Mineralocorticoids modulate central angiotensin II receptors in rats

The effect of chronic administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) on the regulation of angiotensin II (AII) receptors in the brains of adult rats was compared with their drinking and pressor responsiveness to both peripheral and central administration of AII. Analysis of AII receptor binding in a block of tissue containing the hypothalamus, thalamus and septum (HTS) after treatment for 8 weeks with DOCA-salt (240 μg/kg/day) revealed a significant increase in the number of AII-binding sites compared to salt-loaded controls (B_max 9.65 vs 6.80 fmol/mg protein) and no change in binding affinity (K_d). Significant increases in the drinking responses to peripheral (200 μg/kg) and central (10 ng) administration of AII were observed in these rats. Additional studies indicated that the pressor responses to either centrally (25 ng) or peripherally (20 μg/kg, s.c.) administered AII were augmented in DOCA-treated rats. The effect of mineralocorticoids on AII-binding sites was also investigated in primary neuronal cultures from the brains of one-day-old rats. Pretreatment of these cultures with either DOCA or aldosterone (ALDO) induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the specific binding of [¹²⁵I]AII. Maximal increases in AII binding of 53 and 62% above control values were observed when cultures were treated with 500 pg of either ALDO or DOCA per milliliter of culture medium. Scatchard analysis of specific binding of [¹²⁵I]AII in neuronal cultures treated with DOCA revealed a significant increase in B_max but no change in K_d. Thus, mineralocorticoid hormones induce an increase in the number of AII-receptor binding sites in the HTS of rats which parallels physiological responses to both central and peripheral administration of AII. This relationship may be independent of the concentration of AII in the blood, since an increase in the number of AII binding sites was also observed in neurons cultured from the brains of one-day-old rats which had been treated with mineralocrticoid hormones.     

A reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor, toloxatone: Structural and electronic properties

Toloxatone is a reversible MAO_A-inhibitor, marketed as antidepressant (Humoryl^®), with an original chemical structure. It differs from first generation irreversible MAOIs, known to induce covalent bonds with the enzyme active site. In order to understand the mechanism of the reversible inactivation of the MAO, as a first step, a detailed structural and electronic analysis was undertaken. An X-ray diffraction-crystallographic study showed that toloxatone is a planar molecule and brought to light hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. MO calculations confirmed the planar structure as energetically favoured. Electronic analysis demonstrated a delocalization of both ring systems. The combined results give evidence for the potential of toloxatone to participate in reversible, long distance interactions with an appropriate partner.     

Anorexia due to brain injury

A woman with severe anorexia following a brain injury, who had been fitted with a gastrostomy, was admitted to the Regional Brain Injury Unit for rehabilitation. Two years after the injury, all her dietary intake is oral but she will not yet ingest solids. The causes of this condition and its management are described and the literature is reviewed.     

Alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in the brain: characterization in astrocytic glial cultures and comparison with neuronal cultures

Binding of [125I]HEAT to membranes prepared from primary cultures of astrocytic glial cells was time-dependent and 70-85% specific. Various adrenergic agonists and antagonists competed for [125I]HEAT binding according to the potencies of prazosin greater than, yohimbine greater than or equal to, clonidine, norepinephrine (NE), and propranolol. Scatchard analysis showed the Bmax of 209 fmol/mg protein and a Kd of 184 pM for [125I]HEAT binding by astrocytic glial membranes. Pretreatment of astrocytes with NE resulted in a dose-dependent downregulation of [125I]HEAT binding sites with a maximal response observed after 8 h at 100 microM NE. Removal of NE from cultures after pretreatment resulted in a time- and protein synthesis-dependent recovery of binding sites to control levels within 120 h. Incubation of astrocytic glial cultures with NE stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in a time- and dose-dependent manner with a maximal stimulation of 2-fold observed in 60 min by 100 microM NE. Clonidine expressed differential effects on alpha 1-adrenergic receptors of the neuronal and astrocytic glial cultures. Pretreatment with 10 microM clonidine caused a 40% decrease in the Bmax of [125I]HEAT binding without influencing the Kd value in neuronal cultures. This downregulatory effect of clonidine was associated with a reduction in the ability of NE to stimulate PI hydrolysis in clonidine pretreated cells. In contrast to neuronal cultures, clonidine neither downregulated [125I]HEAT binding sites nor stimulated PI hydrolysis in glial cultures.     

Comparison of Phaconit Rollable IOL with Acrylic Foldable IOL

Background

Phaconit or ultra micro incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery involves phacoemulsification through a 0.9 millimetre sleeveless phaco tip and irrigating chopper followed by implantation of a rollable intraocular lens. The procedure leads to negligible astigmatism and faster visual recovery as compared to phacoemulsification with a foldable intraocular lens.

Methods

This prospective study analysed 80 cases of sub millimetre phaconit surgery with implantation of rollable intraocular lenses(IOL) in 40 cases and acrylic foldable IOL in the remaining 40 cases. Evaluation of efficacy and adaptability of procedure, equipment settings, operative constraints, postoperative complications, keratometric and topographic evaluation of induced astigmatism with visual outcome and patient''s rehabilitation were studied.

