Effects of Ethyl Alcohol Administration to THA Rat Dams During Their Gestation Period on Learning Behavior and on Levels of Monoamines and Metabolites in the Brain of Pups after Birth

Children born from chronic alcoholic mothers have shown behavioral teratogenic effects more frequently than morphological malformations. To investigate the possible mechanisms and evaluate maternal alcohol dosage levels to induce behavioral dysfunctions, we gave pregnant Tokai High Avoider (THA) rats 0, 5,10, and 20% ethanol (EtOH) as drinking water during the gestation period. We evaluated the brain function of pups born of alcohol-administered dams. Sidman avoidance behavior test and the levels of monoamines (nor-adrenalin, dopamine, and serotonin) and metabolites (3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl acetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) in whole brain were examined for neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects. EtOH-exposed THA offsprings showed high pre-and postnatal mortality, growth deficits, and brain weight reductions. Compared with the results of the same conditioning experiment using Wistar rats, the THA rat may have higher susceptibility to the effects of in utero EtOH exposure than Wistar rats. EtOH-exposed THA pups exhibited deficits in avoidance operant learning that were not shown in Wistar rats. We also observed the increased levels of all monoamines that were assumed to be related with the deficit of learning, the decreased levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid and homovanillic acid, and the unchanged levels of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in pups from dams administered 10 and 20% EtOH. However, contrary alteration of monoamines and their metabolites were shown in pups from 5% EtOH-administered dams.     

Acute hemodynamic effects of ethanol in conscious spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats

This study investigated the differential hemodynamic effects of small to high doses of ethanol in conscious age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs). Changes evoked by ethanol (0.25, 0.5, or 1 g/kg, i.v.) or equal volume of saline in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were followed for 90 min in the two rat strains. The baseline MAP (163 +/- 4 vs. 113 +/- 2 mm Hg) of SHRs was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, compared with WKYs due mainly to the presence of an elevated TPR 13.82 +/- 0.12 vs. 2.51 +/- 0.09 mm Hg/ml/min/100 g, p < 0.05) in SHRs. In both rat strains, all doses of ethanol produced immediate increases in MAP at 1 min, after which the MAP responses varied and depended on the rat strain and dose of ethanol used. In WKYs, 0.25 g/kg ethanol had no effect on MAP, but caused significant decreases in CO and SV and increased HR. Ethanol (0.5 and 1 g/kg) produced a short-lived (10 min) and dose-related increase in MAP. The higher dose (1 g/kg) of ethanol elicited significant (p < 0.05) increases in TPR that were counterbalanced by concomitant decreases in CO and SV. In SHRs, the two higher doses (0.5 and 1 g/kg) of ethanol elicited significant (p < 0.05) decreases and increases in MAP, respectively, compared with control (saline-treated) values. The pressor response to the 1 g/kg dose of ethanol was associated with an increase in TPR that achieved a statistical significance (p < 0.05) at 50 and 80 min after ethanol administration. HR was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by the two higher doses of ethanol, whereas SV and CO were not changed. Blood ethanol concentrations measured 10, 30, and 60 min after ethanol administration were similar in SHRs and WKYs. These findings suggest that acute administration of ethanol to conscious rats elicits hemodynamic responses that are strain- and dose-dependent. In contrast to a short-lived and dose-related pressor response in WKYs, ethanol (0.5 and 1 g/kg) elicited opposite and longer lasting effects on MAP (decreases and increases, respectively) in SHRs. In both rat strains, the pressor response to the higher dose of ethanol was associated with an increase in TPR; an effect that was compromised by a concomitant decrease in CO in WKYs but not SHRs.     

Mapping of quantitative trait loci for hypnotic sensitivity to ethanol in crosses derived from the C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mouse strains

BACKGROUND: Acute ethanol sensitivity is thought to be a predisposing factor toward the development of alcoholism. Accumulated evidence suggests that this characteristic may be at least partly heritable. A widely accepted approach for identifying genes thought to contribute to alcoholism is to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for various ethanol-related behaviors in rodent models. METHODS: Ethanol sensitivity QTLs were interval-mapped in a C57BL/6 (B6) X DBA/2 (D2) F2 intercross that contained 391 mice. Sensitivity was measured as the duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR) after 4.1 g/kg ip. LORR also was evaluated in a chromosome 1 marker-assisted congenic strain that had an approximately 30 centiMorgan (cM) portion of D2 DNA from the distal end of chromosome 1 introgressed onto a B6 background. RESULTS: A suggestive QTL was mapped on chromosome 1 (LOD = 3.3; approximately 80 cM) and a provisional QTL on chromosome 5 (LOD = 2.3; approximately 26 cM). The provisional chromosome 5 QTL was found to be sex-specific (LOD = 2.5 for males; LOD < 1 for females) with the D2 allele increasing LORR. The chromosome 1 D2 allele decreased LORR. Consistent with the F2 QTL mapping, congenic mice heterozygous for the chromosome 1 interval (B6/D2) had a significantly different mean (+/- SEM) LORR of 74.0 +/- 4.9 min (n = 36) compared with 90.8 +/- 6.2 min (n = 33) for their homozygous (B6/B6) littermates (p = 0.02). Blood ethanol concentration at regain of righting reflex was 377 +/- 10 mg% for the B6/D2 and 368 +/- 10 mg% (p = NS) for the B6/B6. CONCLUSIONS: LORR results in the chromosome 1 congenic mice were consistent with and very similar to what was predicted from the QTL analysis in the B6 X D2 F2 population. These results support a suggestive LORR QTL on the distal end of mouse chromosome 1. The results also indicate that there is a provisional sex-specific LORR QTL on chromosome 5.     

