Plasmid DNA encoding transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses chronic disease in a streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis model.

Transforming growth factor beta is a potent immunomodulator with both pro- and antiinflammatory activities. Based on its immunosuppressive actions, exogenous TGF-beta has been shown to inhibit autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To further explore the potential therapeutic role of TGF-beta, we administered a plasmid DNA encoding human TGF-beta1 intramuscularly to rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. A single dose of 300 microg plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1, but not vector DNA, administered at the peak of the acute phase profoundly suppressed the subsequent evolution of chronic erosive disease typified by disabling joint swelling and deformity (articular index = 8.17+/-0. 17 vs. 1.25+/-0.76, n = 6, day 26, P < 0.01). Moreover, delivery of the TGF-beta1 DNA even as the chronic phase commenced virtually eliminated subsequent inflammation and arthritis. Both radiologic and histopathologic as well as molecular evidence supported the marked inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 DNA on synovial pathology, with decreases in the inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, cartilage and bone destruction, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines that characterize this model. Increases in TGF-beta1 protein were detected in the circulation of TGF-beta1 DNA-treated animals, consistent with the observed therapeutic effects being TGF-beta1 dependent. These observations provide the first evidence that gene transfer of plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta1 provides a mechanism to deliver this potent cytokine that effectively suppresses ongoing inflammatory pathology in arthritis.     

Influence of the Compliance of the Pump Housing and Cannulas of a Paracorporeal Pneumatic Ventricular Assist Device on Transient Pressure Characteristics

Abstract: The dependence of transient pressure characteristics of a ventricular assist device (VAD) on the compliance of its housing and cannulas was investigated in a mock circulation. The peak rate of change of pressure ( dP/dt _max) values was greater in the cannulas than other compartments and was associated with valve closure-induced pressure oscillations. When cannula compliance was increased from 0.0057 to 0.0129 cm³/mm Hg, these values decreased by ˜20%, and outflow cannula pressure oscillation frequency decreased from 17.5 Hz by 35%. This trend was also apparent in the inflow. A VAD housing compliance increase from 0.0162 to 0.0483 cm³/mm Hg caused a dP/dt _max decrease of 30% in both the blood chamber and the outflow cannula. The effect of this change on the inflow was weaker implying that housing absorbs the energy associated with outflow deceleration more effectively than the inflow. These findings suggest that increasing VAD housing and cannulas compliance can improve hydrodynamic performance.     

Human interleukin 4 regulates the phenotype of lymphocytes generated during mixed lymphocyte culture and inhibits the IL-2-induced development of LAK function in normal and leukaemic cells

This study examined the immunoregulatory role of recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4), also known as B-cell stimulating factor 1, on the generation of cytotoxic effector cells from normal and leukaemic human blood mononuclear cells. When tested on cells from normal individuals, the addition of IL-4 to mixed lymphocyte cultures led to a dose-dependent proliferation of T-helper cells (CD3, 4 positive) with a concomitant decrease in phenotypic and functional cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. IL-4 also inhibited the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity when added at the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture. When tested on mature leukaemic NK cells, IL-4 also inhibited the ability of IL-2 to induce LAK function using a short-term culture system. These results show that IL-4 acts on both normal and leukaemic cells and suggests that it acts at more than one level during the development of LAK function.     

丙型肝炎病毒H株包膜蛋白在昆虫细胞中的表达及意义

目的　获得丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV) H株包膜糖蛋白的重组杆状病毒 ,在昆虫细胞中稳定表达包膜糖蛋白 E1和 E2 ,并初步应用于丙型肝炎患者血清抗体的检测。方法　用 PCR方法自 HCV H株扩增出包膜蛋白 E基因 ,构建重组杆状病毒 ,并在昆虫细胞中稳定表达包膜糖蛋白 E1和 E2。免疫荧光及 Western blot方法鉴定表达产物。用表达的 E1和 E2蛋白与 35例丙型肝炎患者血清反应。结果　昆虫细胞中表达的 E蛋白呈现 3种分子大小 ,E1的相对分子量为 2 1× 10 3和 33× 10 3 ,E2的相对分子量为 6 0× 10 3。在 35份感染者血清中 ,有 4例 E1抗体阳性 ,其中 1例检出 E2抗体。在 9例 PCR检测 HCV RNA阳性而抗 HCV检测阴性的血清中 ,有 3例血清与表达的 E蛋白反应。结论　 HCV E蛋白基因可在昆虫细胞中稳定表达 ,表达的 E1和 E2蛋白可用于 HCV患者的血清学诊断     

