Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report

Introduction Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus–newborn with a 0.1–10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality’s prognosis is thought to be dismal. This abnormality can be associated with other abnormalities such as anencephaly, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, cyclopia, absence of the mandible, cleft lip and palate, cardiovascular disorders, diaphragmatic hernia, renal abnormalities, overgrowth of the arms compared to the legs, and club food and gastrointestinal atresia. Discussion Most of the patients are dead born, and the others die in a few hours. There are only six previously documented long-term survivors. In our case, our patient with iniencephalic signs and findings is still living. She is 2 years old now. We think that this patient presents a mild form of iniencephaly.     

脑源性神经生长因子和神经干细胞联合移植对大脑中动脉阻塞大鼠神经功能恢复的作用

目的 将脑源性神经生长因子(BDNF)和神经干细胞(NSCs)单独及联合移植应用于大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAo)模型大鼠,观察BDNF和NSCs移植对大鼠缺血性脑卒中神经功能恢复的作用及BDNF对内源性和外源性NSCs增殖、迁移及分化的影响.方法 体外分离、培养新生大鼠海马NSCs,BrdU标记.实验动物随机分为A组(MCAo组);B组(MCAo+BDNF组);C组(MCAo+NSCs组);D组(MCAo+BDNF+NSCs组),每组16只,移植后进行神经功能损害评分(NSS),用免疫组织化学行BrdU、nestin、BrdU/NSE检测,分析结果.结果 移植后的2、4周神经功能评分分别为:A组5.3±0.5、5.3±0.5;B组4.0±0.8、3.8±0.5;C组3.5±0.6、3.5±0.6;D组2.0 ±0.8、1.8±1.0,D组显著好于其他3组(P<0.05),B组与c组显著好于A组(P<0.05).nes.tin阳性细胞数:A组1.24±1.13,B组2.59±1.44(P<0.05),BrdU阳性细胞数:A组0.52±0.68,B组1.65±1.10(P<0.05).BrdU阳性细胞数:C组6.08±1.52,D组10.26±1.96(P<0.05),BrdU/NSE双阳性细胞数:C组1.74±1.04,D组3.58±1.20(P<0.05).结论 BDNF和NSCs移植单独及联合应用对MCAo大鼠的神经功能恢复均有作用,两者联合具有协同作用.BDNF对内源性NSCs的激活、增殖有促进作用,对外源性NSCs的增殖、迁移及分化有促进作用.     

Neuronal regeneration after application of radiofrequency energy to collagenous tissue is affected by limb immobilization: an in vivo animal study.

Despite widespread use of radiofrequency (RF)-shrinkage, there have been no studies on the influence of RF-energy on neural elements of collagenous tissue. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of RF-shrinkage on neural structures of capsuloligamentous tissue and the recovery of neural elements under different postoperative treatment protocols. One patellar tendon of 46 New-Zealand-White rabbits was shrunk. Six rabbits were sacrificed immediately postoperative. Twenty rabbits were not immobilized, 10 were immobilized for 3 and 10 were immobilized for 6 weeks. A monoclonal antibody, specific against a neurofilament protein, was used to detect nerves and neural structures. Staining pattern of nerve fibres was significantly altered immediately postoperative. After 3 weeks the number of nerve fibres and bundles decreased significantly in immobilized and non-immobilized limbs. The loss of nerve fibres was significantly less in immobilized limbs. At 6 weeks the number of neural elements in immobilized limbs increased to the level of untreated control tissue. In non-immobilized limbs we found no recovery of neural elements 9 weeks postoperatively. At this time the number of nerve fibres and bundles was still significantly less compared to the untreated control limbs. RF-shrinkage causes significant alteration of neural elements. Under immobilization nerve fibres and bundles reach the level of normal untreated tissue. Careful rehabilitation is important after RF-shrinkage. Not only for biomechanical reasons, but also to allow the neural elements to recover, thermally modified tissue should be protected from normal physiologic loads.     

