Senescence and the retinal pigment epithelium: alterations in basal plasma membrane morphology

Marked age-related changes in the morphology of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell basal infoldings were found in pigmented rats. Quantitative morphometric analysis revealed that during senescence the amount of basal plasma membrane per unit RPE length increased substantially, the regional distribution of the basal infoldings along the RPE became more irregular, and the average depth of penetration of the basal infoldings into the RPE increased dramatically. The crucial role of the RPE in maintaining retinal integrity suggests that the observed changes in RPE morphology may be involved in the development of senile retinopathies which occur in a variety of species, including man.     

Temporal changes in cytoskeletal organisation within isolated chondrocytes quantified using a novel image analysis technique

This paper examines temporal changes in the organisation of the cytoskeleton within isolated articular chondrocytes cultured for up to 7 days in agarose constructs. Fluorescent labelling and confocal microscopy were employed to visualise microtubules (MT), vimentin intermediate filaments (VIF) and actin microfilaments (AMF). To quantify the degree of cytoskeletal organisation within populations of cells, a novel image analysis technique has been developed, and fully characterised. Organisation was quantified in terms of an Edge Index, which reflects the density of ‘edges’ present within the confocal images as defined by a Sobel digital filter. This parameter was shown to be independent of image intensity and, for all three cytoskeletal components, was validated statistically against a visual assessment of organisation. Both MT and VIF exhibited fibrous networks extending throughout the cytoplasm, while AMF appeared as punctate units associated with the cell membrane. The use of the Edge Index parameter revealed statistical significant temporal variation, in particular associated with VIF and AMF. These findings indicate the possibility of cytoskeletal mediated temporal variation in many aspects of cell behaviour following isolation from the intact tissue. Furthermore, the image analysis techniques are likely to be useful for future studies aiming to quantify changes in cytoskeletal organisation.     

Quantitative cell and matrix changes in human humeral head osteoarthritic cartilage

A new quantitative method was devised both to establish an objective standard for morphometric diagnosis and to determine the extent of degeneration in osteoarthritic cartilage. Eight normal and forty-eight osteoarthritic humeral heads, subsequently confirmed by light microscopy, were obtained at necropsy. The articular cartilage was observed in situ with a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and morphometric measurements determined cell density (cells/mm), cell volume fraction (%) and mean cell volume (microm3). The osteoarthritic cartilages were classified according to the following four characteristics: increase in thickness, increase in cell volume fraction, decrease in cell volume fraction, and fibrous pannus. Deviations in cell density and cell volume fraction from normal means were calculated as extent of degeneration. Our present approach aims to provide valuable clues, such as objective stereological information and a unique reference for biochemical and traditional morphological analyses, that clinicians will be able to use in combination with other methods in order to establish a reliable diagnosis.     

一种基于独立成分分析的功能磁共振数据处理方法

独立成分分析（ICA）是统计信号处理中的一项新技术，用来从混合信号的多维观测中提取具有统计独立性的成分。我们针对功能磁共振数据处理，采用先对相邻的两体元信号作ICA分离，然后与参考信号进行相关，把相关系数大于一定阈值的体元作为刺激引起兴奋的体元，从而实现刺激的功能定位。经实际脑功能磁共振数据试验，初步证明了方法的有效性。     

Evidence of genetic variation for α-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase in black and white populations: A new polymorphism

Serum and/or plasma samples from 360 Whites and 126 Blacks were assayed for activity of the lysosomal hydrolase α-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). The samples from the Blacks had an increased mean (0.50 nm/ml/min) and standard deviation (0.30 nm/ml/min) compared to those from the Whites (0.29 nm/ml/min and 0.10 nm/ml/min, respectively). After log_e transformation and admixture analysis, it was possible to demonstrate the presence of 3 distributions of NAG activity in Blacks and at least 2 in Whites. Segregation analysis of the NAG activity of 29 White half-sib twin families indicated that a genetic model for the inheritance of NAG activity provided a better fit (P < 0.01) with the data than the “environmental” model. Thus, the study suggests the presence of a genetic polymorphism for NAG activity in Black and White populations. The presence of alleles for high and low NAG activity in the normal population could lead to incorrect interpretation of serum carrier tests for Sanfilippo syndrome, type B.     

