LHRH-A对孕中期大鼠抗妊娠作用的研究

本文观察了[D-Ala⁶,Pro⁹-Ethylamide¹⁰]-LHRH(LHRH-A)对孕中期大鼠的抗妊娠作用。结果显示:在孕9～11d sc 200μg/d LHRH-A,血浆孕酮水平自第二次给药后明显下降(P<0.05),给药大鼠均流产终止妊娠;LHRH-A的抗妊娠作用可被醋酸甲地孕酮所拮抗;LHRH-A对体外培养的假孕大鼠和孕d 9大鼠黄体细胞分泌孕酮有明显的直接抑制作用。     

GGA1 acts as a spatial switch altering amyloid precursor protein trafficking and processing

The beta-amyloid (Abeta) precursor protein (APP) is cleaved sequentially by beta-site of APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE) and gamma-secretase to release the Abeta peptides that accumulate in plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). GGA1, a member of the Golgi-localized gamma-ear-containing ARF-binding (GGA) protein family, interacts with BACE and influences its subcellular distribution. We now report that overexpression of GGA1 in cells increased the APP C-terminal fragment resulting from beta-cleavage but surprisingly reduced Abeta. GGA1 confined APP to the Golgi, in which fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses suggest that the proteins come into close proximity. GGA1 blunted only APP but not notch intracellular domain release. These results suggest that GGA1 prevented APP beta-cleavage products from becoming substrates for gamma-secretase. Direct binding of GGA1 to BACE was not required for these effects, but the integrity of the GAT (GGA1 and TOM) domain of GGA1 was. GGA1 may act as a specific spatial switch influencing APP trafficking and processing, so that APP-GGA1 interactions may have pathophysiological relevance in AD.     

Evaluation and audit in a paediatric disability service

Parental and professional responses to questionnaires evaluating a paediatric disability service are reported and the viability of auditing structural, process, and outcome aspects of clinical practice are discussed. Expectations of waiting time to first appointment (met for only 52% of consumers) illustrate structural issues. Process issues are reflected in consumer reactions to outreach work (for example, 94% of parents and 84% of professionals found this supportive). Outcome measures such as consumer satisfaction with the service (76% of consumers reported being 'very satisfied' and 20% 'fairly satisfied') suggest that service aims are being met. Good concurrence of service aims with consumer needs is indicated by parental reasons for referral (for example, 75% for diagnostic help, 73% for a better understanding of the disorder, 88% for practical help), referrers' reasons (for example, 55% for a second diagnostic opinion, 45% due to lack of local expertise), and reports from most other professionals involved with the case that a similar service was not provided locally.     

总粉尘浓度转换为呼吸性粉尘浓度的两种方法学研究

目的探讨流行病学研究中历史性总粉尘浓度转换成呼吸性粉尘浓度的理论方法。方法采用两种方法：一种通过体积直接计算;另一种用ＨａｔｃｈＣｈｏａｔｅ方程计算,推导出计数百分比和计量百分比的转换关系。结果得到总粉尘浓度与呼吸性粉尘浓度的理论转换系数,其中,用ＨａｔｃｈＣｈｏａｔｅ方程计算结果偏低。结论体积直接计算法更适用。     

Behaviour and physiological responses during prone and supine sleep in early infancy

AIMS: To study the effect of prone and supine sleep on infant behaviour, peripheral skin temperature, and cardiorespiratory parameters to aid understanding of why prone sleeping is associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. METHODS: Of 33 enrolled infants, 32 were studied at 2.5 and 28 at 5 months of age. A computer aided multichannel system was used for polysomnographic recordings. Behaviour was charted separately. RESULTS: Prone REM (active) sleep was associated with lower frequencies of short arousals, body movements and sighs, and a shorter duration of apnoeas than supine REM sleep at both ages. At 2.5 months there were less frequent episodes of periodic breathing during prone sleep in non-REM (quiet) and REM sleep. Heart rate and peripheral skin temperature were higher in the prone position during both sleep states at both ages. CONCLUSIONS: The observation of decreased variation in behaviour and respiratory pattern, increased heart rate, and increased peripheral skin temperature during prone compared with supine sleep may indicate that young infants are less able to maintain adequate respiratory and metabolic homoeostasis during prone sleep.     

Metformin versus flutamide in the treatment of metabolic consequences of non-obese young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized prospective study.

In addition to the reproductive consequences, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by a metabolic disorder in which hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are central features. The effects and possible benefits from insulin-sensitizing drugs are not well known, especially in non-obese women with PCOS. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of metformin and flutamide on metabolic parameters and insulin resistance in non-obese women with PCOS. Thirty non-obese women newly diagnosed with PCOS and 15 age- and weight-matched healthy volunteers as controls were included in the study. Patients were assigned randomly to receive flutamide 250 mg daily or metformin 850 mg three times daily. Glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, androgen levels and glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were assessed before and after a 4-week therapy period. A positive correlation was found between body mass index and insulin level in patients with PCOS and controls. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels decreased significantly, but insulin resistance levels were not changed after flutamide therapy. Body weight, free testosterone, insulin and insulin resistance levels decreased significantly after metformin therapy. In conclusion, metformin treatment improved insulin sensitivity and decreased androgen levels, and flutamide decreased androgen levels but failed to improve insulin sensitivity in the non-obese women with PCOS.     

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for adults with severe aphasia: where we stand and how we can go further

Purpose: To review literature specific to the use of AAC with adults who have severe aphasia. Method: The authors reviewed studies involving AAC interventions for adults with severe aphasia. Results: Published data support the use of aided and unaided AAC with adults with severe aphasia in controlled treatment contexts. Reported gains in communication typically have not generalized to everyday settings. Conclusions: The application of AAC with persons with severe aphasia must address factors potentially limiting treatment success outside of training environments.     

Formation of functional nanobiocatalysts with a novel and encouraging immobilization approach and their versatile bioanalytical applications

The discovery of functional organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (FNFs) consisting of proteins/enzymes as the organic components and Cu(ii) ion as the inorganic component has made an enormous impact on enzyme immobilization studies. The FNFs synthesized by an encouraging and novel approach not only showed high stabilities but also much enhanced catalytic activities as compared to free and conventionally immobilized enzymes. A recent development demonstrated that FNF formation has moved beyond the initial discovery in which enzymes and Cu²⁺ ions used as the organic and inorganic parts, respectively, are replaced with new organic (chitosan, amino acid and plant extracts) and inorganic (Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺) materials. The new organic materials incorporated into FNFs act as Fenton-like agents and then show peroxidase-like activity owing to the metal ions and the porous structure of FNFs in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). All FNFs have been widely utilized in many different scientific and industrial fields due to their greatly enhanced activities and stabilities. This review focuses primarily on the preparation, characterization, and bioanalytical applications of FNFs and explains the mechanisms of their formation and enhanced activities and stabilities.

The discovery of functional organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (FNFs) consisting of proteins/enzymes as the organic components and Cu(ii) ion as the inorganic component has made an enormous impact on enzyme immobilization studies.