Changing glial organization relates to changing fiber order in the developing optic nerve of ferrets

The structures of the developing eye-stalk and the relationships of early retinofugal fibers as they pass through the stalk, chiasm, and tract have been studied by light and electron microscopical methods in fetal ferrets aged 23–27 days. The early eye-stalk can be divided into two parts: a narrow extracranial part has a narrow lumen and is lined by few cells, whereas a thicker intracranial part has a wider lumen and is lined by several rows of cells. At the earliest stages no axon bundles are recognizable in the stalk, but fibers of the supraoptic commissure are already beginning to cross the midline in the diencephalon. Subsequently, as retinofugal axons invade the stalk, the glia of the extracranial part of the stalk have an interfascicular distribution and axon bundles are separately encircled by glial cytoplasm. In the intracranial part, as in the chiasm and tract, the glial cells occupy a periventricular position and send slender radial cytoplasmic processes to the subpial surface; these pass between groups of axons that here lie immediately deep to the subpial glia. Whereas axonal growth cones have no evident preferred distribution in the extracranial stalk, they tend to accumulate near the pial surface intracranially. The boundary between the two types of organization shifts as development proceeds so that the interfascicular glial structure of the early extracranial stalk first encroaches upon the intracranial parts and later appears in the chiasm. The characteristic adult arrangement of fibers in an age-related order in the optic chiasm and tract, but not in the optic nerve, can be understood if axonal growth cones are guided toward the pial surface by radial glia but not by interfascicular glia. From the distribution of the growth cones, this is what appears to happen.     

Effects of horizontal cell network architecture on signal spread in the turtle outer retina. experiments and simulations

In thePseudemys turtle retina five functionally distinct, electrically coupled networks of horizontal cells distribute signals in the outer plexiform layer. These networks differ significantly in their architecture, as determined by intracellular labeling with Neurobiotin after physiological recording and identification. The density of H1 horizontal cells is highest, ranging around 1800 cells/mm² at approximately 2.3 mm eccentricity. H1 horizontal cell somata are connected via 6–10 thin, short dendrites. The H1 horizontal cell axon terminal network is composed of thick axon terminals, forming a three-dimensional, sheath-like structure. Networks of coupled H2 and H3 horizontal cells have cell densities of around 210 cells/mm² and 350 cells/mm² respectively, at the same eccentricity of 2.3 mm. Cell bodies are connected with 6–12 long, thin dendrites. Here we report for the first time H4 horizontal cell networks. Cell density is approximately 970 cells/mm² at 2 mm eccentricity, and cell bodies are connected with 6–10 thin, short dendrites. General properties of passive voltage spread were compared for three of these horizontal cell networks using NeuronC. Realistic network architectures were obtained by digitizing the intracellularly labeled networks, respectively. One network obtained from coupled H1 horizontal cell bodies, one from coupled H1 horizontal cell axon terminals, and one from H2 horizontal cells were simulated. These three realistic networks were compared with an artificial, electrically coupled regular triangular network. Passive signal spread in these networks strongly depended on the exact network architecture using otherwise identical parameters. Changes in coupling strength affected signal spread in these networks differently. As in the experimental situation, changes in synaptic conductance influenced signal spread. Some principal effects of extensively coupled horizontal cells on photoreceptor signal processing were simulated with one type of photoreceptor connected by telodendria, synapsing onto an underlying triangular network and receiving feedback synapses. Under certain conditions, spatial information is coded in single photoreceptors. This was also the case in the experimental situation. In the simulation, spatial filter adjustment for optimal spatial coding in photoreceptors can be achieved by changing coupling strength in the horizontal cell network.     

人工神经网络在避孕研究中的应用

人工神经网络作为一门新兴的边缘学科,已开始在许多领域应用.本文将神经网络的方法应用于避孕方法选择方面,并通过ROC曲线比较了神经网络方法与传统的多元LO-gistic回归分析方法对训练样本和检验样本的表现.结果提示,神经网络方法有望在统计学、医学领域得到进一步应用和发展.     

