Acetylcholine Synthesis in a Primary Culture of Porcine Intermediate Lobe Cells

Previous pharmacological studies with the pituitary gland have suggested that acetylcholine (ACh) might be involved in the regulation of intermediate lobe (IL) function. Whether ACh is endogenous to the IL cells or provided from an extrinsic source is unclear. The present experiments tested the possibility that the endocrine cells of the IL may be a source of ACh by measuring certain cholinergic markers in a primary culture of dissociated porcine cells. The endogenous ACh content was readily measurable in both the freshly dissociated IL cells and in 2- or 4-day primary cultures. Choline acetyltransferase activity was also measurable in the freshly dissociated and cultured IL cells and was reduced by 53% in the presence of a specific inhibitor, napthylvinylpyridine (50 μM). IL cells incubated in the presence of [¹⁴C]choline (1 μM) were able to synthesize [¹⁴C]ACh and the accumulation of the new ACh was inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (30 μM), a competitive inhibitor of high affinity choline uptake at cholinergic nerve terminals. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the endocrine cells of the IL are capable of synthesizing and storing ACh.     

延迟一期修复外周神经损伤38例报告

目的 探讨应用显微外科技术延迟一期修复四肢外周神经损伤的治疗体会。方法 应用显微外科技术延迟一期修复各种原因所致的四肢外周神经损伤38例41条，手术方法包括神经瘢痕松解、神经直接缝合术等。结果 术后随访6个月～7年，平均33个月，优良率为81．6％。结论 对失去一期修复手术治疗机会的周围神经损伤患者应尽早行延迟一期手术，可取得较好疗效。     

Neonatal osteofibrous dysplasia: a case report

We describe a case of neonatal osteofibrous dysplasia that was diagnosed 3 days after birth. Osteofibrous dysplasia is a fibro-osseous lesion rarely seen in long bones. It is also known as congenital osteitis fibrosa or ossifying fibroma of bones. Although it occurs in children under 10 years of age, it is extremely rare in newborn babies. It must be differentiated from adamantinoma due to their radiological appearance, predilection for tibia and fibula, clinical picture, and certain histological similarities.     

某农场148个家庭HBV感染的家庭聚集性分析

A family clustering analysis of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc positive and total infected persons in 148 families on a farm was carried out by the methods of G statistic, binomial distribution and negative binomial distribution. The results consistently showed that there was significant clustering of HBsAg carriers in families, whereas there were not clustering was seen an overall HBV infected persons in families. The clustering of HBsAg carriers in families is due probably to the effect of some genetic factors. The results of G statistic analysis indicate that anti-HBc also have significant clustering in families.     

Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs): a possible role for metabolic factors in pathogenesis

Periodic, lateralized, epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) in the electroencephalogram have been reported in association with a variety of structural lesions of the brain. Although a great deal of attention has been directed to the neuropathological basis of PLEDs, little emphasis has been placed on the functional basis of this EEG syndrome. In this paper, we reported a patient with multiple systemic problems whose EEG showed PLEDs. However, radiological and pathological studies revealed no neuropathological basis for the occurrence of this EEG syndrome. Thus, we presented evidence that metabolic factors may play a part in the pathogenesis of PLEDs.     

Invasion of visual cortex by the auditory system in the naturally blind mole rat.

Previously we have shown that the dorsal lateral geniculate body (LGB), which is strictly visual in sighted mammals, receives a strong auditory input in the naturally blind mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi). Here we show with the 2-deoxyglucose technique and with single-unit recordings that in this species the initially non-degenerated visual cortex, as defined by its connection with LGB, is also activated by the auditory modality. These findings suggest that cross-modal compensation may occur as a natural consequence of the degeneration of a sense organ.     

Comparative studies of chemotherapy of human tumor cells in vitro by tritiated thymidine uptake inhibition and soft agar clonogenic assay

A rapid nonsterile short-term assay has been investigated in which percent inhibition of incorporation of the DNA precursor (3H)-thymidine is measured following exposure of tumor cells to the test drugs. To evaluate the usefulness of the short-term assay in providing a rapid reliable assessment of chemotherapeutic response, the short-term assay was compared with the soft agar clonogenic assay. Sensitivity to five anticancer drugs was compared using three human tumor cell lines (epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, pancreatic carcinoma, and bladder carcinoma). The short-term assay produced results that were similar to results of the clonogenic assay in two of the three tumors tested, for three drugs (cis-platin, doxorubicin, and BCNU), but did not detect responses to two antimetabolites (5-FU and MTX) in any tumor. Further studies of this short-term assay should focus on alkylating agents and other nonantimetabolites.