Nicotine-induced dopamine plasticity: a gateway to neurotransmitter replacement?

Nicotine,the principal neuroactive component of tobacco,acts on the reward systems of smokers,inducing addiction.Experimental evidence indicates that nicotine-induced addiction alters the activity of dopaminergic neurons within reward-processing brain centers.The effect of developmental nicotine exposure on neuroplasticity of identified reward neurocircuitry in the adult is finally emerging and begins to be understood at the molecular,cellular,and behavioral level(Romoli et al.,2019).     

Gentamicin-induced diffuse renal tubular dysfunction.

Sir, Aminoglycoside-induced renal tubular dysfunction could be dividedinto Fanconi-like syndrome (FS) and Bartter-like syndrome (BS)[1]. The risk factors and mechanisms of tubular dysfunctionare little known. Here, we report a case of gentamicin-inducedFS, BS and distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) and propose thepossible involvement of mitochondria. Case. A 66-year-old Chinese male was admitted because ofpneumonia.     

Evaluation of mandibular block using a standardized method.

The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the manifestations and efficiency of mandibular block (MB) using a standardized method. In this study, 123 patients requiring MB were randomly assigned to receive MB using a repeated measures design. Mandibular block was administered in each patient by using 2.1 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100 000 epinephrine for the inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, and/or buccal nerve. Clinical parameters including the electric pulp test and test for soft tissue sensation using a sharp dental explorer were assessed on both the operated side and contralateral side before and 5, 10, and 15 minutes after injection, and at the end of surgical procedure. Results of the test of the contralateral tooth served as the control group. No response to the electric pulp test at a maximum output (80 readings) was used as the criterion for pulpal anesthesia. Results obtained with electric pulp test and sharp explorer test were not significantly different during various intervals on the contralateral side, indicating the reliability of this standardized method for assessing MB. The MB technique achieved a high rate of subjective numbness (100%) according to the perception of the patients of overall numbness and lip numbness. Overall anesthetic success rates of pulpal anesthesia were 5.7% for the central incisor, 38.2% for the canine, 55.3% for the first premolar, and 90.2% for the first molar. No significant difference was found in the efficiency of anesthesia related to sex or age of the patients. A slower onset of pulpal anesthesia after MB was found for the anterior teeth than for the posterior teeth. This study suggests that the use of a standardized method might produce a clearer and more comprehensive evaluation of the efficiency and manifestations of MB.     

高分辨率CT对颞部疾病的检查价值

目的：探讨高分辨率CT（HRCT）对颞部疾病的检查价值。方法：对43例颞部疾病患者行常规CT和高分辨率CT（HRCT）检查所获图像对比分析，并讨论HRCT的检查技术和图像后处理。结果：HRCT对病变的显示率及病变引起骨质破坏的程度，病变边缘，轮廓的显示均明显优于常规CT，尤其能清楚显示常规CT难以显示的中耳及内耳的细微结构，结论：高分辨率CT是颞部疾病的首选检查方法，使用高分辨率CT对颞部疾病的检查给临床提供更多，更准确的诊断信息。     

“搓滚舒筋”练功疗法

“搓滚舒筋”练功疗法,是一种以竹筒为简易器械的脚底搓滚练功治疗“筋挛缩”症的方法。最早文献见于马王堆汉墓出土的帛书《五十二病方》,起码有两干多年的渊源。骨伤科常用之,内、外诸科亦有用之。这一传统疗法,筒、便、廉、验,值得弘扬。     

Intratemporal vascular tumors: detection with CT and MR imaging

The diagnostic contributions of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were compared in 12 patients with benign intratemporal vascular tumors (hemangioma or vascular malformation). The tumors included six in the internal acoustic canal and six in the geniculate ganglion region. Clinical and histologic correlations were made. Two of the six patients with tumors in the internal acoustic canal underwent CT, and both required gas cisternography to show the tumor. Five patients in that group underwent MR imaging, and all five studies showed the tumor. All six patients with geniculate ganglion tumors underwent CT. Results in one study were questionable, and five showed the tumor. Five patients in this group underwent MR imaging, but the MR findings were positive in only two cases. MR imaging should therefore be performed before CT in the evaluation of facial nerve dysfunction, as it demonstrated all tumors in the internal acoustic canal and some in the geniculate ganglion region. If MR findings are negative, CT should then be performed to rule out a possible geniculate ganglion lesion.     

近红外光谱仪监测窒息新生儿听觉刺激诱发时的脑氧合代谢及脑血流变化

目的了解窒息新生儿在听觉刺激诱发脑神经活动时的脑氧合代谢和脑血流量的改变。 方法1998~2003年北京中日友好医院儿科选择窒息新生儿34例为窒息组，健康新生儿40名为对照组。使用近红外光谱仪，观察听觉刺激试验诱发的脑氧合血红蛋白\[Hb O2\]、还原血红蛋白\[Hb H\]和总血红蛋白\[Hb tot\]浓度的变化，并比较两组脑氧合代谢和脑血流量的改变。根据\[Hb O2\]、\[Hb H\]和\[Hb tot\]不同的变化，将氧合代谢曲线分为A(\[Hb O2\]、\[Hb H\]和\[Hb tot\]均增加)； B(\[Hb O2\]和\[Hb tot\]增加,\[Hb H\]降低)；C(\[Hb O2\]和\[Hb tot\]降低,\[Hb H\]增加)3种曲线类型。 结果窒息组中25例(25/34、73.5%)显示C型变化，对照组中28例(28/40、70.0%)显示A型变化，两组中A、C两型例数比较差异显著(P<0.05)。两组\[Hb O2\]和\[Hb tot\]数值变化幅度比较差异显著(P<0.05)。 结论窒息新生儿听觉刺激诱发相应皮层的神经活动时，显示局部脑血流量下降、氧合代谢降低，重度窒息儿更明显。