Ultrastructure of the dorsal claustrum in cat. II. Synaptic organization

The claustrum is a bilateral subcortical nucleus situated between the insular cortex and the striatum in the brain of all mammals. It consists of two embryologically distinct subdivisions - dorsal and ventral claustrum. The claustrum has high connectivity with various areas of the cortex, subcortical and allocortical structures. It has long been suggested that the various claustral connections have different types of synaptic contacts at the claustral neurons. However, to the best of our knowledge, the literature data on the ultrastructural organization of the different types of synaptic contacts in the dorsal claustrum are very few. Therefore, the aim of our study was to observe and describe the synaptic organization of the dorsal claustrum in the cat. We used a total of 10 adult male cats and conducted an ultrastructural study under a transmission electron microscope as per established protocol. We described a multitude of dendritic spines, which were subdivided into two types - with and without foot processes. Based on the size and shape of the terminal boutons, the quantity and distribution of vesicles and the characteristic features of the active synaptic zone, we described six types of synaptic boutons, most of which formed asymmetrical synaptic contacts. Furthermore, we reported the presence of axo-dendritic, axo-somatic, dendro-dendritic and axo-axonal synapses. The former two likely represent the morphological substrate of the corticoclaustral pathway, while the remaining two types have the ultrastructural features of inhibitory synapses, likely forming a local inhibitory circuit in the claustrum. In conclusion, the present study shares new information about the neuropil of the claustrum and proposes a systematic classification of the types of synaptic boutons and contacts observed in the dorsal claustrum of the cat, thus supporting its key and complex role as a structure integrating various information within the brain.     

加味葛根芩连汤联合常规治疗对重度湿热型溃疡性结肠炎患者的临床疗效

目的考察加味葛根芩连汤联合常规治疗对重度湿热型溃疡性结肠炎患者的临床疗效。方法82例患者随机分为对照组和观察组,每组41例,对照组给予常规治疗(美沙拉嗪、氢化可的松琥珀酸钠),观察组在对照组基础上加用加味葛根芩连汤,疗程4周。检测症状评分、中医证候疗效、肠镜Baron评分、膜屏障功能指标(HIF⁃1α、DAO、D⁃LA)、血清促炎因子(IL⁃2、IL⁃6、TNF⁃α、IFN⁃γ、CRP)、血清抗炎因子(IL⁃4、IL⁃10、IL⁃13)、免疫功能指标(CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+、NK细胞)、凝血功能指标(FIB、APTT、PLT)、不良反应发生率变化。结果观察组总有效率较对照组升高(P<0.05)。治疗后,观察组症状评分、肠镜Baron评分、膜屏障功能指标、血清促炎因子、CD8+、FIB、PLT、不良反应发生率较对照组降低(P<0.05),血清抗炎因子、CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+、NK细胞、APTT升高(P<0.05)。结论加味葛根芩连汤联合常规治疗能有效缓解重度湿热型溃疡性结肠炎患者临床症状,保护肠黏膜,降低不良反应,其机制可能与抑制促炎因子分泌、促进抗炎因子分泌、激活免疫功能、改善凝血功能有关。     

五酯软胶囊联合他克莫司治疗乙肝相关性膜性肾病临床研究

目的:探讨益肾化瘀中药联合他克莫司胶囊对乙肝相关性膜性肾病的治疗效果。方法:选取HBV-MN病患者共80例,随机分为两组,对照组采用常规他克莫司胶囊,观察组给予他克莫司胶囊联合五酯软胶囊。结果:观察组与对照组治疗后,24h尿蛋白分别为(0.99±2.94)g/L和(2.94±1.57)g/L,血肌酐分别为(82.44±3.17)mmol/L和(101.33±2.47)mmol/L; 白蛋白含量分别为(37.05±2.49)g/L和(31.47±5.27)g/L,五酯软胶囊加入后,降低了24 h尿蛋白、血肌酐,增加血液中白蛋白含量。降低肝病毒在体内的存活率。结论:益肾化瘀的五酯软胶囊联合他克莫司药物,对HBV-MN治疗有促进作用。     

白酒火浴法治疗肌注后局部肿痛治验举隅

臀部肌肉注射是临床上最为常见的给药途径之一,由于药物的性质、患者体质的差异或临床操作不当等原因,部分患者会出现注射部位局部肿、痛、结节等并发症,异常痛苦,甚至影响药物疗效的发挥。国术点穴疗法是由拳术演变来的一种自然疗法,具有方法简便、容易操作、花费少、疗效好等优点。临床中我们用国术点穴疗法中的白酒火浴法治疗臀部肌注后局部肿痛,无不效验。     

