广泛性焦虑症与抑郁症患者免疫、内分泌及单胺递质的对照研究

目的探讨广泛性焦虑症(GAD)与抑郁症(MD)患者在免疫、内分泌和单胺递质方面的差异。方法 对30例GAD患者(焦虑症组)、38例MD患者(抑郁症组)在治疗(5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂治疗6~8周)前后分别检测血清白细胞介素2(IL-2)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素8(IL-8)、可溶性白细胞介素6受体(SIL-6R)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、皮质醇(CS)、促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、肾上腺素(EPH)和去甲肾上腺素(NE)水平。选择30名年龄和性别与患者组相匹配的健康人为对照组。结果 (1)焦虑症组治疗前IL-8[(122±76)ng／L]、SIL-6R[(2 065±790)ng／L]水平均高于对照组(99±68)ng／L]、[(294±48)ng／L,IL-6水平为(1.6±0.7)ng／L,低于对照组[(5.3±2.7)ng／L],差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05);抑郁症组治疗前IL-2[(7.7±6.7)ng／L]、IL-8[(119±67)ng／L]、SIL-6R[(1308±371)ng／L]水平均高于对照组,差异均有显著性意义(均P<0.05)。经治疗后,焦虑症组IL-6[(4.3±1.2)ng／L]水平较治疗前升高,IL-8[(39±9)ng／L]水平较治疗前降低(P<0.05);抑郁症组IL-2[(2.4±1.2)ng／L]、IL-8[(47±15)ng／L]水平较治疗前降低(P<0.05);均接近于对照组水平(均P>0.05)。(2)焦虑症组治疗前ACIH[(49±28)ng／L]、EPH[(67±45)ng／     

Neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid reflect pathological activity

The excitatory transmitters glutamate and aspartate become toxic whenever their extracellular levels are increased because of neuronal, glial and endothelial impairment. Taurine, a volume-regulating amino acid, is released upon excitotoxin-induced cell swelling. Our aim was to investigate if glutamate and aspartate in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reveal neuropathology in neurological patients, and if taurine unmasks glutamate-mediated toxicity. Glutamate and aspartate are doubled in viral meningitis, acute multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelopathy compared with control subjects and patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy. These levels do not coincide with a disturbed blood–brain barrier, as estimated by the albumin ratio, are independent of their precursors (glutamine, asparagine) and are not associated with cell lysis. Taurine is significantly increased in meninigitis, acute MS, and myelopathy, suggesting glutamate-mediated toxicity. Analysis of transmitters in lumbar CSF can be used to identify patients with cerebral and spinal pathology who might benefit from specific receptor-modulating agents.     

益气活血通便方对慢传输型便秘大鼠的治疗作用及机制

目的：探讨益气活血通便方对慢传输型便秘(STC)大鼠的治疗作用及机制。方法：采用盐酸洛哌丁胺灌胃法建立STC大鼠模型,设定正常组、模型组、莫沙必利组、益气活血通便方低、中、高剂量组(3.51、7.02、14.04 g·kg^-1)给药后观察各组大鼠一般体征变化、计算粪便含水率及肠道推进率;采用苏木素-伊红染色观察结肠组织黏膜炎症改变;采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测各组大鼠结肠P物质(SP)、血管活性肠肽(VIP)含量;采用免疫组织化学法和蛋白免疫印迹法检测大鼠结肠组织水通道蛋白(AQP)3、AQP4、AQP8和c-Kit蛋白灰度值,通过16S r RNA高通量测序检测肠道菌群变化。结果：经过益气活血通便方给药治疗10 d后,与模型组比较,益气活血通便方不同剂量组和莫沙必利组大鼠的粪便含水率和肠道推进率均显著增加(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,益气活血通便方中、高剂量组和莫沙必利组大鼠结肠无明显黏膜炎症改变,杯状细胞排列较规整无断裂、数量较多。益气活血通便方中、高剂量组和莫沙必利组血清中SP含量明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),VIP明显降低(P&...     

Towards a Neurotransmitter-Based Retinal Prosthesis Using an Inkjet Print-head

Electronic chips that provide a patterned stimulus to cells in the retina may provide a viable treatment for age-related macular degeneration. A surrogate MEMS device, in the form of a print-head from a desktop printer, has been used to eject a pattern of neurotransmitters (bradykinin) onto living rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Fluorescent calcium imaging was used to measure the patterned stimulation of individual cells. The chemical stimulation of cells by directed microfluidic delivery may have applications in retinal prosthetic devices, and in other prosthetic implants in the nervous system.     

