Clinical studies of valproate for migraine prophylaxis

Within the last decade our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms which generate migraine has expanded considerably. Accompanying these advances in basic science, new agents designed to treat migraine acutely have exhibited unprecedented pharmacologic selectivity and clinical efficacy. While these abortive agents clearly can provide many migraine patients with a degree of headache control they previously have not enjoyed, such treatment typically will not provide lasting benefit to individuals whose headaches are more pervasive and may require stabilization through effective prophylactic therapy. Unfortunately, our arsenal of agents for migraine prophylaxis has not grown as rapidly as that of the abortive medications, and for the most part clinicians and patients are left to rely upon a small handful of "traditional" drugs for that purpose. One notable exception to this is divalproex sodium; the safety and efficacy of this new agent for migraine prevention have been documented consistently in a series of recent clinical trials.     

吡唑烷酮类化合物的抗惊厥作用

对3类14种吡唑烷酮类化合物的抗惊厥作用进行了比较研究,它们对最大电休克惊厥均有对抗作用,作用出现快,但维持时间较短,其中II-f作用最强,对听源性发作和家兔海马注射硫酸锌形成的慢性癫痫模型也有效。此外,III-类尚能对抗戊四唑引起的阵挛性惊厥。     

Erythropoietin kinetics in rats: generation and clearance

Detailed studies to analyze the early events of erythropoietin (Ep) secretion and clearance were performed in a rat model using a double antibody radioimmunoassay. Ep clearance was determined following intravenous injection of 1 mL of Ep-rich plasma, 1,080 mU/mL, obtained from phlebotomized rats. Analysis revealed a disappearance curve that conformed to a two-compartment model with an alpha half-life t1/2 of 3.6 minutes and a beta t1/2 of 86 minutes. The volume of distribution was similar to the calculated plasma volume. In anephric animals, there was no change in the plasma clearance rate or the volume of distribution. Rapid Ep secretion was elicited by a single 15 mL/kg phlebotomy (hematocrit decrement 45% to 30%), so that levels reached 20 to 30 times baseline (524 +/- 76 v 24 +/- 7 mU/mL) at five hours, whereas they plateaued for at least 33 hours. The increase in the rate of secretion was geometric, from 9.9 mU/h baseline secretion to 429 mU/h. These data identify a very sensitive and rapidly responsive system for Ep modulation in the rat.     

自体骨粉移植修复下颌骨部分缺损的组织学检测

目的:通过动物实验进行组织学光镜及扫描电镜检测,观察自体骨粉移植修复下颌骨缺损的愈合过程。方法:实验于2005-05/11在南方医科大学动物实验中心完成,选用12只健康雄性大耳白兔。实验分为两组:一侧为自体骨粉移植组,另一侧为空白对照组,均采用自体左右对照。①缺损模型建立:于双侧下颌骨体部下缘用磨削机器各造成1.0×1.0cm的全层骨缺损。②自体骨粉移植:将所有自体骨粉回填一侧缺损处作为自体骨粉移植组,另一侧缺损旷置作为空白对照组。③分别于术后2,4及8周各处死4只动物,获取整块下颌骨标本作组织学光镜及扫描电镜检测,光镜切片应用苏木精-伊红染色,扫描电镜只观察自体骨粉移植组标本。结果:12只大耳白兔均进入结果分析,无脱失。①两组标本组织学观察结果:自体骨粉移植组术后2周时形成薄层骨痂;4周时为新生的骨小梁,但排列紊乱;8周时骨小梁形成的编织骨已逐渐向板层骨过渡。空白对照组术后8周时骨小梁分布仍稀疏。②自体骨粉移植组标本超微结构观察结果:术后4周骨基质钙化程度提高,大量成骨细胞位于骨陷窝内。缺损间隙逐渐变窄形成多孔较疏松的新骨组织,新生骨小梁形成,新骨超微结构呈“蜂窝状”。8周时骨小梁钙化程度继续升高,形成的板状骨排列出现一定方向性,新生骨组织由多孔疏松的结构向致密性结构转化,新原骨组织基本上融为一体产生骨性结合,髓腔相通。结论:自体骨粉移植修复下颌骨成骨可靠,愈合加快,愈合方式以骨传导爬行替代为主,且应用方法简便。     

