NPY hyperinnervation in Hirschsprung's disease: both adrenergic and nonadrenergic fibers contribute.

In Hirschsprung's disease, the aganglionic bowel is characterized by an absence of ganglion cells and an increased number of adrenergic and presumed cholinergic nerve fibers. In addition, a severe derangement of peptide-containing nerve fibers is encountered including a hyperinnervation of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing fibers. Using immunochemical and immunocytochemical methods, we examined the nature of the NPY-containing nerve fibers contributing to the hyperinnervation. The concentration of NPY was markedly increased in the aganglionic segment. Coexistence of NPY, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and the adrenergic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) showed small populations of nerve fibers containing NPY/TH, NPY/VIP, or TH alone in ganglionic intestine. Numerous nerve fibers stored VIP but lacked NPY. These fibers did not contain TH, indicating that all VIP-containing fibers are nonadrenergic. In the aganglionic intestine there was a marked increase in the number of nerve fibers storing NPY/TH and NPY/VIP, whereas the fibers storing VIP alone were reduced in number. A small number of nerve fibers storing NPY alone occurred in the hypertrophic nerve bundles. NPY/VIP-containing nerve fibers were particularly numerous in the mucosa in aganglionic intestine, which may be of interest in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease allowing the use of mucosal biopsy specimens. Thus, the proliferating NPY-containing nerve fibers in the aganglionic intestine seem to comprise three different populations, one adrenergic and two nonadrenergic, one of which contains in addition VIP.     

青少年近视患者配戴渐进多焦眼镜的视光学检查现状初步分析

目的:调查青少年近视患者配戴渐进多焦眼镜的现状,分析其对眼部参数的影响。方法:随机抽查配戴渐进光眼镜的近视患者214名,对其进行视光学检查,包括屈光度、斜视度、AC/A率、辐接近点和融合范围等项目,并调查其心理感受。其检查结果与256名年龄相匹配的戴用单焦眼镜的近视患者相对照,分析其变量的变化。结果:配戴渐变多焦眼镜的近视患者中140例无不适感觉,满意程度明显高于对照组;屈光度平均为-3.5D,约半数患者(48.6％)存在不同程度的外隐斜,其中8位是间歇性外斜患者,没有融合能力,辐辏近点大于20 cm;平均AC/A率为(2.95±1.49),平均融合力为+16.41°～-7.06°,平均辐转近点为(72.63±24.42)mm。实验组除AC/A率低于对照组(t=3.52,P<0.05),且与屈光度无明显相关(r=-0.0318,P>0.05)外,其余检查与对照组之间没有显著性差别。结论:渐进多焦眼镜可以引起AC/A率降低,并有可能通过掩饰间歇性外斜患者 的症状而耽误其治疗。因此,渐进多焦眼镜虽然普遍受青少年近视患者欢迎,但验配中仍存在适应证选择问题,青少年在验配时最好在医生的指导下进行。     

组织型纤溶酶原激活剂及其抑制物的变化与冠心病的关系

目的：观察冠心病患者纤溶活性的变化及其在冠心病发病中的作用，探讨其临床意义。方法：用酶联免疫双抗夹心(ELISA)法测定58例冠心病患者血浆中组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(t—PA)及纤溶酶原激活抑制物-1(PAI-1)抗原含量，反映纤溶-抗纤溶活性的变化，并对冠心病患者组与对照组纤溶指标进行不同性别间的比较。结果：急性心肌梗死、不稳定心绞痛患者PM-1的含量、PAI-1／t—PA比值明显高于对照组，且急性心肌梗死患者PM-1的含量较不稳定心绞痛患者显著为高。但t—PA在急性心肌梗死、不稳定心绞痛患者均无显著降低。患者组及对照组不同性别间纤溶及抗纤溶水平均未见有显著差异。结论：血栓性疾病与纤溶系统的异常有密切关系。纤溶系统活性的变化及纤溶-抗纤溶的平衡失调在缺血性心脏病的发生、发展中起着重要作用。     

