A wearable sensor identifies alterations in community ambulation in multiple sclerosis: contributors to real-world gait quality and physical activity

Journal of Neurology - People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) often suffer from gait impairments. These changes in gait have been well studied in laboratory and clinical settings. A thorough...     

The role of physical status versus mental status in predicting the quality of life of patients with lumbar disk herniation

Purpose: To explore the role of physical status versus mental status in predicting the quality of life (QOL) of patients with lumbar disk herniation (LDH).

Method: In this correlative study 51 patients with LDH were recruited in their conservative stage of treatment. After profiling their physical status, all participants reported about pain level (according to VAS), pain perception using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and disability level (according to Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire). Their mental status was evaluated using the Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Their QOL was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, brief version (WHOQOL-BREF).

Results: Physical status/disability level correlated with anxiety and depression. While Physical status predicted physical QOL, mental status, and mainly anxiety and depression were the significant predictors of psychological, social, and environmental QOL.

Conclusions: Mental status may play a significant role in reducing most QOL domains among patients with LDH. The evaluation and intervention process should consider both physical and mental status and their relation to the person's QOL. Since QOL is a major parameter in determining intervention type and success this elaborated perspective may contribute to the intervention planning and outcomes.

• Implications for rehabilitaion

• A significant mental distress may accompany the physical disability of patients with LDH.

• The role of this mental distress in reducing the QOL of patients with LDH may be greater than that of their physical disability.

• The evaluation and intervention for patients with LDH should refer to both physical and mental status and explore their impacts on quality of life in order to elevate intervention success.

     

A modification of the automated immune precipitin method for quantitation of human serum immunoglobulins.

The use of the automated immune precipitin method to measure human serum immunoglobulins has been reported by several groups. The authors encountered difficulties in evaluating the technic even when they incorporated such recent modifications as the use of polyethylene glycol to enhance the reaction. By altering the flow pattern and prediluting each specimen, they were able to increase sampling rate, decrease processing time, and decrease the frequency of line obstructions while obtaining reproducible standard curves without using polyethylene glycol. There was good correlation between the results obtained by their modification of the technic and those obtained by the Fahey radial immunodiffusion method. As with other automated immune precipitin systems, abnormally high values gave characteristic notched peaks and lipemic specimens were centrifuged in order to obtain the infranatant for quantitation. The present modification of the automated immune precipitin system provides a rapid, simple and efficient method to quantitate human serum immunoglobulins.     

脂质体法与电穿孔法转染两种细胞效率的比较

目的：对比脂质体与电穿孔法对 HepG2、SGC7901/ADM 两种细胞的转染效率。方法以 HepG2、SGC7901/ADM细胞为研究对象,采用脂质体法和电穿孔法分别转染pcDNA3．1‐EGFP质粒,流式细胞仪计算细胞存活率,借助绿色荧光标志蛋白eGFP测算转染效率。结果利用脂质体转染eGFP质粒至HepG2细胞所获得的阳性转染率为（20．8±2．1）％,而电穿孔法转染效率增高至（49．6±2．5）％,二者比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。利用脂质体转染eGFP质粒至SGC7901/ADM细胞所获得的阳性转染率为（25．4±1．3）％,而电穿孔法转染效率增高至（52．6±2．1）％,二者比较差异亦有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论使用电穿孔法能明显提高大片段载体的转染效率。     

灯盏细辛活性部位对神经细胞α7尼古丁受体表达的影响

目的：研究灯盏细辛活性部位对SH-SY5Y神经细胞中α7神经型尼古丁受体（nAChR）亚单位在蛋白质水平的表达以及对抗β-淀粉样蛋白的毒性作用。方法：灯盏细辛经乙醇提取、乙酸乙酯及正丁醇萃取、再以反相硅胶柱分离等方式得到极性部位,选取一定浓度的灯盏细辛提取物处理神经母细胞瘤细胞（SH-SY5Y）后,用Western blotting方法测定α7 nAChR蛋白水平的变化;再将能明显上调α7 nAChR蛋白水平的灯盏细辛提取物预处理SH-SY5Y细胞后,加入Aβ25-35处理,用比色法测定MTT还原率,观察灯盏细辛活性部位对细胞毒性的影响。结果：灯盏细辛醇提乙酸乙酯及正丁醇部位、以及该部位经反相硅胶柱分离的低极性部位均能显著上调α7 nAChR蛋白水平,并减弱β-淀粉样蛋白引起的细胞损伤。结论：灯盏细辛活性部位具有一定的神经保护作用,其机制之一可能与上调α7 nAChR有关。     

慢性1-烯丙基氯-3中毒性周围神经病神经肌肉组织电生理及超微结构改变的研究

中毒组为已确诊的慢性1-烯丙基氯-3中毒性周围神经病患者31例,对照组为健康者25例。中毒组肌电图在静息状态时,插入电位降低,部分病例出现自发性失神经电位(正锐波及纤颤电位);轻度收缩时,单个运动单位电位多相电位增多、电压降低、时限延长;最大收缩时,出现混合型。刺激腓总神经诱发胫前肌、腓骨长肌及伸趾短肌反应性肌电位出现多相电位、低电压及时限延长。腓总神经运动传导速度减慢及远端潜伏时延长,腓肠神经感觉传导速度及远端潜伏时无明显改变。腓肠神经髓质内微管及神经微丝变性,线粒体嵴脱落成变性空泡,光面内质网扩张和肿胀,髓鞘未见异常改变。腓肠肌肌原纤维部分断裂及间隙扩大并且内充满肌质网及线粒体变性空泡,Z线弯曲、断裂及崩解。     

大鼠外侧隔核的传出纤维联系

用HRP、WGA—HRP及CB—HRP法顺行追踪了大鼠外侧隔核的传出纤维联系。结果表明外侧隔核发生较多的纤维经内侧前脑束投射到下丘脑;经丘脑髓纹投射到丘脑带旁核、双侧内侧缰核,也有少量纤维投射到外侧缰核,外侧隔核向扣带皮质的投射主要终止在扣带皮质前部,少量纤维投射到后部。此外,有少量纤维投射到杏仁中央核、杏仁内侧核、中缝背核、中央灰质腹、外侧部、被盖腹侧区、脚间核及蓝斑等。     

环氧氯丙烷升高血糖作用的动力学特性和肾上腺超微结构改变

环氧氯丙烷具有升高血糖作用。血糖升高有良好的剂量效应关系和时间效应关系。血糖达峰值后恢复10%,50%,90%的效应与持续时间曲线斜率随剂量增加而递减,提示环氧氯丙烷在体内消除和转运具有多房室模型特性,血糖达峰值持续时间较长。说明环氯氧丙烷升高血糖作用部位在周边室。环氧氯丙烷引起肾上腺皮质束状带细胞光面内质网增多和脂滴增加,髓质肾上腺素细胞分泌颗粒增多和高尔基复合体发达。说明环氧氯丙烷作用于肾上腺皮质束状带细胞,引起糖皮质激素增加,诱导髓质肾上腺素细胞内PNMT增加和活性增强,促使肾上腺素增多,导致血糖升高。     

Prostaglandin E<Subscript>2</Subscript> Suppresses NK Activity In Vivo and Promotes Postoperative Tumor Metastasis in Rats

Background: Prostaglandins (PGs) were shown in vitro to suppress several functions of cellular immunity. It is unclear, however, whether physiological levels of PGs can suppress cellular immunity in vivo and whether such suppression would compromise postoperative host resistance to metastasis.Methods: Fischer 344 rats were administered PGE₂ in doses (18 to 300 g/kg subcutaneously) that increased the serum levels approximately 2- to 4-fold. We then assessed the number and activity of circulating natural killer (NK) cells, as well as rats resistance to experimental metastasis of a syngeneic NK-sensitive tumor (MADB106). To study whether endogenously released PGs after surgery compromise these indices, we tested whether laparotomy adversely affects them and whether a cyclooxygenase-synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin (4 mg/kg), attenuates these effects.Results: PGE₂ dose-dependently suppressed NK activity per NK cell and dose-dependently increased 4- and 24-hour MADB106 lung tumor retention (LTR); 240 g/kg of PGE₂ quadrupled the number of lung metastases counted 3 weeks later. Selective depletion of NK cells abrogated the promotion of LTR by PGE₂. Surgery significantly suppressed NK activity and increased MADB106 LTR, and indomethacin halved these effects without affecting nonoperated rats.Conclusions:PGE₂ is a potent in vivo suppressor of NK activity, and its postoperative release may promote tumor recurrence.