Voltage-Gated calcium channels and nonvoltage-gated calcium uptake pathways in the rat incisor odontoblast plasma membrane

Odontoblasts participate actively in the transport and accumulation of Ca²⁺ ions to the mineralization front during dentinogenesis. These cells are known to carry membrane-bound ATP-driven pumps and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ antiports for Ca²⁺ extrusion, but little is known about Ca²⁺ influx mechanisms into these cells. It has been shown that the administration of Ca²⁺ channel blockers in vivo strongly impairs Ca²⁺ uptake in the mineral phase during dentinogenesis in the rat; the present in vitro study is aimed at further elucidating odontoblast Ca²⁺ uptake mechanisms. Dissected rat incisor odontoblasts exhibited a pronounced fluorescence when incubated with a fluorescently-labeled (STBodipy) dihydropyridine, which is specific for voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels of the L-type, and this binding was competitively abolished by nifedipine. As assayed by fluorescence spectrometry, odontoblast Ca²⁺ uptake was enhanced by the agonistic dihydropyridine BAYK-8644 (5 μM) as well as by plasma membrane depolarization in a high K⁺ (120 mM) medium. The Ca²⁺ uptake after depolarization was impaired by nifedipine (5 μM). When treated with the Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA; 10 μM), a nonvoltage-gated uptake of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ was identified. This uptake was not influenced by nifedipine (20 μM) but was impaired by lanthanum ions (200 μM). A nonvoltage-gated uptake of Mn²⁺ into CPA-treated cells could be traced using the fura-2 quenching technique. This CPA-induced Ca²⁺ flux was not caused by an alteration of the plasma membrane potential, as assayed with di-8-ANEPPS. The results demonstrate that Ca²⁺ flux into dentinogenically active odontoblasts occurs through voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels of the L-type and by nonvoltage-gated, agonist-sensitive Ca²⁺ uptake pathways. Received: 6 November 1995 / Accepted: 21 February 1996     

Chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents

Summary Twenty-two persons (20 men and 2 women) were examined for their external and internal exposure to the glycol ether 1-methoxypropan-2-ol (PGME) during the production, leak testing and mounting of brake-hoses. For the measurement of external exposure, personal air monitoring was the method of choice. Average concentrations of PGME of 82.2 mg/m³ (22.3 ppm), 68.6 mg/m³ (18.6 ppm) and 11.3 mg/m³ (3.1 ppm) were found in the air of the brakehose production, leak test and mounting areas, respectively. For the estimation of internal exposure to PGME, this glycol ether was measured in both urine and blood. The biological samples were taken post-shift. The highest internal exposure levels were found in the brakehose production section and in the leak test area. The average post-shift concentrations for PGME in workers in the brakehose production section were 4.6 mg/l in urine and 13.5 mg/l in blood; the corresponding figures for workers in the leak test area were 4.2 mg/l in urine and 11.0 mg/l in blood. In blood and urine samples of workers engaged in the mounting area, PGME levels were below the detection limits. The elimination kinetics of PGME were also studied in three highly exposed persons, and mean excretion half-lives of PGME of approximately 4.4 h were found. On the basis of our results we made a rough calculation of a future biological tolerance value: we would except that concentrations of 38-109 mg per litre of blood and 10–31 mg per litre of urine would correspond to the German MAK value for PGME (375 mg/m³).     

A continuous striatal infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine produces a terminal axotomy and delayed behavioral effects

Rat models of Parkinson's disease typically employ a rapid nigral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to produce a near-complete loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons, and thus model end stage disease. The present report describes the use of a continuous, low dose infusion of 6-OHDA into the striatum which produces a terminal axotomy of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons and protracted behavioral response. A solution of 6-OHDA in 0.4% ascorbate, delivered at 37°C from osmotic minipumps, was stable for 8 days as determined by its retained toxicity to a dopaminergic neuroblastoma cell line. The continuous infusion of 0.2 μg 6-OHDA per h did not affect the striatal uptake of [³H]GABA, [³H]choline, or [³H]glutamate but reduced [³H]dopamine uptake by 55% within 1.5 days after the start of the infusion. The striatal infusion of 6-OHDA produced a dose-dependent reduction of striatal dopamine and DOPAC levels but did not alter HVA, 5-HT, or 5-HIAA. An increase in amphetamine-induced ipsiversive rotations occurred within 1.5 days after the acute striatal injection of 20 μg or 30 μg of 6-OHDA but required 4 days to develop with the continuous 6-OHDA infusion. The topography of the lesion mapped by [³H]mazindol binding showed that, begining by 1.5 days, a diffuse depletion of terminals encompassed much of the striatum in the 30 μg acute injection group, whereas in the continuously infused rats, the lesion was apparent only by 4 days and was restricted to a smaller and more completely lesioned area. Unlike acutely lesioned animals, continuously infused rats revealed no obvious loss of dopamine neurons in the pars compacta by 5 weeks after 6-OHDA. The continuous striatal infusion of 6-OHDA can produce a topographically limited terminal axotomy of dopamine neurons and a protracted behavioral impairment.     

