Sodium nitroprusside and cGMP decrease Ca2+ channel availability in basilar artery smooth muscle cells

 We studied the effect of the nitric oxide (NO) donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the macroscopic and single-channel currents due to the 22-pS Ca²⁺ channel in smooth muscle cells from guinea pig basilar artery. In nystatin-perforated whole-cell recordings, 50 nM SNP decreased the macroscopic current to 63±12% of control values, without changing the voltage dependence of the current. In cell-attached patches with BAY-K8644 in the pipette, SNP caused a comparable decrease in single-channel availability (n ·P _o) that was dose dependent over the range of 10 nM to 10 μM SNP. SNP had no effect on single-channel properties, including slope conductance, voltage dependence of activation, the number of open states, the time constants of the open states, and the proportion of time spent in each open state. The effect of SNP (50 nM) on single Ca²⁺ channel openings was reproduced by 8-Br-cGMP (100 μM), which also reduced channel availability without altering channel properties. The protein kinase inhibitor H-8 (1.5 μM), which exhibits relative specificity for cGMP-dependent protein kinase, completely inhibited the decrease in single-channel availability expected with SNP. The dose-dependent decrease in Ca²⁺ channel availability caused by SNP was not altered by prior application of 8-Br-cAMP or forskolin, both of which cause an increase in Ca²⁺ channel availability in these cells. Our findings suggest that NO decreases openings of Ca²⁺ channels in basilar artery smooth muscle cells without altering channel properties, and that it does so by a mechanism likely to involve cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Received: 2 July 1996 / Received after revision: 30 September 1996 / Accepted: 2 October 1996     

Changes in lipid profile variables in response to submaximal and maximal exercise in trained cyclists

This study examined the effect of prolonged submaximal exercise followed by a self-paced maximal performance test on cholesterol (T-Chol), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Nine trained male athletes cycled at 70% of maximal oxygen consumption for 60 min, followed by a selfpaced maximal ride for 10 min. Venous blood samples were obtained at rest, at 30 and 60 min during submaximal exercise, and immediately after the performance test. Lactic acid, haematocrit (Hct), haemoglobin (Hb), T-Chol and TG were measured in the blood, while plasma was assayed for HDL-C. Plasma volume changes in response to exercise were calculated from Hct and Hb values and all lipid measurements were corrected accordingly. In order to ascertain the repeatability of lipid responses to exercise, all subjects were re-tested under identical testing conditions and experimental protocols. When data obtained during the two exercise trials were analysed by two-way ANOVA no significant differences (P > 0.05) between tests were observed. Consequently the data obtained during the two testing trials were pooled and analysed by one-way ANOVA. Blood lactic acid increased non-significantly (P > 0.05) during the prolonged submaximal test, but rose markedly (P < 0.05) following the performance ride. Lipid variables ascertained at rest were within the normal range for healthy subjects. ANOVA showed that blood T-Chol and TG were unchanged (P > 0.05), whereas HDL-C rose significantly (P < 0.05) in response to exercise. Post hoc analyses indicated that the latter change was due to a significant rise in HDL-C after the performance ride. It is concluded that apparent favourable changes in lipid profile variables occur in response to prolonged submaximal exercise followed by maximal effort, and these changes showed a good level of agreement over the two testing occasions.     

拇指背动脉岛状皮瓣再造拇指的解剖学研究

作者在18只尸体手标本上,对拇指背动脉进行了显微解剖研究,发现该动脉出现率较恒定,起始部血管外径平均为0.63mm,动脉可解剖长度为7.2cm,血管分布范围包括第一掌骨背侧、部份鱼际区及拇指近节背桡侧5×10cm 的皮肤。以拇指背动脉及与其相连的桡动脉远段为蒂,可以游离成一个理想的岛状皮瓣,适用于拇指再造及邻近的组织缺损修复。     

Pathological findings in coronary arteries associated with sudden death in Austria

Summary 50 witnessed sudden cardiac deaths in the age group between 20–50 years have been studied at autopsy. The most remarkable findings were a high percentage of stenosis and arterioisclerosis of the descending branch of the left coronary artery and a large amount of three vessel disease. It is clear that severe stenosis and sclerosis of the coronary arteries are not essentially related to sudden cardiac death, but a high number of vessels with moderate stenoses and sclerosis has been found.The severity of vessel disease has been evaluated by a coronary score, which takes the haemodynamic effects of the injured coronary arteries on the myocardium into account. We also noted that patients below 35 years of age who died of sudden cardiac death showed a very low coronary score.     

Treatment of acute post-surgical infection of joint arthroplasty

The best antibiotic regimen for acute prosthetic joint infection, treated without removal of the implant, has not been well-defined. This study describes the use of a protocol based on oral rifampicin combinations to treat 47 cases that were followed prospectively for a 2-year period. The regimen used most commonly was levofloxacin 500 mg/24 h plus rifampicin 600 mg/24 h for a mean duration of 2.7 ± 1 months. The cure rate was 76.9%, and the only independent risk-factor associated with treatment failure was infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Enterococcus spp. (OR 17.6, p 0.003). Overall, the results suggested that use of oral antibiotics, including rifampicin, for 2–3 months was a good treatment option.     