中西医协同镇痛方案在人工膝关节置换围手术期的临床疗效观察

[目的]观察中西医协同镇痛方案在人工膝关节置换围手术期的临床疗效.[方法] 2011年8月～2012年2月收治行单侧膝关节置换术患者72例.随机分为实验组(H组)和对照组(C组),每组各36例.分别应用河南省中医院关节外科镇痛方案和长征医院关节外科镇痛方案,对术前、术后静息痛和运动痛、关节活动度及肿胀进行比较.[结果]术前二组患者静息痛VAS评分比较无显著性差异,术后6、12、24、48、72 h静息痛VAS评分H组小于C组,术后72hH组、C组两组间评分无显著性差异(P＞0.05).术前二组患者运动痛比较无显著差异,术后6、12、24、48、72 h运动痛VAS评分比较H组小于C组,但组间比较在统计学意义上无显著性差异(P＞0.05).术后1、3d,1、2周膝关节活动度数据H组大于C组,比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),术后4周随访二组活动度比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05).H组和C组术肢肿胀程度及例数在术后3d二者相近,随术后时间延长,存在明显差异(P＜0.05).[结论]中西医协同镇痛方案在全膝关节置换术围手术期多模式疼痛管理中有助于减轻患者的术后疼痛和肿胀,并减少术后总的麻醉剂使用量.     

Perspectives on phytoremediation of zinc pollution in air,water and soil

In this article, we discuss the phytoremediation of Zn pollution in the environment and the mechanism of plant resistance focusing on the mycorrhiza and subcellular mechanisms affecting metal binding and efflux in plants. Phytoremediation is a green low-cost technology that use plants to remove heavy metals (HMs) from soil. As part of this, it is necessary to consider the plant's tolerance to for example zinc (Zn) together with the plant's ability to accumulate and adapt to the specific local environment. During the process of restoring ecosystem contaminations, pH, organic matter, root exudates and microbial biomass affect the efficiency of phytoremediation while considering chemical modification, biosynthesis, microbial assistance and gene technology. However, obstacles remain in terms of for example chemical modifications that may cause either new pollution or disrupt the plant-microorganism symbiosis while other applications such as genetic engineering to change plant traits and function thereby improving heavy metal tolerance and absorption. The selection of gene fragments is complicated and requiring careful considerations due to environmental and human health side effects. Furthermore, using biochar may help to reduce the costs and increase the efficiency of plant phytoremediation. At the same time, there is an urgent need to combine nanotechnology and use of artificial chelating agents and plant hormones to screen the microbiome conducive to plant Zn absorption in order to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation.     

Primed neutrophil infiltrations into multiple organs in child physical abuse cases: A preliminary study

Physical abuse of the elderly induces a massive primed neutrophil infiltration into the lung and liver through chemotaxis by interleukin (IL)-8, similar to cases of traumatic or hemorrhagic shock. Here, we used immunohistochemical analyses to investigate this infiltration in cases of physically abused children. In addition, we examined the expression of neutrophil elastase (NE) as the inflammatory mediator and α1-antitrypsin (AAT) as the elastase inhibitor. The number of neutrophils in the abuse cases was increased significantly in the heart, lung, liver, and kidney, compared with that of control cases. IL-8-positive cells and NE-positive cells in all organs of abuse cases were significantly greater than those in control cases. Large quantities of oxidized AAT, which fails to inactivate NE and results in tissue damage, was detected in the liver of abuse cases. Neutrophil infiltration showed positive correlation with the degree of systemic accumulation of non-fatal injuries caused by repetitive abusive behavior. Although further investigation using more autopsy samples is necessary, results of our preliminary study indicate that massive neutrophil infiltration induced by IL-8 in multiple organs is a new complementary diagnostic indicator of physical abuse in children. Moreover, the demonstration of NE-positive cells and oxidized AAT provides firm evidence of tissue damage.     

Associations of OCA2-HERC2 SNPs and haplotypes with human pigmentation characteristics in the Brazilian population

Panels composed of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to pigmentation, when associated with different phenotypes, may assist in predicting the physical appearance of an individual, being very useful in forensic caseworks. We evaluated the association of seven OCA2-HERC2 SNPs and haplotypes with pigmentation characteristics (eye, skin, hair and freckles) in the highly admixed and phenotypically heterogeneous Brazilian population. All the seven SNPs evaluated presented one allele associated with phenotypes from at least two pigmentation features and the alternative allele associated with the opposite phenotypes from the same trait. The genotypic associations followed the same pattern for all seven SNPs. Nine haplotypes were observed in our sample and eight were associated with at least two pigmentation traits. Such SNPs and haplotypes could be deemed as good predictors for the presence of freckles and for skin, eye and hair pigmentation in the Brazilian population.