A Morphological and Immunohistochemical Study of Lymphoid Germinal Centers in Synovial and Lymph Node Tissues from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Special Reference to Complement Components and Their Receptors

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the immune complex (IC) diseases in which lymphoid germinal centers (GCs) are found in the synovial tissue. Simultaneously, patients with RA often show swelling of lymph nodes. The morphology and function of the lymph node GCs in patients with RA is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in morphology and immunoreactions to complement (C) components, their receptors, and lgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) between synovial GCs and lymph-node GCs in RA. Furthermore, the relationship between these immuno-reactive substances and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in GCs was investigated. The tissues examined were 41 RA synovial specimens, seven RA lymph nodes with massive lymphadenopathy, and 10 non-RA lymph nodes. The number of synovial GCs was relatively decreased in comparison with lymph-node GCs in RA, and the diameter of each synovial GC was smaller than that of each lymph-node GC. The synovial GCs were edematous and less cellular, and moreover, those from RF-seronegative cases were smaller than those from RF seropositive cases. On the other hand, the lymph-node GCs in RA were larger, more cellular and hyperplastic, but contained more tingible-body macro-phages (TBMs) and neutrophils. In the GCs of both synovial tissues and lymph nodes in RA, early C components (C1q, C4, C3c, C3d), IgM RF, and C3b receptor (C3bR) and C3d receptor (C3dR) were expressed as a lacy network by light microscopy, and were demonstrated on the surfaces of FDCs and lymphocytes, and in the intercellular spaces by electron microscopy. Furthermore, immuno-staining for dendritic reticulum cells (DRC, DAKO DRC1) was observed in a lacy pattern by light microscopy and on the cell surface of FDCs by electron microscopy. In the GCs of non-RA lymph nodes, early C components, C3bR, C3dR, and DRC showed a similar reaction pattern, but IgMRF did not. Consequently, no marked difference in immunoreactions in the GCs, except for the immunoreactions of late C components, was found between synovial tissues and lymph nodes in RA. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the possibility of the presence of a RF-IC.     

Differential sensitivity to Arg side chain modification of IL-1β binding to type I and type II receptors

The central role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in several disease processes, including fever and inflammation, makes the characterization of ligand-receptor interaction of prime importance.The role of arginine (Arg) side chains of hr-IL-1 in receptor recognition was studied by the modification of Arg residues with the specific reagent 1,2-cyclohexanedione. It was found that chemical modification of Arg residues decreased the binding potential of IL-1 to type I receptor dramatically (by 230-fold) while the affinity to type II receptor was reduced only moderately (by 10-fold), with an insignificant reduction of the dissociation rate.These studies suggest that intact Arg side chains of IL-1 may be necessary for high affinity binding to type I IL-1 receptor, but have less importance for the interaction of IL-1 with type II IL-1 receptor.This observation may be useful in the study of type II IL-1 receptor-mediated biological responses and design of receptor-subtype specific ligands as well.     

Genetically regulated human (T,G)-AL specific helper T cell replacing factors possess HLA-DR and Vh determinants

Human (T,G)-AL specific T cell helper factors secreted by in vitro activated peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal donors were characterized. Factors were passed through columns of Sepharose coupled either to antibodies against human immunoglobulin or antibodies against the variable region of the heavy (V_h) and light (V_l) chains of human immunoglobulin. In addition, the same factors were applied to columns of Sepharose coupled to anti-HLA-DR antibodies or to monoclonal antibodies against human Ia or β₂-microglobulin. The activity of the antigen specific factors was removed by the anti-V_h antibodies and not by anti-V_l or anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies. The factors passed through Sepharose coupled to anti-DR antibodies could be removed and eluted from columns of anti-DR antibodies relevant to the donors' DR antigens. The same factors were also removed by a monoclonal antibody (anti-Ia) which recognizes a monomorphic determinant on HLA-DR, but not by monoclonal anti-β₂-microglobulin. The results suggest that the genetically regulated (T,G)-AL specific helper factors possess HLA-DR as well as V_h determinants in their active moiety.     

