Effects of morphine on associative memory and locomotor activity in the honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Morphine can modulate the processes underlying memory in vertebrates. However, studies have shown various modulations by morphine: positive, negative and even neutral. The honeybee is a potential platform for evaluating the effects of drugs, especially addictive drugs, on the nervous system. However, the involvement of morphine in learning and memory in insects or other invertebrates is poorly understood. The current work evaluated whether morphine affects memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval in honeybees, using the proboscis extension response (PER) paradigm. We demonstrated that morphine treatment (5 μg/bee) before training decreased the percentage of correct PERs and the response latency related to aversive rather than rewarding odors when tested after 1 or 24 h. Morphine treatment after training also caused a decrease in this latency when tested after 24 h. Meanwhile, morphine treatment reduced the ambulation distance when tested after 30 min. Our findings suggest that morphine impairs the acquisition of short- and long-term associative memory and slightly disrupts the consolidation of long-term memory in honeybees. These negative effects cannot be explained by reduced locomotion but by impaired memory associated with aversion.     

红细胞分布宽度与高血压相关性的研究进展

红细胞分布宽度(red cell distribution width,RDW)是通过定量的方法反映循环中红细胞大小变异性的指标.近期较多研究发现RDW的升高能够作为预测人群心血管疾病预后不良的指标,即使RDW值在正常参考值范围内,处于高值的人群存在更高的心血管疾病死亡风险.本文综述了RDW与高血压发病、血压水平、血压形态及靶器官损害之间的关系,并探讨了RDW升高提示高血压预后不良的机制.由于RDW简单易得,可以作为高血压患者预后风险评估有潜力的指标.     

Distribution of KIR genes in Han population in Yunnan Province: comparison with other Han populations in China

Killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) show extensive variation among different populations. In this study, 404 unrelated individuals in Han population in Yunnan Province, China, were genotyped for the presence or the absence of 16 KIR genes using the multiplex PCR‐SSP method. Our data showed that the inhibitory gene frequency of genes KIR2DL1, KIR2DL3, KIR3DL1, KIR2DL5 and KIR2DL2 was 0.930, 0.889, 0.789, 0.206 and 0.095, respectively, and the activating gene frequency of KIR2DS4, KIR3DS1, KIR2DS1, KIR2DS5, KIR2DS2 and KIR2DS3 was 0.795, 0.218, 0.196, 0.165, 0.095 and 0.087, respectively. In all, 44 distinct KIR genotypes were identified; genotype 1 was predominant with a frequency of 0.478, followed by genotypes 2 and 8 with a frequency of 0.121 and 0.077, respectively. Haplotype A outnumbered haplotype B by 2.39:1. In addition, phylogenetic tree and multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) based on KIR genes in populations including Asian, African and Caucasians have been performed. Neighbour‐joining tree analysis and the MDS plot showed that Han populations were clustered together with Asian and were separate from other populations. The Han populations in China were separated into northern and southern groups; the Yunnan Han population investigated in this study was clustered in the southern group. These results implied that the difference between northern and southern Han populations might reflect responses to a variety of locally acting epidemiological challenges.     

Posterior-only spinal fusion without rib head resection for treating type I neurofibromatosis with intra-canal rib head dislocation

OBJECTIVES:

Patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with intra-canal rib head protrusion are extremely rare. Current knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment for this situation are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to share our experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatments for such unique deformities.

METHODS:

Six patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with rib head dislocation into the spinal canal were diagnosed at our institution. Posterior instrumentation and spinal fusion without intra-canal rib head resection via a posterior-only approach was performed for deformity correction and rib head extraction. The efficacy and outcomes of the surgery were evaluated by measurements before, immediately and 24 months after the surgery using the following parameters: coronal spinal Cobb angle, apex rotation and kyphosis of the spine and the intra-canal rib head position. Post-operative complications, surgery time and blood loss were also evaluated.

RESULTS:

Patients were followed up for at least 24 months post-operatively. The three dimensional spinal deformity was significantly improved and the intra-canal rib head was significantly extracted from the canal immediately after the surgery. At follow-up 24 months after surgery, solid fusions were achieved along the fusion segments, and the deformity corrections and rib head positions were well maintained. There were no surgery-related complications any time after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

Systematic examinations are needed to identify patients with Type I neurofibromatosis scoliosis with rib head dislocation into the canal who can be treated by posterior-only spinal fusion without rib head resection.     

A case of myxoid liposarcoma of the breast

A 70-year-old woman visited a local hospital complaining of a nodulein the right breast, present since 1 month. She was referred to our hospital for further evaluation. Following mammotome (MMT) biopsy, the nodule was diagnosed as myxoid/round cell liposarcoma. She underwent total mastectomy of the right breast. Histological analysis indicated that the tumor was almost entirely composed of proliferating small round mesenchymal cells in amyxoid matrix background with capillary-like vessels with partial necrosis (<10%). Immunohistochemically, p53 positive cells were seen focally (<1%) only, and the Ki-67 labeling index was approximately 20%. Sincethe surgical margin was histologically positive despite pathologic findings of high-grade malignancy, adjuvant treatment involving local radiation therapy (60Gy) was administered. The patient was free from any symptoms of local recurrence and metastases 1 year and 8 months after surgery.     

唇腭裂患者上颌窦状况的CBCT评价

目的:使用锥形束CT(CBCT)对唇腭裂患者上颌窦状况进行分析。方法:对四川大学华西口腔医院2012年1～6月收治的用CBCT确诊为唇腭裂的患者进行研究,观察其上颌窦情况并分析。结果:唇腭裂患者上颌窦病变发生率为78.1%。根据病变不同的影像学表现可分为黏膜增厚型(51.3%),粘液囊肿型(19.3%)及积液型(22.7%)。上颌窦黏膜增厚的平均厚度为2.40 mm;粘液囊肿的平均最大径为7.60 mm。上颌窦病变可发生于单侧上颌窦,也可双侧同时发生。结论:CBCT作为一种实用有效的影像学检查,在对患者唇腭裂状况评价的同时,也可以准确地判断唇腭裂患者上颌窦情况。