Evidence of impaired pain modulation in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and chronic back pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Although 40% of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients present with chronic back pain, the pathophysiology and underlying pain mechanisms remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that development of chronic pain syndrome in AIS is associated with alterations in pain modulatory mechanisms.

肛直肠抑制反射时门静脉血中P物质变化

目的探讨肛直肠抑制反射（RAIR）时门静脉血中P物质（SP）的变化规律及外源性内脏神经对其变化的影响。方法将实验大白鼠分为7组，其中6组先按去与不去直肠肛管外源性内脏神经支配而分为不去神经和去神经两大组，每组中又按Foley导管上气囊置入直肠腔中的位置分为2、4、6cm组；同时再设1个对照组，将Foley导管置入直肠腔中，但不注水扩张球囊。检测并比较在直肠腔内刺激后，各组门静脉血中的SP值及变化情况。结果去神经组中2、4cm组与不去神经组之间及对照组之间，门静脉血中SP值变化比较，P〉0．05，差异无统计学意义。不去神经组中的6cm组与对照组及去神经组中2cm和4cm组之间SP值比较，P〈0．01，差异有统计学意义；去神经组和不去神经组中的6cm组之间SP值比较，P〈0．01，差异有统计学意义。结论直肠腔内上部的刺激不引出RAIR可能与该部位的刺激使内括约肌兴奋性递质（SP）的释放有关；外源性内脏神经对RAIR中门静脉血的SP变化有调控作用。     

联合菌苗抗肿瘤作用的初步探讨

目的 :探讨联合菌苗防治肿瘤的作用。方法采用动物体内实验 ,动物为封闭群KM小鼠 ,菌株为 2 6 0 0 3- 2 1、4 482 4 - 3及 932 0 1- 3,瘤种为S180 。所有实验小鼠接种S180 后 ,按随机对照试验设计分成 5组 ,即三个不同的单价菌苗组、一个联合菌苗组及一个对照组 ,同期观察联合菌苗对S180 增长的影响。结果 :三个不同的单价菌苗组及联合菌苗组的平均瘤重均比对照组低 ,联合菌苗组的平均瘤重比单价菌苗组的更低 ,差异均有高度统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1～ 0 .0 0 1) ;三个不同单价菌苗组的抑瘤率分别为 5 0 .6 %、4 8.3%、4 5 .5 % ,联合菌苗组抑瘤率为 75 .0 %。结论 :实验所选用的菌苗能抑制S180 的增长 ,联合菌苗的效果更好     

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor exhibits hypocalcemic effects in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) is a novel secreted protein that inhibits osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of OCIF on serum calcium (Ca) concentrations in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In normal mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF reduced serum Ca levels in a dose-dependent manner. Significant decrease in serum Ca (by 1.6 ± 0.3 mg/dL, n = 5) was observed 2 h after the injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg and the hypocalcemic effect continued for up to 12 h. Serum phosphate (Pi) concentrations also decreased in response to OCIF. Urinary excretion of Ca, Pi, and creatinine did not change significantly after injection of OCIF or vehicle. In hypercalcemic, tumor-bearing nude mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg resulted in a dramatic decrease in serum Ca (maximal decrease 2.8 ± 0.37 mg/dL, n = 11), which continued for up to 24 h. The results suggest that OCIF decreased serum Ca through its inhibitory effect on bone resorption. Furthermore, it is suggested that OCIF has therapeutic potential for the treatment of hypercalcemic conditions such as malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.     

Modulating effects of posttraining epinephrine on memory: Involvement of the amygdala noradrenergic system

These experiments examined the effects, on retention, of posttraining intra-amygdala administration of norepinephrine (NE), and propranolol. Rats were trained on a one-trial step-through inhibitory avoidance task and tested for retention 24 h later. Injections were administered bilaterally (1.0 microliter/injection) through chronically-implanted cannulae. Low doses of NE (0.1 or 0.3 microgram) administered shortly after training enhanced retention while higher doses (1.0 or 5.0 micrograms) were ineffective. Retention was not affected by NE administered 3 h after training. The effect of intra-amygdala NE on retention is blocked by simultaneous administration of propranolol (0.2 microgram). This finding suggests that the memory-enhancing effect of NE may be mediated by beta-receptors. Posttraining intra-amygdala NE also attenuated the retention deficit produced by adrenal demedullation. Further, intra-amygdala injections of propranolol (0.2 microgram) blocked the enhancing effect, on retention, of posttraining s.c. injections of epinephrine. These findings suggest that activation of noradrenergic receptors in the amygdala may be involved in memory processing and may play a role in the memory-modulating effect of peripheral epinephrine.     

Clinical experience with the use of rhG‐CSF in secondary autoimmune neutropenia

This paper outlines the impact of granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) used as a single modality therapy in 17 patients with secondary autoimmune neutropenia (S‐AIN) who had been treated a multiple number of times previously. Fifteen of these patients had demonstrable antineutrophil antibodies and two had cellular S‐AIN with haemopoietic inhibitory T‐cells present in the marrow. Prior to treatment, all had had problems with infection. All patients responded within 7 days of commencement of treatment. Provided G‐CSF neutrophil counts were maintained above 1 × 10⁹/l, no further infections occurred. This was achievable by using G‐CSF administered as infrequently as once every 8 days. Eight of the 17 patients remained on G‐CSF, although five switched to the glycosylated form because of side‐effects. None have developed osteoporosis despite 47.29 patient years of total experience with G‐CSF. In conclusion both glycosylated and nonglycosylated G‐CSF can be used effectively in treating AIN on a long‐term basis.     

