Cumulative probability of pregnancy following IVF with ICSI and fresh or frozen embryo transfer.

The authors studied the cumulative probability of pregnancy for up to 4 consecutive embryo transfer (ET) cycles with ICSI performed for male factor. Transfers could be either fresh or frozen. The clinical pregnancy rate (PR) for the first 4 cycles were similar [44% (61/366); 31% (44/138); 45% (14/31); 44% (4/9)]. Delivery rates were also similar. There was a lower PR on the second retrieval vs. the first retrieval (47% vs. 29%), but this may be related to most of the second retrievals occurring in the second transfer cycle (67%, 31/55); this may be explained by women who were poor responders and required another retrieval without a frozen ET. The majority of transfers in cycle 1 were fresh, whereas cycles 2-4 used primarily frozen-thawed embryos. These data should be helpful for patients requiring IVF with ICSI in deciding to continue with more IVF cycles or consider other     

庆大霉素对豚鼠前庭上皮IGF-1及其受体表达的影响

目的：研究庆大霉素对豚鼠前庭上皮胰岛素样生长因子-1（insulin-like growth factor-1，IGF-1）及其受体（insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor，EGF-1R）表达的影响，并探讨其生物学特性。方法：采用免疫组织细胞化学方法，以抗IGF-1及IGF-1R抗体为标记物，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮自发修复期IGF-1及IGF-1R的表达变化和分布特点；采用Brdu体内标记和抗Brdu抗体免疫组化染色，检测庆大霉素损伤后豚鼠前庭上皮增殖的变化。结果：IGF-1及IGF-1R在正常成年豚鼠前庭上皮细胞中有低水平表达，庆大霉素损伤后，其表达增多。在1d组IGF-1及IGF-1R表达最强，其后逐渐减少。在正常对照组中无Brdu阳性细胞。各实验组均观察到Brdu阳性细胞，7d组最多。结论：庆大霉素损伤后，豚鼠前庭上皮IGF-1及IGF-1R表达增强，其时程变化与细胞增殖活动密切相关。IGF-1在豚鼠前庭上皮损伤后的细胞增殖中可能起重要信号转导作用。     

43例口腔癌平阳霉素术前化疗效果相关因素分析

目的 :通过对平阳霉素术前化疗效果的相关因素分析 ,早期判断平阳霉素对口腔鳞癌的效果 ,为确定进一步治疗方案提供指导。方法 :对本院近 3年来接受平阳霉素 (总量为 80mg)化疗的 4 3例口腔癌患者进行直线相关和回归分析 ,观察化疗期间体温改变、发热持续时间、胃肠道反应时间及WBC改变与疗效的关系。结果 :①接受平阳霉素化疗有效的患者多在第 3～ 6天出现局部反应 ;②发热的程度及胃肠道反应与化疗效果密切相关 (P<0 .0 5 )。结论 :化疗早期出现的发热、胃肠道症状及局部反应可以作为早期判断预期疗效的方法。     

N-Phenylethyl Amitriptyline in Rat Sciatic Nerve Blockade

Background: The antidepressant amitriptyline is commonly used orally for the treatment of chronic pain, particularly neuropathic pain, which is thought to be caused by high-frequency ectopic discharge. Among its many properties, amitriptyline is a potent Na+ channel blocker in vitro, has local anesthetic properties in vivo, and confers additional blockade at high stimulus-discharge rates (use-dependent blockade). As with other drug modifications, adding a phenylethyl group to obtain a permanently charged quaternary ammonium derivative may improve these advantageous properties.

Methods: The electrophysiologic properties of N-phenylethyl amitriptyline were assessed in cultured neuronal GH3 cells with the whole cell mode of the patch clamp technique, and the therapeutic range and toxicity were evaluated in the rat sciatic nerve model.

Results: In vitro, N-phenylethyl amitriptyline at 10 [mu]m elicits a greater block of Na+ channels than amitriptyline (resting block of approximately 90%vs. approximately 15%). This derivative also retains the attribute of amitriptyline in evoking high-degree use-dependent blockade during repetitive pulses. In vivo, duration to full recovery of nociception in the sciatic nerve model was 1,932 +/- 72 min for N-phenylethyl amitriptyline at 2.5 mm (n = 7) versus 72 +/- 3 min for lidocaine at 37 mm (n = 4; mean +/- SEM). However, there was evidence of neurotoxicity at 5 mm.     

Freezing of gait in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonism.

The frequency and pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FoG) in atypical parkinsonism is unknown. We analysed the frequency of FoG in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonian disorders (APD) comprising corticobasal degeneration (CBD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Sixty-six patients with pathologically confirmed APD (CBD, n = 13; DLB, n = 14; MSA, n = 15; PSP, n = 24) formed the basis for a multicenter clinicopathological study. Clinical features at first and last clinical visit were abstracted from patient records on standardized forms following strict instructions. At the first visit (median 36 months after symptom onset), 24% of APD had FoG (CBD, 8%; DLB, 21%; PSP, 25%; MSA, 40%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of FoG and urinary incontinence (P = 0.04) at first visit. At last visit, 47% of APD had FoG (CBD, 25%; PSP, 53%; DLB, 54%; MSA, 54%). Clinicopathological correlation based on routine postmortem examination failed to identify a consistent neuropathological substrate of FoG. This study demonstrates that (1) FoG is common in APD, and (2) urinary incontinence is significantly associated with FoG in these disorders. Whether FoG and urinary incontinence share similar neuropathological substrates remains to be determined by future studies.     

Determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

We report a reliable method for determining DOPA levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The method is based on complete conversion of DOPA to dopamine and quantification by HPLC-ECD of the dopamine formed. Lower limit of detection was 0.5 nmol/l. No differences in plasma DOPA levels were found between normal children (0-15 yr, n = 60), normal adults (n = 39) and patients with essential hypertension (n = 40) or Parkinson's disease (no DOPA therapy, n = 30). In normal individuals and in patients with essential hypertension venous plasma levels were higher than arterial levels (10.2 vs 9.3 nmol/l, p less than 0.001, V/A ratio 1.11 (SD 0.08), n = 15). Sympathetic stimuli (standing, tilting, bicycle exercise, tyramine) did not influence DOPA levels. In untreated depressed patients (n = 10) and in non-parkinsonian neurological patients (n = 12) cerebrospinal fluid levels of DOPA were 4.5 (SD 2.4) and 5.2 (SD 1.3) nmol/l respectively. A direct method for the measurement of DOPA by HPLC-ECD after deproteinization of plasma is also described and compared with the conversion method. Good agreement was found when plasma DOPA levels exceeded 0.25 mumol/l (y(conversion method) = 0.943x (direct method) + 0.118; n = 60; r = 0.985). The direct method, because of greater simplicity and the possibility of simultaneous measurement of the DOPA metabolite 3-O-methyldopa, is the method of choice with plasma samples from DOPA-treated patients. In non-DOPA treated individuals the conversion method is superior and has proved to be an accurate and sensitive method for the determination of DOPA levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.