-dependent potentiation of defective DeltaF508-CFTR chloride channel gating by five coumarin compounds was demonstrated by the fluorescent iodide influx assay and confirmed by an Ussing chamber short-circuit current assay. Activation was fully abolished by the specific CFTR inhibitor CFTR(inh)-172. Two potent compounds, namely imperatorin and osthole, have activation K(d) values of approximately 10 micromol/L, as determined by the short-circuit current assay. The active coumarin compounds do not elevate intracellular cAMP levels. Activation of DeltaF508-CFTR by the coumarin compounds requires cAMP agonist, suggesting direct interaction with the mutant CFTR molecule. Kinetics analysis indicated rapid activation of DeltaF508-CFTR by the coumarin compounds, with half-maximal activation of < 5 min. The activating effect was fully reversed for all five active compounds 45 min after washout. 4. In conclusion, the natural coumarin DeltaF508-CFTR activators may represent a new class of natural lead compounds for the development of pharmacological therapies for CF caused by the DeltaF508 mutation.     

影响DF钢板治疗腰椎滑脱症手术疗效的原因分析

目的 探讨椎弓根固定系统内固定手术治疗腰椎滑脱症疗效未达到预期效果的原因。方法用椎弓根固定系统对95例腰椎滑脱症进行手术复位内固定，术后随访1年以上，对Ⅰ级（差），Ⅱ级（可）的临床资料进行分析。结果按sfeffee分级：Ⅰ级（差）1例，Ⅱ级（可）4例、Ⅲ级（良）36例、Ⅳ级（优）54例。对Ⅰ级Ⅱ级大概原因分析，Ⅰ级1例椎弓根螺丝松动，Ⅱ级2例是椎板减压不充分，另2例是滑脱椎体复位程度过大。结论严格把握手术适应证，对椎管狭窄减压应彻底，充分的植骨融合，重度滑脱椎体复位程度不可过大，是手术成功的关键。     

Elevated levels of full-length and thrombin-cleaved osteopontin during acute dengue virus infection are associated with coagulation abnormalities

Introduction

Dengue virus (DENV) is transmitted by the mosquito vector, and causes a wide range of symptoms that lead to dengue fever (DF) or life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The host and viral correlates that contribute to DF and DHF are complex and poorly understood, but appear to be linked to inflammation and impaired coagulation. Full-length osteopontin (FL-OPN), a glycoprotein, and its activated thrombin-cleaved product, trOPN, integrate multiple immunological signals through the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Materials and Method

To understand the role of OPN in DENV-infection, we assessed circulating levels of FL-OPN, trOPN, and several coagulation markers (D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex [TAT], thrombomodulin [TM], and ferritin in blood obtained from 65 DENV infected patients in the critical and recovery phases of DF and DHF during a dengue virus epidemic in the Philippines in 2010.

Results

Levels of FL-OPN, trOPN, D-dimer, TAT, and TM were significantly elevated in the critical phase in both the DF and DHF groups, as compared with healthy controls. During the recovery phase, FL-OPN levels declined while trOPN levels increased dramatically in both the DF and DHF groups. FL-OPN levels were directly correlated with D-dimer and ferritin levels, while the generation of trOPN was associated with TAT levels, platelet counts, and viral RNA load.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated the marked elevation of plasma levels of FL-OPN and thrombin-cleaved OPN product, trOPN, in DENV-infection for the first time. Further studies on the biological functions of these matricellular proteins in DENV-infection would clarify its pathogenesis.     

Ipomoea asarifolia neutralizes inflammation induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Envenoming caused by scorpion sting is a serious public health problem. In Brazil, 13,038 accidents caused by venomous animals have been reported. Of this total, 53% of the cases and 14 deaths were caused by scorpions. Furthermore, Tityus serrulatus (Buthidae) is the most dangerous scorpion due to the high toxicity of its venom. The treatment is the common supportive therapy and the serum therapy, but some people do not have access to both therapies and seek healing through the use of medical plants.

Aim of the study

This study evaluated the ability of the crude extract and fractions from the leaves of Ipomoea asarifolia in neutralizing the main biological effects caused by Tityus serrulatus envenoming in mice.

Materials and methods

BALB/c mice were pretreated (i.v.) with 100 μλ of aqueous extracts and fractions dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol (CH₂Cl₂, EtOAc, and n-BuOH, respectively) of Ipomoea asarifolia, rutin or saline. Then, the animals received 100 μλ (i.p.) of venom of Tityus serrulatus (0.8 mg/kg). After six hours, the peritoneal lavage was performed with PBS and the number cells were determined using a Neubauer chamber. The supernatants were collected for determination of cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1β.

