The surfaces of the parasitic nematodes Trichinella spiralis and Toxocara canis differ in the binding of post-C3 components of human complement by the alternative pathway

The binding of human complement components C3, C5 and C9 to the surface of the infective larvae of the nematode parasites Toxocara canis and Trichinella spiralis, by the alternative pathway, was examined by direct and indirect immunofluorescence on the intact parasites. This showed that although C3 bound to both nematodes, they differed markedly in the binding of C5 and C9; C5 bound only minimally to T. spiralis, and C9 binding to this parasite was barely detectable. In contrast, both early and late components bound to T. canis to a high density, comparable to, or in excess of, the binding of these components to the infective larvae of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The lack of binding of the post-C3 components to T. spiralis did not correlate with enhanced binding of the control protein, Factor H.     

多种肿瘤标志物联合检测肺癌的临床意义

目的 评价血清肿瘤标志物甲胎蛋白(AFP)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原50(CA50)、糖类抗原19—9(CA19—9)、铁蛋白(SF)、神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、细胞角蛋白19片段(CYFlRA21—1)水平对肺癌诊断的临床价值。方法 测定72例肺癌患者和40例良性肺病患者的血清AFP、CEA、CA50、CA19—9、SF、NSE、CYFRA21—1水平，比较两组的差异。结果 肺癌组患者CEA、CA50、CA19—9、SF、NSE、CY—FRA21—1水平高于良性肺病组，AFP对肺癌的诊断价值不大。NSE CYF、RA21—1的联合检测具有良好的阳性和阴性预测值。六项联合检测的敏感性和准确性最高，但与两项联合检测的敏感性和准确性差异无统计学意义。结论 NSE CYFRA21—1的联合检测具有良好的临床应用前景。     

Œdème cérébral aigu mortel chez un enfant diabétique

A case is reported of fatal acute cerebral oedema occurring in a 15-year-old child suffering diabetic ketoacidosis. He had severe gastro-enteritis, with a weight lose of 8 kg over a period of 8 days (initial weight = 50 kg). He was admitted in a stupor with pH 7.15, 129 mmol.l-1 natraemia, and 31 mmol.l-1 blood glucose concentration. Blood osmolaity was calculated to be 310 mosmol.l-1. He was rehydrated with 416 ml.h-1 normal saline and 416 ml.h-1 of 1.4% sodium bicarbonate. At the same time a total dose of 75 i.u. of ordinary insulin was given. After 2 h, the patient's condition suddenly worsened with unreactive coma, bilateral fixed mydriasis, respiratory pauses, and impairment of haemodynamic state (heart rate 150 b.min-1, blood pressure 80/50 mmHg). The diagnosis of cerebral oedema with severe intracranial hypertension was confirmed by different investigations. Despite ventilatory support and continued intensive care, the patient died a few hours later. It is concluded that some degree of subclinical brain swelling could be common occurrence during diabetic ketoacidosis, present maybe even before the start of treatment. Such cases of cerebral oedema are often reported, but the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. However, unlike this case, rehydration must be moderate (less than 41.m-2.day-1), especially in case of hyponatraemia. Insulin and sodium bicarbonate must be used with care. Early rigorous clinical and biological monitoring is essential. Treatment should aim at a progressive correction of the metabolic disturbances.     

高压氧治疗对脑梗死患者血清基质金属蛋白酶-9的影响

目的探讨高压氧（HBO）治疗后急性脑梗死患者血清基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）水平的动态变化及其与临床疗效的关系。方法选取首次发病的24h以内的颈内动脉系统急性脑梗死患者76例，分为高压氧治疗组（HBO组，36例）和常规治疗组（常规组，40例）。常规组仅给予常规治疗，HBO组在常规治疗基础上加用HBO治疗。30例年龄、性别与脑梗死患者相匹配的健康人为健康对照组（正常对照组）。采用酶联免疫吸附双抗体夹心法测定脑梗死患者入院时、发病后第3、5、10天以及正常对照组血清MMP-9。所有患者于入院时和治疗后10d、1个月进行神经功能缺损评分，评价HBO组和常规组之间的疗效差异。结果（1）与正常对照组比较，HBO组和常规组入院时血清MMP-9的浓度均明显增高，差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01），但后二者之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。与治疗前相比，常规组和HBO组血清MMP-9水平均呈现先增高后降低的动态变化趋势，3d时达高峰，在治疗后3、5d时HBO组血清MMP-9浓度低于同期常规组（P〈0．05）。（2）治疗1个月后，神经功能缺失评分HBO组明显低于常规组；HBO组疗效优于常规组（P〈0．05）。（3）脑梗死患者神经功能缺损评分减少值与患者发病后第3天之血清MMP-9水平呈显著负相关。结论HBO治疗能降低脑梗死患者升高的血清MMP-9浓度，减轻神经功能缺失程度，其临床疗效可能与降低患者血清MMP-9的浓度有关。     

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson''s disease: electropermeabilization and activation

Deep brain stimulation, DBS, is an accepted technique for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. DBS affects the electrical functions of neurons, but exactly how it alters those functions is not clearly explained. An electrical model is determined to simulate treatment with DBS of the sub thalamic nucleus. This model shows the difference in electrical fields between the inside and the outside the neurons. The generated electrical field near the electrodes is high enough to perform an electropermeabilization of the cell membranes, which most likely blockade normal nerve pulses or reduce the nerve impulse speed. Further away from the electrodes activation of large axons is performed.     

