Primary intramedullary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor with intracranial seeding in an infant

Primary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a rare entity. In all, 13 cases have been reported in the literature, including 3 with intracranial seeding. A 3-month-old girl with involvement of the spinal cord below the mid-thoracic level is described. The brain MRI revealed findings indicative of seeding along the intracranial subarachnoid space. Biopsy, duraplasty and removal of laminotomy flap were done. In spite of a good response to the first cycle of postoperative 8-drugs-in-a-day chemotherapy, further treatment was refused. She died 21 days after the onset of leg weakness, which reveals the rapid progression of untreated cases. To our knowledge, this is the first case of spinal cord PNET with parenchymal involvement that has been described in an infant.     

Field stimulation-induced responses of circular smooth muscle from guinea-pig stomach

Summary Field stimulation of circular smooth muscle of guinea-pig stomach from the regions of the cardia and fundus caused contraction responses at low stimulation frequencies (0.25–1 Hz) with relaxation at higher frequencies (1–10 Hz), whilst tissues of the body and antrum responded with contraction throughout the frequency range. Atropine (10^–9–10^–8 M) antagonised the contraction responses of all tissues, with relaxation developing at higher concentrations (except for antral tissue). In contrast, metoclopramide (10^–8–10^–6 M) caused modest (cardia, fundus) or marked (body, antrum) enhancement of contractions to field stimulation, whilst domperidone (10^–8–10^–7 M), haloperidol (10^–8–10^–6 M), prazosin, propranolol and methysergide (10^–8–10^–6 M) failed to modify the contraction responses. However, whilst yohimbine and guanethidine failed to modify the contractions of the cardia, fundus and body tissues, those of the antral preparations were antagonised by nanomolar concentrations of yohimbine and by guanethidine (10^–6–5×10^–5 M). To optimise the relaxation responses for study, atropine was included in the physiological solution. Relaxation to field stimulation of preparations from the body and cardia, but not the fundus, was antagonised by reserpine pretreatment (5 mg/kg i.p., 24h), addition of guanethidine (10^–5–10^–4 M), phentolamine, prazosin or propranolol (10^–7–10^–6 M) (the effects of prazosin and propranolol being additive). Higher concentrations of haloperidol and domperidone antagonised the relaxation responses of the body preparations only. Metoclopramide, yohimbine and methysergide (10^–8–10^–6 M) were ineffective. Thus, it is concluded that the contractile effects of the 4 stomach areas to field stimulation reflects a major cholinergic involvement, with an additional ₂-adrenoceptor contractile component in antral tissue. Relaxation responses of cardia and body tissue involve ₂- and -adrenoceptors plus a further, unidentified, non-adrenergic component; the latter represents the total relaxation response of the fundic preparation.     

Relationship of viscosity to porosities in automixed elastomeric impressions

Porosities commonly presenting as voids have been recognized as an inherent problem in elastomeric impressions. Automixing of the impression has been found to be effective in reducing voids. The purpose of this study was to compare formation of voids in medium-viscosity and putty-wash materials in four automixed addition silicone elastomers. Impressions of a master model were made according to manufacturers' recommendations on manipulation of materials. Voids presenting on a predetermined surface were counted under a binocular microscope at a magnification factor of 7x. Results showed that Express exhibited a significantly higher number of voids than other materials in both categories. Putty-wash impressions generated significantly less voids than medium-viscosity impressions for all materials except Reprosil. The findings of this study suggested that putty-wash impressions produced significantly less porosities than medium-viscosity impressions and, consequently, offer better tear strength for impressions.     

奥丹西隆对小鼠吗啡身体依赖性的影响

目的　观察 5 HT3受体特异性拮抗剂奥丹西隆 (on dansetron ,Ond)对吗啡身体依赖性的影响。方法　采用小鼠吗啡依赖模型及离体豚鼠回肠吗啡依赖模型。结果　奥丹西隆 12d预防性给药可有效抑制小鼠吗啡戒断反应 ,使其体重降低减小 (Ond 2～ 10 0 μg·kg-1·d-1组 ) ,或体重降低 ,跳跃反应均明显减弱 (Ond 10 0 μg·kg-1·d-1组 )。另外 ,奥丹西隆 (1～ 2 0 μmol·L-1)亦可抑制纳洛酮促发的离体豚鼠回肠收缩。作用均呈剂量依赖性。结论　奥丹西隆预防性的慢性给药可在一定程度上抑制吗啡身体依赖的形成     

谷氨酸转运体、谷氨酸/胱氨酸转运体与谷氨酸神经细胞毒作用

谷氨酸转运体与谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体在脑缺血疾病中起重要作用，谷氨酸转运体的结构或功能改变可使细胞间隙的谷氨酸浓度急剧升高，激活NMDA受体产生一系列的表现，同时抑制谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体对胱氨酸的摄取，介导谷胱苷肽耗竭、氧自由基升高、胞内钙升高、线粒体损伤、细胞色素c释放等神经细胞毒环节，激活半胱天冬酶诱导凋亡。可进一步加重谷氨酸的神经细胞毒作用。     

硫酸阿米卡星的刺激性试验

目的 　观察硫酸阿米卡星注射液对兔血管壁和股四头肌是否有刺激性 ,为临床用药提供理论依据。方法 　新西兰兔耳缘静脉注射 0 .5 %硫酸阿米卡星 0 .6m L· kg- 1 ( 1m L· min- 1 ) ,1日 1次 ,连续 7d,及大腿股四头肌注射硫酸阿米卡星每只 1m L ,1次 ,末次给药后 48h,取兔耳血管和股四头肌作病理检查。结果 　与对照组比较 ,血管及肌肉经目检和镜检均未见明显的变化。结论　硫酸阿米卡星注射液对兔耳管壁和股四头肌无明显的刺激性     

Studies in NZB IL-10 knockout mice of the requirement of IL-10 for progression of B-cell lymphoma.

NZB mice develop an age-related malignant expansion of a subset of B cells, B-1 cells, with autocrine production of IL-10. IL-10, a pleiotropic cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties, is a potent growth and survival factor for malignant B cells. To further examine the in vivo requirement for IL-10 in the development and expansion of malignant B-1 clones in NZB mice, we developed a strain of homozygous IL-10 knockout (KO) mice on an NZB background. The NZB IL-10 KO mice develop peritoneal B-1 cells with approximately the same frequency as heterozygous and wild-type littermates. In contrast, the development of malignant B-1 cells in the peripheral blood and spleen, observed in wild-type NZB, rarely occurred in the NZB IL-10 KO. Phenotypic analysis of surface marker expression in splenic B cells indicated that, in contrast to the NZB with malignant B-1 splenic lymphoma, the surface marker expression of NZB IL-10 KO splenic B cells indicated that the majority of the B cells were typical B-2 cells. In the absence of IL-10, spontaneously activated B cells and antiapoptotic gene expression were reduced and lymphoma incidence was decreased. These results indicate that IL-10 is a critical factor for the progression of this B-cell malignant disease.