Lysophosphatidylcholine‐induced cytotoxicity and protection by heparin in mouse brain bEND.3 endothelial cells

A pathological feature in atherosclerosis is the dysfunction and death of vascular endothelial cells (EC). Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), known to accumulate in the atherosclerotic arterial walls, impairs endothelium‐dependent relaxation and causes EC apoptosis. A major bioactive ingredient of the oxidized LDL is lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), which at higher concentrations causes apoptosis and necrosis in various EC. There is hitherto no report on LPC‐induced cytotoxicity in brain EC. In this work, we found that LPC caused cytosolic Ca²⁺ overload, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, p38 activation, caspase 3 activation and eventually apoptotic death in mouse cerebral bEND.3 EC. In contrast to reported reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by LPC in other EC, LPC did not trigger ROS formation in bEND.3 cells. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 alleviated LPC‐inflicted cell death. We examined whether heparin could be cytoprotective: although it could not suppress LPC‐triggered Ca²⁺ signal, p38 activation and mitochondrial membrane potential drop, it did suppress LPC‐induced caspase 3 activation and alleviate LPC‐inflicted cytotoxicity. Our data suggest LPC apoptotic death mechanisms in bEND.3 might involve mitochondrial membrane potential decrease and p38 activation. Heparin is protective against LPC cytotoxicity and might intervene steps between mitochondrial membrane potential drop/p38 activation and caspase 3 activation.     

"Lysostrip" experiments with HLA class-II antigens. I. Independent surface mobility of DQ and DR molecules

We report on results of lysostrip experiments designated to analyse the molecular relations between DQ and DR antigens. The purpose of lysostrip application was to determine whether these antigens can independently be redistributed on B-cell surface by incubation with a specific antibody followed by incubation with F(ab')2 fragments of rabbit antihuman Ig. The obtained results have clearly shown that DQ antigens, and supertypic and narrow DR antigens, move independently, indicating that they are located on separate molecules, supporting the concept of different DQ and DR loci.     

Sonographic diagnosis of early recurrence after inguinal herniorrhaphy: Potential pitfalls

Three patients who presented with scrotal swelling within a few days of inguinal herniorrhaphy are reported. Ultrasonography scans performed in these patients all demonstrated features suspicious of recurrence of hernia. One patient underwent surgical exploration, which revealed only a scrotal haematoma without evidence of recurrent hernia. The other two patients were managed conservatively because clinically the swellings were regarded to be more compatible with haematoma. Both patients had subsequent resolution of the scrotal swelling with no clinical evidence of recurrence of hernia on follow‐up. It is concluded that sonographic diagnosis of recurrence of hernia shortly after inguinal herniorrhaphy can occasionally be misleading.     

关木通引起慢性间质性肾炎7例报告

目的　观察关木通所致慢性肾损伤的临床和病理改变特点。方法　本组 7例中 ,男 5例 ,女 2例。 3例服关木通汤药 ,4例服含关木通成药。分析服用时间、累积总量与肾损害首发症状及症状出现时间、肾功能和肾病理改变的关系。结果　汤药组 :服药时间平均 3 3 3个月 ,累积总量平均 82 9 3 g ,首发症状为乏力 3例 ,夜尿增多 2例 ,平均时间为 8 3个月 ,Cr平均 40 2 μmol/L。肾病理 :3例均为重度寡细胞性肾间质纤维化 ,肾小管广泛萎缩。成药组 :服药时间平均 7 5个月 ,累积总量平均 13 6g ,乏力 3例 ,夜尿增多 1例 ,恶心呕吐、头痛头晕 1例 ,平均18 8个月 ,Cr 3 62 8μmol/L。肾病理为重度寡细胞性间质纤维化和灶状纤维化各 2例 ,肾小管灶状萎缩 3例 ,广泛萎缩 1例。结论　汤药组关木通积累大 ,发病时间早 ,肾病理改变重。提示关木通所致肾损其临床表现、病理改变与服用关木通时间、剂量相关。     

复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石人工骨的研制及其成骨效应

目的 自行研制复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石人工骨并评估其成骨效应。方法 取南海澄黄滨珊瑚碳酸钙在特定条件下经过“热液交换反应”，制成单纯珊瑚羟基磷灰石(coralline Hydroxyapatite，CHA)人工骨，并将其与基因重组骨形态发生蛋白(rhBMP2)和几丁糖复合制成了三种复合珊瑚羟基磷灰石(composite Coralline Hydroxyapatite，CCHA)人工骨，将此三种不同配型的复合人工骨和单纯CHA人工骨分别植入四组24只SD大白鼠肌肉内。手术后2、4、6、8周取材进行组织学观察，计数高倍单位视野内的成骨细胞数量和炎性细胞数量。采用SPSS8.0统计软件处理系统分析。结果 术后各时期取材结果显示：B组(CHA rhBMP2)和D组(CHA rhBM2P 几丁糖)的单位视野内成骨细胞数量明显多于A组(单纯CHA)和C组(CHA 几丁糖)：而C组和D组的单位视野内炎性细胞数量明显少于A组和B组。即D组人工骨的单位视野内的成骨细胞数量多、炎性细胞少。结论 rhBMP2-几丁糖／CHA复合人工骨不但具有显著的成骨诱导作用，还具有炎症反应轻及持续的诱导成骨作用，是一良好的骨移植替代物。