Local Suppression of Epileptiform Activity by Electrical Stimulation in Rat Hippocampus In Vitro

High frequency electrical stimulation of deep brain structures (DBS) has been effective at controlling abnormal neuronal activity in Parkinson's patients and is now being applied for the treatment of pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DBS are unknown. In particular, the effect of the electrical stimulation on neuronal firing remains poorly understood. Previous reports have showed that uniform electric fields with both AC (continuous sinusoidal) or DC waveforms could suppress epileptiform activity in vitro . In the present study, we tested the effects of monopolar electrode stimulation and low-duty cycle AC stimulation protocols, which more closely approximate those used clinically, on three in vitro epilepsy models. Continuous sinusoidal stimulation, 50 % duty-cycle sinusoidal stimulation, and low (1.68 %) duty-cycle pulsed stimulation (120 μs, 140 Hz) could completely suppress spontaneous low-Ca²⁺ epileptiform activity with average thresholds of 71.11 ± 26.16 μA, 93.33 ± 12.58 μA and 300 ± 100 μA, respectively. Continuous sinusoidal stimulation could also completely suppress picrotoxin- and high-K⁺-induced epileptiform activity with either uniform or localized fields. The suppression generated by the monopolar electrode was localized to a region surrounding the stimulation electrode. Potassium concentration and transmembrane potential recordings showed that AC stimulation was associated with an increase in extracellular potassium concentration and neuronal depolarization block; AC stimulation efficacy was not orientation-selective. In contrast, DC stimulation blocked activity by membrane hyperpolarization and was orientation-selective, but had a lower threshold for suppression.     

基于曲面拟合法的肝脏超声成像仿真数学建模

目的研究虚拟人体器官三维影像轮廓的计算机仿真建模。方法以肝脏虚拟影像轮廓的三维数学建模为例，以人体肝脏的声阻二维分布为依据，应用曲面拟合的数值方法进行研究。结果计算机仿真证明了该建模方法的正确性和有效性。结论人体器官的虚拟超声成像是医学超声仿真系统的一项关键技术，在医务人员上岗培训中具有重要的意义。该文所提出的数学建模方法对于虚拟器官三维影像轮廓的仿真切实可行。     

Influx of leukocytes and platelets in an evolving brain infarct (Wistar rat).

The results of several experimental studies of focal ischemia and anecdotal observations suggest that leukocytes may contribute to the injury initiated by an arterial occlusion. The timing and the nature of leukocyte responses in evolving brain infarcts (either human or experimental) are incompletely characterized. This is a study of experimental brain lesions in 96 Wistar rats that underwent occlusion of a large intracranial artery for variable intervals ranging between 30 minutes and 7 days. The experimental model, based on the occlusion of a middle cerebral artery ostium via the insertion of a nylon monofilament through the external carotid artery, does not require opening the skull; therefore, the inflammatory response is not influenced by the effects of craniotomy and changes in intracranial pressure are only those induced by the ischemic lesion. All 96 animals having the same type of arterial occlusion developed an ischemic brain lesion (limited to the territory of the corresponding artery) that evolved into an area of extensive neuronal necrosis over a period of 6 to 12 hours followed by pan-necrosis (infarct) approximately 60 hours later. In this study, leukocytes (in particular polymorphonuclear cells) were detected in the microvessels (capillaries and venules) of the ischemic hemisphere as early as 30 minutes after the arterial occlusion. Numbers of intravascular neutrophils peaked at 12 hours, whereas intraparenchymal granulocytes were most numerous at 24 hours; a few granulocytes were visible in the brain infarct as late as day 7. Circulating monocytes were first detected within the capillaries/venules of the ischemic area after 4 to 6 hours. Platelet aggregates were more abundant in the arterial than the venous side of the circulation, and luminal obstruction of arteries by platelet aggregates became noticeable only 48 hours after the arterial occlusion. Fibrin thrombi were conspicuous for their absence. These observations provide the background for studies that will attempt to unravel the relationship between the biological responses of leukocytes and neuronal necrosis secondary to focal ischemia.     

The effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on human endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors after one year of use

Thirty-four women bearing a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, 20 micrograms/day (LNG-IUD-20), for 12-15 months were recruited. Endometrial biopsies were collected during the late proliferative phase of the cycle (on cycle days 10-12) before (control) and after the use of the IUD for 12 months, and assayed for oestrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). An immunohistochemical technique with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase detection system (PAP method) was employed. D75 and JZB39 were the primary antibodies for ER and PR respectively. The immunostaining semiquantitative analysis was performed with a computerized microscope image processor, and expressed as 'grey value'. Both endometrial ER and PR populations were significantly lower after insertion of the IUD (P < 0.01) than in control biopsies. The intensity of nuclear staining and the percentage of positively stained cells for ER and PR in women with LNG-IUD were each about 50% of those in control biopsies. The results suggested that LNG released locally from the IUD has a depressive action on the ER and PR, which may contribute to the contraceptive effectiveness of this type of IUD and also to the possible causes of LNG-IUD-induced irregular bleeding and amenorrhoea.     

