Effects of capsaicin in temporomandibular joint arthritis in rats

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats by unilateral injection of a suspension of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum in paraffin oil into the TMJ. Control rats received paraffin oil by the same route. Arthritic and control rats were pretreated either with capsaicin or denervation of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Tissues were collected for neuropeptide extraction and analysed by radioimmunoassay and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In all groups, the levels of substance P- (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide- (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y- (NPY) like immunoreactivity (LI) were higher in the trigeminal ganglia than in the TMJs. In control rats, capsaicin significantly lowered the levels of SP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not CGRP-LI and NPY-LI. In the arthritic rats, capsaicin pretreatment significantly lowered the SP-LI and CGRP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not the NPY-LI. In the trigeminal ganglia the unilateral denervation significantly lowered SP-LI in control rats, and in arthritic rats SP-LI and CGRP-LI. On the denervated side of the arthritic TMJ, NPY-LI, SP-LI and CGRP- LI were significantly lowered as compared to the arthritic control rats and to the contralateral side. In this rat model, pretreatment with capsaicin and surgical denervation decreased the neuropeptide content in the trigeminal ganglia and the TMJ. The results clearly demonstrate a close interaction between increased neuropeptide release from sensory and sympathetic neurones after induction of arthritis in the rat.     

The nature of the head and neck cancer

Summary Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a disease predominantly of males and is due to a variety of known environmental irritants, notably cigarette smoke. Dietary, viral and immunological factors may also be relevant. Head and neck squamous cancers express epidermal growth factor receptors and some show weak levels of oestrogen receptor activity, but a reliable serum marker of tumour burden remains to be identified. The prognosis is found to be less favourable in females, in those with advanced T stage, in association with multiple node involvement, especially where extracapsular spread is present and where the T4/T8 ratio is elevated. Administration of heterologous blood during therapy may also have an adverse effect on prognosis. Interested clinicians must remember that most cases are preventable. Correspondence to: A.G.D. Maran     

The healing of femoral neck fractures in dogs

Summary This study evaluates healing fractures of the femoral neck in dogs by using standard radiography, intraosseous venography, India ink staining and histology.The 45 animals were divided into three groups, one of which was not treated, but in the other two the fracture was fixed with a screw or two Kirschner wires.Our results suggest that, when intraosseous venography was positive, India ink injection was also positive, and the late phase of fracture healing was reached.

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Résumé Etude de la consolidation des fractures du col fémoral chez le chien à l'aide des radiographies standard, de la phlébographie osseuse, de la coloration par l'encre de Chine et de l'examen anatomopathologique. Les animaux ont été divisés en trois groupes, dans l'un la fracture n'a pas été traitée, dans les deux autres elle a été fixée soit par une vis, soit par deux broches de Kirschner. Les résultats tendent à montrer que lorsque la phlébographie est positive, la coloration par l'encre de Chine l'est également et que la phase ultime de la consolidation est atteinte.

     

Neuropeptide levels in the basal ganglia of aged common marmosets following prolonged treatment with MPTP

Summary Aged common marmosets were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 0.5–2.0 mg/kg/week i.p.) for 16 or 24 weeks, observed for a total of 30 weeks and then killed for measurement of biochemical pramaters in basal ganglia. The MPTP treatment induced a marked depletion in dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in the caudate nucleus and putamen. In contrast, the concentrations of five neuropeptides: [Met⁵]-enkephalin, [Leu⁵]-enkephalin, cholecystokinin, substance P and neurotensin as measured by a combined HPLC/RIA method, remained unaltered in all basal ganglia regions examined. Enkephalin precursor levels, as reflected by cryptic [Met⁵]-enkephalin content, were increased in the putamen, but not in the caudate nucleus, as a consequence of MPTP administration. Cryptic [Leu⁵]-enkephalin content remained unchanged in the striatum of MPTP treated marmosets. Overall, these results suggest an increase in striatal [Met⁵]-enkephalin release following chronic MPTP treatment of aged marmosets. However, the chronic treatment of aged marmosets with MPTP does not reproduce the neuropeptide alterations characteristic of Parkinson's disease.     

快速有效的治疗落枕新法

落枕是一种冬春季常见病,虽然治疗的方法很多，但往往收不到快速、有效和彻底的效果,本文以个案经验和病例调查为基础，提供一种快速有效的自我治疗方法，并期望能够得到广大患者的进一步验证。     

头颈部良性神经源性肿瘤1H MRS的表现特点

目的：探讨头颈部良性神经源性肿瘤在单体素^1H MRS上的表现特点。材料和方法：共收集经单体素。HMRS检查，并经手术病理证实的头颈部神经源性肿瘤14例（神经鞘瘤11例，神经纤维瘤2例，颈动脉体瘤1例）。采用点分析波谱法（PRESS：TE=144ms，14例）和激励回波法（STEAM：TE=30ms，11例）进行。HMRS空间定位，以胆碱和脂质代谢物为标准评价所有肿瘤。波谱图上，胆碱和脂质分别在3．2ppm和0．9—1．4ppm区域识别。结果：采用PRESS后，14例神经源性肿瘤中检测出胆碱代谢物者11例，检出脂质代谢物者6例。胆碱和脂质代谢物同时检出者5例，仅检出胆碱者6例，仅检出脂质者1例，胆碱和脂质均未检出者2例。采用STEAM后，11例肿瘤中检出胆碱代谢物和脂质者分别为3例和8例。结论：头颈部良性神经源性肿瘤的单体素。HMRS表现具有多样性，多数肿瘤以长TEPRESS上胆碱峰的显示为特点，长TEPRESS能较STEAM更好地检出良性神经源性肿瘤内的胆碱代谢物。     

头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.     

臂丛加强化麻醉后并发颈部抽动9例分析

目的探讨臂丛加强化麻醉后颈部抽动的原因及防治。方法对近年来在麻醉方法、用药相同,术后颈部抽动患者的观察治疗过程进行分析。结果臂丛麻醉并发颈部抽动给予充分镇静后可完全治愈。结论麻醉后并发颈部抽动为药物副作用及颈局部刺激的综合作用。     

等长收缩运动治疗单纯颈伸肌劳损的疗效观察

目的总结等长收缩运动治疗单纯颈伸肌劳损的疗效。方法随机将56例单纯颈伸肌劳损分为两组,一组应用等长收缩运动进行治疗,另一组应用手法治疗,对比两组患者疗效。结果治疗1周后,两组患者的总有效率均为100%（P〉0.05）。结论等长收缩运动治疗单纯颈伸肌劳损的疗效与手法治疗相近,但该法具有更安全、经济、且不受条件、时间限制,更有主动巩固疗效和积极预防的作用。