Changes in striatal cholinergic, gabaergic, dopaminergic and serotoninergic biochemical markers after kainic acid-induced thalamic lesions in the rat

Summary Kinetic parameters of³H-choline,³H-GABA and³H-dopamine (DA) uptakes in striatal homogenates containing nerve endings were determined 2 to 3 weeks after kainic acid injection into the ipsilateral centre médian-parafascicular complex area of the thalamus in the rat. Results showed a marked decrease in³H-choline uptake concomitant with a selective decrease in Vmax. Data also showed a large decrease in³H-GABA uptake resulting from a decreased affinity of uptake sites for their substrate. These data were asociated with the previously described decrease in choline acetyltransferase and increase in glutamic acid decarboxylase apparent activity, respectively. An apparent marked increase in³H-DA uptake was likewise measured, mainly related to an increase in Vmax. Determination of serotonin (5HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) endogenous contents showed in the deafferented striatum a decrease in 5HT concentrations associated with an increase in 5HIAA levels. Taken together, all these changes in neurotransmitter markers suggest that, directly through the thalamostriatal pathway or indirectly, the thalamus can exert a complex influence on striatal cholinergic and GABAergic neuronal functions as well as on the activity of dopaminergic and serotoninergic striatal afferent fibers.     

Establishment and characterization of a cytotrophoblast cell line from normal placenta of human origin

A cell line has been established from human placentae at thefirst trimester of normal pregnancy. The cell line was obtainedby culture of purified cytotrophoblast cells in serum-free mediumsupplemented with epidermal growth factor, insulin, dexamethasoneand 0.1% bovine serum albumin. The cells can be subculturedfor >30 passages in one to three splits. All the cells weremononuclear epithelial-like cells positive to cytokeratin 18,gonadotrophin-releasing . hormone (GnRH), neuropeptide Y, neurotensin,leucine-enkephalin, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine inununo-cytochemicalstaining. The cells secreted GnRH, progesterone and oestradiol(in the presence of testosterone) but little human chorionicgonadotrophin and no -endorphin. The cell line showed humankaryotypes and had a population doubling time of 48 h in serum-freemedium. However, the cells would stop growing in the mediumcontaining fetal bovine serum. A normal cytotrophoblast cellline established in serum-free medium will be particularly usefulin the study of cytotrophoblast cell proliferation and differentiation.     

The effect of taurine on motor behaviour,body temperature and monoamine metabolism in rat brain

Summary Taurine, a putative inhibitory neurotransmitter, was injected in various doses intracerebroventricularly to conscious rats via pre-implanted polythene cannulas. The formation of DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in various brain regions was investigated by measuring the accumulation of these monoamine precursors induced within 30 min by the intraperitoneal injection of 3-hydroxybenzyl hydrazine HCl (NSD 1015, 100 mg/kg), an inhibitor of the aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase readily penetrating into the brain. DIPA formation, but not 5-HTP formation was significantly enhanced by taurine in dose-related manner in all brain regions studied, indicating an increased synthesis of both dopamine and noradrenaline. Dopamine depletion induced by -methyltyrosine was significantly retarded by taurine, whereas noradrenaline depletion tended to be enhanced. Endogenous levels of dopamine were increased, whereas the following brain constituents were unchanged: tyrosine, tryptophan, noradrenaline, 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. In the exoeriments with NSD 1015, a dose-related decrease in rectal temperature and in motility was observed after taurine treatment, as compared to treatment with the decarboxylase inhibotor alone. Systemic parenteral administration of taurine caused no significant changes in brain monoamines, body temperature or behaviour but decreased the heart noradrenaline levels. The data indicate that taurine, which apparently has to be given intracerebroventricularly in order to reach the brain in sufficient amounts, causes inhibition of firing in central dopamine neurons but has the opposite effect on noradrenaline neurons, perhaps also peripherally, whereas 5-HT neurons appear to be unaffected. In addition, taurine appears to interfere with motor behaviour and temperature regulation, possibly via effects on catecholaminergic systems.