INVOLVEMENT OF NON-NMDA AND NMDA RECEPTORS IN GLUTAMATE-INDUCED PRESSOR OR DEPRESSOR RESPONSES OF THE PONS AND MEDULLA

1. Fifty-five intact and six baroreceptor denervated and vagotomized cats of either sex were anaesthetized intraperito-neally with urethane (400 mg/kg) and a-chloralose (40 mg/kg). Responses of the systemic arterial pressure (SAP), mean SAP (MSAP) and sympathetic vertebral nerve (VNA) and renal nerve activities (RNA) were recorded. 2. In intact animals, monosodium L-glutamate (Glu, 0.1 mol/L, 50 nL) was microinjected into pressor areas of the locus coeruleus (LC), gigantocellular tegmental field (GTF), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and dorsomedial medulla (DM), and the depressor areas of caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). The induced actions were compared before and after microinjection of either glutamate antagonists, glutamate diethylester (GDEE, 0.5 mol/L, 50–100nL), a competitive AMPA receptor blocker, or 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-AP5, 0.025 mol/L, 50–100 nL), a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker. GDEE completely blocked the increases of SAP and VNA elicited from all pressor areas. D-AP5 only partially blocked the pressor but slightly blocked VNA and RNA responses from LC, GTF and DM, particularly those from RVLM. Neither GDEE nor D-AP5 blocked the depressor responses of SAP and two nerve activities elicited from CVLM. 3. In baroreceptor denervated animals, NMDA (2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) and AMPA (0.2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) were micro-injected into the same pressor areas of GTF, RVLM and DM and the depressor area of CVLM responsive to Glu activation (0.1 mol/L, 30 nL). In RVLM, DM and CVLM, the results of either NMDA or AMPA were similar to those induced by Glu. However, in GTF, microinjection of either NMDA or AMPA did not induce similar responses to Glu. This suggests that the nature of GTF may differ from RVLM and DM. 4. The above results suggest that the Glu-induced pressor responses from LC, GTF, DM and especially RVLM, are primarily mediated through AMPA receptors. The Glu-induced depressor responses from CVLM may not be predominantly mediated by either AMPA or NMDA receptors. 5. In both baroreceptor-intact and -denervated cats stimulation of the pressor areas often produced an increase of VNA and a decrease of RNA, while in the depressor CVLM decreased both VNA and RNA. The VNA, but not RNA were positively correlated with the pressor responses, while both VNA and RNA were positively correlated with the depressor responses. This may suggest that neurons of the sympathetic vertebral and renal nerves are topographically organized in the brain.     

Occurrence of tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish poison in the Taiwanese crab Lophozozymus pictor

Paralytic toxicity was detected by tetrodotoxin (TTX) bioassay in all 15 specimens of the xanthid crab Lophozozymus pictor collected from northern Taiwan in 1993. The average toxicity of crab specimens was 921 ± 231 (mean ± S.E.) mouse units. The toxin of crab was partially purified and then identified. It was found that the crab toxin contained TTX and gonyautoxin. The ratio of TTX to gonyautoxin for crab toxin was about 9:1.     

Sympathoadrenal excitation and inhibition by lower brainstem stimulation in cats

Effects of stimulation of brainstem sites on hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine levels were assessed in cats under chloralose-urethane anesthesia. Pressor areas of the dorsal medulla (DM) and ventrolateral medulla (VLM) and the depressor area of the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRN) were stimulated electrically using a monopolar electrode, or chemically using sodium glutamate microinjection. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) were measured in caval blood above the adrenal veins. Electrical stimulation of the DM and VLM produced increases in blood pressure and in plasma NE and EPI levels that were enhanced after acute vagotomies. The NE and EPI responses were attenuated after acute, bilateral adrenalectomies, confirming augmented adrenomedullary secretion, whereas the pressor responses were intact. Injection of sodium glutamate into the same pressor regions of the DM or VLM also produced pressor responses and elevated plasma catecholamine levels, indicating that the responses resulted from activation of neuronal perikarya. Stimulation of the PRN attenuated pressor and catecholamine responses during stimulation of the DM and VLM. The results indicate that pressor responses during stimulation of the DM and VLM are due at least partly to activation of perikarya in these regions, are associated with but not dependent on adrenomedullary activation, and are enhanced after vagotomy; and that neurons of the PRN exert inhibitory modulation of the pressor and adrenomedullary responses during stimulation of VLM and DM.     

Serum ionic fluoride levels in haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

High serum fluoride (F-) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with risk of renal osteodystrophy and other bone changes. This study was done to determine F- in normal healthy controls and patients with ESRD on haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Seventeen healthy controls (12 males, 5 females) and 39 ESRD patients on dialysis (17 males, 22 females) were recruited in the study in a community with 47.4 +/- 3.28 microM/l (range 44-51 microM/l) of F- content in drinking water. Control subjects showed a mean serum F- concentration of 1.08 +/- 0.350 microM/l. Males in control group showed slightly higher F- levels (1.15 +/- 0.334, range 0.55-1.9 microM/l) than females (0.92 +/- 0.370, range 0.6-1.5 microM/l). Mean serum F- concentration did not correlate significantly with age and sex among control subjects, whereas such correlation was observed in patients with ESRD on dialysis. Mean serum F- concentration was significantly higher in patients on dialysis (2.67 +/- 1.09, range 0.8-5.2 microM/l) than normal controls. When grouped according to sex, the mean serum F- concentration in males (3.05 +/- 1.04, range 1.8-5.2 microM/l) was significantly higher than females (2.38 +/- 1.08, range 0.8-5.2 microM/l). When patients were grouped according to age, it was observed that F- concentration was significantly higher in patients with age groups 21-70 (2.86 +/- 1.05) than those with age group 13-20 years (1.42 +/- 0.531). Thus F- concentration correlated with age and sex, being higher in males and above 20 years. Despite appreciable clearance of F- (39-90%) across the peritoneum, patients on CAPD showed higher serum F- concentration than those on HD (3.1 +/- 1.97 vs 2.5 +/- 1.137 microM/l). Of the total 39 patients on dialysis 39% had their serum F- concentration above 3.0 microM/l, posing the risk of renal osteodystrophy.      

