BMPs and Chordin regulate patterning of the directive axis in a sea anemone

The TGF-β molecules Dpp/BMP2/4/7 and their antagonist Sog/Chd play a conserved role in establishing the dorso-ventral (DV) axis in bilaterians. Homologues of BMPs and the antagonist, Chordin, have been isolated from Cnidaria and show a striking asymmetric expression pattern with respect to the primary oral-aboral (OA) axis. We used Morpholino knockdowns of Nematostella dpp (bmp2/4), bmp5-8, chordin, and tolloid to investigate their function during early development of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Molecular analysis of the BMP Morpholino phenotypes revealed an upregulated and radialized expression of bmps and chordin in ectoderm and endoderm indicating a negative feedback loop. Our data further suggest that BMP signaling is required for symmetry breaking of bmp and chordin expression during gastrulation. While bmps and chordin marker genes of the ectodermal OA axis extended aborally, other ectodermal markers of the OA axis were not significantly affected. By contrast, expression of other endodermal marker genes marking both the OA and the directive axis were abolished. Our data suggest that the logic of BMP2/4 signaling and the BMP antagonist, Chordin, differs significantly between Cnidaria and Bilateria, yet the double negative feedback loop detected in Nematostella bears systemic similarities with part of the regulatory network of the DV axis patterning system in amphibians.     

严重感染患者下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴功能的再评价

应用化学免疫发光法分组测定10例严重全身性感染（危重组）和12例感染性休克（休克组）患者在病程早期（确诊后1，3，5d）血清皮质醇和血浆ACTH水平，与12例对照组患者进行对照分析；并进行1μg ACTH刺激试验评价严重感染患者下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴功能。结果显示，与对照组相比，危重组的ACTH明显升高（P〈0．05），休克组的ACTH明显降低（P〈0．05），ACTH与严重感染患者的病情危重程度密切相关（P〈0．05），在存活组和死亡组间存在显著差异（P〈0．05）。提示HPA轴在严重感染发生早期已经出现功能改变，ACTH水平与严重感染患者的病情危重程度及住院病死率密切相关。     

Celiac artery stenting: a new strategy for patients with pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm associated with stenosis of the celiac artery

We report a new strategy—celiac artery stenting—to relieve stenosis of the celiac arterial root. This was performed in two patients with pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) aneurysm associated with a stenotic celiac arterial root. The first patient was a 66-year-old man complaining of abrupt onset of upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a huge retroperitoneal hematoma behind the duodenum, and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angiography demonstrated an aneurysm arising from inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and celiac arteriography showed a stenotic celiac arterial root. Transcatheter embolization of the aneurysm was tried, but failed. Because of his unstable hemodynamics, emergent laparotomy with resection of the aneurysm was performed. Fourteen days after the operation, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with celiac arterial stenting was done. The patient was discharged 2 days later, and has had no further bleeding episode for 3 years. The second patient was a 46-year-old woman, who also complained of acute upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography disclosed a huge retroperitoneal hematoma, and selective SMA angiography demonstrated an aneurysm arising from the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, and celiac arteriography showed a stenotic celiac arterial root. Because angiography showed no active bleeding from the aneurysm, percutaneous transluminal angioplastic stenting of the stenotic celiac artery was performed. She was discharged 5 days later and has had no further bleeding episode for 2 years. Celiac arterial stenting, as shown in our two patients, could be easily and safely employed in patients with PDA aneurysm associated with a stenotic celiac arterial root to release the stenosis of the celiac arterial root and to prevent further possible bleeding.     

从“脑-肝-血管”轴初步探讨肝藏血、主疏泄的机制

“肝藏血,主疏泄”是中医藏象学说的重要内容,在中医辨证论治诸多疾病中应用广泛,尤其在高血压病的从肝论治方面。然其调节血压、调节肝血流的具体机制,调节血压血流的途径、部位等尚不甚明确。收集国内外相关文献,从“脑-肝-血管”轴的角度,基于肝血管和生理、神经支配等方面,初步探讨其“藏血、主疏泄”的机制,及两者之间的关系,为今后相关深入基础机制研究提供思路。     

Functional Connections of the Vestibulo-spino-adrenal Axis in the Control of Blood Pressure Via the Vestibulosympathetic Reflex in Conscious Rats

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.     

