小鼠短暂性脑供血不全样发作的实验模型

昆明小鼠尾静脉注射两次枯烯氢过氧化物（ＣＨＰ１：１０００稀释，０．２０ｍｌ）中间间隔２４ｈ，第二次注射０．５ｈ后，在戊巴比舀麻醉下双仙颈总动脉夹闭１ｈ。１２只实验小鼠在术后２－１２ｈ内不同程度地出现Ｈｏｒｎｅｒ氏征，并出现不同程度的运动功能不良。脑切片ＨＥ染色偶见血栓栓子。仅注射ＣＨＰ组和仅以侧颈总动脉夹闭的对照组均未出现明显的Ｈｏｒｎｅｒ氏征。进一步尾静脉连续注射ＣＨＰ，中间间隔２４ｈ，并从第三     

Financial Impact of Incidental Radiologic Findings During Living Kidney Donor Evaluation

Living kidney donor (LKD) transplantation is an important alternative for the end-stage renal disease population and is preferred due to superior outcomes when compared with dialysis or deceased donor transplantation. LKD evaluation includes a computed tomography angiogram (CTA) for assessment of renal and renovascular anatomy. Incidental nonrenal findings are frequently noted during the CTAs, and these may have variable clinical significance. These incidental findings lead to further testing, procedures, and referrals, which incur additional cost. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the incidental findings noted during CTA of 632 LKDs evaluated at our institution from 2008 to 2013. All extrarenal findings were categorized as pulmonary, hepatic, pancreatic-biliary, adrenal, bowel, gynecologic, and miscellaneous. Further testing, diagnostic procedures, referrals, and management were determined based on chart review. Our results showed that there were 525 extrarenal incidental findings in 632 potential living donors. Appropriate clinical follow-up was required in 20% at an additional cost of US dollars (USD) 63,035. Additional cost per incidental finding requiring follow-up was USD 407 ± 818. The median cost for follow-up was USD 168 (168–317). The detection of findings during imaging leads to apprehension for the donor and contribute to additional costs. Appropriate counseling is warranted prior to evaluation of the LKD.     

Unpredictable chronic stress model in zebrafish (Danio rerio): behavioral and physiological responses

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a promising model organism to study development, toxicology, pharmacology, and neuroscience, among other areas. Despite the increasing number of studies using zebrafish, behavioral studies with this species are still elementary when compared to rodents. The aim of this study was to develop a model of unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) in zebrafish. We evaluated the effects of UCS protocol during 7 or 14 days on behavioral and physiological parameters. The effects of stress were evaluated in relation to anxiety and exploratory behavior, memory, expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and cortisol levels. As expected, UCS protocol increased the anxiety levels, impaired cognitive function, and increased CRF while decreased GR expression. Moreover, zebrafish submitted to 7 or 14 days of UCS protocol presented increased cortisol levels. The protocol developed here is a complementary model for studying the neurobiology and the effects of chronic stress in behavioral and physiological parameters. In addition, this protocol is less time consuming than standard rodent models commonly used to study chronic stress. These results confirm UCS in zebrafish as an adequate model to preclinical studies of stress, although further studies are warranted to determine its predictive validity.     

Nitric oxide synthase expression in the medullary respiratory related nuclei and its involvement in CO-mediated central respiratory effects in neonatal rats

The present study was conducted in order to observe the potential participation of the nitric oxide synthase-NO pathway in CO-mediated regulation of respiration of neonatal rats. An immunofluorescent histochemical technique was used to examine the existence of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase, a key enzyme of synthesizing NO, in medullary respiratory nuclei. The rhythmic respiratory-like discharges of hypoglossal rootlets of medullary slices were recorded to test the role of the nitric oxide synthase in CO-mediated respiratory effects. We observed neuronal nitric oxide synthase expressed in the medullary respiratory nuclei in conjunction with CO lengthened expiratory duration, decreased respiratory frequency, and increased inspiratory amplitude. These CO-mediated respiratory effects could be partially eliminated by prior treatment of the slices with Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The results suggest that nitric oxide synthase-NO pathway might be involved in the CO-mediated central regulation of respiration at the level of medulla oblongata in neonatal rats.