Na+ currents near and away from endplates on human fast and slow twitch muscle fibers

Fast and slow twitch muscle fibers have distinct contractile properties. Here we determined that membrane excitability also varies with fiber type. Na⁺ currents (I_NA) were studied with the loose-patch voltage clamp technique on 29 histochemically classified human intercostal skeletal muscle fibers at the endplate border and <200 μm from the endplate (extrajunctional). Fast and slow twitch fibers showed slow inactivation of endplate border and extrajunctional I_NA and had increased I_NA at the endplate border compared to extrajunctional membrane. The voltage dependencies of I_NA were similar on the endplate border and extrajunctional membrane, which suggests thatboth regions have physiclogically similar channels. Fast twitch fibers had larger I_NA on the endplate border and extrajunctional membrane and manifest fast and slow inactivation of I_NA at more negative potentials than slow twitch fibers. For normal muscle, the differences between I_NA on fast and slow twitch fibers might: (1) enable fast twitch fibers to operate at high firing frequencies for brief periods; and (2) enable slow twitch fibers to operate at low firing frequencies for prolonged times. Disorders of skeletal membrane excitability, such as the periodic paralyses and myotonias, may impact fast and slow twitch fibers differently due to the distinctive Na⁺ channel properties of each fiber type. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of seminal vesicular fluid on the zinc content of human sperm chromatin

Chromatin zinc was studied using X-ray microanalysis of spermatozoa obtained from split-ejaculate fractions. Chromatin zinc, expressed as intensity ratio between zinc and sulphur (Zn/S), was unrelated to seminal zinc concentration, but was related inversely to markers of seminal vesicular secretion (fructose concentration and the proportion of zinc bound to ligands of seminal vesicular origin). It is concluded that the content of zinc in sperm chromatin can be reduced by the action of zinc ligands of seminal vesicular origin. An abnormally high contribution of seminal vesicular fluid to sperm-rich fractions of the ejaculate thus creates a risk of depleting chromatin zinc and thereby impairing zinc-dependent chromatin stability.     

Molecular oncogene markers and their significance in cutaneous malignant melanoma

Background: Oncogenes and other molecular tumor markers that predict tumor aggressiveness may allow individualization and optimization of surgical therapy of intermediate-thickness malignant melanoma. We examined the expression of selected markers, including the HLA-DR antigen, the heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), and the c-myc oncogene in primary melanoma and regional nodes and related these findings to metastatic potential and survival. Methods: Forty patients with primary melanoma (1.5–4.0 mm) were studied, all of whom had prophylactic lymph node dissection and were followed for 18 months to 7 years. The primary tissue and nodes were examined using immunohistochemical techniques for the presence of HLA-DR antigen and HSP-70 protein and the expression of the c-myc oncogene. Results: Of 40 patients, there were 23 with lesions 1 to 2.9 mm thick and 17 with lesions 3 to 4 mm thick. Nodal metastases were present in 25 of the 40 patients who had elective node dissection. HLA-DR antibody stained the primary tumor in 10 patients (25%), but there was no correlation with survival in this group. HLA-DR antibody stained the stroma and cellular infiltrates surrounding the primary tumor in 28 of 40 patients; in this group there was a correlation of HLA-DR staining of the peritumoral stroma with improved survival overall. HLA-DR staining of the peritumoral stroma also influenced survival when patients were stratified by tumor thickness groups 1 to 2.9 mm and 3 to 4 mm and presence of nodal metastases. HSP-70 was demonstrated in the primary tumor in 25% of patients, who were also shown to have significantly improved survival when compared with those whose primary tumor did not stain with HSP-70. C-myc was expressed in the primary tumor in 25%, but showed no correlation with survival. None of these proteins correlated with or predicted the presence of nodal metastases. Conclusion: We conclude that the use of specific molecular-oncogene markers in intermediate-thickness primary melanoma may identify patients at high risk for conventional treatment failure and reduced survival who may profit from more aggressive surgery, adjuvant therapy, or both.Presented at the 48th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, March 23–26, 1995.     

Sexual risk behavior in women with cervical human papillomavirus infection

In a study of 972 women, sexual characteristics of 66 women with a cervical human papillomavirus infection (CHPI) were compared to the remaining study population. Among a number of sexual variables that were significantly correlated with CHPI were number of lifetime sexual partners, short partnerships, many recent partners, infidelity, casual travel sex, sexual début abroad, oral and anal sex, and sexual abuse. In multifactorial analyses four variables remained significantly correlated with CHPI, i.e., number of lifetime sexual partners, casual travel sex, sexual début abroad, and infidelity. It is concluded that CHPI shows most of the epidemiological characteristics of a sexually transmitted disease.     

