Sex differences in the distribution of adipose tissue in the Djungarian hamster Phodopus sungorus

Female Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) have proportionately more adipose tissue in superficial depots than males of similar age and body composition. In both sexes, the proportion in superficial depots increases with increasing fatness. This species may be useful as a model for human obesity because it becomes as obese as modern humans without genetic, surgical or dietary manipulation and the sex differences in adipose tissue distribution resemble those of humans.     

Neuroactive Properties of Reproductive Steroids

Migraine is 3 times more common in postpubertal women than in men. Migraine is frequently exacerbated perimenstrually and commonly occurs exclusively at that time. It is often benefited by pregnancy and menopause. Estrogen withdrawal has been implicated as a mechanism for triggering migraines. The mechanism, however, is not well understood. Reproductive steroids have neuroactive properties that can modulate neuronal morphology and physiology. Increasing evidence suggests that circulating reproductive steroid levels regulate the balance of neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory activities in some brain regions by influencing synaptic plasticity. Estrogen has neuroexcitatory, whereas progesterone has neuroinhibitory, effects in most preclinical and clinical models. Several neurotransmitter systems that are implicated in migraine vary with reproductive steroid levels during the reproductive cycle. Estrogen stabilization may provide effective treatment in susceptible women, especially for catamenially exacerbated migraine.     

Appropriate Replacement Dose of Thyroxine in Primary Hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT An ultrasensitive thyrotropin (TSH) assay was used to determine how many of 65 patients with primary hypothyroidism on thyroxine (T₄) replacement therapy had suppressed serum TSH. In 13 patients (20%) TSH levels ≤0.1 mlU/l were found, indicating an overdose of thyroxine. After correction of the dose, 48 patients had normal TSH values. Their mean dose of thyroxine was 119 μg/24 hours, and the appropriate replacement dose tended to decline with advancing age. The serum level of thyroid hormones during replacement therapy with thyroxine very imperfectly reflected serum TSH values. It is concluded that overdose of thyroxine is common when suppressed serum TSH is used as an end point. Biochemical follow-up of replacement therapy with thyroxine in primary hypothyroidism therefore requires the use of an ultrasensitive TSH assay in order to detect such suppression. Serum levels of thyroxine or triiodothyronine (T₃) during thyroxine therapy are poor indicators of pituitary TSH secretion and are therefore not useful as parameters of adequate thyroxine dosage.     

旋转强恒磁场对SD大鼠骨骼生长发育及相关激素的影响

目的探讨旋转强恒磁场（RCSMF）对SD大鼠的骨骼生长发育及相关激素的影响，为RCSMF促进人体增高的临床应用奠定基础。方法取25日龄的SD大鼠置RCSMF下，1．5h／d。每5天取血检测大鼠生长激素（GH）、类胰岛素生长因子（IGF-Ⅰ）、雌激素（E2）等与骨骼发育相关的激素，同时测量每组大鼠的身长、体重和尾长，并用骨形态计量学方法研究RCSMF对大鼠骨组织形态学和动态学参数的影响。结果RCSMF处理后大鼠的身长[实验组（25．28±0．41）cm。对照组（24．05±0．35）cm；P〈0．01]、体重[实验组（445．90±16．88）g，对照组（382．22±12．78）g；P〈0．01]、胫骨长[实验组（3．89±0．13）cm，对照组（3．66±0．10）cm；P〈0．01]和股骨长[实验组（3．65±0．08）cm，对照组（3．51±0．06）cm；P〈0．01]，上述多项参数以及骨骺板等相关形态计量学数据实验组明显高于对照组。回归分析身长与相关激素的关系显示：大鼠身长与GH、IGF—I和E2有显著相关性。结论RCSMF有促进骨骼生长发育的作用，其作用机理是通过刺激与骨骼生长发育相关激素的生成、释放，并影响软骨细胞的增殖功能来完成的。     

1280例银屑病患者初发年龄调查报告

调查了1280例银屑病患者的初发年龄,平均初发年龄27.23岁,男性29.25岁,女性23.46岁。初发年龄大多在15～39岁组,占72.96％,最高峰在20～24岁组,占19.53％。初发年龄大小与病情轻重无明显关系,而与病程长短有明显关系,即初发年龄越小者,其病程一般较长。     

