Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and green tea on plasma and liver lipids, platelet aggregation, TBARS production and erythrocyte Na leak in simvastatin treated hypercholesterolmic rats

This study was conducted to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of simvastatin (30 mg/kg BW) and antioxidant effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, 15 mg/kg BW) or green tea (5%) on erythrocyte Na leak, platelet aggregation and TBARS production in hypercholesterolemic rats treated with statin. Food efficiency ratio (FER, ADG/ADFI) was decreased in statin group and increased in green tea group, and the difference between these two groups was significant (p<0.05). Plasma total cholesterol was somewhat increased in all groups with statin compared with control. Plasma triglyceride was decreased in statin group and increased in groups of CoQ10 and green tea, and the difference between groups of statin and green tea was significant (p<0.05). Liver total cholesterol was not different between the control and statin group, but was significantly decreased in the group with green tea compared with other groups (p<0.05). Liver triglyceride was decreased in groups of statin and green tea compared with the control, and the difference between groups of the control and green tea was significant (p<0.05). Platelet aggregation of both the initial slope and the maximum was not significantly different, but the group with green tea tended to be higher in initial slope and lower in the maximum. Intracellular Na of group with green tea was significantly higher than the control or statin group (p<0.05). Na leak in intact cells was significantly decreased in the statin group compared with the control (p<0.05). Na leak in AAPH treated cells was also significantly reduced in the statin group compared with groups of the control and CoQ10 (p<0.05). TBARS production in platelet rich plasma was significantly decreased in the groups with CoQ10 and green tea compared with the control and statin groups (p<0.05). TBARS of liver was significantly decreased in the group with green tea compared with the statin group (p<0.05). In the present study, even a high dose of statin did not show a cholesterol lowering effect, therefore depletion of CoQ10 following statin treatment in rats is not clear. More clinical studies are needed for therapeutic use of CoQ10 as an antioxidant in prevention of degenerative diseases independent of statin therapy.     

Techniques for performing laparoscopic liver resection in various hepatic locations

Many studies have recently reported on laparoscopic liver resection, although its development has been slow compared to laparoscopy in other fields. The indications for the location of laparoscopic liver resection have previously been limited to easily accessible lesions. Performing laparoscopic liver resection in the posterior and superior parts of the liver has been considered difficult due to inadequate exposure, the poor operative field and the difficulty with parenchymal dissection. Flexible endoscopy, high definition imaging and various kinds of equipment for parenchymal transection have been introduced for clinical use. In addition, much experience with this procedure has been accumulated at many centers. Accordingly, there are an increasing number of reports on laparoscopic liver resection in difficult locations. At our institution, the location of the tumor is no longer a limitation to laparoscopic liver resection. However, for safer laparoscopic liver resection, the patient positioning and trocar placement should be individualized according to the tumor location. The type of resection also may depend on the remaining liver’s functional capacity. We describe here the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection, including the technical considerations for performing laparoscopic liver resection for lesions located in the postero-superior segments of the liver.     

Are ADDH and ADHD the same or different?

To assess the relationship between the DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and the DSM-III-R criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children from an inner city parochial school were evaluated using a 30-item teacher questionnaire consisting of the DMS-III and DSM-III-R criteria for these disorders, the revised Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires, and a continuous performance test. Diagnostic groups were established based on teacher ratings of the DSM items and evaluated in relation to the rating scale data and continuous performance test. While children who were identified by teachers as having ADDH almost always satisfied the criteria for ADHD, a new group of children who were hyperactive and impulsive but less clearly inattentive also met the criteria for ADHD. Implications of the change in diagnostic criteria are discussed.     

Effects of risperidone on dopamine receptor subtypes in developing rat brain.

The atypical antipsychotic risperidone is often prescribed to pediatric patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, though its effects on the developing brain remain unclear. Accordingly, we studied the effects of repeated treatment of risperidone on dopamine receptors in brain regions of juvenile rat. Levels of dopamine receptors (D(1), D(2), D(3), D(4)) in forebrain regions of juvenile rats were quantified after 3 weeks of treatment with three different doses of risperidone (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) and compared findings to those in adult rats treated with risperidone (3.0 mg/kg/day) previously. Risperidone (at 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg/day) increased levels of D(1) receptors in nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen of juvenile, but not adult rats. Conversely, all three doses of risperidone dose-dependently increased D(2) labeling in medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and D(4) receptor in nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen and hippocampus of juvenile animals as well as in adults. Only the high dose of risperidone (3.0 mg/kg) increased D(2) receptors in caudate-putamen in both juvenile and adult brain. D(3) receptors were not altered by risperidone in any brain region at any dose or age. The findings indicate dose-dependent effects of risperidone on dopamine receptors in developing animals, and that juvenile animals are more sensitive than adults to the cerebral effects of risperidone.     

宫腔镜在辅助生殖技术中的应用

目的：探讨宫腔镜检查术在辅助生殖技术中应用的重要性。方法：对150例拟行辅助生殖技术的不育妇女行常规宫腔镜检查。结果：宫腔镜150例中47例（31％）有镜下异常，其中：子宫内膜息肉或息肉样增生18例（12％），子宫内膜单纯性增生17例（11％），子宫畸形7例（5％），宫腔粘连狭窄3例（2％），子宫内膜结核1例（0．7％），子宫黏膜下肌瘤或腺肌瘤1例（0．7％）。以宫腔镜诊断为标准，阴道超声诊断敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、准确率分别为66％（31／47）、98％（101／103）、94％（31／33）、86％（101／117）、88％（132／150），子宫造影分别为26％（12／47）、100％（95／95）、100％（12／12）、73％（95／130）、75％（107／142）。结论：宫腔镜检查术具有良好的可接受性和准确性，应作为辅助生殖技术前的常规检查。     

纵隔支气管囊肿CT误诊1例

患者男性,29岁。因体检发现纵隔肿物17天入院。无胸、背痛及胸闷、气促、呼吸困难,无咳嗽、咳痰及咯血。查体:生命体征平稳,双肺呼吸音清晰、未闻及干湿性罗音及胸膜摩擦音。胸透及胸部CT:右后下纵隔类圆形占位,密度较均匀,CT值20~22HU,肿物不随呼吸运动活动。CT诊断:右后下纵隔神经源性良性肿瘤(图1,2)。于全麻下行右后下纵隔肿瘤切除术,病理诊断:(右后下纵隔)支气管源性囊肿。讨论:纵隔支气管囊肿属先天性异常,为前肠囊肿的一种,多见于儿童和青年人。大部分位于气管、支气管周围,多在隆突下和右气管旁。最常见的临床症状是胸痛,无症状…