Common human Toll-like receptor 9 polymorphisms and haplotypes: association with atopy and functional relevance

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a pattern-recognition receptor that detects unmethylated CpG motifs prevalent in bacterial and viral DNA. TLR9 stimulation is a key event after bacterial infection, triggering innate immunity and T-helper type 1 skewed adaptive immunity. Synthetic CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) represent a promising and novel class of immune adjuvants for allergy treatment, vaccination, and cancer therapy. However, common functional TLR9 gene variants could interfere with the clinical utilization of CpG-ODN in immunotherapy. Recently, a possible association of TLR9 polymorphism C-1237T with asthma has been reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether TLR9 polymorphisms or haplotypes have functional relevance and are associated with atopy. METHODS: We genotyped five common TLR9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in promoter, exon, and intron regions of the gene in 527 healthy blood donors, and estimated four common haplotypes. The total IgE and specific IgE levels against the most common aeroallergens were measured (n=303). IFN-alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) was analysed after stimulation with TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN (n=220). RESULTS: No significant influence of common TLR9 polymorphisms and haplotypes on the total and specific IgE levels was found. Functional analysis of CpG-ODN-induced IFN-alpha did not indicate a significant role for common TLR9 gene polymorphisms in TLR9 function. CONCLUSION: We conclude that common genetic differences in the TLR9 gene exert no major influence on allergy susceptibility, and are unlikely to have on impact on clinical application of CpG-ODNs.     

MRP1/CD9蛋白在人肝细胞癌中的表达及其意义

目的　探讨MRP1 /CD9蛋白在人肝细胞癌 (HCC)中的表达及其与癌侵袭转移的关系。方法　构建肝癌组织芯片。样本包括肝细胞癌及癌旁肝组织 1 5 2例,癌栓 2 2例,肝内转移癌 4例,肝外转移癌 1 7例。正常对照肝组织 5例。应用免疫组织化学 (免疫组化 )方法检测肝癌组织芯片中样本MRP1 /CD9蛋白的表达。结果　 2 7% ( 4 1 /1 5 2 )肝细胞癌原发灶表达MRP1 /CD9蛋白。伴癌栓形成HCC中MRP1 /CD9蛋白表达率低于无癌栓形成者 (分别为 2 1. 8 2%和 4 0. 4 8% ; P < 0. 0 5 )。巨块型肝癌中MRP1 /CD9 蛋白表达率亦低于直径在 1 0cm以下者 (分别为 5%和 3 4. 8 2% ; P <0. 01 )。MRP1 /CD9蛋白表达尚与HCC病理分级及血清AFP水平有关:病理分级 2级的阳性表达率高于 3 ~ 4级 (分别为 3 9. 0 2%和 2 2. 5 2% ; P = 0. 0 4 3 ),血清AFP≤ 2 0μg/L者阳性表达率高于 >2 0μg/L者 (分别为 4 1. 9 4%和 2 2. 5 0% ; P = 0. 0 2 9 )。结论　肝细胞癌MRP1 /CD9蛋白表达水平低下可能与癌组织侵袭转移有关。     

Neurophysiological aspects of chronic motor cortex stimulation

Chronic motor cortex stimulation is a treatment option for neuropathic drug-resistant pain and possibly associated movement disorders. Preliminary studies suggest the possibility to treat symptoms of Parkinson disease in selected patients. Recently, MCS has been suggested to enhance motor recovery in patients with poststroke hemiparesis. One or more electrodes are placed extradurally over the motor cortex through a burr hole or a small craniotomy, and then connected to a totally implantable neurostimulator. The accurate positioning of the stimulating electrodes over the motor cortex is the key point of the surgical procedure. Motor cortex identification results from the integration of anatomical, neuroradiological, functional, and neurophysiological data, taking into account the huge population variability. Intraoperative neurophysiological mapping of the motor cortex is of paramount importance, in spite of very sophisticated neuroradiological mathematical reconstructions of the motor area. We discuss and compare the different techniques that are utilized by different authors. Moreover, clinical neurophysiology is also helpful in evaluating the results of this neuromodulation procedure and in hypothesizing the mechanisms that are put in play by MCS.     

MR imaging of viscoelastic properties

Mechanical waves in magnetic resonance imaging, which have been suggested for possible clinical applications, were analyzed with regard to imaging of the viscoelastic properties of large objects. The method is based on the Larmor frequency modulation caused by the application of mechanical waves. Possible clinical applications include all diseases that result in a change in the mechanical properties of biologic tissues (eg, atherosclerosis).