Assessment of Aortic Coarctation and Collateral Circulation By Biplane Transesophageal Echocardiography

Our experience in using biplane transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of coarctation of the aorta is described.     

‘Ischemic tolerance’ phenomenon detected in various brain regions

We investigated the effects of mild and non-lethal ischemic insult on neuronal death following subsequent lethal ischemic stress in various brain regions, using a gerbil model of bilateral cerebral ischemia. Single 10-min ischemia consistently caused neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4, layer III/IV of the cerebral cortex, dorsolateral part of the caudoputamen and ventrolateral part of the thalamus. On the other hand, in double ischemia groups, 2-min ischemic insult 2 days before 10-min ischemia exhibited significant protection in the CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex, the caudoputamen and the thalamus. Five-min ischemic insult 2 days before 10-min ischemia also showed protective effect in the same areas as those of 2-min ischemia except for the CA1 region of the hippocampus, while 1-min ischemic insult exhibited no protective effect in any brain regions. In the immunoblot analysis, both 2- and 5-min ischemia caused increased synthesis of heat shock protein 72 (HSP 72) in the hippocampus, but 1-min ischemia did not. The present study demonstrated that the ‘ischemic tolerance’ phenomenon was widely found in the brain and also suggested that ischemic treatment severe enough to cause HSP 72 synthesis might be needed for induction of ‘ischemic tolerance’.     

Intracerebral distribution of albumin after transient cerebral ischemia: light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical investigation

Summary The blood-brain barrier breaks down following cerebral ischemia, but the exact sequence of events for extravasation of serum proteins and their parenchymal distribution remain uncertain. We studied the distribution of serum albumin in the hippocampus of the gerbil brain using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques. With light microscopy, there was no reaction for albumin for the first 12 h after unilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 10 min and reperfusion. At 12 h, the reaction was weak and limited to the neuropil in the subiculum-CA1 region (between the subiculum and the medial CA1 region). After 24 h, the reaction became intense in the neuropil and neuronal perikarya in the subiculum-CA1 and medial CA1 regions. The electron microscopic immunocytochemical study of the subiculum-CA1 and medial CA1 regions revealed electron-dense immunoprecipitates in the extracellular space and the peripheral part of the apical dendrites as early as 30 min after reperfusion and in the astrocytic cytoplasm after reperfusion for 1 h. However, immunoprecipitates were not found in the neuronal perikarya until after reperfusion for 24 h. The present study demonstrated prompt appearance of albumin in the extracellular space of the brain parenchyma after re-establishment of cerebral circulation and prompt accumulation in the peripheral part of the dendrites with spreading to neuronal perikarya, likely in the process of degeneration and death.Supported by the grant NS-06663 from the National Institutes of Health, U. S. Public Health Service     

Inhibition of glutamate release in rat hippocampus by kynurenic acid does not protect CA1 cells from forebrain ischemia

We assessed the effect of a broad spectrum glutamatergic receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid (500 mg/kg) on ischemia-induced hippocampal glutamate release and neuronal damage. Kynurenic acid significantly decreased glutamate release during ischemia but had no effect on the hippocampal lesion. Some protection was observed in the cortex and in the striatum. These data suggested that the extracellular accumulation of glutamate during forebrain ischemia does not play a major role in the hippocampus.     

常温与低温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响

目的探讨常温及低温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响。方法选择先天性和风湿性心脏病患者40例,随机分为常温组及低温组各20例,分别于术晨、体外循环结束时及术后1、4、7、14 d抽取患者静脉血标本,测定血浆TNF、IL-2、C3、C4值。结果两组术前各项检查指标无显著差异。(1)两组术后1~4 d的IL-2水平较术前显著下降,至术后7 d恢复正常。体外循环结束至术后4 d,低温组IL-2显著低于常温组。(2)体外循环结束时以及术后1、4、7 d,常温组TNF水平显著低于低温组。两组体外循环结束时及术后1、4 d均高于术前,常温组至术后7 d、低温组术后14 d恢复正常。(3)体外循环结束时及术后1、7 d,常温组C3水平高于低温组,术后4 d两组无差别;常温组及低温组于体外循环结束时、术后1、4 d均低于术前,至术后7 d常温组恢复正常,低温组至术后14 d恢复至术前水平。(4)两组体外循环结束时及术后1、4 d C4水平均低于术前。体外循环结束时、术后1 d,常温组C4水平高于低温组。结论常温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响显著轻于低温组,因而对术后机体的恢复优于低温方法。     

Understanding the choroid

Based on previous work, this paper describes the anatomical and functional characteristics of the choroidal vasculature, namely the choriocapillaris, the arterial and arteriovenous anastomosis, the segmental distribution of the short posterior ciliary arteries, and the choroidal veins. The characteristics of the choroidal innervation with reference to the sensory nerve endings are reviewed. Some features of Bruch's membrane may explain the fundoscopic and angiographic appearance of the angioid streaks and the role of its basement membranes in the formation and transport of drusen.     

