Effect of Non-Sex Hormones on Neuronal Excitability, Seizures, and the Electroencephalogram

Summary: : Several of the non-sex hormones have been found to be useful in the treatment of seizures. These hormones have an effect on seizures, and seizures have an effect on these hormones. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosteroid drugs have been found to be useful in the treatment of infantile spasms and other seizure disorders. Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus regarding superiority of ACTH versus prednisone in regard to efficacy and long-term benefits, dosage, or duration of treatment. There is also considerable debate regarding reasons why ACTH and prednisone are useful in infantile spasms, their mechanism of action, and their long-term effects on brain development. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone also has been used in the treatment of infantile spasms and other seizure types in children, with modest success. As with ACTH and prednisone, the mechanisms of action remain unclear.     

间质性膀胱炎患者尿液中特异性上皮生长因子的变化

目的　探讨间质性膀胱炎 (IC)患者尿液中生长因子水平变化的意义。　方法　应用ELISA法测定 35例IC患者和 2 0例无症状正常对照者尿液中上皮生长因子 (EGF)、胰岛素样生长因子 (IGF1)、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白 3(IGFBP3)及肝素结合的上皮生长因子 (HB EGF)的水平。　结果　IC组和对照组患者尿液中HB EGF浓度分别为 (2 .17± 0 .2 1)ng/ml和 (6 .5 9± 0 .97)ng/ml,两组间差别有显著性意义 ,P <0 .0 1。两组患者尿液中EGF、IGF1和IGFBP3浓度分别为 (15 .5 9± 1.74)ng/ml和 (7.5 8± 0 .97)ng/ml,(2 2 .46± 2 .0 4) pg/ml和 (12 .98± 1.17)pg/ml,(14.5 6± 2 .37)ng/ml和 (6 .16± 0 .82 )ng/ml,IC患者EGF、IGF1和IGFBP3水平均明显升高 ,差别有显著性意义 ,P <0 .0 1。　结论　尿液中上皮细胞生长因子的变化与间质性膀胱炎有关 ,HB EGF可作为诊断IC的标记物之一。     

Localization of type X collagen in canine growth plate and adult canine articular cartilage

Type X collagen was extracted from ends of canine growth plates by pepsin digestion after 4 M guanidine hydrochloride extraction, purified by stepwise salt precipitation (2.0 M NaCl in 0.5 M acetic acid), and chromatographed on a Bio-Gel A1.5 M column in 1.0 M CaCl2. Without reduction on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels, the preparation yielded a single, high-molecular-weight (mol wt) band; after reduction, a single band of relative mol wt 5.0 x 10(4) was found. Polyclonal sera were raised against the purified collagen and used in the immunolocalization of canine type X collagen. As expected, indirect immunoperoxidase (IP) or indirect immunofluorescent staining with the polyclonal sera demonstrated that most of the immunoreactivity was localized in the zone of provisional calcification of the growth plate and in cartilage remnants in the metaphyseal region of the physis. A progressive decrease in staining toward the diaphysis of the fetal canine long bone was apparent as the trabecular structures were remodeled to bone. Unexpectedly, type X collagen was also detected in the zone of calcified, mature articular cartilage. It was concentrated in the pericellular matrix of the chondrocytes, appeared at or just above the tidemark, and was expressed immediately before mineralization. Identification of type X collagen in both the canine growth plate and the zone of calcified articular cartilage suggests that cells in the deep layer of cartilage and in the zone of calcified cartilage in the adult animal retain some characteristics of a growth plate and may be involved in regulation of mineralization at this critical interface. The expression of growth plate-like properties would allow the deep chondrocytes of mature articular cartilage to play a role in remodeling of the joint with age and in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.     

宛城区青少年血压水平与生长发育指标的相关分析

目的 分析青少年血压水平，了解血压与生长发育指标的关系。方法 采用分层整群抽样法，对2847名在校的7－15岁中小学生进行调查。结果 血压平均值随年龄，体重，身高的增加而增长，收缩压平均每岁增加0.29kPa，舒张压增加0.23kPa,BMI≥24组血压均值高于BMI＜24组。多元逐步回归分析显示舒张压与年龄，身高，体重，腰围呈正相关，与臀围呈负相关；收缩与年龄，身高，体重呈正相关，与臀围呈负相关。结论 预防高血压应从儿童期开始，控制超重和肥胖是预防高血压的重要因素。     

1,25(OH)2D3 receptor regulation and 1,25(OH)2D3 effects in primary cultures of growth cartilage cells of the rat

Summary Vitamin D deficiency leads to disturbed calcification of growth cartilage and enlargement of growth plate, illustrating that chondrocytes are a target for vitamin D. This observation prompted an investigation of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ receptor expression and action of vitamin D metabolites on chondrocyte proliferation. In primary cultures of tibial growth cartilage of male SD rats (80 g), specific binding of [³H]-1,25(OH)₂D₃ is noted in both the logarithmic growth phase and at confluence (N_max 12780 molecules/cell versus 4368 molecules/cell). Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of a single class of noninteracting binding sites. K_D was 10⁻¹¹ M irrespective of growth phase. The binding macromolecule had a sedimentation coefficient of 3.5 S. Interaction with DNA was demonstrated by DNA cellulose affinity chromatography. In immunohistology, growth cartilage cells (rabbit tibia) expressed nuclear 1,25(OH)₂D₃ receptors most prominently in the proliferative and hypertrophic zone. This corresponds to binding data which showed highest N_max in the proliferating cartilage. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in the presence of delipidated fetal calf serum (FCS) had a biphasic effect on cell proliferation and density, i.e., stimulation at 10⁻¹² M and dose-dependent inhibition at 10⁻¹⁰ M and below. Inhibition was specific and not seen with 24,25(OH)₂D₃ or dexamethasone. Growth phase-dependent 1,25(OH)₂D₃ receptor expression and effects of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on chondrocyte proliferation point to a role of vitamin D in the homeostasis of growth cartilage.     

