Intensity-dependent regional cerebral blood flow during 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in healthy volunteers studied with H215O positron emission tomography: I. Effects of primary motor cortex rTMS.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) affects the excitability of the motor cortex and is thought to influence activity in other brain areas as well. We combined the administration of varying intensities of 1-Hz rTMS of the motor cortex with simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) to delineate local and distant effects on brain activity. METHODS: Ten healthy subjects received 1-Hz rTMS to the optimal position over motor cortex (M1) for producing a twitch in the right hand at 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120% of the twitch threshold, while regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using H(2)(15)O and PET. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was delivered in 75-pulse trains at each intensity every 10 min through a figure-eight coil. The regional relationship of stimulation intensity to normalized rCBF was assessed statistically. RESULTS: Intensity-dependent rCBF increases were produced under the M1 stimulation site in ipsilateral primary auditory cortex, contralateral cerebellum, and bilateral putamen, insula, and red nucleus. Intensity-dependent reductions in rCBF occurred in contralateral frontal and parietal cortices and bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus and occipital cortex. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that 1-Hz rTMS delivered to the primary motor cortex (M1) produces intensity-dependent increases in brain activity locally and has associated effects in distant sites with known connections to M1.     

Magnetic resonance imaging - a method of studying the size and asymmetry of the planum temporale

The planum temporale is a triangular region on the upper surface of the temporal lobe. This area of the brain is important for language processing and shows a left-right asymmetry of size in most brains. Particular interest has been focused on the size and asymmetry of the planum temporale in brains of individuals with developmental dyslexia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method that produces excellent morphological details of organic structures. We have developed an MRI method of studying the size and asymmetry of the planum temporale in human brains. Because of considerable variation of anatomical landmarks in this cortical region of the brain, an evaluation of asymmetry is not possible in all brains. Furthermore, our experience with this method indicates that any indirect imaging technique of studying asymmetry of the planum temporale must be evaluated with caution. With this in mind, however, MRI may give valuable anatomical information about the planum temporale in individuals with anomalous language function.     

乏氧诱导因子-1α在非小细胞肺癌中的表达研究

Objective: To explore the expression level and its clinical significance of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in non-small lung cancer. Methods: The expression of HIF-1α was detected in 68 human non-small lung cancer samples by immunohistochemistry. Results: (1) Thirty-nine (57.35%) out of the 68 human non-small lung cancer samples was positive for HIF-1α; (2) The positive rate of HIF-1α in adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma was 54.76% (23/42) and 61.54% (16/26) respectively. No significant difference was found between adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma of non-small lung cancer in the expression of HIF-1α (P>0.05). The positive rate of HIF-1α in middle-high differentiation was 74.28% (26/35), significantly higher than in low differentiation (39.39%, 13/33) (P<0.05); (3) The positive expression of HIF-1α was not correlated to the sexes, ages, tumor stage and lymph node status. Conclusion: The expression of HIF-1α is higher in non-small lung cancer and is correlated to differentiation.     

Analysis of a decreased Na+ conductance by tumor necrosis factor in identified neurons of Aplysia kurodai.

The ionic mechanisms of the effect of extracellularly ejected recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) on the membrane of identified neurons R9 and R10 of Aplysia kurodai was investigated with conventional voltage-clamp, micropressure ejection, and ion substitution techniques. Micropressure-ejected rhTNF caused a marked hyperpolarization in the unclamped neuron. Clamping the same neuron at it resting potential level (-60 mV) and reejecting rhTNF-alpha with the same dose produced a slow outward current [Io (TNF)] associated with a decrease in input membrane conductance. Io (TNF) was decreased by depolarization and increased by hyperpolarization. The extrapolated reversal potential of Io (TNF) was approximately +10 mV. Ion substitution and pharmacological experiments suggest that Io (TNF) in identified neurons R9 and R10 of A. kurodai is due to a decreased Na+ conductance but not due to an activation of the Na(+)-K+ pump. Our results demonstrate that the immunomodulator TNF can act directly on the nervous system as well as on the immune system.     

