Electrogustometry: strengths,weaknesses, and clinical evidence of stimulus boundaries

Electrogustometry is well established as a clinical tool for the estimation of taste detection thresholds. Nevertheless, the user is sometimes unaware of the impact of superficially minor procedural and psychophysical factors upon the reliability and comparability of threshold estimates. The inherent strengths and limitations of the procedure are outlined, and aspects of the control and specification of the stimulus that moderate threshold measures are discussed. In addition, threshold estimates from two individuals with severe unilateral taste loss are used to illustrate the level at which anodal dc current may elicit common, rather than taste, sensation. Where chorda tympani section is complete and historical (older than 7–14 days), very high stimulus levels, conservatively over 5 µA/mm² (100 µA linear current with a 5‐mm diameter electrode), are required to activate trigeminal responses.     

Book Review: Adolescents, Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Reaching Teens Through Brief Interventions. Edited by Peter M. Monti, Suzanne M. Colby, and Tracy A. O'Leary, New York, The Guilford Press, 2001, 350 pp., ISBN 1-57230-658-0 (Hardback)

The book reviewed in this article discusses the use of brief interventions in the treatment of adolescent substance abuse. Topics covered include the developmental context within which adolescent substance use occurs, the use of the harm reduction approach to reduce substance use, current assessment instruments, and the role of cognitive and genetic factors in the etiology of substance abuse. Examples of specific brief interventions with adolescents are described and possible avenues for future transdisciplinary research are explored. This expansive sourcebook will be of value to clinicians and academicians alike.     

Medical Specialization,Profession, and Mediating Beliefs That Predict Stated Likelihood of Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention: Targeting Educational Interventions

Practitioner-level educational approaches that promote screening and brief intervention (SBI) seldom consider providers' profession and medical specialization. Strategies that consider these variables may be better equipped to affect change in beliefs and behavior. The aim of this study was to identify beliefs that predict stated likelihood of practicing SBI by specialty and health profession in order to guide the direction of educational strategies. Physicians and nurse practitioners were studied that specialized in family, internal, obstetric gynecology (ObGyn), and pediatric medicine. The results indicated that independent of amount of previous postgraduate alcohol education and knowledge, self-rated competence mediated between specialty and likelihood of practicing SBI. For instance, low self-rated competence for ObGyn was a barrier that suppressed likelihood of practicing SBI. Other findings were that role legitimacy mediated the association between profession and likelihood of SBI, so that lack of role legitimacy was a barrier for physicians but not for nurse practitioners. We suggest that targeted educational strategies for ObGyn and pediatric clinicians may prove more effective than the prevalent one-size-fits all approaches aimed at general adult populations.     

丹皮紫外指纹图谱共有峰率和变异峰率双指标序列分析

目的：采用指纹图谱共有峰率和变异峰率双指标序列分析法分析丹皮类药材紫外指纹图谱。方法：本文用3种溶剂氯仿、无水乙醇及水，系统提取丹皮等不同极性区间成分，测定其紫外指纹图谱，研究样品的异同。结果：该方法可以准确对丹皮类药材进行细致的鉴别。结论：利用共有峰率和变异峰率双指标序列分析法可以对两个或多个样本进行可靠的鉴别。     

中西医结合治疗脑血管疾病30例

中西医结合治疗脑血管疾病３０例山西省中医药研究院（太原０３００１２）柏晋梅自１９９５年２月～１９９６年５月，我们用中药制剂川芎嗪注射液、西药脑复康注射液，治疗脑血管疾病３０例，收到满意效果，现报告如下。临床资料以中华医学会第二次全国脑血管会议第三次修...     

中药促进神经再生的实验研究

目的:观察中药对神经再生的作用。方法:以鸡胚背根神经节和大鼠腓总神经为实验对象,随机分为空白组和不同药物浓度实验组。采用体外培养法观察中药对神经节生长的影响。以手术暴露、钳夹法造成大鼠腓总神经损伤模型,灌胃给药,应用病理形态学技术和神经生理技术,观察腓总神经再生情况。结果:一定浓度的人参、黄芪、淫羊藿、党参、地龙、鹿茸、川芎组神经纤维长度较空白组长(P<0．05,P<0．01),当归、赤芍、骨碎补、桃仁、川续断组神经纤维长度与空白组比较无明显差异(P>0．05);红花、牛膝组神经长度较空白组短(P<0．05)。马钱子组在浓度为0．025％以下时,与空白组比较,神经纤维增长(P<0．05);浓度为0．05％以上时,与空白组比较,神经纤维缩短(P<0．05)。淫羊藿组神经增长与药物存在量效关系(P <0．05)。加味补阳还五汤组与对照组比较,髓鞘细胞排列密集、数量增多,轴索再生率高,并能促进神经传递的恢复(P<0．05)。结论:中药对神经再生具有影响,适宜的中药在适宜浓度下对神经再生具有促进作用。     

复方对乙酰氨基酚胶囊治疗感冒发热、疼痛的疗效和安全性

目的:评价复方对乙酰氨基酚治疗由感冒引起的发热疼痛的效果及安全性。方法:随机双盲双模拟对照研究。入选139例,完成135例,其中A组(试验组n=68)服用复方对乙酰氨基酚胶囊+模拟片;B组(对照组n=67)服用对乙酰氨基酚片+模拟胶囊。2组按入组顺序服药,每日3次,疗程均为3~5d。观察2组疗效和不良反应。结果:试验组痊愈率为74 %,有效率达96 %,对照组痊愈率为69 %,有效率达91 % (P>0. 05),对发热和头痛的临床症状2组均有改善,试验组68例发热病人中有97 %病人恢复正常, 62例头痛病人有95 %的病人恢复正常;对照组65例发热病人和头痛病人分别有92 %和91 %恢复正常。试验组不良反应发生率为2 % (1 /68),对照组为3 % (2 /67) (P>0. 05)。未出现严重及预料之外的不良反应。结论:复方对乙酰氨基酚对治疗感冒具有明显的效果。2药的疗效相仿,无明显不良反应。     

双氯芬酸钠柔性脂质体的制备及其对离体小鼠皮肤的透皮效果

利用同离子效应制备双氯芬酸钠柔性脂质体,并考察脂质浓度对包封率的影响.同时比较了双氯芬酸钠乳膏、传统脂质体与柔性脂质体对离体小鼠皮肤的透皮效果.结果表明,同离子效应可显著增大柔性脂质体的包封率,较理想的脂质浓度为卵磷脂-胆酸钠为6∶1.2(g,w/w),离体小鼠皮肤12h累积透过率依次为:柔性脂质体＞＞传统脂质体＞乳膏.     

Preclinical models of multiple sclerosis in nonhuman primates

Biotechnology has enabled the development of specifically acting therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs) based on biological molecules. The high species specificity precludes safety and effectivity testing in lower species (mice and rats), thus creating a need for valid experimental models in nonhuman primates (NHPs). Here, we review the creation of relevant NHP model(s) for multiple sclerosis (MS), an IMID of the human CNS. We will also discuss how the model(s) can help in the translation of a scientific principle developed in lower species into a therapy for MS.