The entorhinal cortex: an examination of cyto- and myeloarchitectonic organization in humans

The entorhinal cortex (ERC) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and other disorders affecting cognitive functions. While powerful anatomical and histochemical methods (immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, etc.) may be applied (although with limitations) to postmortem human brain, each analysis should utilize a cytoarchitectonic approach to provide appropriate comparisons within the subdivisions of the ERC. Accordingly, we describe here the normal cyto- and myeloarchitecture of the human ERC as a prerequisite for the accompanying study of this region in schizophrenia. Our parcellation of this cortex differs from previous treatments in three ways. First, we adopted specific criteria of inclusion to define each subdivision of the region. Although distinctive ERC features are most prominent in the intermediate portion of this region, at least one of these features was considered the minimum necessary criterion to include adjacent tissue in the entorhinal area. Second, we used morphometric measurements (neuronal size and density as well as subdivisional volume and laminar thickness) to support our qualitative evaluation. Third, we have applied to the human ERC the conventional cytoarchitectonic nomenclature of the entorhinal cortex used previously in studies of non-human primates. This allows a more accurate extrapolation of the available numerous experimental anatomical, physiological and psychological data on this region to the human. As in the monkey, the five main subareas were recognized in the human (prorhinal, lateral, intermediate, sulcal and medial) but three required further subdivision (intermediate, sulcal and medial). The morphometric results obtained suggested a progression of the human entorhinal cortex from the peripheral to the central subareas, with the intermediate subarea (281) as the most complete entorhinal subdivision. Compared with non-human primates, the human ERC not only retains the basic periallocortical organization but also demonstrates further evolution. Taken together with available experimental data on the connectivity of this brain region, these results provide an anatomical basis for evaluating the ERC in human behavior.      

Quantitative image analysis of intra-tumoral bFGF level as a molecular marker of paclitaxel resistance

Background  

The role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in chemoresistance is controversial; some studies showed a relationship between higher bFGF level and chemoresistance while other studies showed the opposite finding. The goal of the present study was to quantify bFGF levels in archived tumor tissues, and to determine its relationship with chemosensitivity.     

硝基甘油对狗缺血区冠脉循环的作用

用实验性犬冠脉狭窄模型,冠脉内恒流灌注硝基甘油0.5μg/kg.min^-1,使冠脉血流量(CBF)增加、远端小动脉压(DCP)、冠脉血管总阻力(R_T)、小冠脉血管阻力(R_S)及冠状静脉低切血粘(η_b)减少;而主动脉压和心率无明显变化。恒流灌注硝基甘油1μg/kg.min^-1时,在开始5min内冠脉循环的变化同上,并伴大冠脉血管阻力(R_L)减少,10 min后出现CBF减少和R_T,R_{L及ηb增加。结果提示,硝基甘油有缓解和加重心肌缺血的双重作用,其作用可能与剂量张扩张远端小动脉压的程度有关。}     

Pulsed Doppler Echocardiography in Patients with Aorto-pulmonary Connection

ABSTRACT. The pulsed Doppler principle enables us to study the bloodflow velocity at specific points in the heart and great vessels. In such aorto-pulmonary connections as patent dnctus arteriosus, aorto-pulmonary window and truncus arteriosus the bloodflow velocity patterns are typical of the malformation. Based on knowledge of these abnormal flow patterns the diagnoses of these malformations can be made.     

中国大陆地区妇女骨质疏松筛选工具探讨

目的建立适用于中国大陆地区40岁及以上妇女的骨质疏松（osteoporosis，OP）筛选工具。方法以20～39岁妇女腰椎骨密度的均数和标准差作为参考值计算T—score。以双能X线骨密度仪（dual—energy X—ray absorptiometry，DxA）的测量结果作为金标准，采用二分类的Bayes判别分析，建立判别函数。结果我国大陆地区40岁及以上妇女OP筛选工具（osteoporosis screening tool for Chinese，OSTC）为：体重-2×年龄＋50。判别准则为OSTC〉0为无OP危险性，OSTC≤0为有OP危险性。OSTC的正判率为75．78％，灵敏度为76．8％，特异度为75．1％，Kappa值为0．51（P=0．000），说明OSTC与DXA的判定结果一致性尚可。结论OSTC是一个简便的OP筛选工具。根据年龄、体重两个变量的简单计算，即可对我国大陆地区40岁及以上的妇女进行OP危险性的筛选。但OSTC没有得到外部数据的验证，其优劣还有待进一步评价。     

Cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of neonates after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

During venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation the right carotid artery is ligated in a hypoxic neonate. The aim of the present study was to compare the morphology and metabolism of the left and right basal ganglia in 10 neonates after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, using proton magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Data could be obtained in 9 neonates. No significant metabolic differences were found between either the left or right basal ganglia, despite a small right-sided thalamic infarct in one child. Metabolism was normal in all cases. All the infants showed symmetrical neurodevelopment.

Conclusion: Ligation of the right carotid artery for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation did not produce persistent changes in brain metabolism in the basal ganglia in this small group of patients.     

C-reactive protein in migraine sufferers similar to that of non-migraineurs: the Reykjavik Study

C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Risk of cardiovascular disease is increased in migraineurs with aura. Results from a clinical report, case–control and a cohort study suggest that CRP is elevated in migraineurs compared with non-migraineurs. We examined the proposed association in a case–control study nested within two large population-based studies. The relationship between migraine and CRP (high-sensitivity CRP) was studied in 5906 men and women aged 55.0 ± 8.5 years in the Reykjavik Study and 1345 men and women aged 27.7 ± 5.5 years from the Reykjavik Study for the Young. A modified version of the International Headache Society's criteria was used to categorize people into migraineurs (two or more symptoms) or non-migraineurs. Migraineurs with visual or sensory symptoms were further defined as having migraine with aura (MA) or without aura (MO). Multivariable-adjusted CRP levels were similar in migraineurs and non-migraineurs for men (0.83 vs. 0.79 mg/l, P  = 0.44) and for women (0.87 vs. 0.87 mg/l, P  = 0.90). When further stratified by migraine aura and age, no differences were found between non-migraineurs, MO and MA among men. In women, CRP levels were borderline higher in those with MO compared with non-migraineurs and those with MA (1.01 mg/l vs. 0.81 and 0.75 mg/l, P  = 0.08 and P  = 0.08) in age group 19–34 years, but significantly lower in age group 60–81 years (0.52 mg/l vs. 1.07 and 1.01 mg/l, P  = 0.007 and P  = 0.03). CRP levels were not increased among migraine sufferers compared with non-migraineurs. Older women migraineurs without aura had lower CRP values than non-migraineurs and migraineurs with aura.