Naturally occurring monoepoxides of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are bioactive antihyperalgesic lipids

Beneficial physiological effects of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are widely accepted but the mechanism(s) by which these fatty acids act remains unclear. Herein, we report the presence, distribution, and regulation of the levels of n-3 epoxy-fatty acids by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and a direct antinociceptive role of n-3 epoxy-fatty acids, specifically those originating from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The monoepoxides of the C18:1 to C22:6 fatty acids in both the n-6 and n-3 series were prepared and the individual regioisomers purified. The kinetic constants of the hydrolysis of the pure regioisomers by sEH were measured. Surprisingly, the best substrates are the mid-chain DHA epoxides. We also demonstrate that the DHA epoxides are present in considerable amounts in the rat central nervous system. Furthermore, using an animal model of pain associated with inflammation, we show that DHA epoxides, but neither the parent fatty acid nor the corresponding diols, selectively modulate nociceptive pathophysiology. Our findings support an important function of epoxy-fatty acids in the n-3 series in modulating nociceptive signaling. Consequently, the DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid epoxides may be responsible for some of the beneficial effects associated with dietary n-3 fatty acid intake.     

TRPV1通道在中枢神经系统中的功能

TRPV1（transient receptor potential vanilloid 1）是在机体广泛分布的非选择性阳离子通道,能被氢离子、高温以及其它内源性和外源性配体激活.其在外周神经系统中主要参与伤害性高温的感受以及痛觉过敏等生理机制.TRPV1在中枢神经系统中功能的研究进展主要体现在突触传递,体温调节,痛觉的调制和细胞凋亡等方面.TRPV1的激活降低突触前谷氨酸的释放及增强已存在的突触后AMPA受体的作用,从而增强了突触传递效能.外周的TRPV1通过激活能够抑制血管的收缩和生热作用,从而抑制体温的升高,当TRPV1被阻断时就发生体温过高,而TRPV1体温调节的中枢作用机制可能是通过直接作用于体温调节中枢.脑干的痛觉调制环路的激活TRPV1可以引起谷氨酸盐的释放,进而激活突触后I类mGlu受体以及NMDA受体,从而起到镇痛的功能.另外近年发现TRPV1在中枢也参与呕吐、呼吸、心率及血压的调节.     

双萤光素酶共表达载体构建及特性研究

利用来源于TaV的自剪切多肽2A的编码序列构建一种分泌型萤光素酶Gluc和非分泌型萤光素酶Fluc共表达的载体,对其体内外表达及活体成像特点进行研究。采用重叠PCR技术获得Gluc-2A-Fluc片段,克隆入表达质粒pAAV2neoCAG中,获得重组质粒pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc。将重组质粒瞬时转染BHK-21细胞,24h后在细胞上清液和细胞裂解液中均能检测到Gluc和Fluc的表达,其中Gluc98%以上分布在上清液中,而Fluc98%以上存在于细胞中,随时间延长Gluc活性在上清液中逐步增加,而细胞内Fluc活性则保持相对平稳。用水动力法经小鼠尾静脉注射pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc质粒DNA,通过尾静脉微量采血(2.5μl/次)即可实时地监测体内Gluc的表达情况。活体成像结果显示,注射Gluc的底物腔肠素时小鼠明显表现为全身显像,显像在10min内迅速衰减;而注射Fluc的底物D-Luciferin时显像主要集中在肝脏,显像在30min内都比较稳定。本研究设计和构建的pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc质粒实现了分泌型和非分泌型萤光素酶的共表达,既可以在不裂解细胞或处死动物的情况下直接在细胞培养上清或血液中动态检测Gluc的活性,又可以利用活体成像技术准确定位Fluc表达部位,比单一的萤光素酶报告载体在细胞标记和体内示踪研究方面更具优越性。     

伴血嗜酸性粒细胞增高的腹痛临床分析

目的探讨伴血嗜酸性粒细胞(Eosinophil,EOS)增高的腹痛病因、诊断、治疗方法。方法对我院31例伴血EOS增高的腹痛患者的临床表现、实验室检查、特殊检查结果进行分析,总结伴血EOS增高的腹痛病因及治疗方法。结果伴血EOS升高的腹痛的病因以寄生虫、变态反应性疾病为主,此外亦有可能为嗜酸性胃肠炎(Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis,EG)、恶性肿瘤、药物所致,少见病因为炎症性肠病、慢性胰腺炎、特发性嗜酸性细胞增多症(Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome,HES)等。大部分EOS升高的腹痛以治疗原发病为主,EG及HES以激素治疗为主。结论伴血EOS升高的腹痛病因多样,大部分病因治疗原发病后EOS可自行下降,EG及HES以激素治疗效果好,作用迅速。     

