INVOLVEMENT OF Na+-K+-2Cl− COTRANSPORTERS IN HYPERTONICITY-INDUCED RISE IN INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM CONCENTRATION

A hypertonic saline containing propylene glycol facilitates calcium (Ca²⁺) influx through voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels. The present study performed experiments to elucidate the mechanism by which Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^? cotransporters participate in the rise in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) under the hypertonic condition. Both furosemide and ethacryonic acid significantly decreased the [Ca²⁺]i raised by hypertonicity. Similarly, Na⁺-, K⁺-, or Cl^?-free saline also reduced it. Both norepinephrine and dopamine significantly enhanced the rise in [Ca²⁺]i. In conclusion, the findings obtained indicate that the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^? cotransporters evoke cell depolarization and that this depolarization raises the [Ca²⁺]i by activating voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels.     

WHAT DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS ARE REPORTED IN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS?

Purpose. To ascertain the nature of depression-related symptoms in AD. Method. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) was administered as a semi-structured interview to 30 consecutive Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients who also underwent independent psychiatric evaluation. The HAM-D was also administered with a caregiver as the informant. Results. There was no relationship between the number of symptoms reported by patients or caregivers and patients' level of cognitive impairment. Symptom reports by caregivers living in the same household did not differ significantly from symptom reports by caregivers living elsewhere. Caregivers rated AD patients as having significantly more depressive symptoms than did patients themselves. The items most frequently endorsed by caregivers were psychic anxiety (77%), suspiciousness (50%), low energy (50%) and depression (43%). The items most frequently endorsed by AD patients were weight loss (36%), psychic anxiety (33%) and somatic anxiety (33%). Depression was endorsed by 20% of patients. Caregiver-respondent HAM-D scores suggested clinically significant depression in 27% of cases, but AD patients' scores suggested clinically significant depression in only 7% of cases. No case of major depression was found on psychiatric examination. Conclusions. Depressive symptoms seemed more an executive function loss than of primary mood disturbance in that guilt, suicidal rumination and self-perceived loss of interest were uncommon, suggesting that simple environmental measures might be the most appropriate treatment of these symptoms.     

GROWING UP IN VIOLENT SITUATIONS—THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION

Family predictors of tobacco and alcohol use were studied in random samples of school-going Black, Coloured, and White adolescents (total N=1,800) in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. The subjects ranged in age from 14 to 17 years, with a mean age of 15.95 years. Logistic regression analysis of the data showed invariance across the three racial groups in terms of the specific family variables that were predictive, as well as their direction and magnitude of association with substance use. Essentially, higher rates of substance use for all three groups were predicted by parental behavioural control, parental monitoring/knowledge and limit setting, marital relations and family stress. The findings extend the work on South African adolescent substance use by providing a view into the proximal (family) socialising forces that are related to substance use. The findings also extend the broader work on identifying specialised effects of dimensions of socialization on adolescent functioning. The discussion section includes commentary on the cultural invariance found when measuring socialising forces at this level of generality.     

ACTIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FOR NIGHT-TIME HYPERKINESIA IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease is a common motor disorder that not only leads to motor symptoms but also autonomic dysregulation, mental changes, sensory disturbances, and sleep disorders such as increased daytime sleepiness and sleep fragmentation. The aim of this study was to find out how the daytime and night-time motor activity levels in individuals without motor disorders differ from patients with Parkinson's disease. Daytime and night-time motor activity levels in 17 PD patients and 69 controls were measured for three consecutive days and nights via actigraphy, a method of continuous long-term assessment of activity levels. A ratio between night-time and daytime motor activity was calculated. PD patients had a 1.5–2-fold lower daytime motor activity but also showed 1.5–2-fold higher motor activity at night time. Older controls showed a lower daytime but similar night-time motor activity when compared to younger controls. A ratio of night-time to daytime motor activity could clearly distinguish controls and patients. The possibility to distinguish patients and controls by the ratio of night-time to daytime motor activity is worth further investigation.     

HOW COMMON ARE THE ANXIETY DISORDERS IN OLD AGE?

This community study of the anxiety disorders in people aged 65 and over finds a relatively high prevalence of anxiety disorders (15%), with phobic disorders being the most prevalent subclassification (12%). While generalized anxiety was usually seen with other psychiatric syndromes, phobic disorder was usually observed in the absence of either depression or anxiety. These results suggest that while generalized anxiety should be placed below depression in a diagnostic hierarchy, phobic disorder does not fit with this diagnostic model.     