P物质抑制剂辣椒素和bFGF抗体对增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖协同抑制作用的实验研究

目的：探讨P物质抑制剂-辣椒素及bFGF抗体单独或联合使用对体外培养的人体增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖的影响。方法：体外培养12例增生性瘢痕组织的成纤维细胞,分别加入不同浓度的辣椒素或/和bFGF抗体,培养24h后观察细胞形态学变化,并用MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率。结果：所有不同浓度的辣椒素（2.5,5,20,40,60,80mg/L）均能使细胞皱缩、坏死,抑制细胞增殖,其抑制作用随剂量增大而增加。中高浓度bFGF抗体（40,80mg/L）也可促使细胞皱缩、坏死,抑制细胞增殖,其抑制作用也随剂量增大而增加。辣椒素与bFGF抗体联合应用对成纤维细胞抑制作用较单独使用效果更显著（P﹤0.05）。结论：辣椒素及bFGF抗体可抑制增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞增殖,其抑制作用随浓度增加而增加,两者联合使用有协调作用,本研究结果可能在增生性瘢痕的治疗提供新的思路和手段。     

Synaptic organization of cortico-cortical connections from the primary visual cortex to the posteromedial lateral suprasylvian visual area in the cat

The synaptic organization of the projection from the cat striate visual cortex to the posteromedial lateral suprasylvian cortical area (PMLS) was examined. The anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) was iontophorectically delivered into area 17, and anterogradely labeled fibers were revealed in PMLS by means of an immunocytochemical detection method. Most axons and presumptive terminal swellings were found in layers III and IV. The neuronal elements (n = 190) that were postsynaptic to anterogradely labeled boutons were quantitatively analyzed. All anterogradely labeled cortico-cortical boutons (n = 182) established type 1 synapses. The results show that 83% of the postsynaptic targets were dendritic spines, probably belonging to pyramidal cells. Dendritic shafts constituted 17% of the targets. The dendritic shafts postsynaptic to cortico-cortical boutons were studied for the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with a postembedding immunogold method. Most dendritic shafts (85%) that were tested were found to be GABA-positive, demonstrating that they originate from local inhibitory neurons. Taking into account that most postsynaptic targets were spines and extending the results of the immunocytochemical testing to the total population of postsynaptic dendrites, it was calculated that at least 14% of targets originated from GABA-positive cells. Thus cortico-cortical axons establish direct monosynpatic connections mainly with pyramidal and to a lesser extent with GABAergic nonpyramidal neurons in area PMLS, providing both feedforward excitation and feedforward inhibition to a visual associational area known to be involved in the processing of motion information. The results are consistent with previously demonstrated deficits in physiological properties of neurons in PMLS following removal of cortico-cortical afferents.     

蜂王浆冻干粉对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用

目的研究蜂王浆冻干粉对小鼠肿瘤的抑制作用.方法按每公斤体重0g、0.25g、0.50g、0.75g设对照及低、中、高3个剂量组,经口给予蜂王浆冻干粉30d后,接种小鼠肉瘤180(S180)和艾氏癌腹水型(EAC)两个瘤种.结果在两次重复的小鼠S180和EAC抑瘤试验中发现中剂量组瘤重明显低于阴性对照组(P<0.05),抑制率可达34%;中剂量组荷瘤小鼠平均生存时间均明显高于对照组(P<0.05).结论蜂王浆冻干粉具有抑制肿瘤的作用.     

Synaptic reorganization in the medial amygdaloid nucleus after lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb of adult rat. II. New synapse formation in the medial amygdaloid nucleus by fibers from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The rearrangement of terminations from the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST) was examined in the medial amygdaloid nucleus (MAN) at 2 months following the lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) using an electron microscopy and degeneration study. At 2 days following a BST lesion, the number of degenerating synapses was 0.7 ± 0.1 (mean±S.E.M.) per unit area (2500 μm² in the molecular layer, and 3/0 ± 0.3 in the cellular part. At 2 months after an AOB lesion, the degenerating synapses from the AOB had completely disappeared from the MAN. The BST was then lesioned at 2 months after the AOB lesion and, 2 days following this BST lesion, the degenerating synapses were counted in MAN. The numbers observed were 3.3 ± 0.6 per unit area in the molecular layer and 4.5 ± 0.4 in the cellular part. Therefore, the number of these degenerating synapses increased significantly within the molecular layer, though, in the cellular part the number of synapses was not significantly elevated over control. No differences in postsynaptic profiles (ratio of synapses on dendritic spine to dendritic shaft) were observed after the AOB lesion. These results indicate that the BST fibers formed new synapses in the molecular layer following the denervation of AOB fibers. The possibility of new synapse formation by other afferent fibers in addition to the AOB fibers is discussed as is the relationship between lesion induced synaptic reorganization and functional recovery after injury.