Effects of the 5-HT1A partial agonists gepirone,ipsapirone and buspirone on local cerebral glucose utilization in the conscious rat

The azospirones gepirone (10 mg/kg), ipsapirone (10 mg/kg) and buspirone (10 mg/kg) were examined for their effect on regional cerebral glucose utilization in conscious rats using quantitative 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography. All three 5-HT_1A partial agonists reduced glucose utilization in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus by 20–25% and increased glucose utilization by 38–65% in the lateral habenular nucleus; an important relay between striatal/limbic areas and the mid-brain raphe nuclei. The findings emphasize the potential importance of the hippocampus as a site of action for 5-HT_1A receptor active drugs in vivo and also suggest that functional activity in the striatal/limbichabenular-raphe pathway may be influenced by gepirone, ipsapirone and buspirone.     

Reproducibility of lateral spine scans using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

Summary Reproducibility of lateral spine dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (LAT DEXA) scans using a Lunar DPX-L scanner was assessed in a cadaveric phantom and in patients. One hundred phantom measurements over 7 months demonstrated a longitudinal stability of 1.7% (coefficient of variation, CV). Additional scans were performed with the phantom rotated by up to 20° in each of the three orthogonal planes to assess the effects of variable patient positioning. Horizontal and vertical rotation of the spine had little effect on the estimated bone mineral density (BMD), however, axial rotation of greater than 8° led to errors in the BMD measurement. One hundred consecutive patients had two lateral scans performed within 1 month. BMD (range 0.10–1.6 g/cm²) was determined for each scan by one operator. Significant overlap from ribs and pelvis was often seen with L2 and L4 vertebrae but one vertebra (L3) could be measured in every case. Intraoperator and interoperator variability was assessed by three experienced operators, each analyzing 10 patients' scans on five separate occasions, and was found to be less than 1.1% for a single vertebra. BMD estimation of vertebral bodies and midslices by lateral DEXA scans (CV% of 3.8% and 4.6%) have a 95% confidence interval of 0.074 g/cm² and 0.096 g/cm², respectively for two vertebrae. This variability is due mainly to axial rotation, with operator variability, horizontal rotation, and vertical rotation having little effect on BMD estimation.     

高压氧下大鼠脑组织中氧化氮合酶阳性细胞的表达(论著)

目的：探讨高压氧（HBO）对视觉中枢的影响。方法：SD大鼠12只，随机分为3组：分别为常压对照组（NP组），高压空气对照组（HBA组），和HBO实验组（HBO组）。HBA组和HBO组动物分别给予0．25MPa高压空气和纯氧，升压20分钟，在0．25MPa下稳压4小时，然后经20分钟减至常压。动物出舱后立即灌注取脑，利用NADPH-黄递酶（NADPH-diaphorase）组织化学方法，观察氧化氮合酶（NOS）阳性细胞见脑组织外侧膝状体（LGN）、视皮层及大脑顶叶皮层的表达。结果：NOS阳性细胞存在于大鼠LGN、视皮层及大脑项叶皮层中。在0．25MPaHBO作用下，视皮层、大脑顶叶皮层中NOS阳性细胞明显增加（P＜0．05），而LGN与对照组相比无显著性差异（P＞0．05）。结论：HBO对视觉中枢的毒性作用与视皮层NOS阳性细胞增加密切相关。     

Role of glutamate in the amygdala and lateral hypothalamus in conditioned taste aversion

The role of glutamate in conditioned taste aversion was investigated. Both, in the amygdala (AMYG) and in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) extracellular levels of glutamate were assessed by microdialysis and capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection. Rats were conditioned by pairing a novel flavor (strawberry flavor) with an intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride. When the conditioned stimulus (strawberry flavored solution) was injected into the mouth of conditioned rats, there was an increase of glutamate release in the AMYG, and a decrease in glutamate release in the LH. These results predicted that glutamate release in the AMYG and the LH was involved in CTA. This possibility was tested by MK-801 (glutamate antagonist) and glutamate microinjections. MK-801 injections in AMYG attenuated the rejection of the novel flavor, and in the LH did not cause any effect on CTA. Glutamate microinjections in the AMYG caused CTA. These results suggest that glutamatergic activity in the AMYG might be a relevant neurochemical correlate and cause of conditioned taste aversion.     

Internal and external information processing by lateral hypothalamic glucose-sensitive and insensitive neurons during bar press feeding in the monkey

Single neuron activities in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) were recorded during bar press feeding task in the monkey. First registered neurons were sorted into 2 groups, glucose-sensitive (GS) and glucose-insensitive (GIS) neurons, depending on their glucose sensitivity. Then firing variations to feeding, electrophoretically applied catecholamines and opiate, and to odor and taste stimuli were investigated. GS neurons responded to dopamine, noradrenaline and morphine more often than GIS neurons. In feeding task GS neurons responded during bar press (BP) and reward (RW) periods with long-lasting inhibition of firing and at cue tone (CT) with transient inhibition, while GIS neurons responded during BP and RW periods mainly with excitation and at cue light (CL) with excitation. A majority of GS neurons responded to both odor and taste stimuli more often than GIS neurons. Data suggest that these two kinds of neurons in the LHA may be involved in different functional aspects of feeding: GS neurons, mainly in internal information processing and reward mechanism, and GIS neurons, in external information processing and motor aspects.     

