Differential Neutrophil Infiltration Contributes to Regional Differences in Brain Infiammation in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta and Cortex

脑的炎症反应是神经退行性疾病的危险因素之一。有趣的是,黑质密部(SNpc)严重的炎性反应会加速帕金森病的发作和进展。本研究通过比较SNpc与皮质的炎性过程来检测SNpc严重炎性反应的潜在机制。在完整的脑组织中,SNpc和皮质的CD11b+小胶质细胞密度是相似的。但是,脂多糖注射可增加SNpc的CD11b+细胞数目,而不能增加皮质中的。以前作者曾报道内毒素注射之后,黑质密部有CD11b和MPO双阳性的中性粒细胞浸润(GLIA55:1577-1588)。值得注意的是,MPO+中性粒细胞数量在SNpc中显著增加,而在皮质中只有轻微提高。中性粒细胞浸润的范围与神经元损伤相关。作者证实,内毒素注射后,中性粒细胞减少大鼠的SNpc中的神经元丢失较正常大鼠显著减少。此外,完整的SNpc中的星形胶质细胞密度明显低于皮质。而且,内毒素注射后,SNpc的内皮细胞和星形胶质细胞的损害以及血脑屏障的通透性均有显著变化。这些结果都提示,过度的中性粒细胞浸润和环境因子,例如低星形胶质细胞浓度和高血脑屏障通透性,会导致SNpc的重度炎症和神经元死亡。     

A European comparative study of marital status and socio-economic inequalities in suicide

We assess (i) whether being married is a protective factor against socio-economic inequalities in suicide, and (ii) whether any such buffering effect varies between countries. We used the data from a European cross-national comparison project, a prospective follow-up of several European population censuses matched with vital statistics. The data encompass 99.5 million person-years aged 30 and above and 25,476 suicides in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Turin, Madrid, Norway and Switzerland. Standardised rates were computed and logistic regressions were used to assess educational inequalities. Among the non-married, the lower educational group had an increased risk of dying of suicide compared to the higher group (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.45). Inequalities among the married were lower (OR = 1.29). In all countries or regions except Austria, the lower educational group had a higher risk of suicide mortality among the non-married than among the married. The buffering effect of being married was not observed for elderly individuals (65 and over). Among younger individuals, the buffering effect of being married on relative inequalities in suicide was stronger in Madrid, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland (but significant only for Denmark and Norway). There was no indication that countries with stronger welfare policies or lower divorce rate had a lower buffering effect. We conclude that being married protects against inequalities in suicide and that this protective effect is not affected by the level of social capital at the country level.     

General practice based teaching exchanges in Europe. Experiences from the EU Socrates programme 'primary health care'

This paper reviews the experience of international exchange of medical students for general practice. The experience is based on the EU Socrates programme 'Primary Health Care' that offers, since 1992, clinical attachments and research electives in primary care. This programme involves 11 university departments of general practice/primary care in eight countries: Austria - Vienna; Belgium - Gent; Germany Düsseldorf; Italy - Monza, Udine; Netherlands Nijmegen; Slovenia - Ljubljana; Sweden - G?teborg; and the UK - Edinburgh, Imperial College London and Nottingham. More than 150 students have taken part in the programme, most in the last four years. For clinical attachment communication to patients is essential, and students should be able to speak the language of the host university. A research elective in primary care is less demanding and requires students' ability to communicate in English. Despite marked differences in health care structure in the countries involved, it is quite possible to provide a valuable teaching environment in general practice, and the experience gained by students in the exchanges more than equals that what they would gain at home. The added value is in experiencing the influence of another health care system and of working in another academic primary care centre. A substantial number of research electives have been published in international peer reviewed scientific journals with the student as first (occasionally second) author and staff members of the student's host and home university as co-authors. A further benefit of the exchange programme lies in the transfer teaching innovations between universities.     

