Incidence of latent infection of Epstein–Barr virus in lung cancers—an analysis of EBER1 expression in lung cancers by in situ hybridization

To evaluate the presence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in lung cancers of Japanese patients, 81 lung cancers were examined using a highly sensitive in situ hybridization (ISH) method, employing an antisense oligonucleotide probe for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA-1 (EBER). EBER1 expression was demonstrated in one poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma associated with marked lymphoid stroma (PDSCC-LS), two well differentiated adenocarcinomas, and two moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, but was not detectable in other lung cancers, including small cell carcinomas. Unlike lymphoepithelioma-like undifferentiated carcinoma (LELC) of the lung, the PDSCC-LS consisted of poorly differentiated cells with distinct cell borders and nuclei with a coarse chromatin pattern and some prominent nucleoli. Most of the cancer cells expressed intense EBER1 signals. Although small to moderate numbers of cells positive for EBER1 were present in two adenocarcinomas and two squamous cell carcinomas, EBER1 signals varied in intensity and number in these four cases. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot hybridization with a ³²P-labelled probe internal to the primers were conducted to detect the EBV genome in 24 lung cancers, including five EBER1-positive cases, the genome was found to be positive in the five cases with EBER1-positive staining, including the PDSCC-LS, two adenocarcinomas and two squamous cell carcinomas, but not in the other cases. This study indicates that the morphological features of EBV-associated lung cancers are not restricted to the typical LELC type.     

Respiratory mechanics and pleural remodelling in pleurodesis induced by barium sulphate

The aim of this study was to determine whether an intrapleural injection of barium sulphate would produce pleurodesis in rats. Additionally, respiratory mechanics and pleural remodelling were analysed. Single intrapleural injection of barium sulphate (100%) or saline was given to Wistar rats. Respiratory system, lung, and chest wall elastic, resistive and viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressures were measured by the end-inflation occlusion method at 2 and 30 days after injection. The pleura were examined for gross and histopathological evidence of pleural inflammation and fibrosis, and the underlying lungs were also studied by morphometry. All pulmonary mechanical parameters increased at day 2, but were not different from control at 30 days after injection. Chest wall mechanical parameters did not change. Macroscopic evaluation demonstrated pleural adherence without haemothorax. Histopathologic analysis showed pleural inflammation and fibrosis. There was no alveolar inflammation or fibrosis in both groups. In conclusion, barium sulphate induced pleurodesis with either no changes in respiratory mechanics or lung lesion at day 30.     

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Head-Down Contact and Spearing in Tackle Football

OBJECTIVE: To present recommendations that decrease the risk of cervical spine fractures and dislocations in football players. BACKGROUND: Axial loading of the cervical spine resulting from head-down contact is the primary cause of spinal cord injuries. Keeping the head up and initiating contact with the shoulder or chest decreases the risk of these injuries. The 1976 rule changes resulted in a dramatic decrease in catastrophic cervical spine injuries. However, the helmet-contact rules are rarely enforced and head-down contact still occurs frequently. Our recommendations are directed toward decreasing the incidence of head-down contact. RECOMMENDATIONS: Educate players, coaches, and officials that unintentional and intentional head-down contact can result in catastrophic injuries. Increase the time tacklers, ball carriers, and blockers spend practicing correct contact techniques. Improve the enforcement and understanding of the existing helmet-contact penalties.     

Information Capacity of the Corticospinal Tract Recordings as a Neural Interface

Recording the motor output of the central nervous system from the cervical spinal cord was investigated as a method of generating voluntary command signals, potentially to be used in quadriplegic individuals. Corticospinal volleys evoked by motor cortex stimulation were recorded from the spinal cord surface with multicontact electrodes in anesthetized cats. The multicontact recordings were analyzed for their information-carrying capacity as a neural interface. Neural signals resulting from the stimulation of various points in the motor cortex were considered as symbols of an alphabet that were sent through a discrete information channel. The information capacity of this channel at the thermal noise level of the electrode contacts was calculated. The maximum information rate was 1.57 bits in a trial for a 4-symbol alphabet. The background noise that reduces the information rate to 50% of its maximum theoretical value was defined as the half-bitrate-noise-tolerance (HBR-NoiseTol) and used as a measure of symbol distinguishability. The HBR-NoiseTol for all trials on average was 24 +/- 12%, 18 +/- 10%, and 15 +/- 9% for interfaces with 2-, 3-, and 4-symbol alphabets (n = 11 trials). The average peak-to-peak amplitude of the neural volleys was 13.5 +/- 6.7 microV (n = 11). These results suggest that the corticospinal signals can be recorded with spatial selectivity from the spinal cord surface and thus warrant further investigation of their potential use for a spinal cord-computer interface.     

