Skin deposits in hereditary cystatin C amyloidosis

Summary Clinically normal skin from 47 individuals aged 9–70 years was investigated. Cystatin C amyloid deposits were found in various locations of the skin by light and/or electron microscopy, in all 12 patients with a clinical history of hereditary cystatin C amyloidosis (HCCA). Six asymptomatic individuals, who had the Alu 1 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) marker reported to cosegregate with the disease, also had cystatin C amyloid deposits in the skin. Three asymptomatic individuals (age 17–46) belonging to the HCCA families were without amyloid in the skin but had Alu 1 RFLP marker. Skin from 12 individuals who served as controls and skin from 14 close relatives of the patients was negative for amyloid. Punch biopsy of the skin is a simple procedure which is of value for the diagnosis of HCCA, even before the appearance of clinical symptoms. This method might also be of use in following progression of the disease.     

Mutation detection in the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene (PI) using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

A method for mutation detection in the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene (protease inhibitor 1; PI) has been developed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR amplified gene fragments. Using this experimental approach, all common phenotypes and mutations could be detected. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was compared with standard isoelectric focusing (IEF) in 20 potential alpha1-antitrypsin deficient patients and their relatives. The genotype determined by DGGE was found to be more reliable in some cases than IEF, which is essential for a proper diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin malfunctioning.     

HBV基因组转染对小鼠NIH3T3细胞内基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子的转录调控作用

ObjectiveTo understand the mechanism of liver cirrhosis after the infection of hepatitis B virus.MethodsMouse fibroblast NIH3T3 cells were transfected with 3.2 kb HBV DND by exposure of the cells to calcium phosphate.The change of the levels of mRNA for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1and 2(TIMP1,2) was detected in mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 cells and the cells of transfection with HBV Genome by in situ hybridization.ResultsThe levels of mRNA for TIMP1 and TIMP2 were increased significantly.ConclusionHBV infection can induce the expression of the mRNA for TIMP1 and TIMP2.     

The dysregulated glomerular cell growth in Denys–Drash syndrome

While diffuse mesangial sclerosis is traditionally described as being the glomerulopathy of Denys–Drash syndrome (DDS), the podocyte proliferative lesions may be overlooked in these DDS cases. In the present study, an evolving process is extrapolated from a selected case of DDS that demonstrated glomerulopathy with conspicuous podocyte proliferation. The observation that podocytes express proliferation markers (Ki67, proliferating-cell nuclear antigen and topoisomerase II) in non-proliferative, mature-looking glomeruli suggests an initial pathogenic act to activate or to keep podocytes from quiescence. The subsequent proliferation of podocytes is in keeping with downregulation of WT1 and cyclin kinase inhibitors of p16 and p21. The emergence of cytokeratin-positive cells in glomeruli that show typical mesangial sclerosis implies elimination of podocytes and replacement with tubular and/or parietal epithelial cells. The final scene of evolving glomerulopathy displays apoptosis and expression of Fas-L and Bax in sclerotic mesangial lesions, which eventually end up with global sclerosis. This novel concept of DDS glomerulopathy implies complex molecular mechanisms involved in glomerular injury.     

人TFPI基因转染对兔移植静脉血栓形成和近期通畅率的影响

目的： 为减少冠状动脉旁路移植术后血栓形成，探讨人组织因子途径抑制因子(TFPI)基因转染对兔移植静脉血栓生成的影响。方法：构建真核表达质粒pCMV-(Kozak)TFPI。采用阳离子脂质体和腔内加压灌注法，转染移植静脉内皮细胞。RT-PCR、Western blotting和免疫组化法检测外源基因在兔移植静脉中的表达。病理标本、扫描电镜观察移植静脉血栓形成情况，血管多普勒观测其通畅率。结果：移植静脉中有人TFPI基因和蛋白表达。静脉移植术后3 d，基因转染组、空载体和空白对照组分别有1条、8条和7条移植静脉发生血栓，术后30 d，以上各组分别有0条、5条和5条移植静脉完全闭塞，前者静脉血栓发生率和闭塞率均低于后两者(P<0.05)。扫描电镜显示两对照组内皮表面有红细胞和血小板黏附、聚集，而转染组基本正常。结论：人TFPI基因干预，减少了兔移植静脉血栓形成，提高了近期通畅率。     