Alcohol-induced testicular oxidative stress and cholesterol homeostasis in rats – The therapeutic potential of virgin coconut oil

ObjectiveTo evaluate the possible protective effects of virgin coconut oil on alcohol-induced oxidative stress and serum lipid values in rats.DesignThis is an experimental animal study.MethodThe animals were gavaged with 30% ethanol (7 ml/kg body weight/day) while 6.67 ml/kg body weight/day of virgin coconut oil (VCNO) was administered for 4 weeks using a cannulated syringe.ResultsAnimals treated with ethanol alone showed a significant elevation in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), which lowered the antioxidant defence system such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activities when compared with the control. Sperm count, sperm motility and serum testosterone levels were also significantly reduced in this group. Levels of total cholesterol/HDL (TC/HDL) ratio increased significantly in the ethanol-only treated group, while HDL level was significantly reduced. Administration of VCNO improved the antioxidant status by decreasing the levels of MDA and altering lipid profile levels to near normal. Sperm count, motility and serum testosterone levels were also significantly increased when compared with the alcohol-only treated group.ConclusionFindings of the present study indicate VCNO has antioxidant activities and does not adversely alter serum lipid levels.     

板栗总苞化学成分的分离与鉴定(Ⅱ)

目的对板栗总苞(Castanea mollissimaBlume)的化学成分进行深入研究。方法采用硅胶柱色谱、凝胶柱色谱和制备性HPLC等多种分离方法对板栗总苞体积分数为95%乙醇溶液回流提取物进行成分分离,结合化合物的理化常数、谱学分析等方法鉴定其结构。结果分离得到10个化合物,分别鉴定为8-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-propyloctyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-undecylbenzoate(1)、苹果酸二丁酯(dibutylmalate,2)、槲皮素(quercetin,3)、山柰酚(kaempferol,4)、tiliroside(5)、山柰酚3-O-(2″,6″-双-反式-对-香豆酰基)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(kaempferol-3-O-[2″,6″-di-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]β-D-glucopyranoside,6)、3′,3″-dimethoxylarreatricin(7)、大黄素(emodin,8)、乌索酸(ursolic acid,9)、原儿茶酸(3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid,10)。结论化合物1、2为从栗属植物中首次分离得到,化合物8为该种植物中首次分离得到,以上化合物均为板栗总苞中首次分离得到。     

Correlation of serum PSA and Gleason score in Nigerian men with prostate cancer

Objective  Prostate cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While the predisposing factors are not fully understood, African descent is an important risk factor, and prostate cancer has become the number-one cancer in Nigerian men. This was a retrospective study of the correlation between serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason grade and score in patients of Nigerian descent. Patients and Methods  The University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan Cancer Registry was used to identify and quantify the incidence of prostate cancers occurring between 1998 and 2000. The histological slides of appropriate cases were reviewed to confirm the Gleason grade and score. The serum PSA values were retrieved from the patients' case notes and laboratory files. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis to look for associations and correlations. Results  The study included 67 men with prostate adenocarcinoma and PSA measurements who were diagnosed and treated at the UCH Ibadan between January 1998 and December 2000. There was a positive correlation between serum PSA and Gleason grade, as well as between serum PSA and Gleason score in our cohort of Nigerian African men with prostate cancer. PSA levels were significantly lower in patients with stage B disease than in patients with stage D disease. Conclusion  Serum PSA is significantly higher in metastatic than in localized disease. Further studies are necessary to determine biomarkers that complement serum PSA and the Gleason grading system in the prognostication of prostate cancer in African patients.     

Cerebral pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma associated with NF1: an updated review with a rare atypical case from Africa

The occurrence of cerebral pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is very rare. We present a 10-year-old Nigerian boy with NF1 who was found to harbor a thalamic-lateral ventricular solid mass lesion whose histologic and immunohistochemical findings were in keeping with PXA. We also carried out an updated review of the PXA-NF1 literature and found only eight previous reports of this clinical disease association. These reports have been limited to only certain regions of the world, with none yet reported from Africa, South America, Australia, and Eastern Europe. As far as we know, this might be the first such report from Africa. The case we present, in addition, demonstrated some other unique clinical, radiological, and histopathologic characteristics which have been highlighted in this review.