抑郁症患者血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy水平与病情严重程度及认知功能的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨抑郁症患者血清白介素-6（IL-6）、白介素-18（IL-18）、胶质纤维蛋白（GFAP）、同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）水平与病情严重程度、认知功能的关系。方法：纳入首都医科大学附属北京安定医院、南京医科大学附属无锡精神卫生中心及新乡医学院第二附属医院2019年1月～2019年12月收治的抑郁症患者100例,根据17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD-17）评分分成轻度组（n=42,HAMD-17评分为8～16分）、中度组（n=35,HAMD-17评分为17～23分）以及重度组（n=23,HAMD-17评分≥24分）。比较三组患者血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy水平。根据蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评估结果分成认知障碍组（n=29）、非认知障碍组（n=71）,比较两组血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy水平。经Pearson线性相关模型分析抑郁症患者血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy与HAMD-17评分、MoCA评分的相关性。结果：中、重度组的血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy及HAMD-17评分较轻度组明显升高,且重度组高于中度组（P＜0.05）。认知障碍组血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy较非认知障碍组明显升高,延迟记忆、抽象思维、注意力、记忆力、视空间执行能力、语言流畅、定向力、命名评分及MoCA总分较非认知障碍组明显降低（P＜0.05）。血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy与HAMD-17评分呈正相关（P＜0.05）,其与延迟记忆、抽象思维、注意力、记忆力、视空间执行能力、语言流畅、定向力评分及MoCA总分呈负相关（P＜0.05）。结论：血清IL-6、IL-18、GFAP、Hcy随抑郁症患者的抑郁程度加重而升高,且在有认知障碍的抑郁症患者中明显更高,上述四指标均与HAMD-17、MoCA评分具一定相关性,或可作为评估抑郁症患者病情的辅助指标。     

气管哮喘患者血清趋化因子CXCL12水平的表达及其与炎症因子和肺功能的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨支气管哮喘患者血清趋化因子CXCL12水平与炎症因子和肺功能的关系。方法：选择2017年10月至2019年10月我院收治的支气管哮喘患者共106例,其中急性发作期67例（急性发作组）、慢性持续期39例（慢性持续组）,另选择50例体检的健康志愿者为对照组,均进行血清CXCL12检测,分析CXCL12与炎症因子、肺功能、嗜酸性粒细胞（EOS）、免疫球蛋白E（IgE）、呼出气一氧化氮（FeNo）的相关性。结果：急性发作期组血清CXCL12、白介素-4（IL-4）、白介素-17A（IL-17A）、白介素-13（IL-13）、EOS、IgE、FeNO水平高于慢性持续期组和对照组（P＜0.05）,慢性持续期组血清CXCL12、IL-4、IL-17A、IL-13、EOS、IgE、FeNO水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）;急性发作期组第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、第1秒用力呼气容积与用力肺活量比值（FEV1/FVC）、第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分数(FEV₁ %pred)低于慢性持续期组和对照组（P＜0.05）,慢性持续期组FEV FEV₁、FEV FEV₁/FVC、FEV FEV₁%pred低于对照组（P＜0.05）。多元线性回归分析结果显示血清CXCL12与支气管哮喘患者FEV FEV₁、FEV FEV₁/FVC呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与EOS、IgE、IL-4、IL-17A、IL-13呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：CXCL12在支气管哮喘进程中可能发挥促炎作用,血清CXCL12水平可反映患者病情严重程度和肺通气功能。     

