地塞米松对内毒素休克新生大鼠脑一氧化氮合成酶基因表达的调节

目的：探讨新生大鼠内毒素休克脑损伤时脑一氧化氮合成酶(NO6)三种亚型基因表达的变化及地塞米松(DEX)对其的调控作用。方法：在新生大鼠内毒素休克动物模型基础上，采用逆转录PCR及PCR技术，对脑组织中三型NOS mRNA及caspase—3 mRNA的表达进行半定量分析。结果：正常新生大鼠脑iNOS及eNOS mRNA无明显表达，nNOS mRNA、caspase—3 mRNA有一定程度表达。内毒素脂多糖(LPS)腹腔注射后2h，三种亚型NOS mRNA开始表达，于LPS6h达高峰，并持续至24h。caspase—3 mRNA于LPS腹腔注射后2h后表达逐渐增加，24h达高峰。DEX可抑制nNOS、iNOS及caspase—3 mRNA的表达，且以用药后2h最为明显，并持续至用药后24h。结论：内毒素休克脑损伤时，各型NOS均有表达，NO的产生是内毒素休克脑损伤时重要的病理生理机制之一。DEX通过抑制NOS、caspase—3 mRNA的表达部分实现其神经保护作用．     

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson''s disease: electropermeabilization and activation

Deep brain stimulation, DBS, is an accepted technique for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. DBS affects the electrical functions of neurons, but exactly how it alters those functions is not clearly explained. An electrical model is determined to simulate treatment with DBS of the sub thalamic nucleus. This model shows the difference in electrical fields between the inside and the outside the neurons. The generated electrical field near the electrodes is high enough to perform an electropermeabilization of the cell membranes, which most likely blockade normal nerve pulses or reduce the nerve impulse speed. Further away from the electrodes activation of large axons is performed.     

Caspase-3反义寡核苷酸抗凋亡作用的研究

目的 研究caspase-3反义寡核苷酸对6-OHDA诱导大鼠中脑多巴胺神经元凋亡的保护作用.方法 向四组SD大鼠的中脑黑质部位注入反义、错义、正义寡核苷酸及NS,然后再注入6-OHDA,取中脑做连续切片,原位杂交及免疫组化检测黑质caspase-3的表达及TH的表达,原位末端标记法(Tunel)检测黑质细胞的凋亡.结果 反义组Tunel阳性细胞数为82±8.6,方差分析显示反义组阳性细胞数显著性低于其他各组(P＜0.05);反义组手术侧TH阳性细胞数为168.6±11.4,与对侧阳性细胞比值为63%±11.3%,显著性高于其余各组(P＜0.05).结论 有效阻断caspase-3的表达可减轻6-OHDA诱导的多巴胺神经元凋亡,caspase-3可作为保护性治疗帕金森病的靶点.     

Common human Toll-like receptor 9 polymorphisms and haplotypes: association with atopy and functional relevance

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a pattern-recognition receptor that detects unmethylated CpG motifs prevalent in bacterial and viral DNA. TLR9 stimulation is a key event after bacterial infection, triggering innate immunity and T-helper type 1 skewed adaptive immunity. Synthetic CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) represent a promising and novel class of immune adjuvants for allergy treatment, vaccination, and cancer therapy. However, common functional TLR9 gene variants could interfere with the clinical utilization of CpG-ODN in immunotherapy. Recently, a possible association of TLR9 polymorphism C-1237T with asthma has been reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether TLR9 polymorphisms or haplotypes have functional relevance and are associated with atopy. METHODS: We genotyped five common TLR9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in promoter, exon, and intron regions of the gene in 527 healthy blood donors, and estimated four common haplotypes. The total IgE and specific IgE levels against the most common aeroallergens were measured (n=303). IFN-alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) was analysed after stimulation with TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN (n=220). RESULTS: No significant influence of common TLR9 polymorphisms and haplotypes on the total and specific IgE levels was found. Functional analysis of CpG-ODN-induced IFN-alpha did not indicate a significant role for common TLR9 gene polymorphisms in TLR9 function. CONCLUSION: We conclude that common genetic differences in the TLR9 gene exert no major influence on allergy susceptibility, and are unlikely to have on impact on clinical application of CpG-ODNs.     

Neurophysiological aspects of chronic motor cortex stimulation

Chronic motor cortex stimulation is a treatment option for neuropathic drug-resistant pain and possibly associated movement disorders. Preliminary studies suggest the possibility to treat symptoms of Parkinson disease in selected patients. Recently, MCS has been suggested to enhance motor recovery in patients with poststroke hemiparesis. One or more electrodes are placed extradurally over the motor cortex through a burr hole or a small craniotomy, and then connected to a totally implantable neurostimulator. The accurate positioning of the stimulating electrodes over the motor cortex is the key point of the surgical procedure. Motor cortex identification results from the integration of anatomical, neuroradiological, functional, and neurophysiological data, taking into account the huge population variability. Intraoperative neurophysiological mapping of the motor cortex is of paramount importance, in spite of very sophisticated neuroradiological mathematical reconstructions of the motor area. We discuss and compare the different techniques that are utilized by different authors. Moreover, clinical neurophysiology is also helpful in evaluating the results of this neuromodulation procedure and in hypothesizing the mechanisms that are put in play by MCS.     

MR imaging of viscoelastic properties

Mechanical waves in magnetic resonance imaging, which have been suggested for possible clinical applications, were analyzed with regard to imaging of the viscoelastic properties of large objects. The method is based on the Larmor frequency modulation caused by the application of mechanical waves. Possible clinical applications include all diseases that result in a change in the mechanical properties of biologic tissues (eg, atherosclerosis).     

Measurement of contact impedance of electrodes used for deep brain stimulation

High frequency electrical stimulation by means of electrodes implanted into the brain has become an accepted technique for treatment of Parkinson's disease. The electrical field distribution normally inserted into the sub thalamic nucleus minimise abnormal brain activity. Square wave pulses of 1–3.6 V with duration of 60–90 μs at a frequency range of 130–185 pps are generally used. Every electrode unit consists of four cylindrical electrodes positioned in a row and can be switched on independently. This paper determines the contact impedance of the electrodes for different frequencies and proposes improvement to reduce the contact impedance between the electrodes and the brain. Measurements were performed by placing the electrodes in a tank filled with saline. Different frequencies were applied on two electrodes via a resistor. The current was measured through the resistor and the voltage was registered between one of the electrodes and a third non current carrying electrode. The obtained values were used to calculate the contact impedance. The result shows large contact impedance for the used frequency compared to the impedance of the treated tissue, which means that variation in contact impedance can result in variation in the electrical field applied to the tissue.     

赖型钩端螺旋体重组DNApCX7的特异性鉴定和限制性内切酶谱分析

本实验将赖型钩端螺旋体（简称钩体）ＤＮＡ基因库的克隆ｐＣＸ７制备成￣（３２）Ｐ－重组ＤＮＡ探针，对８个不同血清群的１７株问号状钩体、双曲钩体ＰａｔｏｃⅠ株以及细螺旋体３０５５株ＤＮＡ进行打点杂交；同时用１５种ＤＮＡ片断进行限制性内切酶谱分析。结果表明，该重组ＤＮＡ具有问号状钩体种（Ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ）特异性，但与不同问号状钩体之间的同源性程度有差别；限制性内切酶谱分析发现ｐＣＸ７重组ＤＮＡ片段长约１．７ｋｂ，具有１个Ｂｇ１Ⅱ识别位点和３个ＢｓｔＢ１识别位点。