SA脂质体介导GFP／bFGF基因在豚鼠耳蜗中的表达

目的 :观察天然碱性脂 (Stearylamine,SA)脂质体介导绿色荧光蛋白 /碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(GFP/bFGF)基因于不同时间段豚鼠耳蜗中的表达 ,为进一步研究耳聋的基因治疗提供实验基础。方法 :取豚鼠 1 6只 ,分成 4组 ,每组 4只。其中 3只右耳圆窗内注入SA -GFP/bFGF复合物 ,1只同法注入生理盐水作为对照。分别于术后第 2、7、1 4、2 1天取材。在荧光显微镜下观察GFP的表达 ,用免疫组化法检测bFGF的转导情况。结果 :荧光显微镜下见双侧耳蜗于术后第 2天开始部分细胞发出绿色荧光 ,第 7天达到高峰 ,支持细胞及内外毛细胞均显荧光 ,细胞轮廓清晰 ;第 1 4天开始减弱 ,第 2 1天消失。免疫组化染色显示 ,除血管纹外 ,耳蜗各回Corti器、螺旋韧带、螺旋缘及螺旋神经节细胞均有高浓度的表达产物 ,对照动物呈阴性表达。结论 :SA脂质体介导的GFP/bFGF基因单耳给药双侧耳蜗均有高效表达 ,为进一步研究基因治疗耳聋提供了可能。     

Prognostic importance of the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy in treatment of ovarian carcinoma

In a large study on 1,220 patients with ovarian carcinoma in FIGO stages I-IV, the prognostic importance of the time factor for start of postoperative chemotherapy was studied together with other important factors for long-term survival. The patient series was a total geographic material of ovarian carcinoma patients treated during the years 1975-1993. All patients were followed up for 10 years or until death. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of the complete series was 50%. Significant and independent prognostic factors with regard to long-term cancer-specific survival were FIGO stage, histology, tumor grade, and completeness of the primary surgery. Special attention was paid to the prognostic importance of the time interval between primary surgery and the first course of chemotherapy. Patient groups with intervals shorter or longer than the median value were compared. In early-stage disease, no significant difference was noted. In advanced and bulky disease, an interval longer than the median value seemed to be beneficial compared with a shorter interval. However, after correction for other prognostic factors, the interval was not a significant factor (P = 0.647) with regard to the cancer-specific survival rate. Therefore, the time factor should not be an important argument for how to best organize the gynecologic oncology service.     

肿瘤坏死因子与甲状腺细胞凋亡及相关蛋白的检测和表达的意义

目的　探讨肿瘤坏死因子 a(TNF a)诱导Graves病甲状腺细胞凋亡与相关蛋白表达在Graves病 (GD)发病关系中的意义。方法　采用免疫组织化学S P方法检测 5 0例Graves病患者TNF a,并检测对照组对Fas表达的影响。采用原代细胞培养方法进行细胞培养 ,细胞培养液中的sFas含量采用ELISA法检测。Fas/sFasmRNA检测采用半定量RT PCR法。结果　含有TNF aGD组细胞凋亡率为 92 6 % ,显著高于对照组的凋亡率 (36 0 % ) (P <0 0 1)。其含有TNF aGD组甲状腺细胞sFas、Fas/sFasmRNA含量与对照组比较差异有显著意义 (P <0 0 1)。结论　TNF a诱导Graves病甲状腺细胞凋亡及凋亡相关蛋白sFas、Fas/sFasmRNA有一定水平的表达 ,这些改变可能是TNF a破坏甲状腺细胞的重要机制之一。     

Chronic treatment with scopolamine and physostigmine changes nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor density and NGF content in rat brain

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptors were measured in cortex and hippocampus of rats treated with drugs affecting cholinergic neurotransmission. High (K_d= 0.045nM) and low (K_d= 21nM) affinity¹²⁵I-NGF binding sites were present in both cortical and hippocampal membranes with hippocampus containing higher numbers of both sites than cortex. Chronic treatment of rats with the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (5 mg/kg, twice daily) decreased the density of high- and low-affinity sites by 50–90% in cortical and hippocampal membranes. These changes were seen after 7 days, but not 3 days, of scopolamine treatment. Chronic infusion of physostigmine (1 mg/kg/day) using minipumps increased the number of high- and low-affinity sites in cortex 3- and 6-fold, respectively. The changes in receptor-binding parameters induced by physostigmine were transient as they were evident after 3 days of treatment, but returned to control levels after 7 days. NGF content in cortex and hippocampus was reduced by about 50% following 7, but not 3, days of chronic physostigmine infusion. In contrast, scopolamine treatment failed to change NGF levels in the cholinergic neuronal target regions but it decreased NGF content in the septal area. The content of NGF mRNA in the cortex measured by Northern blot analysis failed to change following either scopolamine or physostigmine treatment. The results suggest that levels of NGF and NGF receptors in the target regions of cholinergic neurons are regulated by the extent of cholinergic neurotransmitter activity.     

Is neighbourhood deprivation a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus?

AIMS: To assess the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using routinely collected data from a clinical information system, in Plymouth, UK. METHODS: Between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997, 3933 women residing within the Plymouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) were screened for GDM using indices of neighbourhood deprivation and prevalence of GDM. Areas (n = 43) were classified according to the Townsend index, measuring material deprivation. Pregnant women with and without GDM were compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of GDM was 1.7%[95%, confidence interval (CI) 1.20, 2.11]. The prevalence of GDM ranged from 1.05% (95% CI 0.60, 1.70) in the most deprived to 2.10% (95%, CI 1.34, 3.13), in the least deprived neighbourhood. Crude rates decreased by 50%[relative prevalence (RP) (95% CI) 0.50 (0.27, 0.94); P = 0.06] amongst those living in the most-deprived compared with those living in the least-deprived areas. Using a stepwise binary logistic regression model, older age at delivery significantly increased the risk of developing GDM. [RP (95%, CI) 1.09, (1.04, 1.13)]. Townsend deprivation score had no significant independent association with GDM when other covariates were considered. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the neighbourhood context in which women live has no impact on the risk of GDM. Diabet.     

