姜黄素对癫痫小鼠海马脑损伤的保护作用

目的研究姜黄素对匹罗卡品诱导的癫痫小鼠海马新生神经元和细胞凋亡的影响。方法姜黄素预处理后,小鼠腹腔注射匹罗卡品建立小鼠癫痫模型,应用新生神经元标记物双皮层蛋白(doublecortin,DCX)免疫组织化学染色及TUNEL染色对造模后72h的模型小鼠海马进行检测。结果 DCX免疫组织化学染色结果表明,与对照组相比,模型组及姜黄素处理模型组小鼠海马齿状回DCX阳性细胞明显减少;与模型组相比,姜黄素处理模型组小鼠海马齿状回DCX阳性细胞明显增多。TUNEL染色结果表明,与对照组相比,模型组及姜黄素处理模型组小鼠海马齿状回TUNEL阳性细胞明显增多;与模型组相比,姜黄素处理模型组小鼠海马齿状回TUNEL阳性细胞明显减少。结论姜黄素可能对匹罗卡品诱导的癫痫小鼠海马神经元有保护作用。     

Mosquito larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent properties of botanical extracts against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquito-borne diseases have an economic impact, including loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates; however, no part of the world is free from vector-borne diseases. In mosquito control programs, botanical origin may have the potential to be used successfully as eggs, larvae, and adult. The larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent activities of crude benzene and ethyl acetate extracts of leaf of Ervatamia coronaria and Caesalpinia pulcherrima were assayed for their toxicity against three important vector mosquitoes, viz., Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in benzene extract of E. coronaria against the larvae of Anopheles Stephensi, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus with the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were 79.08, 89.59, and 96.15 ppm and 150.47, 166.04, and 174.10 ppm, respectively. Mean percent hatchability of the ovicidal activity was observed 48 h posttreatment. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. The leaf extract of E. coronaria was found to be most effective than Caesalpinia pulcherrima against eggs/egg rafts of three vector mosquitoes. For E. coronaria, the benzene extract exerted 300, 250, and 200 ppm against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively. The results of the repellent activity of benzene and ethyl acetate extract of E. coronaria and Caesalpinia pulcherrima plants at three different concentrations of 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/cm² were applied on skin of fore arm in man and exposed against adult female mosquitoes. In this observation, these two plant crude extracts gave protection against mosquito bites without any allergic reaction to the test person, and also, the repellent activity is dependent on the strength of the plant extracts. These results suggest that the leaf solvent plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of mosquitoes. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent activities of the reported E. coronaria and Caesalpinia pulcherrima plants.     

Copy number variants in patients with short stature

Height is a highly heritable and classic polygenic trait. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed that at least 180 genetic variants influence adult height. However, these variants explain only about 10% of the phenotypic variation in height. Genetic analysis of short individuals can lead to the discovery of novel rare gene defects with a large effect on growth. In an effort to identify novel genes associated with short stature, genome-wide analysis for copy number variants (CNVs), using single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, in 162 patients (149 families) with short stature was performed. Segregation analysis was performed if possible, and genes in CNVs were compared with information from GWAS, gene expression in rodents'' growth plates and published information. CNVs were detected in 40 families. In six families, a known cause of short stature was found (SHOX deletion or duplication, IGF1R deletion), in two combined with a de novo potentially pathogenic CNV. Thirty-three families had one or more potentially pathogenic CNVs (n=40). In 24 of these families, segregation analysis could be performed, identifying three de novo CNVs and nine CNVs segregating with short stature. Four were located near loci associated with height in GWAS (ADAMTS17, TULP4, PRKG2/BMP3 and PAPPA). Besides six CNVs known to be causative for short stature, 40 CNVs with possible pathogenicity were identified. Segregation studies and bioinformatics analysis suggested various potential candidate genes.     

Phylogenetic and Pathotypic Characterization of Newcastle Disease Viruses Circulating in West Africa and Efficacy of a Current Vaccine

Newcastle disease (ND) is a deadly avian disease worldwide. In Africa, ND is enzootic and causes large economic losses, but little is known about the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains circulating in African countries. In this study, 27 NDV isolates collected from apparently healthy chickens in live-bird markets of the West African countries Benin and Togo in 2009 were characterized. All isolates had polybasic fusion (F)-protein cleavage sites and were shown to be highly virulent in standard pathogenicity assays. Infection of 2-week-old chickens with two of the isolates resulted in 100% mortality within 4 days. Phylogenetic analysis of the 27 isolates based on a partial F-protein gene sequence identified three clusters: one containing all the isolates from Togo and one from Benin (cluster 2), one containing most isolates from Benin (cluster 3), and an outlier isolate from Benin (cluster 1). All the three clusters are related to genotype VII strains of NDV. In addition, the cluster of viruses from Togo contained a recently identified 6-nucleotide insert between the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and large polymerase (L) genes in a complete genome of an NDV isolate from this geographical region. Multiple strains that include this novel element suggest local emergence of a new genome length class. These results reveal genetic diversity within and among local NDV populations in Africa. Sequence analysis showed that the F and HN proteins of six West African isolates share 83.2 to 86.6% and 86.5 to 87.9% identities, respectively, with vaccine strain LaSota, indicative of considerable diversity. A vaccine efficacy study showed that the LaSota vaccine protected birds from morbidity and mortality but did not prevent shedding of West African challenge viruses.     