Human cerebral potentials evoked by CO2 laser stimuli causing pain

Summary Brief radiant heat pulses, generated by a CO₂ laser, were used to activate slowly conducting afferents in the hairy skin in man. In order to isolate C-fibre responses a preferential A-fibre block was applied by pressure to the radial nerve at the wrist. Stimulus estimation and evoked cerebral potentials (EP), as well as reaction times, motor and sudomotor activity were recorded in response to each stimulus. With intact nerve, the single supra-threshold stimulus induced a double pain sensation: A first sharp and stinging component (mean reaction time 480 ms) was followed by a second burning component lasting for seconds (mean reaction time 1350 ms). Under A-fibre block only one sensation remained with characteristics and latencies of second pain. The heat pulse evoked potential consisted of a late vertex negativity at 240 ms (N240) followed by a prominent late positive peak at 370 ms (P370). Later activity was not reliably present. Under A-fibre block this late EP was replaced by an ultralate EP beyond 1000 ms, which in the conventional average looked like a slow halfwave of 800 ms duration. This potential was distinct from eye movements, skin potentials or muscle artefacts. With cross-correlation methods waveforms similar to the N240/P370 were detected in the latency range from 900 to 1500 ms during A-fibre block, indicating a much greater latency jitter of the ultralate EP. Latency corrected averaging with a modified Woody filter yielded a grand mean ultralate EP (N1050/P1250), the shape of which was surprisingly similar to the late EP (N240/P370). The similarity of these components indicates that both EPs may be secondary responses to afferent input into neural centers, onto which myelinated and unmyelinated fibres converge. Such convergence may also explain through the known mechanisms of short term habituation and selective attention, why ultralate EPs are not reliably present without peripheral nerve block.     

中国化学会期刊集群平台建设的探究和实践

【目的】 探索现有条件下我国建设化学专业刊群的有效方式和途径,为我国专业期刊集群建设和期刊发展提供经验和借鉴。【方法】 以中国化学会期刊集群的建设为主要研究对象,分析总结在我国期刊发展现有环境下化学专业刊群建设的现状、存在的问题、解决方案和启示。【结果】 中国化学会通过专业期刊集群建设、数据整合,为我国化学工作者提供丰富的学术资源,为国产优质化学期刊提供一个重要的展示、合作平台,但在规模、学术质量、运营方面仍有很大差距,还需进一步提高建设水平。【结论】 专业刊群建设应勇于突破固有观念屏障,以优质数据资源为基础,充分发挥集群优势,构建期刊协同发展格局,为我国相关专业学科发展作出应有的贡献。     

肝毒性中药及其与药性和有效成分的关系——对55种中药肝毒性文献资料的分析报告

目的 :研究有关文献资料中中药肝毒性的报告及其与四气、五味、归经、有效成分之间的关系。方法 :应用文献研究方法 ,对 55种具有肝毒性的中药进行统计归类分析研究。结果 :中药四气、五味、归经及其有效成分与肝毒性有一定相关性。肝毒性主要集中在寒、热类 ,苦、辛类 ,归肝、脾、肾经类和有效成分中碱、甙类药物方面。结论 :中药药性理论及有效成分均与肝毒性有一定的关系 ,应用归类分析的方法对文献资料进行分析研究是中药毒性研究中确实可行的方法。     

Directional screening and identification of potential cytotoxic components from Achnatherum inebrians by a combination of surface palsmon resonance and chromatography