神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)与疼痛

一氧化氮(NO)是神经元细胞内一种新型的神经递质,它由一氧化氮合酶(NOS)催化而成。在神经系统中神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)是NO合成的关键酶。大量研究表明,nNOS可调节多种生理和病理过程诸如炎性痛和神经病理性疼痛。该文通过介绍nNOS的结构、分布和影响nNOS活性的因素,阐述了nNOS在病理性疼痛中的重要作用,为此可通过调节nNOS表达来达到调节生理和病理过程。     

白介素-1β在炎性痛中的作用及其机制

促炎细胞因子在许多病理状态下,如炎症、神经系统损伤、癌症等,对疼痛和痛觉过敏的发生和维持有重要作用。目前得到普遍认可的促炎细胞因子有IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α,该文就IL-1β在炎性疼痛中的作用及其可能的外周、中枢机制作一综述。     

Determination of thiram in natural waters using flow‐injection with cerium(IV)–quinine chemiluminescence system

A simple and rapid flow‐injection chemiluminescence method has been developed for the determination of dithiocarbamate fungicide thiram based on the chemiluminescence reaction of thiram with ceric sulfate and quinine in aqueous sulfuric acid. The present method allowed the determination of thiram in the concentration range of 7.5–2500 ng/mL and the detection limit (signal‐to‐noise ratio = 3) was 7.5 ng/mL with sample throughput of 120/h. The relative standard deviation was 2.5% for 10 replicate analyses of 500 ng/mL thiram. The effects of foreign species including various anions and cations present in water at environmentally relevant concentrations and some pesticides were also investigated. The proposed method was applied to determine thiram in spiked natural waters using octadecyl bonded phase silica (C₁₈) cartridges for solid‐phase extraction. The recoveries were in the range 99 ± 1 to 104 ± 1%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antinociceptive effects of low-intensity extrahigh-frequency electromagnetic radiation

We studied the effect of low-intensity extrahigh-frequency (EHF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on changes of behavior phenomena in rats observed under conditions of experimentally induced tonic somatic, visceral, and acute thermal pain. Preliminary irradiation of the animals with EHF EMR was found to exert clear antinociceptive effects. Decreases in the intensity of pain reactions were observed under conditions of both single and repeated irradiation sessions. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 331–341, July–August, 2006.     

Neogenesis and proliferation of beta-cells induced by human betacellulin gene transduction via retrograde pancreatic duct injection of an adenovirus vector

Betacellulin (BTC) has been shown to have a role in the differentiation and proliferation of beta-cells both in vitro and in vivo. We administered a human betacellulin (hBTC) adenovirus vector to male ICR mice via retrograde pancreatic duct injection. As a control, we administered a beta-galactosidase adenovirus vector. In the mice, hBTC protein was mainly overexpressed by pancreatic duct cells. On immunohistochemical analysis, we observed features of beta-cell neogenesis as newly formed insulin-positive cells in the duct cell lining or islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) closely associated with the ducts. The BrdU labeling index of beta-cells was also increased by the betacellulin vector compared with that of control mice. These results indicate that hBTC gene transduction into adult pancreatic duct cells promoted beta-cell differentiation (mainly from duct cells) and proliferation of pre-existing beta-cells, resulting in an increase of the beta-cell mass that improved glucose tolerance in diabetic mice.     

Changes in Expression of GABAA α4 Subunit mRNA in the Brain under Anesthesia Induced by Volatile and Intravenous Anesthetics

We investigated changes in levels of GABA_A receptor α4 subunit mRNA in the mouse brain after administration of volatile or i.v. anesthetic, by performing quantitative RT-PCR. We also performed immunohistochemical assays for c-fos-like protein. During deep anesthesia (which was estimated by loss of righting reflex) after administration of propofol, levels of GABA_A receptor α4 subunit mRNA in the hippocampus, striatum and diencephalons were significantly greater than those observed after administration of pentobarbital, midazolam or GOI (5.0% isoflurane and 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen). Under incomplete anesthesia, levels of GABA_A receptor α4 subunit mRNA were significantly increased by midazolam in all brain regions, and were significantly increased by pentobarbital in the posterior cortex and striatum. Expression of GABA_A receptor α4 subunit mRNA closely correlated with expression of c-fos-like protein. These results indicate that the GABA_A receptor α4 subunit plays an important role in regulating the anesthetic stage of i.v. anesthetics.