AUTOANTIBODIES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THERAPY

Background: Humoral autoimmunity, in patients with hepatitis and Multiple Sclerosis, during interferon therapy , is often asymptomatic and transient. This suggested that it was a finding present in MS patients independently from therapy. Objective: In our paper we analyze the positivity to any antibody, to clarify whether it is modified by immunomodulating therapy. Design: It is an observational study, in which the frequency of positivity was calculated in the patients grouped for sex, multiple sclerosis clinical parameters, MRI features, and disease modifying therapy. Setting: The study took place in the Neurology Unit where our Multiple Sclerosis Center is located. Our MS patients, mostly outpatients, are usually tested yearly for several autoantibodies: against Cell Nuclei (ANA), dsDNA, Cardiolipin (ACL, IgM and IgG), Thyroid Antigens (antiperoxydase, TPO), Mithocondria (AMA), Smooth Muscle (ASMA), Parietal Cells (APCA) , Rheumatoid Factor. Participants: 169 MS patients were included, 57 males, 112 females, age between 11-59 yrs, mean 29.39; 136 of them suffered from relapsing-remitting disease; 33 were in secondary progressive stage. Patients with previous immunological diseases were excluded from statistical evaluation. In this paper 2005, 2006 and 2007 data are collected. The study, though planned prospectically, is retrospective. Interventions: 113 patients treated with beta Interferons (IFNs), 18 copolimer (COP): 8 mitoxantrone (MIX): 5 azathioprine (AZA): 3 interferon and AZA in association; 18 not treated. Outcomes: Frequency of positivity to any autoantibody (at least one test). Prevalences and incidences were calculated. Crosstabulations with odds ratios and chi-square were used to test frequencies, for more variables multiple regression was used. Also “person-year” data, for a crude total of 466 “person-years”, are calculated. Results: 3395 tests were performed. The overall prevalence in the 3 years was 47,3% (79/167, c.i. 40,2-55,2). In patients untreated or treated with drugs different from IFNs (COP, MIX, AZA), the prevalence is 23,2% (10 on 43). With interferons it is 55.6% (69/124). Annual incidence (patients already treated), is 6,3% (7/111) significantly higher in females. Greater differences are seen comparing the groups treated with IFNs (104/205) versus different drugs, or no treatment (15/85) (OR= 2,87 (95%CI=1,5-5,2); p=0.0001). Multiple regression show significant association of the autoantibodies with IFN 1a, either im (p=0.002) or sc (p=0.03). Similar results are seen for antithyroid antibodies, significantly associated with interferons (p=0,0004), and more prevalent in females (33,3% vs 18,9%). Nevertheless, multiple regression for the main variables (sex, IFN therapy, relapses, MRI), is significant only for the therapy. Conclusions: Interferon therapy is associated with significantly increased frequency of autoantibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis.The differences among the therapies are not influenced by other variables as sex or clinical pattern. However, in most patients no autoimmune disease is diagnosed, except for thyroiditis, as already reported in previous literature.     

IMPACT OF DIFFERENT INJURY SITES IN S-D RATS’ OCULOMOTOR NERVES

目的：研究不同部位损伤对Sprague-Dawley(以下简称S-D)大鼠动眼神经功能修复的影响及可能机制。方法：经幕下和眶上裂切断和修复动眼神经，术后通过前庭眼反射评估眼外肌在垂直、水平方向的恢复程度，经右侧上直肌注射HRP逆行追踪中脑动眼神经核团内神经元分布，动眼神经组织学、解剖学研究。结果：经眶上裂干预动眼神经的实验组大鼠新生神经纤维对眼外肌支配的特异性较高，其眼外肌功能恢复程度明显优于经幕下干预动眼神经的实验组大鼠。结论：动眼神经损伤部位距离眼外肌越近，最终的神经功能恢复水平就越好，其机理可能与再生神经纤维通过损伤部位时的迷行程度有关。     

PERIFASCICULAR EXPRESSION OF THE NEURAL CELL ADHESION MOLECULE IN INTERSTITIAL MYOSITIS

（１）目的：突发性多发性肌炎（ＩＰＭ）、皮肌炎（ＤＭ）和包含体肌炎（ＩＢＭ）在形态学上定义明确，但仅有间质性肌炎的诊断标准不够明确。为了确定ＩＢＭ形态学上的特征，作者用光镜试图探索肌纤维束周Ｌｅｕ１９抗原表达对ＩＢＭ的诊断意义。（２）方法：１５例无肌无力的正常对照，１２例ＩＰＭ，１４例ＤＭ，２６例ＩＢＭ，８例坏死性血管炎（ＮＶ），１５例神经性肌萎缩（ＮＭ），作肌肉活检。除作常规光镜检查外，还作免疫组化研究，用小鼠抗Ｌｅｕ１９、Ｌｅｕ２ａ、ＣＤ４、ＣＤ１６、ＣＤ２２、ＣＤ６８、Ｃ５ｂ－９单克隆抗体作一抗，再用碱性磷酸酶抗碱性磷酸酶法显色。（３）结果：肌纤维束周Ｌｅｕ１９抗原表达阳性率：ＩＢＤ、ＤＭ和ＮＶ依次为８５％、１００％和１００％，而正常对照、ＮＭ均为０％。（４）结论：在其它方面正常而有肌纤维束周Ｌｅｕ１９抗原表达是ＩＢＭ的病理学特征，所以可能有诊断价值。     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC GUIDANCE STEREOTAXIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INTRACRANIAL MASS LESIONS

