Pharmacological evidence for calcium channel inhibition by danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) on rat isolated femoral artery

This study investigated the relaxant actions of danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and its lipid-soluble- and water-soluble-fractions on endothelium-denuded rat isolated femoral artery rings. Danshen, its water-soluble fraction and its lipid-soluble fraction produced relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted artery rings with IC50 values of 149 +/- 20 microg/mL, 160 +/- 25 microg/mL, and 23 +/- 6 microg/mL, respectively. Pretreatment of the artery rings with a non-selective potassium channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) produced a significant two-fold rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to danshen and a four-fold shift to its water-soluble fraction, but had no effect on the lipid-soluble fraction. A 3.3-fold shift was produced on the concentration-response curve of danshen when the artery rings were pretreated with a mixture of 10 mM TEA, 1 mM 4-aminopyridine (K(V) blocker), 1 microM glibenclamide (K(ATP) blocker), 100 nM iberiotoxin (BK(Ca) blocker), and 100 microM barium chloride (K(IR) blocker). Involvement of Ca2+ channels was investigated in endothelium-denuded artery rings incubated with Ca2+-free buffer and primed with 1 microM phenylephrine or 60 mM KCl for 5 minutes prior to adding CaCl2 to elicit contraction. In artery rings primed with phenylephrine, pretreatment with 1 mg/mL danshen, 1 mg/mL water-soluble fraction of danshen, 0.1 mg/mL lipid-soluble fraction of danshen, and 100 nM nifedipine abrogated the CaCl2-induced contraction. On the other hand, in artery rings primed with KCl, these agents produced 40%, 25%, 53%, and 92% inhibition on the maximum contraction induced by CaCl2, respectively. Increasing the concentrations of danshen and its water-soluble fraction to 3 mg/mL, and the lipid-soluble fraction to 0.3 mg/mL further reduced the maximum contraction to 92%, 93%, and 83%, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggested the vasorelaxant actions of danshen and its fractions were produced primarily by inhibition of Ca2+ influx in the vascular smooth muscle cells and a small component was mediated by the opening of K+ channels.     

Absorption of m-xylene vapours through the respiratory tract and excretion of m-methylhippuric acid in urine.

Absorption of m-xylene and excretion of m-methylhippuric acid were investigated under controlled conditions in ten volunteers aged 17-33 years. They were exposed to m-xylene vapours at concentrations of 100, 300, and 600 mg/m3. It was found that m-xylene vapour retained in the lungs tended to decrease at the end of the exposure. An exposure test was devised, based upon the results obtained during our investigations. The amount of xylene absorbed in the course of eight hours' work can be calculated with an accuracy of about +/- 8%.     

Third-generation optical coherence tomography findings in punctate retinal toxoplasmosis

PURPOSE: To investigate optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in patients with punctate retinal toxoplasmosis (PRT). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Setting: Tertiary ophthalmic referral center. Study Population: Four patients with PRT consecutively evaluated between July 2004 and June 2005. Observation Procedures: Clinical examination and OCT. Main Outcome Measures: Morphologic features at baseline and changes within a 24-week follow-up interval. RESULTS: Retinal layers were abnormally hyperreflective at the active lesion site and associated with some degree of retinal pigment epithelium-choriocapillaris/choroidal optical shadowing in all patients. The posterior hyaloid was thickened and focally detached (over the lesion). Additional findings include tractional maculopathy (n = 2) and diffuse macular edema (n = 1). During follow-up, focal choriocapillaris/choroidal relative hyperreflectivity was observed at the former lesion site, and posterior vitreous detachment progressed in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that OCT may enable identification of subtle morphologic features previously underappreciated in patients with PRT, which may provide new insights about the disease pathophysiologic mechanisms.     

Symptomatic lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst: a case report

Synovial and ganglion cysts, also known as juxta-facet cysts, are intraspinal lesions that may mimic disc herniations and cause radicular symptoms. A 75-year-old male patient presented with a 6-month history of left leg pain and numbness in the foot that increased in severity within the past week. Physical examination showed motor deficit of the left extensor hallucis longus muscle (4/5) and hypoesthesia on the left L4-5 dermatomes. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraspinal cyst originating from the L4-5 facet joint. Medial facetectomy and cyst excision were performed, which provided immediate relief of pain. He had no loss of strength of the extensor hallucis longus muscle and his neurologic examination was normal during the first postoperative year.     

A case of acute necrotizing encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus--a clinico-morphological analysis

The authors report a detailed clinico-morphological analysis of a case of acute necrotizing encephalitis caused by herpes virus. The diagnosis was based on a high titre of antibodies against the antigen of Herpes virus and on changes in computer tomograms. It was confirmed by gross and microscopic examinations of the brain.     

Study of antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). II. ADCC activity in renal graft recipients and acute accelerated graft rejection.

ADCC activity in 27 cadaver renal allograft recipients was studied. All the patients were given standard immunosuppressive treatment. Significant positive correlation between high ADCC activity during first 5 days after grafting and accelerated rjection crisis was found. The high positive ADCC test may signalize the possibility of acute accelerated rejection of renal allograft.     

婴幼儿急性骨髓炎后遗畸型原因分析

目的:充分认识急性化脓性骨髓炎在婴幼儿中发病的特点及转归,力争早期诊断早期治疗,达到降低残疾程度。方法:总结24例急性骨髓炎发病原因及治疗过程。结果:本组婴幼儿发病部位以股骨居多(66％),临床表现不典型是早期不能确诊的主要因素,后遗畸型是感染致骨与关节病理破坏的必然转归。