Central tumour necrosis factor-α mediates the early gastrointestinal motor disturbances induced by lipopolysaccharide in sheep

Cytokines are involved in fever and other symptoms of the acute phase response induced by endotoxins. The aim of this work was to study the involvement of central tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the changes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in sheep. Body temperature and myoelectric activity of the antrum, duodenum and jejunum was recorded continuously. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of LPS (0.1 micro g kg-1)-induced hyperthermia, decreased gastrointestinal myoelectric activity and increased the frequency of the migrating motor complex (MMC). These effects started 40-50 min after LPS and lasted for 6-7 h. TNF-alpha (50 and 100 ng kg-1) mimicked these effects when injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) but not i.v. Pretreatment with soluble recombinant TNF receptor (TNFR:Fc, 10 micro g kg-1, i.c.v.) abolished the TNF-induced actions and reduced those evoked by LPS. Furthermore, the effects induced by either LPS or TNF were suppressed by prior i.c.v. injection of indomethacin (100 micro g kg-1). In contrast, the i.v. injections of TNFR:Fc or indomethacin were ineffective. Our data suggest that LPS disturbs GI motility in sheep through a central pathway that involves TNF-alpha and prostaglandins sequentially.     

The routine assessment of sperm motility at room temperature and 37°C

The World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory manual (1992) states that assessment of sperm motility can be performed at either 37^OC or room temperature (20–24^OC). The motility of spermatozoa in 44 semen samples (22 fresh samples and 22 frozen-thawed samples) was assessed at both of these temperatures and a significant difference in the motility profiles was noted, specifically an increase at 37^OC in the percentage (expressed here as median and ranges) of spermatozoa with excellent progressive motility and an overall increase in the percentage with total progressive motility. With fresh samples the excellent progressive motility increased from 41 (19–53) to 54 (30–66) and the overall motility from 58.5 (39–74) to 65.0 (40–79). With the frozen—thawed samples the excellent motility increased from 14 (1–33) to 25 (6–45) and the overall motility from 30.5 (14–51) to 33.0 (16–52). As the WHO laboratory manual was published. 'In response to a growing need for the standardisation of procedures for the examination of human spermatozoa' it is proposed that only one temperature for routine analysis should be used, namely 37^OC, which may have more physiological relevance and eliminate effects of fluctuations in ambient laboratory temperature.     

锤造全冠的适合性实验研究（三种缩颈方法的比较）

用实验方法比较三种常用的缩颈方法及评价锤造全冠的边缘适合性。结果表明各组边缘间隙均大于０．１８０ｍｍ，说明锤造全冠边缘适合性较差，临床检查难以确定其间隙大小。各组近胎面轴壁间隙较小，这与冠成形时此处受力较大，冠周径变小有关，提示临氏上应避免用力和反复锤击此处。各组胎面间隙均大于０．１３０ｍｍ，表明面升高，边缘浮出量较大，冠尚未完全就位。当硬铅代型与缩颈器之间未预留冠套间隙时，所得的锤造全冠适合性更差，面间隙最大（０．９４５ｍｍ）。     

Convection warmers — not just hot air

We sought to determine whether the forced air convection warmers (nine Bair Huggers, Augustine Medical, and one Warm Touch, Mallinkrodt Medical) used in our operating theatres could be a source of microbial pathogens. Agar plates were placed directly in the air stream of the warmers. Four of these grew potentially pathogenic organisms. When the warmers were set to blow through perforated blankets, no growth occurred. Three of the warmers were swabbed and sites of colonisation were found in their hoses. After fixing a microbial filter to the end of the hose, organisms were no longer detectable. We conclude that these warming devices are a potential source of nosocomial infection. They should only be used in conjunction with perforated blankets, should have their microbial filters changed regularly and their hoses sterilised. The inclusion of a microbial filter into the nozzle of the hose could be incorporated into the design of the warmer.     

The effect of cooling on toe systolic pressures in subjects with and without Raynaud's syndrome in the lower extremities

Summary. The effect of changes in local and body temperature on the toe systolic pressures was studied in 20 subjects with and 30 without Raynaud's syndrome in the toes. The pressures were significantly lower in the group with Raynaud's syndrome under all experimental conditions (P < 0·01). The pressures were significantly lower during body cooling than during body warming in both groups (P < 0·01). The mean decrease with body cooling was 58 mmHg in the group with Raynaud's syndrome and 24 mmHg in the control subjects (P < 0·01). During body cooling pressures fell to less than 30 mmHg in 70% of subjects with Raynaud's syndrome and in 3% of the controls. Local cooling from 30 to 10°C during body cooling resulted in a significant mean decrease in pressure of over 40 mmHg in both groups (P < 0·01) and the pressure fell below 30 mmHg in over 90% of the group with and in 26% of those without Raynaud's attacks. The results indicate the importance of body cooling and local temperature in the mechanism of vasospasm in the toes. They are also relevant to the diagnosis of Raynaud's syndrome in the lower limbs and have implications for the testing of patients with arteriosclerotic occlusion since erroneously low pressure values could be obtained in tests when the feet are cold.     

