PGE1 abolishes the mitochondrial-independent cell death pathway induced by D-galactosamine in primary culture of rat hepatocytes

Background and Aim:  PGE₁ reduces in vivo and in vitro D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced cell death in hepatocytes. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the intracellular pathway by which D-GalN induces cell death in cultured hepatocytes. In addition, we evaluated if PGE₁ was able to modulate different parameters related to D-GalN-induced apoptosis in cultured rat hepatocytes.
Methods:  Hepatocytes were isolated from male Wistar rats (225–275 g) by the classical collagenase procedure. PGE₁ (1 µM) was administered 2 h before D-GalN (5 mM) in primary culture of rat hepatocytes. Apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3, -6, -8 and -9 activation in hepatocytes. Caspase activation was evaluated by the detection of the related cleaved product and its associated activity. Cell necrosis was determined by the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in culture medium. To elucidate the role of mitochondria, we measured neutral (nSMase) and acid (aSMase) sphingomyelinase, as well as the expression of cytochrome c in mitochondria and cytoplasm fractions from D-GalN treated hepatocytes.
Results:  D-GalN induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in hepatocytes. This apoptotic response was not associated with the activation of caspase-6, -8 or -9. The use of specific inhibitors confirmed that only caspase-3 was involved in D-GalN-induced apoptosis. D-GalN did not modify nSMase and aSMase activities, nor mitochondrial cytochrome c release in hepatocytes.
Conclusions:  D-GalN induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation but without modification of the activity of caspase-6, -8, -9, SMases or cytochrome c release. PGE₁ appears to prevent D-GalN-induced apoptosis by a mitochondria-independent mechanism.     

Environmental distribution and long-term dispersion of reactor 14CO2 around two German nuclear power plants

Carbon-14 data on atmospheric CO2 as well as on plant material (tree leaves and wheat) from the vicinity of two German boiling water reactors (Philippsburg and Isar/Ohu) are reported. Atmospheric CO2 samples taken routinely with an integration time of one or two weeks 1.75 km downwind of the Philippsburg reactor (900 MW electrical power) show a maximum 14C excess concentration of delta 14C (excess) = 300 +/- 7%, corresponding to 12.7 mBq m-3 (STP air). The long-term average excess amounts to delta 14C (excess) = 47 +/- 3%, corresponding to 2.0 mBq m-3 (STP air). The concentrations observed with plant material at the same sampling site range between delta 14C (excess) = 0% and 120%, corresponding to 0 and 27 mBq (g carbon)-1. With the meteorological dispersion parameters actually measured at the nuclear power plants, the dispersion factors for the various sampling sites and for the individual periods of sampling were calculated on the basis of a one-dimensional Gaussian plume model. With the observed 14C excess concentrations and the dispersion factor, a "theoretical" (i.e. calculated) reactor 14C source strength is then determined. For the Philippsburg reactor, which is situated in the flat Rhine valley, the "theoretical" and the observed yearly mean 14C emissions compare rather well (within a factor of 2). A significant systematical deviation from the model was found in the concentration decrease with source distance: the decrease predicted between the 1.75-km and 3.25-km distances is steeper than actually observed. The 14C excess concentrations found in tree leaves around the Isar/Ohu reactor (907 MW electrical power) at 1-2 km distance fall into the same range as observed at Philippsburg. In the hilly terrain at this reactor site, the model calculations agree well with the observed values up to a distance of 1 km if the relative elevation of the sampling site is taken into account by introducing a "reduced stack height" in the model calculations. This method fails in predicting the concentrations at distances greater than 1 km from the source.     

Presence of immunoglobulin M antibodies around the glomerular capillaries and in the mesangium of normal and passive Heymann nephritis rats

