Patent foramen ovale and migraine.

Migraine is a common neurological disorder with a great impact on the quality of life and social activities. The patent foramen ovale (PFO) is an intra-atrial right-to-left shunt with a prevalence of 25% in the general population. An increased prevalence is found in patients with migraine, especially in migraine with aura. Percutaneous PFO closure might decrease the prevalence of migraine. However, most of these observational studies were retrospective without a randomized design and the results need to be interpreted with caution. In this review we describe the association between PFO and migraine and the different pathophysiological hypotheses, which have been proposed to explain this relationship.     

Modulation of histamine release by rat peritoneal mast cells in a superfusion set-up.

A new method is presented for studying mediator release in isolated peritoneal cells of the rat. Using a superfusion technique, cells can be maintained in a continuously cleared medium. Cells were stimulated with antigen, compound 48/80 or A23187 to characterize this preparation. In addition, inhibitory effects of theophylline, isoprenaline and cromoglycate on compound 48/80-induced histamine release were studied. We conclude that superfusion is a valid alternative to study mediator release from isolated peritoneal cells.     

Nitratbehandlung

Organic nitrates are used for the treatment of angina pectoris symptoms, acute coronary syndrome and for acute and chronic heart insufficiency. In spite of the proven effectiveness of organic nitrates for acute cases, long-term therapy is limited by to the development of tolerance. Recent animal experiments, as well as clinical data, show that an endothelial dysfunction is also induced, a disquieting point, especially considering the negative prognostic impact of endothelial dysfunction. Due to these side effects, the published guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American College of Physicians do not recommend the use of long-term nitrates, such as mono- and dinitrate, for the treatment of stable angina pectoris. Rather, if good left ventricular function is present the calcium antagonist amlodipine should be used. In cases of appreciably reduced left ventricular function, there is a current discussion, based on the recently published A-HeFT study, as to whether a combination therapy with organic nitrates and the effective arteriole dilator hydralazine is beneficial for patients with severe heart insufficiency.     

骨髓输液在PICU的应用探讨

目的　探讨骨髓输液在PICU的适应证、方法及临床效果。方法　选择PICU危重症建立静脉通道困难患儿 30例 ,采用 7号骨穿针或 7～ 9号头皮针于胫骨粗隆下 1～ 2cm穿刺、固定 ,接入医嘱液体 ,记录穿刺所需时间、入液速度及生命体征变化、并发症等。结果　 2 8例 1次成功 ,2例用头皮针者有堵塞 ,换针后重新穿刺成功 ,穿刺、固定到接入液体平均时间 (30± 10 )s。速率 :一般压力 (8± 3)ml (kg体重·h) ,加压下 (17± 6 )ml (kg体重·h) ,所有病例均达到了医嘱要求。骨髓输液持续时间 3～ 2 2h ,无 1例出现并发症。结论　骨髓输液在PICU危重症抢救中可迅速建立液体通道 ,争取抢救时间。头皮针比骨髓穿刺针易于固定 ,使用更方便     

自发性高血压大鼠内皮素A型受体基因的表达

应用反转录－聚合酶链式反应（ｒｅｖｅｒｓｅｔｒａｎｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎ－ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒａｓｅｃｈａｉｎｒｅａｃｔｉｏｎ，ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）方法，测定大鼠ＥＴ－Ａ型受体（ｅｎｄｏｔｈｅｌｉｎＡｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒＥＴＡ－Ｒ）ｍＲＮＡ在体内的分布，证明ＥＴＡ－ＲｍＲＮＡ不仅存在于血管平滑肌细胞，亦存在于内皮细胞中；而且广泛分布于脑、心、肾、肺等组织内。首次发现，在ＳＨＲ大鼠的脑、心、肾组织中，ＥＴＡ－ＲｍＲＮＡ水平明显升高，提示ＥＴＡ－Ｒ基因表达增加，亦可能是高血压发病的一个重要因素。     

维甲酸改变人肝癌细胞表面N－糖链的结构及其酶学机制

用３Ｈ－甘露糖标记７７２１人肝癌细胞表面糖蛋白的Ｎ－糖链，经提取和去唾液酸后，用ＣｏｎＡ和ＤＳＡ亲和柱顺序层析将３Ｈ－标记的Ｎ－糖链分成４个类型和天线数不同的组分来研究维甲酸（ＲＡ）对细胞表面Ｎ－糖链的影响。结果：１０μｍｏｌ／ＬＲＡ处理细胞３～５ｄ后，可使Ｃ２Ｃ２二天线复杂型Ｎ－糖链增加，而高甘露糖型及三、四天线，特别是带有Ｃ２，６分支结构的复杂型Ｈ－糖链减少。用ＬＣＡ亲和柱还证明二天线糖链中的核心岩藻糖也减少。进一步发现上述改变的酶学机制是ＲＡ降低Ｎ－乙酰氨基萄葡糖转移酶Ｖ和α－１，６－核心岩藻糖转移酶的活力。结论：ＢＡ通过改变某些糖基转移酶活力而改变细胞表面糖链结构，这可能是ＲＡ使７７２１细胞诱导分化的机理之－。     

Protective effect of interferon-α on the DNA- and RNA-degrading pathway in anti-Fas-antibody induced apoptosis

Aim: Fas membrane-associated polypeptide antigen is a receptor molecule responsible for apoptosis-mediated signals. In animal models of acute viral hepatitis, apoptosis of hepatocytes is mediated by Fas-death receptors; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha on apoptotic markers and nuclease activity against different coding and non-coding single and double stranded RNAs during Fas-induced liver apoptosis. Methods: An in vivo experiment was performed with simultaneous administration of anti-Fas (CD95) antibodies and IFN-alpha, and an in vitro experiment was performed in hepatocyte cultures treated with anti-Fas antibodies and IFN-alpha. Results: Detection of apoptosis using Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, Bcl-2 and Bax expression in hepatocyte cultures confirmed the appearance of early apoptotic events and progression toward late apoptosis after anti-Fas antibody treatment. IFN-alpha had a tendency to retard the apoptosis process in Fas-induced apoptosis by increasing the number of viable cells and decreasing the number of cells in late apoptosis, by increasing the percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells, by decreasing the percentage of Bax positive cells, and by decreasing the nuclease activity compared to the anti-Fas antibody treated group. Total DNA and RNA concentration was much reduced in the Fas group and DNA fragmentation assay provided evidence for increased DNA degradation. Enhanced nuclease activity against DNA, rRNA, poly(A), poly(C), poly(U), poly(I:C), and poly(A:U) was manifested in the anti-Fas antibody treated group, except for the inhibitory-bound alkaline RNase. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the RNA-degrading pathway in Fas-induced apoptosis can accelerate the liberation of the latent enzyme from the inhibitor complex. IFN-alpha prevented enormous, Fas-ligand induced degradation of all the substrates used in this experimental study, most probably due to similarities in the signal transduction pathways. Investigations of death receptor-induced apoptosis may lead to novel treatment combinations for patients with acute or chronic liver diseases.