Direct demonstration of transsynaptic degeneration in the human visual system: a comparison of retrograde and anterograde changes

Transneuronal degeneration of retinal ganglion cells was directly demonstrated in a patient who had unilateral removal of the striate cortex forty years prior to necropsy. For comparison, another case is presented showing anterograde transneuronal atrophy forty years after enucleation of one eye.     

The beneficial antispasticity effect of botulinum toxin type A is maintained after repeated treatment cycles

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy, safety, and incidence of BtxA antibody formation with repeated treatments with BtxA in post-stroke upper limb muscle spasticity. METHODS: The study was a prospective open label trial. Patients with established post-stroke upper limb spasticity received 1000 units of BtxA (Dysport) into five muscles of the affected arm on study entry. Treatment was repeated every 12, 16, or 20 weeks as clinically indicated. Each patient received a total of three treatment cycles. Efficacy of treatment was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale. Patients were assessed on study entry and on week 4 and 12 of each treatment cycle for all safety and efficacy parameters. Blood samples for BtxA antibody assay were taken at baseline and on completion of the trial. RESULTS: Fifty one patients were recruited and 41 of them completed the study. Improvement from the cycle one baseline was observed in all the outcome measures. Mild to moderately severe treatment related adverse events were reported in 24% of cases. There were no serious adverse events. No BtxA antibodies were detected. CONCLUSION: BtxA at a dose of 1000 units Dysport was efficacious in the symptomatic treatment of post-stroke upper limb spasticity. The study suggests that this effect can be maintained with repeated injections for up to at least three treatment cycles, with duration of effect per cycle of between 12 and 20 weeks. BtxA was safe in the dose used in this study and did not induce the formation of detectable levels of neutralising BtxA antibodies.     

Suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth by selective inhibition of angiopoietin-2

Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) exhibits broad expression in the remodeling vasculature of human tumors but very limited expression in normal tissues, making it an attractive candidate target for antiangiogenic cancer therapy. To investigate the functional consequences of blocking Ang2 activity, we generated antibodies and peptide-Fc fusion proteins that potently and selectively neutralize the interaction between Ang2 and its receptor, Tie2. Systemic treatment of tumor-bearing mice with these Ang2-blocking agents resulted in tumor stasis, followed by elimination of all measurable tumor in a subset of animals. These effects were accompanied by reduced endothelial cell proliferation, consistent with an antiangiogenic therapeutic mechanism. Anti-Ang2 therapy also prevented VEGF-stimulated neovascularization in a rat corneal model of angiogenesis. These results imply that specific Ang2 inhibition may represent an effective antiangiogenic strategy for treating patients with solid tumors.     

Inhibition of interleukin-1 but not tumor necrosis factor suppresses neovascularization in rat models of corneal angiogenesis and adjuvant arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the capacities of the cytokine inhibitors interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra; anakinra) and PEGylated soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (PEG sTNFRI; pegsunercept) to suppress neovascularization. METHODS: A corneal angiogenesis assay was performed by implanting nylon discs impregnated with an angiogenic stimulator (basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor) into one cornea of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were treated with IL-1Ra or PEG sTNFRI for 7 days, after which new vessels were quantified. In a parallel study, male Lewis rats with mycobacteria-induced adjuvant-induced arthritis were treated with IL-1Ra or PEG sTNFRI for 7 days beginning at disease onset, after which scores for inflammation and bone erosion as well as capillary counts were acquired from sections of arthritic hind paws. RESULTS: Treatment with IL-1Ra yielded a dose-dependent reduction in growth factor-induced corneal angiogenesis, while PEG sTNFRI did not. IL-1Ra, but not PEG sTNFRI, significantly reduced the number of capillaries in arthritic paws, even though both anticytokines reduced inflammation and bone erosion to a similar degree. CONCLUSION: These data support a major role for IL-1, but not TNFalpha, in angiogenesis and suggest that an additional antiarthritic mechanism afforded by IL-1 inhibitors, but not anti-TNF agents, is the suppression of the angiogenic component of pannus.     

高效液相色谱法测定寒痹停片中士的宁含量

目的：建立用ＨＰＬＣ测定寒痹停片中士的含量的方法。方法：氰基柱;流动相－甲醇－水－三乙胺－乙酸（９８００：１５５：１５：３０）;紫外检测波长２５４ｎｍ。结果：在４～２０ｕｇ／ｍｌ范围内,标准曲线回归方程为：Ｙ＝－２８０３＋８９６７ｘ（ｒ＝０．９９９７）,ＲＳＤ＝１．６５％?加样回收率的平均值为９９．８２％。结论：实验表明,这是一个适用于生产控制和产品质量检验的简单、快速、准确的方法。