Role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the anorexic syndrome induced by CRF

Genetic manipulations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)(1) and CRF(2) receptors have resulted in data suggesting that the CRF(2) receptor could mediate the effects of CRF on appetite or satiety. We have attempted to obtain pharmacological evidence for this hypothesis by comparing the ability of a high-affinity peptide, mixed CRF antagonist [cyclo 30-33,f12,L18,21E30, A32,K33]sucker fish urotensin (12-41)NH(2) [cUTSN (12-41)] with a small-molecule CRF(1)-selective antagonist, NBI-27914, and a CRF(2)-selective peptide antagonist, antisauvagine-30, to attenuate the anorexic effects of CRF. We also monitored other behaviors that accompanied CRF-induced anorexia. CRF-induced anorexia was significantly correlated with a reduction in locomotor activity and an increase in freezing behavior and piloerection. cUTSN (12-41) and antisauvagine-30 significantly attenuated the effects of CRF (0.04 nmol) on food intake along with the behavioral syndrome that accompanied anorexia. In contrast, NBI-27914 did not attenuate either of the above-mentioned CRF-induced phenomena when given centrally at doses ranging from 0.13 to 10 nmol/2.5 microl or when given orally at 20 to 40 mg/kg. Although these data support the hypothesis that the CRF(2) receptor mediates the appetite suppression induced by CRF, they also suggest that the CRF(2) receptor could mediate the stress-like behaviors that accompany CRF-induced appetite suppression.     

Human secondary somatosensory cortex is involved in the processing of somatosensory rare stimuli: an fMRI study

In the human somatosensory system, the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is presumed to process and encode type and intensity of the sensory inputs, whereas the bilateral secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) is believed to perform higher order functions including sensorimotor integration, integration of information from the two body halves, attention, learning and memory. In this fMRI study we investigated the effect of attention on the activation of SI and SII, as induced by nonpainful and painful rare deviant electric stimuli during somatosensory oddball tasks. The working hypothesis is of stronger effects of attention on SII with respect to SI. Four runs were acquired according to an oddball scheme. Frequent nonpainful electrical stimuli were delivered to the ulnar nerve at motor threshold, whereas rare/deviant stimuli were delivered to median nerve in four conditions (one condition per run): nonpainful, painful, counting nonpainful, and counting painful. Results showed a statistically significant fMRI activation in bilateral SII but not in contralateral SI when the rare/deviant median nerve stimuli were delivered at nonpainful and painful levels as well as at the two levels of attention considered (i.e., associated with counting and non-counting tasks). Furthermore, fMRI activation in SII did not differ across the different levels of stimulus intensity (nonpainful, painful) and attention (non-counting, counting). These results corroborate the notion that SII is the target of independent pathways for the processing and integration of nonpainful and painful somatosensory stimuli salient for further high-order elaborations.     

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerated bone-tendon junction healing through regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and cartilage formation

The purpose of this study was to use our established partial patellectomy rabbit model to study the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on patella-patellar tendon (PPT) junction repair through hypothesized pathways including regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and chondrogenesis. Standard partial patellectomy was conducted in sixty-four 18 wk-old rabbits that were subsequently divided into LIPUS and control group. The PPT complex was harvested at week 2, 4, 8 and 16 postoperatively (n = 8 for each time point) for preparation of sagittal sections that were evaluated for angiogenesis by analyzing VEGF expression and chondrogenesis. Results showed differences in the pattern of VEGF expression between LIPUS and control groups during the entire healing process, i.e., significant differences in the average percentage of VEGF expression found in between the LIPUS and the control groups. At postoperative week 4, the chondrocytes and osteoblasts in woven bone expressed significantly more VEGF in the LIPUS group than that in the control group (35.6% +/- 7.0% versus 28.0% +/- 4.6%, p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the development of cartilaginous metaplasia was found more advanced in the scar tissue next to the articular cartilage of the remaining patella in the LIPUS group that was expressed with VEGF in the chondrocytes (38.8% +/- 12.3%). However, the specimens in the control group just showed the similar cartilaginous metaplasia region until postoperative week 8. Histomorphometry revealed thicker fibrocartilage zone and larger cartilaginous metaplasia field at PPT healing interface in LIPUS group compared with those of the control group at week 8 and 16. In conclusion, this was the first quantitative study to demonstrate that LIPUS improved B-T junction healing through regulation of VEGF expression in early healing phase and subsequent chondrogenesis.     

