Reversal of dexfenfluramine-induced anorexia and c-Fos/c-Jun expression by lesion in the lateral parabrachial nucleus

The external subdivision of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBE) shows strong Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) following anorectic doses of the indirect serotonin agonist dexfenfluramine (DFEN). In an effort to determine the contribution of the LPBE to DFEN-induced anorexia, bilateral ibotenate lesions were made in the LPBE, and the effects of the lesion on DFEN-induced anorexia and FLI as well as c-June-like immunoreactivity (JLI) were examined. It was found that LPBE lesion significantly attenuated DFEN anorexia: in a 1-h food intake test following 24-h food deprivation, DFEN (2 mg/kg) suppressed food intake by 60% in intact rats but only 34% in rats with LPBE lesions. In addition to this behavioral change, LPBE lesion completely abolished DFEN-induced FLI and JLI in the lateral subdivision of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeL) and laterodorsal subdivision of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BSTLD), both of which showed strong FLI and JLI in intact rats. DFEN-induced FLI and JLI in other brain regions were not affected by LPBE lesion, including the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamus, caudate-putamen, and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). The parallel loss of DFEN-induced anorexia and FLI/JLI following LPBE lesion raises the novel possibility that LPBE-CeL/BSTLD pathway may be involved in DFEN anorexia.     

Short-term brain ‘plasticity’ in humans: transient finger representation changes in sensory cortex somatotopy following ischemic anesthesia

Transient rearrangements of finger representation in primary somatosensory cortex induced by an anesthetic block of the sensory information from adjacent fingers have been shown invasively in animals. Such a phenomenon has been now replicated in seven healthy human volunteers. Somatosensory Evoked Fields (SEFs) have been recorded during separate electrical stimulation of the 1st, 3rd, or 5th finger. Recordings were obtained in control conditions (stage A), following complete ischemic anesthesia of the 4 non-stimulated fingers (stage B), and after regaining sensation (stage C). SEFs were recorded using a 28-channel DC-SQUID magnetometer; a single position of the sensor was enough to identify the source of N20m, P30m and following components using the Equivalent Current Dipole (ECD) model. The amount of afferent input during stages A through C was monitored with surface electrodes placed on the nerve at wrist and elbow. No variation of the nerve compound potential was observed during stages A through C. In stage A, the localizing algorithm was able to discriminate the individual finger representation in accordance with the somatotopic organisation of the sensory homunculus. It was observed that the ECDs responsible for the cortical responses from the unanesthetized finger were significantly changing following a relatively brief period of sensory deprivation from the adjacent fingers. Such changes of the ECDs with respect to the control conditions were characterized by an increase in strength and deepening for the middle finger, and by a shift on the coronal plane for the thumb and the little finger (medial for the former, lateral for the latter). Such changes became progressively evident in stage B, but were persisting in stage C.     

Brain abscess in Saudi Arabia

There are significant variations among countries in the incidence of brain abscess. We report here 26 cases of brain abscess treated at the Neurosurgery Department of King Faisal University and Dammam Central Hospital Saudi Arabia over a six year period (1982–1988). This is 2.3% of total admissions to the two neurosurgery departments serving a population of approximately 1.2 million in the same period.Young males were most often affected (M/F ratio 3.3:1; 31% were less than 15 years old, 46% aged between 15–39 years, and 23% older than 40 years). Streptococcus was found to be the most common microorganism (38.4%). Mixed infection was seen in 15.3%, and sterile abscesses were found in 11.5% of the patients after aerobic and anaerobic cultures of the pus. Chronic otitis media and paranasal sinusitis predisposed the patients to abscess formation in 57.6% of the cases. The temporo-parietal area was the commonest site. Epilepsy was a complication in 30.7% of our patients, and the mortality rate was 15.3%.     

The proliferation rate of intracranial tumors as defined by the monoclonal antibody KI 67. Application of the method to paraffin embedded specimens

60 intracranial tumors have been studied immunohistochemically to determine the proliferation rate by staining for the monoclonal antibody KI-67, which recognizes a nuclear antigen expressed by cells in proliferation. In gliomas a clear correlation of stained nuclei to the histologically determined degree of malignancy was found: slow growing astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas had an average proliferation rate of 1%, more malignant forms of 7–10%. Glioblastomas were found to have a growth fraction of 15%. Metastases had an even higher rate of 20% proliferating cells. In meningiomas the proliferation rate was mainly about 1%, but in three cases it was between 5% and 7%. Whether this is indicative for a higher risk of tumor recurrence, remains to be correlated to the clinical course. Hemangiopericytomas had a proliferation rate of 9% and 16%, respectively, the latter recurring within four months. It may be concluded from the results of this study, that investigation of intracranial tumors with KI 67 may be of prognostic value and can possibly contribute to an individualized tumor therapy.     

