Neural networks in the study of the brain

Neural networks are models of the brain and have been used within Artificial Intelligence to provide alternative explanations to the symbolic explanations of cognition in which one assumes that an intelligent system has certain explicit representations of some aspect of the world and uses these in intelligent behavior. Obviously, if neural networks are indeed good models of the brain, and give a satisfactory account of cognition, then they could be a valuable tool to neuroscientists. This article gives a brief overview of the various neural network models, and critically reviews their status as models of the brain and of cognition.     

Myocardial perfusion and function in dogs with moderate coronary stenosis

MRI studies of first-pass contrast enhancement with polylysine-Gd-DTPA and myocardial tagging using spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) were performed to assess the feasibility of a combined regional myocardial blood flow and 2D deformation exam. Instrumented closed-chest dogs were imaged at a baseline control state (Cntl) followed by two interventions: moderate coronary stenosis (St) achieved by partial occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) and moderate coronary stenosis with dobutamine loading (StD). Hypoperfusion of the anterior region (ANT) of the myocardium (LAD distribution) relative to the posterior wall (POS) based on the upslope of the signal intensity time curve from the contrast-enhanced MR images was demonstrated only with dobutamine loading (ANT:POS Cntl=1.077 ± 0.15 versus ANT:POS StD=0.477 ± 0.11, P<0.03) and was confirmed with radio-labeled microspheres measurements (ANT:POS Cntl=1.18 ± 0.2 ml/min/g versus ANT:POS StD=0.44 ± 0.1 ml/min/g; P<0.002). Significant changes in regional myocardial shortening were only seen in the StD state (P<0.02); the anterior region showed impaired myocardial shortening with dobutamine loading (P=NS), whereas the nonaffected POS region showed a marked increase in shortening when compared with Cntl (Cntl=0.964 ± 0.02 versus StD=0.884 ± 0.03; P<0.001). These results demonstrate that an integrated quantitative assessment of regional myocardial function and semiquantitative assessment of myocardial blood flow can be performed noninvasively with ultrafast MRI.     

西宁地区健康小儿窦房结功能测定的初步探讨

应用食道心房调博缩测定健康小儿窦房结功能，以了解西宁地区正常数值与平原地区进行对比。选择２７例健康小儿，将Ｆ６二级电极导管从鼻腔送入，定位地食道心电图最大正负双相Ｐ波处，采用苏州东方电子仪器厂生产的ＤＦ－３Ａ型心脏电生理治疗仪进行检查，从而作出诊断。     

羟化赖氨酸清除活性氧自由基能力的研究

在竹叶及其提取物中检出了一种特殊的非蛋白氨基酸δ－ＯＨ－Ｌｙｓ，为了解其生物学意义，用化学发光法和电子自旋共振法（ＥＳＲ）对δ－ＯＨ－Ｌｙｓ和Ｌｙｓ清除超氧阴离子自由基（Ｏ２－）的能力作了比较，结果表明赖氨酸在δ位羟化以后，抗活性氧自由基的活性有了显著提高。     

中国病理生理杂志第6—10卷论著的引文分析与比较

中国病理生理杂志于１９８５年创刊，是目前国内唯一的病理生理学科高级学术刊物。本文对该刊第６－１０卷所发表的论著做出版周期和引文分析。     

A variety of microorganism species at the burn ward

From 1975 to 1987, 965 exudate cultures of burn wounds were done in 553 cases. 1205 colonies (28 species) of microorganisms were separated out from these patients. Among 1205 colonies, 1050 colonies (87.13%) were "common microorganism" included P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, and P. vulgaris. There were mixed infection of P. aeruginosa and E. coli in 23.66-25.95% cases. In early stage P. aeruginosa (23.25%) was predominant and in late stage, S. aureus was predominant. The sensitivity of microorganisms to 18 kinds of antibiotics gradually decreased, year by year. The authors consider that reasonable use of antibiotics, early eschar excision and skin grafting play an important role in decreasing the occurrence of drug-fast bacteria and preventing cross infection.     

