Alpha-adrenoceptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors and the action of dihydroergotamine in human venous preparations obtained during saphenectomy procedures for varicose veins

Summary Changes in tension were monitored isometrically on spiral strips from human saphenous veins obtained during surgical removal of varicose veins. Concentration-response curves for noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were established by cumulative administrations, curves for dihydroergotamine were constructed from the mean responses to single concentrations. The use of the antagonists prazosin, yohimbine and pizotifen provided evidence for the existence of both postjunctional ₁- and ₂-adrenoceptors and for the existence of 5-HT receptors. The venoconstrictor effects of dihydroergotamine were unchanged by prazosin. Yohimbine antagonized both dihydroergotamine and 5-HT at about 60 times higher concentrations than required against noradrenaline whereas pizotifen inhibited responses to both dihydroergotamine and 5-HT at about 100 times lower concentrations than those to noradrenaline.These new results are in contrast to conclusions drawn from animal studies and do not support the suggestion that in man the venoconstrictor activity of dihydroergotamine is mediated through stimulation of -adrenoceptors. The present results strongly suggest that in human saphenous veins the constrictor activity of dihydroergotamine is mediated at least in part through stimulation of 5-HT receptors.     

Teratological studies on the TCDD congener 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloroazoxybenzene in sensitive and nonsensitive mouse strains: Evidence for direct effect on embryonic tissues

The teratogenicity of 3,3,4,4-tetrachloroazoxybenzene (TCAOB), a TCDD congener, was studied in Ah-responsive (C57BL and NMRI) and non-responsive (DBA/2J and AKR/NBom) strains of mice. In the responsive strains, the TCAOB produced cleft palate and hydronephrosis in 50–90% of the offspring at a dose level of 6–8 mg/kg b.w. in the absence of apparent maternal toxicity. Day 11 was shown to be the day of highest sensitivity (palatal closure occurs at day 14) in the C57BL strain. Higher doses (16 mg/kg b.w.) produced high rate of fetal death both in responsive (C57BL; 60%) and non-responsive (DBA; 40%) strains. These doses induced cleft palate in 95% of the surviving C57BL fetuses but failed to do so in the DBA strain. The non-sensitivity of the DBA and AKR strains appeared to segregate as a dominant trait. Backcrosses between NMRI x DBA F₁ generation and NMRI showed an intermediate sensitivity. It was shown that the genotype of the embryo was of ultimate importance for the development of cleft palate. There appeared however to be an additional host (maternal) factor as well, because the offspring of NMRI females mated with NMRI x DBA F₁ males showed a higher rate of cleft palate as compared to those of the crossing between NMRI x DBA F₁ females and NMRI males. Light and scanning electron microscopy indicated that the apical epithelial cells of the secondary palates failed to follow the normal pattern of programmed cell death, suggesting a similar mechanism of pathogenesis as previously described for TCDD.     

Interactions between the putative calcium entry promotor Bay k 8644 and pressor responses produced by α-1 and α2-adrenocepter agonists in the pithed normotensive rat

Summary Interactions between the putative calcium entry promotor Bay k 8644 and both -₁ and ₁-adrenocepter mediated increases in diastolic pressure were studied in the pithed normotensive rat. The ₁-adrenocepter mediated pressor responses elicited by B-HT920, TL-99, DP-6,7-ADTN and B-HT958 were potentiated by Bay k 8644, reflected by a leftward shift and an increase in the maximum of the log dose-pressor respinse curves. The -₁-adrenocepter effects elicited by cirazoline, methoxamine, (–)-amidephrine, St 587, (–)-phenylephrine and Sgd 101/75 were less enhanced by Bay k 8644. Only a leftward shift of the dose-response curves was observed, which was most pronounced for (–)-phenylephrine and Sgd 101/75. The -₁ and ₂-adrenocepter pressor components of (–)-noradrenaline were similarly distinguished by Bay k 8644 as observed for the selective -₁ or ₂-adrenocepter agonists.Effects of Bay k 8644 on the increase in diastolic pressure mediated by B-HT 920, St 587 and cirazoline were also studied after pretreatment with the calcium entry blocker nifedipine. After additional pretreatment with nifedipine the potentiation by Bay k 8644 observed for B-HT 920 and St 587 was more pronounced. The presence of nifedipine had no effect on the interaction between Bay k 8644 and cirazoline.It is concluded that Bay k 8644 behaves as a mirror image of nifedipine. The observation that Bay k 8644 enhances ₂-adrenocepter mediated pressor effects more effectively than ₁-adrenocepter increases in diastolic pressure is in accordance with the hypothesis of the more pronounced calcium dependency of ₂-adrenocepter mediated pressor responses. The data obtained for ceptor mediated pressor responses. The data obtained for St 587 and (–)-phenylephrine are in apparent contradiction to the finding that the pressor responses to the former drug are more markedly inhibited by calcium entry blockade than those of the latter. It is suggested that St 587 employs calcium channels which are already maximally modulated and that (–)-phenylephrine makes use of calcium channels which are in a rather inactive state. The hypothesis is put forward that the intrinsic activity of ₂-adrenocepter agonists reflects their ability to bring calcium channels in an active state.     

