Nonlinear sensory cortex response to simultaneous tactile stimuli in writer's cramp.

Writer's cramp is a task-specific dystonia that leads to involuntary hand postures during writing. Abnormalities of sensory processing may play a pathophysiological role in this disorder. Electrophysiology studies in a monkey model of focal dystonia have revealed de-differentiation of sensory maps and the existence of single cells in hand regions of area 3b with enlarged receptive fields that extend to the surfaces of more than one digit. These changes may lead to abnormal processing of simultaneous sensory inputs. To study abnormal processing of simultaneous sensory information in adult humans with writer's cramp, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the response in primary sensory cortex with simultaneous tactile stimulation of the index and middle finger, with the response to stimulation of each finger alone. We tested five patients with writer's cramp and seven unaffected (normal) subjects. In the normal subjects, a linear combination of the activation patterns for individual finger stimulation predicts the pattern of activity for combined stimulation with 12% error. In writer's cramp patients, the linear combination predicted the combined stimulation pattern with 30% error. Results indicate a nonlinear interaction between the sensory cortical response to individual finger stimulation in writer's cramp. This altered interaction may contribute to the motor abnormalities.     

pp60c-src encoded by the proto-oncogene c-src is a product of sensory neurons

The advent of recombinant DNA technology has led to the identification in the DNA of normal animal cells of over 30 proto-oncogenes that are homologous to retroviral transforming genes. One of these encodes a protein kinase (pp60c-src) of unknown function, that is preferentially synthesized in brain and neural retina. Here the expression of pp60c-src in the peripheral nervous system was examined in sensory neurons from chick dorsal root ganglia with antisera raised against the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) expressed in Escherichia coli carrying the cloned v-src gene. This antiserum recognizes pp60c-src specifically in normal chicken cells. Western immunoblotting showed that dorsal root ganglia of stage 30 (day 6.5) chick embryos contained elevated levels of pp60c-src. Immunoperoxidase staining of neuron-enriched cultures prepared from chick dorsal root ganglia showed pp60c-src immunoreactivity in cells with neuronal morphology; flat, fibroblastic cells contained no detectable immunoreactivity. Indirect double immunofluorescence with pp60src antibodies and monoclonal antibodies against the 200-kD subunit of neurofilament protein confirmed that the cells expressing pp60c-src were neurons. Ninety-six percent of the neurofilament-positive cells were immunoreactive with pp60src antibodies, and conversely, all pp60c-src-positive cells were immunoreactive with neurofilament antibodies. pp60c-src immunofluorescence appeared to be distributed over the cell body, processes, and growth cones. These results clearly demonstrate that pp60c-src is a product of neurons and is expressed in sensory neurons in culture.     

Peripheral large nerve fibre function in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, the concomitant occurrence of peripheral neuropathy has been reported in several psoriatic patients. Thus, the aim of the present study was to answer the question whether an impairment of peripheral large nerve fibre function may exist in psoriasis. Thirty-two patients with severe and generalized chronic plaque psoriasis and 32 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were evaluated by detailed clinical neurological and standard neurophysiological examination. The latter included motor nerve conduction study of one nerve in the upper and one in the lower extremities and sensory nerve conduction study of one nerve in the upper and two in the lower extremities. Neurological examination failed to demonstrate any clinical evidence of large fibre neuropathy. Furthermore, all values of the examined neurophysiological parameters were within normal limits; comparisons of the corresponding mean values in the patient and the control group showed no statistically significant differences. These findings demonstrate no measurable abnormalities of the peripheral large nerve fibres in psoriatic patients and therefore an association of psoriasis with peripheral large fibre neuropathy cannot be suggested.     

Effects of training on odor judges scoring intensity

Objective:  This pilot study was intended to test whether a training protocol improved validity of odor judges (OJs), with or without experience, and whether odorant types differed in error proneness.
Methods:  The OJs (four experienced, two inexperienced) completed a 4-phase training protocol based on the American Society of Testing and Materials standards (ASTM): (i) introduction to sensory scales, n-butanol reference, sniffing techniques; (ii) pretraining measurements; 20 samples of varying intensities of four unpleasant and three pleasant odorants; (iii) exercises assessing quality, intensity, ranking, and matching; and (iv) post-training measurements.
Main outcome measures:  Subjects' intensity scores were analyzed as the absolute difference from the 'true' intensity (ASTM n-butanol standard) using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:  Training significantly ( P  = 0.02) reduced OJ errors. Experienced and novice judges did not differ in average errors ( P  = 0.99), or in improvement in error from pre- to post-training ( P  = 0.94). Improvement was consistent from pre- to post-training for all odorants except dimethylsulfide for which errors worsened ( P  = 0.01). Unpleasant and pleasant odorants differed ( P  = 0.006) in error. After removing water the effects of water control scores from the pleasant odorants, the difference was not significant ( P  = 0.26).
Conclusions:  The OJs improved in their ability to assess odor intensity irrespective of previous experience. Training is recommended for all OJs prior to research trials.     

胆碱酯酶重活化剂PAM类构型、构象问题

本文参考X-衍射数据,采用MNDO程序计算了不同构型、构象PAM类的生成热,结合核磁共振数据讨论了PAM类构象等问题.结果表明,PAM类在水溶液中:顺式体肟基可以自由旋转,任何一种构象都可能成为药效构象;反式体肟基本不可能存在稳定的平面构象,其药效构象只能是优势构象.用MNDO程序中反应途径的计算法,还计算了顺、反式肟基构型相互转变的势垒,为探讨PAM类重活化机理提供了一定的参考.     