Cortisol Response to Stress in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background:

Differences in the cortisol response have been reported between children exhibiting the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, there is no such information about adults. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible differences between the combined and inattentive subtypes in the cortisol response to stress.

Methods:

Ninety-six adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 38 inattentive and 58 combined, without any medical or psychiatric comorbidities and 25 healthy controls were included. The Trier Social Stress Test was used to assess physiological stress responses. Clinical data and subjective stress levels, including the Perceived Stress Scale, were also recorded.

Results:

No significant differences in the cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test were found between patients and controls. However, albeit there were no basal differences, lower cortisol levels at 15 (P=.015), 30 (P=.015), and 45 minutes (P=.045) were observed in the combined compared with the inattentive subtype after the stress induction; these differences disappeared 60 minutes after the stress. In contrast, the subjective stress responses showed significant differences between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients and controls (P<.001), but no differences were seen between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes. In turn, subjective stress measures, such as the Perceived Stress Scale, positively correlated with the whole cortisol stress response (P<.027).

Conclusions:

Both the combined and inattentive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adults exhibited a normal cortisol response to stress when challenged. Nevertheless, the inattentive patients displayed a higher level of cortisol after stress compared with the combined patients. Despite the differences in the cortisol response, adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported high levels of subjective stress in their every-day life.     

Wnt8a and Wnt3a cooperate in the axial stem cell niche to promote mammalian body axis extension

Background: Vertebrate body axis extension occurs in a head‐to‐tail direction from a caudal progenitor zone that responds to interacting signals. Wnt/β‐catenin signaling is critical for generation of paraxial mesoderm, somite formation, and maintenance of the axial stem cell pool. Body axis extension requires Wnt8a in lower vertebrates, but in mammals Wnt3a is required, although the anterior trunk develops in the absence of Wnt3a. Results: We examined mouse Wnt8a^–/– and Wnt3a^–/– single and double mutants to explore whether mammalian Wnt8a contributes to body axis extension and to determine whether a posterior growth function for Wnt8a is conserved throughout the vertebrate lineage. We find that caudal Wnt8a is expressed only during early somite stages and is required for normal development of the anterior trunk in the absence of Wnt3a. During this time, we show that Wnt8a and Wnt3a cooperate to maintain Fgf8 expression and prevent premature Sox2 up‐regulation in the axial stem cell niche, critical for posterior growth. Similar to Fgf8, Wnt8a requires retinoic acid (RA) signaling to restrict its caudal expression boundary and possesses an upstream RA response element that binds RA receptors. Conclusions: These findings provide new insight into interaction of caudal Wnt‐FGF‐RA signals required for body axis extension. Developmental Dynamics 244:797–807, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

人工晶状体植入术治疗儿童白内障临床效果及影响因素

目的:探讨先天性白内障人工晶状体(intraocular lens,IOL)植入术后屈光状态的远期变化及其相关影响因素。方法:入选我院2013-01/2014-01先天性白内障患儿70例110眼,按患者年龄分为A组(<2岁)、B组(2~6岁)、C组(7~12岁),均进行先天性白内障摘除联合IOL植入术,比较三组术后角膜曲率、眼轴、屈光状态情况,分析其眼轴变化影响因素。结果:A组、B组、C组术后角膜曲率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组术后与术后3mo角膜曲率比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),B和C组术后与术后3mo角膜曲率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组术后3mo角膜曲率差异显著高于B组和C组(P<0.05),B组和C组术后3mo角膜曲率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组、B组和C组术后眼轴长度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组术后与术后3mo眼轴长度比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),B和C组术后与术后3mo眼轴长度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组术后3mo眼轴长度差异显著高于B组和C组(P<0.05),B组和C组术后3mo眼轴长度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);三组患者术后屈光状态呈现近视移动变化趋势,A组术后屈光变化率及屈光度变化显著高于B和C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:先天性白内障摘除联合IOL植入术后屈光状态呈现近视化趋势,2岁以下患儿表现显著。近视化影响因素主要为眼轴增长。