肺炎支原体肺炎患儿血清sB7-H3含量与细胞因子水平及病情严重程度的相关性研究

摘要 目的：研究肺炎支原体肺炎（mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, MPP）患儿血清可溶性共刺激分子B7-H3（soluble co-stimulatory molecule B7-H3, sB7-H3）含量与细胞因子水平及病情严重程度的相关性。方法：收集2019年3月至2020年6月期间我院收治的MPP患儿共96例,根据患儿病情严重程度分为轻症MPP组和重症MPP组,另选取同期于我院体检中心体检的健康儿童50例作为对照组。收集所有受试者的一般资料、主要临床表现、临床指标及细胞因子水平,对各指标进行Pearson相关性分析和多元逐步回归分析。结果：与对照组相比,MPP组患儿的白细胞计数（white blood cell, WBC）、中性粒细胞计数（neutrophil, NE）、红细胞沉降率（erythrocyta sedimentation rate, ESR）、C反应蛋白（C-reactive protein,CRP）、sB7-H3、粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, GM-CSF）、干扰素-γ（interferon-γ, IFN-γ）、白介素-10（interleukin-10,IL-10）和白介素-17A（interleukin-17A,IL-17A）均较高（P＜0.05）;与轻症MPP组患儿相比,重症MPP组患儿的WBC、NE、ESR、CRP、sB7-H3、GM-CSF、IFN-γ、IL-10和IL-17A均较高（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果表明,sB7-H3与WBC、NE、ESR、CRP、GM-CSF、IFN-γ、IL-10和IL-17A呈正相关（P＜0.05）。多元线性回归分析显示,GM-CSF（β=0.103,P＜0.001）、IFN-γ（β=0.121,P＜0.001）、IL-10（β=0.026,P＜0.001）和IL-17A（β=0.093,P＜0.001）是sB7-H3的独立影响因素。结论：MPP患儿血清sB7-H3、GM-CSF、IFN-γ、IL-10和IL-17A与MPP的病情严重程度密切相关,且sB7-H3的表达水平与GM-CSF、IFN-γ、IL-10和IL-17A的水平呈正相关。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平与肺功能、炎性因子及生活质量的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）稳定期患者血清血管黏附蛋白-1（VAP-1）、巨噬细胞刺激蛋白（MSP）、基质细胞衍生因子-1（SDF-1）水平与肺功能、炎性因子及生活质量的关系。方法：选取我院2018年9月～2020年9月收治的COPD稳定期患者116例作为COPD组,选取同期于我院体检的健康志愿者100例作为对照组。比较两组血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平以及肺功能指标[第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、用力肺活量（FVC）、FEV1/FVC、最大呼气流速（PEF）]、炎症因子[白介素-6（IL-6）、白介素-17（IL-17）、白介素-22（IL-22）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）]水平。根据COPD稳定期患者的严重程度,分成轻度组（n=53）、中度组（n=34）、重度组（n=29）,比较三组上述各指标水平。采用COPD评估测试表（CAT）评估三组生活质量并进行比较,经Pearson线性相关分析血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平与肺功能、炎性因子及CAT评分的相关性。结果：COPD组血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1、IL-6、IL-17、IL-22及TNF-α水平均高于对照组,而FEV1、FVC、FEV1/FVC以及PEF低于对照组（P＜0.05）。轻度组血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1、IL-6、IL-17、IL-22、TNF-α水平及CAT评分较中度、重度组明显降低,且中度组低于重度组,而轻度组FEV1、FVC、FEV1/FVC、PEF较中度、重度组增高,且中度组高于重度组（P＜0.05）。Pearson线性相关分析提示,血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平与FEV1、FVC、FEV1/FVC、PEF呈负相关,三者与血清IL-6、IL-17、IL-22、TNF-α水平及CAT评分呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：COPD稳定期患者的血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平明显上调,且三者与患者的肺功能、炎症因子及生活质量密切相关,临床有望通过测定血清VAP-1、MSP、SDF-1水平,评估COPD稳定期患者病情进展情况。     

