Why study transport of peptides and proteins at the neurovascular interface

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an immense neurovascular interface. In neurodegenerative, ischemic, and traumatic disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), the BBB may hinder the delivery of many therapeutic peptides and proteins to the brain and spinal cord. Fortunately, the mistaken dogma that peptides and proteins do not cross the BBB has been corrected during the past two decades by the accumulating evidence that peptides and proteins in the periphery exert potent effects in the CNS. Not only can peptides and proteins serve as carriers for selective therapeutic agents, but they themselves may directly cross the BBB after delivery into the bloodstream. Their passage may be mediated by simple diffusion or specific transport, both of which can be affected by interactions in the blood compartment (outside the BBB) and within the endothelial cells (at the BBB level). Although the majority of current delivery strategies focuses on modification of the molecule to be delivered, understanding the mechanisms of transport will eventually facilitate regulation of the BBB directly. We review the different aspects of interactions and discuss recent advances in the cell biology of peptide/protein transport across the BBB. Better understanding of the nature and regulation of the transport systems at the BBB will provide a new direction to enhance the interactions of peripheral peptides and proteins with the CNS.     

大鼠脊髓损伤修复差异表达cDNA文库的构建

目的　 运用改良消减杂交技术构建大鼠脊髓损伤修复过程中出现的差异表达基因文库 ,为寻找在脊髓损伤后的修复过程中起关键作用的分子提供帮助。方法　在经典消减杂交的基础上引进SMART反转录、长距离PCR、磁性分离系统、离心柱色谱等方法建立改良消减杂交技术 ,通过两轮消减杂交构建差异表达基因的cDNA消减文库 ,并对文库中的差异基因进行批量克隆与生物信息学分析。结果　 将两轮消减杂交后的差异表达基因转化大肠杆菌JM10 9以建立差异表达基因文库 ,库容量大小为 2× 10 3。从文库中随机挑取 90个克隆进行酶切鉴定与测序分析 ,得到 4 0个差异基因序列 ,其中 32个已知序列 ,8个新序列。 结论　 通过改良消减杂交成功建立了脊髓损伤修复过程中出现的差异表达基因文库 ,为筛选在大鼠脊髓损伤修复过程中起关键作用的基因 ,进一步探讨脊髓损伤修复的分子机制奠定了基础     

还原型谷胱甘肽和L-NAME对体外培养的脊髓运动神经元的影响

目的 :探讨还原型谷胱甘肽 (GSH)和L NAME对体外培养的脊髓运动神经元的保护作用。方法 :不同浓度的GSH和L NAME作用于脊髓运动神经元 ,3d后计算存活率。并测量存活率高的两组和对照组的免疫细胞化学标本的神经元形态学指标。结果 :GSH 10mmol·L-1和L NAME 1× 10 -3 mol·L-1组存活率最高。两实验组轴突长度、树突总长度、树突分叉点数目和胞体面积高于对照组。结论 :抗氧化剂和NOS抑制剂可以提高脊髓运动神经元的存活率 ,促进神经元生长     

65例多发性硬化患者的临床分析

目的总结多发性硬化(MS)患者的临床特点(精神情感障碍)以及脑脊液、诱发电位、影像学改变进行分析。方法回顾分析65例MS患者的有关临床和实验室资料。结果65例中,男17例,女48例;年龄16~68岁,平均(36.5±14.1)岁,男女比为1∶2.8。MS首发及常见症状为感觉异常、肢体无力、视力减退及括约肌功能障碍,病变部位以脊髓受累最多见,部分患者存在精神情感障碍。结论出现感觉异常有助于MS早期诊断,诱发电位及MRI有助于发现亚临床病变;括约肌功能异常多见,可能与脊髓受累较多有关;MS患者的精神情感应受人们关注。     

Assessing the Stiffness of Spinal Fusion in Animal Models

The clinical goal of spinal fusion is to reduce motion and the associated pain. Therefore, measuring motion under loading is critical. The purpose of this study was to validate four-point bending as a means to mechanically evaluate simulated fusions in dog and rabbit spines. We hypothesized that this method would be more sensitive than manual palpation and would be able to distinguish unilateral vs bilateral fusion. Spines from four mixed breed dogs and four New Zealand white rabbits were used to simulate posterolateral fusion with polymethyl methacrylate as the fusion mass. We performed manual palpation and nondestructive mechanical testing in four-point bending in four planes of motion: flexion, extension, and right and left bending. This testing protocol was used for each specimen in three fusion modes: intact, unilateral, and bilateral fusion. Under manual palpation, all intact spines were rated as not fused, and all unilateral and bilateral simulated fusions were rated as fused. In four-point bending, dog spines were significantly stiffer after unilateral fusion compared with intact in all directions. Additionally, rabbit spines were stiffer in flexion and left bending after unilateral fusion. All specimens exhibited significant differences between intact and bilateral fusion except the rabbit in extension. For unilateral vs bilateral fusion, significant differences were present for right bending in the dog model and for flexion in the rabbit. Unilateral fusion can provide enough stability to constitute a fused grade by manual palpation but may not provide structural stiffness comparable to bilateral fusion.     

颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术问题探讨

目的：探讨颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术的原因、手术方式及其相关问题。方法：我院2002年7月～2003年12月对40例颈椎病伴椎管狭窄术后疗效不佳或症状复发的患者进行了后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术。根据其手术治疗方式及影像学资料分析再手术原因，并进行术后疗效评价。结果：经前路手术者再手术的主要原因为：（1）伴有多节段颈椎管狭窄因素时，只选择部分压迫重的节段行减压融合15例；（2）经前路多节段（≥3个节段）减压融合后，相邻节段继续退变，出现新的脊髓压迫表现及椎间不稳定9例；（3）伴有OPLL时，行部分节段前路减压融合后，病变呈进展表现，产生或加重对脊髓的压迫8例。经后路手术者再手术的原因为：（1）后路减压节段不够5例（包括1例前后路联合手术者）；（2）后路减压不充分3例。再手术后随访1．3～2．7年，平均2．1年，所有患者脊髓功能获得一定的提高，JOA评分改善率为51．3％。结论：颈椎病伴椎管狭窄病例再手术的主要原因为椎管狭窄因素仍然存在，经后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术治疗可彻底去除颈椎管狭窄因素，有效解除脊髓前、后方所受的压迫，可获得较满意的临床疗效。     

胸腰椎骨折术后内固定松动、断裂的原因及预防

目的 探讨椎弓根螺钉系统用于胸腰椎骨折术后出现松动、断裂的原因，并提出相应的预防对策。方法 12例胸腰椎骨折术后内固定失效病例，采用RF系统3例，AF系统9例。均未行植骨融合，AF系统中未按要求安装横连结3例，术后伤椎前缘高度平均恢复至正常的85．2％。结果 术后8—21个月出现棒断裂4例，螺钉断裂3例，钉帽松动5例。结论 内固定物的自身问题、术者的经验欠缺及操作不规范是胸腰椎骨折术后椎弓根螺钉系统松动、断裂的原因，但伤椎骨结构未能得到良好重建及术后椎间盘退变可能是其更重要的因素。因此重视内固定物的选择、加强规范操作，强调对损伤椎体及椎间盘的全面处理是预防内固定失效的有效措施。     

Mortality in patients with diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy (Charcot foot).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality of a population of patients diagnosed with Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy managed by a single specialist unit and to compare the results with a control population. METHODS: We have undertaken a retrospective analysis of all cases of Charcot foot on the comprehensive database which has been maintained at the specialist diabetic foot clinic at the City Hospital, Nottingham since 1982. Survival and the incidence of amputation (major and minor) was compared with a control population referred with uncomplicated neuropathic ulceration. Controls were individually matched for gender, age (+/-2 years), disease type, disease duration (+/-2 years) and year of referral (+/-3 years). RESULTS: Forty-seven cases (21 female, 26 male) of Charcot foot were identified, of whom 18 (38.3%) had Type 1 diabetes. Mean age and disease duration at presentation were 59.2 +/- 13.4 (sd) and 16.2 +/- 11.2 years, compared with 59.7 +/- 12.6 and 16.3 +/- 11.2 years, respectively, in the controls. Twenty-one (44.7%) of those with Charcot had died, after a mean interval of 3.7 +/- 2.8 years. This compared with 16 (34.0%) after a mean 3.1 +/- 2.7 years in the control group. Mean duration of follow-up in the survivors was 4.7 +/- 4.9 years (Charcot) and 5.3 +/- 3.9 years (controls). A total of 11 (23.4%) Charcot patients had had a major amputation on the side of the index lesion, compared with five (10.6%) controls. There was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05, Chi-square). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality in this group of patients with Charcot foot was higher than expected. Nevertheless, there was no difference between those with Charcot and those with uncomplicated neuropathic ulceration. It is possible that it is neuropathy, rather than Charcot osteoarthropathy, which is independently associated with increased mortality in diabetes. The mechanism underlying any such association is not known. There is a need for a formal, prospective, multicentre study to investigate the life expectancy and cardiovascular risk of those with Charcot osteoarthropathy.     

脊髓血管母细胞瘤的显微手术治疗(附11例分析)

目的探讨脊髓血管母细胞瘤的临床特点和外科治疗技巧。方法回顾性分析11例脊髓髓内血管母细胞瘤的诊治经验。本组临床表现主要为感觉和运动障碍、肌肉萎缩及大小便失禁。均经后正中入路切除肿瘤,术中及术后常规使用甲基强的松龙。结果肿瘤均获全切除。术后短时间内症状改善8例,无变化2例,加重1例,无手术死亡。结论本病根据术前典型的影像资料均可确诊。术中尽可能避免活检或分块切除肿瘤,以免引起难以控制的出血和盲目止血引起的脊髓损害。大剂量甲基强的松龙可减轻脊髓水肿。