Current views of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain comorbid depression - a review.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is defined as a pain directly caused by the abnormal somatosensory system in diabetics according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The pain has a great impact on the quality of life of diabetic patients. It results in a decline of patients' personal ability to live, which may even cause depression. Over time, the decline in both physical and psychosocial function caused by neuropathic pain may lead to further aggravation of depressive symptoms. This article mainly reviews the prevalence rate, medical expenditure, clinical characteristics, neurobiological features and the treatment of DPNP comorbidity depression, hoping to find the research directions for further study in the future.

[The application of medical alliance mode inexercise rehabilitation management of patients after percutaneous coronary interventioninchest paincenter].

Objective: To explore the comprehensive effect of exercise-based cardia crehabilitation in patients managed with medical alliance who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from Chest Pain Center. Methods: A total of 91 post PCI patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease were enrolled into the study. Fifty-four patients were in exercise rehabilitation group and 37 patients were in control group according to whether they were managed with medical alliance. Scores of Short Form -36 Health Survey (SF-36),qualified rate of blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipid and incidence of MACEs of patients were compared at discharge, 1 month after discharge and 3 months after discharge between two groups. Results: The qualified rate of blood lipid of patients in exercise rehabilitation group was significantly higher than that in control group 3 months after discharge (P<0.05). There was significant difference in Scores of physical functioning, role-physical (RP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role-emotional (RE), mental health (MH) and Quality of Life (QL) between the two groups 1 month after discharge(P<0.05)and there was significant difference in Scores of RP, GH, VT, SF, RE, MH and QL between the two groups 3 months after discharge(P<0.05). Conclusion: Medical alliance management has positive effects on patients who have undergone PCI from Chest Pain Center, improves the motor function and quality of life. Therefore, it is worthy of promotion with the support of the policy.

Transformation and allelic replacement in Francisella spp.

We describe methods for transposon mutagenesis and allelic replacement in the facultative intracellular pathogen Francisella. Recombinant clones were constructed by insertion of partially cut F. tularensis or F. novicida DNA into pUC19 and then mutagenized with a mini-Tn10-Km transposon. F. novicida could be transformed with these plasmids either by a chemical transformation method or by electroporation, whereas F. tularensis could be transformed only by electroporation. Transformation of F. tularensis by electroporation was enhanced in the absence of the capsule. Southern blot analysis showed that the KmR marker was rescued either by integration of the plasmid into the Francisella chromosome or by allelic replacement. Allelic replacement was found to be the mechanism underlying a site-specific mutation affecting FopA, an outer-membrane protein of Francisella. F. novicida could also be transformed with chromosomal DNA carrying the KmR marker and the transformation frequency obtained using chromosomal DNA was generally greater than that obtained using plasmid DNA. F. novicida was also transformed by an IncQ plasmid containing an F. novicida DNA insert, which replicated autonomously in this host.

Isolation and characterization of a novel endogenous inhibitor of the proteasome.

A novel endogenous inhibitor of the proteasome (high molecular weight multicatalytic protease) has been isolated and characterized from human erythrocytes. After purification by ion-exchange and sizing chromatography, the inhibitor displayed a native molecular mass of approximately 200 kDa and contained a single subunit of 50 kDa with an isoelectric point of 6.9. Although the inhibitor noncompetitively blocks proteolysis of [methyl-14C]-alpha-casein (Ki = 7.1 x 10(-8) M) and inhibits hydrolysis of Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC, it did not affect hydrolysis of other peptide substrates, such as MeOSuc-Phe-Leu-Phe-MNA and Z-Ala-Arg-Arg-MNA. To further characterize the 50-kDa inhibitor, a monoclonal antibody (MI-8) was generated that showed specific binding upon Western blot analysis of both native PAGE and SDS-PAGE. Immunoprecipitation with MI-8 specifically removed inhibitor activity against the proteasome. The 50-kDa inhibitor is distinct from a previously described 40-kDa inhibitor of the proteasome (Murakami, K., & Etlinger, J.D. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 7588-7592) on the basis of lack of cross-reactivity with MI-8 and dissimilar peptide digest patterns. It is suggested that these endogenous inhibitors may have a role in ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis and/or other cellular functions involving this protease.

The age-related decline in interleukin-3 expression in mice.

Spleen lymphocytes form 5- to 37-month-old C57BL/6J mice were stimulated by concanavalin A (con A) in vitro, and the interleukin-3 (IL-3) expression was assessed by measuring the IL-3 activity in culture supernatants and the cytoplasmic IL-3 mRNA levels. The activity and mRNA level of IL-3 was maximum at 20 hr after culturing in the presence of con A. The IL-3 activity in the culture supernatants and the IL-3 mRNA level in lymphocytes declined 70% to 80% between 5 and 37 months of age. Northern blot analysis revealed no change in the size of IL-3 mRNA between young and old mice. When the expression of IL-3 and interleukin-2 (IL-2) by con A-stimulated lymphocytes was compared, both interleukins showed a similar declined with age.

Effect of age and dietary restriction on the expression of alpha 2u-globulin.

The effect of aging on the expression of alpha 2u-globulin was studied in liver tissue from 6-30-month-old male Fischer F344 rats. The synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin by suspensions of isolated hepatocytes decreased 90% between 6 and 22 months of age. The levels of alpha 2u-globulin mRNA and the transcription of alpha 2u-globulin genes by isolated liver nuclei decreased 80-85% between 5 and 24 months of age. Because alpha 2u-globulin has been suggested to be a "senescence marker protein," the expression of alpha 2u-globulin was measured in rats fed a diet restricted in calories. This dietary restriction procedure has been shown to increase significantly the longevity of rodents. The expression of alpha 2u-globulin was compared in liver tissue from 18-month-old rats fed ad libitum and a restricted diet (40% restriction of total calories). The synthesis, mRNA levels, and transcription of alpha 2u-globulin were 1.8-3-fold higher for liver tissue from restricted rats compared to liver tissue from rats fed ad libitum. Therefore, dietary restriction alters the age-related change in the expression of alpha 2u-globulin. Our results demonstrate that the changes in alpha 2u-globulin expression that arise during aging or dietary restriction are regulated at the level of transcription.

DNA fragments of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus containing the promoters active in prokaryotes.

Using a promoter probe plasmid in E. coli called pHE5, eight different HindIII and one SalI DNA fragments of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, directing the expression of the tetracycline resistance gene, have been cloned and isolated. The tetracycline resistance levels of the strains containing the recombinant plasmids were measured. Among them, the highest level of the resistance to tetracycline was 30 micrograms/ml. Part of the nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment was determined. A sequence similar to the E. coli promoter was found.

The polyhedrin gene of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

Cloned SalI fragments of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmSNPV) DNA were screened with the polyhedrin gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus as a probe. One positive clone, pBN61, with an insert of 1.65 Kb, was obtained. The HindIII, HpaII and AluI maps of the insert were constructed. Part of its nucleotide sequence has been determined. The 46 amino acid sequence, as determined from the nucleotide sequence, was compared with the reported sequence of BmSNPV polyhedrin. Only one amino acid difference has been found. It is likely that clone pBN61 contains the whole BmSNPV polyhedrin gene.