Surgery-induced behavioral changes in aged rats

Elderly patients may experience impairments in cognition or mood following surgery. To study the development and underlying mechanisms of these postoperative behavioral changes, young (3 months) and aged (18–20 months) male rats were subjected to abdominal surgery followed by behavioral testing during a period of 6 weeks. Microglia activation (IBA-1) and neurogenesis (DCX) were immunohistochemically determined. In separate experiments, the effects of anesthesia and the cytokine response (IL-6) following surgery were evaluated.     

Modulation of noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nerves of human right atrial appendages by presynaptic EP3- and DP-receptors

Strips of human right atrial appendages were preincubated with [³H]noradrenaline and then superfused with physiological salt solution containing inhibitors of uptake₁ and uptake₂. Tritium overflow was evoked by transmural electrical stimulation (standard frequency: 2 Hz). Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) inhibited the electrically evoked tritium overflow; at the highest concentration investigated, tritium overflow was reduced by about 80% and the pIC_50% value was 7.14. The effect of PGE₂ was not affected by rauwolscine, which, by itself, increased the evoked overflow. Naproxen failed to affect the evoked tritium overflow and its inhibition by PGE₂. The inhibitory effect of PGE₂ on the electrically evoked tritium overflow was mimicked by prostaglandin E₁, the EP₁/EP₃-receptor agonist sulprostone and the EP₂/EP₃-receptor agonist misoprostol with the rank order of potency (pEC_50%): sulprostone (7.68) > misoprostol (7.10) > PGE₁ (6.39). In contrast, PGF_2α, the IP/EP₁-receptor agonist iloprost and the stable thromboxane A₂ analogue U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11α,9α-epoxy-methanoprostaglandin F_2α) did not change evoked tritium overflow. PGD₂ caused facilitation. These results suggest that the sympathetic nerve fibres innervating human atrial appendages are endowed with presynaptic inhibitory EP₃ and facilitatory DP-receptors. The EP₃-receptors appear not to be tonically activated and do not interact with the α₂-autoreceptors. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 29 July 1998     

Dynamic functional topography of cognitive tasks

Summary Improved neuroelectric recording and analysis tools are yielding increasingly specific information about the spatial and temporal features of neurocognitive processes. Such tools include recordings with up to 125 channels, digital signal processing techniques, and correlation of neuroelectric measures with anatomical information from magnetic resonance images. These tools, and their application to the study of cognitive functions, are presented in this paper.Acknowledgements: This work was supported by grants from The National Institute of Neurological Diseases, The National Institute of Mental Health, The Air Force Office of Scientific Research and The National Science Foundation. The author gratefully acknowledges the efforts of his scientific collaborators, Drs. S. Bressler, P. Brickett, B. Cutillo, R. Fowler-White, D. Greer, J. Illes, J. Le, N. Morgan and B. Reutter for their contributions to the original research presented here.     

Plastic injection injury of the hand.

A unique case of injection of plastic material into the hand is reported. Treatment was simple because the molten plastic solidified, separated readily from the surrounding tissues and could be withdrawn without fragmentation. There was no evidence of serious damage to the surrounding tissues by the plastic before it has cooled and set. The mechanism of the injury is explained and the need for simple safety precautions is noted.     

Pharmacological characterization of recombinant N-type calcium channel (Cav2.2) mediated calcium mobilization using FLIPR

The N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca(v)2.2) functions in neurons to regulate neurotransmitter release. It comprises a clinically relevant target for chronic pain. We have validated a calcium mobilization approach to assessing Ca(v)2.2 pharmacology in two stable Ca(v)2.2 cell lines: alpha1(B), alpha2delta, beta(3)-HEK-293 and alpha1(B), beta(3)-HEK-293. Ca(v)2.2 channels were opened by addition of KCl and Ca(2+) mobilization was measured by Fluo-4 fluorescence on a fluorescence imaging plate reader (FLIPR(96)). Ca(v)2.2 expression and biophysics were confirmed by patch-clamp electrophysiology (EP). Both cell lines responded to KCl with adequate signal-to-background. Signals from both cell lines were inhibited by omega-conotoxin (ctx)-MVIIa and omega-conotoxin (ctx)-GVIa with IC(50) values of 1.8 and 1nM, respectively, for the three-subunit stable, and 0.9 and 0.6nM, respectively, for the two-subunit stable. