Recovery profile of single motoneurons after electrical stimuli in man

The H-reflex of 120 soleus motoneurons was recorded using fibre EMG. The recovery profile of these motoneurons was studied during monitoring surface H-reflex records in 28 adult subjects. The spectrum of motoneurons tested was homogeneous with two extremes of neurons having different characteristics. A motoneuron population (forming about 69% of our sample) had a high threshold level for electrical stimuli, short recovery time, and short recovery fringe time (called type A). A second population of motoneurons (forming about 20-30% of our sample) had a low threshold level for electrical stimuli, long recovery fringe time (called type B). During an isometric muscle contraction every motoneuron showed an early shift in recovery time (i.e. each had a shorter recovery time) with shortened recovery fringe time. These changes were larger for motoneurons type B than motoneurons type A. With paired identical electrical stimuli of varying interstimulus intervals a motoneuron may fire in response to the conditioning and test stimuli giving an H2, but not in response to both stimuli. This occurred for interstimulus intervals of 4-11 ms. A strong inhibition period was recorded with interstimulus intervals of 12-80 ms in which all motoneurons did not show any recovery. Most motoneurons recovered in orderly fashion between 80 and 300 ms of interstimulus interval, and this recovery coincided with the fast recovery recorded in surface H-reflex. All motoneurons were recovered by 3000 ms of interstimulus intervals. These findings emphasize the importance of eliciting the H-reflex every 3-5 s in H-reflex methodology in order to be assured that all excited motoneurons have been recovered.     

Effect of the free radical scavenger MCI-186 on spinal cord reperfusion after transient ischemia in the rabbit

Objective: Paraplegia remains a serious complication of aortic operations. The production of free radicals during reperfusion after transient ischemia is believed to induce secondary spinal neuronal injury, resulting in paraplegia. The aim of the present study was to clarify the protective effect and method of administration of antioxidants on the neurological and histological outcome in the animal model for reperfusion injury after transient spinal cord ischemia. Methods: New Zealand white rabbits underwent surgical exposure of the abdominal aorta that was clamped for 15 minutes to achieve spinal cord ischemia. Group A animals received two 10 mg/kg doses of 3-methyl-l-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (MCI-186) at the time of release of the aortic clamp and 30 minutes later. In group B, MCI-186, 5 mg/kg, was given three times, at the time of aorta clamp release, 30 minutes and 12 hours later. In group C (control group), one dose of vehicle was administered. Neurological status was assessed using modified Tarlov’s score until 168 hours after operation. Spinal cord sections were examined microscopically to determine the extent of ischemic neuronal damage. Results: Groups A and B animals had better neurological function than group C (p(0.001). In contrast, group C animals exhibited paraplegia or paraparesis with marked neuronal necrosis. The number of surviving neurons within examined sections of the spinal cord was significantly greater in group B than in group C (p(0.001). Conclusion: In a 15-minute ischemia-reperfusion model using rabbits, systemic repetitious administration of MCI-186, a free radical scavenger, was found to have a protective effect on the spinal cord neurons both neurologically and histologically. We postulate that the drug minimizes the delayed neuronal cell death for reperfusion injury after transient ischemia by reducing the free radical molecules. Moreover, it was thought that we could protect delayed neuronal cell death more effectively by administering MCI-18612 hours later.     

Focal vulnerability of developing brain: CT studies on disproportionally dilated lateral ventricles

Summary Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain.     

Mechanisms mediating the brain stem control of somatosensory transmission in the dorsal horn of the cat's spinal cord: an intracellular analysis

Summary The effect of brainstem stimulation was studied on neurones recorded intracellularly in the superficial and deeper laminae of the lumbosacral dorsal horn of the spinal cord in anaesthetised cats. Stimulation in the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) produced a hyperpolarisation in 4/13 multireceptive neurones and produced a biphasic action consisting of a hyperpolarisation which was followed by a depolarisation in 3/13 neurones. These actions were produced irrespective of whether the multireceptive neurone was located in the superficial or deeper laminae of the dorsal horn. Stimulation failed to produce postsynaptic potentials in the remaining 6/13 multireceptive neurones. The amplitude of hyperpolarisation was increased by the passage of depolarising pulses through the recording microelectrode and decreased by hyperpolarising pulses. Stimulation in other brainstem areas such as, the lateral (FTL), paralemniscal (FTP) and central (FTC) divisions of the tegmental field and the nuclei raphe magnus (NRM) and reticularis magnocellularis (RMc) also hyperpolarised neurones in the dorsal horn. The polarity of hyperpolarisation evoked from some brainstem areas (FTP, FTC, RMc) could be reversed to depolarisation by the passive diffusion of ions from the recording microelectrode containing 3M-KCl. Brainstem (LC, NRM, FTP, FTL) stimulation generated long lasting (700 ms) hyperpolarisation on 4/4 selectively nocireceptive neurones of lamina I. There was, however, no effect on the activity of 5/5 neurones recorded in laminae I/II which in addition to receiving excitatory cutaneous inputs were inhibited by heat stimuli. Stimulation in LC also produced dorsal root potentials (DRPs) and reduced the amplitude of simultaneously recorded excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) generated by the activation of primary afferent fibres in 3 multireceptive neurones. It is concluded that inhibition of nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord from LC and other brainstem areas may involve both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms.     

