Electrodiagnostic features of true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome

Introduction: We report the electrodiagnostic (EDX) features of 32 patients with surgically verified true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TN‐TOS). Methods: Retrospective record review. Results: We found uniform EDX evidence of a chronic axon loss process that affected the lower portion of the brachial plexus and disproportionately involved the T1 more than the C8 sensory and motor fibers. Because of this relationship, the medial antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve (T1) and median motor (T1 > C8) study combination was abnormal in 89%, whereas response combinations that primarily assessed the C8 fibers were less frequently affected. Conclusions: The characteristic EDX features of TN‐TOS are T1 > C8 nerve fiber involvement. A comprehensive EDX examination of the lower plexus with contralateral comparison studies is imperative to diagnose this disorder accurately. Muscle Nerve 49 : 724–727, 2014     

Biodegradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate by a newly isolated Enterobacter sp. HY1 and characterization of its esterase properties

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) is an important compound produced from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) cleavage. It was selected as the representative substance for the study of PET degradation. A bacterial strain HY1 that could degrade BHET was isolated and identified as Enterobacter sp. The optimal temperature and pH for BHET biodegradation were determined to be 30°C and 8.0, respectively. The half-life of degradation was 70.20 h at an initial BHET concentration of 1,000 mg/L. The results of metabolites' analysis by liquid chromatograph–mass spectrometer revealed that BHET was first converted to mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET) and then to terephthalic acid. Furthermore, an esterase-encoding gene, estB, was cloned from strain HY1, and the expressed enzyme EstB was characterized. The esterase has a molecular mass of approximately 25.13 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 4.68. Its optimal pH and temperature were pH 8.0 and 40°C, respectively. The analysis of the enzymatic products showed that EstB could hydrolyze one ester bond of BHET to MHET. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the biodegradation characteristics of BHET by a member of the Enterobacter genus.     

Developmental profiles of various cholinergic markers in the rat main olfactory bulb using quantitative autoradiography

The existence of possible relationships among the developmental profile of various cholinergic markers in the main olfactory bulb (OB) was assessed by using in vitro quantitative autoradiography. Muscarinic receptors were visualized with [³H]pirenzepine (muscarinic M1-like sites) and [³H]AF-DX 384 (muscarinic M2-like sites); nicotinic receptors by using [³H]cytisine (nicotinic 42-like subtype) and [¹²⁵I]α-bungarotoxin (nicotinic 7-like subtype); cholinergic nerve terminals by using [³H]vesamicol (vesicular acetylcholine transport sites) and [³H]hemicholinium-3 (high-affinity choline uptake sites). These various cholinergic markers exhibited their lowest levels at birth and reached adult values by the end of the 4–5 postnatal weeks. However, the density of presynaptic cholinergic markers and nicotinic receptors at postnatal day 2 represented a large proportion of the levels observed in adulthood, and displays a transient overexpression around postnatal day 20. In contrast, the postnatal development of cholinergic muscarinic M1-like and M2-like receptors is apparently regulated independently of the presynaptic cholinergic markers and nicotinic receptors. Two neurochemically and anatomically separate olfactory glomeruli subsets were observed in the posterior OB of the developing rat. These atypical glomeruli expressed large amounts of [³H]vesamicol- and [³H]hemicholinium binding sites without significant amounts of muscarinic M1, M2, or nicotinic α4β2 receptor binding sites. A significant density of [¹²⁵I]α-bungarotoxin binding sites could be detected only at early postnatal ages. A few olfactory glomeruli specifically restricted to the dorsal posterior OB expressed a high density of [³H]cytisine binding sites but lacked significant binding of the two presynaptic cholinergic markers used here, suggesting their noncholinergic but cholinoceptive nature. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mild Choline Deficiency and MTHFD1 Synthetase Deficiency Interact to Increase Incidence of Developmental Delays and Defects in Mice

Folate and choline are interconnected metabolically. The MTHFD1 R653Q SNP is a risk factor for birth defects and there are concerns that choline deficiency may interact with this SNP and exacerbate health risks. 80–90% of women do not meet the Adequate Intake (AI) for choline. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of choline deficiency on maternal one-carbon metabolism and reproductive outcomes in the MTHFD1-synthetase deficient mouse (Mthfd1S), a model for MTHFD1 R653Q. Mthfd1S^+/+ and Mthfd1S^+/− females were fed control (CD) or choline-deficient diets (ChDD; 1/3 the amount of choline) before mating and during pregnancy. Embryos were evaluated for delays and defects at 10.5 days gestation. Choline metabolites were measured in the maternal liver, and total folate measured in maternal plasma and liver. ChDD significantly decreased choline, betaine, phosphocholine, and dimethylglycine in maternal liver (p < 0.05, ANOVA), and altered phosphatidylcholine metabolism. Maternal and embryonic genotype, and diet-genotype interactions had significant effects on defect incidence. Mild choline deficiency and Mthfd1S^+/− genotype alter maternal one-carbon metabolism and increase incidence of developmental defects. Further study is required to determine if low choline intakes contribute to developmental defects in humans, particularly in 653QQ women.     

