Increase in signal intensities on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images in asymptomatic manganese-exposed workers

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the clinical significance of increased signal intensities on T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we performed a large-scale epidemiological study on asymptomatic manganese (Mn)-exposed workers with its focus on MRI. METHODS: We randomly selected 121 male workers out of a total of 750 workers including Mn-exposed, non-exposed manual, and non-exposed clerical workers in the factories. We studied environmental and biological monitoring, neurological examination, and MRI. RESULTS: The proportion of workers with increased signal intensities among the exposed, the non-exposed manual workers, and the non-exposed clerical workers was 46.1%, 18.8%, and 0%, respectively. Especially, 73.5% of the welders showed increased signal intensities. In no subject, were clinical signs of manganism observed. The pallidal index correlated with blood Mn concentration. CONCLUSION: Increase in signal intensities on the T1-weighted image reflect recent exposure to Mn, but not necessarily manganism. At which increase of signal intensity, the progression of manganism from Mn exposure occurs, remains to be solved.     

吗啡对大鼠逃避性条件反射的作用部位

研究指出,吗啡可以抑制大鼠对伤害性刺激逃避性条件反射,吗啡抑制这一逃避性条件反射的作用部位在海马,吗啡的这一作用并不能完全被纳络酮所阻断     

A Study on the Compliance of the Patients with Ocular Fundus Diseases

Purpose: To investigate the compliance of the patients with ocular fundus diseases with recommendation for follow-up examination after laser treatment, and the underlying reasons for non-compliance.Methods: 53 patients with ocular fundus disease were asked to fill in a questionnaire which includes the socio-demographic characteristics, fear of the fundus disease, conception of the laser treatment and the motivation for staying healthy. Variables were compared for the compliers group and the non-compliers group by chi-square test. Result; Of the 53 subjects, 35 were classified as non-compliers and 18 were classified as compliers. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups on all selected socio-demographic factors, conception of the laser treatment and the motivation for staying healthy. Significant difference was found between the two groups on two of those items concerning the fear of the diseases (P<0. 05). About half of the participants showed the lack of knowledge about     

角膜异物分区分级和记录方法

目的探讨角膜异物分区、分级及记录方法。方法对５６０例角膜异物分区、分级研究,在此基础上提出一种较为适用的记录方法,并用此指导临床实践。结果角膜异物有其分布特点,区、级不同,治疗及愈后不同。用此记录方法指导临床实践准确方便,不会出现误治漏治。结论角膜异物分区、分级及记录方法在临床上科学实用,在法医学上亦有使用价值     

Palmitoylation occurs at cysteine 347 and cysteine 351 of the dopamine D(1) receptor

To determine the palmitoylation sites in the human dopamine D(1) receptor, we expressed wild type and mutant receptors in which candidate cysteines in the carboxyl tail were substituted by alanines both individually (A347, A351) and together (AA). Our results showed that palmitoylation levels of A347 and A351 were reduced substantially and that AA had no detectable signal of palmitoylation. These data indicate that cysteines 347 and 351 were both palmitoylated and that they were the only sites of palmitoylation. We introduced a cAMP-dependent protein kinase site encompassing the position 351. We predicted that a functional cAMP-dependent protein kinase site would impair receptor-G protein coupling if it is not occluded by palmitoylation. Our results demonstrated that indeed, the introduction of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase site caused reduced potency of dopamine stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, and thus confirmed that when unoccluded, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase site introduced to position 351 of dopamine D(1) receptor could confer constitutive desensitization.