Effects of risperidone on dopamine receptor subtypes in developing rat brain.

The atypical antipsychotic risperidone is often prescribed to pediatric patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, though its effects on the developing brain remain unclear. Accordingly, we studied the effects of repeated treatment of risperidone on dopamine receptors in brain regions of juvenile rat. Levels of dopamine receptors (D(1), D(2), D(3), D(4)) in forebrain regions of juvenile rats were quantified after 3 weeks of treatment with three different doses of risperidone (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) and compared findings to those in adult rats treated with risperidone (3.0 mg/kg/day) previously. Risperidone (at 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg/day) increased levels of D(1) receptors in nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen of juvenile, but not adult rats. Conversely, all three doses of risperidone dose-dependently increased D(2) labeling in medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and D(4) receptor in nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen and hippocampus of juvenile animals as well as in adults. Only the high dose of risperidone (3.0 mg/kg) increased D(2) receptors in caudate-putamen in both juvenile and adult brain. D(3) receptors were not altered by risperidone in any brain region at any dose or age. The findings indicate dose-dependent effects of risperidone on dopamine receptors in developing animals, and that juvenile animals are more sensitive than adults to the cerebral effects of risperidone.     

食管癌患者血缘亲属及不同性别食管癌患病风险比较研究

目的 对比分析食管癌病例组与对照组血缘亲属食管癌患病风险,并了解食管癌家族中危险亲属人群患病的新线索.方法 采用病例对照研究方法 ,对食管癌病例组及对照组各720例进行逐层分析,以比较两组各血缘亲属父系、母系食管癌患病危险度(OR)的大小及差异.结果 (1)病例组Ⅰ级亲属食管癌患病危险度(1.34%～2.24%)显著高于对照组(0.78%～1.21%)(P＜0.01);Ⅰ级亲属中病例组父母亲食管癌患病危险度为6.11%,显著高于对照组父母亲食管癌患病危险度2.97%(P＜0O01).(2)以血缘亲属中父系和母系亲属逐层分析可见,病例组父系食管癌患病危险度(0.87%～1.01%)与母系患病危险度(0.50%～0.79%)均显著高于对照组父系食管癌患病危险度(0.53%～0.65%)与母系患病危险度(0.38%～0.47%)(P＜0.05).进一步分析显示,病例组父系中男性亲属与母系中女性亲属,即父系中祖父、父亲、叔伯食管癌患病危险度为2.68%与母系中外祖母、母亲、姨的食管癌患病危险度1.91%均显著高于对照组父系中男性亲属食管癌患病危险度1.50%与母系中女性亲属食管癌患病危险度0.92%(P＜0.01).结论 山西省食管癌患者血缘亲属发病危险主要是父亲及其兄弟、母亲及其姐妹,其下代患食管癌风险要大.     

试析陆懋修从阳明论治温病之特色

陆懋修（1818-1886），又名免研，字九芝，号江左下工，又号林屋山人，江苏元和（今江苏吴县）人，为清代后期著名的医学家。陆氏出身于官宦之家，儒医兼通，陆氏秉承家学，对先人的医学成就颇为敬重。他曾三十余年坚持潜心研究《内经》、《伤寒》等医学经典著作，终于贯通医理而成为一代名医。陆氏一生博览群书之余，著述不断，     

A dermal equivalent developed from fibroblast culture alone: Effect of EGF and insulin

We have recently developed a new dermal equivalent without exogenous materials by culturing dermal fibroblasts alone in serum-containing medium treated with several supplements. In this study, we investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin on the formation of a dermal equivalent. After cultured dermal fibroblasts reached a confluence in serum-containing medium, they were treated with EGF or insulin. The combined effects of EGF and insulin were also studied. Macroscopically, in contrast to the culture without supplement, the addition of EGF or insulin produced a fibrous sheet. The combination of EGF and insulin showed a more marked effect than a single factor. Histologically, EGF or insulin alone induced a three-dimensional tissue containing several layers of fibroblasts. The combination of EGF and insulin produced a thicker tissue. It was composed of abundant extracellular matrix containing fibroblasts, suggesting a dermis-like tissue. It revealed collagen fibers by Masson-trichrome staining. Immunohistochemically, the components of dermal extracellular matrix such as type 1 collagen, elastin, and fibrillin-1 were diffusely expressed. Ultrastructurally, a large number of collagen fibrils with cross-striated patterns were found around the fibroblasts. These results showed that a dermal equivalent could be formed by culturing dermal fibroblasts alone postconfluently in serum-containing medium with EGF and insulin. They suggest that the two factors play an important role in the formation of a dermal equivalent.     

Which constructs can predict emotional exhaustion in a working population? A study into its determinants

The main objective of this study was to examine the psychosocial stress model developed by Taylor and Aspinwall with emotional exhaustion as the outcome variable. Respondents, 409 men and 346 women, who had a paid job for at least 20 hours per week, completed questionnaires concerning demographic variables, personality, temperament, work pressure, workload, perceived social support, appraisal, coping, and emotional exhaustion. Structural equation analyses provided only partial support for the validity of the model. First, on theoretical and statistical grounds, one more path linking external resources to social support was added. Second, contrary to expectations, coping styles did not predict emotional exhaustion. To conclude, when coping is measured retrospectively, it does not add to our understanding of emotional exhaustion. It is suggested that future studies should be longitudinal and include objective measures of stressors and psychosocial health outcomes in addition to self‐reports. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) between some natural flavonoids and ocular blood flow in the rabbit.

PURPOSE: Flavonoids with two to five hydroxy groups, with or without sugar, and/or methoxy groups were studied on their effects to affect ocular blood flow. METHODS: Colored microsphere technique was used to determine the ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes. RESULTS: Flavonoids with three free hydroxy (OH) groups seemed to produce the optimal effects in increasing ocular blood flow (naringenin and hesperitin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT). Whether the OH groups are below three (naringenin, hesperitin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT) or above four (Quercetin, Pfalts and Bauer, Waterbury, CT), they produced no effects on the ocular blood flow. When OH groups are four (rutin, Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI), it produced mixed effects on ocular blood flow. The attachment of rutinose and/or methoxy group in the structure did not affect the ocular blood flow one way or the other. CONCLUSION: The ocular blood flow is increased significantly by the number of OH group in the molecule, with three the best to increase the ocular blood flow.     

Liposome-mediated transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor cDNA augments survival of random-pattern skin flaps in the rat.

Tissue engineering is an application for gene therapy that is in its infancy. We show that simple liposomal-mediated gene transfer could result in a potentially useful biological effect in the field of wound healing. cDNA encoding the 165 amino acid form of vascular endothelial growth factor complexed to commercially available liposomes was injected into rat skin 1 week before raising a random pattern 3 x 10 cm flap. The flap survival was enhanced by 14 percent, and was accomplished without accessing the arterial inflow of the territory. These results were statistically significant (p<0.002) and reproducible. No adverse effects were seen. Histological analysis of the angiogenesis localized much of the new vessel formation to the area around the hair follicles. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of extracted flap tissue confirmed the presence of the transgene.