The Broadband-Transient Induced Gamma-Band Response in Scalp EEG Reflects the Execution of Saccades

The contraction of the extra-ocular muscles, during the execution of saccades, produces a strong electric potential in the EEG called the saccadic spike potential (SP). At the frequency spectrum, this SP manifests as a broadband response with most of its power at the gamma-band frequencies. Saccadic activity is known to follow a time-pattern of repression (at around 50–150 ms post stimulus) which is followed by a large increase in saccadic rate at around 200–300 ms post stimulus. Due to this temporal pattern relative to the stimulus, and to the appearance of a SP at each saccade, this increase in saccadic rate shows up after averaging as an increase in gamma-band activity at the time-range of 200–300 ms. Thus, the broadband-transient “induced gamma-band response” frequently reported in the EEG literature, is in fact a “gamma-imposter”, due to ocular myographic activity, and not to neural activity. Previous findings regarding the scalp EEG broadband-transient induced gamma-band response, relating it to neural synchronization and to various cognitive functions should be reevaluated considering the systematic contamination by ocular activity. This article is one of five on the “Special Topic: Discussing Gamma” in issue 22(1) of Brain Topography.     

不同雄激素水平PCOS患者诱导排卵临床结局分析

目的:探讨多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者在不同雄激素水平下诱导排卵的临床妊娠结局。方法:PCOS合并不孕患者352例,根据诱导排卵前基础睾酮(T)水平分为4组:A组60例,基础T正常,直接诱导排卵;B组64例,基础T正常,但仍给予达英-35治疗3个周期后诱导排卵;C组120例,基础T升高,给予达英-35治疗3个周期,复查T正常后诱导排卵;D组108例,基础T升高,给予达英-35治疗3个周期,复查T仍高于正常水平,经患者知情同意后,诱导排卵。比较4组子宫内膜厚度、尿促性素(HMG)用量、周期排卵率、临床妊娠率、流产率的差异。结果:4组子宫内膜厚度、排卵周期临床妊娠率组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组HMG用量最多,周期排卵率、总临床妊娠率最低,与其它3组的差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.05);B、C、D组间周期排卵率、总妊娠率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。A组早期流产率最高,但4组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:基础T水平正常的PCOS患者,诱导排卵前应用口服避孕药治疗可改善临床妊娠结局;口服避孕药治疗后T未降至正常水平,且有生育要求的PCOS患者可试行诱导排卵治疗。     

Lower airway inflammatory responses to repeated very-low-dose allergen challenge in allergic rhinitis and asthma

BACKGROUND: Low-dose allergen challenge (LDAC) may be a useful tool for studying the capacity of allergens to induce airway inflammation in atopic subjects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lower airway inflammatory changes following repeated inhalation of very low doses of allergen (VLDAC) in non-asthmatic subjects with allergic rhinitis (NAAR) compared with mild allergic asthmatic subjects (AA). METHODS: Fourteen NAAR and 11 AA were seen out of the pollen season and had skin prick tests with common aeroallergens. Baseline spirometry (S) and methacholine challenge (MC) were done and blood and induced sputum (IS) differential cell counts were obtained. Each subject underwent VLDAC on four consecutive mornings with a relevant allergen. S, MC, and blood and IS samplings were repeated 6 h after the second and fourth VLDAC and one week later. RESULTS: Although there were, as expected, no changes in FEV1 or PC20 in either group, mean percentage eosinophils on IS were significantly increased in NAAR on day 2 of VLDAC and decreased in all but one subject on day 4, with a tendency to return to baseline levels one week later. In AA, there was a non-significant trend for sputum eosinophils to increase on day 2; four subjects showed a decrease of eosinophils on day 4 of VLDAC. There was a correlation between eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and eosinophil counts in NAAR throughout the study. There were no variations in other sputum cells or blood inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: VLDAC can increase the percentage of eosinophils in IS of NAAR subjects without associated respiratory symptoms nor physiological modifications. A reduction in eosinophilic response despite repeated exposure, more common in NAAR subjects, suggests an adaptation process that needs to be further evaluated.     

