An experimental model for canine visceral leishmaniasis

Seven mixed-breed dogs were challenged with either promastigotes or amastigotes of Leishmania donovani infantum strains recently isolated from naturally infected dogs. Different routes and numbers of parasites were utilized and each dog was monitored for at least 1 year post-infection. Anti-parasite specific antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbence, immunofluorescence, crossed-immune electrophoresis and Western blotting on crude antigen. Western blotting on two pure parasite proteins, dp72 and gp70-2, was also done. Mitogenic and antigen-specific stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes was monitored; and the haematological, clinical and parasitological parameters measured. Dogs challenged with amastigotes exhibited a more pronounced humoral response to leishmanial antigens. Only in one case was strong antigen-specific proliferation detected. Clinical signs of disease, including hypergammaglobulinaemia, enlarged lymph nodes and the presence of parasites, were also more apparent in the dogs challenged with amastigotes. None of the seven dogs died. Serum antibodies to leishmanial antigens were apparent between 1.5 to 3 months following challenge and correlated with the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes, hypergammaglobulinaemia and the presence of parasites in tissue biopsies. Serum antibodies remained chronically high in these dogs throughout the period of the study. Only one dog (1/3) challenged intravenously with promastigotes and the dog challenged intradermally with amastigotes produced transient antibody responses to leishmanial antigen.     

运用模糊数学建立全脂乳粉卫生质量评价模型

本文运用模糊数学原理，对东台市１９９３年７月份市面上的全脂乳粉抽查监测结果进行卫生质量综合评价，结果令人满意，从而为乳粉卫生质量评比建立了客观有效的评价模型。     

Turbulent stress measurements downstream of three bileaflet heart valve designs in pigs

Objective: Mechanical heart valves can cause thromboembolic complications, possibly due to abnormal flow patterns that produce turbulence downstream of the valve. The objective of this study was to investigate whether three different bileaflet valve designs would exhibit clinically relevant differences in downstream turbulent stresses. Methods: Three bileaflet mechanical heart valves (Medtronic Advantage^®, CarboMedics© Orbis™ Universal and St. Jude Medical^® Standard) were implanted into 19 female 90 kg pigs. Blood velocity was measured during open chest conditions in the cross sectional area downstream of the valves with 10 MHz ultrasonic probes connected to a modified Alfred^® Pulsed Doppler equipment. As a measure of turbulence, Reynolds normal stress (RNS) was calculated at three different cardiac output ranges (3–4, 4.5–5.5, 6–7 L/min). Results: Data from 12 animals were obtained. RNS correlated with increasing cardiac outputs. The highest instantaneous RNS observed in these experiments was 47 N/m², and the mean RNS taken spatially over the cross sectional area of the aorta during systole was between 3 N/m² and 15 N/m². In none of the cardiac output ranges RNS values exceeded the lower critical limit for erythrocyte or thrombocyte damage for any of the valve designs. Conclusions: Reynolds normal stress values were below 100 N/m² for all three valve designs and the difference in design was not reflected in generation of turbulence. Hence, it is unlikely that any of the valve designs causes flow induced damage to platelets or erythrocytes.     

Joint capsule matrix turnover in a rabbit model of chronic joint contractures: Correlation with human contractures.

To evaluate changes in matrix molecules of the joint capsule, the right knees of 24 skeletally mature female NZW rabbits were immobilized while the contralateral limb served as an unoperated control. The immobilization was discontinued at 8 weeks and the rabbits were divided among four groups (n = 6) based on the number of weeks the right knees were remobilized: 0, 8, 16, or 32. Three rabbits (six knees) that did not have operations provided normal control joint capsules. The mRNA levels for collagen types I, II, and III, and MMP-1 and -13 were significantly increased in the joint capsules of the contracture knees in all groups when compared to normal and contralateral limb joint capsules. In contrast, the mRNA levels for TIMP-1, -2, and -3 were decreased in the joint capsules of the contracture knees in all groups when compared to normal and contralateral limb joint capsules. The mRNA levels for lumican and decorin were increased in the joint capsules of the contracture knees in all groups when compared to normal capsules. Many of the changes observed in this animal model are similar to those observed in human joint capsules from posttraumatic elbow contractures, supporting the value of this rabbit model.     

用AHP模型综合评估学生体质健康

目的：综合评价学生体质健康状况。方法：利用现代计算机技术提供的手段用AHP模型以人一机对话的方式对我国各省市学生体质与健康水平和学生体质状况进行了综合评估。结果：得到了学生体质健康排序权值。结论：这种方法具有定性分析与定量分析相结合的特点，能够充分考虑到人在体质与健康综合评估中的主观能动作用，是一种十分有效的评价方法。     

大鼠体外循环模型的建立与应用

由于操作简便、节省人力物力，大鼠体外循环模型的应用愈加广泛。大鼠在小型呼吸机辅助下，应用颈静脉插管入右心房引流血液至贮血瓶，在蠕动移液泵作用下，经膜式氧合器氧合、变温器变温，通过股动脉或尾动脉插管注入动脉系统，建立体外循环回路。有血预充、减少总预充量和维持足够的转流流量是建立大鼠体外循环模型的关键。     

Proteasome inhibitor model of Parkinson's disease in mice is confounded by neurotoxicity of the ethanol vehicle.

