In vivo monitoring of amino acids by microdialysis sampling with on-line derivatization by naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxyaldehyde and rapid micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

An analytical method was developed to monitor amino acids collected by in vivo microdialysis. Microdialysate was continuously derivatized on-line by mixing 6 mM naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxyaldehyde (NDA) and 10 mM potassium cyanide with the dialysate stream in a fused silica capillary to form fluorescent products. Reaction time, determined by the flow rate and volume of reaction capillary, was 3 min. Derivatized amino acids were continuously delivered into a flow-gated interface and periodically injected onto a capillary electrophoresis unit equipped with a laser-induced fluorescence detection based on a commercial microscope. Separation was performed in the micellar electrokinetic chromatography mode using 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate in 15 mM phosphate buffer at pH 8.0 as the separation media. An electric field of 1.3 kV/cm was applied across a 10 cm long, 10 microm internal diameter separation capillary. These conditions allowed 17 amino acid derivatives to be resolved in less than 30 s. On-line injections could be performed at 30 s intervals for in vivo samples. Detection limits were from 10 to 30 nM for the amino acids. The method was applied to monitor the acute ethanol-induced amino acid level changes in freely moving rats. The results demonstrate the utility of the method to reveal dynamics of amino acid concentration in vivo.     

Robust generation of new hair cells in the mature mammalian inner ear by adenoviral expression of Hath1

Although hair cells regenerate spontaneously in birds and lower vertebrates following injury, there is yet no effective way to stimulate hair cell regeneration in mature mammalian inner ears. Here we report that a large number of hair cells are produced in the sensory epithelium of cultured adult rat utricular maculae, via adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Hath1, a human atonal homolog. The generation of new hair cells via Hath1 expression does not involve cell proliferation based on bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, using a similar approach, hair cells are regenerated following aminoglycoside injury in these cultures. These data show conclusively that mature mammalian inner ears have the competence to produce a large number of new hair cells. Local adenoviral gene therapy in the inner ear may be a potential approach to treatment of hearing and balance disorders.     

白花香莲解毒方联合阿德福韦酯治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的临床研究

目的通过观察壮药白花香莲解毒方联合阿德福韦酯对乙肝病毒e抗原(HBeAg)阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者的影响,评估其临床疗效。方法采用多中心随机临床研究方法,240例HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者随机分为试验组和对照组,每组120例。对照组给予阿德福韦酯胶囊10mg,每日1次,试验组在对照组治疗基础上加用白花香莲解毒方,每日2次,疗程均为48周,观察治疗12、24、48周时两组患者的病毒学、血清学、生化学、慢性肝病量表(CLDQ)评分及不良事件。结果 (1)乙肝病毒脱氧核糖核酸(HBVD-NA)下降值、病毒应答率及阴转率:从治疗12周始,试验组HBVDNA下降的对数值与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组治疗12、24周病毒应答率分别为62.71%、77.97%,对照组为49.57%、67.52%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);而治疗48周,两组总的病毒应答率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);试验组治疗12、24、48周的HBVDNA阴转率分别为22.03%、41.52%、55.08%,对照组为11.11%、21.37%、30.77%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)HBeAg/抗-HBe血清应答率:治疗24、48周试验组HBeAg血清应答率分别为26.27%、39.83%,对照组为13.68%、29.06%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗48周,试验组HBeAg阴转率为22.03%,对照组为11.96%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(3)血清生化应答率:治疗24、48周,试验组血清生化应答率分别为74.58%、87.29%,对照组为60.68%、79.49%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(4)CLDQ评分:两组患者治疗后CLDQ评分均升高,与治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);试验组治疗24、48周的CLDQ评分均优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(5)不良反应:两组患者主要不良反应为头痛、腹痛、恶心;并发生磷酸肌酸激酶升高9例,发生率为3.83%。结论白花香莲解毒方联合阿德福韦酯治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者,能显著提高对HBVDNA的抑制作用,增加HBeAg的血清学转换率,加快肝功能的恢复速度,改善生活质量,且安全性高。     

