骨形成蛋白(BMP)-2/4，-5与IA型BMP受体在口腔正常上皮、良性病变及癌变中的表达分析

认识BMP及其受体与口腔正常上皮及其癌变的关系。有助于深入了解口腔上皮癌变的机理。本文用免疫组织化学方法对BMP-2/4,-5与BMPR-IA在口腔颊部粘膜正常上皮,良性病变和癌变中的表达进行观察和半定量分析。标本包括：9例正常上皮（normal buccal muosa,NB)。8例慢性炎症（nonspecific chronic inflammation,NCI),7例过度角化（hyperkeratosis,HK)。5例乳头状瘤（squamous cell papilloma,SCP)。29例鳞癌（squamous cell carcinoma,SCC)。10例癌旁上皮（epithelium immediately adjacent to carcinoma,EAC)以及6例硬腭粘膜上皮（normal mucosa of hard palate,NHP）。结果显示：BMP-2/4,-5与BMPR-IA在口腔粘膜的正常与良性病变上皮中有弱的和不均一的阳性表达,NB与NHP无明显差别,而除3例SCC外,其它SCC几乎均有程度不一的阳性表达,在EAC中的表达接近于SCC,二者明显高于正常与良性组,此外,转移在淋巴结中的癌细胞的BMP-2/4与BMP-5阳性程度略高于原发灶的癌细胞,本文认为;BMP-2/4,5与BMPR-IA可能参与调控口腔上皮的癌变。     

Metabolic syndrome and endothelial fibrinolytic capacity in obese adults

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) often accompanies obesity and contributes to the increased risk of atherothrombotic events with increased body fatness. Indeed, the risks for coronary artery disease and acute vascular events are greater with obesity combined with MetS compared with obesity alone. Endothelial release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a key defense mechanism against thrombosis and has been shown to be impaired with obesity. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the presence of MetS exacerbates endothelial fibrinolytic dysfunction in obese adults. Net endothelial release of t-PA was determined in vivo in response to intrabrachial infusions of bradykinin and sodium nitroprusside in 47 sedentary adults: 15 normal weight (age 57 +/- 2 yr; body mass index 22.9 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2)), 14 obese but otherwise healthy (55 +/- 1 yr; 29.4 +/- 0.3 kg/m(2)), and 18 obese with MetS (55 +/- 2 yr; 32.3 +/- 1 kg/m(2)). MetS was established according to National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III criteria. Net release of t-PA antigen to bradykinin was approximately 50% lower (P < 0.01) in the obese (from 2.5 +/- 1.9 to 37.1 +/- 5.3 ng.100 ml tissue(-1).min(-1)) and obese with MetS (from 0.4 +/- 0.8 to 32.5 +/- 3.8 ng.100 ml tissue(-1).min(-1)) compared with normal-weight (from 0.9 +/- 1.0 to 74.3 +/- 8.1 ng.100 ml tissue(-1).min(-1)) subjects. However, there were no significant differences in the capacity of the endothelium to release t-PA in the obese and obese with MetS adults. These results indicate that the presence of the MetS does not worsen the obesity-related endothelial fibrinolytic dysfunction.     

Constitutive expression of IL-22 in the human intervertebral disc and its reduction by exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro

The importance of cytokines in disc degeneration is well recognized. Little is known about IL-22 expression in the human intervertebral disc. We investigated IL-22 immuno-localization in disc tissue, and molecular expression and production of IL-22 by annulus cells cultured in three-dimensional (3D) culture. We examined human disc tissue using immunohistochemistry and we cultured isolated annulus cells in 3D to analyze IL-22 expression and production, and its receptor, IL-22R, in conditioned media. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) also was used to identify significant gene expression networks within the molecular data. IL-22 and IL-22R were immunolocalized in many cells in the human outer and inner annulus; fewer cells exhibited localization in the nucleus. Three-dimensional culture of annulus cells demonstrated production of IL-22 in conditioned media; exposure to IL-1ß or TNF-α significantly reduced IL-22 levels. Significant decreases also were identified in conditioned media assayed for IL-22R in TNF-α treated cells. IPA analysis showed that IL-22 ranked among the top canonical pathways. We found constitutive expression and production of IL-22 and IL-22R in the disc, which expands our understanding of the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on IL-22 expression and production. Three-dimensional cultured annulus cells exposed to IL-1ß or TNF produced significantly lower levels of IL-22 into their conditioned media compared to levels produced by control cells. Our findings have clinical relevance because of the elevated pro-inflammatory milieu within the degenerating human disc.     

