Restoration of blood pressure by choline treatment in rats made hypotensive by haemorrhage

1. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of choline (25-150 micrograms) increased blood pressure in rats made acutely hypotensive by haemorrhage. Intraperitoneal administration of choline (60 mg kg-1) also increased blood pressure, but to a lesser extent. Following i.c.v. injection of 25 micrograms or 50 micrograms of choline, heart rate did not change, while 100 micrograms or 150 micrograms i.c.v. choline produced a slight and short lasting bradycardia. Choline (150 micrograms) failed to alter the circulating residual volume of blood in haemorrhaged rats. 2. The pressor response to i.c.v. choline (50 micrograms) in haemorrhaged rats was abolished by pretreatment with mecamylamine (50 micrograms, i.c.v.) but not atropine (10 micrograms, i.c.v.). The pressor response to choline was blocked by pretreatment with hemicholinium-3 (20 micrograms, i.c.v.). 3. The pressor response to i.c.v. choline (150 micrograms) was associated with a several fold increase in plasma levels of vasopressin and adrenaline but not of noradrenaline and plasma renin. 4. The pressor response to i.c.v. choline (150 micrograms) was not altered by bilateral adrenalectomy, but was attenuated by systemic administration of either phentolamine (10 mg kg-1) or the vasopressin antagonist [beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopenta-methylenepropionyl1, O-Me-Tyr2,Arg8]-vasopressin (10 micrograms kg-1). 5. It is concluded that the precursor of acetylcholine, choline, can increase and restore blood pressure in acutely haemorrhaged rats by increasing central cholinergic neurotransmission. Nicotinic receptor activation and an increase in plasma vasopressin and adrenaline level appear to be involved in this effect of choline.     

中国核工业30年过量受照人员临床案例选编(英文)

选编了三十多年来,核工业生产中部分过量受照人员的剂量估算、实验室检查、诊断、治疗及医学随访观察的临床案例。介绍了核工业系统中在防治内照射辐射损伤、皮肤放射损伤及小剂量外照射辐射效应等方面的临床实践经验。     

The crystal structure of an Fe-superoxide dismutase from the hyperthermophile Aquifex pyrophilus at 1.9 A resolution: structural basis for thermostability

The incidence of stress fractures is increasing among competitive and recreational athletes as well as among children and the elderly. By understanding the continuum of bone's response to stress and maintaining an appropriate index of suspicion, the health care provider can diagnose these injuries appropriately. An accurate history and examination is essential and will differentiate stress fractures from other stress reactions. The more common stress fractures are discussed.     

Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of the M(r) 170,000 isozyme of DNA topoisomerase II in human tumor cells

Five cell lines selected for resistance to the cytotoxicity of inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II have point mutations in the gene that codes for the M(r) 170,000 form of this enzyme. In each case, the mutation results in an amino acid change in or near an ATP binding sequence of the M(r) 170,000 isozyme of topoisomerase II. We used single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis to screen for similar mutations in other drug-resistant cell lines or in leukemic cells from patients previously treated with etoposide or teniposide. We also analyzed the region of the gene that codes for amino acids adjacent to the tyrosine at position 804 of topoisomerase II which binds covalently to DNA. CEM/VM-1, CEM/VM-1-5, and HL-60/AMSA human leukemic cell lines were used as controls; 3 of 3 known mutations were detected by migration differences of polymerase chain reaction products from the RNA extracted from these three lines. A previously unknown mutation was found in the tyrosine 804 region of the M(r) 170,000 topoisomerase II expressed by CEM/VM-1 and CEM/VM-1-5 cells. Sequence analysis showed that substitution of a T for a C at nucleotide 2404 resulted in an amino acid change of a serine for a proline at amino acid 802. No mutations in any of the ATP binding sequences or in the tyrosine 804 region were detected in polymerase chain reaction products from RNA extracted from human leukemia HL-60/MX2 or CEM/MX1 cells (both cell lines selected for resistance to mitoxantrone) or in human myeloma 8226/Dox1V cells (selected for resistance by simultaneous exposure to doxorubicin and verapamil). No mutations were detected in polymerase chain reaction products from RNA extracted from blasts of 15 patients with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia, previously treated with etoposide or teniposide. We conclude that: (a) single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis is useful for screening for mutations in topoisomerase II; (b) resistance to the cytotoxicity of inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II is not always associated with mutations in ATP binding sequences or the active site tyrosine region of M(r) 170,000 topoisomerase II; and (c) mutations similar to those detected in drug resistant cells selected in culture have not been identified in blast cells from patients with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia, previously treated with etoposide or teniposide.     

