Assessment of anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos in sodium lauryl sulphate-induced irritant contact dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos (PoCo) on experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) in a repeated sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) irritation model. METHODS: The anti-irritative effect of PoCo was evaluated with a visual score and quantified by non-invasive bioengineering methods, namely chromametry and transepidermal water loss. Three concentrations of PoCo in base cream DAC (amphiphilic emollient; German pharmacopoeia) were tested in a 4-day repetitive irritation test using SLS. RESULTS: A statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity was observed for PoCo by all three methods when applied in parallel to the induction period of ICD. Application of PoCo after induction of ICD once a day for 5 days, starting just at the end of 4 days, was without any effect. CONCLUSION: An anti-inflammatory efficacy of PoCo on the elicitation phase of the ICD induced by repeated SLS test could be observed and quantified by three independent, non-invasive biophysical assessment parameters. This effect can be explained by its influence on pro-inflammatory enzymes, namely phospholipase A2.     

微创内固定系统在膝关节周围复杂骨折治疗中的应用

目的探讨AO微创内固定系统(less invasive stab ilization system,LISS)治疗膝关节周围复杂骨折的效果。方法2004年4月~2005年6月对15例干骺端闭合性膝关节周围复杂骨折(左侧9例,右侧6例),分别应用股骨远端LISS或胫骨近端LISS行内固定治疗。结果15例随访5~26个月,平均13.2月。完全负重时间为12~26周,X线骨愈合时间11~24周,无延迟愈合及骨不连。浅表感染1例,皮肤水疱2例,经换药后愈合。无深部感染及皮肤坏死,无骨筋膜室综合征。Johner-W ruhs方法评价功能优11例、良3例、中1例,以优良为满意标准,本组满意率为93.3%(14/15)。1例C3型胫骨平台骨折在术后2周出现胫骨内侧骨块明显移位伴髁间分离,二次手术在胫骨平台内侧加以支撑钢板固定,术后20周骨折愈合,功能评价为良;1例C3型胫骨平台骨折在术后8周出现膝内翻(胫骨平台内翻角为82°),术后20周骨折愈合,功能评价为中。结论LISS适用于单处股骨远端、胫骨近端骨折及骨质疏松性股骨干远端骨折的治疗;对于胫骨平台C3型骨折内侧平台粉碎严重时,不能过分依赖LISS系统,或将接骨板置于内侧,而应该考虑在内侧辅助支撑钢板。     

阻塞性黄疸大鼠肾脏自分泌内皮素的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系

目的　探讨阻塞性黄疸时肾脏自分泌内皮素 (ET)的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系。方法　结扎胆总管(BDL)制备阻塞性黄疸大鼠模型 ,作为实验组 ,对照组鼠仅行假手术。分别于术后 5、1 0及 1 5d ,两组各取 1 0只大鼠检测其肾脏对氨基马尿酸清除率 (CPAH)、菊粉清除率 (CIN)和钠排泄分数 (FENa+) ,并用鲎试剂法测定血浆内毒素 (EX)水平 ,放射免疫法测定肾动、静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量。结果　①实验组术后 5d仅FENa+明显高于对照组 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,术后 1 0d起 ,CPAH、CIN及FENa+呈进行性下降 ,术后 1 5dFENa+已较对照组低 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;②实验组术后血浆EX水平呈进行性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;③实验组术后肾动脉血浆ET 1水平呈持续性降低 ,而肾静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量呈持续性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;④血浆EX水平与肾组织ET 1含量呈正相关 (r =0 .762 4 ,P<0 .0 1 ) ,肾组织ET 1含量与CPAH和CIN呈负相关 (r=- 0 .883 2 ,P<0 .0 1 ;r =- 0 .945 2 ,P<0 .0 1 )、与FENa+呈正相关 (r=0 .873 4 ,P<0 .0 1 )。结论　内毒素血症及其诱导的肾内ET分泌增加在阻塞性黄疸所致大鼠肾损害中可能具有重要作用     

Cell transplantation to improve ventricular function in the failing heart

Current therapies for congestive heart failure are limited in efficacy or in applicability. Cardiac cell transplantation offers a novel therapeutic approach to improve heart function. Although significant progress has been made over the past decade in the development of cell transplantation, only recently have investigators studied the changes in ventricular function following cell transplantation. This review article describes the latest research developments, evaluates recent studies of ventricular function after cell transplantation, and discusses the future directions of cell transplantation as a new therapy to ‘repair broken hearts’.     

Sexual sequelae of antihypertensive drugs: Treatment effects on self-report and physiological measures in middle-aged male hypertensives

Antihypertensive drugs are commonly associated with adverse side effects in both clinical and laboratory studies. We investigated the sexual sequelae of several major classes of antihypertensive drugs (e.g., beta blockers, central alpha agonists, diuretics) in normal males and in hypertensive patients. We compared the effects of four widely used agents (methyldopa, propranolol, atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene) and placebo, in a selected sample of 21 sexually dysfunctional male hypertensives, 13 of whom completed all five phases of the study. Each study drug was administered for a 1-month treatment period, followed by a 2-week, single-blind washout phase, according to a randomized, Latin square crossover design. Dependent variables for the study included a broad range of hormonal, NPT, and self-report measures of sexual response. Results indicated a lack of consistent drug effects on measures of sexual response, although more frequent sexual and nonsexual side effects were observed with methyldopa and propranolol. As in our previous studies, age was negatively correlated with both hormonal and NPT measures, whereas changes in blood pressure were not significantly related to sexual function scores. Results do not support the hypothesis that sexually dysfunctional males are at greater risk for adverse sexual sequelae when treated with centrally active agents or diuretics.     

