Heterogeneity in the protein cores of mucins isolated from human middle ear effusions: evidence for expression of different mucin gene products

High molecular weight mucins were isolated and purified from human middle ear effusions of children with Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) classified into three groups, (1) thick and (2) thin from anatomically normal children and (3) effusions from cleft palate patients. Amino acid analyses of the purified mucins from the three pools were similar but not identical with characteristic contents of serine threonine and proline (32%, 28%, and 38% for pools (1) (2) and (3) respectively). Proteinase resistant glycopeptide fragments corresponding to the tandem repeat domains of cloned mucin genes showed marked differences both between the three mucin pools and with the composition of the tandem repeat sequences of the cloned mucin genes expressed in the airways. Studies on the antigenic identity of middle ear mucins found an epitope likely to be present on MUC5AC, but only accounting for a maximum of 15% by weight and no reactivity was found with antibodies to MUC2 or MUC1. A polyclonal antibody raised to thick effusion mucins reacted strongly with human salivary mucin suggesting the presence of MUC5B epitopes. These studies suggest that more than one mucin gene product is secreted by the human middle ear mucosa and that there may be further mucin genes expressed by the middle ear that have yet to be cloned.     

Expression and localization of cysteine dioxygenase mRNA in the liver, lung, and kidney of the rat

Summary The expressions of cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) gene in the liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and kidney were studied byin situ hybridization with a cDNA probe from rat liver CDO under normal conditions. Significant expression of the CDO gene was detected in the liver, lung, and kidney, but not skeletal muscle. In the liver, the signal was confined to the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Furthermore, the signal was stronger in the periportal than that in the perivenous areas. In the lung, an intensive signal was found in the bronchiolar epithelium. As to the kidney, an intensive signal was observed in the distal convoluted tubules, while no signal was found in the proximal convultions.     

Whole body autoradiographic study on the distribution of14C-d-serine administered intravenously to rats

Summary The distribution of radioactivities in rats following intravenous administration of¹⁴C-d- or -l-serine was investigated by whole body autoradiography. The radioactivities were distributed throughout the whole body in both cases with the greatest amount being found in the pancreas. D- andl- Serine levels in the pancreas were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a chiral column which revealed, for the first time, the existence ofd-serine in the rat pancreas (12.6 ± 7.90 nmol/g wet tissue) together with a much higher concentration (924 ± 116 nmol/g) ofl-serine. The results suggested that exogenous D-serine of dietary origin contributed at least in part to the D-serine levels found in mammalian tissues.The accumulation of radioactivity in the kidney, especially in the corticomedullary area, even at 24 hr after administration of¹⁴C-l-serine suggested a possible link between acute necrosis of the renal proximal tubules and the administration of a large dose of D-serine [Am J Pathol 77: 269–282 (1974)].     

Influence of triiodothyronine and dexamethasone on renal amino acid handling in rats loaded with various amino acid mixtures

Summary In adult female rats, the influence of dexamethasone or triiodothyronine on renal amino acid handling was investigated in amino acid loaded animals. Amino acids were administered intravenously as two mixtures, each containing four amino acids to overload amino acid reabsorption capacity. Bolus injections of both mixtures were followed by temporary increase in fractional excretion of the administered amino acids as well of the amino acids which were not covered in the mixtures. The administration of the two mixtures was followed by different interactions between various amino acid carriers.After dexamethasone pretreatment (60µg/100g b.wt. for 3 days, once daily) a stimulation of the renal amino acid handling could be shown. Triiodothyronine (20µg/100g b.wt. for 3 days, once daily) did not increase tubular reabsorption capacity for amino acids. It even increased fractional amino acid excretion in amino acid loaded rats as a sign of enhanced amino acid metabolism in the kidney and/or increased amino acid uptake into the tubular cells from the luminal site.     

Plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentrations and renal actions in the domestic fowl

Plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in Rhode Island red hens averaged 72.1±6.9 pg·ml^-1, range 33.4–136.0 pg·ml^-1. The intravenous infusion of isotonic saline containing 3% dextran for 2 h produced no significant changes in plasma osmotic or electrolyte concentrations; however, haematocrit changes indicated vascular expansions of 14.4% after 1 h and 21.3% after 2 h and plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentrations were elevated by 190% and 257%, respectively. The intravenous infusion of chicken atrial natriuretic factor at rates of 10, 25, 50 and 100 ng·kg^-1·min^-1 for 20 min produced levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor that were directly related to the infusion rate and which, in birds undergoing a steady-state diuresis/natriuresis driven by the intravenous infusion of isotonic saline at 1 ml·min^-1, produced dose-dependent increases of 19, 26, 38 and 55% in urine flow rate and of 8, 30, 49 and 77% in sodium excretion. Potassium excretion was significantly increased only at the two highest atrial natriuretic factor infusion rates. The observed correlation between plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration and vascular volume together with the atrial natriuretic factor-induced modulation of renal salt and water elimination is consistent with the concept that in the chicken this peptide has a physiological role as a regulatory hormone in volume homeostasis.Abbreviations AII angiotensin II - ANF atrial natriuretic factor - AVT arginine vasotocin - BV blood volume - chANF chicken atrial natriuretic factor - CHE chicken heart extract - ECF extracellular fluid - EDTA ethylenediaminetetra-acetate - Hct haematocrit - i.v. intravenous - PCR plasma clearance rate - PRA plasma renin activity - RIA radioimmunoassay     

Cyclosporin A reduces skin collagen content in renal graft recipients

Summary Stimulated by the observation of a direct cytopathic effect of cyclosporin A on dermal fibroblasts we have examined total skin collagen content and collagenase activity in three groups of patients. Group 1 (controls) consisted of 16 patients without internal diseases, group 2 of 12 patients with renal transplantation on cyclosporin A therapy and group 3 of six patients with renal transplantation on corticosteroid/azathioprine therapy.Total skin collagen was measured by hydroxyproline/protein determination, collagenase activity according to the principle of Wünsch. SDS page was employed in order to show collagen split products.Mean skin collagen content (expressed by hydroxyproline/protein) was significantly lower in patients on cyclosporin A treatment (42.4 ± 12.2µg/mg) compared to controls (78.6 ± 14.2µg/mg) and patients on corticosteroid/azathioprine therapy (73.7 ± 11.2µg/mg). Mean collagenase activity was significantly higher in patients on cyclosporin A treatment (0.59 ± 0.16 IU) compared to controls (0.21 ± 0.09 IU) and patients on corticosteroid/azathioprine treatment (0.25 ± 0.11 IU). Total skin collagen content and collagenase activity were significantly inversely correlated in patients on cyclosporin A treatment (r = –0.82,p < 0.01,y = –0.011x + 1.053). Patients on cyclosporin A treatment showed remarkable reduction of alpha 1 and alpha 2 collagen chains and significantly prominent split products.The results of our study could be explained either by the activation of collagenase or as a consequence of cyclophilin (peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase) inhibition.     

大鼠活体注射台盼蓝后肝和肾的组织学与组织化学变化的观察

大鼠连续4天腹腔注射1%台盼蓝后,观察隔天、隔周、隔二周后肝和肾的组织结构及PAS、AlP、AcP、G-6-Pase、Mg~(2+)-ATPase和SDH的活性变化。结果发现:肝细胞和肾小管的上皮细胞中有台盼蓝颗粒;肝PAS反应阴性;隔天后肝AlP、AcP、G-6-Pase和SDH活性增强,Mg~(2+)-ATPase活性减弱;肾的上述组化反应活性都减弱;隔二周后肝和肾的上述组化反应接近对照。实验结果提示:活体注射台盼蓝对肝和肾未构成实质性损伤,隔天后的组化变化可能是一种生理适应性反应。     

