Evidence for Presence of Types A and B of Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV) in Iran

Rhizomania a viral disease, caused by beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus (BNYVV), is now widely spread, throughout the sugar beet growing areas of Iran. Genomes of BNYVV are composed of five RNA molecules with specific functions. In this study sequence analyses were conducted on the major coat protein gene (CP21), and parts of RNA3 and RNA4 of an Iranian strain of BNYVV from the Fars province. Sequence alignments of Iran Fars CP21 with other isolates showed closed similarities at nucleotide and amino acid levels with BNYVV pathotype A isolates; S from Japan, and YU2 from Yugoslavia. These results suggest that Iran-Fars isolate probably originated from Asia or neighboring European countries rather than from Germany or France.     

Displaced retinal ganglion cells project to the accessory optic system in the chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Retinal ganglion cells were successfully labelled in the chameleon by retrograde axonal transport of dextran amines that were applied to the nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) in an in vitro preparation. Labelled ganglion cells were restricted to the contralateral eye. Many cells were completely stained including their dendritic trees. With few exceptions, all cells had displaced somata that were located at the inner margin of the inner nuclear layer. The labelled ganglion cells had two to six primary dendrites that branched frequently and formed large unistratified dendritic trees within sublamina 1 of the inner plexiform layer. There was extensive overlap of the dendritic trees of neighbouring cells leading to an estimated coverage factor of 2-4. The dendritic field areas varied in size according to the retinal position of the cells and were highest in the central retina around the fovea with a maximum of 0.14 mm(2) and reached a second maximum at the retinal margin with values of 0.08-0.1 mm(2). The smallest dendritic areas (0.04-0.06 mm(2)) were measured midway between the fovea and retinal margin. The size of the soma area was not correlated to the dendritic field size and increased from 100 to 150 microm(2) near the fovea to 150-300 microm(2) at the retinal margin. There was no evidence for a retinotopic organisation of ganglion cell fibres within the nBOR. All cells were of uniform morphology that was identical to the type of nBOR-projecting displaced ganglion cell (DGC) described previously for the bird retina. Similar to birds, the labelled DGCs were the only source of retinal projection to the nBOR. A small fraction of cells had orthotopic somata located in the ganglion cell layer but were otherwise identical to the labelled DGCs. The similarity of chameleon nBOR-projecting ganglion cells to those described in avian retinas mirrors the close phylogenetic relationship of birds and lizards.     

外周神经损伤大鼠背根神经节中Ephrin B1及RYK 受体表达的变化

目的研究外周神经损伤后背根神经节细胞中Ephrin B1及其相关受体的表达变化。方法建立一侧坐骨神经夹伤的大鼠动物模型,通过免疫荧光组织化学方法检测受损侧背根神经节细胞中Ephrin B1及其相关受体Eph B1、Eph B2、Eph B3和Eph A4、RYK等的表达,并分析阳性细胞数和不同大小阳性细胞的构成比例。结果外周坐骨神经受损侧背根神经节细胞中Ephrin B1的表达明显减弱,而Eph B1、Eph B2、Eph B3和Eph A4受体的表达无明显变化,但RYK受体的表达则明显加强。结论Ephrin B1和RYK受体在一侧外周坐骨神经夹伤后的大鼠背根神经节细胞中表达的变化,说明它很有可能参与了损伤后的功能活动。     

Dihydropyridine inhibition of neuronal calcium current and substance P release

Dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel antagonists, which inhibit the slowly inactivating or L-type cardiac calcium (Ca) current, have been shown to be ineffective in blocking⁴⁵Ca influx and Ca-dependent secretion in a number of neuronal preparations. In the studies reported here, however, the antagonist DHP nifedipine inhibited both the L-type Ca current and potassium-evoked substance P (SP) release from embryonic chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. These results suggest that, in DRG neurons. Ca entry through L-type channels is critical to the control of secretion. The inhibition of Ca current by nifedipine was both voltage and time-dependent, significant effects being observed only on currents evoked from relatively positive holding potentials maintained for several seconds. As expected from these results, nifedipine failed to inhibit L-type Ca current underlying the brief plateau phase of the action potential generated from the cell's normal resting potential; likewise, no significant effect of the drug was observed on action potential-stimulated SP release evoked by electrical field stimulation. The results of this work are discussed in terms of an assessment of the role of L-type Ca channels in neurosecretion.This work was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant NS16483 (KD) and by a USPHS Postdoctoral Fellowship (SGR)     

Adjunctive low-dose doxycycline therapy effect on clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid tissue plasminogen activator levels in chronic periodontitis

