Circular dichroism detection in high-performance liquid chromatography: Evaluation of the anisotropy factor

The application of a circular dichroism (c.d.) detection system in HPLC using a chiral stationary phase is presented. The simultaneous measurement of the absorbance and c.d. signal allows the evaluation of the anisotropy factor (g = Δ/) and thus the determination of the enantiomeric excess (e.e.) of the eluates. When this detection system is used in preparative chiral chromatography the collection of the enantiomeric fractions can be readily optimized.     

Serotonin-induced increase in cAMP in ganglia isolated from the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig small intestine: Mediation by a novel 5-HT receptor

Serotonin (5-HT) is a mediator (through 5-HT_1P receptors) of slow EPSPs in myenteric ganglia of the small intestine. The effect of 5-HT can be mimicked by elevating cAMP; therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the slow EPSP-like response to 5-HT is cAMP-mediated. Guinea pig gut was enzymatically dissociated; myenteric ganglia remained intact and were collected by filtration. Neurons in the isolated ganglia retained their ability to manifest the slow EPSP-like response to 5-HT. Exposure to 5-HT raised the ganglionic level of cAMP (ED₅₀ 0.3 μM). This effect was not antagonized by the 5-HT_1P antagonist, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl-5-hydroxytryptophan amide (100.0 μM), or mimicked by the 5-HT_1P agonist, 5-hydroxyindalpine (10.0 μM). Increases in cAMP were also evoked by the 5-HT₁ agonist, 5-carboxyamidotryptamine (10.0 μM), the 5-HT₂ agonist, (±)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI; 1.0–10.0 μM), and by the 5-HT₄ agonists, renzapride (1.0–10.0 μM) and 5-methoxytryptamine (1.0–10.0 μM); however, neither the 5-HT₁/5-HT₂ antagonists, spiperone, methysergide, and methiothepin, nor the 5-HT₄ antagonist, tropisetron (ICS 205–930; 10.0 μM), were able to inhibit the rise in cAMP evoked by these compounds or by 5-HT (0.1–10.0 μM). The 5-HT-evoked elevation of cAMP was antagonized by ketanserin (10.0 μM), which also blocked the effects of 5-methoxytryptamine and DOI, but not those of renzapride. The effective concentration of DOI, however, was higher than that needed for activation of 5-HT₂ receptors, and Northern analysis using a cDNA probe encoding the rat 5-HT₂ receptor failed to reveal the presence of 5-HT₂ mRNA in myenteric ganglia, although it hybridizes with mRNA of the right size in the guinea pig brain. Compounds that failed to change levels of cAMP or to antagonize the action of 5-HT included 8-hydroxy-di-n-propylamino tetralin, R58639, R88226, and sumatriptan. It is concluded that the receptor responsible for the 5-HT-induced rise in cAMP in ganglia isolated from the guinea pig myenteric plexus is not a known subtype of 5-HT receptor. Since the pharmacology of this novel receptor is different from that of the slow EPSP-like response to 5-HT, the receptor probably does not mediate the slow EPSP. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Long-term results in the treatment of menorrhagia and hypermenorrhea with a thermal balloon endometrial ablation technique.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of long-term results using a thermal balloon endometrial ablation technique to treat menorrhagia and hypermenorrhea, considered dysfunctional uterine bleedings. METHODS: A single-arm, prospective study with long-term follow-up of 48 months at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Kiel, Germany. Following hysteroscopic evaluation of the uterine cavity and fractionated curettage, the Cavaterm endometrial thermal ablation technique was performed on 70 patients over the age of 40 with menorrhagia and hypermenorrhea in whom medical treatment had previously failed. The study included a group of 10 patients with adenomyosis and uterine fibroids. RESULTS: In 65 patients, a complete 48-month follow-up evaluation was possible: 58% of patients reported amenorrhea and 33% hypomenorrhea. Nine percent of patients remained eumenorrheic. Fifty percent of the small group with failed indications for the procedure had to undergo a hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The Cavaterm thermal coagulation system in the earlier mode of application (15 minutes at a temperature of 70 degrees C and a pressure of 200 mm Hg) is a safe and highly effective method of endometrial ablation resulting in a minimal amount of posttreatment menstrual bleeding.     

