Cholinergic somata and terminals in the rat substantia nigra: an immunocytochemical study with optical and electron microscopic techniques

The topographical distribution, histochemical characteristics, and anatomical relationships of the cellular elements containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity, demonstrated with specific monoclonal antibodies to ChAT following the unlabelled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) procedure at the optical and electron microscopic levels, were investigated in the rat substantia nigra (SN). Scarce, large (20-30 microns in maximum soma extent) cholinergic cell bodies and processes were found within the boundaries of the SN, in the borders of the pars compacta and pars reticulata, principally at caudal levels. Occasionally, cholinergic neurons were also found at intermediate levels of the SN, in the borders of the pars reticulata and pars lateralis. Cytologically, these large cells resembled ChAT-positive neurons localized in other areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of the rat--for example, the pontomesencephalotegmental (PMT) cholinergic complex (Ch5-Ch6) and the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) (Ch4). Histochemically, ChAT-positive cells in the SN were characterized by their ability to utilize the reduced cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Identified ChAT-positive neurons in the light microscope were subsequently studied in the electron microscope. All cholinergic neurons in the SN share essentially the same ultrastructural characteristics. The copious cytoplasm was rich in organelles with large lipofuscin granules. The synaptic input onto cell bodies and their dendrites was studied in serial sections. Synaptic contacts onto the perikarya and proximal dendrites were sparse and of asymmetric type. Both symmetric and asymmetric synaptic specializations onto ChAT-positive distal dendrites were detected. Asymmetric synaptic contacts onto cell bodies and dendrites were often defined by the presence of subjunctional dense bodies associated with the postsynaptic membrane. The pattern of the synaptic input to these cells differs strikingly from that onto unlabelled neighboring neurons. The perikarya and dendrites of the latter were characteristically covered with synaptic boutons. Scarce immunoreactive terminals in asymmetric synaptic contact with unlabelled dendritic profiles were also detected in portions of SN compacta with no ChAT-positive cells. Extranigrally located ChAT-positive cells of the PMT cholinergic complex were also examined in the electron microscope for comparison purposes. These cells exhibited, on the basis of their morphology and synaptic input pattern, very similar characteristics to those shown by SN cholinergic neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

奥氮平与氯丙嗪对精神分裂症患者认知功能的影响

目的：比较奥氮平与氯丙嗪对精神分裂症患者认知功能的影响。方法将96例精神分裂症患者随机分为奥氮平组和氯丙嗪组,每组48例,分别口服奥氮平和氯丙嗪治疗,观察8周。于治疗前后采用威斯康星卡片分类测验、韦氏记忆测验及河内塔测验对两组患者的认知功能进行测评分析。结果治疗8周末,奥氮平组威斯康星卡片分类测验完成分类数、正确应答数、概念化水平百分数及持续性应答数和韦氏记忆测验评分均较治疗前显著升高（P＜0．01）,奥氮平组显著高于氯丙嗪组（ P＜0．05或0．01）;两组持续性错误数和河内塔测验的完成时间和移动次数均较治疗前显著降低（P＜0．01）,奥氮平组显著低于氯丙嗪组（P＜0．01）。结论奥氮平能显著改善精神分裂症患者的认知功能,优于氯丙嗪。     

Initial change in transient osteoporosis of the hip on magnetic resonance images: a case report

We report the case of a 29-year-old Japanese man with transient osteoporosis of the left hip (TOH) following contralateral TOH, paying special attention to the initial changes on MRI. MR images showed no abnormal findings 6 weeks before the clinical manifestation, but the images just after the onset depicted a linear abnormality equivalent to a subchondral insufficiency fracture. Both radiological findings and clinical symptoms disappeared completely without any surgical intervention within 10 months.     

Neuropsychological performance in OCD: a study in medication-naïve patients

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with impairments in multiple neuropsychological domains but the findings are rather inconsistent across studies. One potential reason for poor replication is the confounding influence of medications. There is limited research on neuropsychological performance in medication-naïve, never treated OCD patients.

Methods

In this study, we assessed 31 medication-naïve, never-treated, DSM-IV OCD patients free of comorbid major depression and 31 healthy controls individually matched for age, gender and years of education, with tests of attention, executive function, memory reasoning and visuo-spatial function.

Results

Medication-naïve OCD patients did not significantly differ from healthy controls on most neuropsychological tests. Patients performed somewhat poorly only on the highest goal hierarchy of the Tower of London (TOL) test (p = 0.001, effect size = 0.68).

Conclusions

It is intriguing to find that symptomatic, drug-naïve OCD patients did not significantly differ from healthy controls on most neuropsychological tests. Our finding of medium effect size on TOL highest goal hierarchy test suggests that brain regions outside the affective orbitofrontal loop may also be perhaps involved in OCD. This finding however needs replication because of modest effect size. Future studies should focus on studying medication-naïve, co-morbidity-free patients and relatives using symptom dimensions for consistent and robust findings.     

Abordaje de la fibrilación auricular en pacientes con cáncer activo. Documento de consenso de expertos y recomendaciones

Improvements in survival among cancer patients have revealed the clinical impact of cardiotoxicity on both cardiovascular and hematological and oncological outcomes, especially when it leads to the interruption of highly effective antitumor therapies. Atrial fibrillation is a common complication in patients with active cancer and its treatment poses a major challenge. These patients have an increased thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risk but standard stroke prediction scores have not been validated in this population. The aim of this expert consensus-based document is to provide a multidisciplinary and practical approach to the prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with active cancer. This is a position paper of the Spanish Cardio-Oncology working group and the Spanish Thrombosis working group, drafted in collaboration with experts from the Spanish Society of Cardiology, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology, and the Spanish Society of Hematology.Full English text available from:www.revespcardiol.org/en     

Initial change in transient osteoporosis of the hip on magnetic resonance images: a case report

Abstract

We report the case of a 29-year-old Japanese man with transient osteoporosis of the left hip (TOH) following contralateral TOH, paying special attention to the initial changes on MRI. MR images showed no abnormal findings 6 weeks before the clinical manifestation, but the images just after the onset depicted a linear abnormality equivalent to a subchondral insufficiency fracture. Both radiological findings and clinical symptoms disappeared completely without any surgical intervention within 10 months.     

髋关节一过性骨质松疏症的MRI表现与诊断

目的 对髋关节一过性骨质松疏症(TOH)MR表现进行分析,以提高TOH诊断水平.方法 回顾4例髋关节TOH患者临床症状及MRI表现(行常规MR轴面T1WI、T2WI、STIR和冠状面STIR序列),并复习文献.结果 4例均为单侧髋部病变,于T1WI呈低信号、T2WI及STIR呈高信号,病变涉及股骨头、股骨颈部至粗隆间....