Effects of chronic amitriptyline administration on saliva from the parotid and submandibular glands of the rat

The effect of prolonged treatment with amitriptyline on the secretory activity of rat salivary glands evoked by parasympathetic nerve stimulation and isoprenaline administration has been studied. Low doses of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg per day for 2 or 4 weeks), did not significantly affect salivary flow evoked by either parasympathetic nerve or isoprenaline stimulation. Higher doses of amitriptyline (50 mg/kg/day for 2 or 4 weeks) however, markedly decreased parasympathetic-evoked salivary secretion (flow and volume) from both parotid and submandibular glands, while isoprenaline-evoked secretions were unaffected. Sodium, potassium, and calcium concentrations of nerve-elicited or isoprenaline-evoked saliva were not significantly altered by amitriptyline treatment. Protein concentration and amylase activity of nerve-elicited parotid saliva were, however, greatly increased by chronic amitriptyline administration. Possible mechanisms for drug-induced increase in nerveelicited salivary protein concentration include changes in cholinergic receptor binding, release of neuropeptides and variations in phosphatidylinositol turnover, which need further study.     

Aldose reductase inhibition with imirestat — effects on impulse conduction and insulin-stimulation of Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase activity in sciatic nerves of streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Summary This study describes reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and increased resistance to hypoxia-induced conduction failure in sciatic nerves of rats after four weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes (both effects were significant at p <0.05). These changes occurred in the absence of any deficit in the steady-state ouabain-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of sciatic nerve endoneurial homogenates. The addition of 10 nmol/l insulin to endoneurial homogenates from control animals resulted in a 34% increase in ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity and a 19% reduction in ouabain-insensitive ATPase activity (both p <0.01). This stimulation of ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity by insulin did not occur in homogenates from diabetic rats. Treating diabetic rats daily with the aldose reductase inhibitor, imirestat (1 mg/kg) improved nerve conduction velocity (p <0.05) but was without effect upon the resistance to hypoxic conduction blockade or the deficit in insulin-stimulated oubain-sensitive ATPase activity. These data suggest that in streptozotocin-diabetic rats the functional disorders of reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and increased resistance to hypoxic conduction blockade do not share a common aetiology and that impaired nerve conduction is not related to reduced maximal potential oubain-sensitive ATPase activity.     

2型糖尿病患者外周血白细胞iNOSmRNA表达的变化及意义

目的研究2型糖尿病DM患者外周血白细胞中iNOSmRNA表达的变化及其与糖尿病肾病DN发生、发展的关系。方法101例2型DM患者,根据尿微量白蛋白排泄率和血肌酐水平分为单纯DM组和不同的DN组,用原位杂交法检测外周血白细胞iNOSmRNA表达的阳性细胞的百分率,并与21例健康体检者进行比较。结果早期DN组白细胞iNOSmRNA表达的百分率明显高于对照组、DM组及晚期DN组(P<0.001)。结论外周血白细胞iNOSmRNA表达的变化参与了DN的发生、发展。     

二子合剂对糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用

目的：探讨富含木脂素成分的中药牛蒡子、五味子组成的二子合剂对糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用。方法：将SD大鼠建成链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病模型，设正常对照组、模型对照组、苯那普利治疗组、二子合剂大剂量治疗组及小剂量治疗组．4周后检测血糖、24h尿量、尿蛋白总量、尿白蛋白总量、血胆固醇、尿ET-1、TNF-α及肾组织病理变化。结果：与模型对照组相比，苯那普利组及二子合剂大剂量治疗组各项检测指标均有改善，两疗效近似。二子合剂小剂量治疗组仅见尿白蛋白总量及毛细血管襻面密度有减少。结论：牛蒡子、五味子合剂对糖尿病肾脏损害有一定的保护作用，其作用与剂量有相关性。     

α<Subscript>2β</Subscript> adrenoreceptor 301–303 deletion polymorphism in polycystic ovary syndrome

α_2β adrenoreceptor 301–303 deletion polymorphism does not influence basal metabolic rate, insulin resistance or weight gain in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome.     

Assessment of autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: the SCOPA-AUT.

We developed a questionnaire to assess autonomic symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and evaluated its reliability and validity. Based on the results of a postal survey in 46 PD patients, 21 multiple system atrophy patients, and 8 movement disorders specialists, items were included according to their frequency, burden, and clinical relevance. The questionnaire was evaluated in 140 PD patients and 100 controls, and test-retest reliability was established in a sample of 55 PD patients. The SCOPA-AUT consists of 25 items assessing the following regions: gastrointestinal (7), urinary (6), cardiovascular (3), thermoregulatory (4), pupillomotor (1), and sexual (2 items for men and 2 items for women) dysfunction. Test-retest reliability was good. Autonomic problems increased significantly with increasing disease severity for all autonomic regions, except sexual dysfunction. We conclude that SCOPA-AUT is a reliable and valid questionnaire that evaluates autonomic dysfunction in PD.     

视网膜特异性表达人血管内皮生长因子 基因载体的构建

目的构建在视网膜组织特异性表达的人血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）₁₆₅基因。方法用聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法从BLAB/C鼠全基因组扩增能在视网膜组织特异性表达的rho启动子，经限制性内切酶纯化后克隆于质粒pcDNA^3.1+-VEGF₁₆₅中，建立重组质粒pcDNA^3.1+-rho-VEGF₁₆₅，通过限制性内切酶酶切分析及PCR鉴定筛选出正确重组质粒pcDNA^3.1+-rho-VEGF₁₆₅,由jetPEI介导转染人视网膜色素上皮细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞，并通过免疫组织化学染色以及绘制细胞生长曲线检测在人视网膜色素上皮细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞中VEGF蛋白的表达。结果在人视网膜色素上皮细胞中，重组质粒pcDNA^3.1+-rho-VEGF₁₆₅比质粒pcDNA^3.1+-rho-VEGF₁₆₅的VEGF蛋白表达强，在人脐静脉内皮细胞，两者的表达量无明显差别。结论pcDNA^3.1+-rho-VEGF₁₆₅载体的构建为进一步研究VEGF在视网膜新生血管形成中的致病机理提供基础材料，并为进一步建立视网膜特异性表达VEGF转基因鼠模型建立了基础。(中华眼底病杂志,2005,21:106-109)     

Differential effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine in pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure

Summary Treatment with L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-dops), a synthetic precursor of norepinephrine, significantly increased upright blood pressure in patients with multiple system atrophy but had no effect on the upright blood pressure of patients with pure autonomic failure. These results suggest that the site of action of L-threo-dops is central and that its pressor effect requires intact peripheral sympathetic neurons.     

TOCP染毒母鸡的神经电生理研究

对TOCP染毒母鸡进行为期7周的神经电生理监测,结果表明,TOCP主要影响远端周围神经,导致坐骨神经远端MCV和SCV减慢及腓肠肌EMG失神经样改变,而胫后神经H反射及重复电刺激无明显异常。