Changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA expression after corticospinal axotomy in the adult hamster

We examined changes in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA during Wallerian degeneration in the corticospinal system of the adult Golden hamster following axotomy. GFAP is the product of a type III intermediate filament (IF) gene that is expressed specifically in mature astrocytes. A well-studied component of a complex response termed reactive astrogliosis that occurs after various types of CNS injury is the increased production of astrocytic processes filled with GFAP-containing IFs. While increased expression of GFAP during reactive astrogliosis has been well established at the protein level, little is known about whether or not changes in GFAP mRNA levels occur after CNS injury. In the present study we used in situ hybridization methods to examine this issue. A 35S-labeled mouse GFAP cDNA probe was used for in situ hybridizations of sections of the brain stem obtained 2, 7, and 14 days after unilateral transections of the corticospinal tract in the caudal medulla. Film as well as emulsion autoradiography showed a dramatic increase in GFAP mRNA labeling associated with the degenerating corticospinal tract. GFAP mRNA levels were already dramatically increased in the injured corticospinal tract by 2 days post axotomy and remained elevated at 14 days. Interestingly, in addition to the robust increase in GFAP mRNA levels specifically associated with the degenerating tract, a diffuse increase in GFAP mRNA labeling was observed throughout the grey matter of the brain stem at 2 days post-axotomy, but not after this time. Immunoblotting and immunocytochemical experiments verified that the increased GFAP mRNA levels in the degenerating corticospinal system were accompanied by an increased expression of the protein. These results demonstrate that an increase in GFAP mRNA levels occurs during Wallerian degeneration in the CNS and suggest that increased expression of the GFAP gene is a major contributor to CNS scarring that results after direct traumatic injury.     

Effects of galanin on insulin and glucagon secretion in the rat

Galanin-like immunoreactivity has been visualized in nerve fibers in the islets of Langerhans, suggesting an involvement of galanin in the neural regulation of islet function. In this study, we investigated the effects of galanin on basal and stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion by infusing the peptide at three different dose rates in rats. We also studied the direct effect of galanin on insulin secretion from freshly isolated rat islets. At 320 pmol/kg/min, but not at 20 or 80 pmol/kg/min, galanin lowered basal plasma insulin levels. In contrast, basal plasma glucagon levels were lowered by galanin already at 20 and 80 pmol/kg/min. Furthermore, galanin inhibited both glucose- and arginine-induced insulin release at all three dose levels, whereas arginine-induced glucagon release was not affected by galanin. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated rat islets was dose-dependently suppressed by galanin (10^-6-10^-8M). Therefore, it is concluded that galanin in rats inhibits insulin secretion, both in vivo and in vitro, and that at lower dose levels, the peptide also inhibits basal glucagon release.     

The role of infection and vaccination in the genesis of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis in children

This article describes the association between previous infection and/or vaccination and the development of optic neuritis (ON) in 18 children. Ten of these children subsequently developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), while in 8 patients a clinically definite etiology could not be confirmed. Vaccination preceded the first ON attack in 6 patients, all but one of whom subsequently developed MS. It also preceded subsequent demyelinating events in 6 patients. Ten of the patients had a bacterial or viral infection within the 2 weeks prior to the first symptoms of ON. Intrathecal antibody synthesis against 2 or more viruses could be shown in 5 out of 8 patients studied; 5 out of 6 patients had oligoclonal antibodies in CSF and 12 out of 16 patients a high IgG index. Neither intrathecal antibody synthesis against 2 or more viruses nor elevated IgG indexes could be found in the control patients. Measles and mumps occurred at a significantly later age in the children who subsequently developed MS than in the control children, and these patients had significantly more events that might have impaired the blood-brain barrier than the controls. These results indicate that immunological events leading to MS may be triggered during childhood. Vaccination and infection often precede ON in childhood. Intrathecal viral antibody production can occur already in childhood at the time of the first symptoms of MS.     

人离体骨肉瘤组织血管噬菌体肽库筛选模型的建立及其意义

目的建立人离体骨肉瘤血管亲和筛选模型。方法(1)建立模型。术前对患肢局部行数字减影造影检查,标记肿瘤固有动脉大致走行,术后小心修剪,并连接类似于Langendorff的灌流装置,监控模型血管内的pH值、温度、氧分压等;(2)对噬菌体十二肽库进行筛选。结果28例骨肉瘤离体标本均建模成功,可直接用于灌流实验,并筛选出具有较高特异性的亲和短肽(基序为RLTR),各项指标显示离体骨肉瘤较好模拟了人体内的环境。结论建立人离体骨肉瘤血管亲和筛选模型是可行的,可直接用于对噬菌体随机肽库的亲和筛选,为骨肉瘤的靶向化疗提供参考。     

Epidemiology of acute diarrhea in children living in Sicily

A longitudinal survey (February 1984 - January 1985) on the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes in a sample of 8,164 children (aged 0–12 years) living in southeastern Sicily was carried out by means of weekly telephone interviews with doctors practising in the territory. The incidence rate was 0.479 (0.472–0.485 95% C.I.) per child per year and the frequency of episodes was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in children aged 0–4 years (0.86). Diarrhea was more frequent in industrial areas than in rural ones, and almost half (45.1%) of the total episodes had a mild course. No death from diarrhea occurred and admission to hospital was reported for 8.4% of all cases.Corresponding author.     