痰培养致病菌构成与耐药性分析

目的调查本院呼吸科患者痰培养病原菌分布及耐药性,指导临床合理使用抗菌药物。方法对2011年7月至2013年6月呼吸科的住院患者痰标本进行细菌分离培养、鉴定和药敏试验,利用瑞美数据管理系统,收集阳性结果进行统计分析。结果 1 640株阳性病原菌中,革兰氏阴性杆菌800株,占48.8%,其中铜绿假单胞菌200株,占12.2%,克雷伯菌属198株,占12.0%,流感嗜血杆菌108株,占6.6%,大肠埃希菌98株,占6.0%;检出的主要革兰氏阴性杆菌对阿米卡星、环丙沙星、亚胺培南、左氧氟沙星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、替卡西林/棒酸的敏感性较高,大肠埃希菌和克雷伯菌属产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）的比率分别是59.1%和28.9%,且呈多药耐药性;革兰氏阳性球菌138株,占8.4%,其中金黄色葡萄球菌56株,占3.4%,凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌30株,占1.9%,耐甲氧西林的葡萄球菌占44.2%;检出的主要的革兰阳性球菌对万古霉素、利福平较为敏感。真菌感染呈上升趋势,检出702株,占42.8%,以白色假丝酵母菌为主。结论呼吸道感染以革兰氏阴性杆菌和白色假丝酵母菌为主,其中产ESBLs的大肠埃希菌的比率较高,耐药现象较严重;耐甲氧西林葡萄球菌的感染应引起临床医生的高度重视,病原菌的耐药监测对临床正确合理应用抗生素具有重要的指导作用。     

Correlation between IgA antibody and eosinophil cationic protein levels in induced sputum from asthmatic patients

Background Eosinophils are known to be main effector cells in allergic inflammation and IgA antibody has been shown to be a potent stimulus for eosinophil degranulation in in vitro conditions. Objective To evaluate the possible role of IgA antibodies on eosinophil degranulation in lower respiratory mucosa of asthmatics, we tried to find a correlation between total IgA and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in induced sputum from asthmatics. Methods We measured total IgA and albumin levels by nephelometry, and eosinophil cationic protein levels by Pharmacia CAP system in induced sputum from 23 atopic asthmatics and 12 healthy controls. Results IgA and albumin levels in induced sputum from asthmatics with sputum eosinophilia (sputum eosinophil count 5% of 200 counted non-squamous cells) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those from controls. However, IgA and albumin levels in induced sputum from asthmatics without sputum eosinophilia were not significantly different with those from controls (P > 0.05). In induced sputum from asthmatics, ECP levels were significantly correlated with albumin (r= 0.44, P= 0.04) and IgA levels (r= 0.67, P= 0.002). ECP/albumin ratio was also significantly correlated with IgA/albumin ratio (r= 0.61, P= 0.004). Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that IgA antibodies in tracheobronchial secretion may be involved in eosinophil degranulation in asthma, and further study is needed to prove this hypothesis.     

甲泼尼龙联合顺尔宁治疗重症毛细支气管炎的临床和诱导痰细胞学研究

目的 研究甲泼尼龙(MP)联合顺尔宁治疗重症毛细支气管炎(毛支)的疗效和治疗前后诱导痰细胞学的变化.方法 将64例重症毛细支气管炎患儿随机分为两组,治疗组32例联用MP和顺尔宁治疗,对照组32例用地塞米松治疗.分别观察两组的喘憋消失时间、肺部体征消失时间和住院天数.同时分析治疗组用MP和顺尔宁联合治疗前后的诱导痰细胞学变化.结果 与对照组相比,治疗组的喘憋消失时间、肺部体征消失时间和住院天数均明显缩短(P均＜0.01).经MP和顺尔宁联合治疗后,治疗组的嗜酸性粒细胞和肥大细胞的比例明显下降(P均＜0.001).结论 MP和顺尔宁联合治疗重症毛支的疗效优于常规治疗方法,同时对其诱导痰细胞学有显著影响.     

哮喘患儿诱导痰Clara细胞分泌蛋白与嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白检测的意义

目的探讨Clara细胞分泌蛋白（CCSP）与嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）在儿童支气管哮喘发病机制中的作用,评价其反映哮喘呼吸道炎症的价值。方法本院哮喘专科患儿31例。男18例,女13例;年龄3.7-12.0岁,平均7.6岁;均按全球哮喘防治创议（GINA）方案系统吸入糖皮质激素治疗,在慢性持续期和临床缓解期分别留取诱导痰标本。用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）测定CCSP水平,以Pharmacia UniCAP系统检测ECP水平。结果哮喘慢性持续期患儿诱导痰CCSP质量浓度明显低于临床缓解期（P〈0.001）,而ECP水平明显高于临床缓解期（P〈0.001）,且二者之间呈负相关（r=-0.676P〈0.001）。结论CCSP在哮喘的发病过程中起抗炎作用,而ECP起促炎作用,同时监测诱导痰CCSP、ECP的变化,可较好地反映呼吸道炎症情况,评价疗效及预后。