腹部消化器官病变部位与两类腹痛部位的关系

目的:探讨腹部消化器官疾病所致内脏痛及腹膜痛的部位与病变部位的关系.方法:收集1226例有腹痛表现的腹部消化器官疾病患者的临床资料,分别统计分析内脏痛部位及腹膜痛部位与内脏病变部位的关系.结果:内脏痛平面与病变内脏起源的原肠的平面呈正相关(rs=0.87,P<0.01).腹膜痛最先出现或最明显的部位与病变内脏的解剖部位一致(=0.96,P<0.01).结论:腹部消化器官疾病所致内脏痛及腹膜痛的部位均与病变部位显著相关.依据腹痛部位定位诊断,需要分清腹痛类型,分别根据内脏痛及腹膜痛部位推测病变内脏的胚胎起源及解剖部位.     

三种方法测定碱性磷酸酶对肝疾病的诊断价值

目的研究血清碱性磷酸酶检测临床肝疾病时的方法学,提高临床诊断价值。方法收集临床不同肝疾病病人的血清,分别用3种方法测定其碱性磷酸酶的活性,并与健康对照组比较作诊断性能分析。结果各肝疾病组血清碱性磷酸酶的活性与对照组相比有极显著差异（P〈0．001）;3种方法分别测定各组之闻的血清碱性磷酸酶活性无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。2．乙基氨基乙醇、2-氨基-2-甲基-1-丙醇、二乙醇胺3种缓冲液测定试剂盒方法测定的灵敏度分别为55．20％、47．96％、51．13％,特异度分别为100％、100％、93．75％。结论血清碱性磷酸酶可以作为各类肝病的临床诊断指标;对肝疾病血清碱性磷酸酶测定用2,乙基氨基乙醇缓冲液的试剂方法测定效果较好。     

Functions and pathologies of BiP and its interaction partners

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in a variety of essential and interconnected processes in human cells, including protein biogenesis, signal transduction, and calcium homeostasis. The central player in all these processes is the ER-lumenal polypeptide chain binding protein BiP that acts as a molecular chaperone. BiP belongs to the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family and crucially depends on a number of interaction partners, including co-chaperones, nucleotide exchange factors, and signaling molecules. In the course of the last five years, several diseases have been linked to BiP and its interaction partners, such as a group of infectious diseases that are caused by Shigella toxin producing E. coli. Furthermore, the inherited diseases Marinesco-Sj?gren syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, Wolcott-Rallison syndrome, and several cancer types can be considered BiP-related diseases. This review summarizes the physiological and pathophysiological characteristics of BiP and its interaction partners. Received 20 November 2008; received after revision 09 December 2008; accepted 12 December 2008     

Transient and constitutive repression of cytoplasmic translation signaling in cells with mtDNA mutation

Cytoplasmic translation is under sophisticated control but how cells adapt its rate to constitutive loss of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is unknown. Here we show that translation is repressed in cells with the pathogenic A3243G mtDNA mutation or in mtDNA-less ρ⁰ cells by at least two distinct pathways, one transiently targeting elongation factor eEF-2 and the other initiation factor eIF-2α constitutively. Under conditions of exponential cell growth and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, eEF-2 becomes transiently phosphorylated by an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent pathway, especially high in mutant cells. Independent of AMPK and mTOR, eIF-2α is constitutively phosphorylated in mutant cells, likely a signature of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress response induced by the loss of oxidative phosphorylation. While the AMPK/eEF-2K/eEF-2 pathway appears to function in adaptation to physiological fluctuations in ATP levels in the mutant cells, the ER stress signified by constitutive protein synthesis inhibition through eIF-2α-mediated repression of translation initiation may have pathobiochemical consequences. Received 29 October 2008; received after revision 11 December 2008; accepted 16 December 2008     

The trefoil factor family – small peptides with multiple functionalities

The trefoil factor family (TFF) comprises a group of small peptides which are highly expressed in tissues containing mucus-producing cells – especially in the mucosa lining the gastrointestinal tract. The peptides seem crucial for epithelial restitution and may work via other pathways than the conventional factors involved in restitution. In vitro studies have shown that the TFFs promote restitution using multiple mechanisms. The peptides also have other functionalities including interactions with the immune system. Moreover, therapeutic effects of the TFFs have been shown in several animal models of gastrointestinal damage. Still it is not clear which of their in vitro properties are involved in the in vivo mode of action. This review describes the TFF family with emphasis on their biological properties and involvement in mucosal protection and repair. Received 10 October 2008; received after revision 07 November 2008; accepted 10 November 2008     

