重症支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液病原菌分布及血清CRP和TNF-α水平

目的研究重症支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液中病原菌分布及血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)水平,为该病的治疗提供参考。方法选取2017年5月至2019年5月我院收治的支气管哮喘患者为研究对象,按照病情严重程度分为重度组(n=85)和轻度组(n=80)。收集两组患者肺泡灌洗液并进行细菌培养,同时抽取两组患者静脉血检测血清CRP、TNF-α水平。采用Spearman相关系数分析法分析血清CRP、TNF-α水平与哮喘程度的关系。结果重度组患者肺泡灌洗液中检出革兰阳性菌23株,占36.51%;革兰阴性菌38株,占60.32%;真菌2株,占3.17%。革兰阳性菌中肺炎链球菌占47.83%,金黄色葡萄球菌占30.43%;革兰阴性菌中大肠埃希菌占23.68%,流感嗜血杆菌占26.32%。重度组患者肺泡灌洗液中革兰阴性菌比例及血清CRP与TNF-α水平均显著高于轻度组(均P<0.05)。支气管哮喘严重程度与血清CRP和TNF-α水平均呈正相关(均P<0.05)。结论重度支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液中革兰阴性菌占比较高,同时其血清CRP、TNF-α水平也较高。CRP、TNF-α水平与哮喘严重程度成正比。     

糖皮质激素对大叶性肺炎患儿血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平的影响

目的:探究糖皮质激素对大叶性肺炎患儿血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平的影响。方法:选取2014年3月至2014年8月我院收治的大叶性肺炎患儿60例,并将其随机分为对照组和实验组。对照组30例,给抗炎、退热、镇咳、平喘等临床常规治疗;实验组30例,在与对照组相同治疗的基础上加用糖皮质激素联合治疗。治疗结束后,比较两组患儿治疗前后血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平的变化。结果:治疗前,两组患儿的血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平比较均无统计学差异(P均0.05);治疗后,两组患儿的血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平均较治疗前显著降低(P均0.05),且实验组患儿的血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8水平均显著低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。结论:糖皮质激素辅助治疗可降低大叶性肺炎患儿血清TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8的水平,这可能是其治疗儿童大叶性肺炎的药理学作用之一。     

弥漫性轴索损伤患者血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨弥漫性轴索损伤(DAI)患者血清髓鞘碱性蛋白(MBP)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平的表达及临床意义。方法:选取2015年12月-2018年1月我院神经外科收治的DAI患者90例作为观察组,另选取在我院体检的健康志愿者30例作为对照组,并根据格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)将观察组患者分为重度组(42例)、中度组(30例)、轻度组(18例)。对比观察组和对照组血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平,比较观察组患者不同严重程度、伤后不同时间血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平。结果:观察组患者血清中的MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平显著高于对照组(P0.05)。重度组患者血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平显著高于中度组和轻度组,且中度组显著高于轻度组(P0.05)。伤后不同时间观察组患者血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平整体比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);其中MBP水平在伤后前期到伤后3d持续升高(P0.05);IL-1β、IL-8、TNF-α水平在伤后前期到伤后2d持续升高,在伤后3d呈下降趋势(P0.05)。结论:DAI患者血清MBP、IL-1β、IL-8及TNF-α水平偏高,临床通过检测这四种血清指标水平,有助于评估患者的病情。     

硬膜外阻滞对脂多糖致兔急性肺损伤的影响

目的:观察硬膜外阻滞(TEA)对脂多糖(LPS)致急性肺损伤(ALI)兔肺水肿程度及支气管肺泡灌洗液中炎症细胞数量及炎症因子的影响。方法:66只日本大耳白兔,随机分为对照组(A组)、LPS致伤组(B组)、LPS致伤加硬膜外阻滞干预组(C组)。脂多糖5 mg/kg缓慢静脉注射复制兔ALI模型,T4-5硬膜外腔头侧置管注射0.5%利多卡因0.3 m L·kg-1·h-1进行干预,监测动脉血气分析,测支气管肺泡灌洗液中炎症细胞总数并观察肺水肿的程度,ELISA法检测支气管肺泡灌洗液中白介素-8(IL-8)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平。结果:B组和C组中炎症细胞总数明显多于A组,且B组多于C组,P0.05。C组硬膜外阻滞干预后肺水肿程度较B组明显减轻,P0.05。支气管肺泡灌洗液中IL-8、TNF-α水平B组高于C组,P0.05,差异有统计学意义。结论:胸段硬膜外阻滞能够减轻脂多糖所导致兔的急性肺损伤的肺部炎症反应。     