卡伍尔链霉菌TJ430的分离鉴定及抗菌活性研究

目的 从土壤中分离、筛选稀有放线菌,对其产生的抗生素进行评价,以期发现新型农用抗生素.方法 采用高温烘烤法对土壤中稀有放线菌进行富集,采用改良的HV培养基进行分离.对分离获得的编号为TJ430的菌株采用形态学观察法、细胞化学组分分析法、生理生化及酶学特性分析、16S rDNA序列分析和DNA杂交法进行鉴定.菌株TJ430产生的抗生素水溶液在温室内进行生物防效试验.结果 共计分离获得570株稀有放线菌,其中TJ430表现出优良的广谱抗真菌活性.鉴定表明T J430是一株卡伍尔链霉菌.生物防效试验结果表明,TJ430产生的抗生素水溶液对番茄晚疫病、番茄细菌性斑点病、黄瓜菌核病及黄瓜炭疽病的防效分别为100％、79.36％,98.11％和75.79％.结论 菌株TJ430产生的抗生素具有宽泛的抗菌谱和良好的抗菌活性,具备较好的开发应用前景.     

Carcinogenicity of diethylnitrosamine in newborn,infant, and adult mice

Summary Modifying effects of age, sex, and mouse strain on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) carcinogenesis have been investigated in C57BL/6Jx C3HeB/FeJ F₁ (B6C3F₁) and C3HeB/FeJxA/J F₁ (C3AF₁) hybrid mice. Animals each received four IP injections of 1.5 or 3.0 g DEN/g body weight. The first injections were administered on days 1, 15, or 42 of life. Subsequent treatments were delivered at 3-, 6-, and 6-day intervals, respectively. Mice were kept under observation for the remaining life-span. DEN treatment induced tumors in liver, lungs, and forestomach in descending order of frequency. The majority of the induced liver tumors were hepatocellular carcinomas. Animals treated as newborns and infants developed significantly more liver tumors than animals that were treated as young adults. Newborn and infant females developed liver tumors at a later age (B6C3F₁) and with a lower incidence (C3AF₁) than similarly treated males. The B6C3F₁ mice developed more hepatocellular carcinomas and a higher rate of pulmonary metastases than the C3AF₁ mice. In contrast, C3AF₁ mice developed lung tumors with a higher incidence and multiplicity than B6C3F₁ hybrids. Forestomach tumors were observed also with a slightly but significantly higher incidence in C3AF₁ mice.Dedicated to Professor Hermann Druckrey on the occasion of his 80th birthdayThese investigations have been supported in part by Contracts NIH-NCI-69-2087 and NO1-CO-43317 from the National Cancer Institute     

Structural integrity of extracted teeth restored using three different post-and-core systems: An in vitro comparative study

AimThe objective of the study was to assess the in vitro fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored using different post-and-core materials.Materials and methodsExtracted human mandibular premolars (n = 36) were extracted teeth and equally distributed into four (4) treatment groups: cast metal post-and-core, milled zirconia post-and-core, pre-fabricated post with composite resin core and control group. These samples were then each subjected to the load to fracture test using a universal testing machine. Fracture resistance data were compared among groups by analysis of variance and Fisher’s exact test.ResultsThe highest mean fracture resistance value was observed in the zirconia post-and-core treatment group (1567.26 ± 317.66 N), followed by the cast metal (1355.92 ± 621.56 N) and lastly the pre-fabricated post with composite resin core (725.67 ± 251.05 N) treatment group. Differences among groups were not statistically significantly different (P = 3.77).ConclusionEndodontically treated mandibular premolars with a zirconia post-and-core system exhibited the highest robustness against structural failure based on its mean fracture resistance value. In addition, extracted teeth restored with cast post-and-core resisted a greater stress load than those restored with fiber-reinforced posts. Zirconia showed a more favorable fracture mode than the other restorations.     