HLA高分辨等位基因多态性及单倍体与广西汉族终末期肾病易感性的相关性分析

为研究广西汉族终末期肾病(End Stage Renal Disease, ESRD)与人类白细胞抗原(Human Leukocyte Antigen, HLA)等位基因及单倍体的关联性,本研究采用聚合酶链反应-序列特异性寡核苷酸(Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Oligonucleotides, PCR-SSO)技术对广西汉族578例终末期肾病患者(ESRD组)进行HLA-A、B和DRB1基因分型,HLA等位基因频率用直接计数法来计算,采用Arlequin 3.5.2.2软件计算单倍型频率,并与1 644例广西汉族健康造血干细胞捐献者(对照组)比较。结果显示,ESRD组HLA-A*11:01、A*02:01、B*13:01、DRB1*12:02、DRB1*04:05、DRB1*14:54和DRB1*11:01的基因频率大于对照组(P<0.05),HLA-A*11:02、A*30:01、A*32:01、B*13:02、B*07:02、DRB1*07:01和DRB1*13:02的基因频率小于对照组(P<0.05)。ESR...     

Liver X receptors in cardiovascular and metabolic disease

Liver X receptors (LXRs) α and β are nuclear oxysterol receptors and metabolic sensors initially found to regulate cholesterol metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. Recent studies have elucidated the importance of LXR in the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. LXR agonists prevent development of atherosclerosis by modulation of metabolic as well as inflammatory gene expression in rodent models. Moreover, LXR activation inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and lowers serum glucose levels, indicating possible application of LXR activation in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, first-generation LXR agonists elevate hepatic and serum trigylceride levels, making subtype-specific agonists and selective LXR modulators rather than unselective LXR agonists a potential pharmacological strategy. This review summarizes the multiple physiological and pathophysiological implications of LXRs and observations that identify LXRs as potential targets for therapeutic interventions in human cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Received 30 August 2005; received after revision 10 October 2005; accepted 4 November 2005     

Sialic acid-specific lectins: occurrence, specificity and function

Sialic acids consist of a family of acidic ninecarbon sugars that are typically located at the terminal positions of a variety of glycoconjugates. Naturally occurring sialic acids show an immense diversity of structure, and this reflects their involvement in a variety of biologically important processes. One such process involves the direct participation of sialic acids in recognition events through specific interactions with lectins, a family of proteins that recognise and bind sugars. This review will present a detailed overview of our current knowledge regarding the occurrence, specificity and function of sialic acid-specific lectins, particularly those that occur in viruses, bacteria and non-vertebrate eukaryotes. Received 13 December 2005; received after revision 9 February 2006; accepted 15 February 2006     

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β and Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiological and therapeutic significance

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Several studies have implicated molecular and cellular signaling cascades involving the serine-threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase β(GSK-3β) in the pathogenesis of AD. GSK-3β may play an important role in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, the two classical pathological hallmarks of AD. In this review, we discuss the interaction between GSK-3β and several key molecules involved in AD, including the presenilins, amyloid precursor protein, tau, and β-amyloid. We identify the signal transduction pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD, including Wnt, Notch, and the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway. These may be potential therapeutic targets in AD. Received 19 December 2005; received after revision 24 January 2006; accepted 6 February 2006     

Phytanic acid: production from phytol, its breakdown and role in human disease

Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid that accumulates in a variety of metabolic disorders. High levels of phytanic acid found in patients can exceed the millimolar range and lead to severe symptoms. Degradation of phytanic acid takes place by α-oxidation inside the peroxisome. A deficiency of its breakdown, leading to elevated levels, can result from either a general peroxisomal dysfunction or from a defect in one of the enzymes involved in α-oxidation. Research on Refsum disease, belonging to the latter group of disorders and characterized by a deficiency of the first enzyme of α-oxidation, has extended our knowledge of phytanic acid metabolism and pathology of the disease greatly over the past few decades. This review will centre on this research on phytanic acid: its origin, the mechanism by which its α-oxidation takes place, its role in human disease and the way it is produced from phytol. Received 4 October 2005; received after revision 24 February 2006; accepted 26 April 2006