生长抑素对门脉高压病人脾切除手术前后门脉压力的影响

目的 :探讨思他宁对肝硬化门脉高压病人行脾切除手术前后门脉压力的影响。方法 :肝硬化门脉高压脾肿大、脾功能亢进病人 2 5例 ,随机分治疗组 (思他宁组 ) 15例 ,对照组 10例 ,术前 1d及术后第 2天用彩色多普勒测定门脉主干内径、血流速度及血流量。手术中开腹后和术毕关腹前分别经胃网膜右静脉分支测得门静脉压力。治疗组在使用思他宁 5min后测门脉压力一次 (思他宁静脉维持 4 8h) ,记录术中出血量、术后第 1天脾窝引流管引出量。结果 :治疗组 :①使用思他宁前后门脉压力差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。在思他宁维持过程中 ,行脾切除前后门脉压力差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。②使用思他宁前后和脾切除术前后门脉内径差异无显著性 ,最大流速及血流量差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。对照组 :①脾切除前后门脉压力、最大血流量及血液流速差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。②门脉内径差异无显著性。两组术中出血量 ,术后第 1天腹腔引流管引出量差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :周围静脉持续生长抑素维持能降低门脉高压病人脾切除术后的门脉压力 ,降低门脉压力的机制可能是通过降低门脉血流速率从而降低门静脉血流量。术中及术后使用思他宁能明显减少术中及术后创面渗血     

Orientation biased extended surround of the receptive field of cat retinal ganglion cells

Here we report that the extended surround outside the classical receptive center (hereafter called the extended surround) of most retinal ganglion cells in the cat exhibit significant orientation bias to grating stimuli, and that the center and the extended surround show different orientation biases at different spatial frequencies.As a result, some retinal ganglion cells possess a complex receptive field structure, which allows them to detect sophisticated image segmentation (e.g. texture segmentation) in addition to simple luminance edges. This property was previously thought to exist primarily in the visual cortex. Moreover, in about one quarter of 128 cells studied the center did not exhibit an orientation bias. Thus, these surrounds alone may determine the cells' orientation bias.In conclusion, the extended surround may play an important role in processing more complex pattern in natural scenes since the classical receptive field is too small to describe all the properties of a retinal ganglion cell.     

The Relationship between Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels and Body Composition Changes after Sleeve Gastrectomy

IntroductionWe previously reported that preoperative serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a predictor of total weight loss percentage (%TWL) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). IGF-1 may suppress muscle loss after surgery. IGF-1 almost accurately reflects the growth hormone (GH) secretion status, and GH has lipolytic effects. Therefore, IGF-1 may influence both the maintenance of skeletal muscle and the reduction of adipose tissue after LSG. The identification of the relationship between preoperative serum IGF-1 and body composition changes after LSG can help in understanding the pathophysiology of obesity.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 72 patients with obesity who underwent LSG and were followed up for 12 months. We analyzed the relationship between preoperative serum IGF-1 levels and body composition changes after LSG. A multiple regression model was used.ResultsLSG led to a significant reduction in body weight. Both body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass decreased after LSG. Preoperative serum IGF-1 levels significantly correlated with %TWL, changes in skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass after LSG. The multiple regression model showed that preoperative serum IGF-1 levels were related to decreased body fat mass and maintaining skeletal muscle mass after LSG.Discussion/ConclusionPreoperative IGF-1 measurement helps predict not only successful weight loss but also decreases body fat mass and maintains skeletal muscle mass after LSG.     

Lingo‐1 Inhibited by RNA Interference Promotes Functional Recovery of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Lingo‐1 is a negative regulator of myelination. Repairment of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS)/experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), requires activation of the myelination program. In this study, we observed the effect of RNA interference on Lingo‐1 expression, and the impact of Lingo‐1 suppression on functional recovery and myelination/remyelination in EAE mice. Lentiviral vectors encoding Lingo‐1 short hairpin RNA (LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA) were constructed to inhibit Lingo‐1 expression. LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA of different titers were transferred into myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein‐induced EAE mice by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. Meanwhile, lentiviral vectors carrying nonsense gene sequence (LVCON053) were used as negative control. The Lingo‐1 expression was detected and locomotor function was evaluated at different time points (on days 1,3,7,14,21, and 30 after ICV injection). Myelination was investigated by luxol fast blue (LFB) staining.LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA administration via ICV injection could efficiently down‐regulate the Lingo‐1 mRNA and protein expression in EAE mice on days 7,14,21, and 30 (P < 0.01), especially in the 5 × 10⁸ TU/mL and 5 × 10⁹ TU/mL LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA groups. The locomotor function score in the LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA treated groups were significantly lower than the untreated or LVCON053 group from day 7 on. The 5 × 10⁸ TU/mL LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA group achieved the best functional improvement (0.87 ± 0.11 vs. 3.05 ± 0.13, P < 0.001). Enhanced myelination/remyelination was observed in the 5 × 10⁷, 5 × 10⁸, 5 × 10⁹ TU/mL LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA groups by LFB staining (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05).The data showed that administering LV/Lingo‐1‐shRNA by ICV injection could efficiently knockdown Lingo‐1 expression in vivo, improve functional recovery and enhance myelination/remyelination. Antagonism of Lingo‐1 by RNA interference is, therefore, a promising approach for the treatment of demyelinating diseases, such as MS/EAE. Anat Rec, 297:2356–2363, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.