IL-1α及LPS 刺激Caco-2细胞防御素表达的差异性

目的 比较细胞因子及LPS组对Caco-2细胞防御素表达的差别。方法用LPS和rhIL-1α刺激Caco-2细胞，采用半定量RT-PCR技术观察防御素HD-5、HD-6、hBD-1和hBD-2 mRNA的表达差异。结果经IL-1α刺激后，hBD-1的表达量有所增加，同时hBD-2、HD-5和HD-6也能表达；但LPS刺激后，hBD-1的表达量增加不明显，HD-5、HD-6和hBD-2仍未表达。结论Caco-2细胞对LPS的刺激产生“哑”反应，推测肠上皮对LPS存在一定的适应性，这对维持一定的正常菌群有益。     

新生儿缺氧、缺血性脑病血中6-keto-PGF1α,NSE水平变化的临床研究

目的:探讨HIE患者血中6-keto-PGF1α、NSE水平变化及临床意义.方法:用RIA检测89例HIE患者和32例正常新生儿血中6-keto-PGF1α、NSE水平变化.结果:HIE轻、中、重度组6-keto-PGF1α水平与正常对照组比较,均存在显著性差异(p＜0.01),HIE患者轻度组NSE水平与对照组比较无显著性差异(p＞0.05),中、重度组NSE水平与对照组比较存在显著性差异(p＜0.01),6-keto-PGF1α、NSE二组血中浓度上升与HIE程度呈正相关.结论:HIE患者中6-keto-PGF1α、NSE水平检测,对判断HIE的脑损伤程度、治疗、预后观察,具有重要临床意义和应用价值.     

表面磁性膜医用316L不锈钢支架的生物相容性

目的 对表面磁性膜血管内支架进行生物相容性研究,为该支架的临床应用提供实验依据.方法 通过溶血实验、动态凝血时间实验、急性全身毒性实验、皮内刺激实验、细胞毒性实验、热源实验、过敏实验、体内植入实验综合评价表面磁性膜血管内支架的生物相容性.结果 表面磁性膜血管内支架无溶血反应及凝血功能的改变,无急性全身毒性反应,无热源反应,支架材料中不存在致敏性物质;支架材料动物体内植入在初期有轻度的炎性反应,12周后炎性反应基本消失,未见炎性细胞浸润积聚现象.结论 表面磁性膜血管内支架具有良好的生物相容性,其应用于临床具有可行性和安全性.     

深部脑刺激治疗帕金森病疗效分析

目的研究深部脑刺激（deep brain stimulation，DBS）对帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease，PD）的治疗作用，探讨DBS对PD震颤、肌僵直、运动缓慢的疗效及术中靶点的确定。方法采用微电极记录下丘脑底核（STN）和丘脑腹中间核（Vim）慢性电刺激术对4例PD患者进行治疗。其中3例DBS于STN、1例DBS于Vim。结果3例STN术中刺激发现，能改善PD的震颤、僵直、运动缓慢等主要症状；1例Vim术中刺激发现，患者的震颤和运动缓慢得以改善。4例PD患者经过1～3次的调试，4～6年的随访发现，患者的主要症状改善情况不如短期疗效，但仍较术前有较大改善，通过调节程控参数，可以达到满意。其运动部分（UPDRS）评分，术后改善率43％～48％之间。1例合并上肢疼痛患者经3次调试疼痛症状改善不明显，2年后取出埋藏电极。4例患者均没有出现永久性并发症。结论STN的DBS能改善PD的震颤、僵直、运动缓慢等主要症状；Vim的DBS能改善PD的震颤和运动缓慢。DBS是治疗PD双侧症状的优选方法，其可逆性对患者有较高的安全性。     

多肽在前体药物与药物载体方面的应用

多肽是一种生物活性物质 ,无毒 ,具有良好的生物降解性 ,已经受到许多研究者的关注。多肽主要应用于前体药物 ,利用肿瘤细胞的选择性激活机制 ,用于癌症治疗或将其引入缓释系统 ,制成各种载体材料 ,控制药物释放。本文将介绍国外最近几年关于多肽在前体药物以及药物载体方面的应用研究