Increased catecholamine metabolism in the locus coeruleus of young spontaneously hypertensive rats

Young, 4-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) had significantly higher concentrations of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and a faster rate of accumulation of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine after decarboxylase inhibition in the locus coeruleus than age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats, whereas the norepinephrine levels were similar to each other. In the brainstem, these changes were restricted to the locus coeruleus and were not present in adult, 14-week-old rats with established hypertension. These results are suggestive of a noradrenergic overactivity in the locus coeruleus of young SHR, coinciding with the development of the hypertension.     

CT多结节聚合征在周围型肺癌的诊断价值

目的　探讨肺内球形病灶中多结节聚合CT征象的诊断价值。方法　分析了肺内良、恶性球形病灶 12 4例 ,其中恶性 88例 ,良性 36例。病灶大小为 1～ 6cm。经CT平扫后病灶区域薄层重建 ,10例作了HRCT ,8例作了CT增强扫描。结果　 88例恶性病灶中发现CT多结节聚合征者 2 9例 ,36例良性病灶中有 3例。其CT征象以病灶大小不同表现不同 ,病灶 <2cm者为花瓣形 ,病灶 >2cm者为桑葚形和葫芦形。结论　CT多结节聚合征对周围型小肺癌的早期诊断和肺内良恶性病灶的鉴别诊断有一定价值。     

Long-term observations on calcium accumulation in postischemic gerbil brain

We studied delayed postischemic calcium accumulation and neuronal damage in the gerbil brain, using 45Ca autoradiography as a marker for detection of injured tissue and light microscopy. Transient cerebral ischemia was induced for 15 min. Sham-operated gerbils showed no abnormal calcium accumulation and neuronal damage throughout the brain. At 2 and 7 days following 15 min of ischemia, marked calcium accumulation and mild to severe neuronal damage were found in the selectively vulnerable areas such as neocortex, striatum, hippocampus and thalamus, and brainstem such as medial geniculate body, substantia nigra and inferior colliculus. After 1-2 months of recirculation, the calcium accumulation was not recognized in the brainstem. But, the accumulation was still detectable in the striatum, the hippocampus and the thalamus. Morphological study showed that marked proliferation of glia cells was rapid in the inferior colliculus and was relatively slow in the striatum and the hippocampus, although these structures were severely damaged after ischemia. The result suggests that the speed of restoration of injured tissue and the mechanisms for the damage after cerebral ischemia may be different between the selectively vulnerable areas and the brainstem. Furthermore, they suggest that 45Ca autoradiographic technique may provide a useful approach for diagnosis of the restoration of injured tissue at chronic stage following cerebral ischemia.     

Seasonal variation in adhesive tape stripping of the skin

Background/aims: The seasonal variation in various properties of adhesive tapes on the skin was evaluated.
Methods: In February, April, and August, five general-purpose adhesive tapes were applied on the forearms of 12 healthy male volunteers for 24 h. The dermal peeling force, the accumulation of fluid, the amount of stripped corneocytes, and the dermal reaction at 1 h after removal of the tapes were evaluated.
Results/Conclusions: The various properties of adhesive tapes on the skin were closely related to the accumulation of fluid beneath the applied tape. Because the accumulation of fluid was significantly higher in summer than in winter, the dermal peeling force was lower in summer than winter. However, the number of stripped corneocytes and the dermal reaction of the inner area under the applied tapes were larger in summer than in winter. Though tha dermal peeling force, the accumulation of fluid, and the number of stripped corneocytes are generally considered as dermal irritation factors, the accumulation of fluid and the number of stripped corneocytes may exert a great influence on the seasonal variation in dermal irritation. On the other hand, the dermal reaction of the edge section had no tendency to vary with season. Because the edge reaction should be caused by interference with skin movement by the stiff backing or the adhesive, it seems to be uninfluenced by the accumulation of fluid.     

