Effect of high-BDNF microenvironment stem cells therapy on neurogenic bladder model in rats

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to explore the effects of high-BDNF microenvironment produced by engineered immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (imMSCs) on the neurogenic bladder (NB) and investigate underlying mechanism.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rat (12-week-old, weighing about 370–400 g) were purchased from a Korean company (Orient Bio Co. Seongnam, Korea) and divided into the following groups (n=32): sham control group (n=8), NB group (n=8), NB + ImMSCs group (n=8), NB + ImMSCs (BDNF) group (n=8). The major pelvic ganglion (MPG) was observed under anesthesia. Three NB groups of rats were then subjected to bilateral MPG injury. The sham control group of rats was treated with sham surgery. Cystometry were performed before the rats were sacrificed, and then MPG and bladder were collected for histochemical and Western blot analysis.ResultsMSCs treatment improves lower urinary tract function, and the NB + ImMSCs (BDNF) group is better than the NB + ImMSCs group (P<0.01). MSCs treatment accelerates recovery of injured nerve tissue, and the NB + ImMSCs (BDNF) group is better than the NB + ImMSCs group (P<0.01). In high BDNF environment, apoptosis was reduced more significantly and muscle tissue recovered more rapidly (P<0.01). High-BDNF microenvironment activates more BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathways (P<0.01).ConclusionsIn a rat NB model caused by nerve injury, imMSCs have certain effects on nerve tissue repair. At the same time, it was proved that increasing the expression of BDNF which had specific effect on nerve injury repair could more effectively repair injured MPG in local microenvironment. The mechanism may be related to the activation of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway and the reduction of apoptosis by highly expressed BDNF.     

Contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse among adolescent and young adult women with disabilities: The role of formal sex education

ObjectivesThis study examines receipt of formal sex education as a potential mechanism that may explain the observed associations between disability status and contraceptive use among young women with disabilities.Study designUsing the 2011?2017 National Survey of Family Growth, we analyzed data from 2861 women aged 18 to 24 years, who experienced voluntary first sexual intercourse with a male partner. Women whose first intercourse was involuntary (7% of all women reporting sexual intercourse) were excluded from the analytic sample. Mediation analysis was used to estimate the indirect effect of receipt of formal sex education before first sexual intercourse on the association between disability status and contraceptive use at first intercourse.ResultsCompared to nondisabled women, women with cognitive disabilities were less likely to report receipt of instruction in each of 6 discrete formal sex education topics and received instruction on a fewer number of topics overall (B = ?0.286, 95% CI = ?0.426 to ?0.147), prior to first voluntary intercourse. In turn, the greater number of topics received predicted an increased likelihood of contraceptive use at first voluntary intercourse among these women (B = 0.188, 95% CI = 0.055?0.321). No significant association between noncognitive disabilities and receipt of formal sex education or contraceptive use at first intercourse was observed.ConclusionsGiven the positive association between formal sex education and contraceptive use among young adult women with and without disabilities, ongoing efforts to increase access to formal sex education are needed. Special attention is needed for those women with cognitive disabilities.     

Ginsenoside Rs3, a genuine dammarane-glycoside from Korean red ginseng

A genuine dammarane-glycoside, named as ginsenoside Rs₃, was isolated from the MeOH extracts of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) through repeated silica gel column chromatographies and its chemical structure was determined as (20S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-[6″-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of several spectral and physical evidences including HMBC and FAB-MS.     

台湾早期之教会医学

台湾如同中国本土一样,其现代医学的开端系来自西方基督教传教士的医疗。虽然１７世纪荷兰人曾带来了西方医学,但是当郑成功驱逐了荷兰人,西方医学也随之自台湾消失。１８６５年英国长老教会派遣马雅各医师来台从事医疗传教,才使西方医学在台湾生根。１９世纪最后的３０年是台湾近代医学史的关键时期。本文就台湾早期教会医学的三位重要人物：马雅各医师、马偕博士、兰大卫医师之主要事迹和他们对台湾近代医学的贡献加以整理叙述。     

Mercury content in edible mushrooms in the Wyzyna Wieluńska region

Mercury concentration was determined in the caps and stalks of nine species of edible mushrooms collected at the area of Wieluńska Upland in district of Czestochowa in 1995-96. The mushroom species examined were such as: yellow-cracking bolete Xerocomus subtomentosus, brown birch scaber stalk Leccinum scabrum, slippery Jack Suillus luteus, larch bolete Suillus grevillei, gray knight-cap Tricholoma terreum, parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera, horse mushroom Agaricus arvensis, fennel funnel cap Clitocybe odora, fairy-ring mushroom Marasmius oreades and tacky green brittle gills Russula aereuginea. The method of mercury measurement was cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) after wet digestion of the samples with concentrated nitric acid in a whole glass system. The parasol mushroom and horse mushroom showed a highest mercury concentrations and contained, respectively, 4500 +/- 1700 and 4400 +/- 2400 ng/g dry wt in caps, and 2800 +/- 1300 and 2800 +/- 2100 ng/g dry wt in stalks. In the case of fennel funnel cap and fairy-ring mushroom the mean total mercury concentrations in caps was above 500 ng/g dry wt, and for other species were between 150 +/- 50 and 500 +/- 230 ng/g dry wt. The stalks of the mushroom species examined in all cases showed lower contamination with mercury than caps. The mean total mercury concentrations noted in caps and stalks of mushrooms examined were usually higher than was reported till now in the same species elsewhere in Poland, while a maximum values found in an individual fruiting bodies are within the range of the concentrations noted in specimens collected from an unpolluted areas.     