单侧入路椎体后凸成形术治疗老年骨质疏松性胸腰椎压缩性骨折临床研究

目的：探讨单侧入路椎体后凸成形术治疗老年骨质疏松性胸腰椎压缩性骨折的临床疗效和安全性。方法：将15例老年骨质疏松性胸腰椎压缩性骨折患者，行单侧入路穿刺椎体后凸成形术。记录手术时间和透视次数，观察术后患者背痛缓解程度及日常活动恢复情况，比较术前、术后伤椎高度和脊柱后凸畸形Cobb’S角。结果：15例患者均顺利完成手术，手术时间25～43min，平均28．6min；透视次数15～23次，平均19．8次；术后伤椎前部、中部高度，脊柱后凸畸形Cobb’S角与术前比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；术后24h患者背痛均明显缓解，与术前比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。患者均能在术后次日下床行走，未发现神经损伤等手术并发症。结论：单侧入路穿刺球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术能有效地治疗老年骨质疏松性胸腰椎压缩性骨折，且操作简便、安全，能明显地减少患者和术者的放射暴露。     

罗哌卡因腰硬联合麻醉在老年患者下肢手术中的应用

目的：探讨罗哌卡因腰硬联合麻醉应用于老年患者下肢手术的有效性和安全性。方法：选择在腰硬联合麻醉下择期行下肢手术的老年患者60例，随机分为2组，每组30例。Ⅰ组采用0．75％盐酸罗哌卡因1．2mL，Ⅱ组采用0．75％盐酸布比卡因1．2mL，均以脑脊液稀释后蛛网膜下腔给药，术中麻醉效果不佳时硬膜外腔追加1．5％利多卡因5—10mL。观察比较两组患者的感觉、运动阻滞情况和不良反应发生情况。结果：两组患者在感觉阻滞起效时间、最高感觉阻滞平面、T12阻滞维持时间方面，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；与Ⅱ组相比，Ⅰ组患者运动阻滞起效时间长，最大Bromage评分小，Bromage 1分的维持时间短，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；两组患者不良反应的发生率比较，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：罗哌卡因腰硬联合麻醉可安全有效地用于老年患者下肢手术。     

The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy

Aging is commonly defined as the accumulation of diverse deleterious changes occurring in cells and tissues with advancing age that are responsible for the increased risk of disease and death. The major theories of aging are all specific of a particular cause of aging, providing useful and important insights for the understanding of age-related physiological changes. However, a global view of them is needed when debating of a process which is still obscure in some of its aspects. In this context, the search for a single cause of aging has recently been replaced by the view of aging as an extremely complex, multifactorial process. Therefore, the different theories of aging should not be considered as mutually exclusive, but complementary of others in the explanation of some or all the features of the normal aging process. To date, no convincing evidence showing the administration of existing “anti-aging” remedies can slow aging or increase longevity in humans is available. Nevertheless, several studies on animal models have shown that aging rates and life expectancy can be modified. The present review provides an overlook of the most commonly accepted theories of aging, providing current evidence of those interventions aimed at modifying the aging process.     

腰椎后路非融合固定系统的临床应用

复习腰椎后路非融合固定系统的设计原理、临床应用及治疗效果等相关文献,与传统的脊柱融合术相比,应用非融合系统可获得很好的疗效,并可以减少邻近节段退变的发生率。     

电针对SNI大鼠痛敏及脊髓相应节段谷氨酸和P物质的影响

目的:探讨电针对神经病理性痛大鼠痛觉过敏以及脊髓谷氨酸和P物质含量的影响。方法:40只SD大鼠,随机分为空白组、假手术组、手术组和电针组(n=10)。采用坐骨神经分支选择性损伤模型,电针"委中"和"环跳"穴,观察其对大鼠机械痛阈和热痛阈的影响,以OPA柱前衍生+HPLC荧光检测和放射免疫分析法测定脊髓相应节段谷氨酸和P物质含量的变化。结果:SNI手术可明显降低大鼠机械痛阈,并且其脊髓相应节段谷氨酸含量明显升高,P物质含量则明显降低;而电针干预后可显著降低大鼠脊髓相应节段谷氨酸的含量,升高P物质含量,并减轻SNI大鼠的机械痛敏状态,进而改善其痛行为。结论:电针干预神经病理性痛的脊髓机制之一可能与其有效的减少大鼠脊髓相应节段谷氨酸和P物质的释放有关。