膀胱冲洗液适宜温度的临床探讨

目的 :确定最适温度的膀胱冲洗液 ,最大限度的减少膀胱痉挛的次数和强度 ,减少出血 ,提高病人生活质量。方法 :采用六组不同温度冲洗液对术后病人行持续膀胱冲洗 ,记录膀胱痉挛次数 ,膀胱出血程度及体温变化的情况。结果 :随着冲洗液温度升高 ,膀胱痉挛平均次数减少 ,冲洗前后患者体温差逐渐变小 ,2 0℃～ 3 0℃温度组术后冲洗液红细胞计数平均数明显低于其它温度组。结论 :2 0℃～ 3 0℃是持续膀胱冲洗的最适温度     

Persistent loss of thermoregulation in the rat induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “Ecstasy”) but not by fenfluramine

Using radio-biotelemetry, the timecourse of recovery and sensitivity to ambient temperature (Ta) of the thermogenic response of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “Ecstasy”) was examined. Ambient temperatures of 17 and 22°C produced very different response profiles, with the lower temperature producing a hypothermic response to 10 and 15 mg/kg doses of MDMA, and the higher temperature producing a profound hyperthermia to the same doses. Although the peak responses to the drug had subsided within 5 h of administration, residual effects, in the form of an elevation of body temperature during the “low” phase of the diurnal cycle, were present for a further 48 h. Long-lasting disruption of the thermoregulatory system following a short series of MDMA administrations (10 mg/kg once per day for 4 days) was shown by exposing the rats in the undrugged state to a thermoregulatory challenge, consisting of 60-min exposure to a Ta of 30°C, at 1 week before, and at 4 weeks and 14 weeks after the drug administration. MDMA-treated rats showed a prolonged hyperthermic response to the challenge at both post-drug intervals compared with fenfluramine-treated rats and saline-treated controls. Thus, the results indicate both that MDMA’s thermogenic effects are more sensitive to Ta than previously demonstrated, and that the serotonergic neurotoxicity of the drug may produce long-lasting changes in thermoregulatory mechanisms. Received: 7 December 1997/Final version: 23 January 1998     

用酸蚀法提高纯钛与光固化冠桥树脂粘结强度的研究

目的：研究用酸蚀法提高钛与光固化复合树脂剪切粘结强度的可行性，并观察表面粗糙度与剪切粘结强度之间的关系。方法：采用不同浓度的酸蚀剂对钛铸件表面进行酸蚀，并与artglass光固化复合树脂进行粘结，以单纯喷砂组为对照，比较剪切粘结强度的差异。对酸蚀后及剪切试验后的金属表面进行扫描电镜观察，并测定其表面粗糙度。结果：用酸蚀法可以显著提高钛与复合树脂的粘结强度，HF浓度为4％时粘结强度最高。表面粗糙度随酸蚀剂的浓度增高而下降。结论：纯钛铸件用酸蚀法处理后可以获得较高的粘结强度，HF酸浓度以4％为宜。表面粗糙度对粘结强度不起决定性作用。     

Delayed sleep phase syndrome: A placebo-controlled cross-over study on the effects of melatonin administered five hours before the individual dim light melatonin onset

In a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study, 30 patients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) were included, of whom 25 finished the study. Melatonin 5 mg was administered during two weeks in a double-blind setting and two weeks in an open setting successively or interrupted by two weeks of placebo. The study's impact was assessed by measurements of the 24-h curves of endogenous melatonin production and rectal temperature (n=14), polysomnography (n=22), actigraphy (n=13), sleep log (n=22), and subjective sleep quality (n=25). Mean dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) (±SD), before treatment, occurred at 23.17 hours (±138 min). Melatonin was administered five hours before the individual DLMO. After treatment, the onset of the nocturnal melatonin profile was significantly advanced by approximately 1.5 hour. Body temperature trough did not advance significantly. During melatonin use, actigraphy showed a significant advance of sleep onset and polysomnography, a significant decreased sleep latency. Sleep architecture was not influenced. During melatonin treatment patients felt significantly more refreshed in the morning. These results show that analysis of DLMO of patients suffering from DSPS is important both for diagnosis and therapy. These results are discussed in terms of the biochemistry of the pineal.     

突触小泡膜表面突起与微管联系的超微结构研究

本研究用透射电镜技术观察了大脑皮质（视区）和海马（CA1区和CA3区）的神经终末内的突触小泡和微管间的联系。结果揭示：在适当的超薄切片样品上，常显示出突触小泡膜表面上有短的突起，说明突触小泡是借其膜表面的短突与其它小泡和微管进行联系的。除小泡外，在微管的表面也见一些短突并与小泡发生接触。本文首次报道了用透射电镜方法观察脑内小泡-微管借表面短突连接的联系，提示突触小泡膜表面和微管表面的短突在轴浆运输机制中负有重要的作用。