Protective actions of human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor on MPTP-lesioned nigrostriatal dopamine neurons after intraventricular infusion

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2) is a trophic factor for neurons and astrocytes and has recently been demonstrated in the vast majority of dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral midbrain of the rat. Potential neuroprotective actions of FGF-2 in the l-methyl-4-phenyl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model have also been reported. The actions of the FGF-2 have now been further analyzed in a combined morphological and behavioural analysis in the MPTP model of the adult black mouse, using a continuous human recombinant FGF-2 (hrFGF-2) intraventricular (i.v.t.) administration in a heparin-containing (10 IU heparin/ml) mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) solution. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunocytochemistry in combination with computer assisted microdensitometry demonstrated a counteraction of the MPTP-induced disappearance of neostriatal TH-immunoreactive (ir) nerve terminals following the FGF-2 treatment. Unbiased estimates of the total number of nigral TH ir neurons, using stereological methods involving the optical disector (Olympus), showed that the MPTP-induced reduction in the number of nigral TH ir nerve cell bodies counterstained with cresyl violet (CV; by 56%) was partially counteracted by the FGF-2 treatment (by 26%). The behavioral analysis demonstrated an almost full recovery of the MPTP-induced reduction of the locomotor activity after FGF-2 treatment. This action was maintained also 1 week after cessation of treatment. The hrFGF-2 produced an astroglial reaction as determined in the lateral neostriatum and in the substantia nigra (SN) far from the site of the infusion, indicating that the growth factor may have reached these regions by diffusion to activate the astroglia. Immunocytochemistry revealed FGF-2 immunoreactivity (IR) in the nuclei of the astroglia cell population in the dorsomedial striatum and the microdensitometric and morphometric evaluation demonstrated an increase in the number, but not in the intensity, of these profiles on the cannulated side, suggesting the possibility that hrFGF-2 stimulates FGF-2 synthesis in astroglial cells with low endogenous FGF-2 IR. These results indicate that hrFGF-2, directly and/or indirectly via astroglia, upon i.v.t. infusion exerts trophic effects on the nigrostriatal DA system and may increase survival of nigrostriatal DA nerve cells exposed to the MPTP neurotoxin.     

How do topical nasal corticosteroids improve sleep and daytime somnolence in allergic rhinitis?

Therapy for rhinitis improves sleep quality and symptoms of daytime sleepiness. This improvement with therapy may be secondary to anti-inflammatory effects, leading to a reduction of inflammatory mediators, or to a mechanical reduction of congestion directly leading to improvement in sleep disturbance. We combined our data from 3 placebo-controlled studies of intranasal corticosteroids in patients with perennial rhinitis to determine whether a correlation between the reduction of congestion and improved sleep and daytime somnolence existed. The pooled data of budesonide, flunisolide, and fluticasone demonstrated significantly decreased nasal congestion, sleep problems, and sleepiness in treated patients. The data demonstrated a correlation between a reduction in nasal congestion and an improvement of sleep (P < .01) and daytime somnolence (P = .01). Thus, topical intranasal corticosteroids should be used to decrease nasal congestion and to improve sleep and daytime somnolence in patients manifesting these symptoms.     

扫描电镜图像处理系统及其在细胞超微结构定量计算中的应用

本文介绍一种具有较高性能价格比的生物医学电镜图像处理系统,该系统以IBM PC/XT,AT或386计算机为主机,图像接口板直接插入机内扩展槽。应用软件可对生物医学图像作图像处理和定量计算。作者通过对人膈腹膜超微结构进行定量分析,为腹水的治疗和腹膜透析(CAPD)等临床医学研究,提供了形态学定量资料。     

The meaning of good sleep: a longitudinal study of polysomnography and subjective sleep quality

SUMMARY  The present study sought to investigate the meaning of subjectively good sleep, using a longitudinal and intraindividual design. Eight subjects slept in an isolation unit according to an irregular schedule of 6h sleeps and 1h naps, designed to give normal amounts of time in bed (1/3 of total), but variable sleep quality. Eight sleeps and eight naps were used for longitudinal simple and multiple regression analyses with standard polysomnographical sleep variables as predictors and subjective sleep quality as dependent variables. The results showed that subjective sleep quality (and related variables) was closely related to sleep efficiency, but not sleep stages. At least 87% efficiency was required for ratings of 'rather good' sleep. In addition, sleep quality ratings improved with closeness (of the awakening) to the circadian acrophase (17.00–21.00 hours) of the rectal temperature rhythm. The subjective ease of awakening differed from most other other variables in that it was related to low sleep efficiency. Objective and subjective homologues of sleep length and sleep latency showed high mean intraindividual correlations ( r = 0.55 and 0.64, respectively). It was concluded that objective measures of sleep continuity were closely reflected in perceived sleep quality and that sleep quality essentially means sleep continuity.     

Cytological detection of epithelial dysplasia in the oral mucosa using Feulgen-DNA-image cytometry

Cytological scrape material of the oral mucosa from 114 patients with epithelial dysplasia and with oral cancer was stained with the Feulgen-reaction and investigated with an image analyzer. The size and the integrated optical density of cell nuclei, and four chromatin texture features were measured. All tumor slides contained cell nuclei with DNA greater than 5c, 16% of the slides had cell nuclei with DNA greater than 8c. A total of 14.5% of the tumor patients showed significantly increased DNA values in nuclei distant from the tumor. Two smears with severe epithelial dysplasia showed nuclei with DNA greater than 5c both in the tumor material and far from the tumor. Texture analysis allowed discrimination between benign, dysplastic and malignant smears. No correlation was found between DNA content and tumor staging. Image cytometry was a reliable method for detecting tumor cells. Epithelial dysplasia in areas distant from the tumor is probably due to "field canceration" of the epithelium.     