早产产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平与新生儿感染发生的相关性研究

摘要 目的：分析早产产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平与新生儿感染发生的相关性。方法：选择2020年7月至2021年12月在我院分娩的120例早产产妇作为观察组,另选同期的120例足月分娩产妇作为对照组。检测两组产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平,根据观察组产妇分娩的新生儿是否发生感染,分为感染组和非感染组,比较两组母体血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平,使用多因素Logistic回归分析和受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析早产产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22与新生儿感染的关系。结果：观察组血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平均高于对照组（P＜0.05）;感染组母体血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平均高于非感染组（P＜0.05）;经多因素Logistic回归分析,早产产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22均是新生儿感染发生的独立预测因素（P＜0.05）;经Pearson相关性分析,早产产妇血清IL-17与胎盘IL-17 mRNA、血清IL-21与胎盘IL-21 mRNA、血清IL-22与胎盘IL-22 mRNA均呈正相关（P＜0.05）;经ROC曲线分析,早产产妇血清IL-17、IL-21联合IL-22预测新生儿感染发生的AUC为0.910。结论：早产产妇血清和胎盘IL-17、IL-21及IL-22表达水平升高均与新生儿感染发生密切相关,其中血清IL-17、IL-21联合IL-22预测新生儿感染的效能较高,值得进一步研究应用。     

寻常型银屑病患者血清肽基脯氨酰顺反异构酶1、摄食抑制因子1、血管生成素2的变化及临床意义

摘要 目的：观察寻常型银屑病患者血清肽基脯氨酰顺反异构酶1（Pin1）、摄食抑制因子1（nesfatin-1）、血管生成素2（ANGPT2）水平的变化,并探讨分析其临床意义。方法：选择我院2019年5月～2021年5月收治的寻常型银屑病患者98例,分别比较不同疾病严重程度和不同疾病分期患者的血清Pin1、nesfatin-1、ANGPT2水平,采用Pearson检验分析血清Pin1、nesfatin-1、ANGPT2水平与皮损面积及严重程度指数（PASI）评分的相关性,采用光疗仪对患者进行治疗,比较治疗前后血清Pin1、nesfatin-1、ANGPT2水平变化。结果：重度组和中度组患者的Pin1、ANGPT2水平均高于轻度组,且重度组高于中度组（P＜0.05）;重度组和中度组患者的nesfatin-1水平均低于轻度组,且重度组低于中度组（P＜0.05）。进行期组患者的Pin1、ANGPT2水平高于静止期组和退行期组患者,而nesfatin-1水平低于静止期组与退行期组患者（P＜0.05）;静止期组与退行期组之间上述各指标比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,寻常型银屑病患者的血清Pin1、ANGPT2水平与PASI评分呈正相关,而nesfatin-1水平与PASI评分呈负相关（P＜0.05）。治疗后,寻常型银屑病患者的血清Pin1、ANGPT2水平明显降低,nesfatin-1水平则明显升高（P＜0.05）。结论：寻常型银屑病患者的病情越重,血清Pin1、ANGPT2水平越高,而nesfatin-1水平越低,且三者对患者疗效有一定评估价值。     

IL-6抗体对银屑病小鼠的治疗作用及其对外周血辅助性T细胞和树突状细胞影响的研究

摘要 目的：研究白介素-6（Interleukin-6,IL-6）抗体对银屑病小鼠的治疗作用,并探讨IL-6抗体治疗对银屑病小鼠外周血辅助性T细胞和树突状细胞影响。方法：30只6-8周龄SPF级BALB/c小鼠按照随机数字表法分为Normal组、Model组和IL-6组,Model组和IL-6组小鼠通过在背部脱毛区涂抹咪喹莫特建立银屑病小鼠模型。IL-6组小鼠通过在背部脱毛区皮下注射IL-6抗体进行治疗。比较三组小鼠皮损组织银屑病皮损面积及严重程度指数（psoriasis area and severity index,PASI）、表皮厚度和血管数、血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23含量、外周血树突状细胞、Th17细胞和Th22细胞比例以及皮损组织IL-6、IL-21和STAT3蛋白表达。结果：IL-6抗体治疗后,Model组和IL-6组小鼠皮损组织PASI、表皮厚度和血管数,血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23含量,外周血树突状细胞、Th17细胞和Th22细胞比例,以及皮损组织IL-6、IL-21和STAT3蛋白表达均显著高于Normal组小鼠（P<0.05）;与Model组相比,IL-6组小鼠皮损组织PASI、表皮厚度和血管数,血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23含量,外周血树突状细胞、Th17细胞和Th22细胞比例,以及皮损组织IL-6、IL-21和STAT3蛋白表达均显著降低（P<0.05）。结论：IL-6抗体对银屑病小鼠模型具有较好的治疗作用,其机制可能与通过抑制IL-6/STAT3通路影响Th17/Th22和树突状细胞水平有关。     