The recovery of α-adrenoceptor function and binding sites after phenoxybenzamine

Summary The recovery of peripheral -adrenoceptor function and binding sites was studied in male New Zealand white rabbits after treatment with the irreversible adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine. Phenoxybenzamine (5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously and the animals studied 30 min to 12 days later. Pressor dose response curves to intravenous phenylephrine, noradrenaline and guanabenz were constructed in vivo in conscious animals. The contractile response of abdominal aorta and renal artery to phenylephrine and noradrenaline was examined in vitro and the recovery of specific prazosin and clonidine binding to spleen membranes investigated in radioligand binding studies.The half life (t _1/2) for recovery of maximum pressor response in vivo ranged from 0.9±0.2 days for phenylephrine to 1.4±0.1 days for guanabenz. The t _1/2 for recovery of ED₅₀ was not significantly different to t _1/2 for recovery of maximum pressor response and ranged from 0.8±0.2 days for noradrenaline to 1.3±0.3 days for phenylephrine.Half life for recovery of maximum response and EC₅₀ in the isolated tissues was similar to that obtained in vivo for recovery of pressor responses and ranged from 0.4±0.1 days for the EC₅₀ of noradrenaline in the renal artery to 1.2±0.6 days for maximum response to phenylephrine in the abdominal aorta.The rate of recovery of specific clonidine binding did not differ significantly from the rate of recovery of pressor responses to the ₂-selective agonist guanabenz. t _1/2 for maximum number of specific clonidine binding sites, B _max was 1.6±0.9 days. However t _1/2 for recovery of specific prazosin binding was significantly longer than recovery of responses to phenylephrine and noradrenaline, t _1/2 for B _max was 3.6 ±0.1 day.     

复发性剖宫产瘢痕部位妊娠的临床分析

目的探讨复发性剖宫产瘢痕部位妊娠(RCSP)发生的相关因素及处理。方法选取2015年1月至2021年1月于川北医学院附属医院妇产科确诊的463例CSP并行聚焦超声消融(FUAS)或子宫动脉介入栓塞(UAE)联合宫腔镜手术治疗患者,随访其再妊娠情况,失访72例,成功随访391例,117例再次妊娠,24例为RCSP。回顾性分析RCSP患者的临床资料和处理方式。结果391例CSP患者,122例行FUAS联合宫腔镜手术,34例再次妊娠,5.9%(2/34)为RCSP;269例行UAE联合宫腔镜手术,83例再次妊娠,26.5%(22/83)为RCSP。UAE组RCSP发生率高于FUAS组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。24例RCSP患者,22例行FUAS联合宫腔镜手术,2例行UAE联合宫腔镜手术,均一次性治疗成功。RCSP患者中,79.2%(19/24)剖宫产≥2次,87.5%(21/24)人工流产≥2次,70.8%(17/24)子宫下段瘢痕厚度≤3 mm。结论既往多次剖宫产史、多次人工流产史、子宫下段瘢痕厚度偏薄及CSP初次治疗方式可能与CSP复发相关。FUAS联合宫腔镜手术是CSP及RSCP的适宜治疗方式。     

内外引流与生长抑素治疗十二指肠损伤临床分析

目的：探讨十二指肠损伤综合治疗的方法及结果。:8列十二指肠损伤采用单纯修补,肠腔内造口置管减压,外周双套管冲洗引流,抑制胃肠液分泌,以及TPN支持促使十二指肠损伤一期愈合。结果：8例病人全部治愈。结论：十二指肠损伤修补良好的内外环境、努力改善病人的内稳态对保证十二指肠损伤的愈合有着重要的意义。     