联合菌苗抗肿瘤作用的初步探讨

目的 :探讨联合菌苗防治肿瘤的作用。方法采用动物体内实验 ,动物为封闭群KM小鼠 ,菌株为 2 6 0 0 3- 2 1、4 482 4 - 3及 932 0 1- 3,瘤种为S180 。所有实验小鼠接种S180 后 ,按随机对照试验设计分成 5组 ,即三个不同的单价菌苗组、一个联合菌苗组及一个对照组 ,同期观察联合菌苗对S180 增长的影响。结果 :三个不同的单价菌苗组及联合菌苗组的平均瘤重均比对照组低 ,联合菌苗组的平均瘤重比单价菌苗组的更低 ,差异均有高度统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1～ 0 .0 0 1) ;三个不同单价菌苗组的抑瘤率分别为 5 0 .6 %、4 8.3%、4 5 .5 % ,联合菌苗组抑瘤率为 75 .0 %。结论 :实验所选用的菌苗能抑制S180 的增长 ,联合菌苗的效果更好     

腺病毒介导的HSV—tk基因治疗大鼠脑胶质瘤实验研究

目的：带有ＨＳＶ－ｔｋ基因的重组腺病毒（ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｔｋ）结合核苷类似物（ＮＡ）治疗大鼠Ｃ６脑胶质瘤。方法：用Ｘ－ｇａｌ染色测定ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｌａｃＺ转染大鼠Ｃ６胶质瘤细胞的效率。用ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｔｋ／ＡＣＶ、ＧＣＶ离体及活体治疗大鼠Ｃ６胶质瘤。结果：ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｌａｃＺ感染Ｃ６细胞效率达１００％，ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｔｋ感染Ｃ６细胞，在病毒感染复数为１０００时，ＧＣＶ和ＡＣＶ半致死剂量分别为３μｇ／ｍｌ和２０μｇ／ｍｌ，Ａｄ－ＨＣＭＶ－ｔｋ／ＡＣＶ治疗大鼠Ｃ６胶质瘤模型，大鼠生存期超过９０天，而对照组分别为１７．０±１．６天（生理盐水组）、１４．５±１．３天（ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｌａｃＺ组），Ｐ＜０．００１。结论：重组腺病毒对靶细胞感染效率可达１００％，ＡｄＨＣＭＶ－ｔｋ用ＧＣＶ的杀伤Ｃ６胶质瘤细胞比ＡＣＶ强，而ＨＳＶ－ｔｋ／ＡＣＶ用腺病毒介导治疗大鼠脑肿瘤疗效显著。     

脑电监测（24小时）对头痛型癫痫的诊断意义

对６０例临床疑为头痛型痛痫的患者进行２４ｈ脑电监测。结果表明：２４ｈ脑电监测对痛痫特殊类型的检出率明显高于常规ＥＥＧ。在１４例（２３．３％）有痫样放电的患者中，出现痫样放电以睡眠期多于清醒期；且睡眠周期中以ＮＲＥＭⅠ，Ⅱ期最常见。对６例（１６．２％）反复阵发出现高波幅额中线θ节律而无痫性放电的患者亦应考虑头痛型癫痫的诊断。     

胸腰段脊柱脊髓损伤减压与固定相关问题探讨（附166例报告）

目的 对胸腰段脊柱脊髓，马尾神经损伤患者的外科治疗及几种内固定方法的疗效进行探讨。方法 对166例患者的治疗进行回顾分析。该组患者中椎体爆裂性骨折37例，椎体压缩骨折超二分之一109例，椎体骨折脱位14例，多节段或跳跃骨折6例，脊髓损伤按Frankel分级，A级59例，B级46例，C级42例，D级19例，治疗采用后路减压复位122例，前路减压复位，髂骨植骨融合44例。结果 术后123例获3-18个月随访，随访患者中随4例RF钉断裂，5例Harrington上钩脱落，6例棍断裂，其余患者内固定稳固，脊髓，马尾神经恢复，除35例仍为A级外，余脊髓神经功能恢复1-3个级别。结论 各种不同内固定可保持或增强脊柱的稳定，胸腰段脊柱脊髓损伤的外科治疗应根据骨折类型，脊髓及马尾神经损伤程度选择手术入路及内固定材料。     

6815例腰椎间盘突出症的手术治疗

目的：探讨腰椎间盘突出症的手术治疗方法。方法：采用脊神经后支阻滞麻醉屈曲位经椎板间隙侧方入路椎间盘摘除术，双开窗扩大减压治疗中央宽基底型椎间盘突出钙化，小切口开窗潜行减压髓核摘除术等三种方法共治疗腰椎间盘突出症6815例。结果：6815例患者中5324例经过半年至14年（平均6．3年）随访，优4260例（80．02％），良855例（16．06％），进步209例（3．92％），优良率达96．08％。随访中X线检查显示手术后相应椎间隙不同程度的变窄，未见腰椎失稳和腰椎滑脱。结论：采用的三种方法与传统术式比较创伤小，可最大限度地保留腰椎后部结构的完整性，且手术时间短，康复快。