术后早期康复训练对高龄髋关节置换患者功能恢复的影响

目的：就术后康复训练对高龄髋关节置换患者关节功能恢复的影响进行分析和讨论。方法：以2008年1月～2010年12月来本院进行髋关节置换治疗的38例高龄患者作为研究对象,并根据患者的性别、年龄、疾病类型、手术方式、全髋假体等将患者分为观察组和对照组,其中对照组患者采用的是常规康复护理,而观察组则按照特殊方法进行早期康复护理。结果：观察组患者术后半年关节功能的恢复率明显高于对照组患者。结论：科学、合理的早期康复训练有助于患者关节功能得到更加彻底和快速的恢复,应在临床中加以推广使用。     

Hop Extract Produces Antinociception by Acting on Opioid System in Mice

In the present study, the antinociceptive profiles of hop extract were characterized in ICR mice. Hop extract administered orally (from 25 to 100 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner as measured in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Antinociceptive action of hop extract was maintained at least for 60 min. Moreover, cumulative response time of nociceptive behaviors induced with intraplantar formalin injection was reduced by hop extract treatment during the 2nd phases. Furthermore, the cumulative nociceptive response time for intrathecal injection of substance P (0.7 µg) or glutamate (20 µg) was diminished by hop extract. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist) attenuated antinociceptive effect induced by hop extract in the writhing test. However, methysergide (a 5-HT serotonergic receptor antagonist) or yohimbine (an α₂-adrenergic receptor antagonist) did not affect antinociception induced by hop extract in the writhing test. Our results suggest that hop extract shows an antinociceptive property in various pain models. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of hop extract may be mediated by opioidergic receptors, but not serotonergic and α₂-adrenergic receptors.     

Early knee status affects self-reported knee function 1 year after non-surgically treated anterior cruciate ligament injury

ObjectivesThe primary aim was to assess impact of early knee status on self-reported knee function at 3 and 12 months and on quadriceps strength at 12 months after non-surgically treated ACL injury. The secondary aim was to describe the recovery of muscle strength during the first year after the injury.DesignProspective cohort study.Participants70 patients (42 males; mean age 27 ± 7 years) with acute ACL injury.Main outcomeKnee symptoms, knee function and sporting activities were assessed with the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF). Muscle strength was assessed with an isokinetic dynamometer. Clinical assessment performed at baseline was used to evaluate early knee status.ResultsGlobal knee function, knee joint stability during ADL, gait pattern and one-legged squat assessed in mean 2 weeks after injury hadimpact on self-reported knee function at 3 and 12 months (r² 0.105–0.267). Mean limb symmetry index (LSI) of muscle strength and jump performance were 91–98% at 12 months.ConclusionEarly knee symptoms affect self-reported knee function at 3 and 12 months, while other factors are important for gaining muscle strength. Muscle strength recovered during the first year after ACL injury and reached mean LSI above 90%.Level of evidenceProspective cohort study, level II.     

Low temperature preservation: Influence of putative bioactive microalgae and hop extracts on sperm quality and bacterial load in porcine semen

The frequent use of antibiotics in artificial insemination promotes the development of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternatives must be considered. In this study, putative bioactive microalgae and hop extracts were examined to estimate their effect on quality and bacterial load of preserved porcine semen when used a low-temperature storage at 5 °C in Androstar® Premium (ASP) extender (Minitüb). Firstly, five algae extracts (Neochloris oleoabundans (NEO), Pseudococcomyxa simplex (PSEY), Phormidium ambiquum (PHA), Schizochlamydella minutissima (SCH), Cyanidioschyzon merolae (CYA)) and one hop extract (Humulus lupulus (HOP)) in four concentrations (0.2, 2, 20 and 200 μg/mL) were tested on their sperm-compatibility at 17 °C. All extracts in the concentrations 0.2 and 2 μg/mL appeared to be sperm compatible. After 72 h of storage at 5 °C, variants showed an increase of total bacterial subcultures from 103 (ASP w/o supplements) to 113/136/135/136/126/118 (ASP w/NEO/PSEY/PHA/HOP/SCH/CYA). Even though bacterial growth was not inhibited in general, all extracts showed an antimicrobial effect on specific bacteria, including Gram-positive (Trueperella pyogenes, Streptococcus porcinus) and Gram-negative bacterial species (Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ralstonia sp., Pasteurella sp., Proteus sp., Providencia stuartii, and Escherichia coli). While the proportion of these species was 10% in the control (ASP w/o supplements), their proportion in the supplemented variants ranged from 8% (NEO, HOP) to as low as 3% (PSEY). Although the tested extracts are not suitable to replace conventional antibiotics due to their lack of broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, they nevertheless present promising opportunities for bacteria-specific, customizable usage in boar semen extenders combined with antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents.     

Pharmacokinetics and safety of cavosonstat (N91115) in healthy and cystic fibrosis adults homozygous for F508DEL-CFTR

Background

Cavosonstat (N91115), an orally bioavailable inhibitor of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, promotes cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) maturation and plasma membrane stability, with a mechanism of action complementary to CFTR correctors and potentiators.

The Allergenic Potency of Japanese Hop Pollen Is Increasing With Environmental Changes in Korea

Purpose

The sensitization rate to Japanese Hop (Hop J) in respiratory allergy patients has increased in recent years in Korea. We evaluated changes in the allergenic potency of Hop J pollen collected in 1998 and 2009.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma were enrolled. Group I included 21 subjects sensitized to Hop J at an initial visit and group II included 14 subjects who developed a new sensitization. Hop J pollens were collected in 1998 and 2009 (98 and 09 extracts) and both urban and suburban environments (urban and suburban extracts). Serum specific IgE levels to Hop J pollen extracts were compared using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgE binding components were compared by IgE immunoblot analysis.

Results

Serum specific IgE levels to the 09 and urban extracts in both groups increased significantly compared to those of the 98 and suburban extracts. IgE immunoblot demonstrated that the major 10 kDa allergen was intensified in group I, while it was newly generated in group II with additional components ranging from 12-95 kDa. When the 98 and 09 extracts were compared, intensification of the major allergen of 09 extract had occurred in both groups. The IgE binding components of the urban extract was stronger than those of suburban one.

Conclusions

The allergenic potency of Hop J pollen may be increased with environmental changes.     

Alcohol brand appearances in US popular music

Aims The average US adolescent is exposed to 34 references to alcohol in popular music daily. Although brand recognition is an independent, potent risk factor for alcohol outcomes among adolescents, alcohol brand appearances in popular music have not been assessed systematically. We aimed to determine the prevalence of and contextual elements associated with alcohol brand appearances in US popular music. Design Qualitative content analysis. Setting We used Billboard Magazine to identify songs to which US adolescents were most exposed in 2005–07. For each of the 793 songs, two trained coders analyzed independently the lyrics of each song for references to alcohol and alcohol brand appearances. Subsequent in‐depth assessments utilized Atlas.ti to determine contextual factors associated with each of the alcohol brand appearances. Measurements Our final code book contained 27 relevant codes representing six categories: alcohol types, consequences, emotional states, activities, status and objects. Findings Average inter‐rater reliability was high (κ = 0.80), and all differences were easily adjudicated. Of the 793 songs in our sample, 169 (21.3%) referred explicitly to alcohol, and of those, 41 (24.3%) contained an alcohol brand appearance. Consequences associated with alcohol were more often positive than negative (41.5% versus 17.1%, P < 0.001). Alcohol brand appearances were associated commonly with wealth (63.4%), sex (58.5%), luxury objects (51.2%), partying (48.8%), other drugs (43.9%) and vehicles (39.0%). Conclusions One in five songs sampled from US popular music had explicit references to alcohol, and one‐quarter of these mentioned a specific alcohol brand. These alcohol brand appearances are associated commonly with a luxury life‐style characterized by wealth, sex, partying and other drugs.     

Heat shock proteins: Cellular and molecular mechanisms in the central nervous system

Emerging evidence indicates that heat shock proteins (HSPs) are critical regulators in normal neural physiological function as well as in cell stress responses. The functions of HSPs represent an enormous and diverse range of cellular activities, far beyond the originally identified roles in protein folding and chaperoning. HSPs are now understood to be involved in processes such as synaptic transmission, autophagy, ER stress response, protein kinase and cell death signaling. In addition, manipulation of HSPs has robust effects on the fate of cells in neurological injury and disease states. The ongoing exploration of multiple HSP superfamilies has underscored the pluripotent nature of HSPs in the cellular context, and has demanded the recent revamping of the nomenclature referring to these families to reflect a re-organization based on structure and function. In keeping with this re-organization, we first discuss the HSP superfamilies in terms of protein structure, regulation, expression and distribution in the brain. We then explore major cellular functions of HSPs that are relevant to neural physiological states, and from there we discuss known and proposed HSP impacts on major neurological disease states. This review article presents a three-part discussion on the array of HSP families relevant to neuronal tissue, their cellular functions, and the exploration of therapeutic targets of these proteins in the context of neurological diseases.