Search for novel cell surface markers of apoptotic cells

Surface markers of apoptotic cells are of great interest as potential targets for non-destructive detection and study of these cells. They are also important for apoptotic cell recognition and subsequent clearance by cells of the immune system. Recently, it was found that apoptosis is accompanied by not only the loss of plasma membrane asymmetry detected by Annexin V, but also by changes in cell surface glycoconjugates. These novel markers of apoptosis are α-d-mannose and β-d-galactose-specific plasma membrane glycoproteins whose expression is substantially increased after induction of apoptosis. The glyconeoepitopes described in this article are proposed to be useful for both, the detection of apoptotic cells and the isolation of the latter, from mixed populations.     

The Cost of Inpatient Care of Schizophrenia and Treatment Schedules Used in German Academic Center: Kiel

The authors aimed at analyzing the costs of inpatient care of schizophrenia in Kiel (Germany). The study was also to present treatment regimens used at the German Academic Center. Moreover, the study is a continuation and complement of the previous study conducted in Polish and Ukrainian Academic Center. Therefore, it helps increase the awareness and knowledge of residents concerning the cost of inpatient care of schizophrenia. The analysis was based on 105 hospital records of patients treated between January 2012 and June 2013. According to inclusion criteria, 50 adult patients (27 women and 23 men) were included in the study. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medicine Faculty of CAU in Kiel. The cost of schizophrenia treatment of 50 patients in Kiel was EUR 604,280.90 (\(\bar{x}\) = EUR 12,085.62). The duration of hospital stay was on average \(\bar{x}\) = 51.02 days. The patients were treated with neuroleptics of all generations. The most popular atypical neuroleptic was amisulpride and the most popular typical neuroleptic was haloperidol. Patients from Kiel were provided a comprehensive non-pharmacological treatment. Treatment regiments and evaluations of costs of schizophrenia vary between countries. The costs of inpatient care of schizophrenia are high in Kiel. Treatment of schizophrenia seems to be comprehensive in Kiel and wide range of treatment opportunities contribute to a more effective treatment confirmed by less frequent relapses of schizophrenia than in Lviv (Ukraine), for example. Comprehensive treatment should be available everywhere, because it is a right of every patient.     

公立医院胃癌根治术直接成本与政府定价关系研究

目的 比较公立医院胃癌根治术的直接成本与定价的差距,分析定价的合理性.方法 采用典型抽样方法 ,分别选取上海市、浙江省、湖北省和陕西省各一家三级医院作为样本医院,根据计算的胃癌根治术项目直接成本和手术收费标准,测算每例胃癌根治术的收费价格水平(收费标准/直接成本),并加以分析.结果 在上海市、浙江省、湖北省和陕西省的样本医院中,平均每例手术的直接成本分别为2 628.96、3 078.79、3 634.17和1 839.49元;手术收费标准分别为1 860、1 860、2 000和1 880元.上海市、浙江省和湖北省样本医院的收费价格水平均＜1(0.71、0.60和0.55),陕西省为1.02.结论 各地区公立医院胃癌根治术的直接成本有较大差异,政府定价基本上均低于直接成本.适度调整医疗服务价格是扭转当前不合理的医疗成本补偿机制的有效途径.     

A decisive role of mitochondria in defining rate and intensity of apoptosis induction by different alkaloids

Sanguinarine, chelerythrine and chelidonine possess prominent apoptotic effects towards cancer cells. In this study, we found that sanguinarine and chelerythrine induce apoptosis in human CEM T-leukemia cells, and that is accompanied by an early increase in cytosolic cytochrome c that precedes caspases-8, -9 and -3 processing. During apoptosis induction by sanguinarine and chelerythrine, reactive oxygen species (ROS) was rapidly generated and DeltaPsi(mt) dissipated, while Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-X((L/S)) proteins' content in the mitochondrial fraction did not change significantly. Caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation were considerably inhibited by N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Chelidonine induced only a slight release of cytochrome c (12h), parallel to caspase-3 activation. Effect of sanguinarine or chelerythrine towards mitochondria was confirmed by marked changes in morphology of this organelle (3h), while chelidonine did not affect mitochondria intactness. Sanguinarine or chelerythrine also caused an intensive DNA damage in cells in 1h, however a massive increase in number of such impaired cells occurred in 6h, while chelidonine induced intensive DNA damage in 15-20% cells only in 24h. Thus, our results demonstrated that rapid cytochrome c release in CEM T-leukemia cells exposed to sanguinarine or chelerythrine was not accompanied by changes in Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-X((L/S)) proteins in the mitochondrial fraction, and preceded activation of the initiator caspase-8.     