Endothelial t-PA release is impaired in overweight and obese adults but can be improved with regular aerobic exercise

Endothelial release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) regulates fibrinolysis and is considered to be a primary endogenous defense mechanism against thrombosis. Adiposity is associated with an increased risk of atherothrombotic events. We determined the influence of overweight and obesity on the capacity of the vascular endothelium to release t-PA and the effects of regular aerobic exercise on endothelial t-PA release in previously sedentary overweight and obese adults. First, we studied 66 sedentary adults: 28 normal-weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2); 22 overweight (BMI > or = 25 and < 30 kg/m2); and 16 obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2). Net endothelial t-PA release was determined in vivo in response to intrabrachial infusions of bradykinin (BK) and sodium nitroprusside. Second, we studied 17 overweight and obese adults who completed a 3-mo aerobic exercise intervention. Net release of t-PA in response to BK was approximately 45% lower (P < 0.01) in overweight (from 0.1 +/- 0.4 to 41.7 +/- 4.9 ng x 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1)) and obese (-0.1 +/- 0.6 to 47.7 +/- 5.2 ng x 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1)) compared with normal-weight (0.1 +/- 0.8 to 77.5 +/- 6.7 ng x 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1)) adults. There was no difference in t-PA release between the overweight and obese groups. Exercise training significantly increased t-PA release capacity in overweight and obese adults (from -0.3 +/- 0.5 to 37.1 +/- 4.9 ng x 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1) before training vs. 1.0 +/- 0.9 to 65.4 +/- 6.3 ng x 100 ml tissue(-1) x min(-1) after training) to levels comparable with those of their normal-weight peers. These results indicate that overweight and obesity are associated with profound endothelial fibrinolytic dysfunction. Importantly, however, regular aerobic exercise can increase the capacity of the endothelium to release t-PA in this at-risk population.     

Arterial intima-media thickness: site-specific associations with HRT and habitual exercise

We determined the site-specific relations of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and habitual exercise status with intima-media thickness (IMT) in both elastic (carotid) and muscular (femoral) arteries in 77 healthy postmenopausal women: 43 women were sedentary (20 no-HRT and 23 HRT users) and 34 women were endurance trained (14 no-HRT and 20 HRT users). Femoral IMT was not different among the sedentary HRT and endurance-trained no-HRT and HRT groups, but was lower (P < 0.005) in these three groups than in the sedentary no-HRT women. There were no significant group differences in carotid IMT. However, in older women (> or =65 yrs) carotid IMT was smaller (P < 0.05) in HRT compared with no-HRT women. We conclude that both endurance training and HRT status are independently associated with a smaller IMT and these effects are evident primarily in muscular arteries. These results suggest that HRT and habitual exercise may protect postmenopausal women against cardiovascular disease through influences on IMT. The site-specific relations may be due to a greater number of smooth muscle cells and plasticity of muscular arteries compared with elastic arteries and/or differences in heterogeneous influences such as metabolic requirements and hydrostatic pressures.     

Ethnobiology of snappers (Lutjanidae): target species and suggestions for management

In this study, we sought to investigate the biology (diet and reproduction) and ethnobiology (fishers knowledge and fishing spots used to catch snappers) of five species of snappers (Lutjanidae), including Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus synagris, Lutjanus vivanus, Ocyurus chrysurus, and Romboplites saliens at five sites along the northeast (Riacho Doce, Maceió in Alagoas State, and Porto do Sauípe, Entre Rios at Bahia State) and the southeast (SE) Brazilian coast (Paraty and Rio de Janeiro cities at Rio de Janeiro State, and Bertioga, at São Paulo State.). We collected 288 snappers and interviewed 86 fishermen. The stomach contents of each fish were examined and macroscopic gonad analysis was performed. Snappers are very important for the fisheries of NE Brazil, and our results indicated that some populations, such as mutton snapper (L. analis) and lane snapper (L. synagris), are being caught when they are too young, at early juvenile stages. Local knowledge has been shown to be a powerful tool for determining appropriate policies regarding management of target species, and artisanal fishermen can be included in management processes. Other suggestions for managing the fisheries are discussed, including proposals that could provide motivation for artisanal fishermen to participate in programs to conserve resources, such as co-management approaches that utilize local knowledge, the establishment of fishing seasons, and compensation of fishermen, through 'payment for environmental services'. These suggestions may enhance the participation of local artisanal fishermen in moving to a more realistic and less top-down management approach of the fish population.