高强度聚焦超声消融治疗（HIFU术）联合补肾活血方治疗子宫腺肌病的临床研究

摘要 目的：探讨高强度聚焦超声消融治疗（HIFU术）联合补肾活血方治疗子宫腺肌病的临床疗效。方法：选取我院2020年3月到2023年3月收治的100例子宫腺肌病患者作为研究对象,应用随机数字表法将其分为观察组与对照组,每组50例。对照组患者采取HIFU术治疗,观察组患者采取HIFU术联合补肾活血方治疗,对比两组患者临床疗效,治疗前后中医证候积分,对比手术前、手术后3个月、6个月的糖类抗原CA125及血红蛋白水平变化,并在治疗3个月后和治疗6个月应用子宫体积、痛经评分、经量评分评价患者远期预后情况。结果：两组临床疗效比较无差异（P>0.05）;治疗前两组患者腰膝酸软、经期腰骶痛、经期腹痛相关中医证候积分对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,治疗后两组患者腰膝酸软、经期腰骶痛、经期腹痛相关中医证候积分均降低,且观察组低于对照组（P＜0.05）;手术两组患者糖类抗原CA125、Hb水平对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,术后3个月、6个月两组患者糖类抗原CA125水平降低,观察组低于对照组,Hb水平升高,观察组高于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组治疗后3个月的子宫体积、痛经评分、经量评分明显低于对照组（P＜0.05）,且治疗6个月后两组患者子宫体积、痛经评分、经量评分均降低,观察组低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：对子宫腺肌病患者应用高强度聚焦超声消融术联合补肾活血方治疗可提升其临床治疗效果,减轻患者临床症状,改善患者糖类抗原CA125表达水平,减轻贫血情况,且远期疗效较好,能够进一步改善患者子宫体积、疼痛程度和月经量,值得临床应用推广。     

降浊四妙散通过降低血尿酸水平及抑制NLRP3炎症小体对大鼠高尿酸血症及其肾损伤的改善作用研究

摘要 目的：探究降浊四妙散通过降低血尿酸水平及抑制NLRP3炎症小体对大鼠高尿酸血症及其肾损伤的改善作用。方法：将28只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、氧酸钾（OA）模型组、OA+SMS组、OA+别嘌醇组,其中,SMS的剂量基于实验动物物质管理标准（每公斤体重成人剂量的10倍）;别嘌醇溶解在OA+别嘌醇组的饮用水中（浓度,150 mg/L）;对照组和OA组给予等量的蒸馏水（胃内容量控制在2 mL/d）,持续7周。探讨SMS对肾线粒体活性氧(ROS)和氧化应激(OS)产物、NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1轴的蛋白表达。结果：（1）对照组、OA模型和治疗组的数据存在显著差异（P<0.05）。在第7周结束时,模型组总尿酸排泄量显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,SZF组和别嘌醇组显著高于OA组（P<0.05）。（2）与对照组相比,OA组的BUN和Scr水平显著升高（P<0.05）,而接受SMS和别嘌醇治疗大鼠的BUN和Scr水平下降（P<0.05）。（3）肾组织结构中,对于OA+SZF和OA+别嘌呤醇组,肾近端肾小管上皮细胞肿胀、空泡变性和炎性细胞浸润减少。（4）OA诱导的高尿酸血症大鼠肾组织中氧化应激指标均升高（P＜0.05）;即超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶之间存在显著的不平衡,而SMS和别嘌醇干预可显著回复以上氧化应激反应指标的动态平衡（P＜0.05）。（5）OA组大鼠肾组织中TXNIP mRNA和蛋白表达显著高于其他组（P<0.05）,而SMS和别嘌醇有效抑制TXNIP mRNA 和蛋白表达（P<0.05）;高尿酸血症大鼠NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1 轴中的mRNA和蛋白质表达升高（P<0.05）。SMS干预后组NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1轴的激活显著被抑制（P<0.05）。结论：SMS通过降低高尿酸血症实验大鼠肾脏中血尿酸水平,进而减轻肾损害,同时其可抑制线粒体ROS触发的NLRP3炎性体激活来减轻肾小管损伤和炎症浸润。     

Lack of a direct role for cyclic AMP in parathyrin action on phosphate reabsorption by the kidney

Isolated chick kidney proximal tubule cells have been used in a study of the mechanism by which PTH inhibits Na+-dependent Pi transport in the kidney. Treatment with PTH inhibits Pi uptake by the cells by 13% and stimulates cyclic AMP production by 77%. Forskolin, a potent activator of adenyl cyclase, brought about an 11-fold stimulation of cyclic AMP production by the cells, but in contrast to PTH, the drug had no effect on Na+-dependent Pi uptake. These results provide evidence that PTH action on phosphate transport is not mediated by cyclic AMP.