Characterization of unique ADTN-catecholamine binding sites in the iris root-ciliary body of rabbits

A binding site for tritiated 2-amino-6, 7-dihydroxy-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (ADTN) has been partially characterized in the rabbit iris root-ciliary body. Binding of ADTN is proportional to protein content and requires at least 60 minutes to reach equilibrium. Binding is saturable, with a Kd of 27 +/- 1 nM and a Bmax of 2.1 +/- .3 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM). Dopamine competes for this site with a Ki of 100 nM and apomorphine with a Ki of 180 nM. This site is not blocked by L-timolol, phenoxybenzamine, or by several DA1 and DA2 antagonists. It appears to be a new type of catecholamine binding site, of a type not observed outside the anterior eye. It is possible that some of the effects of dopamine on intraocular pressure are mediated through this binding site.     

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) between some natural flavonoids and ocular blood flow in the rabbit.

PURPOSE: Flavonoids with two to five hydroxy groups, with or without sugar, and/or methoxy groups were studied on their effects to affect ocular blood flow. METHODS: Colored microsphere technique was used to determine the ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes. RESULTS: Flavonoids with three free hydroxy (OH) groups seemed to produce the optimal effects in increasing ocular blood flow (naringenin and hesperitin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT). Whether the OH groups are below three (naringenin, hesperitin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT) or above four (Quercetin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT), they produced no effects on the ocular blood flow. When OH groups are four (rutin, Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI), it produced mixed effects on ocular blood flow. The attachment of rutinose and/or methoxy group in the structure did not affect the ocular blood flow one way or the other. CONCLUSION: The ocular blood flow is increased significantly by the number of OH group in the molecule, with three the best to increase the ocular blood flow.     

Pediatric traumatic brain injuries in Taiwan: an 8-year study.

Background. This study is intended to determine the causes of pediatric traumatic brain injuries (PTBI) in children aged 14 years or less, and to identify various types of craniocerebral damage resulting from different mechanisms of injury.Methods. From July 1, 1993 to June 30, 2001, a survey on PTBI was conducted in Taiwan. The data of patients used in this study were collected from 56 major hospitals among the age group of 0-14 years. The items in the traumatic brain injury survey included sex, age, causes of injuries, severity, and the eventual outcome.Results. A total of 5349 cases were identified. The male-to-female ratio was 1.69: 1. The incidence rate was higher in the age groups of 4-9 years and 10-14 years. The main cause of PTBI was traffic injury, which accounted for 2537 of the cases (47.3%), followed by falls, 2160 (40.3%). Of all traffic injuries, motorcycle-related injury had the highest incidence, followed by the pedestrian and bicycle-related injury. This study also showed that 83.2% of the patients had mild injury, 9.8% had moderate injury, and 7.0%, severe injury.Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that it is important to decrease all the risk factors in the environment of homes and public areas as much as possible. Helmet wearing and the development of public transportation are essential for the prevention of head injury.     

Effects of epinephrine on retinal and choroidal blood flow through different routes of drug administration

Epinephrine (1, 3 and 10 micrograms/kg) was found to increase retinal and choroidal blood flow (22, 49 and 67%) when it was administered intravenously. The increase in retinal and choroidal blood flow coincided well with the increase in systemic blood pressure (44, 65 and 96%, respectively). When epinephrine (2%) was instilled to the eyes topically the retinal and choroidal blood flow decreased (15%) while systemic blood pressure remained unchanged. It is suggested that the decrease in retinal and choroidal blood flow by topical epinephrine could be the cause of epinephrine maculopathy reported previously. L-Timolol (0.25%, topically) did not affect retinal and choroidal blood flow significantly.     