Neuro-toxic interaction in alcohol-treated,thiamine-deficient mice

Summary Groups of adult male mice were either fed a thiamine-deficient diet for 10 weeks and thereafter treated with ethanol by making them inhale vapourized cane spirit for 10 weeks, or given both treatments simultaneously. The brains of these mice were then searched for degeneration using both light and electron microscopy. No degenerating nerve cells were observed in any animal in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, olfactory bulbs, midbrain or hindbrain. However, axon terminal degeneration was seen in the olfactory bulbs and deep cerebellar nuclei in mice given the combined treatment. No cerebellar degeneration was found and only little degeneration was present in the olfactory bulbs of mice given the two treatments at different times. Thus, the combined treatment of alcohol and thiamine deficiency produced more brain damage than the sum of that produced by the two treatments given separately. This represents the first experimental in vivo demonstration of a biochemical interaction between these two factors in alcohol-related brain damage. The findings of long-term animal treatment with models using thiamine antagonists are compared.Supported by the special Research Fund Programme of Monash University (Post-Doctoral Fellowship)     

Sphingolipid metabolites in neural signalling and function

Sphingolipid metabolites, such as ceramide, sphingosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and complex sphingolipids (gangliosides), are recognized as molecules capable of regulating a variety of cellular processes. The role of sphingolipid metabolites has been studied mainly in non-neuronal tissues. These studies have underscored their importance as signals transducers, involved in control of proliferation, survival, differentiation and apoptosis. In this review, we will focus on studies performed over the last years in the nervous system, discussing the recent developments and the current perspectives in sphingolipid metabolism and functions.     

干细胞经脑脊液移植后在损伤脊髓的早期变化观察

目的观察神经干细胞经脑室注射后在损伤脊髓的早期动态变化。方法取转录有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因的孕16天SD鼠胚脑海马组织，培养成神经干细胞球，注射到损伤脊髓鼠第四脑室（实验组），观察其在脊髓的存活、分化状况。结果移植细胞在脊髓表面形成细胞团。分布于损伤区头侧。细胞团的面积背侧小于腹侧；数目背侧多于腹侧。这种分布和增殖形式见于损伤脊髓正常部分和无损伤脊髓（对照组）。1周时细胞侵入损伤区，GFAP表达呈阳性。2～3周时与宿主细胞良好整合。结论移植细胞通过脑脊液能广泛分布于脊髓表面。保持黏附、增殖和分化能力。并可迁移、整合到损伤脊髓组织中。     

菲立磁标记兔BMSCs自体移植脊髓后的核磁共振活体示踪及形态学研究

目的通过观察菲立磁标记兔骨髓源性神经干细胞(BMSCs)自体移植脊髓后的核磁共振活体示踪及形态,期待找到一种应用非侵袭性方法来识别、跟踪BMSCs的存活状态及与宿主组织整合情况的方法。方法无菌条件下股骨取骨髓,梯度密度离心法分离获取兔骨髓基质细胞;使用“Feridex-多聚赖氨酸复合物(FE-PLL)”标记骨髓基质细胞,采用普鲁士兰染色和台盼蓝排除实验等方法鉴定FE-PLL标记兔骨髓基质细胞的效率和细胞的活力;体外标记的细胞自体脊髓移植,磁共振、免疫组织化学染色和透射电镜检查。结果普鲁士蓝染色显示FE-PLL标记骨髓基质细胞胞质内出现细小的蓝色铁颗粒;与正常未标记的细胞相比较,FE-PLL标记对骨髓基质细胞的活力、增殖和分化等能力没有明显的影响;经菲立磁标记的兔BMSCs自体脊髓移植后,可在核磁共振上活体示踪。结论菲立磁与核磁共振联合可无创性活体标记检测移植的神经干细胞基本的存在部位、存在方式及其一些生物学特性,可以用来活体示踪移植的BMSCs。