Immunohistochemical evidence for a spinothalamic pathway co-containing cholecystokinin- and galanin-like immunoreactivities in the rat

Using indirect immunofluorescence technique combined with retrograde tracing as well as surgical lesions, a system of spinothalamic neurons containing both galanin- and cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity has been defined. The cell bodies are located in the lumbar segments L1-L5 with a preferential localization dorsal to the central canal at rostral levels and lateral to the canal at caudal levels. The cells project via the ventral part of the lateral funiculus to the most ventral and posterior parts of thalamus. Here a distinct, varicose terminal network was seen extending caudally from an area lateral to the medial lemniscus, running medially over the medial lemniscus, traversing the parafascicular nucleus and running dorsal to the fasciculus retroflexus into the periventricular gray matter. Transection of various parts of the spinal cord as well as retrograde tracing experiments indicate that the spinothalamic galanin cholecystokinin system represents a crossed pathway. The present results demonstrate that a spinothalamic system can be characterized by its content of galanin- and cholecystokinin-like peptides, two putative messenger molecules. It is only a minor component of the total spinothalamic projection.     

Implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells using injectable fibrin matrix enhances neovascularization in infarcted myocardium

Neovascularization may improve cardiac function and prevent further scar tissue formation in infarcted myocardium. A number of studies have demonstrated that bone marrow-derived cells have the potential to induce neovascularization in ischemic tissues. In this study, we hypothesized that implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) using injectable fibrin matrix further enhances neovascularization in infarcted myocardium compared to BMMNC implantation without matrix. To test this hypothesis, infarction was induced in rat myocardium by cryoinjury. Three weeks later, rat BMMNCs were mixed with fibrin matrix and injected into the infarcted myocardium. Injection of either BMMNCs or medium alone into infarcted myocardium served as controls. Eight weeks after the treatments, histological analyses indicated that implantation of BMMNCs using fibrin matrix resulted in more extensive tissue regeneration in the infarcted myocardium compared to BMMNC implantation without matrix. Examination with fluorescence microscopy revealed that cells labeled with a fluorescent dye prior to implantation survived in the infarcted myocardium at 8 weeks of implantation. Importantly, implantation of BMMNCs using fibrin matrix resulted in much more extensive neovascularization in infarcted myocardium than BMMNC implantation without matrix. The microvessel density in infarcted myocardium was significantly higher (p < 0.05) when BMMNCs were implanted using fibrin matrix (350 +/- 22 microvessels/mm2) compared to BMMNC implantation without matrix (262 +/- 13 microvessels/mm2) and medium injection (76 +/- 9 microvessels/mm2). In addition, average internal diameter of microvessels was significantly larger (p < 0.05) in BMMNC implantation with fibrin matrix group (14.6 +/- 1.2 microm) than BMMNC implantation without matrix group (10.2 +/- 0.7 microm) and medium injection group (7.3 +/- 0.5 microm). These results suggest that fibrin matrix could serve as a cell implantation matrix that enhances neovascularization efficacy for myocardial infarction treatment.     

人Nanog基因的克隆及其在COS-7L细胞中的表达

目的 :克隆人Nanog基因 ,构建其真核表达载体 ,并观察其在哺乳动物细胞COS 7L中的表达。方法 :利用HE2 93细胞的人基因组DNA为模板 ,以LA PCR技术 ,扩增Nango的基因 ,定向克隆到带Flag标签的pCMV载体中 ,测序后 ,挑选序列正确的真核表达质粒pFlag Nanog转染COS 7L细胞。用抗Flag标签的抗体 ,进行Westernblot和间接免疫荧光染色法检测Nango蛋白的表达。结果 :从人基因组DNA中克隆到序列正确的Nanog全长编码序列。所构建的Nanog质粒在COS 7L细胞中获得高效表达。结论 :人Nanog基因的克隆、真核表达载体的构建及在COS 7L中的表达均获得成功 ,为进一步研究其功能 ,尤其是探讨其在神经干细胞中的作用奠定了基础。     

Autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis

The concept of using high-dose immunosuppressive treatment (HDIT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) to treat patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis has been provided by animal studies and anecdotal case reports. Over the past five years, an increasing number of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis have received HDIT with ASCT as an adjunct to intense immunosuppression. Here, we present a case of refractory rheumatoid arthritis in a 54-yr-old woman using HDIT with ASCT. Peripheral blood stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide (4 g/m(2)) followed by G-CSF (5 microg/kg/day). Leukapheresis continued daily until the number of harvested progenitor cells reached 2 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg after CliniMax CD34+ positive selection. For HDIT, high-dose cyclophosphamide (total dose 200 mg/kg) and antithymocyte globulin (total dose 90 mg/kg) were administered and CD34+ cells were infused 24 hr after HDIT. The patient tolerated the treatment well but experienced an episode of neutropenic fever. She achieved an early dramatic improvement of joint symptoms during therapy. Fifty percent of improvement of rheumatoid arthritis by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 50) preliminary definition was fulfilled during the 6 months following ASCT. Although further long-term follow-up is required, the patient's activity of arthritis has been stable since receiving HDIT with ASCT.     

Missense mutation in a von Willebrand factor type A domain of the alpha 3(VI) collagen gene (COL6A3) in a family with Bethlem myopathy

The Bethlem myopathy is a rare autosomal dominant proximal myopathy characterized by early childhood onset and joint contractures. Evidence for linkage and genetic heterogeneity has been established, with the majority of families linked to 21q22.3 and one large family linked to 2q37, implicating the three type VI collagen subunit genes, COL6A1 (chromosome 21), COL6A2 (chromosome 21) and COL6A3 (chromosome 2) as candidate genes. Mutations of the invariant glycine residues in the triple-helical domain-coding region of COL6A1 and COL6A2 have been reported previously in the chromosome 21-linked families. We report here the identification of a G-->A mutation in the N-terminal globular domain-coding region of COL6A3 in a large American pedigree (19 affected, 12 unaffected), leading to the substitution of glycine by glutamic acid in the N2 motif, which is homologous to the type A domains of the von Willebrand factor. This mutation segregated to all affected family members, to no unaffected family members, and was not identified in 338 unrelated Caucasian control chromosomes. Thus mutations in either the triple-helical domain or the globular domain of type VI collagen appear to cause Bethlem myopathy.      

doublecortin is the major gene causing X-linked subcortical laminar heterotopia (SCLH)

Subcortical laminar heterotopia (SCLH), or 'double cortex', is a cortical dysgenesis disorder associated with a defect in neuronal migration. Clinical manifestations are epilepsy and mental retardation. This disorder, which mainly affects females, can be inherited in a single pedigree with lissencephaly, a more severe disease which affects the male individuals. This clinical entity has been described as X- SCLH/LIS syndrome. Recently we have demonstrated that the doublecortin gene, which is localized on the X chromosome, is implicated in this disorder. We have now performed a systematic mutation analysis of doublecortin in 11 unrelated females with SCLH (one familial and 10 sporadic cases) and have identified mutations in 10/11 cases. The sequence differences include nonsense, splice site and missense mutations and these were found throughout the gene. These results provide strong evidence that loss of function of doublecortin is the major cause of SCLH. The absence of phenotype-genotype correlations suggests that X-inactivation patterns of neuronal precursor cells are likely to contribute to the variable clinical severity of this disorder in females.      