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm with OKY-046 an imidazole derivative and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. A preliminary co-operative clinical study

Summary The prevention of cerebral vasospasm with OKY-046, an imidazole derivative and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, was studied co-operatively at ten neurosurgical services. Intravenous administrations of 2, 5 or 10 /kg/minute of OKY-046 were given continuously from the earliest possible day to the 14th SAH-day to 82 pateints with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Sixty-eight patients (83%) showed moderate to high high-density (SAH) in their initial CTs. Angiographic vasospasms were seen in 58 patients, representing 71% of all cases or 81% of the 72 cases for which angiograms were available; the vasospasms of 45 patients (55 or 63%) were moderate to severe. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred, however, only in 27 patients (33%); in 18 of those cases, moreover, the symptoms were mild or transient. The conditions of the patients at one month after the SAH were classified into 9 grades from 0 (normal) to 8 (deceased). Fifty-two patients (63%) were classified as 0 or 1, and 64 (78%) as better than 3 (possible daily life unaided). The administration of OKY-046 was proven to decrease TXB₂ in the blood.This paper emphasizes the effectiveness of the drug for symptomatic vasospasm, and supports our previous contention that cerebral microthrombosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm.     

Phenylethylamine-induced stereotypies in the rat: a behavioral test system for assessment of MAO-B inhibitors

Stereotyped sniffing behavior together with forepaw padding — defined as the -phenylethylamine (PEA) syndrome — is induced by MAO-B inhibitors in rats injected with 30 mg/kg IP PEA. The comparison of the abilities of the MAO-B inhibitors to induce the syndrome and to inhibit MAO-B in rat brain homogenates indicated that at least 75% of MAO-B activity in rat brain had to be inhibited to induce the PEA syndrome. A good correlation was found between the abilities of MAO-B inhibitors to induce the behavioral syndrome and to increase levels of PEA in rat brain. Specific MAO-A inhibitors potentiated the behavioral effect of the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl, while they did not induce the syndrome themselves or only at very high doses. Inhibitors of the reuptake of 5-HT or noradrenaline were inactive under the described experimental conditions. This behavioral test system seems to be useful in vivo screening test in rats for detecting compounds with strong MAO-B inhibiting activity.     

二甲基氨氯吡咪对油酸诱导的血管内皮损伤的影响

目的:探讨钠氢交换抑制剂二甲基氨氯吡咪(ＤＭＡ)对低浓度油酸(ＯＡ)所致的血管内皮损伤的保护作用。方法:分别用ＯＡ及ＯＡ＋ＤＭＡ温育离体大鼠胸主动脉环,观察其对乙酰胆碱(Ａｃｈ),硝普钠(ＳＮＰ),Ｌ－Ｎ－硝基精氨酸甲酯(Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ)的反应。结果:ＯＡ(１０－４ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１)温育３０ｍｉｎ后,Ａｃｈ诱导的舒张反应减弱,最大舒张从６４%降低到２８%;Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ诱导的收缩反应也减弱,最大收缩由５２%降低到３４%。而对ＳＮＰ诱导的舒张反应无影响。如用ＤＭＡ(１０－６ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１)＋ＯＡ温育３０ｍｉｎ,则可部分恢复单用ＯＡ引起的Ａｃｈ的舒张反应及Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ收缩反应的减弱,Ａｃｈ的最大舒张恢复到４７%,Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ的最大收缩恢复到４５%。 结论:ＤＭＡ对ＯＡ所致的血管内皮损伤具有保护作用。