Evidence for active and passive urate transport in the rat proximal tubule

Studies utilizing the technique of simultaneous microperfusion of peritubular capillaries and tubular lumen of the proximal tubule of the rat were performed to determine if the absorption of urate was an active transport process and to determine the passive permeability coefficient for urate. When radioactive urate of equal specific activity and concentration was present in both perfusion solutions, the ratio of collected to initial concentrations of urate in the luminal perfusate (CO/CI) was 0.71 +/- 0.02. This gradient was higher than that predicted at equilibrium from the electrical potential difference determined in the in vitro perfused rabbit proximal tubule. The addition of para-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) to both solutions resulted in a significantly higher CO/CI of 0.90 +/- 0.02. This latter value is closer to the value predicted at electrochemical equilibrium. In separate studies, the unidirectional fluxes of urate were determined in the presence of PCMB. The calculated passive permeability coefficient averaged approximately 0.94 pmol . min-1 . mm-1 . mM-1 and was equal in both directions. These results indicate that in the rat proximal tubule urate absorption is an active transport process. In addition, there exists a passive permeation pathway for urate movement out of and into the proximal tubule.     

Causes of ear trauma in Kenyan patients

Ear trauma is one of the most important epidemiological factors in causation of deafness. The causation of otologic trauma in eighty three patients is analysed. The triad of pain, hearing loss and tinnitus comprised the most frequent presenting complaints. Physical assault was the most common causation in 49.4% of the cases, road traffic accidents in 19.3% and self-inflicted injury in 15.6%. Law enforcement agencies constituted the most prominent factor in assault cases. Iatrogenic trauma was confined to 13.3% who were all below ten years of age. Road traffic accidents and violence from law enforcers were significant contributors to severe otologic damage as defined by dead ears and cerebrospinal otorrhoea.     

The three isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta co-stimulate rat T cells and inhibit lymphocyte apoptosis

We examined the therapeutic effect of cefluprenam (CFLP) on the polymicrobial urinary tract infection associated with infectious stones as compared to that of ceftazidime (CAZ), using the experimental polymicrobial urinary tract infection caused by Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). In order to form bladder stones in rats, a sterile zinc ring was implanted as a foreign body, followed by inoculating P. mirabilis E05106 transurethrelly. Thereafter, P. aeruginosa E030033 and E. faecalis 966 were inoculated according to the same way. CFLP or CAZ was administered intravenously twice a day for 5 days. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by the eradication of these bacteria from the urine, the kidney and stones, inhibition of growth of stones, and also a value of BUN. The urinary excretion rates of CFLP and CAZ was also determined (20 mg/kg). In result, CFLP significantly more effective in the eradication of P. mirabilitis, P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis from the urine, the kidney and stones than the control than the control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CFLP significantly more effective in the eradication of P. aeruginosa from the urine and also E. facalis from the urine and stones (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, CAZ significantly more effective in the eradication of P. mirabilis from the urine, the kidney and stones and also P. aeraginosa from the kidney and stones than the control. However, CAZ did not show eradicative effect on E. faecalis. The urinary excretion rates of CFLP and CAZ at rats were 59.3% and 59.4%, respectively, within 8 hrs after administration, showing a similar excretion pattern. CFLP exhibited the prominent therapeutic effect on polymicrobial urinary tract infection associated with infectious stones caused by P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa and E. faecalls. On the basis of these results, it has been strongly suggested that CFLP is highly beneficial in the management of intractable polymicrobial urinary tract infectious in clinic.     