胃肠癌患者血清及癌组织癌胚抗原的检测意义

应用放射免疫测定法,对20例胃肠癌患者进行了血清癌胚抗原(CEA)测定,并应用免疫组化法对其中16例癌组织中的CEA进行了检测.检测结果,血清CEA阳性6例,癌组织CEA阳性9例.低分化癌的血清CEA显著高于高分化癌(P<0.05).血清CEA与癌灶部位、癌组织CEA与分化程度及血清CEA均无关(P>0.05).提示血清CEA的含量与癌组织的分化程度有关,血清CEA与癌组织内的CEA无平行关系.作者并对其机制及检测CEA的意义进行讨论.     

Exercise tolerance after anaemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin in end-stage renal disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of correction of chronic anaemia on the physical performance and the cardiovascular response to effort in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) maintained by haemodialysis. Seven patients (mean age 13.9 years) underwent triangular-type treadmill exercise testing before [haemoglobin (Hb) 6.3±0.9 g/dl] and after (Hb 11.2±1.2 g/dl) anaemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). After treatment, the work-load reached, the peak oxygen uptake and average ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) values were significantly increased (P<0.01,P<0.001,P<0.05 respectively). VAT values, expressed as a percentage of normal values, increased from 55.7±16.6% to 82.4±21%. This improvement correlated well with the increase in Hb (r=0.79). Oxygen pulse also increased significantly, when tested after anacmia correction. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that when the anaemia of children with ESRD is corrected with rHuEPO, there is a clear improvement in acrobic work capacity and effort tolerance.     

重组人红细胞生成素治疗肾性贫血的临床分析

目的　观察重组人红细胞生成素 (RhEPO)对肾性贫血的治疗作用。方法　根据使用EPO剂量的不同将 39例慢性肾衰竭并血液透析病人分成 4组 ,观察治疗后 2、4、12个月时与治疗前 (0月 )相比红细胞数 (RBC)、红细胞比积 (Hct)及血红蛋白含量 (Hb)的变化。结果　 2 4例使用EPO10 0 - 15 0IU/ (kg·w) (6 0 0 0IU/w - 90 0 0IU/w) ,治疗后RBC、Hct、Hb较治疗前有显著升高 (P≤ 0 .0 0 1) ;5例使用EPO5 0IU/ (kg·w) (30 0 0IU/w) +间断输血患者 ,其RBC、Hct、Hb升高不显著 ;10例不用EPO而单纯输血患者 ,其RBC、Hct、Hb无明显变化 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　EPO能较好地纠正肾性贫血 ;单纯输血不能治疗肾性贫血     

重组促红细胞生成素对腹膜透析患者心功能的影响

目的　了解基因重组人促红细胞生成素 (r HuEPO)对持续性非卧床腹膜透析 (CAPD)患者心室结构及功能的影响。方法　 32例CAPD伴高血压患者 ,其中 1 6例应用降压药物控制血压 ,同时应用r HuEPO纠正贫血 ,1 6例单用降压药物 ,随访 6个月。结果　两组治疗前后差值比较 ,治疗组的LVPWT、E/A与对照组比较有显著差异(P <0 .0 5 )。结论　长期纠正贫血和控制血压有利于透析患者左室结构及功能异常的逆转     

脑干、三叉神经及大脑动脉环的可视化研究

目的 建立人体脑干、三叉神经及大脑动脉环的可视化数字模型。方法 采用首例中国数字化可视人体数据集，在SGI工作站上对脑干及其周围毗邻结构进行计算机三维重建并立体显示。结果 获得人体脑干、三叉神经及大脑动脉环等器官组织的三维重建结构，可对其进行任意径线和角度的适时三维测量。结论 首例中国数字化可视人体数据集能够提供完整而精确的解剖断面数据，脑干及其毗邻的三叉神经、大脑动脉环的可视化模型准确反映出该区域复杂的解剖学结构特点及其相邻器官间的空间毗邻关系，可为该区域的疾病的影像诊断和外科治疗提供形态学依据。     

SA、F/TPSA及PSAD在前列腺癌诊断中的作用

目的 :探讨血清前列腺特异抗原 (PSA) ,血清总PSA及游离PSA比值 (F/TPSA)及前列腺特异性抗原密度(PSAD)在前列腺癌诊断中的作用。方法 :对 5 1例前列腺癌患者及 14 5例良性前列腺增生症患者PSA、F/TPSA及PSAD值的差异进行分析、比较。结果 :前列腺癌组血清PSA及PSAD高于良性前列腺增生组 ;而F/TPSA值低于良性前列腺增生组 ,差异均有显著性。结论 :PSA >4ng·ml-1作为筛选前列腺癌的临界值存在一定缺陷 ;当PSA <10ng·ml-1,F/T值有助于鉴别前列腺癌和良性前列腺增生 ;而PSAD对于筛选前列腺活检病例亦有一定价值。