Sodium/iodide-symporter: distribution in different mammals and role in entero-thyroid circulation of iodide

The sodium (Na+)/iodide (I-)-symporter (NIS) is abundantly expressed and accumulates iodide in thyroid follicular cells. The NIS is also found in extrathyroidal tissues, particularly gastric mucosa. Controversies exist on the localization of extrathyroidal NIS. We have studied the presence of both NIS peptide and NIS messenger RNA (mRNA) in the digestive tract and thyroid from different mammals. The role of gastric NIS is enigmatic and we aimed to unravel its possible involvement in iodide transport. Methods: Distribution and expression of NIS were studied using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Iodide transport in the gastrointestinal tract was measured after oral or intravenous (i.v.) administration of 125I to rats with or without ligation of the pylorus. Results: All thyroid follicular cells in rat and mouse expressed NIS, whereas a patchy staining was noted in man, pig and guinea-pig. Gastric mucosa surface epithelium in all species and ductal cells of parotid gland in guinea-pig, rat and mouse expressed NIS. In parietal cells and in endocrine cells of intestines and pancreas NIS immunoreactivity but no NIS mRNA was found. Studies of 125I uptake showed marked iodide transport from the circulation into the gastric lumen. Conclusions: The localization of NIS varies slightly among mammals. To establish expression of NIS in a particular cell type the need to correlate the presence of both NIS protein by immunocytochemistry and NIS mRNA by in situ hybridization is emphasized. An entero-thyroidal circulation of iodide mediated principally by gastric NIS, but possibly also by NIS in salivary glands is suggested.     

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide: a novel vasoactive intestinal peptide-like neuropeptide in the gut.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-like hypothalamic peptide occurring in two forms, PACAP-27 and the C-terminally extended PACAP-38. The predicted rat and human PACAP sequence is identical to the isolated ovine one. In the present study, the occurrence and distribution of PACAP-like peptides were examined in the gut of several species by immunocytochemistry and immunochemistry using an antibody raised against PACAP-27. PACAP-like immunoreactivity was observed in nerve fibers in the gut wall of all species examined (chicken, mouse, rat, hamster, guinea-pig, ferret, cat, pig, sheep and man). In the chicken and human gut, immunoreactive fibers were numerous in all layers. In the other species examined the fibers were predominantly found in the myenteric ganglia and smooth muscle. Delicate PACAP-immunoreactive fibers were seen in the gastric mucosa of mouse, rat, hamster and man but not in the other species examined. The chicken proventriculus harbored numerous PACAP-immunoreactive endocrine cells which were identical with the serotonin-containing cells storing gastrin-releasing peptide. PACAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were numerous in the submucous ganglia and moderate in number in the myenteric ganglia of the human gut. They were few in the intramural ganglia of the other species examined. Extrinsic denervation (performed on segments of rat and guinea-pig small intestine) did not visibly affect the PACAP innervation, indicating an intramural origin of most PACAP-immunoreactive fibers. Double immunostaining for VIP and PACAP revealed co-existence of the two peptides in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers of the human and chicken gut and in fibers in the gastric mucosa of mouse and rat. In all other species examined and in all other locations in the gut PACAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers were distinct from those storing VIP; many of them contained gastrin-releasing peptide instead. Immunochemistry revealed PACAP-like peptides in gut extracts of all species studied; upon high performance liquid chromatography the immunoreactive material co-eluted with synthetic PACAP-27. The distribution of PACAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers in the gut wall suggests their involvement in the regulation of both motor and secretory activities.     

