Seasonal covariation of the circadian phases of rectal temperature and slow wave sleep onset

There is a scarcity of well-controlled studies of the seasonal variation in circadian rhythmicity. In the present study, the circadian phase of rectal temperature and the onset of slow wave sleep were studied in a series of twelve 24-h experiments, one each month of the year, for six healthy subjects under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. In winter, as compared with summer, the average circadian rhythm of rectal temperature was phase delayed by 45 min, and the average onset of slow wave sleep was phase delayed by 40 min. The temporal relationship between the circadian phase of rectal temperature and the timing of slow wave sleep was maintained throughout the year. Habitual rising and retiring times covaried as well. Furthermore, the circadian rhythm of rectal temperature followed the timing of the photoperiod across the year, but had a much smaller range of seasonal variation. Apparently, the seasonal variation in the photoperiodic zeitgeber is largely compensated for by the stabilizing influence of secondary zeitgebers. However, in healthy subjects some effect of photoperiodic variation can still be observed.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of the Anterosuperior and Posteroinferior Atrial Approaches to the AV Node for Treatment of AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Catheter Ablation Techniques in AVNRT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation has been established as a first-line curative treatment modality in patients with symptomatic AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The successful sites of stepwise catheter ablation approaches of the so-called fast and slow pathways strongly suggest that AVNRT involves the atrial approaches to the AV node. The typical fast pathway ablation sites are located anterosuperior toward the apex of the triangle of Koch, which also contains the compact AV node, whereas the usual slow pathway ablation sites are located posteroinferior toward the base of the triangle of Koch at a greater distance to the compact AV node and bundle of His. Accordingly, ablation studies with large patient cohorts have demonstrated that fast pathway ablation carries a higher risk of inadvertent complete AV block. Thus, the slow pathway is clearly the primary target site, and fast pathway ablation is rarely necessary. Different approaches for slow pathway ablation have been elaborated: anatomically oriented stepwise techniques, ablation guided by double potentials recorded within the area of the slow pathway insertion, and combined techniques. The modern concept of AVNRT suggests that this arrhythmia involves the highly complex three-dimensional nonuniform anisotropic AV junctional area. Accordingly, mapping and ablation studies demonstrated that the anterior approach is not identical with fast pathway ablation, and the posterior approach is not identical with slow pathway ablation. Therefore, it is essential for interventional electrophysiologists to familiarize themsdves with the anatomic and electrophysiologic details of this complex and variable specialized AV junctional region. In this review, the anatomic and pathophysiologic aspects of the AV junctional area as they relate to interventional therapy are summarized briefly, and the catheter techniques for ablation of the so-called fast and slow AV nodal pathways for the treatment of AVNRT are described.     

THE EFFECT OF SOME α2-ADRENOCEPTOR AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS ON GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT IN MICE: INFLUENCE OF MORPHINE, CASTOR OIL AND GLUCOSE

1. The effects of graded doses of the α₂-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine, tizanidine and BHT-920, and the α₂-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan, on gastrointestinal transit were investigated in mice using the charcoal meal test. 2. The agonists produced significant and dose-dependent decreases in gastrointestinal transit, and the antagonists produced the opposite effect. In affecting the gastrointestinal transit, clonidine (1 mg/kg) was as effective as tizanidine (12 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg), while yohimbine (2 mg/kg) was as effective as idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 3. Morphine (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg) significantly inhibited gastrointestinal transit. This effect was significantly reversed by the co-administration of yohimbine (2 mg/kg) and idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 4. The acute administration of glucose (5.04 g/kg, i.p.) potentiated the inhibition of gastrointestinal transit produced by clonidine (1 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg). Glucose treatment, however, had no significant effect on the increase in gastrointestinal transit induced by yohimbine (2 mg/kg) or idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 5. Castor oil (0.25 mL/mouse, orally) induced diarrhoea in saline-treated animals within about 45 min. Clonidine (1 mg/kg), tizanidine (12 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg) delayed the occurrence of diarrhoea to 2.1, 1.2 and 1.4 h, respectively.     

高肺容积部分平均通过时间的测定方法和临床意义

介绍了用力呼气肺量图高肺容积部分平均通过时间(MTTp-h)的测定方法,并对100例正常人和94例气道阻塞疾病(支气管肺癌、喉癌和慢性支气管炎)患者进行了测定。初步认为MTTp-h对检测大气道和上气道阻塞敏感性较高,可作为协助临床诊断的实验室指标。     

健康人视动性眼球震颤的研究

用微处理机(单板计算机)实时分析了视动性眼震,提取了10项参数,其中9项参数得出正常值,可作为评定视动性眼震之参考。各项参数间均有相关,整体评定,可提高诊断水平。将平均慢相速度、快相波辐和累积快相波辐、慢相时间等4项参数分别用计算机处理和人工处理,把两种处理结果进行t检验,无显著差异(P值均>0.05)。将计算机与人工计算的眼震频率进行比较,两者符合率达96.7％以上。采用微处理机可显著提高工效。     