5M1E分析法下的多学科诊疗管理预防耐碳青霉烯肠杆菌科细菌感染的研究

目的 研究5M1E分析法下的多学科诊疗管理预防耐碳青霉烯肠杆菌科细菌感染的价值。方法 本研究采取前瞻性研究,以2020年12月至2021年11月在太和县人民医院重症监护室进行治疗的84例患者作为研究对象,按照患者入住时间先后和登记顺序随机分组（登记序号为奇数纳入观察组,登记序号为偶数纳入对照组）,将以上患者随机分为观察组和对照组,每组42例,观察组患者入住在重症监护室一病区,对照组患者入住在重症监护室二病区。观察组患者采取5M1E分析法下的多学科诊疗管理措施,对照组患者采取常规管理模式。两组患者均干预2周。比较两组患者的感染指标、医院管理措施、住院时间住院费用以及治疗满意度之间的差异。结果 观察组患者的CRE感染检出率、发现率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;观察组患者的住院合理用药率、专组化诊疗率、物表清洁消毒合格率、医疗用品专用率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;观察组患者的住院时间以及住院费用低于对照组,观察组患者的满意率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组患者的生存率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两...     

Horizontal Interactions in Cat Striate Cortex: II. A Current Source-Density Analysis

The current source-density (CSD) analysis was used to investigate the organization of tangential synaptic connections in primary visual cortex of normally reared (NR) kittens and of NR, binocularly deprived (BD) and dark-reared (DR) adult cats. Laminar profiles of field potentials, elicited by intracortical microstimulation were measured at various distances from the stimulating electrodes. To exclude contamination by axon collaterals of antidromically stimulated thalamo-cortical fibres, these were destroyed by injecting the cytotoxin N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) into the lateral geniculate nucleus 13 - 27 days before recording. The CSD profiles revealed distinct layer-specific patterns of lateral spread of activity. Invariably, the most prominent, long-lasting and far reaching responses were recorded in supragranular layers. Responses in layer IV were brief and confined to the vicinity of the stimulation site. Responses in infragranular layers spread as far as those in supragranular layers, but were of smaller amplitude. Latency considerations, the results of double shock stimulation, and the effects of translaminar cuts, suggest that these responses were monosynaptic and mediated by intracortical pathways with a conduction velocity of 0.3-5 m/s. The spatial spread of these responses changed substantially with age but was not influenced by visual deprivation. In NR adults, supra- and infragranular responses were recordable up to 2.5 mm from the stimulation site and layer IV responses up to 1 mm from the stimulation site. In kittens, the former responses spread up to 5 mm and the latter up to 2 mm from the site of stimulation. The amplitude of the responses decreased with distance from the stimulation site. This decrease was not always monotonic suggesting inhomogeneities in the tangential projections. The laminar distribution of current sinks and sources indicates that the pathways mediating tangential interactions form excitatory synapses on apical dendrites of pyramidal cells. It is concluded that the spatial spread of tangential excitatory interactions decreases with age, but that neither the laminar pattern nor the age-dependent reduction in the strength of tangential interactions are influenced by visual deprivation.     

The Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Chlorpropamide Polymorphic Mixtures by Near-Infrared Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy

We analyzed binary mixtures of polymorphs A and B of chlorpropamide ((l-[4-chlorobenzenesulphonyl]-3-propyl urea)) by near-infrared Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FTRS). The individual polymorphs were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy, and physical appearance. The FTR spectra of the two polymorphs showed distinct differences which result from "crystal splitting effects. A series of 13 different mixtures of polymorph A and B was prepared by geometric mixing and their FTR spectra statistically analysed by factor analysis programming. Predictions of the A/B polymorphic composition of mixtures were made and compared with the theoretical values. The results demonstrate that FTRS combined with factor analysis programming may be successfully applied to the in situ monitoring of the A/B polymorphic nature of a chlorpropamide sample.     

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study of elastase substrates and inhibitors

One hundred Suc-X-Y-Ala-pNA peptides (SUC: succinyl, pNA: p-nitroanilide, X, Y: Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Phe, Pro, x-aminobutyric acid, norvaline, norleucine) were synthesized and their reaction constants with porcine pancreatic elastase (K_m, K_cat and K_cat/K_m) were determined. These reaction constants were quantitatively analyzed using the Free–Wilson/Fujita–Ban method. The contribution of amino acid side chains to the reaction constants K_m, K_cat and K_cat/K_m), expressed logarithmically, was found to be additive. On the other hand, 19 elastase inhibitors of the general formula CF₃CO-X-Y-Ala-pNA (X,Y: ten amino acids) were synthesized, and their inhibition constants were compared with the Michaelis constant for the corresponding substrates and analyzed using free-energy-related substituent constants. In the analysis of amino acid side chains in the Y position, the K_i value of the inhibitor was generally correlated to the K_m value of the substrate, which corresponded to the inhibitor, thus confirming the validity of the equation This study may serve as a prototypical approach to unraveling structure–activity relationships of peptide substrates and inhibitors of medicinal or agricultural importance.     

RPI卡环受力分析与临床应用

本文讨论了常规设计的游离端义齿存在的问题,并对Kratochvil提出的RPI卡环,结合力学知识,提出了RPI卡环在游离端义齿应用中的优缺点,并通过典型病例介绍和对20名病例随访分析表明,用RPI卡环修复游离端牙齿缺失,可获得较好的临床效果。