神经调节素-1β对小鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的干预作用及可能的机制

目的 研究神经调节素-1β(NRG-1β)对小鼠脑缺血再灌注后神经行为功能,脑梗死体积,脑组织含水量,神经细胞凋亡以及胶质细胞水通道蛋白-4(AQP-4)表达的影响和神经保护的作用机制.方法 应用线栓法建立小鼠大脑中动脉闭塞再灌注(MCAO/R)模型,经颈内动脉微量注射NRG-1β(2μg/kg)干预治疗,Bederson法评价动物的神经行为功能;氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色,观察脑梗死体积;干湿重法测定脑组织含水量;免疫荧光染色检测神经细胞凋亡;免疫组织化学检测AQP-4的表达.结果 脑缺血再灌注损伤后,动物均表现神经行为功能障碍,缺血侧出现脑梗塞病灶,脑组织含水量、神经细胞凋亡数量和胶质细胞AQP-4表达均高于假手术组.与对照组相比较,NRG-1β治疗组缺血24h,动物神经行为功能损伤明显改善,凋亡神经细胞数明显减少,脑梗塞体积显著缩小(P<0.05);但脑组织含水量和AQP-4表达与对照组比较无显著性差异(P>0.05).缺血再灌注22h、46h和70h组,上述5项指标较相应的对照组均有显著性差异(P<0.05).结论 NRC-1β可能通过下调脑缺血再灌注损伤诱导的胶质细胞AQP-4表达和抑制细胞凋亡,减轻脑水肿和缩小梗死体积,从而改善动物的神经行为功能.     

大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注损伤时血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的增殖与凋亡

目的研究大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注后血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的增殖和凋亡。方法以免疫组织化学SP法和末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导生物素标记法 (TUNEL)对大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注后的血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的Bcl-2、Bax、P53和增殖细胞核抗原 (PCNA)的表达进行观察研究。结果缺血再灌注后 ,血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞均有Bcl-2、Bax、P53和PCNA的表达 ,在平滑肌细胞 ,Bcl-2阳性细胞数量明显高于Bax和P53。PCNA阳性细胞明显增多。在内皮细胞 ,Bax和P53的表达最强 ,TUNEL阳性细胞率最高。结论大鼠提睾肌缺血再灌注可造成平滑细胞的增殖和内皮细胞的凋亡 ,其结果可能与微循环障碍有关。     

Comparison of Bricanyl® Turbuhaler and Berotec® dry powder inhaler

Terbutaline (Bricanyl) 0.5 mg t.i.d. administered via Turbuhaler was compared with fenoterol (Berotec) 0.2 mg t.i.d. administered via Inhalator Ingelheim in 36 asthmatic children aged 7-12 years. The study was of an open crossover design with two randomly allocated treatment periods, each lasting 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured at clinic visits before study start and at the end of each treatment period. The patients recorded peak expiratory flow (PEF) before and after inhaler use, morning and evening. They also recorded asthma symptoms and number of extra inhalations. At the end of the study, children and parents were asked for inhaler preference. No differences between the treatments were found concerning the results of the lung function measurements at the clinic or at the PEF measurements at home. No differences were found between the treatments as regards asthma symptoms or number of extra inhalations. Two patients experienced mild side effects during fenoterol treatment, none during terbutaline treatment. Treatment with terbutaline in Turbuhaler was preferred by a majority of children and parents. In conclusion, in this group of asthmatic children, treatment with terbutaline administered via Turbuhaler was as efficacious as treatment with fenoterol administered via Inhalator Ingelheim. There was a clear preference in favour of the Turbuhaler.     

闭合性脑外伤脑电图变化与脑电地形图结果比较

目的:探讨脑电学检查在闭合性脑外伤中的应用.方法:对123例闭合性脑外伤患者进行EEG和BEAM检查.结果:EEG异常率为56.9%,表现为弥漫性或局部性慢波增多,BEAM异常率为70.7%,表现为θ或δ频带功率呈弥漫性或局限性增高.结论:闭合性脑外伤的损伤程度与EEG的变化有良好的正相关性;闭合性脑外伤EEG和BEAM,两者有显著性差异;多次重复脑电学检查,有重要临床价值.     

肺癌患者血清TSGF、CEA、CYFRA21—1和NSE水平的临床价值

目的:探讨血清TSGF、CEA、CYFRA21-1和NSE水平的临床价值。方法:采用放射免疫分析测定了179例肺癌、48例肺良性病变和51例正常对照组的血清TSGF、CEA、CYFRA21-1和NSE的水平。结果:在NSCLC中,37例I～II期鳞癌血清中TSGF、CEA和NSE水平与肺良性病变无明显差异(P均>0.05),32例I～II期腺癌血清中NSE也与肺良性病变无明显差异(P>0.05);其余,NSCLC和SCLC血清中TSGF、CEA、CY-FRA21-1和NSE水平明显增高,均与肺良性病变具有明显差异(P<0.05～0.01),从总体而言,随着病变的严重程度增加,肺癌标志物水平也增高。51例正常对照组血清TSGF、CEA、CYFRA21-1和NSE水平分别为(64.1±14.8)U/ml,(3.51±1.1)ng/ml,(2.6±1.4)ng/ml和(5.1±3.6)ng/ml。结论:肺癌的诊断中,以血清CY-FRA21-1测定为最佳,其次为TSGF和CEA,最差NSE,故肺癌标志物的联检是诊断肺癌的最佳选择。