Glucose attenuation of atropine-induced deficits in paradoxical sleep and memory

When administered systemically, glucose attenuates deficits in memory produced by several classes of drugs, including cholinergic antagonists and opiate agonists. Glucose also enhances memory in aged rats, mice, and humans. In addition, glucose ameliorates age-related reductions in paradoxical sleep. Because deficits in paradoxical sleep are most marked in those individual aged rats that also have deficits in memory, treatments which improve one of these functions may similarly improve the other. The present experiments show that glucose attenuates deficits in paradoxical sleep and memory after atropine administration, with similar dose-response curves for both actions. In the first experiment, rats received saline, atropine (1 mg/kg), glucose (100 mg/kg) or combinations of atropine + glucose (10, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg) 30 min before assessment on a spontaneous alternation task. In the second experiment, 3-h EEGs were assessed for spontaneous daytime sleep in rats administered saline, atropine (1 mg/kg), glucose (100 mg/kg) or combinations of atropine + glucose (10, 100 and 250 mg/kg). In both experiments, glucose significantly attenuated deficits at an optimal dose of 100 mg/kg. A third experiment assessed blood glucose levels after injections of atropine + glucose (100 mg/kg) and determined that blood glucose levels were similar to those produced by other treatments which enhance memory. These results are consistent with the view that paradoxical sleep and at least one test of memory are similarly influenced by atropine and glucose.     

The callous elbow and aging of the upper arm

The author describes his surgical approach to the problems of the aging upper arm and elbow region. Surgery at an appropriate age can prevent the progressive wrinkling of the elbow which is further aggravated by aging of the upper arm. The author's operation is aimed at correcting both portions of the arm anatomy at the same time.     

Spontaneous disappearance of a suprasellar arachnoid cyst: case report and review of the literature

Introduction Suprasellar arachnoid cysts are uncommon developmental anomalies that are most often diagnosed in childhood. Because the natural history and pathogenesis of these remain poorly defined, optimal treatment guidelines are not yet established.Case report We report a case of spontaneous disappearance of a suprasellar arachnoid cyst that persisted after a ventriculoperitoneal shunt performed 10 years earlier. A 5-year-old boy presented with impaired visual acuity and urinary incontinence. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a large suprasellar cyst with noncommunicating hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was put in place to alleviate current aggravation of hydrocephalus symptoms. Because of the persistent size of the cyst and signs of brainstem compression on a repeat computed tomography (CT), we recommended surgical exploration and decompression. However, the boy’s parents declined any further surgical treatment, and the patient was subsequently lost to follow-up for 10 years. When the patient returned to our clinic at the age of 15 years, a repeat MR scan showed a complete disappearance of the cyst. His family denied any significant interval history.Discussion This case represents only the third reported case of spontaneous disappearance of a suprasellar arachnoid cyst. We discuss possible mechanisms and clinical characteristics of the disappearance of the arachnoid cyst with review of the literature.     

自然流产模型小鼠绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡及相关调控蛋白的表达

目的探讨自然流产模型小鼠绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡异常与自然流产的关系。方法建立正常妊娠模型CBAXBALB/c和自然流产模型CBAXDBA/2。采用DNA缺口原位末端标记技术(TUNEL)测定两组模型孕13 d绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡情况;免疫组织化学SABC法测定两组模型孕13 d绒毛组织Bcl-2、Bax、Fas、FasL 4种凋亡调控蛋白的表达,并以MBIS-2000医用彩色病理图像免疫组织化学测量系统对其表达进行半定量分析,结果用平均灰度值表示。结果自然流产模型小鼠绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡指数明显高于正常妊娠模型(P<0.01)。Bax表达亦高于正常妊娠模型(P<0.05);FasL表达低于正常妊娠模型(P<0.01);Fas和Bcl-2表达两组无明显差异。结论早孕期绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡异常是自然流产机制之一,Bcl-2/Bax,Fas/FasL途径可能是诱导早孕期绒毛滋养层细胞凋亡的重要因素。     