Phospholipid transfer between plasma and platelets in vitro

Washed rabbit platelets were resuspended in plasma in which all of the major phospholipids had been isotopically labeled by injection of 32PO4 into rabbits. At certain time intervals during a 6-hr incubation at 37 degrees C, aliquots were removed from the incubation mixture and the platelets were isolated and subjected to lipid extraction and phospholipid analysis. A continuous rise in platelet non-lipid-bound and lipid-bound radioactivity was observed through-out the incubation period. Two platelet phospholipids, lecithin and lysolecithin, were significantly labeled, whereas little or no labeling of the other phospholipids was found. There was no detectable change in total or individual platelet phospholipid content. At 6 hr, 4% of total platelet phospholipid, 43% of platelet lysolecithin, and 7% of platelet lecithin were labeled. Platelets incubated in plasma from rabbits with diet- induced hyperlipidemia took up and incorporated significantly more label into their phospholipids than did platelets in normal plasma. Labeling of both platelet lysolecithin and lecithin could be due to uptake and metabolism of plasma lysolecithin by platelets. However, labeling of platelet lecithin could at least in part be the result of direct exchange of this phospholipid with the plasma. Uptake and incorporation of endogenous plasma lysolecithin by platelets and, possibly, direct exchanged of platelet lecithin may be important mechanisms in the modification by plasma lipids of platelet membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition and platelet function.     

Meniscal tears of the knee: accuracy of MR imaging

Before surgery, 277 menisci in 144 knees were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. They were then examined directly with arthroscopy or arthrotomy. Menisci were graded on a scale of 1-3 according to the character of the intrameniscal MR imaging signal. At surgery, 137 of 154 (89%) menisci exhibiting only grade 1 or grade 2 signal were found to be normal. One hundred sixteen of 123 (94%) menisci exhibiting intrameniscal signal communicating with a meniscal articular surface (grade 3 signal) had tears. If only a grade 3 signal is considered consistent with meniscal tears, then MR findings and surgical findings agreed in 91.3% of menisci. MR imaging can separate surgically significant from nonsignificant meniscal lesions and is useful in the noninvasive preoperative screening of suspected meniscal tears.     

A Comparison of Continuous and Interrupted Suturing in Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty

Background:

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty is one of the most common reconstructive procedures performed by urologists. Both continuous and interrupted sutures are being practiced for ureteropelvic anastomosis. The success rate and the complications associated with the suturing technique needs evaluation. We analyzed the results from of our patients who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty using both techniques.

Objective:

To review the outcome differences among patients undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty regarding suturing technique.

Materials and Methods:

All patients who underwent laparoscopic, transperitoneal dismembered pyeloplasty of the primary pelviureteric obstruction were analyzed. The primary outcome was successful pyeloplasty, as assessed by the resolution of symptoms and T½ <10 minutes. The secondary outcomes were the complication rate and the operative parameters. The difference in the parameters was assessed by Student t test analysis.

Results:

Of the 107 patients we studied, 65 had interrupted suturing and 42 had continuous suturing. The success rate was not significantly different among the 2 groups. The mean suturing time, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative hospital stay, and total cost of the procedure were significantly less in the continuous suturing group.

Conclusion:

The continuous suturing technique is preferred over the interrupted suturing technique for laparoscopic pyeloplasty because the success rates are equal and the postoperative stay, suturing time, drain output, and cost of the procedure are better.     

Liver transplantation in tyrosinaemia type 1: the dilemma of timing the operation

Four children with tyrosinaemia type 1 received liver transplants. The metabolic disorder was corrected and all four had normal liver function on an unrestricted diet. Two children, transplanted at age five and seven years, proved to have occult hepatocellular carcinoma and both subsequently developed pulmonary metastases. One child was well 32 months after removal of a single pulmonary metastasis but the other child died with multiple metastases. The two younger children, transplanted at age 19 and 21 months, were well 28 and 44 months after operation, one after a second liver transplant. Our experience confirms the high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in this disease and the potential value of early liver transplantation.