烧伤患者吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响

为了评价吸入性损伤和肺部感染的发生特点及其对死亡的影响，总结了我科近１４年住院治疗的热力烧伤患者９４０例，其中吸入性损伤７５例，轻度１５例，全部治愈，中度２５例，死亡１３例，死亡率为５２．０％，重度３５例，死亡３１例，死亡率为８８．６％。统计分析表明，合并吸入性损伤者６９．３％在密闭空间发生，同时伴有面部烧伤者达９６．０％。随着烧伤面积的增加，吸入性损伤发生率和肺部感染的发生率相应增加。有吸入性损伤肺部感染较无吸入性损伤肺部感染率为高（Ｐ＜０．０１），发生时间早。两组同等烧伤面积、深度、年龄患者，有吸入性损伤组发生死亡的危险比无吸入性损伤组大１７．２倍（Ｐ＜０．００１）。烧伤面积、深度和年龄相近，合并肺部感染者明显增加了死亡的机会（Ｐ＜０．００１）。     

Coexistence of autonomic and somatic mechanisms in the pressor areas of medulla in cats.

The effects of electrical stimulation and microinjection of sodium glutamate (0.5 M) in the sympathetic pressor areas of the dorsal medulla (DM), ventrolateral medulla (VLM), and parvocellular nucleus (PVC) on the knee jerk, crossed extension, and evoked potential of the L5 ventral root produced by intermittent electrical stimulation were studied in 98 adult cats anesthetized with chloralose and urethane. During electrical and glutamate stimulation of these pressor areas, in addition to the rise of systemic arterial blood pressure marked inhibition of the spinal reflex was produced, indicating presence of neuronal perikarya responsible for these actions. Mild to moderate augmentation of spinal reflexes was also observed during brain stimulation but only in a few cases. The magnitude of the somatic effects among the pressor areas of the VLM, DM, and PVC subsequent to glutamate activation was about the same. Induced spinal reflex inhibition, independent from the baroreceptor and vagal influence, remained essentially unaltered after acute midcollicular decerebration. The inhibition was also observed in cats decerebellated 8-10 days in advance. The inhibition was not affected after bilateral electrolytic- or kainic-acid-induced lesions in the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRN). On the contrary, PRN-induced spinal reflex inhibition was attenuated after bilateral lesions in the DM or VLM. Data suggest that there coexists neuronal subpopulations in the VLM, DM, and PVC that can affect both the sympathetic pressor systems and spinal reflexes.     

颈部神经鞘瘤34例临床分析

对３４例颈部神经鞘瘤进行了临床分析，均以颈部无痛性包块为主诉。１６例压迫肿瘤可引起肢端麻木、放射性疼痛或压气、呛咳等症状，１０例肿块穿刺抽出囊液，８２．２％来诊时诊断不清楚，需与颈部其他肿瘤相鉴别，Ｂ超对诊断有帮助。本组手术行肿瘤核除术１３例，肿瘤切除术１９例，取病理２例。应争取做保留神经功能的肿瘤核除术。     

根除幽门螺杆菌5种治疗方案的药物经济学评价

目的 探讨不同的方案根除幽门螺杆菌(Hp)所产生的经济效果。方法 151例幽门螺杆菌阳性感染的消化性渍疡和胃炎患者，随机分为5组，给予不同的短程三联治疗方案：A组(胶体次枸橼酸铋 阿莫西林 甲硝唑)、B组(胶体次枸橼酸铋 克拉霉素 甲硝唑)、C组(奥美拉唑 阿莫西林 克拉霉素)、D组(奥关拉唑 阿莫西林 甲硝唑)、E组(奥美拉唑 克拉霉素 甲硝唑)，运用药物经济学的成本-效果分析方法进行评价。结果A、B、C、D、E5组治疗胃炎Hp根除率分别为63．2％、70．9％、89．1％、77．6％、86．8％，治疗消化性溃疡Hp根除率分别为65．1％、73．0％、96．2％、80．4％、93．2％，5组方案对胃炎／消化性溃疡的成本-效果比(C／E)分别为3．14／3.05、4．10／3．98、4．25／3．94、2．91／2.81、2．78／2．59，增长的成本-效果比(△C／△E)分别为-／-、12．00／11．70、6．96／5．80、1．93／1．81、1．83／1．53。结论 E方案为根除Hp的最佳方案。     

Cytotoxic activity of cardenolides from Beaumontia brevituba stems.

Five known cardenolides, digitoxigenin (1), oleandrigenin (2), digitoxigenin alpha-L-cymaroside (3), digitoxigenin beta-gentiobiosyl-alpha-L-cymaroside (4), and delta 16-digitoxigenin beta-D-glucosyl-alpha-L-cymaroside (5), were isolated from the stems of Beaumontia brevituba Oliver by cytotoxicity-directed fractionation monitored by a cultured human lung cancer cell line. The cytotoxic activity of these compounds was evaluated with a panel of twelve human and murine cancer cell lines. The lignan glycoside, syringaresinol beta-D-glucoside, was obtained for the first time in the form of its levo-enantiomer.