大鼠脑干缺血模型制备及早期超微结构观察

目的:制备脑干缺血动物模型并观察大鼠脑干缺血后早期组织学病理的超微结构。方法:应用两点电凝基底动脉的方法制作鼠脑干缺血动物模型。结果:病理学观察发现脑干缺血2小时即可出现超早期病理变化,并随时间的延长缺血性损害逐渐加重。结论:两点电凝基底动脉后可以造成稳定的脑干缺血,对急性脑干缺血的病理学研究有一定的价值。     

体外循环浅低温心脏不停跳心内直视手术的临床研究

目的:探讨体外循环浅低温心脏不停跳心内直视手术的方法、疗效评价及其对心肌保护作用。方法:总结2004年3月～2008年12月间12例施行浅低温心脏不停跳心内直视手术病例,并行循环不阻断主动脉,鼻咽温维持在32～35℃,阻断上、下腔静脉,完成心内直视手术。结果:全组无围手术期死亡,心脏手术结束能顺利停机,术后血流动力学平稳,无严重心律失常,血尿发生率0%,无1例发生空气栓塞。1例心房切口缝合针眼渗血,行再次开胸止血,1例术后第32h发生急性肺梗塞,均经治疗痊愈。结论:浅低温心脏不停跳心内直视手术技术安全可行,是一种接近生理状态的心肌保护方法,可避免再灌注损伤,有较理想的心肌保护效果。     

Pharmacologic preconditioning effects: Prostaglandin E1 induces heat-shock proteins immediately after ischemia/reperfusion of the mouse liver

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has several potential therapeutic effects, including cytoprotection, vasodilation, and inhibition of platelet aggregation. This study investigates the protective action of PGE1 against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo using a complementary DNA microarray. PGE1 or saline was continuously administered intravenously to mice in which the left lobe of the liver was made ischemic for 30 minutes and then reperfused. Livers were harvested 0, 10, and 30 minutes postreperfusion. Messenger RNA was extracted, and the samples were labeled with two different fluorescent dyes and hybridized to the RIKEN set of 18,816 full-length enriched mouse complementary DNA microarrays. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels at 180 minutes postreperfusion were significantly lower in the PGE1-treated group than in the saline-treated group. The cDNA microarray analysis revealed that the genes encoding heat-shock protein (HSP) 70, glucose-regulated protein 78, HSP86, and glutathione S-transferase were upregulated at the end of the ischemic period (0 minutes postreperfusion) in the PGE1 group. Our results suggested that PGE1 induces HSPs immediately after ischemia reperfusion. HSPs might therefore play an important role in the protective effects of PGE1 against ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver.     

99Tcm-MIBI动力学变化与大鼠缺血-再灌注心肌存活的相关性研究

目的探讨用99Tcm-甲氧基异丁基异腈(MIBI)动力学变化评价心肌存活的价值.方法15只离体Krebs-Henseleit(KH)液灌注的鼠心脏,随机分成3组对照组(5只),有葡萄糖的缺血-再灌注组(IR+G组,5只),无葡萄糖的缺血-再灌注组(IR-G组,5只).用含99Tcm-MIBI(14.8MBq)的KH液灌注,观察40min的摄取和清除.用肌酸激酶(CK)分析、氯化三苯四唑(TTC)染色和透射电镜(TEM)分析研究心肌损伤程度,用放射自显影(ARG)观察99Tcm-MIBI在心肌内的分布.结果99Tcm-MIBI的摄取[每克组织百分注射剂量率(%ID/g)]在IR+G组为(7.09±0.97)%ID/g,IR-G组为(6.64±0.68)%ID/g,对照组为(11.44±1.79)%ID/g,IR-G组与IR+G组相比摄取量差异无显著性(P＞0.05),IR-G组和IR+G组与对照组相比均显著降低(P＜0.05).IR-G组99m-MIBI清除分数为(72.75±9.89)%,远高于对照组[(20.68±1.92)%]和IR+G组[(21.03±3.68)%,P均＜0.05],对照组与IR+G组的差异无显著性.99Tcm-MIBI的40min清除末滞留率在IR-G组[(1.82±0.73)%ID/g]和IR+G组[(5.61±0.89)%ID/g]远小于对照组[(9.09±1.57)%ID/g,P＜0.05],IR-G组也远小于IR+G组(P＜0.001).CK分析、TFC染色和TEM分析证明IR-G组比IR+G组有更多的心肌损伤.通过TTC染色(r=0.84,P＜0.05)和CK分析(r=-0.97,P＜0.05)确定最终99Tcm-MIBI的活度与存活心肌量高度相关,通过ARG证实99Tcm-MIBI分布于鼠心肌细胞及间质内(光镜下).结论99Tcm-MIBI的清除对代谢状态敏感,可用于评价进行性心肌损伤.