Movement-related potentials preceding voluntary movement are modulated by the mode of movement selection

In two experiments movement-related cortical potentials preceding voluntary movement were recorded. In experiment 1, subjects performed four motor tasks involving joystick movements. The four tasks differed in complexity (single vs sequential movements) and in the mode of movement selection, i.e., whether a movement or movement sequence was made in fixed or in self-determined directions. The choice of these tasks was based, firstly, on previous electrophysiological studies suggesting an effect of task-complexity on the amplitude of the readiness potential (RP) and, secondly, on previous positron emission tomography (PET) studies showing that activity of the supplementary motor area (SMA) is influenced by the mode of movement selection. The results show that, for single movements, RP amplitude is higher preceding freely selected movements than preceding movements in a fixed direction. In experiment 2 this effect was replicated using button presses instead of joystick movements. The results converge with PET evidence obtained in similar tasks and establish that the RP is modulated by the mode of movement selection. This modulation is probably related to differential involvement of the SMA.     

宫颈细胞学ASCUS/LSIL的临床意义及处理

目的探讨宫颈不典型鳞状上皮，低度鳞状上皮内病变（ASCUS／LSIL）的临床意义及处理方法。方法对中国医学科学院肿瘤医院2004～2006年妇科门诊用TCT（宫颈液基细胞学）的方法检出的254例ASCUS／LSIL以病理结果为金标准进行回顾性分析，其中136例进行了阴道镜检查。结果在140例ASCUS中，宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）病变占51．5％，其中高度病变占22．9％，114例LSIL中CIN病变占59．6％，其中高度病变占30．7％，两组资料比较差异无统计学意义，P〉0．05。其中136例中阴道镜诊断炎症47例，低度宫颈上皮内病变53例，高度宫颈上皮内病变36例及病理检查结果炎症55例，低度宫颈上皮内病变41例，高度宫颈上皮内病变40例，阴道镜与病理对照进行了～致性检验，Kappa=0．314，U=0．064，P〈0．05，一致性好。病理证实人乳头状瘤病毒（HPV）阳性的妇女中CIN发生率79％（67／84），而HPV阴性者中CIN发生率43．5％％（74／170），结果显示两组资料比较差异有统计学意义，X^2=29．88，P〈0．05。本组资料中年龄在35～55岁的妇女占83．5％与HPV阳性的妇女年龄高峰一致。结论对ASCUS的患者应与LSIL同样重视，立即进行阴道镜检查以避免22．9％的高度病变的患者漏诊或失访，对35～55岁的HPV感染的妇女应更加重视。     

The adrenergic modulation of firings of respiratory rhythm-generating neurons in medulla-spinal cord preparation from newborn rat

We analysed the modulation of respiratory neurons by adrenaline or noradrenaline (NA) in a newborn rat brainstem-spinal cord preparation. Adrenaline or NA caused a dose-dependent depression of the respiratory rhythm and induced C4 spinal tonic discharges. The inhibitory effect of adrenaline (ED₅₀=0.5 μM) on the respiratory rhythm was stronger than NA (ED₅₀=5 μM). The adrenaline respiratory rhythm depression was partially blocked by the α₁-antagonist prazosin or by the α₂-antagonist yohimbine. The C4 tonic discharge elicited by adrenaline was blocked by the α₁-antagonist prazosin. The direct effects of adrenaline on pre-inspiratory (Pre-I) neurons were examined in a synaptic blockade solution (low Ca), and fifty-six percent of Pre-I neurons were found to continue firing. In low-Ca solution, Pre-I neurons were excited (n=29 of 39) or depressed (n=5 of 39) by adrenaline, and excited by α₁-agonist phenylephrine or depressed by α₂-agonist clonidine. These results suggest that the respiratory rhythm depression under intact network conditions is mediated by some other inhibitory system. The inhibitory effect of adrenaline on the respiratory rhythm was partially blocked by the GABA_A-antagonists bicuculline or picrotoxin, but not by the GABA_B-antagonist phaclofen. The present results suggest that: (1) respiratory rhythm generation is more sensitive to adrenaline than NA through α-adrenergic action of adrenaline; (2) the activity of Pre-I neurons could be directly regulated by excitation via α₁-receptors and inhibition via α₂-receptors; and (3) the depression of the respiratory rhythm by adrenaline is partly mediated by GABA_Aergic neurons. Received: 8 April 1997 / Accepted: 6 October 1997     

重组Rab8截短体蛋白的原核表达、纯化和抗体制备

目的 获得Rab8纯化蛋白,制备多克隆抗体,为深入研究Rab8在病毒感染宿主细胞过程中的作用奠定基础.方法 首先从HepG2细胞中克隆Rab基因,然后从Rab8质粒中亚克隆Rab8 C端编码122个氨基酸的基因片段,构建Rab8与6His的融合蛋白原核表达质粒.原核表达与蛋白纯化后,免疫动物,制备Rab8多克隆抗体.采用ELISA法检测其效价.Western检验抗体特异性,间接免疫荧光染色法验证其免疫组化特性.结果 克隆了人Rab8编码基因,构建了表达Rab8 C端编码122个氨基酸的原核表达质粒pQE31-Rab8-122,经过大肠杆菌表达、镍亲和层析柱纯化,获得相对分子量约15 000的融合蛋白,免疫Balb/c小鼠后收获抗血清.ELISA显示抗体效价达1/20 000.Western blot和免疫荧光染色结果显示此多克隆抗体能够与原核表达的Rab8蛋白发生特异性反应,并能够识别HepG2细胞中内源性Rab8蛋白.结论 本研究获得原核表达的Rab8纯化蛋白,成功的制备了Rab8多克隆抗体,为进一步研究Rab8参与病毒感染宿主细胞提供了重要的实验材料.     