Results

The intraoperative complications were surge/ chamber collapse in 16 (20%), iris chaffing in one and corneal burns in two cases. All cases had an induced astigmatism of less than or equal to ± 0.25 D in four to six weeks after rollable IOL and ± 0.5 D to ± 0.75 D after acrylic IOL implantation. All patients had best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6 by third post operative day.

Conclusion

Phaconit with rollable IOL is a perfect blend of surgical skill, application of technology and ultra thin IOL.Key Words: Phaconit, Ultra micro phaco, Submillimetre incision, Rollable IOL implantation     

间充质干细胞的来源

目的:间充质干细胞具有强大的增殖能力和多向分化潜能,文章对其主要的来源途径予以综述。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline1991-01/2006-01期间的相关文章,检索词为“mesenchyma stem cells,origin,research progress”,并限定文章语言种类为English。同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1998-01/2006-10期间的相关文章,检索词为“间充质干细胞,来源,研究进展”,并限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。纳入标准:①间充质干细胞的起源。②间充质干细胞研究进展、干细胞的分离及鉴定。排除标准:重复研究、个案报告或Meta分析类文章。资料提炼:共收集到96篇相关文献,40篇文献符合纳入标准,排除的56篇文献为内容陈旧或重复。符合纳入标准的40篇文献中,分别涉及骨髓、肌肉、脐血、胎盘、外周血、脂肪组织、血管及其他来源的间充质干细胞。资料综合:间充质干细胞是属于中胚层的一类多能干细胞,具有强大的增殖能力和多向分化潜能,动物模型试验和临床应用研究也取得了一定的效果。间充质干细胞来源广泛,易于获得,临床上为神经损伤及其他系统的损伤修复提供了更为广泛的途径。结论:间充质干细胞主要来源于骨髓、肌肉、脐血、外周血、胎盘等组织,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Norepinephrine regulation of alpha-1 receptors and alpha-1-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in primary neuronal cultures

Alpha-1 receptor density and alpha-1 receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in neuronal primary cultures are regulated by exposure of the cells to the alpha-1 agonist norepinephrine (NE). Pretreatment of neuronal cultures with 10 microM NE caused a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in NE-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates. The maximal NE-stimulated inositide hydrolysis was decreased by approximately 80% after 2 hr of pretreatment with NE, and this loss of responsiveness was reversible over a period of 12 hr. NE pretreatment of neuronal cultures did not affect the muscarinic receptor stimulation of inositide hydrolysis. Neither the number of alpha-1 receptor recognition sites, assessed by measuring the specific binding of DL-[125I]-alpha-(3-iodohydroxyphenyl)-ethyl-aminomethyl tetralone ([125I]HEAT), nor the Ki for NE inhibition of [125I]HEAT binding were changed appreciably after treating neurons with NE for 2 hr. A time- and concentration-dependent decrease in alpha-1 receptor recognition sites occurred with longer periods of NE pretreatment. The maximal loss of 50 to 60% [125I]HEAT binding sites was seen after 14 hr of pretreatment with NE. The number of [125I]HEAT binding sites returned to control levels within 24 hr in parallel with the recovery of alpha-1-stimulated inositide hydrolysis after being down-regulated by a 24-hr exposure to NE. Cycloheximide (3.5 microM) blocked both the recovery of alpha-1 receptors and the recovery of alpha-1-stimulated inositide hydrolysis after 24 hr of NE pretreatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rapid mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells in rhesus monkeys by a single intravenous injection of interleukin-8

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemoattractant cytokine involved in chemotaxis and activation of neutrophils. Because in vivo administration of IL-8 induces mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in mice, we assessed the mobilizing properties of IL-8 in rhesus monkeys. Recombinant human IL-8 was administered as a single intravenous injection at doses of 10, 30, and 100 micrograms/kg to rhesus monkeys (age, 2 to 3 years; weight, 2.5 to 4.5 kg). Venous blood samples were obtained at time intervals ranging from 1 to 480 minutes after IL-8 administration. Cell counts, colony-forming unit-Mix assays, and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis were performed. Plasma was harvested to assess IL-8 levels. A time-controlled bolus intravenous injection of 100 micrograms IL-8 per kilogram of body weight resulted in peak IL-8 plasma levels up to 5 micrograms/mL. The calculated half-time life of free IL-8 was 9.9 +/- 2.2 minutes. IL-8 injection resulted in instant neutropenia that was due to pulmonary sequestration, as shown using 99mTc-labeled leukocytes. Within 30 minutes after IL-8 injection, neutrophilia developed with counts up to 10-fold greater than baseline levels. The numbers of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) increased from 45 +/- 48/mL to 1,382 +/- 599/mL of blood at 30 minutes after injection of 100 micrograms IL-8 per kilogram of bodyweight (mean +/- SD, n = 8). Individual animals showed 10- to 100-fold increase in numbers of circulating HPCs that returned to almost pretreatment values (92 +/- 52 CFU/mL) at 240 minutes after the injection of IL-8. Immunophenotyping showed no significant changes in lymphocyte (sub)populations. A second bolus injection of IL-8 with an interval of 72 hours resulted in similar numbers of mobilized stem cells as observed after the first injection, showing that no tachyphylaxis had occurred. We conclude that IL-8 induces mobilization of HPCs from the bone marrow of rhesus monkeys in a rapid and reproducible fashion. Therefore, IL-8 may be a potentially useful cytokine in the setting of blood stem cell transplantation.