Patterns of neurofilament stain in the spiral ganglion of the developing and adult mouse.

The objective of the study was to identify neurofilament-positive cells and their projections in the intact spiral ganglia of the mouse. One polyclonal and three monoclonal antibodies against neurofilament triplet subunits NF 68 K, 160 K and 200 K were used. In the newborn mouse most of the spiral neurons and their processes stain positively, although the perikaryal stain is very light. During early postnatal development, some cells show a selective intense stain. The progressive myelination of the neuronal processes further restricts the stain to a small neuronal population of positive perikarya and to their nonmyelinated fibers. This pattern of stainability implies that the neurofilament-positive cells are compatible with the type II spiral neurons. The stain reveals two populations of spiral neurons: 1) the cells which are scattered within the ganglion and show a bipolar distribution of fibers; and 2) the cells that form an interrupted chain along the intraganglionic bundle. The latter cells are also bipolar, but their peripheral processes join the intraganglionic bundle for varying distances before reaching the radial bundles. The identification of selective groupings of filamentous nonmyelinated cells in the corresponding location in different mammals is discussed. In conclusion, the use of neurofilament antibodies in staining of the intact spiral neurons permitted us to identify a distinct cell population of neurofilament-positive nonmyelinated nerve cells located along and projecting (at least partly) into the intraganglionic bundle.     

遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系分析

目的:分析一遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系的发病情况及病变特征,明确其遗传方式,为进一步基因定位和克隆奠定基础。方法:2003-05在中国山东某市发现一遗传性牙釉质发育不全家系,先证者为1名43岁男性牙釉质发育不全患者。该家系现存活3代,共有36名家庭成员。对先证者及其家族进行口腔检查和全身检查,制备牙齿磨片镜下观察,对该患者及其亲属成员进行家系调查,系谱分析,明确可能的遗传方式。结果:①口腔及全身临床表现:口腔检查可见大量牙石,釉质病变涉及全口牙齿,牙体呈黄褐色,磨耗重,釉质易碎裂剥脱。X射线显示牙釉质密度基本与牙本质相同,髓腔形态未见异常。临床表现符合Witkop1989年分类中的钙化不全型牙釉质发育。全身系统检查排除系统性疾病。无四环素用药史,家族中无近亲结婚者,附近居民无相似病变。②牙齿磨片观察结果:可见釉丛及釉板明显,且数目增多,表明釉质发育较差。③遗传方式:该家系36名成员,3代中均有患者,共检出遗传性牙釉质发育不全患者13人,其中男7例,女6例,传递方式符合常染色体显性遗传的特点。结论:该家系为常染色体显性遗传性钙化不全型牙釉质发育不全家系,为下一步定位该家系致病基因奠定基础。     

The Treatment of Septicemia in Pacemaker Patients

The authors analyzed the data of seven patients who had undergone open heart surgery because of pacemaker endocarditis in the past 4 years. Repeated surgical interventions on the pacemaker system were found to be the most common predisposing factors. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common causative organisms. Two-dimensional echocardiography was important in the diagnosis of cases with atypical clinical picture and negative blood cultures. We concluded that: (1) any pacemaker patient with fever should be considered to have a pacemaker endocarditis; (2) all of these patients should be examined by two-dimenensional echocardiography; and (3) the total removal of the infected hardware seems to be the only way to achieve complete recovery.     

Atrial fibrillation in dialysis patients: is there a place for non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs approximately in 3% of general population, with greater prevalence in elderly. Non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulant agents (NOACs) according to the current European guidelines are recommended for patients with AF at high risk for stroke as a first-choice treatment. NOACs are not inferior to warfarin or some of them are better than warfarin in reducing the rate of ischemic stroke. Moreover, they significantly reduce the rate of intracranial hemorrhages, major bleedings, and mortality compared with warfarin. Nevertheless according to ESC guidelines, NOACs are not recommended in patients with creatinine clearance?<?30 mL/min. Observational studies provide contradictive data. Only few new trials are ongoing. Therefore, it is not clear if NOACs should be in the future prescribed to patients with advanced CKD and those on dialysis. Moreover, the risk of stroke and bleeding is much higher in such population than in patients without end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The authors provide data on pros and cons of use of NOACs in ESRD patients with AF.     

原花青素的抗氧化作用

目的:概述原花青素的结构特点、药理特性,探讨并分析原花青素的抗氧化作用及其在体育领域内的发展前景,旨在为此天然高效的抗氧化剂的开发利用提供一些理论的支持。方法:应用计算机检索Medline 1960-01/2006-08关于原花青素文章。检索词“proanthocyanidin”并限定文章的语种类为English。同时利用计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1960-01/2006-08的相关文章,限定文章语言种类为中文,检索词“原花青素”。结果:原花青素是一种良好的氧游离基清除剂和脂质过氧化抑制剂。可有效清除超氧阴离子自由基和羟基自由基,也参与磷脂、花生四烯酸的新陈代谢和蛋白质磷酸化,保护脂质不发生过氧化损伤。原花青素为强有力的金属螯合剂,可螯合金属离子,在体内形成惰性化合物。有保护和稳定维生素C,有助于维生素C吸收的作用。结论:原花青素拥有强有力的抗氧化、清除自由基以及改善体循环的特殊功效,并以高效、低毒、高生物利用度而著称,原花青素的多种生物学功效在预防和治疗疾病中将发挥越来越大的作用。     

Cerebral Embolism Due to a Retained Pacemaker Lead: A Case Report

There are only a few reported cases of a pacemaker lead migrating inadvertently into the left atrium or ventricle. An unusual complication of unremoved, unwanted pacemaker lead is presented. The free tip of the lead caused cerebral embolism after perforating the interatrial septum.     

Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA Sequences in Liver in HBsAg Seronegative Patients with Liver Disease with and without Anti-HBc Antibodies

Excluding studies from Brechot and co-workers, little supporthas been found for a role of the hepatitis B virus in the pathogenesisof HBsAg seronegative patients with predominantly chronic liverdiseases, including primary liver cancer. In this study liverDNA from 59 predominantly British patients (four cases withpaired biopsies, 6–12 months apart) with different, mostlychronic, liver diseases was analysed by molecular hybridization.All were seronegative for HBsAg and serum hepatitis B virusDNA (dot blot hybridization) and their liver diseases were believedto be unrelated to hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis Bvirus DNA was detected in liver of 11 (18.6 per cent) patients;nine had episomal(3.2 Kb) DNA and eight had higher molecularweight bands suggesting integrated forms. Six patients werealso seronegative for anti-HBc. Patients of UK and non-UK originwere equally represented. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detectedin serum of six of nine patients tested using the polymerasechain reaction. The detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in liverand in serum by this assay in a significant proportion of patientswith chronic liver disease, hitherto unsuspected of being hepatitisB virus-related, suggests a possible role for this virus inlow- as well as high-prevalence countries.