Proanthocyanidin: a natural crosslinking reagent for stabilizing collagen matrices

While attempting to find a suitable crosslinking reagent for biopolymers, a naturally occurring proanthocyanidin (PA) obtained from grape seeds was selected to fix biological tissues. The cytotoxicity and crosslinking rate, reflected by the in vitro and in vivo degradation of fixed matrices has been studied. The shrinkage temperature of the fixed bovine pericardium increased from 66 to 86 degrees C. A cytotoxicity assay using fibroblast cultures revealed that PA is approximately 120 times less toxic than glutaraldehyde (GA), a currently used tissue stabilizer. In vitro degradation studies showed that fixed tissue was resistant to digestion by bacterial collagenase. Crosslinks between PA and tissues can be stabilized by decreasing the dielectric constant of the solution during storage. After subcutaneous implantation for periods ranging between 3 and 6 weeks, we found no apparent degradation of the GA- or PA-fixed tissues, whereas fresh tissue controls rapidly disintegrated. Beyond 6 weeks PA crosslinks began to degrade. More fibroblasts migrated and proliferated inside the PA-fixed implants compared with GA counterparts. Tissues crosslinked with PA manifested an enhanced collagen expression and deposition and did not calcify after implantation. GA, on the other hand, even after thorough rinsing continued to be cytotoxic, inhibited collagen synthesis and encouraged dystrophic calcification. Collagen matrices crosslinked with PA are expected to be of value in the design of matrices that will encourage cell ingrowth and proliferation, which are temporary in nature, and that are intended to regenerate or replace missing tissues, which can delay the biogradation of collagen. As such they should be of significant value in the emerging field of tissue engineering.     

肌萎灵注射液对大鼠原代培养运动神经元生长的影响

为了观察中药制剂肌萎灵注射液对大鼠原代培养脊髓运动神经元生长的影响,本研究采用MTT方法观察神经元活力,并通过免疫组织化学技术进行NF 200染色后图像分析测定突起长度。结果表明:浓度为0. 5% ~5%的肌萎灵注射液能增加培养神经元活力,浓度为0. 5% ~1%的肌萎灵能促进神经元突起生长。本研究结果提示:肌萎灵注射液对培养的大鼠脊髓运动神经元生长有促进作用。     

Preparation and characterization of porous beta-tricalcium phosphate/collagen composites with an integrated structure

Porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/collagen composites with different beta-TCP/collagen weight ratio were prepared. The influences of the preparation conditions on the microstructure of porous composite and the joint status of beta-TCP particles with collagen fibrils were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed: (1) an acid treatment could effectively disassemble collagen fibrils; (2) in the resulting porous composites, beta-TCP particles homogenously existed on the skeleton of the collagen fibril network and bonded tightly to both the fibrils and themselves. The tight bonding formation could be due to the reaction between Ca ions in the particles and carboxyl groups in collagen polypeptide chains and due to the reprecipitation of partially dissolved beta-TCP during synthesis. The tight bonding between beta-TCP particles and collagen fibrils in the composites demonstrated an integrated structure, which was reproducible when beta-TCP/collagen ratio ranged from 2 to 4. Such integrated structure would make significant contributions in reliably tailoring properties of the porous composites by varying beta-TCP content. In addition, the porous composites had large porosity (approximately 95%) and appropriate pore size (approximately 100 microm), showed no negative impact in cytotoxicity assay and complete bone tissue regeneration after 12 weeks in animal test.     

Increased mast cell density during the infection with velogenic Newcastle disease virus in chickens

In addition to their well-characterized role in allergic inflammation, recent data confirm that mast cells play a more extensive role in a variety of viral infections. The contribution of mast cells to Newcastle disease pathogenesis has not been investigated. We evaluated mast cell activity after Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in specific pathogen free chickens using cytochemical and immunocytochemical analyses. The results were as follows. Severe tissue damage was observed in the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and caecal tonsil, and NDV antigens were detected and presented extensively in these tissues. Second, in the NDV-infected group, the mast cell population was increased markedly in the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and caecal tonsil at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after infection (P<0.01). However, very few mast cells were observed in those same tissues in the control. More intriguingly, the greatest number of mast cells was found in the proventriculus, which also showed the greatest level of NDV antigens. Third, the content of tryptase was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the NDV-infected group compared with the control from 24 to 96 h post infection). Furthermore, as an important protease released by mast cells, tryptase had a positive correlation with mast cell distribution. These data indicated that mast cells were involved in the response to NDV. Our results also suggested that the broad range of mast cell mediators might have a role in the pathology of Newcastle disease.