重组人血小板源性生长因子增加细胞外信号调节激酶磷酸化促进糖尿病大鼠全层皮肤缺损创面愈合

目的 在体观察重组人血小板源性生长因子（recombinant human platelet—derived growth factor，rhPDGF）促进糖尿病大鼠全层皮肤缺损创面修复可能涉及的细胞和分子机制，研究其可能涉及的信号通路。方法 26只糖尿病大鼠，每只动物背部制备4个全层皮肤缺损创面，选取其中52个创面，随机分成3组，即对照组，创面自然愈合；rhPDGF治疗组，创面rhPDGF用量为7．0μg／cm^2；赋形剂组，创面用等量赋形剂凝胶。观察治疗后3、7和14d创面肉芽形成、胶原沉积、再上皮化速率以及炎性细胞浸润情况，并采用免疫荧光和免疫组织化学技术观察创面周围和创面修复细胞内细胞外信号调节激酶1／2（extracellular signal—regulated kinase1／2，ERK1／2）磷酸化和增殖细胞核抗原（proliferative cell nuclear antigen，PCNA）的表达。结果 组织学观察，rhPDGF治疗组创面可见大量炎性细胞浸润，毛细血管胚芽及成纤维细胞明显多于另两组（P〈0．05）；胶原沉积明显，肉芽组织生长活跃，创面收缩显著，与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。免疫学研究显示，应用rhPDGF7～14d后，rhPDGF治疗组ERK1／2明显强于对照组和赋形剂组（P〈0．05）；且损伤后3～7d rhPDGF治疗组修复细胞PCNA的表达明显高于对照组和赋形剂组（P〈0．05）。结论 rhPDGF促糖尿病大鼠刨面愈合的作用部分是通过ERK1／2信号通路的磷酸化来完成的。     

Multivariate comparison of elemental concentrations in human teeth

R-mode factor analysis was applied to characterize the chemical composition of human teeth investigated by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The approach developed in this study enabled the separation between essential mineral teeth components and the pollutants deposited in teeth tissues during the human life. The three independent sources of metals incorporated in human teeth were found. The first source, representing about 43% of the variance of the concentration data, was characterized by pollutant elements of power industry emissions. The second factor was loaded with toxic elements of general urban pollution. The third factor represented the tooth source as it contained mainly large fractions of the mineral components of the tooth tissue as Ca and K.     

Cross-cultural invariance of the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory: Adolescent samples from Canada and Singapore

We provide further evidence for the two-factor structure of the 9-item Academic Expectations Stress Inventory (AESI) using confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of 289 Canadian adolescents and 310 Singaporean adolescents. Examination of measurement invariance tests the assumption that the model underlying a set of scores is directly comparable across groups. This study also examined the cross-cultural validity of the AESI using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis across both the Canadian and Singaporean adolescent samples. The results suggested cross-cultural invariance of form, factor loadings, and factor variances and covariances of the AESI across both samples. Evidence of AESI's convergent and discriminant validity was also reported. Findings from t-tests revealed that Singaporean adolescents reported a significantly higher level of academic stress arising from self expectations, other expectations, and overall academic stress, compared to Canadian adolescents. Also, a larger cross-cultural effect was associated with academic stress arising from other expectations compared with academic stress arising from self expectations.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor in psoriasis: an indicator of disease severity and control

Background  Psoriasis is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal epidermal proliferation, inflammation and angiogenesis. It has been reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is overexpressed in lesional psoriatic skin and its serum levels are significantly elevated in patients with moderate to severe disease.
Objective  This study aims to evaluate the possible role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and its significance as an indicator of disease severity and control.
Methods  Thirty patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and 10 healthy controls were subjected to baseline evaluation of VEGF. Patients were divided into three groups according to the received treatment: psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) thrice weekly (group 1), acitretin 50 mg daily (group 2), and combined PUVA twice weekly and acitretin 25 mg daily (group 3).Treatment continued for 16 weeks or up to clinical cure. Every patient was subjected to severity evaluation by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and measurement of serum VEGF before and after treatment.
Results  Mean serum levels of VEGF were significantly elevated in patients (327 ± 66.2 pg/mL) than control subjects (178 ± 83.4 pg/mL). A highly significant correlation was found between VEGF and PASI score, but not with other variables. The best clinical response, the least side-effects and the highest reduction of VEGF serum levels were achieved by the combined therapy.
Conclusion  The present study supported the proposed role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and suggested that it could serve as a good indicator of disease severity and control.     

学习障碍患儿血清BDNF水平的研究

目的探讨学习障碍血清脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)水平的变化,及其与学习障碍病理基础的关系。方法患者组为22例未治疗过且不共患其他疾病的学习障碍患儿,对照组为16例年龄性别匹配正常儿童,以瑞文标准推理测验(SPM)测定智商,BDNF采用酶联夹心免疫吸附法检测。结果LD患者血清BDNF浓度为:平均(4.603±3.620)ng/ml高于对照组(1.843±0.728)ng/ml(t=3.326,P=0.003<0.01)。边缘智商组(4.523±4.618)ng/ml,与正常对照组比较差异有非常显著性(P=0.008<0.01)。结论学习障碍患儿血清BDNF浓度高于正常儿童,边缘智商者升高更明显。