The study of the venous channels in the cavernous sinus in 48 sphenoid bones was performed. Thirty-eight bones were electrolyticly decalcified, subsequently embedded in gelatin, and cut in 1 mm thick slices. Microdissection of the other ten specimens complemented the analysis. Every specimen had the venous structure arranged as a plexus, however, although the channels were variable in number, form, and diameter, the two sides were quite symmetrical. Channels of smaller diameter predominated anteriorly. There was no demonstrable muscular layer in these vessels; the endothelial lining was easily visualized. Fatty tissue separated the venous channels from each other and from arteries and nerves. The distance from the carotid artery and the lateral wall increased anteriorly, but there were significant veins between these two structures in only 35% of the cases. In about one third of specimens the oculomotor nerve was placed over the carotid artery. The abducens nerve was found to be intimately related to the lateral wall without any venous channels between them in 92% of the specimens. 相似文献
Avasimibe is a novel orally bioavailable ACAT inhibitor, currently under clinical development (phase III trials). It was safe when administered to rats, dogs, and humans. In vitro studies in human macrophages demonstrated that avasimibe reduces foam cell formation not only by enhancing free cholesterol efflux, but also by inhibiting the uptake of modified LDL. The concentration‐dependent reduction in cellular cholesteryl ester content in these cells was not accompanied by an increase in intracellular free cholesterol, which is in agreement with a good safety profile for avasimibe. In the liver, avasimibe caused a significant reduction in the secretion of apo B and apo B‐containing lipoproteins into plasma. Avasimibe induced cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase and increased bile acid synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes, and its administration to rats did not produce an increase in lithogenicity index of the bile. The hypolipidemic efficacy of the compound was demonstrated in cholesterol‐fed as well as in non‐cholesterol‐fed animals. In these models, plasma cholesterol levels were reduced, mainly due to the decrease in the non‐HDL cholesterol fraction. Clinical data are scarce, but in a study performed in 130 men and women with combined hyperlipidemia and hypoalphalipoproteinemia, avasimibe, 50–500 mg/day, significantly reduced plasma total triglyceride and VLDL‐cholesterol. Although total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, and HDL‐cholesterol were unchanged, it must be stressed that animal data suggest that avasimibe may have direct antiatherosclerotic activity in addition to its cholesterol‐lowering effect. Avasimibe treatment can also contribute to increase plaque stability, as it reduces the accumulation of lipids in the arterial wall, inhibits macrophage infiltration into the media and reduces matrix metalloproteinase expression and activity. Moreover, avasimibe and statins have been shown to have synergistic effects, and the combination therapy may not only inhibit atherosclerotic lesion progression but also induce lesion regression, independently of changes in plasma cholesterol. 相似文献
Little is known about the quality of pharmacy services provided to the rural elderly population. This exploratory study examines rural/urban and ethnic differences in perceived access to ancillary pharmacy services among elderly people. Two telephone surveys were conducted using directory listings in West Texas to generate a longitudinal sample. Persons aged 65 years and older who were not cognitively impaired were asked to complete the survey. The number of participants in both rounds of the survey was 3,689. Seven ancillary pharmacy services were examined: delivery of medications, medication counseling, written medication information, blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, osteoporosis screening, and immunization. The sample was stratified by county of residence (urban, rural, or frontier) and racial/ethnic background. Chi-square tests were performed to detect rural/urban and racial/ethnic differences in access to the seven ancillary services. The association between proficiency in English and access to the services was also examined. Rural residents were more likely than urban residents to report that their pharmacies provide delivery of medications, medication counseling, and immunization services, but they were less likely than their urban counterparts to report that their pharmacies provide blood pressure monitoring. Access to ancillary pharmacy services was reported as poorer by older Hispanic people compared with non-Hispanics. Deficiency in English was significantly related to inequality in reported access to ancillary pharmacy services. It is essential to consider the special needs of rural and Hispanic elderly people to ensure equitable access to ancillary pharmacy services. 相似文献
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a qigong training program on blood biochemical parameters. MATERIAL/METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 16 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 13 to the control. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, phospholipids, GOT, GPT, GGT, urea, creatinine) were taken before and after the training program. As statistical analysis, ANCOVA was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found showing that the experimental group had lower serum levels of GOT (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase), and urea and that there was a trend towards significance in GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that after practicing qigong for the short period of one month, noteworthy changes in several blood biochemical parameters were induced. While it is tempting to speculate on the relevance and implications of these biochemical variations, further investigation is needed to elucidate the scope of these findings. 相似文献
Forty depressed patients and 36 age- and sex-matched controls were given 250 μg ACTH1–24 by
bolus. Plasma steroid hormone levels were measured prior to and 60 min after ACTH administration. The depressed patients had significantly greater cortisol (F), 11-deoxycortisol (S), androstenedione (AD), and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) responses (delta; p<0.05) and a marginally greater 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11β-OHAD) response (delta; p=0.091) than the controls. There was no significant difference in the corticosterone (B) response between the two groups.
With the exception of 11β-OHAD, all the steroid hormones were significantly negatively correlated with age in the controls, but only S and AD marginally demonstrated this relationship in the depressed patients. F, S, AD, 17-OHP, and B, but not 11β-OHAD, were significantly positively correlated with each other in the controls, but only F was significantly correlated with AD in the depressed patients. These data suggest that the hypercortisolemia found in some depressed patients involves increased precursor and metabolite levels both at baseline and in response to exogenous ACTH, compared to controls. Furthermore, variability in these precursors is greater in depressed patients, and their relationship to age is lost. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that adrenal products other than cortisol also could be related to affective symptoms. 相似文献