Effects of SR 48968 on the neuropeptide gamma-induced contraction of the human isolated bronchus

Summary— Neuropeptide gamma (NPγ) induced a contractile response of the human isolated bronchus which was potentiated by the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon, but was not modified by atropine and indomethacin. NPγ was 3.31-fold more potent than NKA. Contractile response curves to NPγ were shifted to the right and maximal responses reduced by the non-peptide NK₂-receptor antagonist, SR 48968. The pK_B of SR 48968 (8.94 ± 0.18, n = 15), calculated according to Kenakin (1987) was very close to that reported for [Nle¹⁰]-NKA (4–10), a specific agonist of neurokinin NK₂-receptors (8.86 ± 0.13, n = 13), suggesting that the contractile effects of NPγ on the human isolated bronchus were mediated through NK_2A-receptors.     

间充质干细胞的来源

目的:间充质干细胞具有强大的增殖能力和多向分化潜能,文章对其主要的来源途径予以综述。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline1991-01/2006-01期间的相关文章,检索词为“mesenchyma stem cells,origin,research progress”,并限定文章语言种类为English。同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库1998-01/2006-10期间的相关文章,检索词为“间充质干细胞,来源,研究进展”,并限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。纳入标准:①间充质干细胞的起源。②间充质干细胞研究进展、干细胞的分离及鉴定。排除标准:重复研究、个案报告或Meta分析类文章。资料提炼:共收集到96篇相关文献,40篇文献符合纳入标准,排除的56篇文献为内容陈旧或重复。符合纳入标准的40篇文献中,分别涉及骨髓、肌肉、脐血、胎盘、外周血、脂肪组织、血管及其他来源的间充质干细胞。资料综合:间充质干细胞是属于中胚层的一类多能干细胞,具有强大的增殖能力和多向分化潜能,动物模型试验和临床应用研究也取得了一定的效果。间充质干细胞来源广泛,易于获得,临床上为神经损伤及其他系统的损伤修复提供了更为广泛的途径。结论:间充质干细胞主要来源于骨髓、肌肉、脐血、外周血、胎盘等组织,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Nasal nitric oxide concentration is decreased in heart failure patients receiving nitrates

Summary— Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical gas and a short-lived messenger which has many paracrine functions. Direct assessment of NO production is very difficult in vivo. However, the paranasal cavities generate a high amount of NO which diffuses in the nasal cavity where it can be easily measured. Several studies have suggested alterations of the NO production in heart failure. Thus, we assessed nasal NO concentration in normal subjects and in heart failure patients. The nasal NO concentration averaged 227 ± 10 ppb in the control group (n = 20), and 210 ± 10, 198 ± 20 and 159 ± 54 ppb in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II (n = 30), III (n = 28) and IV (n = 7) patients, respectively (mean ± standard error [SE], not significant using analysis of variance [ANOVA]). Nasal NO level was not influenced by age, sex or etiology of the heart failure or by treatment with frusemide, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or digoxin. However, treatment with NO-releasing drugs (nitrates or molsidomine) significantly decreased the nasal NO level in heart failure patients. A two-way ANOVA revealed that treatment with a NO-releasing drug influenced nasal NO concentration (P = 0.0005), whereas NYHA class did not (P = 0.23), with a trend towards an interaction between the two parameters (P = 0.09): the inhibitory effect of NO-releasing drug on nasal NO concentration was more pronounced in severe heart failure. In an additional group of 12 patients (NYHA class II or III), the nasal NO concentration was 174 ± 19 ppb during NO-releasing drug treatment and increased to 231 ± 27 ppb 3 days after withdrawal of the nitrates (P = 0.0007 using paired t-test). Conversely, the nasal NO concentration in another group of seven patients (NYHA class II or III) was 219 ± 32 ppb without nitrate treatment and decreased to 188 ± 28 ppb 7 days after nitrate addition (P = 0.02 using paired (test). In contrast, the nasal NO concentration in another group of ten ischemic patients without heart failure was 203 ± 25 ppb without nitrate treatment and was similar (207 ± 28 ppb) 7 days after nitrate addition (not significant using paired t-test). In conclusion, nasal NO production is normal in heart failure, except in patients receiving NO-releasing drugs. Nasal NO concentration could be useful for investigating the mechanism(s) by which exogenous NO donors decrease endogenous NO production.     

