Effect of riluzole on the neurological and neuropathological changes in an animal model of cardiac arrest-induced movement disorder

Posthypoxic myoclonus and seizures precipitate as secondary neurological consequences in ischemic/hypoxic insults of the central nervous system. Neuronal hyperexcitation may be due to excessive activation of glutamatergic neurotransmission, an effect that has been shown to follow ischemic/hypoxic events. Therefore, riluzole, an anticonvulsant that inhibits the release of glutamate by stabilizing the inactivated state of activated voltage-sensitive sodium channels, was tested for its antimyoclonic and neuroprotective properties in the cardiac arrest-induced animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus. Riluzole (4-12 mg/kg i.p.) dose-dependently attenuated the audiogenic seizures and action myoclonus seen in this animal model. Histological examination using Nissl staining and the novel Fluoro-Jade histochemistry in cardiac-arrested animals showed an extensive neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Riluzole treatment almost completely prevented the neuronal degeneration in these brain areas. The neuroprotective effect was more pronounced in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and cerebellar Purkinje cells. These effects were seen at therapeutically relevant doses of riluzole, and the animals tolerated the treatment well. These findings indicate that the pathogenesis of posthypoxic myoclonus and seizure may involve excessive activation of glutamate neurotransmission, and that riluzole may serve as an effective pharmacological agent with neuroprotective potential for the treatment of neurological conditions associated with cardiac arrest in humans.     

电热手术刀在妇产科手术中的应用

目的：观察新型电热手术刀在妇产科手术中的应用效果。方法：对６５ 例需手术的妇产科病人,用新型电热手术刀做手术,与同期用普通手术刀（２５ 例） 和高频电刀（２０ 例） 做手术进行比较。结果：电热手术刀可在锋利切割组织的同时快速止血,止血作用类似于高频电刀;和普通手术刀相比,电热手术刀能明显减少出血量,加快手术速度,且无脂肪液化,无刀片粘连,切口愈合良好,热损伤轻微。结论：电热手术刀结合了普通手术刀和高频电刀的优点,适合在妇产科手术中推广使用。     

显性遗传性运动感觉性神经病Ⅱ型一个家系分析

目的本文报道一个在老年期发病的遗传性运动感觉性周围神经病Ⅱ型家族。方法对家族成员进行临床和电生理检查,其中１例病人进行腓肠神经活检。结果家族成员在老年期出现四肢无力和感觉减退。老年病人和无症状年轻病人的电生理检查均发现周围神经的诱发电位波幅显著下降。腓肠神经活检证实轴索性周围神经病。结论检查结果符合显性遗传性运动感觉性周围神经病Ⅱ型的诊断,电生理检查可以发现家族中的亚临床病人。     

Involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation of cavernous smooth muscle in hypercholesterolemic rabbit

The present study was designed to evaluate whether functional impairment and/or protein expression of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS; endothelial NOS [eNOS] and neuronal NOS[nNOS]) was involved in impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of cavernous smooth muscle in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The control group (n=20) received a regular diet, while the two experimental groups (n=20 for each) were fed a 2% cholesterol diet for 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. We conducted isometric tension studies with endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators with or without preincubation with L-arginine and nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC)-selective electrical field stimulation on isolated strips of corpus cavernosum. Expression of cNOS (eNOS and nNOS) protein was assessed by Western blot analysis. cNOS activities in both cytosolic and particulate fractions were measured by determining the conversion of L-[U-14C] arginine to L-[U-14C] citrulline. Blood levels of cholesterol were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the experimental groups than in the control group. The relaxation responses to endothelium-dependent agents (acetylcholine and adenosine 5'-diphosphate [ADP]) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in both experimental groups, regardless of their incubation with L-arginine, compared with the control group. However, no differences were found among the three groups in the relaxation response to endothelium-independent agents (papaverine and nitroprusside) and to NANC-selective electrical field stimulation. There was no difference in immunoreactive nNOS from cytosolic and particulate fractions between the cavernous tissues of the control and experimental groups. nNOS protein levels in the particulate fractions were markedly lower than in the cytosolic fractions. The particulate cNOS activity was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the experimental groups compared with the control group, while the cytosolic cNOS activity in the experimental groups was not different from that found in the control group. Therefore, it is concluded that functional impairment of eNOS, rather than of nNOS, may lead to impairment of cavernous smooth muscle relaxation in response to endothelium-mediated stimuli in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.     