胆碱对急性心肌缺血心律失常的作用

目的 观察胆碱对大鼠急性心肌缺血的作用,并探讨其作用机制.方法 以结扎大鼠左冠状动脉前降支造成急性心肌缺血模型,给予M受体激动剂胆碱和M3受体阻断剂4DAMP进行干预.观察大鼠急性心肌缺血模型心律失常发生情况和心肌细胞L型钙通道蛋白mRNA的表达.结果 ①胆碱可降低大鼠急性心肌缺血模型的心律失常发生率(P＜0.05);②胆碱能够使L型钙通道mRNA表达增加;③M3受体阻断剂4DAMP可逆转胆碱的上述作用(P＜0.05).结论 胆碱通过激活M3受体降低了急性心肌缺血大鼠心律失常的发生率.     

针刺咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹:随机对照研究

目的:比较针刺患侧与针刺双侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹的临床疗效。方法:将66例脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹患者随机分为单侧组和双侧组,每组33例,最后每组各有1例脱落。两组患者在常规药物和电项针治疗的基础上,单侧组针刺患侧的吞咽、发音和治反流穴,双侧组针刺双侧吞咽、发音和治反流穴。每天1次,每周连续针刺6 d,休息1 d,治疗21 d后评定临床疗效。采用吞咽困难分级量表、洼田饮水试验和GRBAS分级评价两组患者治疗前后的吞咽和构音情况。结果:治疗21 d后,两组患者吞咽困难分级量表评分均提高(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.01);两组患者GRBAS分级、洼田饮水试验情况均改善(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:针刺患侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹较针刺双侧咽部腧穴疗效更优。     

Prenatal Folate and Choline Levels and Brain and Cognitive Development in Children: A Critical Narrative Review

Women’s nutritional status during pregnancy can have long-term effects on children’s brains and cognitive development. Folate and choline are methyl-donor nutrients and are important for closure of the neural tube during fetal development. They have also been associated with brain and cognitive development in children. Animal studies have observed that prenatal folate and choline supplementation is associated with better cognitive outcomes in offspring and that these nutrients may have interactive effects on brain development. Although some human studies have reported associations between maternal folate and choline levels and child cognitive outcomes, results are not consistent, and no human studies have investigated the potential interactive effects of folate and choline. This lack of consistency could be due to differences in the methods used to assess folate and choline levels, the gestational trimester at which they were measured, and lack of consideration of potential confounding variables. This narrative review discusses and critically reviews current research examining the associations between maternal levels of folate and choline during pregnancy and brain and cognitive development in children. Directions for future research that will increase our understanding of the effects of these nutrients on children’s neurodevelopment are discussed.     

pH、过氧化氢、白细胞酯酶、乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶联合筛查、诊断阴道炎评价

目的：评价pH、过氧化氢、白细胞酯酶、乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶联合筛查、辅助诊断阴道炎的方法可行性。方法选择阴道分泌物检查患者236例,分别进行p H、过氧化氢、白细胞酯酶、乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶四项联合检查,未染色显微镜检查,及相关确诊实验,通过诊断标准对患者确诊。对四联检测,应用独立项目判读结果的判读方案一,及应用两项联合判读结果的判读方案二,获得两种检测结果。用χ2检验分别统计四项联合检测两种结果与显微镜结果及诊断结果的一致性,并对四项联合检测实验进行诊断效能评价。结果四项联合检测两种结果均与显微镜结果及诊断结果一致程度较好,P值均为0．000（＜0．05）,但判读方案二有更高的kappa值,分别是0．914及0．862;四项联合检测判读方式一达到的诊断的灵敏度为94．2％、特异度为87．7％、Youden指数为81．9％;判读方式二达到的诊断灵敏度为90．5％、特异度为96．9％、Youden指数为87．4％。结论：pH、过氧化氢、白细胞酯酶、乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶四项联合检查,在不同结果判读方式下,对诊断阴道炎的特异度、灵敏度有影响。灵敏度高的判读方案一,较适用于筛查用途;而Youden指数更高的判读方案二,比较适合辅助诊断;可在此基础上进一步优化专项检测卡,用于基础医疗卫生的筛查与诊断。     

绿茶及绿茶多酚对阿尔茨海默病的神经保护作用

氧化应激反应在阿尔茨海默病（AD）的发生中具有重要作用。绿茶及绿茶多酚作为公认的抗氧化剂，可减轻脂质过氧化反应，抑制氧化性DNA损伤，进而调节细胞凋亡过程，并可能抑制胆碱酯酶活性，干预淀粉样前体蛋白的生物合成，减轻淀粉样蛋白的沉积，从而干预AD的病理过程，发挥神经保护作用。