Are chronic wheezing and asthma-like attacks related to FEV1 decline? The Cracow study

Analysis is presented of the relationship between decline in ventilatory function and possible symptoms of bronchial hypereactivity. Data comes from three consecutive surveys within a 13-year follow-up study of a population sample of 1747 persons (718 males and 1029 females) who completed spirometric testing and interviews. Chest symptoms recorded in the two initial surveys were used as baselines for the prognostic study on FEV₁ change. To evaluate changes in lung function the FEV₁ decline index, expressed as percentage of FEV₁ loss during the study period, was calculated. Chronic wheezing and asthma-like attacks were very strongly related to FEV₁ baseline level. Multiple linear regression analysis for each separate symptom including age and smoking habits as confounders and showed that the FEV₁ decline index was higher and more significant when wheezing and asthma-like attacks or chronic cough were present. When the combination of symptoms were introduced into the regression model, the effect of wheezing became insignificant. Only attacks of shortness of breath in both sexes and chronic cough in women were significantly associated with more rapid FEV₁ decline. However, the effect of persistent wheezing in men had a rather substantial impact on FEV₁ change. Comparing the effect of the number of cigarettes smoked with the effect of symptoms, one can see that FEV₁ decline due to attacks of shortness of breath is comparable to that seen with heavy smoking. There was no strong evidence that the symptoms under study precede the more rapid FEV₁ decline.     

Small-airways dysfunction in never smoking asbestos exposed Danish plumbers

Summary Among 701 Copenhagen plumbers we examined the lung function of 23 never smokers, who had removed asbestos insulation and intermittently been exposed to high levels of asbestos for about 25 years without being exposed to welding fume. The plumbers had significantly lower TLC, MEF₂₅, MEF₅₀, closing volume and closing capacity in comparison to 23 never smoking electricians without asbestos exposure. There was no reduction in TL_CO. Pulmonary clearance of aerosolized ^99mTc-DTPA was normal indicating that the asbestos had not induced increases in pulmonary epithelial permeability. However, in 11 of the 23 plumbers the ^99m-Tc-DTPA ventilation scintigrams had a slightly irregular and spotty appearance, which together with the results of the lung function tests are suggestive of small airways' dysfunction. None of the subjects had symptoms or clinical signs of lung disease.     

Neuroprotection with felbamate: a 7- and 28-day study in transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils

The use of glutamate antagonists and GABA agonists may protect neurons from the effects of transient ischemia. Felbamate is a new antiepileptic drug with glutamate antagonist and GABA agonist properties, We tested the efficacy of felbamate in a gerbil model of transient forebrain ischemia. Damage assessment was done with silver staining at 7 and 28 days after 5 min of bilateral carotid occlusion, Cerebral cortex, hippocampus (CA1 and CA4), thalamus and striatum were evaluated on a 4-point scoring system, The animals sacrificed at 28 days were also tested in a water-maze task to assess recovery of function, The initial dose of felbamate (300 mg/kg) was given 30 min before the ischemic insult in one set of animals and 30 min after the insult in another set of animals. There were 8 animals tested per group (total: 48 animals). There was significant neuronal protection with the use of felbamate, both before and after ischemia in all regions of the brain. Protection was seen in animals sacrificed at 7 and 28 days, Protection was moderate when felbamate was used before ischemia. It was highly significant when felbamate was given 30 min after the insult. Behavioral studies however did not show any difference in the felbamate treated animals versus the saline treated controls. The structural protection with felbamate was very significant when used in the post-ischemic period. This window for protection merits further evaluation in relation to the clinical setting of stroke.     

Neuronal dysfunction in heart failure assessed by cardiac 123-iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy

In patients with chronic heart failure, increased sympathetic activity and cardiac sympathetic neuronal dysfunction are present and have been related to unfavourable clinical outcome. Modification of these alterations with the objective to improve prognosis has become an important aim of pharmacological therapy for these patients. A noninvasive technique to assess sympathetic neuronal function at the cardiac level may be valuable in evaluating newly developed therapeutic strategies. 123-iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine can be used visualize cardiac sympathetic nerve function and activity. Single photon emission computerized tomographic is preferred to planar scintigraphy since it does not depend on superposition of other anatomical structures and may allow assessment of regional cardiac 123-iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine uptake. Although the quantitation of cardiac uptake in these tomographic images has several limitations, the use of the left ventricular cavity as a reference, calibrated by the 123-iodine activity in a blood sample drawn at the time of acquisition, may have clinical applications, with respect to the evaluation of therapeutical intervention in patients with heart failure.Abbreviations BS blood sample - CD count density - dP/dt change in pressure over time - [¹²³I] 123-iodine - K_m affinity constant - MIBG metaiodobenzylguanidine - MB_q mega Bequerel - SPECT single photon emission computerized tomography - V_m capacity constant     

Scotopic stimulus/response relations of the B-wave of the electroretinogram

Scotopic b-wave stimulus/response (S/R) functions are abnormal in several human retinal degenerative disorders. However, the mechanisms by which diseases affect the S/R parameters are not yet fully known. Three experiments were done to simulate functional pathologies known to occur in retinal degenerations: 1) attenuated sensitivity of retinal units, 2) loss of rhodopsin, 3) loss of sensitivity with little or no loss of rhodopsin. None of the experimental perturbations of normal function replicated the pattern of S/R abnormalities caused by retinal degenerations. Thus, in the retinal degenerative disorders intrinsic abnormalities of cellular processing must affect the organization of distal retinal function indexed by the b-wave.