The New Millennium Palliative Care Project (2000-2003): the impact of specialised GP advisors.

This study describes a novel type of support for GPs caring for patients dying at home: the establishment and evaluation of a telephone advisory service for GPs, run by GPs with a special interest in palliative care (GPwSIs) in the Netherlands 2000-2003. A growing number of GPs called for advice, 10% during out of hours. Prognosis of the patients was generally short (days to weeks in 70% of cases). Most advice sought by GPs concerned symptom management and on evaluation, 85% of the GPs followed the advice.     

Health-related quality of life in relation to gender and age in couples planning IVF treatment

BACKGROUND: Specific subgroups of people planning IVF might be at risk of having more psychological or health-related problems. Identification of subgroups at risk may better enable allocation of appropriate counselling. METHODS: A group of 425 men and 447 women planning to undergo IVF treatment filled out a questionnaire. Four domains of health-related quality of life were measured, namely perceived emotional, physical, cognitive and social functioning. RESULTS: Young men and women (aged 21-30 years) planning IVF had more short-term social and emotional problems than people of the same age group in the general population. No substantial differences were found in cognitive and physical functioning for all age groups of men nor women planning IVF compared with the general population. A high level of irrational parenthood cognitions substantially accounted for a less optimal score on all the different domains of quality of life. These cognitions ('needing a child in order to live a happy life') were especially prevalent among younger women. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high levels of irrational parenthood cognitions are at risk of a less optimal quality of life. A short cognitive counselling therapy is advised for patients with high levels of these cognitions.     

Relationship quality moderates the effect of social support given by close friends on cardiovascular reactivity in women

We examined the role of the type of support provided, gender of support provider, and relationship quality in predicting how social support might influence cardiovascular reactivity during acute stress in women. A group of 88 women received either emotional, instrumental, or no support from a close female or male friend while performing a series of speech tasks. Results suggest that the effectiveness of social support for women depended primarily on the quality of the friendship (i.e., purely positive, or ambivalent). More specifically, women who interacted with a female, ambivalent friend had the largest changes in diastolic blood pressure, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and pre-ejection period compared to the other conditions. Furthermore, receiving emotional support from a purely positive friend was related to lower increases in cardiac output (CO) compared to a no-support condition. In contrast, receiving emotional support from an ambivalent friend was related to larger increases in CO and only small changes in TPR when compared to individuals in the no-support condition. These data are discussed in light of the psychosocial processes underlying social support effects in women, and the importance of a more comprehensive view of how close relationships influence cardiovascular function. This research was generously supported by Grant1 R01 MH58690-01 from the National Institute of Mental Health awarded to Bert N. Uchino.     

A system for interactive film analysis.

An interactive, minicomputer system has been constructed for analyzing dynamic phenomena recorded on movie film in a developmental biology laboratory. The minicomputer interfaces a stop-motion, variable speed projector, a digitizing pen, and real-time graphics display equipment. An analyst uses the pen to digitize features in a film, e.g. by following a cell. A computer-generated animation portraying all data entered is superimposed on the film image and synchronized with it. Noteworthy system features include: image overlays on a large screen, data entry with the projector running, large data capacity, computer control of the projector, and convenient data entry tools.     

Frequent polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma gene (POLG) in patients with normal spermiograms and unexplained subfertility

BACKGROUND: Male fertility largely depends on the quality of sperm production, which may be affected by environmental and genetic factors. In this study, we explored a possible role of the polymerase gamma (POLG) gene polymorphism, recently reported to be associated with male infertility in some populations. METHODS: The polymorphic CAG repeat (usually 10 codons long) in the POLG gene was studied in 1298 male subjects: 429 patients with infertility/subfertility, and 869 controls (495 men from the general population with unknown fertility and 374 recent fathers). In all subjects, the POLG polymorphism was assessed in relation to their semen quality, and--in the fertile controls--with biological fecundity measured as waiting time-to-pregnancy (TTP) for the couples. In the patients lacking the common POLG allele, the outcome of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for the couples was evaluated. RESULTS: The absence of one (10/ not equal to 10) or both common POLG alleles (not equal to 10/not equal to 10) was more frequent among the subfertile patients than among fertile controls (P=0.021 and P=0.04 respectively). The estimated predictive value for infertility in a man homozygous for the POLG polymorphism was 15.5% (95% CI: 4.8-51%). There was a positive association with sperm concentration: 14.3% of the normospermic subfertile patients were homozygous for the absence of the common POLG allele (not equal to 10/not equal to 10), in comparison with 2.3% of unselected controls (P=0.001) and 0.9% of the fertile men (P=0.0001). No association with sperm motility, morphology and TTP was found. Spermatozoa of the three not equal to 10/not equal to 10 patients treated with IVF retained the ability to penetrate the egg, but the fertilization rate was low. Nine homozygous not equal to 10/ not equal to 10 patients were treated with ICSI, resulting in pregnancy in seven couples. CONCLUSIONS: The POLG gene polymorphism should be considered as a possible contributing factor in patients with unexplained subfertility and normal spermiograms. The oocyte penetration ability of sperm may be partially impaired in the not equal to 10/not equal to 10 patients but most of them can be successfully treated with ICSI.