Herpes simplex virus binds to human serum lipoprotein

Binding of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 to the various subclasses of human serum lipoproteins was investigated. Studies were performed with human serum lipoproteins purified by differential ultracentrifugation and artificial proteoliposomes containing only one type of apolipoprotein (A1, E) by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, column chromatography, and electron microscopy. All tested lipoprotein subclasses (very low, low-, high-density lipoproteins; VLDL, LDL, HDL, HDL1) showed significant binding of purified HSV type 1. Furthermore, HSV bound to all different synthetic proteoliposomes. Adsorption of envelope proteins isolated from purified HSV to Sepharose-bound lipoproteins revealed binding of HSV glycoprotein B. Based on these results we reached the conclusion that in HSV-lipoprotein complex formation the lipid component in the lipoproteins and the glycoprotein B in HSV are the preferential reaction partners.     

Evoked potentials in severe herpes simplex encephalitis

Diagnostic and prognostic value of evoked potentials (EP) were studied in 5 patients with severe herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Latency of the third negative cortical N70 peak, elicited by median nerve stimulation, was prolonged in 3 survivors with Glasgow coma score of 6 (115 vs 71 ms in controls,p<0.05), but normal after improvement of the acute disease, N70 right to left interhemisphere difference was increased initially in the 4 survivors (26 vs 3 ms in controls,p<0.05) indicating focal brain involvement, a crucial finding in HSE. The first cortical N 20 peak was preserved in all survivors even during deep coma where evaluation of brain function is difficult. Auditory brainstem EP were normal in all patients and useful to exclude brainstem death. In severe HSE, somatosensory long-latency EP are an effective monitor of the level of impaired consciousness and can detect brain focal signs. Short-latency N20 components may be predictive of the outcome.The study was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung P7382M     

贯叶连翘提取物和盐酸赖氨酸复方的镇痛作用研究

目的:研究贯叶连翘提取物和盐酸赖氨酸复方(贯叶连翘提取物与盐酸赖氨酸以质量比2∶1配比,简称赖金丝)的镇痛抗炎作用。方法:采用小鼠醋酸扭体实验、甲醛实验和热板实验。结果:赖金丝125,250和500mg/kg灌胃能:①显著减少小鼠扭体次数,抑制率分别为29%,32%和54%。②显著抑制甲醛引起的第2时相疼痛反应,分别使小鼠舔脚时间缩短至(23±20),(18±22)和(12±19)s。③显著减轻甲醛所致小鼠足跖水肿,小鼠左右足重量差值较阴性对照组(34±15)减轻至(16±15),(18±12)和(15±6)mg。但不能抑制甲醛引起的第1时相疼痛反应和小鼠热板反应。结论:赖金丝在125～500mg/kg剂量范围内对炎症性疼痛效果显著,能抑制皮下注射甲醛引起的水肿,可能在外周抑制炎症过程的某个环节。     

Induction and detection of disturbed homeostasis in cardiopulmonary bypass

During cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) haemodynamic alterations, haemostasis and the inflammatory response are the main causes of homeostatic disruption. Even with CPB procedures of short duration, the homeostasis of a patient is disrupted and, in many cases, requires intensive postoperative treatment to re-establish the physiological state of the patient. Although mortality is low, disruption of homeostasis may contribute to increased morbidity, particularly in high-risk patients. Over the past decades, considerable technical improvements in CPB equipment have been made to prevent the development of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Despite all these improvements, only the inflammatory response, to some extent, has been reduced. The microcirculation is still impaired, as measured by tissue degradation products of various organs, indicating that CPB may still be considered as an unphysiological procedure. The question is, therefore, whether we can detect the pathophysiological consequences of CPB in each individual patient with valid bedside markers, and whether we can relate this to determinant factors in the CPB procedure in order to assist the perfusionist in improving the adequacy of CPB. The use of these markers could play a pivotal role in decision making by providing an immediate feedback on the determinant quality of perfusion. Therefore, we suggest validating the proposed markers in a nomogram to optimize not only the CPB procedure, but also the patient's safety.     