Action Research: a valuable research technique for service delivery development

The evaluation of healthcare practice and service delivery is fraught with difficulties. Service development and / or delivery occurs within socially dynamic settings which are in a continual state of change. Service development also often involves large elements of improvisation. The action research approach is useful for health service research, as it supports collaboration between researchers and practitioners, and not only allows but makes explicit that the action researcher has both roles within the setting being studied. This paper discusses action research methodology and offers insight into principles that favor its use for service delivery development. This includes consideration of the interactive variables within studies of health care systems and the importance of evaluating relationships between stakeholders to understand how these factors or variables, which cannot be controlled for, are responsible for successful development of the service. Action research facilitates change and helps bridge the heory--practice gap. With the current dynamic changes within both the pharmacy profession and national health services, researchers may find the action research technique of value when considering new roles and innovative ways of engaging in collaborative, multi-disciplinary working to improve delivery of patient care.Accepted july 2004     

老年骨髓炎患者的围术期护理

目的探讨老年骨髓炎患者围术期护理的体会及经验。方法对32例老年骨髓炎患者围术期护理经验进行分析和总结。结果全组32例患者通过手术治疗及合理护理措施均得到治愈，无褥疮、肺部及泌尿系感染等并发症发生。结论老年骨髓炎患者体质差，合并症多，护理需认真、细致，并且根据术前、术中、术后按不同病情制订个案护理计划，预防并发症，能有效地提高手术成功率。     

rhGM—CSF对小鼠口腔粘膜损伤的防治作用

目的：观察rhGM-CSF对TMX致实验性小鼠口腔粘膜损伤的疗效。方法：按随机分组原则将501只昆明种小白鼠分成8组，分别在相应时间给予不同药物（MTX，CF或rhGM-CSF）的处理因素，于第1－10天光镜下观察小鼠口腔粘膜的病理改变和积分情况。结果：IDMTX致口腔粘膜损伤病变率（45％－63％）和积分率（19．4％－56％）较其它组高，且死亡率很低（小于5％）；IDMTX＋GM0（或GM2）组的口腔粘膜损伤病变率（30．53％和30．99％）和积分率（19．47％和17．25％）比IDMTX组（55．56％和36．31％）明显减少，且溃疡严重程度较轻，二者相差显著（P＜0．01）。结论：IDMTX致小鼠口腔粘膜损伤模型可以用于粘膜损伤的研究；rhGM-CSF可以减少MTX致小鼠口腔粘膜损伤，并促进粘膜损伤恢复。     

兔精原干细胞培养及生物学特征的初步研究

目的:建立精原干细胞的培养方法并对培养细胞的生物学特征进行研究.方法:用饲养层和无饲养层两种方法培养幼家兔精原干细胞,在倒置相差显微镜下观察培养细胞的生长和形态变化,并对细胞的糖原、脂质及c-kit受体的细胞化学和免疫细胞化学染色结果进行分析.结果:成功的分离并培养幼家兔精原干细胞.在培养细胞中精原干细胞为主体细胞,并可见少量间质细胞.根据精原干细胞体积大小和形态特点,可分为大、小两种类型.PAS染色,精原干细胞胞质呈阳性反应;免疫细胞化学染色显示,体积较小的精原干细胞c-kit受体呈强阳性反应,体积较大的大精原干细胞呈弱阳性反应;间质细胞PAS染色和c-kit受体染色呈阴性反应,而脂质染色呈强阳性反应.精原干细胞培养无论有无饲养层,均能呈集落状生长,但有饲养层的培养,细胞的生长明显优于无饲养层培养.结论:青春期前的睾丸生精小管是精原干细胞最集中、数量最多,且容易获取分离的部位;精原干细胞的成功培养为今后重建完整的生精细胞系的治疗性移植和对这类定向干细胞的发育及分化潜能的研究提供了细胞模型.     

肝豆状核变性的治疗进展

阐述肝豆状核变性（HLD）在药物、饮食、外科和分子生物学方面的治疗进展，介绍了HLD的药物治疗、外科治疗和分子生物学治疗中的新方法或新技术：以DMPS等为主的药物治疗仍是治疗HLD的主体方法，肝移植等是治疗HLD中的暴发性肝功能衰竭的首选方法，基因等治疗为HLD的彻底治疗提供了可能。