183例老年人骨密度检测分析

目的 :研究老年人不同疾病时骨密度 (BMD)的分布情况。方法 :用DXADAS 6 0 0EX型骨密度仪对183例老年患者进行左侧远程桡骨加尺骨BMD检测。结果 :内分泌疾病组、消化道疾病组和其它疾病组的患病率分别为 72 7% ,2 0 6 %和 31 4 %。T值比较 :三组差异明显 (P <0 0 0 1)。累积骨丢失率 (ABLR)比较 :前一组明显高于后两组病人 (P <0 0 1)。BMD比较中 ,内分泌和其它疾病组明显低于消化道疾病组 (P <0 0 0 1)。相关分析显示 ,内分泌和消化道疾病组的年龄变化与BMD呈正相关 (r =0 5 19P <0 0 0 1和r =0 5 89P <0 0 0 1) ,内分泌疾病组和其它疾病组的体重变化与BMD呈正相关 (r=0 918P <0 0 0 1和r =0 338P <0 0 0 1)。结论 :老年人骨质疏松 (OP)患病率以内分泌疾病组最高 ,消化道疾病组较低 ;随年龄和体重增加 ,BMD降低加重。     

转hCTLA4Ig树突状细胞诱导T细胞免疫耐受的实验研究

目的　通过逆转录病毒载体将人CTLA4Ig转染DCs ,探讨转人CTLA4Ig(hCTLA4Ig)树突状细胞 (DCsRev)诱导T细胞免疫耐受的可能性。方法　通过重组逆转录病毒将目的基因hCTLA4Ig转染到大鼠骨髓来源的DCs中 ,通过流式细胞检测目的基因hCTLA4Ig表达及DCs表面分子的改变 ;通过混合淋巴细胞反应 (MLR)检测DCsRev抑制T细胞免疫反应的能力。 结果　重组逆转录病毒转染DCs的最大效率为 91 2 5 % ;在功能上 ,DCsRev不但丧失了刺激MLR的能力 ,并且能够强烈抑制MLR中反应T细胞的增殖 ,而且抑制率与加入DCsRev的数量和DCsRev预处理反应T细胞的时间长短有关。具体来说 ,DCsRev数量在 10 3 ～ 10 4之间时 ,抑制率与剂量呈正相关 ,最高为 71 96%。而当DCsRev数量达到 5× 10 4抑制率下降为 5 9 2 %。在 12～ 48h之间 ,随着预处理时间的延长 ,抑制率却不断下降 ,预处理 12h抑制率最高 ,为 99 6%。但不做预处理 ,在反应开始时同时加入DCsRev ,则抑制率明显降低 ,仅为 5 9 2 %。对腹腔注射DCsRev大鼠脾T淋巴细胞体外分析表明 ,DCsRev也能在动物体内诱导耐受 ,但这种免疫耐受状态不能维持终身。结论　通过逆转录病毒载体将人CTLA4Ig转染DCs,不但DCs表面CD86分子被CTLA4Ig有效的封闭 ,并且能够诱导抗原特异性T细胞的免疫耐受     

Herpes simplex virus latency in the nervous system – a new model

Permissive herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in tissue culture results in host cell destruction. Latent HSV infection in vivo occurs in neurons of peripheral sensory ganglia (PSG) and it therefore can not take place in neurons in which the virus has completed a lytic replication cycle similar to that present in vitro. Our hypothesis, based on experimental data and observations in humans, suggests that establishment of latent infection and reactivation of HSV-1 does not involve neuronal cell loss. Latency is established in neurons in which the virus does not replicate and is determined, in part, by the tissue levels of a herpes transactivating protein (Vmw65) that is a component of the viral tegument. We also suggest that reactivation of latent infection does not involve destruction of neurons and is due to replication of virus at the peripheral mucocutaneous tissues to where virus or viral DNA have been transported from the nervous tissue. Alternatively, reactivation is initiated in the PSG using a replication cycle which does not involve irreversible damage to neurons. This model explains the lack of damage to neurons which continue to serve as permanent reservoirs of latent virus for the entire life of the host.     

The effect of interleukin-1 on iron metabolism in rats

The effect of interleukin-1 on iron metabolism in rats was evaluated. Plasma iron decreased from 184 +/- 16 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SE) to 24 +/- 12 at 6 hours after interleukin-1 intramuscular administration in non-fasting rats and 109 +/- 6 micrograms/dl to 12 +/- 1 micrograms/dl in fasting rats, which was significantly lower than in control rats. Ferrokinetic studies showed a more rapid disappearance rate and lower iron turnover in interleukin-1-injected rats. The release of iron from the mononuclear phagocyte system to plasma was studied at 3 h after interleukin-1 administration. Although the percent of radioactivity in plasma of the total injected dose was 3.2 +/- 0.6% in interleukin-1, which was significantly lower than in the control rats (5.4 +/- 0.6%) at 9 h after intravenous injection of 59Fe chondroitin ferrous sulfate, there was no difference between the amount of 59Fe released from the mononuclear phagocyte system over the first 9 h in interleukin-1 and control rats. These data appear to imply that iron release is unimpaired but that, for some reason, there is an enhanced rate of clearance of the 59Fe once it has been released from the mononuclear phagocyte system into the plasma.