Cannabinoid agonist, CP 55,940, facilitates intake of palatable foods when injected into the hindbrain

Cannabinoids have been shown to influence food intake, and until recently, the neural pathways mediating these effects have remained obscure. It has been previously shown that intracerebroventricular injection of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) causes increased consumption of palatable foods in rats, and we postulated the involvement of the hindbrain in this cannabinoid-induced food intake. Cannulated rats (both female and male groups) trained to consume sweetened condensed milk received either lateral or fourth ventricle injections of CP 55,940 and were presented with sweetened condensed milk 15 min after injection. Rats were injected over a range of doses between 100 pg and 10 μg per rat. Milk intake was recorded for a total of 3 h. Lateral ventricle injection of CP 55,940 increased milk intake at doses in the microgram range. However, CP 55,940 was effective in increasing food intake at nanogram doses when injected into the fourth ventricle. Finally, male rats appeared to be more sensitive to CP 55,940 than female rats inasmuch as milk consumption was increased at the 1 ng dose in male rats, whereas only the 10 ng dose was effective in females. These results indicate that CP 55,940 may act in the hindbrain to influence feeding behavior in rats.     

Ligament tissue engineering: an evolutionary materials science approach

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is important for knee stabilization. Unfortunately, it is also the most commonly injured intra-articular ligament. Due to poor vascularization, the ACL has inferior healing capability and is usually replaced after significant damage has occurred. Currently available replacements have a host of limitations, this has prompted the search for tissue-engineered solutions for ACL repair. Presently investigated scaffolds range from twisted fiber architectures composed of silk fibers to complex three-dimensional braided structures composed of poly (l-lactic acid) fibers. The purpose of these tissue-engineered constructs is to apply approaches such as the use of porous scaffolds, use of cells, and the application of growth factors to promote ligament tissue regeneration while providing mechanical properties similar to natural ligament.     

Virion-bound ICAM-1 and activated LFA-1: a combination of factors conferring resistance to neutralization by sera from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals independently of the disease status and phase

The role of the supplementary interaction between virion-bound host ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on target cells in sensitivity to neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is poorly studied. Serum samples from four long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) and sequential sera from one progressor were used to assess neutralization sensitivity of isogenic ICAM-1-negative and ICAM-1-bearing HIV-1(NL4-3), a prototype of T-cell-line-adapted viruses. We found that virus neutralization sensitivity to the studied sera is not modified by the additional interaction between virally embedded ICAM-1 and LFA-1 under an inactive state. However, expression on the target cell surface of an activated LFA-1 form renders ICAM-1-bearing virus particles, but not viruses devoid of ICAM-1, more refractory to neutralization by sera from three out of four LTNPs and all sequential sera from the person who has experienced a progression of the HIV-1-associated disease. Although no conclusive correlation could be drawn between virus susceptibility to neutralization and the disease status or stages of HIV-1 infection, these findings demonstrate that other nonspecific virus-cell interactions mediated by virion-anchored host proteins and their normal cognate ligands on target cells represent factors that can affect the mechanism of HIV-1 neutralization.     

Développement d’un hydrogel autodurcissant in vivo, en perspective d’un usage biomédicalA new self-hardening gel in prospect of biomedical use

Since 1995, an injectable bone substitute is developed in our laboratory, it is based on a mix of an hydrogel (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose at 3%: cellulose ether) and biphasic calcium phosphate granules (MBCP^® : 60% hydroxyapatite, 40% β-tri calcium phosphate). This first generation of injectable bone substitute is a non-self-hardening past, nevertheless it owns a great osteoconductor potential. But it shows a tendency to the discharge by its initial composition, and involved limited clinical applications. An evolution of this product is presented in this article: the modification is generated by a new self-hardening hydrogel. This hydrogel is a cellulose ether grafted by silane and diluted in an aqueous solution at basic pH. Also it will be presented the general synthesis of this cellulose derivate, the dissolution condition and the self hardening principle in function of the pH and the temperature. As to conclude by preliminary tests, the biocompatibility in vivo and in vitro of the self-hardening hydrogel mixed with biphasic calcium phosphate granules will be studied.     