Left ventricular function during weaning of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective Determine the evolution of left ventricular ejection fraction during weaning.Design Prospective study.Setting Intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital.Patients and participants 12 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients, without documented coronary artery disease, suffering from acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and able to be weaned.Measurements and results Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined during mechanical ventilation, inspiratory pressure support (10 cmH₂O) and spontaneous ventilation with constant inspiratory oxygen fraction using technetium^99m radionuclide angiography. Spontaneous ventilation induced a significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction from 54.5±12.4 to 47.0±13% (p<0.01). Inspiratory pressure support induced a slight but non-significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction from 55.0±12.1 to 50.3±12.4%. Left ventricular ejection fraction was homogeneously reduced by spontaneous ventilation without patent regional wall motion abnormalities of the left ventricle. Myocardial²⁰¹thallium imaging performed 15 min after weaning showed a normal perfusion in the left ventricle anterior and posterior free wall.Conclusion Weaning of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease without coronary artery disease induced a significant reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction. The non significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction observed with inspiratory pressure support suggested that our results might be explained by a weaning induced increase in afterload.     

Four of the six Drosophila rhodopsin‐expressing photoreceptors can mediate circadian entrainment in low light

Light is the major stimulus for the synchronization of circadian clocks with day–night cycles. The light‐driven entrainment of the clock that controls rest–activity rhythms in Drosophila relies on different photoreceptive molecules. Cryptochrome (CRY) is expressed in most brain clock neurons, whereas six different rhodopsins (RH) are present in the light‐sensing organs. The compound eye includes outer photoreceptors that express RH1 and inner photoreceptors that each express one of the four rhodopsins RH3–RH6. RH6 is also expressed in the extraretinal Hofbauer–Buchner eyelet, whereas RH2 is only found in the ocelli. In low light, the synchronization of behavioral rhythms relies on either CRY or the canonical rhodopsin phototransduction pathway, which requires the phospholipase C‐β encoded by norpA (no receptor potential A). We used norpA^P24 cry⁰² double mutants that are circadianly blind in low light and restored NORPA function in each of the six types of photoreceptors, defined as expressing a particular rhodopsin. We first show that the NORPA pathway is less efficient than CRY for synchronizing rest–activity rhythms with delayed light–dark cycles but is important for proper phasing, whereas the two light‐sensing pathways can mediate efficient adjustments to phase advances. Four of the six rhodopsin‐expressing photoreceptors can mediate circadian entrainment, and all are more efficient for advancing than for delaying the behavioral clock. In contrast, neither RH5‐expressing retinal photoreceptors nor RH2‐expressing ocellar photoreceptors are sufficient to mediate synchronization through the NORPA pathway. Our results thus reveal different contributions of rhodopsin‐expressing photoreceptors and suggest the existence of several circuits for rhodopsin‐dependent circadian entrainment. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2828–2844, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Arthroscopic surgery

Although arthroscopy of the knee joint had already been reported during the 1930's, the general dissemination of this method first began in the 1970's. The main reason for the rapid dissemination of this method was especially the fact that in addition to diagnostics, therapeutic possibilities were recognized and immediately implemented. This meant that arthroscopy had great potential and was made well known since the surgery was minimally invasive. Today we can assume that the technological side of the arthroscopic method is very widely developed and new innovations only arise slowly. Innovations are mostly connected with new innovative operating techniques. Surgery of the knee joint was the dominant application of arthroscopy in the beginning. The method was quickly applied to other joints. Today there is practically no joint which is inaccessible to arthroscopy. From surgical and therapeutic perspectives, arthroscopy is most frequently used today for the knee joint, followed by the shoulder joint, ankle joint, elbow joint, hip joint as well as wrist joint. Arthroscopic surgery within the field of joint surgery is regarded as indispensable. This specific surgery needs corresponding ability and skill, which must be individually acquired. Arthroscopic surgery evidently depends on technology and accordingly requires a corresponding fully operational medical infrastructure and knowledge. The big advantage of arthroscopic surgery lies in the minimally invasive technique, which has reduced the primary postoperative mortality significantly. Therefore, with good indicators the patient has decisive advantages as well as good cost to benefit ratios.