LONG-TERM POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE IN ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS

Following a randomised cross-over trial of the effect of a four-week 60 mmol/day potassium supplement versus placebo on blood pressure (BP), eight of the original 18 hypertensive subjects continued with a 48 mmol daily potassium supplement for four months. For these eight subjects 24-h potassium excretion during placebo, one month of 60 mmol and four months of 48 mmol daily potassium supplementation phases was 56 ± 23, 102 ± 28 and 90 ± 35 mmol/24 hours, respectively, and mean 24-h BP following each phase was 160 ± 16/89 + 11, 147 ± 13/83 ± 12 and 145 ± 14/81 ± 9 mmHg respectively, a significant fall in mean 24-h SBP between four months of potassium supplement and placebo period of 15 ± 13 mmHg (95% CI: 4, 26 mmHg, p=0.02), although the fall in 24-h DBP was not significant (8 ± 11 mmHg, 95% CI: 0, 17 mmHg, p=0.08). Modest increases in dietary potassium intake could have significant effects on lowering BP in the large proportion of elderly subjects with hypertension.     

Virtual colonoscopy with magnetic resonance imaging: In vitro evaluation of a new concept

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Screening for colonic polyps is desirable. A new concept based on cross-sectional and endoscopic analysis of a magnetic resonance (MR) data set is presented. METHODS: Ex vivo autopsy colonic specimens, containing artificially placed polyps, were obtained and filled with a gadolinium-containing solution. Forty-four thin-section MR images were obtained in a 1.5-T MR scanner in 28 seconds. A three- dimensional endoscopic fly-through of these images was rendered. Fly- throughs and two-dimensional cross-sectional images were analyzed by two observers for the presence of polyps. RESULTS: The average sensitivity and specificity for the detection of polyps based on three- dimensional endoscopic MR colon imaging were 87% and 96%, respectively. Analysis of cross-sectional images showed an overall sensitivity and specificity of merely 57% and 84%, respectively. The difference in the interpretation of three-dimensional MR colonoscopy and two-dimensional cross-sections was statistically significant (P < 0.001). With three- dimensional MR colonoscopy, overall sensitivity for detection of polyps measuring < or =5 mm in length and diameter was 70%; for larger polyps, it increased to 95% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of an MR- based endoluminal assessment of the colon is shown. Minimal invasiveness, lack of radiation exposure, and high in vitro diagnostic accuracy warrant further investigation of this novel concept. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jun;112(6):1863-70)     

Uncoordinated expression of fibrinogen compared with thrombospondin and von Willebrand factor in maturing human megakaryocytes

The localization of three known alpha-granule proteins, thrombospondin (TSP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and fibrinogen (Fg) has been studied in human megakaryocytes (MK) by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. For this study, highly purified populations of MK were prepared from human bone marrow either by counterflow centrifugal elutriation or by cell culture from normal subjects and from two patients with megakaryoblastic leukemia. In normal bone marrow immature MK, TSP, and vWF were observed in the Golgi-associated vesicles and in small immature alpha-granules; in mature MK, they were found in the matrix of the mature large alpha-granules. Surprisingly, Fg was detected neither in the Golgi area, nor in the small precursors of alpha-granules; it was only found in the mature alpha-granules but this labeling was generally weaker than in blood platelets. In order to confirm these differences between the expression of Fg and vWF or TSP additional studies were performed on cultured maturing MK: immunofluorescent and ultrastructural immunogold labeling confirmed that vWF appeared early in the maturation while the same immature MK were negative for Fg. In the late maturation stage, the three proteins were detected in the alpha-granules. In order to know whether Fg was lately synthesized or endocytosed from the outside medium, normal MK were grown in the presence of either normal or afibrinogenemic plasma, and normal serum. Fg was detected only in the alpha-granules of MK grown in normal plasma. Similar results were observed with malignant MK, whose maturation was independent of the culture conditions. In conclusion, this study brings immunocytochemical evidence that vWF and TSP are synthesized by immature MK, whereas Fg appears later in the MK alpha-granules and its expression is dependent of the presence of an exogenous Fg source.