皮内注射利多卡因示踪剂观察神经末梢感受器通路的逆行神经追踪

目的:观察皮内注射利多卡因是否能通过皮内神经末梢感受器通路,在神经系统形成高药物浓度,并与静脉注射相比较。方法:实验于2004-10/11在连云港市第一人民医院肿瘤生物实验室进行。将12只雄性家兔随机分为皮内注射组和静脉注射组两组,每组6只,两组又分为给药后18,22,26h3个亚组,每亚组2只。皮内注射组在家兔肩胛区脊柱T3～4棘突两旁1cm的皮肤皮内注射10g/L利多卡因4mg/kg,分两三点注入,使之呈苍白桔皮样皮丘;静脉注射组经静脉缓慢推注10g/L利多卡因4mg/kg。在给药后相应时间点处死兔,取脊神经节、肠系膜下神经节、脊髓、下丘脑和肌肉,分别匀浆测定利多卡因含量。每组3个时间点所取组织作为一组,取平均值进行比较。结果:12只兔进入结果分析。①组间比较:皮下注射组脊神经节、肠系膜下神经节、下丘脑和肌肉的利多卡因含量显著高于静脉注射组[(248.1±8.6),(164.1±4.7),(15.7±1.0),(23.7±2.6)ng/g;(29.8±2.4),(55.7±2.8),(0.98±0.26),(1.98±0.3)ng/g,P<0.01];脊髓利多卡因含量显著低于静脉注射组[(20.7±2.7),(24.8±2.3)ng/g,P<0.05]。②组内相比:皮下注射组脊神经节利多卡因含量显著高于肠系膜下神经节(P<0.01);脊神经节、肠系膜下神经节显著高于脊髓、下丘脑和肌肉(P<0.01)。结论:皮内注射利多卡因,能通过皮内神经末梢感受器通路在脊神经节和肠系膜下神经节形成高药物含量,还能到达下丘脑,高于静脉给药途径。皮内注药主要作用部位是脊神经节和肠系膜下神经节。     

虚拟现实康复车的组成及功能

本文主要介绍虚拟现实康复车的组成及功能，目前国内外尚未见有关报道。这种康复车可以使患者根据自己的具体情况来选择适当的训练方式，集心理治疗和康复训练于一体，让患者在轻松愉快的环境中锻炼，进而加快康复进程。     

次声作用后大鼠颞叶皮层5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达及恢复时间

目的研究8Hz、130dB的次声作用后大鼠颞叶皮层5-羟色胺(5-HT)、5-羟色胺受体(5-HTR)、兰尼定受体(RyR)表达的改变及恢复时间。方法大鼠暴露于8Hz、130dB次声仓1,7,14,21,28,35,42d后置安静环境恢复1~2周,取脑组织并进行免疫组织化学染色,光学显微镜下观察颞叶皮层5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达的变化。结果次声作用各组大鼠脑组织颞叶皮层5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达均较对照组减少,最低值分别出现于21d、28d和42d(P<0.01)。各恢复组大鼠颞叶皮层5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达均较其相应次声作用组增多,并随恢复时间的延长而增加。结论8Hz、130dB次声可引起大鼠颞叶皮质5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达减少,其变化规律与次声作用参数有关;次声引起的5-HT、5-HTR、RyR表达减少在停止次声作用后可逐渐恢复正常。     

Resection or multi-lobe disconnection for intractable epilepsy with open-lip schizencephaly

The surgical treatment of medication-resistant epilepsy with schizencephaly is difficult. A standardized method of surgical treatment for schizencephalic patients has not yet been established. We present two patients with poorly controlled epilepsy with schizencephaly. The first patient underwent a resection of the right temporal lobe and part of the posterior lip of the schizencephaly, while the other patient underwent a multi-lobe disconnection. Based on the study of these two patients, we conclude that the location of the epileptic zone, reorganization of eloquent areas and anatomical characteristics of the schizencephaly do not allow a universal surgical approach for treating epilepsy with schizencephaly. Every patient has individual characteristics.     

