The roots of sexual arousal and sexual orientation

Unlike members of other species that are genetically wired to be attracted to their sexual partners, humans learn the cues that guide them in choosing their sexual partners and that trigger sexual arousal. Genetically wired mechanisms must be directing the acquisition of those cues and organizing them in information structures that underlie human sexual behavior. Individual sexuality is a combination of the genetic mechanisms and information learned through personal experiences. This article focuses on the roots of human sexuality - on genetically embedded mechanisms, common to all humans, around which the wide variety of sexual behaviors is built. It proposes a model that defines the basic mechanisms and their role in developing individual sexuality. It is suggested that three brain areas host the roots of human sexuality: the auditory area, which provides stimuli that serve as cues for the identification of a mate; an emotional area, which provides cues for emotional arousal; and a corporal area, which controls the physiological expressions of arousal. The amygdala is a main candidate for the emotional area, and the hypothalamus for the corporal area, but other areas may also provide those inputs. Experimental observations that support this model are discussed, and an outline of additional experiments for validating the model is proposed. If validated, the model would provide knowledge that fills a gap in the understanding of human sexuality - knowledge that would benefit individuals, the medical profession, and society as a whole.     

A new depsidone and antibacterial activities of compounds from Usnea undulata Stirton

Usnea undulata Stirton (Usneaaceae) is a fruticose lichen used locally in ethnoveterinary medicine to treat mammary infections in cattle while human beings use it for the treatment of wounds in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of its extracts led to the isolation and characterization of a new depsidone, 2'-O-methylhypostictic acid (8), together with seven known compounds, i.e. methyl β-orsellinate, norstictic acid, menegazziaic acid, (+) usnic acid, hypoconstictic acid, salazinic acid, and galbinic acid. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectral analysis including homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) and mass spectra as well as by comparison with available data in the literature. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of the compounds against six bacteria were determined. Compound 8 showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis with MICs of 31, 62.5, 62.5 μg/ml, respectively. (+) Usnic acid was most active against B. subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli with MICs of 8, 8, 31, and 31 μg/ml, respectively, while other compounds exhibited moderate activity.     

奥沙利铂联合大剂量亚叶酸钙与氟尿嘧啶治疗晚期胃癌

目的 探讨奥沙利铂联合大剂量亚叶酸钙与氟尿嘧啶治疗晚期胃癌的疗效及其安全性。方法 晚期胃癌患者45例，采用奥沙利铂联合大剂量亚叶酸钙及氟尿嘧啶治疗，疗程3周期。结果 部分缓解18例，无变化17例，进展10例，总有效率40．0％。中位疾病进展时间5个月，1年生存率58．7％。毒性反应主要为感觉神经毒性(54．3％)，其次为恶心、呕吐和腹泻；骨髓抑制毒性小。结论 奥沙利铂联合大剂量亚叶酸钙与氟尿嘧啶方案治疗晚期胃癌，疗效肯定，患者耐受性较好。     

冠脉内注射替罗非班和尿激酶对急诊PCI时心肌微循环作用的对比研究

目的:比较急性ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者直接.PCI时,冠脉内推注血小板GPⅡb/Ⅲa受体抑制剂替罗非班和溶栓剂尿激酶的疗效及安全性.方法:41例急性STEMI并接受直接PCI患者随机给予冠脉注射替罗非班(A组,n=21)或尿激酶(B组,n=20).测定PCI时梗死相关动脉TIMI血流、校正TIMI计帧数(c...     

氢氯噻嗪分别与氯沙坦或卡托普利联合应用的降压疗效和安全性的比较观察

目的:比较联合应用氯沙坦和氢氯噻嗪与卡托普利和氢氯噻嗪治疗高血压的疗效和安全性。方法:72例新诊断或经2周洗脱期后基线平均舒张压为95～115mmHg,平均收缩压<180mmHg的高血压病患者,随机分成A、B两组各36例。A组每天服用氯沙坦50mg和氢氯噻嗪12.5mg,B组每天服用卡托普利50mg和氢氯噻嗪25mg。用药后每周测血压,以基线值与第4周末血压的平均变化作为疗效指标,并记录药物不良反应,结合实验室检查结果作安全性评估。结果:两治疗组第4周平均舒张压及平均收缩压降低无显著差异(P>0.10)。但与药物相关的不良反应A组显著低于B组(8.4％对16.7％)。结论:联合应用氯沙坦和氢氯噻嗪与卡托普利和氢氯噻嗪降压疗效相似,但前者的安全性和耐受性较好。     