变应性鼻炎患者血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平表达及与病情严重程度的关系研究

目的:探讨变应性鼻炎(AR)患者血清白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、白细胞介素-25(IL-25)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平表达及与病情严重程度的关系。方法:选取2016年1月～2018年2月期间宜宾市第一人民医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科收治的AR患者79例为AR组,参照世界卫生组织指定的《变应性鼻炎及其对哮喘的影响》中的标准将AR组患者分为轻度组29例、中度组34例、重度组16例,另选取同期我院收治的非AR患者30例为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测所有患者的IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平,分别比较对照组与AR组以及不同病情严重程度患者IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平,采用Pearson相关性分析AR患者血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α相关性。结果:AR组血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平均显著高于对照组,组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。不同病情严重程度的AR患者血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平整体比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),中度组、重度组患者血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α水平均明显高于轻度组患者,且重度组高于中度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Pearson相关性分析显示,AR患者血清IL-17、IL-25、TNF-α两两之间均呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:AR患者血清IL-17、IL-25及TNF-α呈现异常高表达,并随着患者疾病的加重而升高,且各因子存在一定的相关性,可考虑将其作为临床诊断AR的生物学指标。     

小剂量阿奇霉素联合吸入布地奈德和N-乙酰半胱氨酸治疗特发性肺纤维化的临床疗效分析

目的:观察小剂量阿奇霉素联合吸入布地奈德和N-乙酰半胱氨酸对特发性肺纤维化(IPF)患者肺功能及支气管肺泡灌洗液炎症因子表达的影响。方法:随机将56例确诊为IPF的住院患者分为对照组和治疗组,对照组给予常规治疗,吸氧,戒烟,吸入布地奈德及乙酰半胱氨酸;治疗组在常规治疗基础上加服小剂量阿奇霉素片。动态观察两组患者治疗3、6个月的疗效及肺功能的改善情况;完成2个疗程(6个月)治疗后,检测和比较两组支气管肺泡灌洗液相关炎症因子水平的变化。结果:治疗3个月时,两组患者的动脉血氧分压(PO2)、肺活量(VC)、1秒钟用力呼气容积占预计值百分比(FEV1%pred)、最大通气量占预计值百分比(MVV%pred)、单位肺泡容积的一氧化碳弥散量占预计值百分比(DLCO/VA%pred)均较治疗前显著增加(P0.05);治疗6个月时,治疗组的有效率(20/26,76.9%)明显高于对照组(14/30,46.7%),且PO2、VC、FEV1%pred、MVV%pred及DLCO/VA%pred等肺功能指标均显著高于对照组(P0.05);对照组支气管肺泡灌洗液TNF-α、IL-8浓度均较治疗前降低(P0.05),IL-4、IL-10、IFN-γ浓度较治疗前无明显变化;而治疗组支气管肺泡灌洗液TNF-α、IL-8、IL-4、IL-10浓度均较治疗前降低,IFN-γ浓度较治疗前明显增加(P0.05)。结论:阿奇霉素联合吸入布地奈德和N-乙酰半胱氨酸可能通过改变支气管肺泡灌洗液IFN-γ等炎症因子浓度有效改善IPF患者的肺功能。     

TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8在不同程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清中的表达及意义