Objective and design: The present study examined effectiveness of low-dose doxycycline (LDD) in combination with nonsurgical therapy on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) levels and clinical parameters in chronic periodontitis (CP) a over 12-month period. Methods: GCF samples were collected, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival index (GI) and plaque index were recorded at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. CP patients (n = 65) were randomized to LDD or placebo groups. LDD group received LDD (20 mg) b.i.d for 3-months plus and root planing (SRP), while placebo group was given placebo capsules b.i.d for 3-months plus SRP. GCF t-PA levels were determined by ELISA. Friedman, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant improvement was observed in all clinical parameters in both groups over 12-month period (p < 0.01). LDD group had lower PD, CAL and GI scores than placebo group at 6, 9 and 12-months (p < 0.05). GCF t-PA levels reduced in both groups over 12-month period (p < 0.01). LDD group had lower GCF t-PA levels than placebo group at 6 and 9-months (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results provide additional information about usefulness of LDD therapy as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy in long-term management of periodontitis. Received 8 May 2006; returned for revision 13 June 2006; accepted by J. Di Battista 12 July 2006     

Computer Simulations of the “Hairy Rod” Model

Summary: Using extensive Molecular Dynamics simulations we study the behavior of very rigid polyelectrolytes with hydrophobic side chains that are known to form cylindrical micelles in aqueous solution. We investigate the stability of such micelles with respect to hydrophobicity, Coulomb interaction, and micellar size. We show that for the parameter range relevant for poly(p‐phenylene sulfonate)s (PPP) one finds a stable finite micellar size close to the experimental parameter region. We also point out that our model has some similarities to DNA solutions with added condensing agents, hinting to the possibility that the size of DNA aggregates is under certain circumstances thermodynamically limited.

DNA‐like morphologies of the polyelectrolytes.     

C7神经移位椎管内吻合腰神经前根重建截瘫屈髋伸膝功能的应用解剖

目的:为C7神经移位椎管内吻合腰神经前根重建截瘫患者屈髋伸膝功能提供解剖学基础。方法:在20例成人尸体标本上,观测L1阶段椎管内L1～4神经前根排列及纤维数、C7神经转移路径距离及坐骨神经可切取长度及远端纤维数。结果:一侧C7神经经椎体前通路跨越椎体中线的长度为(2.4±0.58)cm,可与对侧C7神经编织成束。在L1节段,L1～4神经前支可辨认并能编织成束供吻合。胫神经和腓总神经可切取长度(52.35±2.60)cm,(48.20±2.37)cm能够满足C7至L1段椎管的距离(48.35±3.36)cm。一侧胫神经和腓总神经远端纤维数(26856±112),(25700±156)大于一侧腰L1～4神经前支纤维数(20766±354)。结论:坐骨神经可选择为颈7神经移位重建截瘫下肢功能的桥接神经,双侧C7神经可经椎体前通路编织成束作为动力神经源,在L1阶段椎管内吻合L1～4腰神经前根的具有可行性。     

胸腰脊神经根鞘形态观测及其临床意义

目的：为了探讨腰腿疼痛等疾病与脊神经根鞘的关系。方法：用巨视解剖和游标卡尺测量法对１５具尸体的胸腰脊神经根鞘进行了解剖学观察与测量。结果：①左、右胸腰脊神经根鞘长度和横径基本对称；②Ｔ１根鞘长度和横径大于其它胸神经根鞘，接近Ｌ２水平，Ｌ３～Ｌ５根鞘长度和横径大于其它胸腰神经根鞘，尤其Ｌ５更为突出；③胸腰脊神经根鞘开口式，由上向下，由２～３孔逐渐减至１孔。结论：①Ｔ１、Ｌ２～Ｌ５脊神经根鞘既长又粗，与周围接触范围大，受损危险增大；②根鞘开口式孔数由上向下减少，发生在鞘内的炎症和肿瘤引起前、后根同时受累的机会增多。     

Synaptic actions of the ventral root afferents on cat hindlimb motoneurons

Postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) with long latencies were evoked in cat hindlimb motoneurons by stimulation of the distal stump of a cut ventral root. Measurements of their latency and the threshold in the responsible afferent fibers showed that they were produced mainly by the activity of the unmyelinated fibers in the ventral root that enter the spinal cord through the dorsal root. Patterns of PSPs evoked in flexor and extensor motoneurons by ventral root stimulation were similar to those observed in the flexion reflex.     

带翼金属烤瓷冠在残根残冠修复中的应用

目的 保留根周健康的残冠残根，采取带翼金属烤瓷冠修复牙体缺损，以恢复功能及美观。方法 选择85例患者110颗患牙经过根管治疗，给予金属烤瓷冠修复，修复时在它的邻牙腭或舌侧设计金属翼以加强固位。结果 经1～5年观察修复效果良好。结论 带翼金属烤瓷冠增加了唇、颊向对抗力，并分散了残根的垂直耠力，加强了摩擦力及固位。临床观察，具有一定实用性和可行性，但远期效果有待进一步探讨。