Sry监测体外扩增造血细胞植入效果的实验研究

目的：探讨Y染色体性别决定基因(Sry)作为评价和追踪造血细胞移植后植入状态检测指标的可行性。方法：根据Sry DNA序列设计引物及制备探针，然后进行PCR检测、斑点杂交和原位杂交．动态追踪经不同条件下体外扩增的纯系雄性小鼠BMMNC回输至雌性小鼠后的植入状态。结果：PCR结果显示在各移植组小鼠的骨髓有核细胞、脾细胞及外周血白细胞中均有Y染色体特异性序列的存在；斑点杂交结果显示在各回输组间并无明显差别，但用脾脏组织作原位杂交的结果则发现基质细胞支持扩增回输组的阳性颗粒数目与输注新鲜细胞组相似，但略少于雄性小鼠；而输注细胞因子扩增细胞实验组小鼠则明显少于雄性动物的阳性对照标本和基质细胞支持扩增回输组。结论：(1)经重复检测表明上述方法的重复性好，结果可信．可作为检测性别不同时造血干细胞移植效果的一种检测手段；(2)证实基质细胞支持下的体外扩增的造血细胞具有较好的植入能力。     

An Analysis of Chromosome on Sterility Caused by Azoospermia or Oligospermia

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Evaluation of local cerebral glucose utilization and the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat

Summary The genetically epileptic-prone rat (GEPR) is a valuable model for the study of gene-linked abnormalities involved in epilepsy. In comparison with normal Sprague-Dawley controls, we found, in GEPRs, a marked depression in local cerebral glucose utilization, widespread throughout the brain. This depression was accompanied by a significant increase of blood-brain barrier permeability and a reduction in regional blood volume. Finally GEPRs showed lower plasma levels of total triiodothyronine than normal controls. One can speculate that alterations in cerebral metabolism and microvascular regulation and thyroid hormone imbalance may be gene-linked factors involved in seizure susceptibility.     

Teaching medical students about the appropriateness of social and sexual contact between doctors and their patients: evaluation of a programme

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on medical students' attitudes toward social and sexual contact with patients by doctors from three medical specialties (general practice, obstetrics/gynaecology and psychiatry). Medical students from two consecutive fifth year classes at one medical school participated in one 3 hour session that included instruction on the standards of the profession that prohibit doctor–patient sexual contact. Students were assigned to either intervention groups or control groups and responded to an anonymous questionnaire (overall response rate 66·8% ; n=141). As many as 14·5% of control group students thought it was (sometimes or usually) appropriate for general practitioners to date their own patients and at least 3% thought it appropriate for members of any of these three medical specialties to engage in sexual contact with their own patients. However, there were no significant differences in attitudes toward hugging, dating or sexual contact with current patients between those who had attended the seminar and the control groups. The session significantly influenced attitudes regarding obstetrician/gynaecologists and psychiatrists hugging and having sexual contact with former patients. These findings are discussed in relation to a need for expansion of such instruction.     

Testosterone Enhances GABA and Taurine but not N-Methyl-D,L-Aspartate Stimulation of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Goldfish: Possible Sex Steroid Feedback Mechanisms

The effects of gonadal steroids on GABA-, taurine (TAU)- and N-methyl-D, L-aspartate (NMA)-induced gonadotropin-II (GTH-II) release were investigated in male and female goldfish in vivo. In sexually regressed goldfish (both sexes mixed), intraperitoneal implantation for 5 to 10 days with solid Silastic pellets containing testosterone (100 μg/g), oestradiol (100 μg/g) or progesterone (100 μg/g) was previously shown to elevate serum sex steroid levels to values comparable to those in sexually mature animals, and to potentiate gonadotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated GTH-II release. In the present study, testosterone but not oestradiol or progesterone enhanced the stimulatory effects of exogenous GABA (100 μg/g) on GTH-II release in vivo. TAU (1 mg/g) stimulated GTH-II release in sexually regressed mixed sex and sexually recrudescent male goldfish, and both testosterone and oestradiol implantation enhanced GTH-II release induced by TAU. The glutamate agonist NMA (25 to 50 μg/g) was also found to stimulate GTH-II release; however it was relatively less effective in elevating serum GTH-II levels than GABA and TAU, and its effects were not modulated by sex steroid treatments. Pretreatment of goldfish with α-methyl-p-tyrosine to deplete brain and pituitary catecholam-ines did not affect NMA action on GTH-II release. Our results indicate that GABA, TAU and NMA are involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of GTH-II release in goldfish, and support the idea that testosterone participates in the positive feedback regulation of pituitary gonadotropin release in a non-mammalian vertebrate by enhancing GABA- and TAU-stimulated GTH release in vivo.