Substance P augments a persistent slow inward calcium-sensitive current in voltage-clamped spinal dorsal horn neurons of the rat

Rat spinal dorsal horn neurons in slice preparations perfused with Ringer solution containing 0.5-1 microM TTX and/or 10-20 mM tetraethylammonium at 29 degrees C, were studied by using a single microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. Slow persistent inward currents were recorded during depolarizing voltage commands to membrane potentials positive to about -40 mV. The inward current was depressed by removing external Ca, or by adding 0.1-0.2 mM Cd, 5 mM Co or 0.1 mM verapamil, and was increased by adding Ba or Bay-K 8644. Substance P (SP) augmented a persistent slow inward Ca-sensitive current in a dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that this effect may be instrumental in generating the SP-evoked slow depolarization, increase in membrane excitability, and the 'bursting' behavior in the immature rat dorsal horn neurons. In addition, in some neurons SP reduced the M-like current, which effect may contribute to, but not explain, generation of the SP-induced slow depolarization.     

Inhibitory action of quercetin on intestinal transit in mice

The effects of quercetin have been investigated on the gastrointestinal propulsion of charcoal meal in mice. Quercetin reduced the rate of intestinal transit and this effect was potentiated by verapamil.     

Measurement of arterial input functions for dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging using echoplanar images: comparison of physical simulations with in vivo results.

Measurement of the arterial input bolus shape is essential to the quantification of mean transit time and blood flow with dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI. Input functions derived from the echoplanar signal intensity within or near arteries are highly nonlinear, yet such input functions are widely used. We employed a physical model for the echoplanar signal intensity from an artery as a function of contrast agent concentration, artery size, and angle to the magnetic field to test approaches for the measurement of the arterial input function. The simulated results confirmed the strong nonlinearity of signal in the neighborhood of vessels. Of the input function measurement methods considered, the simulations suggested that measurement of signal near but not within a large vessel is most accurate, but mean transit times (MTT) calculated with these input functions are highly sensitive to peak bolus concentration. Input functions determined from voxels demonstrating the shortest first moment overestimated the MTT but the measured MTTs were more robust to changes in peak concentration. Characteristics of the measured in vivo input functions were consistent with the simulations. Our results emphasize the important contribution of input function errors to the uncertainty in MTT and blood flow imaging with DSC MRI.     

功能性便秘患儿胃肠传输时间的测定

目的 :采用不透X线标志物测定功能性便秘患儿和正常儿童全胃肠传输时间口 盲传输时间 ,结肠传输时间及分段结肠传输时间的正常值 .方法 :通过口服不透X线标志物 ,用X线拍片法分别于 12 ,2 4和 4 8h摄腹部平片 ,测定 6 8名正常儿童全胃肠传输时间 (totalgastrointestinaltransittime,TGITT)、口 盲时间 (mouth intestinetransittime ,M ITT)和结肠传输时间 (colonictransittime ,CTT) .结果 :正常儿童及FC患儿的 5 0 %全胃肠、口 盲、全结肠传输时间分别为 (2 3.6± 1.6 )h ,(9.9± 1.4 )h ,(14 .8± 1.8)和 (80 .4± 2 .1)h ,(2 0 .7± 0 .6 )h ,(5 9.9± 2 .3)h .节段性结肠传输时间包括 :右半结肠传输时间 (rightcolonictransittime,RCTT) ;左半结肠传输时间 (leftcolonictransittime ,LCTT)和直肠乙状结肠传输时间 (rectosigmoidcolonictransittime,RSTT)分别为 (7.3± 1.1)h ,(3.4± 0 .8)h ,(4 .1± 1.2 )和 (2 0 .3± 1.2 )h ,(12 .8± 1.7)h ,(2 6 .8± 1.4 )h .结论 :正常儿童胃肠传输时间与正常成人和功能性便秘患儿比较有显著差异 (P <0 .0 1) .胃肠传输时间测定可了解全胃肠及各段的动力情况 ,对功能性便秘的诊断及评估治疗效果有实用意义     

自拟白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘临床观察

目的　观察白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘的疗效。方法　自拟白术桃花汤 (白术 30g ,桃花 12g ,生地黄 30g ,枳实 10g) ,每日服 1剂 ,7d为 1个疗程。对照组服用果导片作对比观察。结果　白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘 117例 ,治愈 10 6例 ,好转 4例 ,总有效率 94 .0 2 %;果导片治疗 6 6例 ,治愈18例 ,好转 30例 ,总有效率 72 .73%。两组总有效率比较 ,经统计学处理P <0 0 1,差异有非常显著性意义。结论　白术桃花汤功能为补气除湿 ,增液行气 ,通调大便 ,治疗习惯性便秘疗效满意。