The combined effect of psychotherapy and fluoxetine on obesity]

Obesity as psychosomatic disease is a mass phenomenon. The number of obese males (BMI > 30) became doubled in the last ten years. In the etiology of obesity play an important role the reactive obesity. In the background of "yo-yo syndrome" often could be found depression, or other psychotic disorder. The low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, tension, anxiety disorders is well-known in a slimming diet. Obese subjects (n = 29) who were admitted on their request with a view to losing weight were examined (Hamilton Depressive Scala, Hamilton Anxietas Scala, Eating Attitude Test) Physical Conditioning and internal Medicine Department of National Sports Medicine Institute, Budapest. Among obesities with mild and severe depression as treatment of somatic complications was used fluoxetine, in severe cases and depression with severe anxiety was associated with supportive or cognitive-behavioral treatment. The prevalence of binge eating disorders were at 57% and bulimia nervosa was at 3% in using population (n = 29). Decreasing of anxiety and grade of depression significantly correlated with body mass index (p < 0.023, F = 1.997, p < 0.034, F = 3.131). The treatment of fluoxetine significantly correlated with body mass index (T1: p < 0.023, T2: p < 0.03, T3: p < 0.004). The patients indicated their well being as fluoxetine reduced eating, satiety and lower binges.     

CT features of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with acute abdominal pain: emphasis on ischemic bowel disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with acute abdominal pain. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of ischemic bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the images from 39 abdominal CT examinations performed in 33 patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain. Images were evaluated for bowel wall changes, mesenteric changes, fluid collection, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, peritoneal enhancement, and hepatomegaly as well as for changes in other abdominal organs. Ischemic bowel disease was diagnosed if at least three of the following signs were seen: bowel wall thickening, target sign, dilatation of intestinal segments, engorgement of mesenteric vessels, and increased attenuation of mesenteric fat. RESULTS: Thirty-one (79%) of the 39 examinations had CT findings diagnostic of ischemic bowel disease, including symmetric bowel wall thickening (n = 29), target sign (n = 26), and mesenteric vascular engorgement and haziness (n = 31). In 24 cases, bowel wall thickening was multifocal, with variable length, and did not appear to be confined to a single vascular territory. CONCLUSION: The most common CT finding in patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain is ischemic bowel disease. CT is useful for detecting the primary cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, planning treatment, and monitoring for infarction or perforation.     

Long-term fate of heterotopic liver transplants in rats with portal vein inflow only

Previous studies have suggested that hepatic arterial flow in heterotopic partial liver transplants is necessary to ensure graft survival and regenerative capacity. This report presents findings in a syngeneic rat strain (Lewis) that partial liver transplants can be successfully heterotopically transplanted in the long term with the only inflow coming from the portal vein. When the host liver undergoes a nearly complete resection at 3-4 weeks, the transplanted liver regenerates to maintain the health of the host. Moderate to massive hepatocellular necrosis occurs in the first 3 months postoperatively, with recovery by 4-5 months. Liver transplants 8-10 months postoperatively appear architecturally normal. No host liver tissues were found to be regenerating after subtotal host liver resection. We conclude that portal vein reconstruction without hepatic arterial inflow can sustain a partial liver transplant in the long term, replacing the function of the host liver.     

Conversion factor for comparison of data from Humphrey and Medmont automated perimeters

Background : Clinical experience has shown that the sensitivity indices reported by the Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) are generally higher than those given by the Medmont Automated Perimeter (M600). It is the purpose of this paper to determine a conversion factor for the two perimeters and to confirm this prediction using clinical data. Theory predicted that HFA_sensitivity ? 5 dB = M600_sensitivity. Methods : Sensitivity versus eccentricity profiles were measured over the central visual field on 10 young subjects using both perimeters. Results : Both the HFA and the M600 operate within the realms of the Weber law and measure similar Weber fractions. The sensitivity profiles had similar slopes (about ?0.2 dB/degree) and were separated by about six decibels with the HFA reporting higher sensitivity values. This result confirmed the theoretical prediction. Conclusion : The difference in threshold sensitivities between the two perimeters is a result of differences in scaling factors and instrument luminances. A suggested clinical conversion factor is to subtract 5 dB from the HFA data to approximate those of the M600.