A clinical trial of adjunctive oestrogen treatment in women with schizophrenia

Summary A double-blind, 28-day, placebo-controlled study was conducted with three groups of women of child-bearing age (N = 12 in each group) who received standardised antipsychotic medication plus a) 50 μg transdermal estradiol or b) 100 μg transdermal estradiol or c) transdermal placebo. Preliminary analyses show that women receiving 100 μg of estradiol made greater improvements in the symptoms of schizophrenia than either the 50 μg estradiol or placebo groups. The addition of 100 μg adjunctive transdermal oestrogen significantly enhanced treatment responsivity of acute, severe psychotic symptoms in women with schizophrenia. The positive impact of oestrogen treatment on psychotic symptoms via a multiplicity of possible actions (see accompanying articles in this issue) may prove clinically useful in the overall treatment of women with schizophrenia. Accepted June 2002, Published online September 16, 2002 Correspondence: Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran. Vic. 3181, Australia; e-mail: jayashri.kulkarni@med.monash.edu.au     

正常成人眼睑板的测量研究

取死后2～6小时正常成人全眼脸18例36侧,测其睑板长、宽、厚度.结果:平均宽度分别为,上睑板28.82±4.94.7.97±0.91(女7.10±0.41)和0.91±0.16mm.下睑板24.49±4.20.4.58±0.78和0.90±0.15mm.     

Measurement of functional ability and health status in the arthritic patient

Chronic arthritis may have great impact on the patient but also on his or her family, relatives and friends. The assessment of the consequences of chronic arthritis and the effect of therapy not only in terms of physical, but also psychological and social dimensions deserves more attention. Functional ability and health status can be measured using a questionnaire or ‘instrument’, high-lighting important aspects not quantified with more traditional measurements. In this paper, arguments to apply such instruments more frequently are given. Health status instruments can be used not only to assess beneficial but also deleterious (side-)effects of therapeutic interventions. The properties are summarized of the most frequently used instruments assessing functional ability and health status. Many of these instruments have been evaluated sufficiently for validity and reliability; their sensitivity to detect change seems to be satisfactory. Therefore it is advisable to choose an internationally accepted, frequently used instrument, reflecting the area of interest.     

Establishment and Characterization of Cell Lines from Human Adenovirus Type 12-induced Murine Tumors Producing Endogenous Virus Particles

Two cell lines designated IC KMS and D KMS were established from human adenovirus type 12 induced tumors of C3Hf/OK mouse. The cell lines retained the characteristics of the original tumor i.e., production of numerous C type and intracisternal A-type particles, integration of Adl2 El region DNA and amplification of the myc gene family. Chromosomal analysis revealed chromosome aberrations in both IC KMS and D KMS cells. The modal chromosome number of IC KMS cells was 54 and that of D-KMS cells was 48. Metacentric chromosomes and mini-chromosomes were found. Trisomy of chromosome 3, 7 and 12 was seen frequently in D KMS cells. Although DNA aneuploidy was revealed by flow cytometry, the DNA indices of these cells showed no relation to the copy number of integrated Adl2 DNA. These cells have been propagated by serial culture during the past 17 months. Production of endogenous virus particles is a unique characteristic of IC KMS and D KMS cells. These cell lines would be useful materials for examining the contribution of Adl2 carcinogenesis to activation of endogenous virus particles, and also the correlation between Adl2 carcinogenesis and cancer related genes. Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 242-248, 1992.     

子宫阔韧带内静脉的解剖学研究及其临床意义

子宫底和体上部的静脉汇集于子宫角处浅出,应称子宫上静脉。该静脉续为卵巢静脉。子宫上静脉1条者占30%,2条者占56.7%,3条者占13.3%。子宫上静脉与输卵管峡部中点相对处的口径是3.7±0.2mm,卵巢丛与子宫上静脉汇合后的口径为5.0±0.4mm。输卵管峡部中点与子宫上静脉的间距为6.3±0.6mm。在输卵管系膜中见有输卵管静脉汇入子宫上静脉。本文研究结果认为盆腔静脉淤血症的发生,与结扎手术中损伤子宫上静脉和输卵管静脉有关。