目的:探讨不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的表达及意义。方法:选择2011年1月~2014年7月我院收治的溃疡性结肠炎患者47例,根据严重程度将患者分为轻度组、中度组和重度组。另选取同期在我院接受健康体检的志愿者80例作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测各组患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的水平。结果:溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8水平高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者的TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8水平呈显著差异(P0.05)。结论:检测溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的水平变化有利于预测病情进展。     

过敏性鼻炎患者血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平的变化及其与病情严重程度的关系研究

目的:探究过敏性鼻炎患者血清白介素-8(IL-8)、白介素-22(IL-22)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平的变化及其与病情严重程度的关系。方法:选择2018年2月至2019年6月期间我院诊治的99例过敏性鼻炎患者作为鼻炎组,选择同期进行健康体检的99例健康志愿者作为健康组。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平,按照世界卫生组织对过敏性鼻炎的分度标准将鼻炎组进一步分为轻度组、中度组和重度组,比较不同病情严重程度患者过敏性鼻炎评分量表(SFAR)评分、视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分以及血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平,采用Pearson相关性分析血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平与SFAR评分和VAS评分的相关性。结果:与健康组相比,鼻炎组的血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平均明显升高(P0.05)。与轻度组相比,中度组和重度组的SFAR评分、VAS评分以及血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平明显升高,且中度组明显高于轻度组(P0.05)。血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平与SFAR评分和VAS评分均呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平升高与过敏性鼻炎的发生密切相关,并且随患者病情加剧而上调。同时,血清IL-8、IL-22及TNF-α水平与SFAR评分和VAS评分均呈正相关性,在临床诊断过敏性鼻炎的严重程度上具有一定应用价值。     

辛伐他汀对烟雾吸入性肺损伤大鼠炎性因子及氧化应激反应的影响

目的:研究辛伐他汀对烟雾吸入性肺损伤大鼠炎性因子及氧化应激反应的影响。方法:选取60只清洁级SD大鼠,将其按照随机抽签法分成正常组、盐水组以及辛伐他汀组,每组各20只。盐水组与辛伐他汀组大鼠均制备发烟罐烟雾吸入性肺损伤模型,建模成功后30 min,辛伐他汀组大鼠予以50 mg/kg剂量的辛伐他汀灌胃,盐水组则予以等量的生理盐水灌胃,正常大鼠予以正常饲养处理。采用酶联免疫法检测血清、肺泡灌洗液中炎症因子[包括白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)]及氧化应激反应指标[包括超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)]水平。结果:盐水组、辛伐他汀组大鼠血清、肺泡灌洗液中IL-6、TNF-α水平均高于正常组,且辛伐他汀组大鼠上述各项指标低于盐水组(均P<0.05)。盐水组、辛伐他汀组大鼠血清、肺泡灌洗液中SOD水平低于正常组,辛伐他汀组明显高于盐水组(均P<0.05),盐水组、辛伐他汀组大鼠血清、肺泡灌洗液中MDA水平高于正常组,辛伐他汀组明显低于盐水组(均P<0.05)。结论:辛伐他汀对烟雾吸入性肺损伤大鼠的炎性因子具有明显的改善作用,且有利于减轻大鼠的氧化应激反应程度。     

肺炎支原体感染小鼠体内IL-6、IFN-γ、IL-5的水平 及克拉霉素的影响

目的：研究肺炎支原体感染小鼠血清及支气管肺泡灌洗液中细胞因子的水平,了解克拉霉素治疗对细胞因子的影响。方法： 将昆明小鼠分为感染组、正常组及药物治疗组,建立小鼠肺炎支原体感染模型成功后,药物组用克拉霉素（6 g·kg-1·d-1）进行治疗, 连续5 天。在肺炎支原体感染模型建立后的第8 天,检测三组小鼠的血清及支气管肺泡灌洗液中IL-6、IFN-γ、IL-5 水平。结果： 相比较于正常组,感染组小鼠支气管灌洗液和血清中的IL-6、IFN-γ、IL-5 均显著升高(P ＜0.05)。而克拉霉素的使用能使IL-6、 IFN-γ降低(P ＜0.05),但对IL-5 水平无影响。结论：肺炎支原体感染使小鼠IL-6、IFN-γ、IL-5 水平增高,克拉霉素治疗有一定疗 效。     