冬连胶囊对实验性糖尿病大鼠早期胰岛素抵抗的影响

Objective To investigate the effects of Donglian Capsule(the combination of Ophiopogonis Tuber Polysaccharide with Rhizoma Coptidis Alkaloids, OPRA for short, Component of Chinese medicine)on early insulin resistance in experimental diabetic rats. Methods The animal model of insulin resistance in 2 type diabetic was established by injecting low dose of STZ in 60 high fat-fed SD rats. After one week, the successful models were randomly divided into 4 groups: untreated, high and low OPRA-treated, mefformin-treated group, Meanwhile, a normal control group was designed. After four weeks, the differences of FBG, PG, INS and C-P were compared among the groups. Results The OPRA can significantly reduced the level of serum TC and FBG, increased the C-E ]Lightened the IRI(P<0.01). Conclusion The OPRA can reduce the level of serum TG and FBG, and decrease insulin resistance to protect the β-cell function.     

冬连胶囊对实验性糖尿病大鼠早期胰岛素抵抗的影响

Objective To investigate the effects of Donglian Capsule(the combination of Ophiopogonis Tuber Polysaccharide with Rhizoma Coptidis Alkaloids, OPRA for short, Component of Chinese medicine)on early insulin resistance in experimental diabetic rats. Methods The animal model of insulin resistance in 2 type diabetic was established by injecting low dose of STZ in 60 high fat-fed SD rats. After one week, the successful models were randomly divided into 4 groups: untreated, high and low OPRA-treated, mefformin-treated group, Meanwhile, a normal control group was designed. After four weeks, the differences of FBG, PG, INS and C-P were compared among the groups. Results The OPRA can significantly reduced the level of serum TC and FBG, increased the C-E ]Lightened the IRI(P<0.01). Conclusion The OPRA can reduce the level of serum TG and FBG, and decrease insulin resistance to protect the β-cell function.     

The host defense peptide LL‐37 is detected in human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and expressed in glandular neutrophils

The human host defense peptide, LL‐37, is an important player in the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. LL‐37 and its precursor, hCAP18, have been detected in unstimulated whole saliva but no reports showing hCAP18/LL‐37 in isolated, parotid, and/or submandibular/sublingual saliva have been presented. Here, we measured the levels of hCAP18/LL‐37 in human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and investigated the expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in parotid and submandibular gland tissue. Parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva was collected from healthy volunteers, and the levels of hCAP18/LL‐37 in saliva were analyzed by dot blot, ELISA, and western blotting. Cellular expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in human parotid and submandibular glands was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity for hCAP18/LL‐37 was detected in both parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva of all individuals. The concentration of hCAP18/LL‐37 was similar in parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva, and was determined by densitometric scanning of each dot and normalization to the total protein concentration of each sample, and by ELISA. Double immunohistochemistry revealed that intravascular neutrophils of both parotid and submandibular glands express hCAP18/LL‐37. For the first time, we demonstrate hCAP18/LL‐37 in isolated human parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva and expression of hCAP18/LL‐37 in glandular intravascular neutrophils, indicating that neutrophils of the major salivary glands contribute to the LL‐37 content of whole saliva.     

Adrenocorticotropin and corticotropin-releasing hormone tests in preterm infants

The short ACTH test is used in evaluating the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) in preterm neonates after dexamethasone treatment. This test mainly examines primary adrenal suppression but is also used as a method to test secondary adrenal insufficiency because long-term deprivation of ACTH causes atrophy of the adrenal cortex. The CRH test, on the other hand, directly examines the function of the pituitary. We tested 18 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit with both the ACTH test and the CRH test to determine which of these two tests more reliably demonstrates HPA-axis suppression. One patient had normal responses both in the ACTH test and in the CRH test when the limit of 360 nmol/L was used as a sign of proper cortisol secretion. In four cases the patients' cortisol secretion would have been regarded as normal by the low-dose ACTH test, whereas the CRH test did not show an adequate cortisol response. In conclusion, the ACTH test did not reliably indicate HPA-axis suppression after a short (<2 weeks) course of dexamethasone therapy in this study. Therefore, whether the infant is or will be under acute stress after short glucocorticoid treatment, ensuring adequate cortisol secretion with the CRH test should be considered.