脑性瘫痪患儿家庭生活质量研究

目的:脑性瘫痪(简称脑瘫)患儿的治疗、教育、智力开发及本身生活质量与其监护人的生活质量关系密切。调查脑瘫患儿家长的生活质量,以便实施正确引导,使之能配合脑瘫患儿的全面干预治疗。方法:用“医院焦虑抑郁量表”对50例脑瘫患儿监护人与50例急性病患儿监护人进行配对衡量对照,并就患儿现状、家庭情况、对孩子患病态度、患病对家庭生活影响以及由此带来的家长对治疗的态度等方面进行流行病学调查研究。结果:脑瘫患儿监护人焦虑抑郁量表总评分(AD):19.1±2.3,其中焦虑评分(A):10.1±2.2,抑郁评分(D):8.9±0.7。对照组监护人焦虑抑郁量表总评分(AD):5.7±1.4,焦虑评分(A):3.4±1.3,抑郁评分(D):2.4±1.0,两组间各项评分差异均有显著性意义(t=35.092,18.529,39.056,P均<0.001)。结论:脑瘫患儿家长普遍存在焦虑抑郁情绪、生活质量下降,应给与适当心理指导。     

Glutamate neurons in the substantia nigra compacta and retrorubral field

Dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra compacta (SNC), ventral tegmental area (VTA) and retrorubral field (RRF) play a role in reward, motivation, learning, memory, and movement. These neurons are intermingled with GABAergic neurons. Recent evidence shows that the VTA contains glutamatergic neurons expressing vesicular glutamate transporter type 2 (VGluT2); some of them co‐express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Here, we used a combination of radioactive in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to explore whether any of the vesicular glutamate transporters [vesicular glutamate transporter type 1 (VGluT1), VGluT2, or vesicular glutamate transporter type 3 (VGluT3)] were encoded by neurons in the SNC or RRF. We found expression of VGluT2 mRNA, but not of VGluT1 or VGluT3, in the SNC and RRF. These VGluT2 neurons rarely showed TH immunoreactivity. Within the SNC, the VGluT2 neurons were infrequently found at the rostral level, but were often seen at the medial and caudal levels intercalated in the mediolateral portion of the dorsal tier, at a ratio of one VGluT2 neuron per 4.4 TH neurons. At this level, VGluT2 neurons were also found in the adjacent substantia nigra reticulata and substantia nigra pars lateralis. Within the RRF, the VGluT2 neurons showed an increasing rostrocaudal gradient of distribution. The RRF proportion of VGluT2 neurons in relation to TH neurons was constant throughout the rostrocaudal levels, showing an average ratio of one VGluT2 neuron per 1.7 TH neurons. In summary, we provide evidence indicating that the SNC and RRF, which are traditionally considered to be dopaminergic areas, have neurons with the ability to participate in glutamate signaling.     

Accessing Men Who have Sex with Men Through Long-Chain Referral Recruitment,Guangzhou, China

Men who have sex with men (MSM) may account for an increasing proportion of China’s HIV epidemic, but remain difficult to access for epidemiological studies due to high stigma. We compare the composition of two samples of MSM obtained in Guangzhou, China. The first survey, conducted in 2004, recruited MSM through convenience sampling. The second survey in 2006 used long-chain referral recruitment in the context of respondent-driven sampling. Compared to convenience sampling, the long-chain referral method included higher proportions of subgroups of MSM thought to be at elevated risk for HIV infection and more difficult to reach, including internal migrants and those engaging in commercial sex. Long-chain referral also recruited more MSM who were under 25 years, unemployed, and had lower education. We conclude that long-chain referral recruitment will be more effective in tracking the leading edge of the epidemic among MSM in China than convenience sampling.