血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6与2型糖尿病合并干眼症的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、脂肪酸结合蛋白4（FABP4）、视黄酸诱导基因6（STRA6）与2型糖尿病（T2DM）合并干眼症（DED）的关系。方法：选取2020年6月～2023年6月南京医科大学第四附属医院收治的T2DM合并DED患者129例（T2DM合并DED组）、单纯T2DM患者117例（单纯T2DM组）、85名体检健康志愿者（对照组）,根据DED病情程度将T2DM合并DED患者分为轻度组（61例）、中度组（36例）、重度组（32例）。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平。通过多因素Logistic回归分析T2DM合并DED的影响因素,ROC曲线分析血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平对T2DM合并DED的预测价值。结果：T2DM合并DED组血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平高于单纯T2DM组、对照组,单纯T2DM组血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）。重度组血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平高于中度组、轻度组,中度组血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平高于轻度组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示T2DM病程延长和糖化血红白蛋白、IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6升高为T2DM合并DED的独立危险因素,BUT升高为独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平联合预测T2DM合并DED的曲线下面积为0.916,大于血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平单独预测的0.784、0.782、0.788。结论：T2DM合并DED患者血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6水平升高,是T2DM合并DED的独立危险因素,并且与DED病情严重程度相关。血清IL-1β、FABP4、STRA6联合检测对T2DM合并DED的预测价值较高。     

特应性皮炎患儿外周血miR-122a和miR-146a水平与Th1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨特应性皮炎（AD）患儿外周血微小核糖核酸（miRNA）-122a和miR-146a水平与辅助性T细胞（Th）1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡的相关性。方法：选取2020年5月～2023年5月石家庄市妇幼保健院皮肤科收治的AD患儿100例为AD组,根据特应性皮炎评分（SCORAD）分为轻度组31例、中度组41例、重度组28例,另选取同期100名体检健康儿童为对照组。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应检测外周血miR-122a、miR-146a水平,流式细胞术检测外周血Th1、Th2、Th17细胞比例,酶联免疫吸附法检测外周血Th1、Th2、Th17相关细胞因子[白细胞介素（IL）-2、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22]水平,并计算Th1/Th2/Th17比值。采用Pearson/Spearman相关性分析AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a与Th1、Th2、Th17和相关细胞因子及Th1/Th2/Th17的相关性。结果：AD组外周血miR-122a、miR-146a、Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平低于对照组,Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22水平高于对照组（P均＜0.05）。轻度组、中度组、重度组外周血miR-122a、miR-146a、Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平依次降低,Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22水平依次升高（P均＜0.05）。Pearson/Spearman相关性分析显示,AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a与Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平呈正相关（r/rs分别为0.679、0.677、0.684、0.706、0.693、0.689、0.671、0.694,P均＜0.001）,与Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22呈负相关（r/rs分别为-0.690、-0.680、-0.681、-0.669、-0.675、-0.676、-0.676、-0.686、-0.682、-0.674、-0.680、-0.689,P均＜0.001）。结论：AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a水平降低,与病情严重程度密切相关,可能通过调节Th1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡参与AD发生发展。     