Objective: To establish a method for directional screening of the cytotoxic components from the medicinal herb of Achnatherum inebrians by a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor and chromatographic isolation technology. Methods: Under the guidance of bioactive assessment based on binding abilities between objects and the α-Mannosidase (α-Man) target, the active components from different solvents extracts, different polar extraction parts and fractions were screened orderly and directionally using SPR. Components with a high binding ability to α-Man can be precisely oriented in a narrower fractions range and are easy to isolate. Three human cancer cells were used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of component with the highest affinity to α-Man. Results: Eight compounds were isolated and identificated from A. inebrians for the first time. Deoxyvasicinone possessed the highest affinity to α-Man among them. Moreover, deoxyvasicinone showed good effects on inhibited proliferation of human hepatoma cells HepG2 (IC50 = 5.7 μmol/L), human breast cancer cells MCF7 (IC50 = 7.21 μmol/L) and human lung cancer cells HCC827 (IC50 = 0.75 μmol/L), respectively. In particular, its inhibitory effect on HCC827 was stronger than the positive drug gefitinib (IC50 = 1.65 μmol/L). Conclusion: A comprehensive strategy of directional screening potential cytotoxic components from herb based on biomolecular interaction and chromatography was established. Deoxyvasicinone as an effective anti-cancer component was initially isolated from A. inebrians. It is expected that this screening strategy could provide new perspectives for rapid screening and identification of active components from natural plants with the complex matrix.     

2015—2019年扬州市食品中化学污染物及有害因素监测结果分析

目的 了解扬州市食品中化学污染物及有害因素的污染状况,确定风险因子的可能来源及分布,为食品安全防控工作提供数据依据。方法 依据每年扬州市《食品安全风险监测方案》,2015—2019年在扬州市辖区内采集食品样品,并进行相关化学污染物及有害因素的检测。结果 5年共检测23大类1 311份食品样品208个指标,样品合格率为97.79%;其中8类29份食品样品中13个指标超标,样品超标率为2.21%。不合格指标为蔬菜中农药残留和镉、茶叶和水果中农药残留、水产动物中总砷、藻类中铅、粉丝和油条中含铝添加剂、小麦制品中脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇、蜂蜜中甲硝唑。结论 扬州市食品中的化学污染情况总体较好,但部分食品中仍存在污染物超标现象,应引起相关部门的重视。     

β Chain deficiency in three patients with dysfunctional C8 molecules

Structural and functional studies were performed on a dysfunctional C8 molecule present in the serum of two siblings and an unrelated individual. The C8 in these three sera exhibited a pattern of partial immunologic identity with C8 in normal serum but was devoid of functional activity. The C8 was immunoprecipitated from the three sera and from a control serum with an antihuman C8 antiserum and analyzed by SDS-PAGE using highly purified human C8 as a reference. A selective absence of a band of 62,000 mol. wt was observed in the immunoprecipitates from the sera containing dysfunctional C8. Experiments performed with the purified α-γ and γ subunits showed that the hemolytic activity of the C8 deficient sera could be reconstituted by the addition of the β chain but not the α-γ dimer. Binding of the dysfunctional C8 to C$\text{567}$ was excluded by the following observations: (1) EAC 1–7 treated with the C8 deficient sera and then washed could not be lysed after the addition of the β subunit and C9; and (2) the abnormal molecules did not interfere with the consumption of normal C8 by the soluble complex SC5b-7.     

地砷病患者部分生化指标的测定

对病区地砷病、非地砷病患者及对照组居民体内的部分生化指标进行了检测。结果表明,地砷病患者血清中的ＧＰＴ活性、ＵＮ和ＳＡ含量明显高于对照组,ＬＤＨ及ＧＳＨＰｘ活性明显降低;病区非地砷病患者ＬＤＨ活性、ＳＡ含量明显升高,ＧＳＨＰｘ活性明显降低,其它各组及各指标与对照组相比无显著差异。相关分析显示,病区病人组及非病人组血中ＳＡ含量与各自尿砷水平呈正相关（ｒ＝０５０,ｒ＝０４６）,ＧＳＨＰｘ与尿砷呈负相关（ｒ＝－０５１,ｒ＝－０４８）。提示,ＳＡ和ＧＳＨＰｘ可作为砷中毒的早期诊断指标。砷可能对接砷居民肝功、肾功产生一定影响。