通心络胶囊对局灶性脑缺血大鼠半暗区GAP-43和突触素表达的影响

目的观察通心络胶囊对大鼠大脑中动脉栓塞后缺血半暗区生长相关蛋白-43（GAP-43）和突触素（Syp）表达的影响。方法将55只雄性SD大鼠随机分为通心络组、自然恢复组和假手术组。应用线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞模型（MCAO），以免疫组化及图像分析技术检测脑缺血后1、3、7、14、28d缺血半暗区GAP-43和Syp的表达。结果脑缺血后缺血半暗区GAP-43表达自术后1、3d开始增高，第7d达到高峰，自第14d开始降低。自然恢复组Syp于缺血后1d表达减少，3d达最低值，1周开始增高但不及正常表达数值，2、4周表达高于假手术对照组。通心络组缺血半暗区GAP-43和Syp的表达分别在3d和1、2、4周时高于自然恢复组。结论通心络可促进卒中后缺血半暗区GAP-43和Syp的表达，具有促进突触再建和增强、完善突触功能的作用。     

Two cases of intoxication with new synthetic opioid,U-47700

Background: Novel substances often referred to as “designer drugs” have emerged as drugs of abuse, and recognition of these is difficult as routine blood and urine screening tests do not detect these agents. U-47700 is a synthetic selective μ-opioid agonist that can be bought online for as little as $40 per gram. We report two patients presenting after insufflation of U-47700, with subsequent confirmation of this substance in urine samples.

Case details: A 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman insufflated a substance they believed to be “synthetic cocaine.” The man was found down with cyanosis and agonal respirations. He was intubated and taken to hospital where he recovered well with supportive care. The woman presented with anxiety, tremors and drowsiness and was admitted for observation. Urine samples from both patients were analyzed using GC/MS/MS and LC/QToF, and U-47700 was isolated in both cases. No other opioids were detected.

Discussion: These cases are concerning because U-47700 is a relatively new agent that is easy to obtain over the internet and has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality.     

The relationship of TFPI, Lp(a), and oxidized LDL antibody levels in patients with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine and correlate tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antibody (oLAB), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; as a marker of lipid peroxidation) levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in a control group. DESIGN AND METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from patients with coronary heart disease were provided by the Department of Cardiology. Serum oLAB, Lp(a), plasma total TFPI, and plasma-free TFPI levels were determined by ELISA. Serum TBARS levels were determined by a spectrophotometric method using thiobarbituric acid. RESULTS: The CAD and the control group were matched for age and sex. Serum Lp(a), oLAB, and plasma total TFPI levels in patients with coronary heart disease were found to be significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). But there was no difference in plasma-free TFPI levels between patients with CAD and the control group (P > 0.05). In patients with single (P < 0.05), double, and triple vessel (P < 0.01) disease, the mean serum Lp(a) levels were significantly higher than in the control group. On the other hand, in patients with single vessel disease (P < 0.05), double vessel disease (P < 0.05), and triple vessel disease (P < 0.001), plasma total TFPI levels were found to be significantly higher than in the control group. We also found a significant positive correlation (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) between serum Lp(a) and plasma total TFPI levels in CAD. In the patient group, TBARS, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TRG), and LDL cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were found to be significantly lower than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that elevated plasma levels of total TFPI, Lp(a), and oLAB may be useful diagnostic and monitoring markers in patients with CAD.     

Early life growth patterns persist for 12 years and impact pulmonary outcomes in cystic fibrosis

Background

In children with cystic fibrosis (CF), recovery from growth faltering within 2?years of diagnosis (Responders) is associated with better growth and less lung disease at age 6?years. This study examined whether these benefits are sustained through 12?years of age.

慢性乙型肝炎患者TGF-β1及肝纤维化4项指标与肝脏病理分级分期的关系

目的探讨肝病患者转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）水平、肝纤维化标志物（HA、LN、CIV、PⅢP）、HBV—DNA及丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）与肝脏炎症分级和纤维化分期的关系。方法测定80例肝病患者血清TGF—β1、HA、LN、CIV、PⅢP、HBV—DNA、ALT，同时对30例慢性乙型肝炎患者行肝穿刺活检并进行病理分级分期，分析TGF-β1、HA、LN、CIV、PⅢP、HBVDNA、ALT与肝脏病理分级分期的关系。结果乙型肝炎患者血清TGF—β1水平随肝纤维化程度加重而升高，各期之间有显著性差异，但其在肝脏炎症各级之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；肝纤维化各期和炎症各级之间HBV—DNA、ALT均无明显差异（P〉0．05）；TGF-β1变化趋势与HA、LN、CIV、PⅢP均呈正相关（P〈0．05）。结论血清TGF—β1水平与乙型肝炎患者纤维化程度密切相关，且不受肝组织炎症程度的影响，血清TGF-β1水平测定有助于肝纤维化的早期诊断。