Results

The aqueous extract, fractions and rutin, at all doses, significantly reduced cell migration, which was endorsed by the reduction of the levels of certain cytokines.

Conclusion

This is the first study that demonstrated the potential effect of Ipomoea asarifolia against inflammation caused by Tityus serrulatus venom, suggesting that these extracts and/or their bioactive molecules, especially the flavonoid rutin, have potential use in the therapy of this envenomation.     

Sodium Alginate (Gaviscon®) does not reduce apnoeas related to gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants

Background

Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) frequently recurs in preterm infants. We have previously shown that a significant but variable proportion of AOP is induced by gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of sodium alginate in reducing the frequency of GOR-related AOP.

Subjects

Twenty-eight preterm infants with AOP were studied by a six-hour recording of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring and polysomnography, including two three-hour postprandial periods: sodium alginate was given after one single meal named as drug-given (DG) meal, while the other as drug-free (DF).

Results

During 165 h of registration, 715 apnoeas were recorded, 368 after-DG and 347 after-DF (p = .99); furthermore, 851 GOR episodes were detected, 315 after-DG and 536 after-DF (p = .001). No differences in the number of AOP were found between DG and DF. A significant reduction in the number of acid GORs and in acid exposure was found during DG, while the administration of sodium alginate didn't influence non-acid GOR indexes. The frequency of GOR-related apnoeas didn't differ between DG and DF.

Discussion

Sodium alginate doesn't reduce the total number of AOP nor GOR-related apnoeas. On the other hand, it reduces acid GOR features, while it had no effect on non-acid GOR indexes.     

韧带样纤维瘤的影像表现与病理对照

目的回顾分析韧带样纤维瘤(desmoid-type fibromatoses,DF)的CT和MRI表现及其病理基础,探讨其影像学诊断价值。资料与方法搜集经手术病理证实的DF患者20例,男8例,女12例。9例进行CT检查(增强7例),9例行MRI检查(增强8例),2例行CT、MRI平扫及增强扫描。分析其CT及MRI表现,并与组织病理学进行对照分析。结果 20例中共检出25个病灶,其中腹部外型18个,腹壁型4个,腹内型2个,骶骨1个;17个病灶形态不规则,8个呈椭圆形。CT平扫均表现为均匀软组织密度。与肌肉信号相比,MR T1WI上呈等信号7个,稍低信号6个;T2WI呈高或稍高信号9个,2个呈混杂信号,1个呈低信号。所有病灶内均可见条索状、片状T1WI及T2WI上均呈低信号改变的区域;增强扫描10例均呈中等以上强化。结论 DF的CT和MRI特征较明显,对多数病变术前进行定性诊断是可能的。     

DF3启动子调控的hTERT基因RNAi载体的构建及靶向干扰效果的鉴定

目的：构建带有肿瘤特异性DF3启动子、针对hTERT基因的RNA干扰表达载体pGenesil-10-miR30-DF3-hTERT,探讨该表达载体的肿瘤靶向性基因抑制作用。方法：分别用针对hTERT基因的RNA干扰寡核苷酸序列及DF3启动子取代质粒pGenesil-10-Micro30中原有的miR30序列及CMV启动子,构建pGenesil-10-miR30-DF3-hTERT载体并进行酶切及测序鉴定。将该载体分别转染人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞、肝癌HepG2细胞及造血干细胞,ELISA法检测hTERT蛋白的表达情况。结果：重组质粒经酶切及测序鉴定证实符合设计要求,构建成功。ELISA法检测结果显示,实验组MCF-7细胞及HepG2细胞的hTERT蛋白下降显著（P〈0.05）,其中以MCF-7细胞下降更为明显;造血干细胞实验组则无明显变化（P〉0.05）。结论：DF3启动子调控的hTERT基因的RNA干扰表达载体能有效抑制DF3阳性肿瘤细胞中hTERT的表达,以乳腺癌细胞效果最为显著,而对端粒酶阳性的正常细胞不产生影响。     

中医外治糖尿病足研究概况

糖尿病足为本虚标实,本虚为气血阴阳亏虚,标实为瘀血、寒凝、热毒、湿热;中医外治操作简便,效果显著,有熏洗（足浴、熏蒸）、外敷（膏剂、散剂、药纱）等。中医外治法研究尚处于初级阶段,多数文献报告样本量小,观察时间短,可重复性和应用性亟待加强;疗效判定、辨证分型,最佳治疗方式等尚无统一标准;每日换药对非住院患者成为一种负担,间接导致许多特效药物不能很好推广,亟待普及患者自我换药。期待未来对糖尿病足普及无菌换药知识,生产相关一次性消毒用具;糖尿病足与全身代谢紊乱密切相关,需多学科合作,专业化治疗。