慢性牙周炎合并2型糖尿病患者龈沟液miR-21、miR-34a表达水平与牙周指标和Th1/Th2/Th17失衡的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨慢性牙周炎（CP）合并2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者龈沟液微小核糖核酸（miR）-21、miR-34a表达水平与牙周指标和辅助性T细胞（Th）1/Th2/Th17失衡的关系。方法：选取2020年3月～2022年3月首都医科大学附属北京世纪坛医院口腔科收治的114例CP患者，根据是否合并T2DM分为CP合并T2DM组36例和单纯CP组78例，另选取60名健康体检者为对照组。对比三组牙周指标、龈沟液miR-21、miR-34a表达和外周血Th1、Th2、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17、血清Th1、Th2、Th17相关细胞因子水平，采用Spearman相关性分析CP合并T2DM患者龈沟液miR-21、miR-34a表达与牙周指标和外周血Th1、Th2、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17及其相关细胞因子水平的相关性。采用Pearson/Spearman相关性分析CP合并T2DM患者牙周指标与外周血Th1、Th2、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17及其相关细胞因子水平的相关性。结果：对照组、单纯CP组、CP合并T2DM组菌斑指数（PLI）、牙龈出血指数（BI）、附着丧失（AL）、探诊深度（PD）依次增加，龈沟液miR-21和外周血Th2及血清白细胞介素（IL）-2、干扰素-γ（INF-γ）依次降低，龈沟液miR-34a和外周血Th1、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17及血清IL-4、IL-10、IL-17、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）依次升高（P＜0.05）。Spearman相关性分析显示，CP合并T2DM患者龈沟液miR-21表达与PLI、BI、AL、PD和外周血Th1、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17及血清IL-4、IL-10、IL-17、TNF-α呈负相关，与外周血Th2和血清IL-2、INF-γ呈正相关（P＜0.05）；而miR-34a则与之相反。Pearson/Spearman相关性分析显示，CP合并T2DM患者PLI、BI、AL、PD与外周血Th1、Th17、Th1/Th2/Th17和血清IL-4、IL-10、IL-17、TNF-α呈正相关，与外周血Th2和血清IL-2、INF-γ呈负相关（P＜0.05）。结论：CP合并T2DM患者龈沟液miR-21低表达和miR-34a高表达，与牙周状况差有关，可能通过调节Th1/Th2/Th17失衡参与CP合并T2DM进展。     

白蚁与动物及微生物的共生类型及其机制

综述了白蚁螱客的主要种类、共生关系及相关机制的研究进展。白蚁螱客中,已报道的动物种类达170种。在与动物的共生关系中存在偏利共生（宾主共栖和异种共栖）、互利共生和无关共生三种;在与微生物的共生关系中,存在与内生菌（原生动物、细菌、真菌和放线菌）和外生菌（蚁巢伞菌等）间的互利关系。指出了白蚁与螱客研究中存在的问题,给出了解决方案,并提出了今后可能的研究热点或方向,为白蚁的综合利用（如纤维素酶）及今后研究物种间的协同进化提供了基础资料。     

New amino-dithiaphospholanes and phosphoramidodithioites and their rhodium and iridium complexes

New sulfur derivatives of phosphoramidite ligands were synthesized and the impact of the sulfur unit on the spectroscopic properties of their rhodium and iridium complexes was investigated. The new ligands Bn₂NPSCH₂CH₂S^a(P-S^a) (Bn = benzyl, 4), Bn₂NPSCHCHS^a(CH₂)₃C^aH₂(P-S^a)(C^a-S^a) (6) and Bn₂NP(4-XC₆H₄OMe)₂ (X = S, 7a; X = O, 7b) were converted to the rhodium and iridium complexes trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(L)₂] (L = 4, 6, 7), [RhCl(COD)(L)] (L = 4, 6, 7), [IrCl(COD)(7a)] and [IrCl₂Cp∗(6)]. For comparison, some phosphoramidite complexes of these formulations also were synthesized. The new metal complexes were spectroscopically analyzed. For the carbonyl complexes, the ν_CO IR stretching frequencies were lower than for the corresponding phosphite and phosphoramidite ligands. The ¹J_PRh coupling constants for the rhodium complexes with the new ligands were also smaller than for the respective phosphoramidite and phosphite complexes. Finally, the ¹J_PSe coupling constants of the selenides of the new ligands were lower than those of the phosphoramidite ligands but higher than for PPh₃. The spectroscopic data reveal that the new thio ligands 4, 6 and 7a are more electron donating than phosphites and phosphoramidites but less electron donating than PPh₃.     