Summary Diffuse distribution of small, faintly staining, beaded deposits of rat immunoglobulin M (IgM) around the glomerular capillary blood vessels, and a more intensely staining larger deposition in the mesangium, were observed on the kidney sections of normal rats. As glomerular-fixed nephritogenic antigens are known to be present on the epithelial aspect of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), especially at the soles of foot processes and at the slit pores, it was assumed that the IgM antibodies were directed against these antigens. Investigation by immunofluorescent antibody double-staining techniques of rat kidney sections obtained from normal and rabbit anti-FX1A-injected rats stained for the nephritogenic antigen showed that a number of antigenic sites in the glomeruli and in the mesangium shared antibody hits by heterologous rabbit IgG and autologous rat IgM antibodies. Most sites in the glomeruli stained specifically for rat IgM or rabbit IgG, but preferentially for the latter. The intensely fluorescent mesangial deposits stained mainly for rat IgM, indicating that at these sites the antigenic material was virtually saturated, while areas at the entry to the mesangial space also stained for rabbit IgG, indicating that at these locations free nephritogenic epitopes were still available for reaction with the anti-FX1A antibody. Western blot analysis have shown that the rabbit anti-rat FX1A IgG and the rat anti-rat KF3 IgM antibodies are directed against the same renal tubular-derived antigen with a molecular weight of 70,000. These experimental findings collectively demonstrate that the heterologous IgG and autologous IgM antibodies are directed against the same nephritogenic antigen, which is found in the glomeruli, the mesangium and the proximal convoluted tubules. Thus, the IgM autoantibody has a possible physiological role but, in addition, there is evidence of active immunophagocytic events, manifested in a rapid and continuous entrapment and expulsion of macromolecules after their processing by the mesangial cells of normal and passive Heymann nephritis rats.     

Passive Heymann nephritis in pre- and post-natal rats

Passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) was induced in pre- and post-natal rats by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 0.2 ml of a rabbit anti-rat kidney fraction 3 (rKF3) antibody. Immune complex formation occurred only in those glomeruli or parts of glomeruli which were open to the circulation. Double staining of kidney sections for the glomerular nephritogenic antigen and rabbit IgG, 2 days after the injection of the antibody showed an identical distribution of both components in the glomeruli. In rats killed more than 4 days after the injection of the anti-rKF3 antibody, the nephritogenic antigen could be demonstrated in the subcapsular glomeruli, in the absence of rabbit IgG; and the same applied when the kidneys had reached maturity. When the injected antibody was expected to be present in the circulation, no nephritogenic antigen was demonstrated in the glomeruli in the absence of the heterologous IgG. These observations indicate that the nephritogenic antigen appears in the glomerulus at the same time as the glomerular capillary loops open to the circulation. Unlike PHN in the adult rat, the immune complexes in the glomeruli of neonatal rats do not persist longer than 84 days.     

新疆铁路工人1001名体质状态相关分析

目的:调查新疆铁路工人的体质状况,并分析体质量指数和血糖、血脂及肝胆疾病之间的关系。方法:调查于2006-02/03进行。选择新疆乌鲁木齐铁路局公务段(盐湖-乌西)铁路职工1001人,测量其身高、体质量,计算体质量指数(<18.5kg/m2为体质量过低,18.5～24.9kg/m2为正常,25.0～29.9kg/m2为超重,>30kg/m2为肥胖);检测血脂(总胆固醇≥5.7mmol/L为高胆固醇血症;三酰甘油≥1.7mmol/L为高三酰甘油血症)、空腹血糖(≥7mmol/L为高血糖);B超观察肝、胆、脾、肾等器官。结果:受试者1001人全部进入结果分析。①体质量指数、三酰甘油、胆固醇、血糖值男女间未见差异。②体型正常者598人(59.74%),超重和肥胖者385人(38.46%)。③高三酰甘油症检出率:肥胖组明显高于体质量过低和正常组(58.33%,23.08%,7.32%,P<0.01);女性明显高于男性(23.95%,3.41%);体型正常者中女性明显高于男性(25.63%,0.68%)。④高胆固醇症、高血糖检出率男女比较差异不显著(P>0.05);超重者中女性高血糖检出率高于男性(10.14%,3.61%,P<0.05)。⑤脂肪肝检出率肥胖者最高为53.84%,体质量过低者最低5.56%;男性脂肪肝检出率高于女性(22.28%,16.81%,P<0.05);胆囊炎、胆结石检出率男女比较差异不显著。结论:①1001名铁路工人中体型异常者占40.36%,其中超重和肥胖者占38.66%。②随体质量指数增加,脂肪肝、高血脂检出率明显增加。     

A dermoid cyst fistulating with the transverse colon

We present a rare case of fistulation of a dermoid cyst with the transverse colon. We illustrate how an infected dermoid cyst can be diagnosed as an appendix abscess although the management of these is quite different. The general surgeon should be aware of this as a differential diagnosis for an appendix abscess.     

1型糖尿病患儿的课堂注意力：稳定血糖的效果

目的:观察评估通过使用胰岛素泵以稳定血糖,是否可以改善1型糖尿病患儿的课堂注意力。试验设计:对4例患有1型糖尿病且血糖水平不稳定的患儿在课堂中的表现进行为期10d的观察。在放置胰岛素泵,控制血糖后再观察10d。利用改良多基线设计血糖控制水平是否与患儿专注于功课和走神行