阿昔洛韦对单纯疱疹病毒脑炎小鼠脑细胞的保护作用

目的 了解单纯疱疹病毒脑炎(HSE)脑细胞结构的改变及药物的影响。方法 采用光学显微镜及透射电子显微镜观察HSE小鼠脑细胞结构的变化，并给予阿昔洛韦(ACV)及地塞米松(DEX)治疗，观察治疗后脑细胞结构的变化。结果 HSE小鼠脑神经细胞明显肿胀，核仁固缩，核内结构破坏，线粒体及高尔基体可见空泡样变性，核仁内可见病毒颗粒。用药物干预的小鼠脑神经细胞改变较轻微，未找到病毒颗粒；与单用ACV干预的小鼠相比，用ACV DEX干预的小鼠脑神经细胞及毛细血管周围水肿明显减轻。结论 HSE早期给予ACV DEX治疗，对HSE脑细胞结构有明显保护作用。     

Fatty acids in blood and intestine following docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in adults with cystic fibrosis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on blood and intestinal DHA levels and lung function in mild/moderately affected adult CF patients with the DeltaF508 genotype. BACKGROUND: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients often present with plasma fatty acid levels indicating low levels of linoleic (18:2n-6) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids and an increased level of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Improved dietary fat intake or reducing fat malabsorption with pancreatic enzymes has failed to normalize this biochemical deficiency of DHA. METHODS: Five CF patients, aged 18-43, received 70 mg of DHA/kg body weight/d for six weeks. At baseline and at six weeks a physical exam, lung function, 3-day dietary intake, duodenal mucosal biopsy and blood sample were assessed. The blood was analyzed for plasma vitamin A, D and E levels, liver function tests, clinical chemistry (CBC, differential and electrolytes). Plasma and red blood cell fatty acid levels were also analyzed. At three weeks, assessment included a physical exam, lung function test and fasting blood sample (vitamin levels, liver function and clinical chemistry only). RESULTS: Pre- and post-measurements were compared for the four subjects who completed the study. An increase in DHA content (% w/w) was observed in all phospholipid fractions of plasma, red blood cell and mucosal samples. No significant differences in vitamin levels, liver function or lung function were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study proves the concept that an increase in tissue DHA levels in CF patients can be achieved by supplementing for six weeks with 70 mg/kg/d DHA.     

The path to care in autism: Is it better now?

Parents of children with autism often report problems associated with obtaining a diagnosis of their child's condition, family support, information, and appropriate services. To evaluate any changes in the situation over the last two decades, the families of all members of the West Midlands Autistic Society, age 19 years and below, were asked to fill in a questionnaire that covered aspects of detection, diagnosis, help and information received, and educational provision. Responses were obtained from 127 families, the children of whom formed an older group ages 10 years and above (n=67) and a younger group ages 9 years and below (n=61). Findings show that there have been improvements for the younger group in some areas, such as earlier referral, diagnosis, and statementing. However, the situation with respect to advice given by professionals and the support and provision available after referral is still much the same as that experienced by families of the older group of children. Many difficulties and hurdles remain which hinder parents and children on the path to care in autism.     

小鼠眼球中脂肪酸组成分析

用气相色谱法分析了小鼠眼球中脂肪酸的组成及百分含量。分离是在２５ｍ×０．２５ｍｍＰＥＧ－２０Ｍ熔融石英毛细管柱内进行，眼球中１２种主要饱和及不饱和脂肪酸得到了定性和定量。本实验可为有关眼疾病的治疗、预防及生化方面的深入研究提供有意义的信息。     

术前无创正压通气治疗对脊柱侧凸患者围手术期肺功能的影响

目的:研究术前使用呼吸机无创正压通气治疗对脊柱侧凸患者围手术期肺功能的影响。方法:将40例Cobb角≥60°、肺功能存在中度以上限制性通气功能障碍、行脊柱侧凸矫形术的脊柱侧凸患者,随机分成A组和B组,每组20例。A组在术前采用BiPAP呼吸机,经用面罩无创正压通气(NIPPV)治疗1个月;B组常规术前准备。观察A组患者治疗前后肺功能的改善及两组患者围手术期肺功能的差异。结果:两组患者性别、年龄、身高、体重、Cobb角度、手术时间、手术径路、融合椎体数等基本情况比较无统计学差异(P>0.05);A组患者经NIPPV治疗后肺活量(VC)、肺活量占预计值的百分比(VC%)、用力肺活量(FVC)、第一秒最大呼气量(FEV1.0)、最大通气量(MVV)和最大通气量占预计值的百分比(MVV%)较治疗前明显改善(P<0.01);两组患者术中氧合指数、术后拔管时间、拔管后15min动脉血气PO2、PCO2比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:术前无创正压通气治疗可改善脊柱侧凸患者围手术期的肺功能,可缩短手术后气管插管的拔管时间,改善术后通气功能,有助于脊柱侧凸患者手术后早期恢复。     

