Forelimb reflexes modulated by tonic neck positions in cats

The modulation of monosynaptic forelimb reflexes by tonic neck positions was investigated in cats with the head fixed.Lateral flexion of the body in a horizontal plane markedly facilitates reflexes of the deep radial nerve (DR) in the ipsilateral forelimb, while the antagonistic ulnar nerve (ULN) reflexes are strongly inhibited. Opposite effects are seen after contralateral body movement.Dorsiflexion of the body clearly increases DR-reflexes and exerts a reciprocal although more pronounced inhibition on ULN reflexes. Opposite effects appear after ventriflexion.The reflex modulation starts with head-body displacements of approximately 5° and increases with increasing angles. Furthermore reflex modulation does not depend on the intact cerebrum and cerebellum. The comparison of forelimb and hindlimb reflexes shows a decrease of the neck influences along the spinal cord.Supported by Sonderforschungsbereich Hirnforschung und Sinnes-physiology (SFB 70) der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).Essential parts of this paper will be submitted by A. F. as a thesis to the Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg/Breisgau, Germany.     

Plasticity of the central nervous system—a neurosurgeon's experience of cerebral compensation and decompensation

Summary Cerebral plasticity constitutes one of the most decisive factors in recovery and readaptation after cerebral lesions. In contrast to the considerable progress in current studies on normal neuronal plasticity including the idea of l'homme neuronal, the concept of plasticity postulated by Albrecht Bethe in 1929 received little attention. The author, as a neurosurgeon, has tried to describe cranial morphological plasticity, morphological and functional plasticity in infantile encephalopathies and especially in hemiatrophic lesions. It is supposed that a true morphological substrate exists due to compensatory hyperplasia of the uninvolved hemisphere.Modern neurosurgical techniques have demonstrated that the functional plastic capacity is much larger than has been supposed, even in the elderly. Some aspects of the mechanisms of compensation and decompensation of cortical and subcortical structures as well as of the central regulation systems are discussed. The full extent of the amazing recovery and functional reorganization is reached by plastic capacity, personal motivation, adequate training and sufficient time.The contribution ends with an exposition of a personal philosophy concerning psycho-somatic dualism, the body-mind problem, the future of the human brain and the ethical outlook, based on the progressive biological evolution of the basal neocortex and the immanent functional development (H. Spatz).In grateful memory of my paternal friends, the great German brain researchers Julius Hallervorden (1882–1965) and Hugo Spatz (1888–1969).     

How defective spermatogenesis affects sperm DNA integrity

Spermatogenesis is the essential process to maintain and promote male fertility. It is extraordinarily complex with many regulatory elements and numerous steps. The process involves several cell types, regulatory molecules, repair mechanisms and epigenetic regulators. Evidence has shown that fertility can be negatively impacted by reduced sperm DNA integrity. Sources of sperm DNA damage include replication errors and causes of DNA fragmentation which include abortive apoptosis, defective maturation and oxidative stress. This review outlines the process of spermatogenesis, spermatogonial regulation and sperm differentiation; additionally, DNA damage and currently studied DNA repair mechanisms in spermatozoon are also covered.     

中药肾毒性成分及其毒性机制研究进展

近年来,随着我国医药产业的稳步发展,中药作为补充和替代医学制剂在世界各地赢得了认可和信赖。然而,随着对中药的广泛应用和深入研究,中药的肾脏毒性引发了国内外学者的广泛关注。为保障中药临床应用的安全性,有必要深入研究并整理中药肾毒性成分及其毒性机制。在查阅近30年国内外常见中药肾毒性相关文献的基础上,对中药肾毒性成分及其毒性机制进行了总结与分析,以期为中药肾毒性深入研究提供思路,为中药安全合理应用提供参考。     

The shift from inpatient care to outpatient care in Switzerland since 2017: Policy processes and the role of evidence

The shift from inpatient care to the ambulatory sector is a central aspiration of European health systems. Despite demonstrated benefits, health reforms have struggled to realize their potential. In this context, we discuss recent hospital sector reforms in Switzerland and analyze the content, process, and role of evidence in the recent introduction of policies to substitute inpatient care with ambulatory care. The prevailing payment system incentivized hospitals to provide unnecessary and costly inpatient services, but federal reform on tariff structures was deemed politically unfeasible. Instead, driven by the pressure to contain costs, cantonal and federal health authorities began to deny reimbursement for selected inpatient procedures in 2017. These regulatory measures were effective in reducing inpatient admissions and health care costs. This case study illustrates that clear, simple messages about hospital sector reform can raise awareness of the need for change. However, the evidence used in the policy process was limited and not critically reviewed. Stakeholders used long-standing international comparisons of inpatient substitution potential to legitimize policies, but not to develop them. The analysis restates the importance of inter- and intranational comparative analyses and institutions such as health observatories and suggests aligning health system governance more proactively with international developments.     

