Effect of interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 on adhesion of circulating granulocytes and monocytes from asthma patients to human venous endothelial cells

Four mouse vomeronasal receptors (mV1Rs) have been isolated by similarity to rat vomeronasal receptor (V1R) motifs. The four mV1Rs identified in this study are members of two distinct subfamilies. Specific in situ hybridization probes (ISH) derived from the 3' non-coding regions of the mV1R genes, were used to detect expression of a single receptor and probes from the homologous coding regions were used to detect expression of subfamily members. The ISH results showed that the mV1Rs expressing neurons were scattered in the middle/upper layer of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) sensory epithelium in serial VNO sections but were excluded from the deeper layers of the VNO sensory epithelium and these neurons were found to co-express the mRNA for the G-protein Galphai2, and were distinct from the deeper layers of the VNO sensory epithelium where the mRNA for Galphao positive neurons was located.     

Expression pattern of CD2 locus control region containing retroviral vectors in hemopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether individual surgeon experience is associated with improved short-term clinical and economic outcomes for patients with benign and malignant thyroid disease who underwent thyroid procedures in Maryland between 1991 and 1996. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There is a prevailing belief that surgeon experience affects patient outcomes in endocrine surgery, but there is a paucity of objective evidence outside of clinical series published by experienced surgeons that supports this view. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy in Maryland between 1991 and 1996 was conducted using a computerized statewide hospital discharge data base. Surgeons were categorized by volume of thyroidectomies over the 6-year study period: A (1 to 9 cases), B (10 to 29 cases), C (30 to 100 cases), and D (>100 cases). Multivariate regression was used to assess the relation between surgeon caseload and in-hospital complications, length of stay, and total hospital charges, adjusting for case mix and hospital volume. RESULTS: The highest-volume surgeons (group D) performed the greatest proportion of total thyroidectomies among the 5860 discharges, and they were more likely to operate on patients with cancer. After adjusting for case mix and hospital volume, highest-volume surgeons had the shortest length of stay (1.4 days vs. 1.7 days for groups B and C and 1.9 days for group A) and the lowest complication rate (5.1 % vs. 6.1% for groups B and C and 8.6% for group A). Length of stay and complications were more determined by surgeon experience than hospital volume, which had no consistent association with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Individual surgeon experience is significantly associated with complication rates and length of stay for thyroidectomy.     

High-resolution HLA typing for the DQB1 gene by sequence-based typing

BACKGROUND: Monocytic tissue factor (TF), initiating the extrinsic blood coagulation pathway, is often upregulated under septic or inflammatory conditions. The complex activating mechanism remains largely unclear and no effective strategy has been firmly established. In this study, we used a model monocytic cell line (human leukemic THP-1 promonocytes) to address (1) the nature of TF activation in response to bacterial endotoxin and (2) the application of anti-inflammatory cytokines in relieving monocytic hypercoagulation. RESULTS: TF in THP-1 cells was substantially activated by exposure to bacterial endotoxin (LPS; 5 micrograms/ml) for 6 h. Human recombinant IL-4 (500 ng/ml) and IL-10 (500 ng/ml) inhibited TF activation induced by LPS. To determine if these cytokines depressed LPS recognition resulting in such inhibition, we employed an anti-CD14 mAb (UCHM-1; Sigma Chemical) to address the role of CD14 in LPS transmembrane signaling. LPS-induced TF activation was depressed by 35% upon inclusion of the anti-CD14 mAb (1:10 dilution). This antibody alone mimicked TF activation which accounted for 35% of the LPS-induced TF activation, suggesting the activating role of CD14 ligation. In addition, the anti-CD14 mAb elicited the production of nitric oxide (NO) which was found to be independent of TF activation. NO production could serve as an independent index for monitoring LPS recognition. IL-4 depressed the anti-CD14 mAb-induced TF activation as well as NO elicitation, indicating the blockade of CD14 ligation. In contrast, IL-10 showed differential inhibitory activities. TF activation induced by either LPS or anti-CD14 mAb was inhibited by IL-10 which did not show any inhibition on NO elicitation under these conditions. In a separate approach, neither IL-4 nor IL-10 inhibited phorbol ester-induced NO elicitation. More direct evidence came from an epifluorescent demonstration showing that IL-4 blocked binding of FITC-conjugated LPS and anti-CD14 mAb to THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results suggest that LPS action in relation to TF activation consists of CD14-independent and -dependent signaling including CD14 ligation. We also showed that anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and -10) significantly depressed TF activation. IL-4 antagonized CD14-dependent LPS recognition leading to the depression in TF activation.     