A guar-enriched wholemeal bread reduces postprandial glucose and insulin responses

We have developed a guar wholemeal bread and tested its physiological efficacy and sensory qualities. The objective of the study was to estimate the optimum concentration of guar in bread required to reduce postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia without adversely affecting the quality of the bread. Following overnight fasts, 15 normal weight, non-diabetic subjects consumed meals of wholemeal bread alone (controls) and supplemented with guar at three different concentrations (5, 10 and 15% replacement of wheat flour). Blood samples for glucose and insulin analysis were taken preprandially, and at 30 and 60 min after the start of each meal. The acceptability of the wholemeal control and guar breads was assessed using a hedonic scaling method. A significantly lower blood glucose rise at 30 min was found after the 15% guar bread meal compared to the control. Plasma insulin responses at 30 and 60 min were significantly lower after the 10 and 15% guar bread meals compared to the controls. Hedonic scores indicated that the subjects found the 5 and 10% guar breads acceptable and in the case of the 5% variety the mean score was identical to the control. We suggest that a guar concentration of between 5 and 10% replacement of wheat flour (wholemeal or white) should be used for the baking of guar wholemeal bread but further work is needed to define the precise quantity of guar required.     

Sensory functions of institutionalized Romanian infants: A pilot study

Infants living in an orphanage (n = 22) in Romania were assessed on the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI). Testing of the institutionalized infants was done before and 6 months after an enriched caregiver intervention program. Results showed significant changes in areas of reactivity to tactile deep pressure, visual-tactile integration, oculomotor control, reactivity to vestibular stimulation and total test responses. No significant changes occurred in the area of adaptive motor functions. Effects of sensory deprivation resulting from institutional settings and changes that can occur from enriched caregiver environments are discussed.     

肠杆菌科新种细菌的分离鉴定及致病性研究

报告了从辽宁省部分地区腹泻和感染标本中检出的成团肠杆菌、非脱羧勒克氏菌、克吕沃尔氏菌、彭氏变形菌、霍堆氏肠杆菌的分离、鉴定，药敏试验及致病性研究结果．部分菌株可引起动物、生物模型病变，证明有致病力．与人的腹泻和感染有关．致病性研究中，溶血性阳性率最高，依次为乳鼠灌胃，ＨｅＰ—２细胞、Ｖｅｒｏ细胞病变，兔肠袢结扎．豚鼠角膜侵袭试验无阳性．药敏试验证实，５组细菌抗药谱已很广，临床可用的敏感药物不多，一旦发生感染，治疗将十分困难．     

Sensory neuropeptides are not directly involved in bronchial hyperresponsiveness induced by interleukin-8 in guinea-pigs in vivo

Background Interleukin-8 (IL-8) hus been shown to be a chemotactic factor for netitrophils, T-lymphocytes and eosinophils. Repeated intranasal administration of IL-8 enhances bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine in guinea-pigs. Neuropeptides which arc released trotn C-fibre nerve-endings have been postulated to induce bronchial hyperresponsiveness through neurogenic inflammation. Objective This study was conducted to examine whether sensory neuropeptides are involved in the IL-8-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Methods IL-8 at a dose of 5μg/kg was administered intranasally to guinea-pigs twice a week for 3 weeks. One day after the last administration, animals were anesthetized and artificially ventilaled through tracheal cannula, and lateral pressure at the tracheal cannula (Pao) was measured as an overall index of airway responses lo increasing concentrations of inhaled histamine (25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL). A NKI and NK2 dual antagonist FK224(10mg/kg), a selective NK1 antgonist FK888 (10mg/kg) or vehicle was intravenously administered 10min before measurement of bronchial responsiveness. Result The IL-8 treatment significantly enhanced bronchial responsiveness to histamine (ANOVA P < 0.01). FK224 or FK888 did not alter the IL-8-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Conclusion We conclude that repeated intranasal administratioti of IL-8 causes bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and that neuropeptides such as neurokinin A and substance P do not directly contribute to the development of BHR induced by IL-8.     

胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后关系的临床分析

目的探讨胫骨延长后骨痂直径与新生骨预后的关系.方法 1996年1月～2001年12月,对68例胫骨延长者测量达所需延长长度时的骨痂直径,计算骨痂直径率(callus diameter ratios,CDR);统计拆除外固定架后2～4周时新生骨发生骨折例数及畸形角度,比较骨折和成角畸形与CDR的关系.结果拆除外固定架前胫骨前屈角度5度以上畸形19例,其中11例发生骨折;拆除外固定架后胫骨出现5度以上畸形6例,其中2例骨折;其余43例胫骨延长骨痂正常愈合.计算CDR值:CDR值小于80% 23例,其中发生新生骨骨折13例,成角畸形5度以上者21例;CDR在81%～85%之间6例,成角畸形5度以上4例;CDR值超过86% 39例,无畸形或新生骨骨折.结论胫骨延长时CDR小于80%时,容易发生新生骨骨折和畸形;CDR大于85%时,无新生骨骨折和畸形发生;两组间具有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CDR是判断骨痂能否正常愈合较为理想的检测指标.