影响柴油低温流动改进剂作用的因素

考察了柴油对流动改进剂的感受性与柴油正构烷烃含量、正构烷烃分布等因素的关系。流动改进剂的作用与正构烷烃含量有最佳匹配点。柴油中正构烷烃的平均碳数减少,冷滤点越低。柴油中正构烷烃的分布与流动改进剂的熔点匹配时,改进剂的效果最好。由此进一步分析了柴油流动改进剂的作用机理。     

癌基因c-myc和n-ras在妊娠滋养细胞疾病中表达的研究

为研究癌基因c-myc和n-ras在妊娠滋养细胞疾病(GTD)发生、发展中的作用,用地高辛标记的c-myc、n-ras裸核探针与54例石蜡包埋的GTD组织进行原位杂交.结果显示c-myc mRNA在葡萄胎、侵蚀性葡萄胎和绒癌组织中阳性表达率分别为44.4%、55.6%和83.3%,绒癌c-myc阳性表达率高于葡萄胎(P＜0.05).n-ras mRNA在葡萄胎、侵蚀性葡萄胎和绒癌组织中阳性表达率分别为88.9%、77.8%和44.4%,绒癌n-ras阳性表达率显著低于葡萄胎(P＜0.01)和侵蚀性葡萄胎(P＜0.05).Ⅲ～Ⅳ期妊娠滋养细胞瘤(GTT)组织中c-myc阳性表达率为90.9%,高于I期的45.5%(P＜0.05).c-myc和n-ras基因在GTT组织中共同表达率为47.2%.结果提示c-myc基因与GTD病变的发展及GTT临床分期有关,n-ras基因可能为GTT发生的早期事件,c-myc和n-ras基因在GTD癌变过程中起协同作用.     

Early-rectal Cancer Treatment: A Decision-tree Making Based on Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Local excision (LE) has arisen as an alternative to total mesorectal excision for the treatment of early rectal cancer. Despite a decreased morbidity, there are still concerns about LE outcomes.This systematic-review and meta-analysis design is based on the “PICO” process, aiming to answer to three questions related to LE as primary treatment for early-rectal cancer, the optimal method for LE, and the potential role for completion treatment in high-risk histology tumors and outcomes of salvage surgery.The results revealed that reported overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 71%–91.7% and 80%–94% for LE, in contrast to 92.3%–94.3% and 94.4%–97% for radical surgery. Additional analysis of National Database studies revealed lower OS with LE (HR: 1.26; 95%CI, 1.09–1.45) and DSS (HR: 1.19; 95%CI, 1.01–1.41) after LE. Furthermore, patients receiving LE were significantly more prone develop local recurrence (RR: 3.44, 95%CI, 2.50–4.74). Analysis of available transanal surgical platforms was performed, finding no significant differences among them but reduced local recurrence compared to traditional transanal LE (OR:0.24;95%CI, 0.15–0.4). Finally, we found poor survival outcomes for patients undergoing salvage surgery, favoring completion treatment (chemoradiotherapy or surgery) when high-risk histology is present.In conclusion, LE could be considered adequate provided a full-thickness specimen can be achieved that the patient is informed about risk for potential requirement of completion treatment. Early-rectal cancer cases should be discussed in a multidisciplinary team, and patient's preferences must be considered in the decision-making process.     

Predictive Value of Immune Cell Functional Assay for Non-Cytomegalovirus Infection in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

IntroductionImmune cell functional assay (ImmuKnow®) is a non-invasive method that measures the state of cellular immunity in immunosuppressed patients. We studied the prognostic value of the assay for predicting non-cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in lung transplant recipients.MethodsA multicenter prospective observational study of 92 patients followed up from 6 to 12 months after transplantation was performed. Immune cell functional assay was carried out at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months.ResultsTwenty-three patients (25%) developed 29 non-CMV infections between 6 and 12 months post-transplant. At 6 months, the immune response was moderate (ATP 225–525 ng/mL) in 14 (15.2%) patients and low (ATP < 225 ng/mL) in 78 (84.8%); no patients had a strong response (ATP ≥ 525 ng/mL). Only 1 of 14 (7.1%) patients with a moderate response developed non-CMV infection in the following 6 months compared with 22 of 78 (28.2%) patients with low response, indicating sensitivity of 95.7%, specificity of 18.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 28.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 92.9% (AUC 0.64; p = 0.043). Similar acute rejection rates were recorded in patients with mean ATP ≥ 225 vs. <225 ng/mL during the study period (7.1% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.81).ConclusionAlthough ImmuKnow® does not seem useful to predict non-CMV infection, it could identify patients with a very low risk and help us define a target for an optimal immunosuppression.