Calcium distribution in the vessel wall and intima-media thickness of the human carotid arteries

Increased common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) measured by B-mode ultrasound is an early marker of the atherosclerotic process. Arterial calcification is not clearly understood. Using the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method, we have looked for the location in the artery wall where calcium accumulated in the early phase of atherosclerosis. Twelve segments of CCAs of deceased stroke patients were investigated. In-vivo, carotid duplex ultrasound was performed with bilateral CCA IMT measurement at plaque-free sections. During autopsy, segments of carotid arteries were collected and filled under pressure with a stained histologic embedding material. The frozen arteries were cut into 60-microm-thick slices. Calcium distribution maps from the segments of arteries were determined by PIXE method. IMT measured by ultrasound and calcium distribution maps measured by PIXE were compared. In our cross-sectional study, using the PIXE analysis and ultrasound images, we could demonstrate early calcium accumulation in the media layer. Our results have also shown a significant relationship between calcium content of distributional maps measured by PIXE analysis and corresponding IMT on B-mode ultrasound images of human CCAs.     

Functional mRNA analysis reveals aberrant splicing caused by novel intronic mutation in WDR45 in NBIA patient

WDR45 gene‐associated neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA), referred to as beta‐propeller protein‐associated neurodegeneration (BPAN), is a rare disorder that presents with a very nonspecific clinical phenotype in children constituting global developmental delay. This case report illustrates the power of a combination of trio exome sequencing, in silico splicing analysis, and mRNA analysis to provide sufficient evidence for pathogenicity of a relatively intronic variant in WDR45, and in so doing, find a genetic diagnosis for a 6‐year‐old patient with developmental delay and seizures, a diagnosis which may otherwise have only been found once the characteristic MRI patterns of the disease became more obvious in young adulthood.     

医用止血材料用于防治乳腺癌术后皮下积液的临床分析

目的观察医用即溶止血纱布联合纤丝速即纱对乳腺癌改良根治术后引流量及皮瓣愈合的影响。方法选择北京市朝阳区桓兴肿瘤医院2015年8月至2016年8月收治的适合行乳腺癌改良根治术的患者共80例,按照随机数字表法将80例分为研究组(40例)和对照组(40例)。研究组患者术中于手术创面联合应用两种止血材料(医用即溶止血纱布联合纤丝速即纱);对照组除术中未使用医用止血材料外,其余处理同研究组。比较两组患者术后1~5天总引流量及引流管拔除时间。结果两组患者的年龄、体质量指数、影响积液产生等指标比较差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。研究组总引流量为(289.23±5.36)ml,对照组为(492.15±8.56)ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义(t=8.543,P<0.05)。研究组引流管拔除时间为(6.24±1.23)d,对照组为(10.12±2.21)d,两组比较差异有统计学意义(t=6.203,P<0.05)。结论应用医用即溶止血纱布联合纤丝速即纱对行乳腺癌改良根治术的患者除有止血功能外,可明显减少术后皮下积液。     

Fermented barley extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 changes serum metabolomic profiles in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity

We have previously reported an aqueous extract of fermented barley with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE) has more efficient anti-obesity effect compared with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To further explore associated effects of LFBE on body weight and body fat distribution, and lipid profiles related metabolic outcomes, serum metabolites were analysed using LC-MS-MS and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Obese and lean groups were clearly discriminated from each other on PLS-DA score plot and major metabolites contributing to the discrimination were assigned as lipid metabolites (fatty acids), lipid metabolism intermediates (choline, betaine, carnitine and butyryl-carnitine), amino acids and citric acid. A high-fat diet increased lipid metabolites and decreased lipid metabolism intermediates, indicating that abnormal lipid metabolism induced by a high-fat diet resulted in fat accumulation via decreased β-oxidation. But LFBE can inhibit fat accumulation by reducing lipid metabolites and increasing lipid metabolism intermediates. Furthermore, the level changes of these metabolites can be used to assess the risk of obesity and the therapeutic effect of obesity management.     

运动干预对药物性分娩镇痛初产妇的影响

目的观察运动干预对药物性分娩镇痛初产妇的影响。方法按随机数字表将80例自愿要求分娩镇痛的初产妇分为观察组和对照组,每组40例,实施干预中观察组1例退出。两组产妇均实施药物性分娩镇痛,观察组在产妇知情同意下、分娩镇痛后由助产士对其实施运动干预,对照组按常规产程护理卧床休息。观察观察组运动干预中情况,同时记录两组产程时间、分娩方式、产后出血量及新生儿Apgar评分。结果第一产程活跃期时间观察组(207.63±56.12)min、对照组(328.17±47.83)min,经阴道自然分娩率观察组94.87%、对照组80.00%,两组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组在产时出血量和新生儿Apgar评分差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论运动干预能促进药物性分娩镇痛初产妇自然分娩进程。