Characterization of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea, and In Vitro activity of telithromycin against erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

To characterize the phenotypes and genotypes of erythromycin-resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea and to evaluate the in vitro activity of telithromycin against these erythromycin-resistant isolates, we tested a total of 676 isolates of S. pneumoniae collected from 1997 to 2002 in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. MICs for erythromycin and telithromycin were determined by the agar dilution method. The macrolide resistance phenotypes of erythromycin-resistant isolates were determined by the erythromycin- clindamycin-rokitamycin triple disk (ECRTD) and MIC induction tests, whereas their macrolide resistance genotypes were determined by PCR for the erm(B), erm(A), subclass erm(TR), and mef genes. To discriminate between mef(A) and mef(E), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were performed. Of the 676 S. pneumoniae isolates, 459 (67.9%) were resistant to erythromycin. Of the 459 erythromycin-resistant isolates, 343 (74.7%) were assigned to the cMLS phenotype, 48 (10.4%) to the iMcLS phenotype, 4 (0.9%) to the iMLS phenotype, and 64 (14.0%) to the M phenotype. The erm(B) gene was detected in 251 (54.6%) isolates, the mef gene was detected in 64 (14.0%), and both the erm(B) and mef genes were detected in 144 (31.4%) isolates. All of the mef genes detected were identified as mef(E). Of the 459 erythromycin- resistant isolates, all but one were susceptible to telithromycin. The MIC(50)/MIC(90) to telithromycin of isolates carrying erm(B), mef(E), and both genes was 0.06/0.5 microg/ml, 0.03/0.125 microg/ml, and 0.5/1.0 microg/ml, respectively. Although the MICs of telithromycin for the erythromycin-resistant isolates varied according to genotype, telithromycin was very active against these erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae.     

大鼠终纹床核向结合臂旁核的投射 Ⅲ.神经降压肽、促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子肽能通路研究

用荧光金逆行束路追踪结合免疫荧光双标记技术及HRP逆行束路追踪结合免疫细胞化学双标记技术证明,在大鼠终纹床核投射至结合臂旁核的神经元中,位于前外侧区卵圆核及其腹侧邻近区中的部分为神经降压肽及促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子免疫反应阳性,双标记细胞分别约占这个部位逆行标记细胞总数的40％及20％;在前腹侧区的梭形核及大细胞核中,部分为促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子免疫反应阳性。     

分泌粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子的重组痘苗病毒转染的瘤苗裂解物抗肿瘤作用

将小鼠粒细胞－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ）基因经过同源重组得到表达ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的重组痘苗病毒，用此痘苗病毒转染小鼠黑色素瘤细胞，制备黑色素瘤瘤苗裂解物（ＧＭ－ＣＳＦＶＭＯ），Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６小鼠皮下接种Ｂ１６－Ｆ１０细胞３天后在注射部位注射瘤苗裂解物，一周后再注射一次。结果发现ＧＭ－ＣＳＦＶＭＯ能够显著地抑制荷瘤小鼠肿瘤结节的生长并明显延长荷瘤小鼠的存活期。用此瘤苗裂解物免疫小鼠两次，间隔一周，免疫一周后给Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６小鼠皮下接种Ｂ１６－Ｆ１０细胞，结果肿瘤结节出现时间明显延长，部分小鼠肿瘤不再生长。经ＧＭ－ＣＳＦＶＭＯ治疗或免疫后小鼠的外周血和脾淋巴细胞对肿瘤细胞杀伤活性明显升高，ＮＫ活性变化不明显。本结果提示，诱导机体特异性细胞免疫可能是瘤苗裂解物的抗肿瘤作用机理之一。     

Receptors for Treponema pallidum attachment to the surface and matrix proteins of cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

Pathogenicity of Treponema pallidum may depend upon the binding of Treponema pallidum to matrix proteins, especially to fibronectin. Infectious organism or cell to matrix interactions are mediated by a family of adhesion molecule receptors known as integrins. Once in the host, the pathogenic Treponema pallidumdum adheres to the vascular endothelium and readily penetrates surrounding tissues. Fibronectin plays an important role in the mediation of the attachment of Treponema pallidum to host cells, including endothelial cells. We found that the binding of Treponema pallidum to human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and to a glass surface coated with fibronectin is inhibited by the presence of arginine-glycine- aspartic acid (RGD), and analysis of the surface receptor revealed an antigenic similarity to an integrin molecule, namely alpha5. This ability to adhere to host endothelium and fibronectin is quite unique to T. pallidum among the treponemes, and may be a key pathogenic factor.