Astrocytes and Synaptosomes Transport and Metabolize Lactate and Acetate Differently

Astrocytes transport the monocarboxylate acetate, but synaptosomes do not. The reason for this is unknown, because both preparations express monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The transport and metabolism of lactate, another monocarboxylate, was examined in these two preparations, and the results were compared to those for acetate. Lactate transport is more rapid in astrocytes than in synaptosomes, but of lower affinity (Kms of 17 and 4 mM, respectively). Lactate (0.2 mM) is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (rates of 0.37 and 0.07 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). The reason for this is unclear, but cellular differences in lactate dehydrogenase isotype expression may be involved. Acetate is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in astrocytes than in synaptosomes (rates of 0.43 and 0.02 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). This is likely due to cellular differences in the expression of monocarboxylate transporter subtypes.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.     

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in human iliac arteries with aging, the content of minerals was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bilateral common, internal, and external iliac arteries of 16 men and 8 women, ranging ages from 65 to 93 yr, were examined. It was found that an extremely high accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the common iliac artery at old age, being higher than that of the internal and external iliac arteries. It should be noted that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus is the highest in the common iliac artery among the human arteries examined to date. Regarding sexual differences, the content of calcium and phosphorus in the common and internal iliac arteries was higher in women than in men, whereas their content in the external iliac artery was lower in women than in men.     

Prostaglandin and thromboxane production by human and guinea-pig macrophages and leucocytes

The ability of partially purified human and guinea-pig haematogenous cell populations, when cultured in vitro, to metabolise arachidonic acid (AA) has been studied. Supernatants from 24 hour cell culture have been subjected to analysis for products of AA metabolism by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.The cell types studied were human peripheral blood monocytes (both glass adherent and non-adherent), neutrophils, eosinophils and leukemic leucocytes; thoracic duct lymphocytes and lung alveolar macrophages. From the guinea-pig, induced and non-induced macrophage or neutrophil enriched peritoneal exudate populations, lymph node cells, peritoneal eosinophils and peripheral blood platelets were examined. Supernatants were assayed for the presence of PGE₂, PGD₂, PGF_2α, TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α. In all types studied PGE₂ and TXB₂ were the major products formed. The identification of PGE₂ and TXB₂ was confirmed by GC/MS with multiple ion monitoring.The results have been compared with other reports and their possible significance discussed in relation to the proposed role of prostaglandins as mediators and modulators in immunopathology.     

Chemokines and cytokines: axis and allies in asthma and allergy

Allergic asthma can be precipitated by many factors. For the atopic person, fungus, pollen, dust mites, cockroach antigens, and diesel exhaust are all agents that may trigger an allergic attack. Cytokines and chemokines are integral mediators of fungal asthma. From the earliest time points, they recruit and activate the cells required for the clearance of fungus as well as being critical factors involved in the immunopathology of this disease. In the final analysis, it is clear that these mediators can act to the benefit or the detriment of the host.     

Oxidation and nitration of ribonuclease and lysozyme by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase

In spite of the many studies on protein modifications by reactive species, knowledge about the products resulting from the oxidation of protein-aromatic residues, including protein-derived radicals and their stable products, remains limited. Here, we compared the oxidative modifications promoted by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite in two model proteins, ribonuclease (6Tyr) and lysozyme (3Tyr/6Trp). The formation of protein-derived radicals and products was higher at pH 5.4 and 7.4 for myeloperoxidase and peroxynitrite, respectively. The main product was 3-nitro-Tyr for both proteins and oxidants. Lysozyme rendered similar yields of nitro-Trp, particularly when oxidized by peroxynitrite. Hydroxylated and dimerized products of Trp and Tyr were also produced, but in lower yields. Localization of the main modified residues indicates that peroxynitrite decomposes to radicals within the proteins behaving less specifically than myeloperoxidase. Nitrogen dioxide is emphasized as an important protein modifier.