Advance of gene therapy for neurological diseases by direct in vivo gene transfer

Gene therapy for neurological diseases is a rapidly expanding field in neurosciences. It has been demonstrated that some viral vectors from HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1), Ad (adenovirus) and AAV (adeno-associated virus) can transfer foreign genes into nondividing cell types (including neurons). In addition, physical/chemical methods are also used in direct in vivo gene transfer. The direct gene transfer techniques will open a new way to study neurophysiology, neuropathology and therapy for neurological diseases at molecular level. They will hopefully lead to surprising progress in gene therapy for neurological diseases.     

Lysosomal enzyme and inhibitor levels in the human trabecular meshwork

PURPOSE: To examine in the human trabecular meshwork lysosomal enzymes and one inhibitor of serine proteases that actively participate in the degradation of macromolecules into low molecular weight constituents. METHODS: Using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique, lysosomal proteases and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor were examined in the trabecular meshwork of 23 human eyes with donor ages ranging from 2 to 90 years. These eyes were categorized into three age groups (< or = 20, 21 to 49, and > or = 50 years). Histochemical staining for lysosomal hydrolases was also performed on frozen sections of 20 human eyes. The staining was analyzed by an image analyzer and the levels of lysosomal proteases were further measured by biochemical assays. RESULTS: The trabecular meshwork from all the eyes stained intensely against antibodies to cathepsins B and G and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. The staining for elastase was weaker but evident. Image analyses revealed that the staining intensity for each protease or inhibitor was similar in all age groups. The staining in the uveal meshwork appeared to be the strongest among all the trabecular meshwork regions. Biochemical assays of tissue extracts confirmed that the enzyme and inhibitor levels were comparable among the three donor age groups. Activities of two lysosomal hydrolases, acid phosphatase and acid esterase, were also found in trabecular meshwork cells of 20 eyes. No apparent difference in enzyme activities was found with increasing age, and variation related to region was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the age-independent distribution of a variety of lysosomal enzymes and a protease inhibitor in the human trabecular meshwork. The presence of these proteins suggests a possible role in the metabolic operation of the trabecular meshwork.     

Identification of urinary dipeptidase as the released form of renal dipeptidase

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) comprises of a number of childhood abnormalities, often associated with one or more tumors. Thirty-eight patients were investigated to determine clinical and/or biological signs associated with a tumor presence. Our patients exhibited a higher incidence of tumor development (21%) than that previously reported, underlying the care with which such patients should be followed, when particular clinical features are observed: visceromegaly affecting three organs (liver, kidney, spleen), and also family history with sign of BWS such as macroglossia, omphalocele, hemihypertrophy, embryonic tumor), high body weight at birth (> or = +2 standard deviations and diastasis recti.     

The modern face of prejudice and structural features that moderate the effect of cooperation on affect

Facial muscle activity and self-reports were examined for racial bias in 3 studies. In the first 2 experiments, While participants imagined cooperating with a Black or White partner. Experiment 1 manipulated reward structure in the context of cooperating with a deficient partner. Experiment 2 manipulated partner deficiency and willingness to expend compensatory effort. On both facial EMG and self-report measures, joint rewards produced more negative affect than independent rewards. However, all partners were liked more when they were willing to try to compensate for their deficits. In addition, more liking was reported for Black partners, but EMG activity indicated bias against Blacks. Experiment 3 investigated individual differences in prejudice. Again, a greater preference for Blacks than Whites occurred on self-report measures, but in their facial muscle activity, high-prejudiced participants exhibited bias against Blacks.     

Comparison of Sagnac and Mach-Zehnder ultrafast all-optical interferometric switches based on a semiconductor resonant optical nonlinearity

We present a theoretical analysis of recently demonstrated ultrafast all-optical interferometric switching devices (based on Sagnac and Mach-Zehnder interferometers) that use a large optical nonlinearity in a resonant regime. These devices achieve ~10-ps switching windows and do not require high-energy optical control pulses. We theoretically analyze and compare one Sagnac and two Mach-Zehnder switching configurations.