The stereotactic neurosurgical resection,which was named by the greek word(?),began with the pioneering publica-tion of Horsley and Clarke in 1908.The ad-vent of computed axial tomography has notonly provided new insights into intracranialdisease,but has also investigated in applying     

THE ROLE OF SMALL VESSEL DISEASE (SVD) IN DEVELOPMENT OF

摘要 背景：痴呆是在老年人中常见而且持续增长的疾病，阿尔茨海默病是一种主要形式。传统上把阿尔茨海默病认为是神经变性疾病，但今期作者发现足够现象证明阿尔茨海默病是一种伴有神经变性结果的血管病症， 目的：总结并评价小血管病在神经变性疾病例如阿尔茨海默病中的作用，探讨血管因素在阿尔茨海默病的治疗中作为一项新诊断和治疗因素的相关性。 检索策略： 在线检索Pudmed中近十年内发表的英语报道，关键词“neurodegenerative disease, small vessel disease, Alzheimer disease, vascular risk factors and neuropathology”。 供检索到103篇文章。纳入标准：关于血管因素在神经变性病理学中的作用的文章；高影响因子期刊发表或近期发表的文章。排除标准：重复性研究。 数据综合：对阿尔茨海默病和血管性痴呆的归类已经分为两大派系，各自都有自己的临床标准，但近期流行病学和临床病理学研究表明两者之间的重叠。脑血管病损，尤其是小血管病（腔隙性梗塞，白质高信号和微出血）， 会放大轻微阿尔茨海默病病理学效应和促进认知力的减退，从而诱导神经损伤和痴呆。大量事实证明由于小血管病和阿尔茨海默病的危险因子极其相似（年龄，高血压，糖尿病等），一些神经损伤和神经病理性特征也随着改变，因此两种疾病频繁重叠。阿尔茨海默病的血管假设论开阔了一些治疗方法，例如骨髓间充质细胞和纳米科技。 结论：一些神经变性疾病，例如阿尔茨海默病和小血管病，她们不只具有相似的危险隐私和临床表现，还有病理生理学机制。因为，我们相信，与其标记患者神经变性疾病或脑血管疾病，不如将两种疾病均认为是一种连续集。将阿尔茨海默病认为一种血管疾病，将开拓出一种新方式去更好的理解发病机理，以及发现和引导更多更有效的治疗方式。     

Day services for people with mental handicaps: A PURPOSE IN LIFE?

There is a continuing debate about the future of day services for people with mental handicaps. In this study people who attended adult training centres were interviewed to ascertain their views on their day placements. They were glad to have somewhere to go during the day and enjoyed elements of the daily programmes. However, most people felt that in the long-term the services did not make a positive contribution to their lives and wished for ordinary jobs.     

THE T CELL REPERTOIRE TO ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AND CONTROLS

（１）目的：多数重症肌无力（ＭＧ）患者可见作为烟碱样乙酰胆碱受体（ｎＡＣｈＲ）抗体（Ａｂ）升高基础的抗原特异性辅助性Ｔ细胞（Ｔｈ）增多，本研究目的在于探讨此类细胞的可能作用。（２）方法：设重症肌无力、其它神经科患者和正常对照三组。用体外测试的免疫酶点法，即以电鳗的ＡＣｈＲα－，β－，γ－，和δ－亚单位作为特异性抗原以及ＰＰＤ和与多发性硬化相关的髓鞘碱性蛋白作为非特异性抗原，于抗原刺激后计数分泌γ干扰素（ＩＦＮ－γ）的Ｔｈ１细胞数。测定周围血中针对这些抗原的Ｔ细胞亚群计数。（３）结果：ＭＧ患者识别ＡＣｈＲ四种亚单位的Ｔ细胞数均增高，依次为：１／２５０００，１／５９０００，１／８３０００和１／２５０００个细胞。６５％ＭＧ患者的Ｔ细胞主要识别α－亚单位，有些则主要识别γ－和δ－亚单位。少数ＭＧ患者测不到对任何亚单位起反应的Ｔ细胞。（４）结论：ＭＧ患者中，ＡＣｈＲ的四种亚单位均为通过分泌ＩＦＮγ的Ｔｈ１样细胞自身免疫攻击的靶。