L-alpha-aminoadipic acid restricts dopaminergic neurodegeneration and motor deficits in an inflammatory model of Parkinson’s disease in male rats

Neuroinflammation is a contributory factor underlying the progressive nature of dopaminergic neuronal loss within the substantia nigra (SN) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, albeit the role of astrocytes in this process has been relatively unexplored to date. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of midbrain astrocytic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of intra-nigral lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced experimental Parkinsonism in male Wistar rats via simultaneous co-injection of the astrocytic toxin L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA). Simultaneous intra-nigral injection of L-AAA attenuated the LPS-induced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH⁺) dopamine neurons in the SNpc and suppressed the affiliated degeneration of TH⁺ dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum. L-AAA also repressed LPS-induced nigrostriatal dopamine depletion and provided partial protection against ensuing motor dysfunction. L-AAA abrogated intra-nigral LPS-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive (GFAP⁺) reactive astrogliosis and attenuated the LPS-mediated increases in nigral S100β expression levels in a time-dependent manner, findings which were associated with reduced ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1-positive (Iba1⁺) microgliosis, thus indicating a role for reactive astrocytes in sustaining microglial activation at the interface of dopaminergic neuronal loss in response to an immune stimulus. These results indicate that midbrain astrocytic dysfunction restricts the development of dopaminergic neuropathology and motor impairments in rats, highlighting reactive astrocytes as key contributors in inflammatory associated degeneration of the nigrostriatal tract.     

门诊与住院患者口服抗凝剂治疗的安全性指征

1 引言 英国血液标准化委员会于1998年公布了第三版口服抗凝剂治疗指南,并于2006年修订.这些指南在安全性指征方面值得称道,但对开始口服抗凝剂治疗患者和已持续进行口服抗凝剂治疗的患者来说,安全性指征和危险性是相互伴随的.并非所有的安全性指征都要被医务工作者所采纳,而是为他们提供一种选择,可根据具体情况和需求选择最有用的指标.为了医疗服务的健康发展,这些安全性指征可以用来设立各种标准和规范,并进行相应的监督和审计.     

Dysregulated expression of dickkopfs for potential detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

The prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains dismal due to the lack of diagnostic markers for early detection. This review will discuss the clinical potential of the dickkopf (DKK) family members as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for HCC. In comparison to serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level, which remains the gold standard for HCC diagnosis, high serum DKK1 levels have higher diagnostic value for HCC, especially for AFP-negative HCC, and can distinguish HCC from non-malignant chronic liver diseases. Additionally, the combination of serum DKK1 and AFP levels enhances diagnostic accuracy for HCC compared to serum DKK1 or AFP levels alone. Although DKK1 offers potential for its use in HCC diagnosis this review will discuss the challenges facing DKK1 and also shed some light on recent developments on the remaining DKK family members: DKK2, DKK3 and DKK4.     

The fabella sign: fabella displacement in synovial effusion and popliteal fossa masses. Normal and abnormal fabello-femoral and fabello- tibial distances

Posterior displacement of the fabella is a reliable sign of synovial effusion or mass which may be applied even when inflammation or post-traumatic edema obscures the extrasynovial fat lines of the knee joint. The fabella normally moves posteriorly as the knee is flexed, but correlation of fabella position with degree of flexion defined ranges of normal and abnormal fabella position which are useful in diagnosis. If all lateral views are obtained with the knee flexed over a standard angle bolster, fabella position is standardized and fabella displacement readily detected without need for measurement. With experience, fabella displacement is readily apparent in non-standard positions as well. Normal fabella position does not rule out small effusion or effusion which is confined to the suprapatellar pouch because the knee is extended.