机床的光栅测量和数控系统的发展趋势

机床用光栅测量元件和数控系统是数控机床的两大核心部件,清楚地了解他们的发展趋势,对机床制造商和最终用户都有非常重要的意义。本文结合海德汉(H EID EN H A IN)公司的研究,阐述了现代数控机床用测量系统和数控系统的发展趋势,并着重介绍了机床的精度以及测量系统和数控系统     

Native serotonin 5-HT3 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes differ from homopentameric 5-HT3 receptors

Efficacies of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R) agonists 2-methyl-5-HT, dopamine, and m-chlorophenylbiguanide on 5-HT3R native to N1E-115 cells and on homopentameric 5-HT3R expressed in Xenopus oocytes were determined relative to that of 5-HT. Efficacies of 2-methyl-5-HT and dopamine on 5-HT3R native to differentiated N1E-115 cells are high (54 and 36%) as compared with their efficacies on homopentameric 5-HT3R-A(L) and 5-HT3R-A(S) receptors expressed in oocytes (4-8%). m-Chlorophenylbiguanide does not distinguish between 5-HT3R in N1E-115 cells and in oocytes. The distinct pharmacological profile of 5-HT3R native to differentiated N1E-115 cells is conserved when poly(A)+ mRNA from these cells is expressed in oocytes. The results indicate that, apart from the known 5-HT3R subunits, N1E-115 cells express additional proteins involved in 5-HT3R function.     

Complement C6 and C2 biosynthesis in syngeneic PVG/c- and PVG/c+ rat strains

A PVG rat with total deficiency of C6 and partial deficiency of C2 (PVG/c-), and a syngeneic control strain (PVG/c+), were used to study the production of extrahepatically synthesized complement. Livers of complement deficient rats were transplanted in sufficient rats (Tx-L). The C6 and C2 levels in Tx-L rats declined within 2 days to 25% and 30%, respectively, and remained stable for more than 6 weeks. To investigate the contribution of C6 synthesis by the liver, C6 sufficient livers were grafted in deficient rats (Tx + 1). After an initial increase, with maximum C6 levels of 119% at 10 days following transplantation, the C6 levels decreased gradually and C6 was no longer detectable 28 days after transplantation. This decline in C6 levels was dependent on antibody production against C6. No significant change in the C3, C4, factor H and factor B levels was observed. Expression of C6 mRNA in the grafted PVG/c+ sufficient liver was comparable to the expression of C6 mRNA in control PVG/c+ livers while C6 mRNA expression in the transplanted PVG/ c- liver and the control PVG/c- liver was lower. In conclusion, it was demonstrated in vivo that not only C6 but also C2 is synthesized extrahepatically in PVG/c rats.     

The influence of bicarbonate supplementation on plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids in haemodialysis patients with metabolic acidosis

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that correction of metabolic acidosis might improve the nutritional state of acidotic haemodialysis (HD) patients partly because of a reduced oxidation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). AIM: We investigated whether bicarbonate (Bic) supplementation in acidotic HD patients results in increased plasma levels of BCAA. METHODS: In a longitudinal study (run-in period, 2 months; study period, 6 months), the effect of Bic supplementation on plasma levels of BCAA was studied in 12 acidotic HD patients (7 men, 5 women, mean age 54 +/- 18 years) with a predialysis bicarbonate (Bic) concentration smaller or equal to 22 mmol/l. Bic was supplemented by increasing Bic concentration of the dialysate and by oral Bic supplementation. RESULTS: Predialysis Bic increased significantly during the study period (18.7 +/- 2.7 vs. 23.1 +/- 11.5 mmol/l). There was no change in nutritional parameters. However, plasma levels of the BCAA valine, leucine, and isoleucine increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In haemodialysis patients with metabolic acidosis, Bic supplementation over a 6-months period resulted in an increase in plasma levels of BCAA. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind, and the clinical importance of the observed changes in plasma BCAA levels.     

Role of hepatic resection in surgery for bilateral intrahepatic stones

The effect of phenylephrine-induced reflex parasympathetic stimulation on QT interval and its dispersion was studied in 16 healthy subjects with a history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, both during sinus rhythm and during atrial pacing. Results demonstrate that rapid reflex parasympathetic stimulation does not influence QT interval duration or QT dispersion, and also emphasize the inappropriateness of Bazett's formula, the need for comparison of QT intervals during identical heart rates, and the importance of analyzing all 12 leads of a standard electrocardiogram when assessing the effects of various interventions on the QT interval.