人膀胱粘膜抗菌多肽的部分纯化及抗菌活性研究

以５％乙酸冲洗正常人膀胱，获得膀胱粘膜酸溶性提取物。电泳凝胶琼脂糖弥散法抗菌实验分析表明，膀胱粘膜酸溶性提取物中有一条主蛋白带（称之为ＨＢＰ）对致病性大肠杆菌ＭＬ－３５Ｐ株有抗菌活性。以超滤方法对膀胱粘膜酸溶性提取物进行分离纯化，获得分子量低于１×１０~４的超滤纯化样品，其中主要含ＨＢＰ。琼脂糖弥散法抗菌实验结果表明，超滤纯化样品对大肠杆菌ＭＬ－３５Ｐ株、绿脓杆菌ＡＴＣＣ２７８５３株、金黄色葡萄球菌ＡＴＣＣ２５９２３株及血链球菌Ｓ_３４Ｓｒ株均有很强的抗菌活性。采用Ｔｒｉｃｉｎｅ－ＳＤＳ－ｐＡＧＥ鉴定，超滤纯化样品主要显示为两条分子量分别为６．７×１０~３和８．５×１０~３的多肽。研究结果首次提示，人膀胱粘膜内存在抗菌活性很强的内源性抗生肽，是膀胱抗感染防御的主要因素。     

Pentobarbital-induced drinking does not rely on a renal dipsogen

Injections of pentobarbital have been shown to produce drinking in both deprived and nondeprived rats and a number of other studies have shown that pentobarbital is a potent renin releasor. Since renin has been shown to be involved in thirst regulatory mechanisms and since the dipsogenic actions of other renin-releasing agents have been blocked by nephrectomy, we sought to determine whether or not pentobarbital-induced drinking relies on a renal dipsogen. Rats were either "sham" operated or nephrectomized under ether anesthesia. Five to six hours later, animals in each group were injected with either 9.5 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium or vehicle, and intakes were measured 60 minutes later. Statistical analysis of water intakes indicated that pentobarbital produced significant drinking in both control operated and in nephrectomized rats, and that the intakes in these two groups did not differ. These results indicate that pentobarbital-induced drinking is not secondary to increased plasma renin activity and may suggest the involvement of central mechanisms in the drinking response.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者呼出气NO含量的变化及吸入NO对其肺功能的影响

为探讨一氧化氮 (NO)在慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD)发病中的作用及吸入NO对COPD肺功能的影响 ,本研究检测了COPD患者鼻、口呼出气中NO的含量及吸入不同浓度 (10～ 80ppm)NO时肺功能和血气指标。结果表明 :COPD患者鼻、口呼出气NO含量均明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,且COPD和对照组口呼出气NO含量低于鼻呼出气 (P <0 .0 1) ;吸入 2 0～ 80ppmNO能明显改善COPD患者部分肺通气功能指标(FEV1、FEV1/FVC、FEV1%、PEF) ,且呈效量依赖关系 ,但对肺容量和肺弥散功能指标无明显影响 ;吸入NO后COPD患者PaCO2 增加 ,但对PaCO2 和高铁血红蛋白无明显影响。提示NO合成减少可能介导了COPD的发病 ,吸入一定浓度的NO可改善COPD患者肺通气功能和PaO2     

Hard tissue laser ablation mechanisms

The aim of this work is the experimental and theoretical investigation of the influence of variable laser parameters (wavelength, fluence, pulse repetition rate) and of the optical and thermophysical properties of bone tissue (absorption coefficient, tissue inhomogeneity) as well as of the sample thickness on ablation thresholds and ablation rate. Ablation and perforation experiments were conducted using a semiconductively pre-ionized transverse excitation atmospheric pressure (TEA) carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser (10.6m and a sliding discharge TEA [hydrogen fluoride (HF)] laser (2.9m). The experimental data are discussed with respect to the following ablation mechanisms: thermal melting and vaporization process, pressure oscillation of gases released by the thermal decomposition of collagen and/or apatite, stresses due to the expansion of superheated water.     

飞行员不成熟防御机制与心理健康、 个性、生活事件、社会支持的相关性研究

目的　探讨飞行员心理防御机制与心理社会因素的相关性。方法　对312 例飞行员进行防御方式问卷,卡特尔16 种个性因素问卷,症状自评量表,紧张性生活事件量表,社会支持评定量表测评。结果　揭示飞行员不成熟防御机制与心理健康水平,生活事件,社会支持显著相关,个性因素明显的影响不成熟防御机制;患病飞行员采用不成熟防御机制明显的多。结论　在飞行员心理卫生保健工作中,揭示并修正飞行员不成熟防御机制是十分必要的。