Retrospective multicentre study on mechanical and enzymatic preparation of fresh and cryopreserved testicular biopsies

BACKGROUND: Isolation of sperm suitable for ICSI from fresh or frozen-thawed testicular sperm extraction (TESE) can be facilitated by mechanical or enzymatic processing of the samples. METHODS: A retrospective multicentre study was initiated to compare these two approaches. Eleven German centres provided data on their TESE cycles performed during the period 1996/1997. Quality of retrieved sperm, fertilization rates of injected oocytes, embryo quality, resulting pregnancy rates and evolution of pregnancies were evaluated. RESULTS: The percentage of cycles with at least some motile sperm available for injection was higher after mechanical preparation. Independent of the preparation method, fertilization rates were higher for motile compared with immotile sperm or elongated spermatids in all groups and in general higher for cryopreserved versus fresh samples. Embryo quality was significantly better after injection of motile sperm for all treatments and in particular after enzymatic versus mechanical processing of biopsies. Pregnancy rates were identical for embryos derived from sperm prepared mechanically or enzymatically from fresh or cryopreserved testicular samples. The abortion rate (32/172, 18.6%) and the rate of multiple implantations (32/140, 22.9%) were not different from results reported in the literature for ICSI using ejaculated sperm. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective multicentre study, no unequivocal advantage of one over the other preparation method could be identified in 839 ICSI cycles using testicular sperm from 549 patients.     

Influence of Various Immunomodulators on the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Lewis Rats

The effect of various immunomodulators on the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is evaluated in the Lewis rat. Bordetella pertussis (BP) is the optimal inductor of EAE in this rat strain. Treatment of the animals with BP either before or after or simultaneously with guinea-pig spinal cord preparation (GpSC) resulted in an EAE about two weeks thereafter. Additional injection of living BCG, of CFA, IFA (incomplete Freund's adjuvant) or Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN) did not augment or mitigate the effect induced by BP or GpSC. Living BCG, IFA, VCN or Corynebacterium parvum (CP) did not induce EAE when given in combination with GpSC but without BP. CFA combined with GpSC only occasionally induced EAE. However, EAE could be induced by the combination of CFA and GpSC or IFA and GpSC in a part of the animals tested if they had been pretreated or simultaneously been injected with living BCG by intravenous route. EAE could not be enhanced by the additional injection of VCN. Surprisingly, most of the animals peracutely died after injection of CFA and BP in combination with GpSC when they had been pretreated with CP. This effect was most pronounced when pretreatment was done on day -4. No acute effect could be seen when CP was given simultaneously to CFA, BP and GpSC. Animals which did not peracutely succumb developed EAE similarly as those in the positive control groups. CP treatment simultaneously with BP but without CFA resulted in a reduction of the EAE specific mortality. This reduction could not be seen if treatment with CP was done after injection of GpSC and BP.     

Extraction of organic acids by ion-pair extraction with tri-n-octylamine - VIII. Identification of synthetic dyes in pharmaceutical preparations

Synthetic dyes were extracted from syrups, oral suspensions, tablets, gelatin capsules, suppositories and granules by ion-pair formation with tri-n-octylamine (TnOA) and back-extracted with perchlorate ions. Identification was performed by TLC on cellulose layers and by reversed phase ion-pair HPLC.     

Direct quantitation of antiseptic quaternary ammonium compounds by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The medicinally important quaternary ammonium salts benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride (BDTA), cetylpyridinium chloride and benzethonium chloride, all afford, under fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometric conditions, abundant and persistent [M---Cl]⁺ species usefully amenable to quantitative analysis with the aid of thioglycerol as a liquid FAB matrix. The use of BDTA as an internal standard allowed a direct, precise and accurate determination of cetylpyridinium and benzethonium chlorides, either as pure samples or in dosage forms, in the concentration range 0.05–2 mg/ml.     

The Effect of Medication Reconciliation via a Patient Portal on Medication Discrepancies: A Randomized Noninferiority Study

BackgroundMedication reconciliation has become standard care to prevent medication transfer errors. However, this process is time-consuming but could be more efficient when patients are engaged in medication reconciliation via a patient portal.ObjectivesTo explore whether medication reconciliation by the patient via a patient portal is noninferior to medication reconciliation by a pharmacy technician.Design (including intervention)Open randomized controlled noninferiority trial. Patients were randomized between medication reconciliation via a patient portal (intervention) or medication reconciliation by a pharmacy technician at the preoperative screening (usual care).Setting and ParticipantsPatients scheduled for elective surgery using at least 1 chronic medication were included.MeasuresThe primary endpoint was the number of medication discrepancies compared to the electronic nationwide medication record system (NMRS). For the secondary endpoint, time investment of the pharmacy technician for the medication reconciliation interview and patient satisfaction were studied. Noninferiority was analyzed with an independent t test, and the margin was set at 20%.ResultsA total of 499 patients were included. The patient portal group contained 241 patients; the usual care group contained 258 patients. The number of medication discrepancies was 2.6 ± 2.5 in the patient portal group and 2.8 ± 2.7 in the usual care group. This was not statistically different and within the predefined noninferiority margin. Patients were satisfied with the use of the patient portal tool. Also, the use of the portal can save on average 6.8 minutes per patient compared with usual care.Conclusions and ImplicationsMedication reconciliation using a patient portal is noninferior to medication reconciliation by a pharmacy technician with respect to medication discrepancies, and saves time in the medication reconciliation process. Future studies should focus on identifying patient characteristics for successful implementation of patient portal medication reconciliation.