Race and Racism in America and in Anthropology

Race in North America: Origin and Evolution of a Worldview . Audrey Smedley
Anthropology and Race . Eugenia Shanklin     

Degradation and conversion of somatostatin in normal and diabetic rats in vivo and in vitro

Plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the portal and jugular veins of streptozotocin diabetic rats was compared with that in normal control rats. In the diabetic group, somatostatin levels in the portal (p less than 0.05) and jugular (p less than 0.01) veins were both elevated compared with those in the control group. Moreover, the degree of elevation was greater in the jugular vein than in the portal vein. To further investigate the role of the liver in the clearance of somatostatin-28 in vivo, 2 micrograms of somatostatin-28 was administered as a bolus into the external jugular vein of intact and functionally hepatectomized rats. The mean half-time of somatostatin-28 was significantly longer in intact diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.05). The functional hepatectomy did not cause a significant difference in the half-time in diabetic rats but made it longer in control rats. These results suggest that the longer half-time of somatostatin-28 in diabetic rats in vivo is due to its slower hepatic clearance. The hepatic clearance of somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 was further studied in vitro using a recirculating liver perfusion method. The hepatic clearance of 1.2 nM of either somatostatin-28 or somatostatin-14 was significantly lower in diabetic rats than in controls (p less than 0.01). This indicates that elevated plasma somatostatin levels in diabetic rats are caused at least in part by decreased hepatic clearance of somatostatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Variation in infectivity and aggressiveness in space and time in wild host-pathogen systems: causes and consequences

Variation in host resistance and in the ability of pathogens to infect and grow (i.e. pathogenicity) is important as it provides the raw material for antagonistic (co)evolution and therefore underlies risks of disease spread, disease evolution and host shifts. Moreover, the distribution of this variation in space and time may inform us about the mode of coevolutionary selection (arms race vs. fluctuating selection dynamics) and the relative roles of G × G interactions, gene flow, selection and genetic drift in shaping coevolutionary processes. Although variation in host resistance has recently been reviewed, little is known about overall patterns in the frequency and scale of variation in pathogenicity, particularly in natural systems. Using 48 studies from 30 distinct host–pathogen systems, this review demonstrates that variation in pathogenicity is ubiquitous across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Quantitative analysis of a subset of extensively studied plant–pathogen systems shows that the magnitude of within‐population variation in pathogenicity is large relative to among‐population variation and that the distribution of pathogenicity partly mirrors the distribution of host resistance. At least part of the variation in pathogenicity found at a given spatial scale is adaptive, as evidenced by studies that have examined local adaptation at scales ranging from single hosts through metapopulations to entire continents and – to a lesser extent – by comparisons of pathogenicity with neutral genetic variation. Together, these results support coevolutionary selection through fluctuating selection dynamics. We end by outlining several promising directions for future research.     

Trajectories and Constraints in Brain Evolution in Primates and Cetaceans

A negative allometric relationship between body mass (BM) and brain size (BS) can be observed for many vertebrate groups. In the past decades, researchers have proposed several hypotheses to explain this finding, but none is definitive and some are possibly not mutually exclusive. Certain species diverge markedly (positively or negatively) from the mean of the ratio BM/BS expected for a particular taxonomic group. It is possible to define encephalization quotient (EQ) as the ratio between the actual BS and the expected brain size. Several cetacean species show higher EQs compared to all primates, except modern humans. The process that led to big brains in primates and cetaceans produced different trajectories, as shown by the organizational differences observed in every encephalic district (e.g., the cortex). However, these two groups both convergently developed complex cognitive abilities. The comparative study on the trajectories through which the encephalization process has independently evolved in primates and cetaceans allows a critical appraisal of the causes, the time and the mode of quantitative and qualitative development of the brain in our species and in the hominid evolutionary lineage.     