Variability in hand surface representations in areas 3b and 1 in adult owl and squirrel monkeys

Detailed microelectrode maps of the hand representation were derived in cortical areas 3b and 1 from a series of normal adult owl and squirrel monkeys. While overlap relationships were maintained, and all maps were internally topographic, many map features varied significantly when examined in detail. Variable features of the hand representations among different monkeys included a) the overall shapes and sizes of hand surface representations; b) the actual and proportional areas of representations of different skin surfaces and the cortical magnifications of representations of specific skin surfaces, which commonly varied severalfold in area 3b and manyfold in area 1; c) the topographic relationships among skin surface representations, with skin surfaces that were represented adjacently in some monkeys represented in locations many hundreds of microns apart in others; d) the internal orderliness of representations; e) the completeness of representations of the dorsal hand surfaces; and f) the skin surfaces represented along the borders of the hand representation. Owl monkey maps were, in general, internally more strictly topographic than squirrel monkey maps. In both species, area 3b was more strictly topographic and less variable than was area 1. The degree of individual variability revealed in these experiments is difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that details of cortical maps are ontogenetically specified during a period in early life. Instead, we propose that differences in the details of cortical map structure are the consequence of individual differences in lifelong use of the hands. This conclusion is consistent with earlier studies of the consequences of peripheral nerve transection and digital amputation, which revealed that cortical maps are dynamically maintained and are alterable as a function of use or nerve injury in these monkeys (Merzenich et al., '83a,b, '84a; Merzenich, '86; Jenkins et al., '84; Jenkins and Merzenich, '87).     

Transformation of Penicillium chrysogenum using the Aspergillus nidulans amdS gene as a dominant selective marker

Summary The Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase gene (amdS) has been used to transform Penicillium chrysogenum at low frequency. Several transformants were tested and shown to be mitotically stable. Southern blot analysis indicated that transforming DNA had integrated into the chromosomal DNA, possibly at multiple sites.     

NJ-1型医用引流装置的设计与应用

我们自行设计ＮＪ - 1型医用引流装置 ,见图 1。1　产品引流装置结构本引流装置共分 3个部分 ,第 1部分为引流瓶体的上方连接管 ,长 6 0ｃｍ ,一端接瓶体上端 ,另一端接病人的导尿管 ,上方连接管有一个三通开关 ,目的供留取尿标本和膀胱冲洗。第 2部分为瓶体 ,总容量为 5 0 0ｍｌ,分粗细两段 ,细段容量 5 0ｍｌ,按正常人排尿 1～ 2ｍｌ/ (ｋｇ体重·ｈ)计算 ,能留取一个小的尿量 ,基本满足临床要求。第 3部分为瓶体下方连接管 ,安有一个二通开关 ,开关下的引流管可与 3Ｌ塑料袋或一般尿袋连接。本引流装置可根据临床需要定时放尿 ,避免传统…     

Heparin effect on ionised calcium concentration

The effect of heparin on plasma ionised calcium was studied by adding it in increasing amounts to whole blood from 10 normal subjects. There was no significant change in ionised calcium from the addition of 1 U/ml but a significant fall of 0.02 mmol/1 when 2 U/ml were added and a progressive further fall with increasing concentrations. Heparin from three different manufacturers produced similar results. The effect of heparinisation in vivo was studied during regular haemodialysis on 10 patients with chronic renal failure. Following intravenous injection of 10000 U of heparin there was a consistent and significant fall averaging 0.03 mmol/l.     

Identification of a cis-acting positive regulatory element of the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene

Developmental regulation of astrocyte-specific expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene reflects transition of immature glioblasts to mature astrocytes. Described here is the cloning and sequencing of the 5'-flanking region of the mouse GFAP gene. It contains a glial-specific positive cis-acting regulatory element that directs preferential expression of a linked reporter gene when transfected into GFAP-positive glioblastoma cells. Sequence analysis of this region revealed the presence of a putative AP-1 binding site, implying a possible role for AP-1 factors in the astroglial-specific expression of the GFAP gene.     

Effect of prostaglandin E1 on graft function of kidneys from living related donors

Prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) was used in renal transplant recipients with living related donors. The drug was given intravenously from day 1 to day 7 after transplantation at a dose of 40 µg/kg twice a day. A total of 45 patients were studied divided into two groups: 25 patients were treated with PGE₁ (group B) and the remaining 20 patients did not receive the drug (group A). In group B, 24-h creatinine clearance (Ccr) was 66 ± 12.8 ml/min compared with 40.3 ± 13.4 ml/min in group A on the fifth postoperative day (P < 0.05). Urinary levels of N-acetyl-β-d -glucosaminidase (NAG) and serum levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4) in group B were significantly lower than in group A. On the fourth postoperative day, the urinary excretion of thromboxan B₂ (TxB₂) in group A was higher than in group B, but not significantly (5.1 ± 3.0 ng/day and 2.8 ± 1.1 ng/day, respectively). Acute rejection occurred in four patients in group B and in 10 patients (40%) in group A. The percentage of Leu2a-positive lymphocytes in group B was higher than in group A. We conclude that postoperative administration of PGE₁ improves graft function in kidneys from living related donors.