舒芬太尼用于全凭静脉麻醉40例研究

目的：探讨舒芬太尼全凭静脉复合麻醉时对听觉诱发电位指数、血流动力学和术后复苏的影响.方法：40例美国标准协会（ASA）Ⅰ～Ⅱ级病人择期行胆囊切除手术,随机分为Ⅰ组（舒芬太尼组）和Ⅱ组（芬太尼组）,记录两组病人麻醉期间各时间点的听觉诱发电位指数（AEPI）值、收缩压、舒张压、心率和SpO2.结果：Ⅱ组插管后1 min、2 min的收缩压较Ⅰ组升高,而插管后1 min的心率较Ⅰ组降低（P＜0.05）;Ⅰ组插管后1 min、2 min和3 min时的AEPI值低于Ⅱ组（P＜0.05）;Ⅰ组拔管后至定向力恢复的时间较Ⅱ组长（P＜0.05）;Ⅰ组丙泊酚的用量较Ⅱ组少（P＜0.05）.结论：等效剂量的舒芬太尼较芬太尼的全凭静脉复合麻醉可以使病人达到更为合适的麻醉深度,并能使血流动力学更加稳定,同时可减少丙泊酚用量.     

The different effects of Helicobacter pylori strains on basal and histamine-stimulated acid and pepsin production: An in vitro study

Inflammation Research -     

Reflex tear ascorbate in Hong Kong Chinese subjects: method comparison and biological variation.

BACKGROUND: Tear ascorbate is important for corneal health. A rapid and simple method for measurement of ascorbate in tears is needed, and adequate knowledge of physiological variation of tear ascorbate is important to facilitate comparative studies of the effect of, for example, contact lens wear and environmental conditions and stresses. However, there are currently no data on physiological variation of tear ascorbate. This study validated a simple and speedy method for tear ascorbate and investigated between-eye and between-day variation in tear ascorbate in healthy young adults. METHODS: Yawn-induced reflex tears were collected from 32 healthy Hong Kong Chinese subjects and measured by both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and by an enzyme-linked colorimetric method known as FRASC (total ferric reducing (antioxidant) activity and ascorbate concentration measurement). For between-eye variation, yawn reflex tears were collected from each eye of the same 32 healthy subjects, and ascorbate was measured using HPLC; in a separate experiment for between-day variation, tears were collected on two separate days from 14 subjects, and ascorbate was measured by FRASC. RESULTS: Both HPLC and FRASC showed high precision, and results obtained using FRASC were not statistically different from those using HPLC; mean +/- SD were, respectively, 18.5 +/- 4.4 microM and 18.5 +/- 4.8 microM for HPLC and FRASC methods (p = 0.943). No significant between-eye difference in tear ascorbate was found (p = 0.386), and no significant between-day variation was found overall: mean +/- SD ascorbate was 20.0 +/- 6.2 microM on day 1 and 19.3 +/- 6.8 microM on day 2 (p = 0.772). However, between-day variation was large in seven of 14 subjects. CONCLUSION: FRASC is an acceptable alternative to HPLC for measurement of tear ascorbate. Tears for ascorbate investigation can be collected from either eye or, if necessary, from both eyes and pooled. However, tear ascorbate may vary widely from day to day in the same individual. The reasons for this variation require further study but may relate to differences in ascorbate supply or demand within the precorneal tear layer.     

Treatment of motoneuron degeneration by intracerebroventricular delivery of VEGF in a rat model of ALS

Neurotrophin treatment has so far failed to prolong the survival of individuals affected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable motoneuron degenerative disorder. Here we show that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) delivery of recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) in a SOD1(G93A) rat model of ALS delays onset of paralysis by 17 d, improves motor performance and prolongs survival by 22 d, representing the largest effects in animal models of ALS achieved by protein delivery. By protecting cervical motoneurons, i.c.v. delivery of Vegf is particularly effective in rats with the most severe form of ALS with forelimb onset. Vegf has direct neuroprotective effects on motoneurons in vivo, because neuronal expression of a transgene expressing the Vegf receptor prolongs the survival of SOD1(G93A) mice. On i.c.v. delivery, Vegf is anterogradely transported and preserves neuromuscular junctions in SOD1(G93A) rats. Our findings in preclinical rodent models of ALS may have implications for treatment of neurodegenerative disease in general.