加热及增加细胞内氧自由基水平对恶性胶质瘤细胞生物学特性的影响

本文就加热及同时增加细胞内氧自由基水平对恶性胶质瘤细胞存活、增殖和细胞间隙连结通讯的影响做初步观察。用Ｍ．Ｔ．Ｔ法测定胶质瘤细胞存活率；用Ｋｉ－６７抗增殖细胞核抗原单克隆抗体，通过免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ染色分析胶质瘤细胞的增殖活性；用划痕染料示踪技术观察胶质瘤细胞的细胞间隙连结通讯。结果表明，Ｈ２Ｏ２和３ＡＴ能增强加热对胶质瘤细胞存活与增殖的抑制作用，促进胶质瘤细胞间隙连结通讯的改善，存在着明显的剂量和时间效应。实验结果提示，通过内外源性增加胶质瘤细胞内的氧自由基水平，将有助于强化加热治疗胶质瘤效果，并可以减少加热的剂且，降低副作用。     

人脑胶质瘤逃避免疫监视机制的研究

为研究胶质瘤逃避免疫监视的机制，检测了胶质瘤体外细胞系培养上清（SN）抗PHA－P刺激正常人及胶质瘤患者外周血淋巴细胞增殖的作用。证实了胶质瘤可自分泌免疫抑制因子。经抗TGFβ2单抗中和SN试验，TGFβ2免疫组化染色及Northern杂交进一步表明该因子主要成分为TGFβ2并对胶质瘤患者血浆皮质醇，生长激素及儿茶酚胺含量及细胞免疫功能进行检测，发现血浆去甲肾上腺素显著降低，其水平与CD8亚群％呈负相关，与CD4／CD8比值及淋巴细胞增殖率呈正相关。初步提示存在胶质瘤的情况下，神经－免疫调控紊乱，可能起着抑制性调节作用。     

Effects of the rate and composition of fluid replacement on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous furosemide

Effects of differences in the rate and composition of intravenous fluid replacement for urine loss on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of furosemide were evaluated using the dog as a model animal. Each of six dogs received 8-hr constant intravenous infusion of 20 mg (15 mg used in one dog) of furosemide with 0% replacement (treatment I), 50% replacement (treatment II), and 100% replacement (treatment III) with lactated Ringer's solution, as well as with 100% replacement with 5% dextrose in water (treatment IV). Most pharmacokinetic parameters, such as plasma clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, mean residence time, and terminal half-life, were essentially the same in all four treatments. Renal clearances and urinary excretion rates of the drug in treatments II–IVwere essentially the same, but about 20% higher than those in treatment I.In spite of the similarities in kinetic properties, diuretic and/or natriuretic effects from furosemide were markedly different among the four treatments. For example, mean 10-hr urine outputs were 646, 1046, 3156, and 1976 ml and mean 10-hr sodium excretions were 87.0, 142, 383, and 97.2 mmole for treatments I–IV,respectively. Except for treatment III,diuresis and/or natriuresis were found to be time-dependent, generally decreasing with time until reaching a low plateau during later hours of infusion. The present findings also showed that (1)no fluid replacement and 100% replacement with 5% dextrose solution both produced the same degree of severe acute tolerance in natriuresis, indicating the insignificance of water compensation in tolerance development; (2)in treatment II,where neutral sodium balance was achieved, the development of acute tolerance in diuresis and natriuresis can mainly be attributed to negative water balance under this special condition; (3)at steady state the hourly diuresis and natriuresis could differ up to about ten times between treatments. Some implications for the kinetic/dynamic relationship or modeling, in the clinical use, and in the bioequivalence evaluation of dosage forms are discussed.     

人脑胶质瘤中β-catenin的表达与细胞增殖相关性研究

目的:探讨人脑胶质瘤中βcatenin的表达及与细胞增殖的相关性。方法:用免疫组化法观察了47例胶质瘤标本βcatenin、cyclinD1、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)的表达,并分析其相关性。结果:在胶质瘤中βcatenin、cyclinD1、PCNA均随肿瘤恶性程度增高而增高(P分别为0.017、0.017、0.027),相关分析发现βcatenin、cyclinD1、PCNA的表达两两相关(P<0.001,P<0.001和P=0.005)。结论:βcatenin表达水平的异常与胶质瘤细胞周期调节紊乱、增殖指数上升有关,因此可能是控制肿瘤细胞增殖活性的候选基因之一。