Caffeine as a psychomotor stimulant: mechanism of action

The popularity of caffeine as a psychoactive drug is due to its stimulant properties, which depend on its ability to reduce adenosine transmission in the brain. Adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptors are expressed in the basal ganglia, a group of structures involved in various aspects of motor control. Caffeine acts as an antagonist to both types of receptors. Increasing evidence indicates that the psychomotor stimulant effect of caffeine is generated by affecting a particular group of projection neurons located in the striatum, the main receiving area of the basal ganglia. These cells express high levels of adenosine A_2A receptors, which are involved in various intracellular processes, including the expression of immediate early genes and regulation of the dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated 32-kDa phosphoprotein DARPP-32. The present review focuses on the effects of caffeine on striatal signal transduction and on their involvement in caffeine-mediated motor stimulation.Received 8 July 2003; received after revision 7 September 2003; accepted 6 October 2003     

七绝、文人竹枝词与客家山歌

七绝,本为来自民间的七言诗,经永明体而为近体诗之一种诗体;竹枝词,本为巴渝民歌,自刘禹锡以降．历代文人多有仿作,所仿作者为文人竹枝词;而客家山歌,则是自明清客家民系形成以来,至今犹传承于客地的鲜活民歌。从这三种诗歌中,可发现雅俗文学之间的交融、碰撞而嬗变的文学雅俗互动的有趣轨迹。     

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoded by hepatitis C virus: biomedical applications

The hepatitis C viruses (HCVs) are a group of small enveloped RNA viruses that have been viewed as a leading cause of chronic hepatitis in humans. Infections by HCV represent a serious global health problem, because millions of people worldwide are infected and no efficient treatment is available at the present time. Since HCV was identified in 1989, considerable effort has been devoted to the discovery and development of novel molecules to treat HCV-related diseases. One of the approaches is the development of novel inhibitors that interrupt the normal functions of HCV NS5B, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase essential to HCV replication. This review summarizes recent advances in the biochemical and structural understanding of HCV NS5B polymerase as well as in the development of antiviral agents targeting this important enzyme. Received 19 March 2002; received after revision 23 April 2002; accepted 23 April 2002     

与时俱进,继往开来:"三个代表"的理论品格

生产力观上的与时俱进、继往开来,文化观上的与时俱进、继往开来和人民利益观上的与时俱进、继往开来,是“三个代表”的理论品格。学习贯彻“三个代表”思想时,一定要把握其对马克思主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论既有继承又有发展,既有坚持又有创新的辩证关系。     

台湾企业管理伦理评述

东南亚国家和地区,特别是亚洲“四小龙”深受儒家文化的影响,儒家文化不仅没有妨碍其经济腾飞,相反,还由于有效地阻止了道德水平随着经济飞速增长沦丧而作出了积极贡献。因此,台湾企业管理伦理就表现出深厚的儒家文化色彩,在其管理思想中贯穿着“利、乐、和、安”的价值取向,并取得很大成功。台湾企业管理中的企业化理效益的发挥及成功为我国内地企业改革提供了有益的启示。其最大价值就在于它昭示国人要科学公正地对待祖国的传统文化。     

The mutator phenotype theory can explain the complex morphology and behaviour of cancers

Almost all solid malignancies exhibit complex cytological and architectural abnormalities, which vary from cell to cell and area to area within the same tumour, and between tumours of the same type. The degrees of these abnormalities do not correlate perfectly with the biological behaviour (especially growth rate and metastatic potential) among the various tumour types. These features of tumours have long been considered to invalidate simple mutational or 'abnormal gene expression' (epigenetic) theories of carcinogenesis. The 'mutator phenotype/clonal selection' hypothesis is based on the now well-established phenomenon of genetic instability of cancer cells, and proposes that this instability is an essential requirement for the development of tumours, and not an irrelevant side-effect of some other process. This paper argues that this hypothesis can provide a satisfactory explanation for the diverse histological and biological features of solid malignancies. Further, because virtually all solid tumours are histologically abnormal, genetic instability is likely to be essential for the malignant process. The concepts of mutator phenotype and clonal selection are therefore supported. Received 8 April 2002; accepted 25 April 2002     

The functions of mucosal T cells in containing the indigenous commensal flora of the intestine

There is an immense load of non-pathogenic commensal bacteria in the distal small intestine and the colon of mammals. The physical barrier that prevents penetration (translocation) of these organisms into the body is a simple epithelium comprised of the single enterocyte/colonocyte cell layer with its overlying mucus. In this review, we discuss the roles of intestinal T cells in initiating and regulating innate and adaptive mucosal immune responses of the mucosal immune system that avoid or limit penetration of the commensal intestinal bacteria. Received 9 August 2002; accepted 9 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

加强党的作风建设,努力探索党委领导下的校长负责制运行模式

党委领导下的校长负责制是我国现阶段高等学校的领导体制,新升格的高职应加强党的作风建 设,从领导班子建设、学风建设、制度建设、组织建设、民主建设和通过抓大事抓发展等工作树立党委威 信等方面入手,努力探索切合高职院实际的党委领导下的校长负责制的运行模式。     

CD1d and natural T cells: how their properties jump-start the immune system

Cellular and humoral immune mechanisms recruited to defend the host from infectious agents depend upon the early immune events triggered by antigen. The cytokine milieu within which the immune response matures is the most important of many factors that govern the nature of the immune response. Natural T cells, whose function is controlled by CD1d molecules, are an early source of cytokines that can bestow type 1 or type 2 differentiative potential upon helper T lymphocytes. This review attempts to illuminate the glycolipid antigen presentation properties of CD1d, how CD1d controls the function of natural T cells and how CD1d and natural T cells interact to jump start the immune system. CD1d is postulated to function as a sensor, sensing alterations in cellular lipid content by virtue of its affinity for such ligands. The presentation of a neo-self glycolipid, presumably by infectious assault of antigen-presenting cells, activates natural T cells, which promptly release pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and jumpstart the immune system. Received 10 July 2000; received after revision 16 October 2000, accepted 16 November 2000