听性脑干反应和蜗神经直接动作电位联合听觉监护在侧颅底手术中的应用

目的:通过听性脑干反应(ABR)和蜗神经动作电位(CNAP)在侧颅底外科手术中的应用,分析造成听力损伤的原因,并对这两种听觉监测技术作出评价。方法:在手术过程中对14例保留听力的侧颅底手术的患者进行听觉监测。ABR在整个手术过程中监测,CNAP在打开脑膜、暴露蜗神经后进行监测。在患者出院后1个月左右随访听力。结果:所有患者在手术过程中都有不同程度的ABR变化,尤其是耳科电钻使用后[相对使用前延长(0.19±0.16)ms)]和颅内操作时[相对操作前延长(0.29±0.25)ms]。部分患者的波形潜伏期延长在术毕时有所恢复[10例,平均缩短(0.27±0.16)ms]。结论:侧颅底手术中应用听觉监护能防止听觉损伤。电钻使用造成的震动和噪声对听力有损伤,解除引起波形潜伏期延长的诱因后可恢复部分听力。术后的听力预后与术毕潜伏期的延长有相对应关系。术中监测的新趋势是联合应用ABR和CNAP,取长补短。     

New evidence for a gating action of norepinephrine in central neuronal circuits of mammalian brain

Many previous studies have examined the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on neuronal responsiveness to synaptic inputs and putative transmitter substances and have described differential depressant actions of NE on stimulus evoked versus spontaneous discharge such that the "signal to noise" ratio of threshold responses was increased. In the present studies, similar experimental strategies employing a combination of microiontophoresis, single unit recording and afferent pathway stimulation in intact anesthetized and brain tissue slice preparations have revealed noradrenergic "gating" actions whereby weak or subthreshold synaptic stimuli can evoke threshold neuronal responses in the presence of iontophoretically applied NE or following electrical stimulation of the locus coeruleus. Overall, these results suggest that potentially threshold excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs may normally arrive at central neurons but appear weak or absent except during behavioral conditions favoring the synaptic release of NE. As such, these findings provide evidence that signal to noise ratio may not be the only potential modulatory action expressed by NE in noradrenergic target circuits of the mammalian brain.     

不同剂量体外冲击波治疗肱骨外上髁炎的疗效对比

目的 比较不同能流密度的体外冲击波(extracorporeal shock wave, ESW)治疗肱骨外上髁炎(lateral epicondylitis, LE)的短期临床疗效,探索ESW的最佳治疗剂量。方法 将120例LE患者分为A、B、C和D 4组,均使用ESW治疗4周,各组的能流密度分别为0.06、0.08、0.10、0.12 mJ/mm²。分别在治疗前及治疗后4、24及48周,比较4组患者疼痛视觉模拟量表(visual analogue scale, VAS)评分、肱骨外上髁炎功能评估(patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation, PRTEE)评分及末次随访患者满意度和复发率。结果 按时间点比较,各组VAS评分治疗前最高,治疗后48周降至最低(P<0.05),4组患者满意度及复发率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但C组患者满意度(96.67%)明显高于A组(80%),差异具有统计学意义(P=0.04)。按组间比较观察,治疗前各组患肘VAS评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后4、24和48...     

Anatomical study of the communicating branches between the medial and lateral plantar nerves

The plantar areas of the foot have specific biomechanical characteristics and play a distinct role in balance and standing. For the forefoot surgeon, knowledge of the variations in the anatomy of communicating branches is important for plantar reconstruction, local injection therapy and an excision of interdigital neuroma. The anatomy of the communicating branches of the plantar nerves between the fourth and third common plantar digital nerves in the foot were studied in 50 adult men cadaveric feet. A communicating branch was present between the third and fourth intermetatarsal spaces nerves in all eight left feet and in six right feet (overall, 28%), and absent in 36 (72%). A communicating branch was found in 14 ft. Ten of the 14 communications were from the lateral to the medial plantar nerve. The length of the communicating branch ranged from 8 to 56 mm (average 16.4 mm) and its diameter was 0.2–0.6 times of the fourth common plantar digital nerve. The angle of the communicating branch with the common plantar digital nerve from which it originated was less than 30° in 11 ft, 30–59° in 27 ft, 60–80° in 8 ft, and more than 80° in 4 ft. Classification of the branch is based on the branching pattern of the communicating branch and explains variations in plantar sensory innervations. We think that the perpendicular coursing communicating branch is at higher risk to be severed during surgery.     

The middle collateral artery: anatomic basis for the “extreme” lateral arm flap

The vascularization of the posterolateral area of the arm is supplied by the terminal branches of the deep brachial artery [middle collateral artery (MCA) and posterior radial collateral artery]. Their anatomy has been a field of confusion for a long time. An extended lateral arm flap, named the extreme lateral arm flap, supplied by these branches and dissected as a retrograde island flap has been proposed as an alternative for large compound defects of the distal forearm. We carried out an extensive anatomic study of the extreme lateral arm flap on 69 upper limbs: 54 fresh injected with colored latex, 10 embalmed and 5 radiographed after Micropaque injection. Two origin levels of the MCA were found: a proximal one (37%) above the radial groove, and a distal one (63%) at the level of the groove. The deep brachial artery always bifurcated after the origin of the MCA into a posterior radial collateral artery (PRCA) and anterior radial collateral artery (ARCA). Indeed in our dissections, after the origin of the MCA from the deep brachial artery, there was always a common trunk named the radial collateral artery (RCA) which bifurcated into the ARCA and PRCA. In all dissected arms we always found the MCA anastomosed in a transverse pattern with the inferior ulnar collateral artery (IUCA), contributing to the anastomotic circle of the elbow. This circle represents the unique vascularization source of the reverse extreme lateral arm flap.