维生素E的抗脂质过氧化作用

本研究观察到:维生素 E 能抑制 H_2O_2引起的大鼠红细胞脂质过氧化和红细胞溶血,也能抑制分别由维生素 C-NADPH 和 Fe~(2+)-半胱氨酸诱发的大鼠肝、脑微粒体的脂质过氧化,可能还有清除过氧化氢、超氧自由基和羟自由基的作用。     

小儿中枢神经系统肿瘤71例病理分析

本文分析了1962年至1986年间的71例小儿中枢神经系统肿瘤的病理资料,该病占同期中枢神经系统肿瘤的16.6％。71例中,颅内肿瘤67例,椎管内肿瘤4例。颅内肿瘤中幕上38例,以星形细胞瘤多见,其次为先天性肿瘤。幕下29例以髓母细胞瘤多见,其次为星形细胞瘤。小儿中枢神经系统肿瘤以恶性居多,预后不佳。脑中线是肿瘤的好发区。     

缺血性脑卒中急性期TCD,EEG,BEAM,CT的对比研究

目的 :对缺血性脑卒中急性期TCD动态观察 ,并与EEG ,BEAM ,CT等进行对比研究 ,以探讨TCD对缺血性脑卒中早期诊断、病情判断、治疗指导的价值 .方法 :发病 2 4h内首次发病的单侧MCA供血区缺血性脑卒中患者 2 3例 ,于入院即刻进行神经功能缺损评分及床旁TCD检查 ,在第 2 ,4 ,7d进行复查 ,入院当天进行EEG ,BEAM及CT检查 .门诊健康体检者 30人为对照组 .结果 :入院当天TCD异常率高于EEG ,BEAM及CT .入院当天病侧MCAVm降低 ,病侧ACAVm升高 ,分别与自身健侧及对照组比较差异有显著性(P <0 0 1) .MCA流速不对称指数 (AI)与神经功能缺损评分成正相关 (P <0 0 1) ,与BEAM慢波相对功率值成正相关 (P <0 0 5 ) ,与α波相对功率值成负相关 (P <0 0 1) .动态观察病侧MCAVm逐渐恢复并出现流速增高 ,而病侧ACAVm随之下降 .结论 :在缺血性脑卒中急性期TCD异常率高于BEAM ,EEG及CT ,异常程度与病情严重程度相关 ,动态观察可发现血管再通情况 ,具有较高的早期诊断、病情判断及治疗指导价值     

地塞米松对内毒素休克新生大鼠脑一氧化氮合成酶基因表达的调节

目的：探讨新生大鼠内毒素休克脑损伤时脑一氧化氮合成酶(NO6)三种亚型基因表达的变化及地塞米松(DEX)对其的调控作用。方法：在新生大鼠内毒素休克动物模型基础上，采用逆转录PCR及PCR技术，对脑组织中三型NOS mRNA及caspase—3 mRNA的表达进行半定量分析。结果：正常新生大鼠脑iNOS及eNOS mRNA无明显表达，nNOS mRNA、caspase—3 mRNA有一定程度表达。内毒素脂多糖(LPS)腹腔注射后2h，三种亚型NOS mRNA开始表达，于LPS6h达高峰，并持续至24h。caspase—3 mRNA于LPS腹腔注射后2h后表达逐渐增加，24h达高峰。DEX可抑制nNOS、iNOS及caspase—3 mRNA的表达，且以用药后2h最为明显，并持续至用药后24h。结论：内毒素休克脑损伤时，各型NOS均有表达，NO的产生是内毒素休克脑损伤时重要的病理生理机制之一。DEX通过抑制NOS、caspase—3 mRNA的表达部分实现其神经保护作用．     

美托洛尔对心肌梗死兔自主神经重构的影响

目的探讨β受体阻滞剂美托洛尔治疗对心肌梗死后心脏自主神经重构的改善作用。方法通过结扎新西兰大白兔冠状动脉前降支制作心肌梗死模型,随机分成心肌梗死 美托洛尔组[(10mg/(kg·d),治疗组)、心肌梗死组(模型组)和假手术组。8周后所有成活兔均进行统一的电生理检查,诱发室性心律失常。并处死实验动物,取心肌采用免疫组织化学的方法观察心室神经纤维的形态、密度及生长活性。结果模型组室性心律失常诱发率明显高于假手术组(58.3%比16.7%,P<0.001),而美托洛尔治疗后其诱发率降至8.3%。模型组梗死灶周S100及GAP43阳性神经纤维密度分别达到3889±521μm2/mm2和3090±622μm2/mm2,明显高于假手术组(1727±304μm2/mm2和718±177μm2/mm2;P均<0.01),且神经纤维空间分布紊乱;而治疗组梗死灶周S100及GAP43阳性神经纤维密度降至2725±283μm2/mm2和1922±508μm2/mm2,与模型组比差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),且神经形态及分布更类似于假手术组,非梗死左心室游离壁心肌梗死后密度上调的S100及GAP43阳性神经纤维经美托洛尔治疗后也明显下降(P<0.05)。结论美托洛尔可改善心肌梗死动物模型的神经重构,从而可能预防心肌梗死后室性心律失常的发生。