An antioxidant lignan and other constituents from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus

A new lignan named as hibiscuside, (+)-pinoresinol 4-O-[beta-glucopyranosyl (1--->2)-alpha-rhamnoside] (1), and a known lignan, syringaresinol (2) were isolated from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus together with two feruloyltyramines (3,4) and three known isoflavonoids (5,6,7). The structures of these compounds have been established on the basis of their NMR, mass UV spectra. Among these phenolic compounds, 6"-O-acetyldaidzin (5), 6"-O-acetylgenistin (6), and 3-hydroxydaidzein (7) with IC(50) values of 8.2, 10.6, and 4.1 microM, respectively, significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Hibiscuside (1), E- and Z-N-feruloyl tyramines (3,4) exhibited moderate antioxidant activity.     

Role of mesenchymal-epithelial interactions in mammary gland development

The mammary gland is a hormone-target organ derived from epidermis and develops as a result of reciprocal mesenchymal-epithelial interactions. The induction of mammary differentiation from indifferent epidermal cells by mammary mesenchyme implies induction of the complement of hormone receptors characteristic of normal mammary epithelium in cells of the epidermis. Considering the facts that mammary epithelial differentiation is induced by mammary mesenchyme and that certain aspects of hormone response (androgen-induced mammary regression) are inextricably linked to mesenchymal-epithelial interactions, it is evident that the biology of the mammary gland arises from and is maintained via cell-cell interactions. As a corollary, perturbation of stromal-epithelial interactions in adulthood may play a role in mammary carcinogenesis and in turn may provide opportunities for differentiation therapy.     

Studies on corneal penetration ofp-hydroxybenzoic acid esters

Corneal permeability of variousn-alkylp-hydroxybenzoates (parabens) was studiedin vitro using excised rabbit corneas, and the effect of lipophilicity of parabens on the corneal permeability was also investigated. Permeability coefficients were obtained from the least-square linear regression after the steady state had been reached. Lipophilicity of parabens was calculated by distribution coefficients determined in octanol-S \(12_\phi [\kern-0.15em[ \) rensen’s buffer solution (pH 5.0). The relationship between lipophilicity and corneal permeability of parabens was not linear, but the optimum lipophilicity for the maximum permeation was found. The influence of tween 80 on corneal permeability of methyl and butylparaben was not significant.     

山莨菪碱对妊娠高血压综合征子宫胎盘血流影响

目的：观察山莨菪碱对妊娠高血压综合征(妊高征)子宫动脉、脐动脉血流的短期影响.方法：妊高征患者14例给予山莨菪碱10～20 mg加入5%葡萄糖溶液500 mL中,静脉滴注,观察用药前后血压、体重、蛋白尿变化,多普勒超声监测用药前后子宫动脉、脐动脉的收缩期峰值(S)/舒张末期血流速度(D)(S/D),阻力指数(RI)、搏动指数(PI).结果：用药后收缩压及舒张压明显下降(P＜0.05)；水肿、蛋白尿减轻或消退；子宫动脉和脐动脉的S/D、RI、PI均明显下降(P＜0.01).结论：山莨菪碱治疗妊高征能降低子宫、胎盘血流阻力,增加其血流灌注,同时改善孕妇临床症状,有利于母婴预后.     

鼠和兔中流行性感冒病毒抗体的制备及测定

报道了流行性感冒病毒抗体的制备及其抗体价的检测方法。利用鼠、兔对流行性感冒(IFV)抗原的免疫反应制备抗体；酶联免疫法(ELISA)测定抗体价。结果显示：Freund佐剂与抗原的混合乳液，具有流行性感冒病毒的抗原特异性，且能够增强抗原的免疫原性，并改变宿主的免疫反应原性。     

The attitudes of cancer patients and their families toward the disclosure of terminal illness.

PURPOSE:To ascertain the attitude of cancer patients and their families toward disclosure of terminal illness to the patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We constructed a questionnaire that included demographic and clinical information and delivered it to 758 consecutive individuals (433 cancer patients and 325 families that have a relative with cancer) at seven university hospitals and one national cancer center in Korea. RESULTS: 380 cancer patients and one member from each of 281 families that have a relative with cancer completed the questionnaire. Cancer patients were more likely than family members to believe that patients should be informed of the terminal illness (96.1% v 76.9%; P <.001). Fifty percent of the family members and 78.3% of the patients thought that the doctor in charge should be the one who informs the patient. Additionally, 71.7% of the patients and 43.6% of the family members thought that patients should be informed immediately after the diagnosis. Stepwise multiple logistic regression indicated that the patient group was more likely than the family group to want the patient to be informed of the terminal illness (odds ratio [OR], 9.76; 95% CI, 4.31 to 22.14), by the doctor (OR, 4.00; 95% CI, 2.61 to 6.11), and immediately after the diagnosis (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.45 to 5.41). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that most cancer patients want to be informed if their illness is terminal, and physicians should realize that the patient and the family unit may differ in their attitude toward such a disclosure. Our results also reflect the importance of how information is given to the patient.