Validation of multiple subject-specific finite element models of unicompartmental knee replacement

Accurate computer modelling of the fixation of unicompartmental knee replacements (UKRs) is a valuable design tool. However, models must be validated with in vitro mechanical tests to have confidence in the results. Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees with differing bone densities were CT-scanned to obtain geometry and bone density data, then implanted with cementless medial Oxford UKRs by an orthopaedic surgeon. Five strain gauge rosettes were attached to the tibia and femur of each knee and the bone constructs were mechanically tested. They were re-tested following implanting the cemented versions of the implants.Finite element models of four UKR tibiae and femora were developed. Sensitivity assessments and convergence studies were conducted to optimise modelling parameters. The cemented UKR pooled R² values for predicted versus measured bone strains were 0.85 and 0.92 for the tibia and femur respectively. The cementless UKR pooled R² values were slightly lower at 0.62 and 0.73 which may have been due to the irregularity of bone resections. The correlation of the results was attributed partly to the improved material property prediction method used in this project. This study is the first to validate multiple UKR tibiae and femora for bone strain across a range of specimen bone densities.     

应变率成像评价自体外周血干细胞移植术后心肌梗死患者左室局部心肌功能的临床研究

目的探讨应变（SI）及应变率成像（SRI）在急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者自体外周血干细胞移植治疗前、后左室局部心肌功能定量评价中的应用价值。方法共有65例AMI患者入选本项前瞻性、非随机、开放试验（其中35例患者为细胞移植组，30例为常规治疗组）。应用SRI、SI和多普勒速度成像（TVI）测定细胞移植组、常规治疗组治疗前、后及30名健康人的左室壁各节段的SI、SRI及TVI的参数变化。结果①65例AMI患者的589个缺血节段的心肌收缩期峰值应变率（PSSR）、舒张早期峰值应变率（PESR）、收缩期峰值应变（PSS）、心肌收缩期峰值速度（VS）和舒张早期峰值速度（Ve）显著降低，舒张晚期峰值应变率（PASR）和舒张晚期峰值速度（Va）变化差异无统计学意义。SRI和SI检出缺血心肌的敏感性、特异性及准确性明显高于TVI[（90％、91％、92％）比（71％、69％、71％），P〈0．01]。②细胞移植组随访期305个经治疗缺血心肌节段中，244个节段的PSSR、PESR、PSS、Vs及ve较术前显著增高或恢复正常，常规治疗组随访期284个经治疗缺血节段中，169个节段的PSSR、PESR、PSS、Vs及Ve较术前显著增高或恢复正常，但两组治疗后改善的缺血心肌节段数比例及SRI、TVI参数比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论SRI和SI能够无创定量评价冠心病缺血心肌节段的运动异常，为临床客观评价冠脉内自体干细胞移植术疗效提供了一种早期无创、敏感、有效的定量分析手段。     

中药山慈菇品种来源的沿革

中药山慈菇始载于《本草拾遗》.唐宋时期本草文献对其形态描述过于简单,导致药用品种来源不明确,可能为杜鹃兰和老鸦瓣等;明清至民国时期中药山慈菇品种来源为老鸦瓣;民国时期山慈菇药材加工方式改变,进而出现光慈姑之名;近代中药山慈菇品种来源变为杜鹃兰、独蒜兰、云南独蒜兰,而老鸦瓣则成为中药光慈姑的基原植物.梳理山慈菇品种来源发现,惟有老鸦瓣药用基原明确,药用历史最长,建议恢复老鸦瓣作为中药山慈菇的品种来源.     

Experimental model standardizing polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel to simulate endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-elastography

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) and endoscopic ultrasound elastography(EUS-E) simulation lessens the learning curve; however, models lack realism, diminishing competitiveness.AIM To standardize the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) hydrogel for simulating organs and digestive lesions.METHODS PVA hydrogel(Sigma Aldrich, degree of hydrolysis 99%) for simulating EUS/EUS-E lesions was investigated in Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico at Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Mexico City. We evaluated physical, contrast, elasticity and deformation coefficient characteristics in lesions, applying Kappa's concordance and satisfaction questionnaire(Likert 4-points).RESULTS PVA hydrogel showed stable mechanical properties. Density depended on molecular weight(MW) and concentration(C). PVA bblocks with the greatest density showed lowest tensile strength(r =-0.8, P = 0.01). Lesions were EUSgraphically visible. Homogeneous and heterogeneous examples were created from PVA blocks or PVA phantoms, exceeding(MW_2 = 146000-186000, C_9 = 15% and C_(10) = 20%) with a density under(MW_1 = 85000-124000, C_1 = 7% and C_2 = 9%). We calculated elasticity and deformation parameters of solid(blue) areas, contrasting with the norm(Kappa = 0.8; high degree of satisfaction).CONCLUSION PVA hydrogels were appropriate for simulating organs and digestive lesions using EUS/EUS-E, facilitating practice and reducing risk. Repetition amplified skills, while reducing the learning curve.