Defects in the ubiquitin-proteasome system have been implicated in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Recently, a rat model of PD was developed using a synthetic proteasome inhibitor (PSI), (Z-lle-Glu(OtBu)-Ala-Leu-al). We attempted to transfer this model to mouse studies, where genetics can be more readily investigated due to the availability of genetically modified mice. We treated C57BL/6 (B6) mice with six intraperitoneal injections of 6 mg/kg PSI in 50 mul of 70% ethanol over a 2-week-period. We found significant decreases in nigrostriatal dopamine in PSI-treated mice compared with saline-treated mice. However, we observed similar decreases in the ethanol-treated vehicle control group. Administration of ethanol alone led to significant long-term alterations in dopamine levels. Ethanol significantly eclipses the effects of PSI in the dopamine system, and therefore is a confounding vehicle for this model.     

青少年精神分裂症患者家庭因素的研究

目的:探讨青少年精神分裂症患者的发病和家庭因素的相关性.方法:采用父母养育方式评价量表(EMBU)及家庭环境量表中文版(FES-CV)对60名青少年精神分裂症患者进行测评并与60名健康青少年进行对照及相关分析.结果:青少年精神分裂症患者父母养育方式与正常组对照显示:其父亲惩罚严厉、拒绝否认因子分显著高于对照组,情感温暖、理解因子分显著低于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);其母亲过分干涉过度保护、偏爱被试因子分显著高于对照组;母亲的情感温暖理解、过度保护、偏爱被试因子分高于父亲(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).家庭环境的亲密度、情感表达、文化性、娱乐性的因子分低于对照组,矛盾性和控制性均高于对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).相关分析显示:父亲过度保护与母亲拒绝否认,及母亲过度保护与父亲拒绝否认因子之间呈负相关(r≥0.8);父亲与母亲EMBU相同因子得分具有相关关系(r≥0.6).结论:不良的家庭环境和父母养育方式对青少年精神分裂症的发病起一定作用,具有相关性.     

Establishment and characterization of a chronic infectious mononucleosislike syndrome in common marmosets

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was inoculated into two species of marmosets. Successful infection was established in the majority of the animals of one species, Callithrix jacchus, as evidenced by the development of high, persistent levels of antibody against virus-specific capsid and early nonstructural proteins. Antibodies also were produced against the major membrane antigen and, in some animals, against EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 2 but not against EBNA 1. This is the antibody profile normally noted in individuals with chronic infectious mononucleosis (IM). EBV-induced lymphoproliferation was not seen, and EBV-specific proteins were not detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of infected animals. Hence, EBV infection in C. jacchus apparently does not generally include extensive B-cell involvement. However, the marmosets clearly are useful as a model for EBV primary infection and also possibly for chronic IM.     

Understanding how Listeria monocytogenes targets and crosses host barriers

Human listeriosis is caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. In humans, this pathogen has the ability to cross the intestinal, placental and blood-brain barriers, leading to gastroenteritis, maternofetal infections and meningoencephalitis, respectively. The entry of L. monocytogenes into cultured human epithelial cells is mediated by the interaction of an L. monocytogenes surface protein, internalin, with its human receptor, E-cadherin. The internalin-E-cadherin interaction is species-specific, and relies on the nature of a single amino-acid in the E-cadherin molecule, which is proline in permissive species such as humans, and glutamic acid in non-permissive species such as the mouse. In a transgenic mouse model that expresses human E-cadherin in enterocytes, internalin allows L. monocytogenes to cross the intestinal barrier. Epidemiological evidence also supports a role for internalin in human listeriosis, not only for crossing the intestinal barrier, but also for targeting and crossing the placental and blood-brain barriers. Consistent with these epidemiological data, infection with L. monocytogenes of trophoblastic cell lines, primary trophoblast cultures and human placental villous explants demonstrates that bacterial invasion of the syncytiotrophoblast barrier is mediated by the internalin-E-cadherin interaction, leading to histopathological lesions that mimic those seen in the placentas of women with listeriosis. Thus, the internalin-E-cadherin interaction that plays a key role in the crossing of the intestinal barrier in humans is also exploited by L. monocytogenes to target and cross the placental barrier. Further investigations are currently focusing on the molecular mechanisms by which L. monocytogenes targets and crosses the blood-brain barrier.