High prevalence of cagA-positive strains in Helicobacter pylori-infected, healthy, young Chinese adults

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) has been implicated as a potential pathogenic marker for Helicobacter pylori-induced severe gastroduodenal diseases. Although the prevalence of cagA-positive strains has been reported in patient populations from developed countries, only limited information from developing countries is available. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with immunoblot analysis was used to determine the prevalence of cagA and its adjacent cagE genes and to evaluate the expression of CagA protein in 55 H. pylori clinical isolates from China. RESULTS: The expected PCR products derived from H. pylori cagA and cagE genes were identified in all Chinese H. pylori clinical isolates. Similarly, the CagA protein was detected in all 40 isolates tested. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that the presence of the cagA gene correlated well with expression of the CagA protein in all surveyed Chinese H. pylori isolates and that infection with cagA-positive H. pylori strains is highly common in China and independent of clinical presentation.     

GABAA-Receptor Agonists Limit Pneumonitis and Death in Murine Coronavirus-Infected Mice

There is an urgent need for new approaches to limit the severity of coronavirus infections. Many cells of the immune system express receptors for the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and GABA-receptor (GABA-R) agonists have anti-inflammatory effects. Lung epithelial cells also express GABA-Rs, and GABA-R modulators have been shown to limit acute lung injuries. There is currently, however, no information on whether GABA-R agonists might impact the course of a viral infection. Here, we assessed whether clinically applicable GABA-R agonists could be repurposed for the treatment of a lethal coronavirus (murine hepatitis virus 1, MHV-1) infection in mice. We found that oral GABA administration before, or after the appearance of symptoms, very effectively limited MHV-1-induced pneumonitis, severe illness, and death. GABA treatment also reduced viral load in the lungs, suggesting that GABA-Rs may provide a new druggable target to limit coronavirus replication. Treatment with the GABA_A-R-specific agonist homotaurine, but not the GABA_B-R-specific agonist baclofen, significantly reduced the severity of pneumonitis and death rates in MHV-1-infected mice, indicating that the therapeutic effects were mediated primarily through GABA_A-Rs. Since GABA and homotaurine are safe for human consumption, they are promising candidates to help treat coronavirus infections.     

高原部队人群幽门螺杆菌感染的流行病学调查

目的了解Hp在高原部队人群中感染状态及与上消化道疾病的关系。方法对驻青藏高原(海拔2800-5231公尺)某部官兵517人进行普查,年龄18～40岁。采用冒镜普查和~(14)C-尿素呼吸试验方法,接受胃镜普查的受检者均在胃窦部取活检2块,分别行Hp快速尿素酶试验和病理检查。结果高海拔地区部队人群Hp感染率较低海拔地区为高,入伍仅1月的新兵,Hp感染率为38.18％,而另两组人群长期生活在高原不同海拔高度至少1年以上,Hp感染率达52.42％和62.32％。新兵组与其它两组相比具有显著性差异(P<0.05和p<0.01)。结论不同海拔高度Hp感染率不同,高海拔地区部队人群Hp感染率较低海拔地区为高,高原自然环境特点和缺氧可能是导致Hp在胃粘膜的定植并引起Hp感染率增加的重要素因之一。     

五种HP根除方案对高原部队HP感染的病人治疗效果的比较

为了筛选适合于高原部队防治由于 HP 感染所致的上消化道疾病的 HP 根除治疗方案,设计了5种不同的治疗方案,并对胃镜检查证实的140名 HP 阳性的患者进行随机分组治疗,治疗结束后4周采用(14)~C-尿素呼吸试验复查,溃疡患者胃镜复查并行 HP 快速尿素酶试验和病理检查。结果表明:以德诺为主的2号和3号四联方案Hp 根除率分别为92.23%和91.67%,但不良反应较多;4号方案(雷尼替丁150mg2/天,甲硝唑200mg4/天,呋喃唑酮100mg4/天)HP 根除率为83.33%,但与2号和3号四联方案比较并无显著差异(P>0.05),且不良反应少,依从性好,药品成本低。因此,根据我们的结果,4号方案是一种较为理想的并适合于高原基层部队的 HP 根除治疗方案,值得在临床推广应用。