Aminoacylation in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and in methanogenic and halophilic archaebacteria

Abstract Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PRS) from the sulphur-metabolizing thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius has been purified 150-fold using different chromatographic steps. The enzyme has a M _r of 270 000 and exhibits considerable thermostability in a temperature range up to 90°C with optimal activity at 70°C. Conservation of antigenic determinants could not be detected by antibodies against various PRS of all primary kingdoms. As a further means to detect traits of phylogenetic relationship, the cross-species reactivity between PRS and tRNAs of organisms from the three branches of archaebacteria and from all primary kingdoms reveals the group character of all 3 branches of the archaebacterial domain, the sulphur-metabolizing, methanogenic and halophilic archaebacteria.     

Drought and warming induced changes in P and K concentration and accumulation in plant biomass and soil in a Mediterranean shrubland

A field experiment involving drought and warming manipulation was conducted over a 6-year period in a Mediterranean shrubland to simulate the climate conditions projected by IPCC models for the coming decades (20% decreased soil moisture and 1°C warming). We investigated P and K concentration and accumulation in the leaves and stems of the dominant species, and in soil. Drought decreased P concentration in Globularia alypum leaves (21%) and in Erica multiflora stems (30%) and decreased K concentration in the leaves of both species (20% and 29%, respectively). The general decrease of P and K concentration in drought plots was due to the reduction of soil water content, soil and root phosphatase activity and photosynthetic capacity that decreased plant uptake capacity. Warming increased P concentration in Erica multiflora leaves (42%), but decreased it in the stems and leaf litter of Erica multiflora and the leaf litter (33%) of Globularia alypum, thereby demonstrating that warming improved the P retranslocation and allocation from stem to leaves. These results correlate with the increase in photosynthetic capacity and growth of these two dominant shrub species in warming plots. Drought and warming had no significant effects on biomass P accumulation in the period 1999–2005, but drought increased K accumulation in aboveground biomass (10 kg ha⁻¹) in Globularia alypum due to the increase in K concentration in stems. The stoichiometric changes produced by the different responses of the nutrients led to changes in the P/K concentration ratio in Erica multiflora leaves, stems and litter, and in Globularia alypum stems and litter. This may have implications for the nutritional value of these plant species and plant–herbivore relationships. The effects of climate change on P and K concentrations and contents in Mediterranean ecosystems will differ depending on whether the main component of change is drought or warming.     

Electroejaculation in chimpanzees and gorillas and artificial insemination in chimpanzees

Electroejaculation was performed in 3 chimpanzees, 1 pygmy chimpanzee, and 2 gorillas with an instrument that delivers a modified sine wave current with a frequency of 24 Hz. The current stimuli were applied by a rectal probe with longitudinal electrodes. The electrical parameters varied from 6 to 12 V and from 30 to 40 mA for response of erection and lay between 8 and 18 V and between 40 and 145 mA during semen emission. Eleven chimpanzee semen samples showed the following data (x ± SD): total volume 1.9 ± 1.3 ml, volume of the liquid fraction 0.3 ± 0.2 ml, spermatozoa per ejaculate 743 ± 376 × 10⁶, sperm motility 52.7 ± 9.6%, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa 12.2 ± 7.5%. From an adult gorilla, three semen samples were collected, in each case without spermatozoa. The electrostimulation of a 6-year-old gorilla led to an erection, but not to semen emission. Three female chimpanzees were inseminated with fresh or frozen semen, each of them within three different estrous cycles. None of these inseminations led to a pregnancy.     

Advances in purine and pyrimidine metabolism in health and diseases

ABSTRACT

In June, 2015, the Purine and Pyrimidine Society organized the 16th biennial symposium on Purine and Pyrimidine metabolism at the Faculty House of Columbia University, New York City. This exciting meeting focused on these important molecules, new developments in inborn errors of metabolism; therapeutic analogs. In addition, the biochemistry of mammalian and non-mammalian systems were discussed. Due to significant advances in molecular medicine, the boundaries between clinical and basic sciences have merged into exciting translational research, of which a small portion was highlighted in the presymposium.