Development of traumatic retinal detachment

Post-traumatic retinal detachment occurs frequently as a late consequence of progressive vitreous changes, especially following penetrating injuries. Occasionally, it develops soon after the trauma, without preceding proliferative vitreoretinopathy, is based on posterior vitreous detachment and morphologically resembles an idiopathic retinal detachment. It is possible that the posterior vitreous detachment in these cases is encouraged by the presence of intravitreal hemorrhage.     

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in Buerger's disease

A 77-year-old man with a history of Buerger's disease developed an anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. This disease, while rare in the United States at the present time, is common in other parts of the world. None the less, this appears to be the first reported case of this type of optic neuropathy in a patient with documented Buerger's disease. A possible mechanism is suggested.     

Brain mechanisms in the control of food intake—30 years on

Do brain systems exist which control not only increases or decreases in food intake, but also bring about specific changes in the size and distribution of meals consumed, alter the selection of particular macronutrients and adjust feeding responses to the perceived pleasantness (hedonic value) of the food? A cautious yes can be given to each of these questions. Moreover, since most experimental work has been carried out on the brains of animals, we can also ask how well these animal data relate to the human condition; given the methodological issues involved in making such inferences, the answer is remarkably well.     

Integration and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells transplanted to the chick embryo.

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells that can differentiate into a large array of cell types and, thus, hold promise for advancing our understanding of human embryology and for contributing to transplantation medicine. In this study, differentiation of human ES cells was examined in vivo by in ovo transplantation to organogenesis-stage embryos. Colonies of human ES cells were grafted into or in place of epithelial-stage somites of chick embryos of 1.5 to 2 days of development. The grafted human ES cells survived in the chick host and were identified by vital staining with carboxyfluorescein diacetate or use of a green fluorescent protein-expressing cells. Histologic analysis showed that human ES cells are easily distinguished from host cells by their larger, more intensely staining nuclei. Some grafted cells differentiated en masse into epithelia, whereas others migrated and mingled with host tissues, including the dorsal root ganglion. Colonies grafted directly adjacent to the host neural tube produced primarily structures with the morphology and molecular characteristics of neural rosettes. These structures contain differentiated neurons as shown by beta-3-tubulin and neurofilament expression in axons and cell bodies. Axons derived from the grafted cells penetrate the host nervous system, and host axons enter the structures derived from the graft. Our results show that human ES cells transplanted in ovo survive, divide, differentiate, and integrate with host tissues and that the host embryonic environment may modulate their differentiation. The chick embryo, therefore, may serve as an accessible and unique experimental system for the study of in vivo development of human ES cells.     

地塞米松促胎儿肺成熟的三种用药方式对母体糖代谢的影响

【目的】探讨地塞米松的用药方式对孕妇糖代谢的影响。【方法】对 1999年 9月至 2 0 0 1年 1月在本院住院的15 0名不同用药方式使用地塞米松促胎儿肺成熟的孕妇进行研究 ,在用药前及用药后 18～ 2 4h抽取肘前静脉血查空腹血糖、血浆C肽 ,糖负荷后 2h血糖、血浆C肽。【结果】使用地塞米松后 ,空腹血糖值、糖负荷后 2h血糖值、空腹C肽及糖负荷后 2hC肽值较用药前高 ;用药方式对母体空腹血糖值和空腹C肽值的影响差异无统计学意义 (P >0 0 5 ) ,对母体糖负荷后 2h血糖值和糖负荷后 2hC肽值的影响差异有统计学意义 (P <0 0 5 ) ;不同糖代谢状态的受试者使用地塞米松后 ,空腹C肽值、糖负荷后 2hC肽值的改变差异有统计学意义 (P <0 0 5 )。【结论】孕妇使用地塞米松促胎儿肺成熟对母体的糖代谢均有一定程度的影响 ,用药过程中和用药后需严密监测母体血糖和胎儿宫内状况