实弹射击考核对不同特质焦虑新兵T淋巴细胞亚群及ACTH的影响

目的：研究急性应激对不同特质焦虑新兵的T淋巴细胞亚群及ACTH的影响。方法：状态一特质焦虑问卷（STAI）将新兵分成高、低特质焦虑组各16人。用流式细胞仪及ELISA测定被试基础期（打靶前4d）、应激期（打靶时）、恢复期（打靶后5d）的CD4^＋、CCD8^＋及ACTH浓度。结果：①高特质组3个时期的CD4^＋、CD4^＋／CCD8^＋比值均低于低特质组。CD8＋高于低特质组；高特质组应激期CD4^＋显著下降（P〈0．05）、CD4^＋／CCD8^＋比值与恢复期有显著差异（P〈0．01）．而低特质组仅应激期CD4^＋定量与恢复期有显著差异（P〈0．01）。②实弹射击前、中、后的ACTH浓度，高特质组变化呈极显著差异（P〈0．001），而低特质组应激期与基础期呈显著差异（P〈0．05）。结论：①急性应激影响新兵的CD4^＋、CCD8^＋及其比值，其程度与特质焦虑有关。②应激时高特质组ACTH浓度下降显著大于低特质组，且随应激源消除不易恢复。     

Supradiaphragmatic ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenoma

A 22-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome, caused by an extremely rare suprasellar ectopic pituitary adenoma, is presented. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography revealed a well-circumscribed mass in the right suprasellar region. Endocrinological tests showed elevated s-adrenocorticotropic hormone level and hypercortisolemia. The tumor was totally removed by right subfrontal approach. At the time of the operation, the tumor was in continuity with the distal pituitary stalk but not with the pituitary gland. The diaphragma sellae was intact. Histologic diagnosis of the tumor specimen was confirmed as a pituitary adenoma. After surgical removal of the tumor, continued improvement in the patient's laboratory results and disappearance of her endocrine symptoms strongly indicated the absence of adenoma cells in the pituitary gland or stalk. Six years post-surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence in the patient's clinical and laboratory examination. This tumor probably originated from aberrant anterior pituitary cells of the pituitary stalk.     

大鼠实验性心肌梗塞时血浆蛋白C,纤溶活性变化及人参皂甙作用的研究

通过观察实验性大鼠急性心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）时血浆蛋白Ｃ（ＰＣ）活性和组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（ｔ－ＰＡ）及纤溶酶原激活剂的特异性抑制因子（ＰＡＩ）活性的变化，初步探讨了心肌缺血时ＰＣ活性变化与纤溶系统的关系以及人参皂甙对其变化的影响。结果表明，１．ＡＭＩ时血浆ＰＣ活性显著低于正常对照组，且与缺血程度呈负相关。２．ＡＭＩ时ｔ－ＰＡ活性降低，ＰＡＩ活性增高。３．人参皂甙可提高ＡＭＩ时血浆ＰＣ活性，降低ＰＡＩ     

膝关节动脉血液供应的初步观察

本文选择固定和新鲜尸体下肢标本57侧,采用局部解剖、动脉铸型、动脉造影和标本透明等方法,对膝关节动脉血液供应作了初步观察。动脉关节支起点变异和共干形式,以右侧居多。膝区各动脉均有特殊的形态和一定的分布区域,在每一局部几个血液供应来源中,总有一个主次关系和层次关系。膝区动脉按口径大小,可以分成3组。口径的变化除了可以评价局部血液供应丰富的程度外,也是衡量相邻动脉大小的指征。整个膝区动脉血液供应配布比较均匀对称。供应膝关节的各动脉起点的高度是恒定的,相互间保持一定关系。本文还就纯关节支和肌关节支的概念、动脉吻合、局部“乏血管区”、髌前动脉网与髌骨血液供应的关系等进行了简单讨论。     

Pneumonien bei akuten Leukämien

Summary Acute leukaemia was complicated by pneumonia in 38 (34.8%) of 109 patients treated between 1979 and 1983; in 39.5% of the patients pneumonia occurred more than once. In 23 patients (60.5%) pneumonia occurred during cytostatic therapy, and 25 patients (65.8%) had less than 1000 mm² granulocytes. Antibiotic therapy had no or only little effect in 70%. A total of 21 patients (55.3%) died of pneumonia. In 15 patients a direct relationship could be seen between pneumonia and the bacterial spectrum in the sputum. A prevalence of gram-negative bacteria was found (24 of 40 bacteria isolated, especially Enterobacteriaceae (19). Fungi were cultivated in 10 cases. Each of the typical pneumonia bacteria was only seen once respectively. It is most important that therapy begin immediately, even before the bacteria have been identified. Only then is there hope that the survival time of patients with acute leukaemia can be influenced.