Reflex Cardiorespiratory Effects of Nociceptive Oesophageal Distension in the Decerebrate Rat

It is well established that painful distension of hollow viscera such as the oesophagus can evoke a reflex tachycardia and pressor response; however, the nature of the oesophageal afferent pathway(s) remains controversial. This study investigated the afferent arc which mediates these reflex cardiovascular changes in the decerebrate rat. In addition, the effect of oesophageal distension on the respiratory activity of the costal diaphragm was studied. Focal distension of the oesophagus (volume of 0.3 ml applied for 10 s) just above the diaphragmatic hiatus evoked a reproducible pressor response and tachycardia in the decerebrate rat. Respiration was transiently inhibited at the beginning of oesophageal distension and prior to the rise in blood pressure. Neuromuscular blockade with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blocker alpha-bungarotoxin (140 microg bolus) had no effect on the magnitude of the cardiovascular response. Therefore the efferent supply to the striated muscle of the rat oesophagus was not essential in mediating this reflex. Signal averaging of the mean blood pressure response showed that neither selective ablation of oesophageal spinal afferents nor bilateral vagotomy altered the early trajectory of the pressure response. Bilateral vagotomy reduced the peak magnitude of the response to sustained oesophageal distension. In contrast, selective removal of spinal afferents had no effect on the response. Ablation of both neural pathways was essential to abolish the reflex cardiovascular and respiratory responses. It can be concluded that both vagal and spinal afferent pathways are utilised in the reflex cardiorespiratory response to painful oesophageal distension. Although ablation of one neural pathway had no effect on the response it was still implicated in the reflex, since ablation of both pathways was necessary to prevent the cardiorespiratory changes. This study emphasises the need for caution when inferences are made concerning single selective ablations of multiply innervated organs.     

HBsAg母婴传播的研究

对HBsAg(+)母亲所生婴幼儿,连续两年的动态观察,发现这些婴幼儿的感染绝大多数皆在出生3个月后,其感染频率与母亲HBsAg的滴度成正相关,表明母婴传播阻断应以HBsAg(+)母亲所生之子女为重点对象。     

Specific sensitization to common allergens and pulmonary function in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the evolution to chronic obstructive disease remains controversial. AIM: We aimed to assess the association between individual sensitization to common allergens and lung function. METHOD: We analysed data from 12,687 subjects aged 20 to 44 years, from 34 centres in 15 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Participants performed a blood test, lung function test, methacholine challenge, and answered an administered questionnaire. The relationships between specific IgE, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio were assessed for each study centre stratified by sex, followed by random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Asthmatics sensitized to house dust mite had a lower FEV1 (-119 mL in women and -112 mL in men) and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.95%, and -2.48%) than asthmatics without sensitization. Asthmatics sensitized to cat had a lower FEV1 (statistically significant for women only) and a lower FEV1/FVC ratio. Asthmatic women sensitized to grass had a lower FEV1 and a lower ratio, and those sensitized to Cladosporium had a lower FEV1. A weak association was found with sensitization to cat and to Cladosporium among non-asthmatic women, which disappeared after adjusting for BHR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that atopy was related to a lower lung function, which was only apparent among asthmatics. This relationship was explained by specific sensitization to cat and to house dust mite, the latter being homogeneous across areas.     

蛇床子水提取液抑瘤作用的实验研究

目的 :研究蛇床子水提取液的体内抗肿瘤作用。方法 :通过 S180 肉瘤移植建立荷瘤小鼠模型 ,给予不同剂量蛇床子水提取液后观察 S180 荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长曲线、血清唾液酸 (SA)、瘤重及小鼠生存天数的变化。结果 :蛇床子水提取液能明显抑制肿瘤生长 ,降低荷瘤小鼠血清 SA水平 ,0 .0 6mg/(g· d) ,0 .1 1 mg/(g· d)、0 .2 1 mg/(g· d)剂量组平均瘤重低于肿瘤对照组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,抑瘤率依次为 2 3 .2 %、2 9.1 %和 2 4 .8%,且能延长荷瘤小鼠生存天数 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,动物生命延长率依次为 :2 6 .9%、3 4 .8%和 2 6 .6 %。结论 :蛇床子水提取液具有较强的抗肿瘤效应 ,有很好的利用前景 ,值得对其进行深入研究。     

Postprandial induction of chaperone gene expression is rapid in mice.

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.