Proposal of a new electromechanical total artificial heart: the TAH Serpentina

A new type of energy converter for an electro-mechanical total artificial heart (TAH) based on the principle of a unidirectional moving motor is described. Named the TAH Serpentina, the concept consists of 2 major parts, a pendulum shaped movable element fixed on one side using a joint bearing and a special shaped drum cam. Pusher plates are mounted flexibly to the crossbar of the pendulum. A motor drives the special shaped drum cam linked to the pendulum through a ball bearing. The circular motion of the unidirectional moving brushless DC motor is transferred into the linear motion of the pendulum to drive the pusher plates. Using a crossbar with a variable length, the stroke of the pendulum and therefore the displaced blood volume is alterable. To achieve a variable length, an electric driven screw thread or a hydraulic system is possible. Comparable to the natural heart, cardiac output would be determined by frequency and stroke volume.     

The influence of δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on intraocular pressure in the anaesthetized cat

⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (⁹-THC) was injected both intravenously and into the brain stem via the left vertebral artery. Contrary to results obtained with clonidine, neither the fall in intraocular pressure (IOP), nor the arterial hypotension induced by ⁹-THC, were enhanced after the central administration of the drug. For clonidine, a central mechanism underlying the ocular hypotensive effect has recently been proposed. This suggestion is based upon the enhanced fall in IOP after central administration of clonidine. The pontomedullary area is considered to be the main initial target of this drug. Obviously, the IOP-lavering mechanism of ⁹-THC is different from that of clonidine.     

Induction of vascular haemostasis by Nd:YAG laser light in melanin-rich and melanin-free tissue

Haemostasis was effected in vessels of melanin-rich (MR: choroid) and melanin-free (MF: mesentery) rabbit tissue irradiated with a cw-Nd: YAG laser. The following parameters were employed: - pulse duration: 200 ms (MR) and 100ms (MF); focal spot diameter: 200 m (MR) and 80 m (MF); pulse energies: 100–250 mJ (MR) and 0.5-1J (MF); irradiances: 1.6–4.0kWcm^–2 (MR) and 1–2 × 10²kWcm² (MF). In melanin-rich tissue, laser energy is absorbed principally by melanin granules contained within the stromal melanocytes. The heat generated in these structures radiates into the surrounding tissue where it is dissipated. The damage thus incurred by the endothelium of blood vessels encompassed within this field triggers the haemostatic mechanism whereby blood flow is arrested. This effect is realized by the formation of an occluding plug of platelets, which is stabilized by the deposition of fibrin, particularly in capillaries, and to a lesser degree in larger vessels of the vascular lamina. In melanin-free tissue, haemoglobin serves as the primary site of energy absorption, which is thus shifted from the stroma to the vessel lumen. Irradiation of vessels in such tissue leads to thermocoagulation of plasma proteins and consequent stasis of blood flow.     

Possible role of dopamine in central effects of cocaine as measured by apomorphine gnawing test in mice

Apomorphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) does not induce in mice a compulsion to gnaw, but pretreatment with cocaine (10–40 mg/kg, i.p.) caused gnawing activity. This effect of cocaine was inhibited by pretreatment with -methyl-p-tyrosine, haloperidol, and physostigmine, but not with FLA-63, phenoxybenzamine and tetrabenazine. These findings would suggest that dopaminergic mechanism plays a significant role in the potentiation of apomorphine gnawing activity by cocaine and also support the view that inhibition of dopamine uptake is responsible for the stimulatory action of cocaine.     

针刺的中枢调节机制研究进展

针刺作为一种有效的辅助治疗手段已被广泛应用于临床。近年来对针刺的镇痛作用及对功能性疾病的调节作用研究颇多 ,除应用传统电生理学方法外 ,还采用了分子生物学、免疫组织化学、脑功能成像等先进的技术来探讨针刺对脑的经典神经递质、神经激素、神经元代谢等的影响 ,为针刺的中枢调节机制提供了理论基础。本文主要就针刺的中枢作用及方法学等方面加以讨论     

中药透皮吸收促进剂的研究与发展

中药以其自身独特的优势倍受药学界的关注，中药透皮吸收促进剂已成为经皮给药研究的热点之一。研究较多的中药透皮吸收促进剂有薄荷醇、冰片、精油类等多种中药提取物，应用中可单独作用，也可与化学透皮吸收促进剂联合使用。对中药促透机制的研究也是当前药学界的热点之一。在概述这些研究成果的基础上，就中药透皮吸收促进剂的开发提出一些思路。     

肱骨外髁的生物力学实验研究及其临床应用

目的 :从生物力学角度探讨肱骨外髁骨折的发生机制和固定方法。方法 :通过电测实验法、三维光弹实验法 ,空间有限元分析法 ,研究肱骨外髁在各种体位下的受力情况和复位固定方法 ,三种实验方法互为验证 ,并应用于临床。结果 :66例肱骨外髁翻转骨折病人 ,经治疗优良率达 90 .9%。结论 :肱骨外髁骨折好发于肘关节半屈曲位跌倒 ,和肘关节伸直内翻位跌倒。骨折复位后固定在屈肘 60°～ 90°前臂旋后位最为稳定。本实验结论具有推广应用价值。     

贝类毒素检验及排除方法的研究进展

简要介绍了麻痹性贝类毒素、腹泻性贝类毒素、神经性贝类毒素及健忘性贝类毒素等贝类毒素的来源、性质、组成及中毒机理，并探讨了贝类毒素的检验及其排除方法。     

虎杖提取物抗炎作用的实验研究

[目的]考察虎杖的乙酸乙酯提取物的抗炎作用及初步机制。[方法]分别以地塞米松、阿司匹林和环磷酰胺为阳性对照药,采用虎杖的乙酸乙酯提取物对小鼠和大鼠的多种炎症模型进行抑制实验。[结果]虎杖的乙酸乙酯提取物对角叉菜胶所致大鼠足跖肿胀有显著抑制作用(P<0.00 J);对小鼠、大鼠纸片法所致肉芽肿有显著抑制作用(P<0.01);对腹腔注射醋酸所致小鼠毛细血管通透性增高有显著抑制作用(P<0.01);对角叉菜胶所致小鼠肿胀足中炎症介质PGE2合成有显著抑制作用(P<0.001);对三硝基氯苯诱导的小鼠迟发性超敏反应有显著抑制作用(P<0.01);对肾上腺切除大鼠纸片法致肉芽肿(P<0.01)及角叉菜胶所致足跖肿胀(P<0.05)有显著抑制作用,但其抑制率均较正常大鼠相应实验抑制率有所降低。[结论]虎杖的乙酸乙酯提取物有一定的抗炎作用,其作用机制可能是抑制炎症介质PGE2的合成、抑制细胞免疫及与垂体-肾上腺皮质系统有关。