脑电分频积分定量法测定甜菜碱对清醒家兔脑电图的影响

本文采用脑电分频积分定量法测定甜菜碱对清醒家兔脑电的影响。清醒家兔静注甜菜碱250mg/kg后,出现高幅幔波夹杂低幅快波脑电,自发脑电积分值((?)vs)显著提高。动物安静少动。结果表明甜菜碱有中枢抑制作用。     

应用国产球囊导管经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术12例报告

本文报告经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术治疗二尖瓣狭窄12例。10例术前平均左房压为18mmHg～40mmHg(26.7±7.15mmHg),术后即刻为4mmHg～18mmHg(10.6±3.86mmHg)P<0.01。跨瓣压差术前10mmHg～40mmHg(19.6±9.05mmHg),术后为0～5mmHg(2.65±2.21mmHg)P<0.01。1例失败,1例术后发生二尖瓣关闭不全急性左心衰竭死亡。     

The pitfalls of the dexamethasone suppression test: A biological marker of endogenous depression?

In the past few years there have been numerous publications which have stressed the value of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as a diagnostic marker of endogenous depression. Our own studies in 333 psychiatric inpatients and 121 healthy subjects did not reveal a differential diagnostic use for the DST. This result is in good agreement with other results in the literature. Our data demonstrate that intervening variables such as severity of illness, weight loss, sleep disturbances, situational stress, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone have an important influence on DST results, regardless of the diagnostic classification.     

Measurement of arterial input functions for dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging using echoplanar images: comparison of physical simulations with in vivo results.

Measurement of the arterial input bolus shape is essential to the quantification of mean transit time and blood flow with dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI. Input functions derived from the echoplanar signal intensity within or near arteries are highly nonlinear, yet such input functions are widely used. We employed a physical model for the echoplanar signal intensity from an artery as a function of contrast agent concentration, artery size, and angle to the magnetic field to test approaches for the measurement of the arterial input function. The simulated results confirmed the strong nonlinearity of signal in the neighborhood of vessels. Of the input function measurement methods considered, the simulations suggested that measurement of signal near but not within a large vessel is most accurate, but mean transit times (MTT) calculated with these input functions are highly sensitive to peak bolus concentration. Input functions determined from voxels demonstrating the shortest first moment overestimated the MTT but the measured MTTs were more robust to changes in peak concentration. Characteristics of the measured in vivo input functions were consistent with the simulations. Our results emphasize the important contribution of input function errors to the uncertainty in MTT and blood flow imaging with DSC MRI.     

粤西地区血小板聚集率正常人群参考范围的建立

目的 :为粤西地区血小板聚集率的临床检测提供参考标准。方法 :采用北京普利生仪器有限公司生产的 L BY-NJ型多功能血液凝聚仪。以终浓度 2 .5 μmol/ L ADP为诱导剂 ,对 6 38例正常人按年龄、性别分组 ,分别检测血小板 1m in、3min、5 min及 Max聚集率 ,并进行统计学分析。结果 :各年龄组男女性别 PAG无显著性差异 ( P>0 .0 5 ) ;小于 35岁年龄组与 35～ 5 5岁年龄组比较 ,PAG无显著性差异 ( P>0 .0 5 ) ;35～ 5 5岁年龄组与大于等于 5 5岁年龄组比较 ,1min及 3mim PAG存在显著性差异 ( P<0 .0 5 )、5 min及 Max PAG相差非常显著 ( P<0 .0 1) ;小于 35岁年龄组与大于等于5 5岁年龄组比较 ,PAG有非常显著性差异 ( P<0 .0 1) ;小于 5 5岁年龄组与大于等于 5 5岁年龄组比较 ,PAG差异有极显著性意义 ( P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 0 1)。结论 :5 5岁以上年龄组与 5 5岁以下年龄组的 PAG结果 ,可作为粤西地区同类方法PAGT的正常参考值供临床检测参考