老年人自发性气胸的临床分析

目的探讨老年人自发性气胸的诊断及治疗,以提高老年人自发性气胸的诊治水平。方法回顾性分析我科1996年2月3日～2006年2月23日我科89例老年人自发性气胸的诊治经过。结果老年人自发性气胸的临床症状易被原发病掩盖,其临床特点有:(1)临床表现多不典型,症状以紫绀、气急多见,无明显胸痛;(2)以继发性气胸为多;(3)老年自发性气胸并发症、伴发病多;(4)肺复张时间长,负压吸引效果差;(5)交通型和张力型在老年自发性气胸当中较为多见;(6)易误诊;(7)由于基础疾病存在,肺功能差,发生气胸后易出现肺部感染、呼吸衰竭等并发症,死亡率高。结论老年人各器官储备功能差,肺功能差,同时多并存基础疾病,老年人自发性气胸后易出现肺部感染、呼吸衰竭等并发症,死亡率高,早期诊断和积极合理的治疗是降低老年人自发性气胸病死率的关键。     

自然流产患者滋养细胞肝素表皮生长因子的表达及意义

目的　探讨自然流产患者滋养细胞肝素表皮生长因子 (HB EGF)的表达及其与滋养细胞增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)的关系。方法　选择自然流产患者和正常妊娠者各 2 0例 ,采用免疫组织化学法分析滋养细胞HB EGF和PCNA的表达。结果　HB EGF主要存在于细胞质 ,合体滋养层和细胞滋养层均有表达 ,部分流产滋养细胞不表达。自然流产患者滋养细胞HB EGF和PCNA的表达显著低于正常妊娠者 (P <0 .0 1) ,成正相关 (r =0 .4 5 4 ,P <0 .0 1)。结论　HB EGF的表达和滋养细胞增殖相关 ,HB EGF下降可能与自然流产的发生相关     

Endoscopic observation of pathophysiology of ventricular diverticulum

Background Although there have been reports dealing with ventricular diverticulum (VD) analyzed by cisternography and computed tomography (CT), those focusing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or neuroendoscopic findings are rare. Case report We present a case of noncommunicating hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis with cystic lesion located in supracerebellar region. Third ventriculostomy was performed on this case. The conventional CT and MRI were compatible with usual VD, but neuroendoscopic examination suggested otherwise. The endoscopic view inside of the cystic lesion demonstrated passing veins and no membrane. We diagnosed this cystic lesion as a unique subtype of advanced VD mimicking spontaneous ventriculostomy. Endoscopic observation of the cyst was very useful for accurate diagnosis and safe treatment.     

Cerebral venous malformation complicated by spontaneous thrombosis

A case of spontaneous thrombosis and infarction leading to death as complications of a cerebral venous malformation in a 13-yearold boy is reported. This is the first published report of this type of complication occurring in a case of venous angioma. While the biologic behavior of cerebral venous malformations has suggested that they are benign in nature, and the results of surgical management have encouraged a conservative approach, the present case illustrates a potential complication and argues against the assumption that these malformations are completely benign in nature.     

Failure to detect an antimutator phenotype following disruption of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DDR48 gene

The antimutator phenotype, reportedly conferred by disruption of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DDR48 gene, was suggested to affect only a specific spontaneous mutational pathway. We attempted to identify the types of mutation that are DDR48-dependent by determining the specificity of the ddr48 antimutator. However, disruption of DDR48 did not decrease the rates of spontaneous forward mutation in a plasmid-borne copy of the yeast SUP4-o gene, the reversion or suppression of the lys2–1 allele, or forward mutation at the CAN1 locus. Interestingly, the latter gene had been reported previously to be subject to the antimutator effect. DNA sequence analysis of spontaneous SUP4-o mutations arising in DDR48 and ddr48 backgrounds provided no evidence for a reduction in the rates of individual mutational classes. Thus, we were unable to verify that disruption of DDR48 causes an antimutator phenotype.     

应用小鼠在Y形迷宫中的自主选择能力测定急性及慢性东莨菪碱与吗啡对记忆的影响

应用Ｙ型迷宫研究了急性与慢性东莨菪碱和吗啡对小鼠记忆能力的影响。单剂量东莨菪碱（１ｍｇ／ｋｇｉｐ）和吗啡（１０ｍｇ／ｋｇｉｐ）均能显著损害小鼠的短时记忆（ｗｏｒｋｉｎｇｍｅｍｏｒｙ）。重复给药后东莨菪碱的这种作用很快消失。但吗啡每天一次，连续３次给药这种作用加强，连续５次给药这种作用反而减弱。东莨菪碱不能损害小鼠长时记忆（ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｍｅｍｏｒｙ），而吗啡对长时记忆有损害作用。结果还提示小鼠短时记忆不受自发活动能力的影响。