PMA and crystal‐induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation involves RIPK1‐RIPK3‐MLKL signaling

Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation contributes to gout, autoimmune vasculitis, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. The outside‐in signaling pathway triggering NET formation is unknown. Here, we show that the receptor‐interacting protein kinase (RIPK)‐1‐stabilizers necrostatin‐1 or necrostatin‐1s and the mixed lineage kinase domain‐like (MLKL)‐inhibitor necrosulfonamide prevent monosodium urate (MSU) crystal‐ or PMA‐induced NET formation in human and mouse neutrophils. These compounds do not affect PMA‐ or urate crystal‐induced production of ROS. Moreover, neutrophils of chronic granulomatous disease patients are shown to lack PMA‐induced MLKL phosphorylation. Genetic deficiency of RIPK3 in mice prevents MSU crystal‐induced NET formation in vitro and in vivo. Thus, neutrophil death and NET formation may involve the signaling pathway defining necroptosis downstream of ROS production. These data imply that RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL could represent molecular targets in gout or other crystallopathies.     

护理服务价格扭曲实证研究

目的：测算住院护理人力实际成本,比较成本与定价的差距。资料与方法：采用典型抽样方法,分别选取上海、浙江、湖北和陕西二、三级医院各一家,收集各医院运行的相关数据,按医院实际资源消耗测算每床日护理人力成本。结论：护理人力收费价格明显低于实际成本;只有调整医疗服务价格,才能打破医疗服务依赖药品加成的格局;各医院医护比失衡;部分医院自身运行效率有待提高。     

公立医院住院床日诊查人力成本与收费关系分析

目的 调查和分析住院床日诊查人力成本与收费的关系,确定公立医院人力成本的定价机制.方法 采用典型抽样方法,分别选取上海市及浙江、湖北和陕西省二、三级医院各一家作为样本医院,收集2007年各样本医院的基本信息及住院收入相关数据,分析住院收入的构成比例,测算住院床日诊查人力成本和收费,并加以描述性分析.结果 各样本医院的住院诊查收入占总住院收入的比例均较小,在上海市和浙江省的三级样本医院仅为0.84%和0.49%.各样本医院的住院床日诊查收费大大低于诊查人力成本,上海市和浙江省的情况尤为突出.住院床日诊查收费与人力成本的比值,二级医院为0.05～0.23,三级医院仅为0.03～0.22.结论 目前公立医院人力成本定价不够合理,临床医师的人力价值被低估.医院应建立科学规范的成本核算监测体系,根据社会经济的发展情况对价格作及时合理的调整.     

公立医院住院床日诊查人力成本与收费关系分析

目的 调查和分析住院床日诊查人力成本与收费的关系,确定公立医院人力成本的定价机制.方法 采用典型抽样方法,分别选取上海市及浙江、湖北和陕西省二、三级医院各一家作为样本医院,收集2007年各样本医院的基本信息及住院收入相关数据,分析住院收入的构成比例,测算住院床日诊查人力成本和收费,并加以描述性分析.结果 各样本医院的住院诊查收入占总住院收入的比例均较小,在上海市和浙江省的三级样本医院仅为0.84%和0.49%.各样本医院的住院床日诊查收费大大低于诊查人力成本,上海市和浙江省的情况尤为突出.住院床日诊查收费与人力成本的比值,二级医院为0.05～0.23,三级医院仅为0.03～0.22.结论 目前公立医院人力成本定价不够合理,临床医师的人力价值被低估.医院应建立科学规范的成本核算监测体系,根据社会经济的发展情况对价格作及时合理的调整.