Birthdate and cell marker analysis of scrambler: a novel mutation affecting cortical development with a reeler-like phenotype

The reeler mutation in mice produces an especially well characterized disorder, with systematically abnormal migration of cerebral cortical neurons. The reeler gene encodes a large protein, termed Reelin, that in the cortex is synthesized and secreted exclusively in the Cajal-Retzius neurons of the cortical marginal zone (D'Arcangelo et al., 1995). In reeler mutant mice, loss of Reelin protein is associated with a systematic loss of the normal, "inside-out" sequence of neurogenesis in the cortex: neurons are formed in the normal sequence but become localized in the cortex in a somewhat inverted, although relatively disorganized "outside-in" pattern. Here we show that the scrambler mutant mouse exhibits a loss of lamination in the cortex and hippocampus that is indistinguishable from that seen in the reeler mouse. We use BrdU birthdating studies to show that scrambler cortex shows a somewhat inverted "outside-in" sequence of birthdates for cortical neurons that is similar to that previously described in reeler cortex. Finally, we perform staining with the CR-50 monoclonal antibody (Ogawa et al., 1995), which recognizes the Reelin protein (D'Arcangelo et al., 1997). We show that Reelin immunoreactivity is present in the scrambler cortex in a normal pattern, suggesting that Reelin is synthesized and released normally. Our data suggest that scrambler is a mutation in the same gene pathway as the reeler gene (Relnrl) and is most likely downstream of Relnrl.     

树立科学发展观 建立城市综合防灾减灾体系

近年来，随着城市规模的不断扩大，城市的综合防灾减灾能力逐渐体现出许多不适应，一些城市在一次灾害下就导致城市的部分功能瘫痪、生命财产损失．生产生活受挫等等，目前，城市防灾减灾已成为世界性的难题。2005年10月2日福州百年一遇的台风龙王引发的特大暴雨，造成市区内涝，市区及城郊的部分交通、供水、供电系统瘫痪，给人民生活带来了很大的影响。造成这次洪涝灾害的主要原因有：预警信息系统不够健全，不够畅通；防涝排涝运行系统尚不健全、标准不高；防灾减灾规划不够完善；整体应急体系欠完备等。随着城市建设的发展，经济越发展，灾害所造成的损失越大。     

福建省岩土与基础工程现状与展望

1 岩土与基础工程的现状 福建省地处我国东南沿海主要分布有软土地基区域和山区坡残积土、风化岩地基，地基工程特性极不稳定地层，结构复杂，因此给广大岩土与基础工程技术人员提出了许多新的课题，也因此带动我省岩土与基础工程领域不断向前发展。20多年来，特别是近十年来我省岩土与基础工程技术发展迅猛，从岩土的勘探与测试，天然地基利用和山地地基的开发利用，桩基技术，地基处理技术，基坑与边坡支护技术、检测与监测技术等方面，取得了显著的成绩和突破性的进展，具体表现在：     

The role of reproductive factors and use of oral contraceptives in the aetiology of breast cancer in women aged 50 to 74 years

BACKGROUND: We examined the cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice supplement in an American population consuming a diet similar to the American Heart Association Step I diet using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospectively randomized 12-wk controlled trial at a university research center. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the lipid-lowering effects of this red-yeast-rice dietary supplement in US adults separate from effects of diet alone. DESIGN: Eighty-three healthy subjects (46 men and 37 women aged 34-78 y) with hyperlipidemia [total cholesterol, 5.28-8.74 mmol/L (204-338 mg/dL); LDL cholesterol, 3.31-7.16 mmol/L (128-277 mg/dL); triacylglycerol, 0.62-2.78 mmol/L (55-246 mg/dL); and HDL cholesterol 0.78-2.46 mmol/L (30-95 mg/dL)] who were not being treated with lipid-lowering drugs participated. Subjects were treated with red yeast rice (2.4 g/d) or placebo and instructed to consume a diet providing 30% of energy from fat, <10% from saturated fat, and <300 mg cholesterol daily. Main outcome measures were total cholesterol, total triacylglycerol, and HDL and LDL cholesterol measured at weeks 8, 9, 11, and 12. RESULTS: Total cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly between baseline and 8 wk in the red-yeast-rice-treated group compared with the placebo-treated group [(x+/-SD) 6.57+/-0.93 mmol/L (254+/-36 mg/dL) to 5.38+/-0.80 mmol/L (208+/-31 mg/dL); P < 0.001]. LDL cholesterol and total triacylglycerol were also reduced with the supplement. HDL cholesterol did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total triacylglycerol concentrations compared with placebo and provides a new, novel, food-based approach to lowering cholesterol in the general population.