Integration of local inputs in visual cortex

In mammalian visual cortex, local connections are ubiquitous, extensively linking adjacent neurons of all types. In this study, optical maps of intrinsic signals and responses from single neurons were obtained from the same region of cat visual cortex while the effectiveness of the local cortical circuitry was altered by focally disinhibiting neurons within a column of known orientation preference. Maps of intrinsic signals indicated that local connections provide strong and functional subthreshold inputs to neighboring columns of other orientation preferences, altering the observed orientation preference to that of the disinhibited column. However, measuring the suprathreshold response using single-cell recordings revealed only mild changes of preferred orientation over the affected region. Because strongly tuned subthreshold inputs from cortex only marginally affect the tuning of a cortical cell's output, it is concluded that local cortical inputs are integrated weakly compared to geniculate inputs. Such circuitry potentially allows for the normalization of responses across a wide range of input activity through local averaging.      

蓣知子皂甙IV的结构

从木通科木通属植物白木通[Akebia trifoliata(Thunb.)Koidz.var.australis(Diels)Rehd]种子的乙醇提取物中以硅胶层析等方法得四种三萜皂甙。其中甙IV是新天然产物,命名为蓣知子皂甙IV(yuzhiziosideIV)。根据化学和光谱分析,确定甙IV的结构为3-O-β-D-吡喃木糖基-(1→2)-a-L-吡喃阿拉伯糖齐墩果酸-28-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-(1→6)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖酯甙。另外皂甙B(I)、皂甙C(II)和皂甙D(III)为已知物。这些化合物在白木通种子中均是首次得到。     

Treatment of stiff thoracic scoliosis by thoracoscopic anterior release combined with posterior instrumentation and fusion

Background  

Thoracoscopic anterior release has been shown that it can effectively improve spinal flexibility in animal and human cadaveric studies, and has been advocated for use in patients with scoliosis. This prospective case series aims to investigate the improvement of the spinal flexibility and the effectiveness in deformity correction by anterior thoracoscopic release and posterior spinal fusion.     

Differential function of CD80- and CD86-transfected human melanoma cells in the presence of IL-12 and IFN-gamma

Introduction of co-stimulatory molecules like CD80 and CD86 represents a means to augment the immunogenicity of tumor cells and to induce immune responses directed at tumor antigens. Here we compared CD80- and CD86-transfected human melanoma cells to induce primary immune responses by their capacity to promote proliferation of human allogeneic resting T lymphocytes. CD80- and CD86-transfected SkMel63 melanoma cells induced T cell activation to a comparable degree, which was found to be independent of the cell surface density of these co- stimulatory molecules. Co-expression of CD80 and CD86 did not result in a synergistic increase in T cell proliferation. Both CD80 and CD86 transfectants induced the proliferation of isolated CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Exogenous IL-2, IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha respectively enhanced primary T cell proliferation independent of CD80 or CD86 expression. Interestingly, differential activities of CD80 and CD86 were observed following stimulation of resting T cells in the presence of IL-12. Whereas IL-12 increased T cell proliferation in the presence of CD86-transfected melanoma cells, it exhibited an inhibitory function in the presence of CD80-expressing SkMel63 cells. Experimental evidence indicates that this inhibitory effect was mediated by IFN- gamma since (I) IFN-gamma secretion of stimulated T cells was augmented by IL-12, (II) exogenous IFN-gamma also inhibited T cell proliferation induced by CD80- but not CD86-transfected SkMel63 cells and (III) the inhibitory effect of IL-12 was blocked by an anti-IFN-gamma mAb.      

双嘧达莫在汞电极上的电化学行为和吸附性质

在NaOH底液中,双嘧达莫在汞电极上有一不可逆的线性扫描还原峰,E_PC=—1.39V(vs饱和Ag/AgCl)。该峰具有明显的吸附性。当搅拌富集时间较长、双嘧达莫的浓度较小、扫描速度较快时,电极反应几乎完全为吸附态的双嘧达莫所控制。选相交流伏安等实验表明,吸附型体为双嘧达莫中性分子。测得该体系的电子转移数n为4,不可逆吸附的αn_α值为1.72。探讨了双嘧达莫的电极反应机理,建立了用吸附伏安法测定双嘧达莫的最佳条件。