Chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced or recurrent olfactory neuroblastoma

Background: Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare sino‐nasal tumor arising from the olfactory epithelium and is often characterized by local invasion or metastasis. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of this tumor is unclear. The purpose of this study was to review our institution’s experience of chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent olfactory neuroblastoma. Methods: Twenty‐one patients with histologically proven olfactory neuroblastoma were treated at our institution between 1992 and 2002. Twelve of these patients received chemotherapy in the setting of unresectable or recurrent disease and were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatment outcome or survival. Results: Eight patients of the 12 patients received cisplatin‐based chemotherapy and the remaining four patients received chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel plus irinotecan (three patients) or cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (1 patient). A partial response was achieved in five patients, with an overall response rate of 42%, although the chemotherapeutic regimens were heterogeneous. Two partial responses were obtained among the three patients who received docetaxel plus irinotecan. The response rate to chemotherapy was 83% in the younger age group (<40 years), as opposed to 0% in the older age group (≥40 years), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Our study indicated that olfactory neuroblastoma would be sensitive to chemotherapy, especially with young patients. Docetaxel plus irinotecan has the possibility of showing favorable response, and warrants further investigation.     

The spatial organization of olfactory nerve projections

The spatial organization of olfactory nerve projections was examined in the rat. The pathway was traced by orthograde transport of HRP following nasal lavage and by retrograde transport of HRP following injections into the olfactory bulb. The results indicated that there was a broad relationship between the epithelium and the olfactory bulb. Specific regions of the olfactory bulb received input from a large region of the epithelium. However, there was evidence that olfactory nerve terminations were not uniformly dense across their terminal fields. The results suggest that there may be finer sorting of olfactory nerves based on functional specificity.     

细胞移植的人嗅鞘细胞培养方法的研究

目的探讨适用于细胞移植的人嗅鞘细胞（OECs）分离与培养的方法。方法无菌条件下取自愿捐献孕5个月流产胎儿的完整嗅球进行嗅鞘细胞提取分离、纯化，并对嗅鞘细胞进行免疫组化染色及纯度检测，观察其形态学特点，检测其免疫组化染色的阳性率。结果本方法分离、培养的嗅鞘细胞大多呈三角形、梭形，有些突起较长，生长活跃，增殖迅速，P75、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）免疫组化染色呈阳性，嗅鞘细胞阳性率为95．3％。结论该方法简便易行且不影响细胞功能，适用于细胞移植的研究。     

Synaptic reorganization in the medial amygdaloid nucleus after lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb of adult rat. II. New synapse formation in the medial amygdaloid nucleus by fibers from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The rearrangement of terminations from the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST) was examined in the medial amygdaloid nucleus (MAN) at 2 months following the lesion of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) using an electron microscopy and degeneration study. At 2 days following a BST lesion, the number of degenerating synapses was 0.7 ± 0.1 (mean±S.E.M.) per unit area (2500 μm² in the molecular layer, and 3/0 ± 0.3 in the cellular part. At 2 months after an AOB lesion, the degenerating synapses from the AOB had completely disappeared from the MAN. The BST was then lesioned at 2 months after the AOB lesion and, 2 days following this BST lesion, the degenerating synapses were counted in MAN. The numbers observed were 3.3 ± 0.6 per unit area in the molecular layer and 4.5 ± 0.4 in the cellular part. Therefore, the number of these degenerating synapses increased significantly within the molecular layer, though, in the cellular part the number of synapses was not significantly elevated over control. No differences in postsynaptic profiles (ratio of synapses on dendritic spine to dendritic shaft) were observed after the AOB lesion. These results indicate that the BST fibers formed new synapses in the molecular layer following the denervation of AOB fibers. The possibility of new synapse formation by other afferent fibers in addition to the AOB fibers is discussed as is the relationship between lesion induced synaptic reorganization and functional recovery after injury.     

Olfactory Schwann cells are derived from precursor cells in the olfactory epithelium

In this morphological and immunohistochemical study we show that olfactory schwann cells (OSC) are derived from precursor cells residing in the olfactory epithelium. During development, they migrate out of the epithelium and extend processes to ensheath the olfactory axons. Olfactory mucosa from E14 rat embryos and juvenile rats were treated with trypsin-pancreatin to remove the underlying connective tissue. The epithelial explant was then maintained for two days in culture, during which cells migrated out from the explant. Among them were spindly bipolar cells which were identified as OSC by their positive immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein, ultrastructure, and association with growing axons. Axonal growth was significantly more profuse in the embryonic explants, in which the polarity of the OSC was oriented parallel with the axons. Ultrastructural observations showed that ensheathment of the bundles of axons resembled those in vivo.     

基于人工嗅觉的呈香物质识别方法

研究了人工嗅觉在物质识别中的应用，概述了使用模式识别辨别物质气味的基本原理，详细介绍了人工嗅觉系统的硬件设计，算法和软件实现方法，最后使用本系统对不同香气物质进行了识别，取得了较好的结果。     

嗅神经鞘细胞移植联合应用GDNF促进大鼠脊髓损伤后功能恢复

目的 嗅神经鞘细胞（OECs）移植联合应用胶质源性神经营养因子（GDNF）恢复大鼠脊髓损伤的功能。方法 将成年大鼠分为脊髓半切洞损伤组（A组），脊髓半切洞损伤＋嗅神经鞘细胞移植组（B）和脊髓半切洞＋嗅神经鞘细胞移植＋胶质源性神经营养因子（C组）。手术后应用联合行为评分（CBS），感觉诱发电位（SEP）和运动诱发电位（MEP）检查，测定脊髓功能恢复情况。结果 3组CBS得分A组＞B组＞C组，SEP和MEP潜峰时，均A组＞B组＞C组，统计分析均差异显著性（P＜0．05）。结论 移植嗅神经鞘细胞＋胶质源性神经营养因子能促进损伤脊髓功能的恢复。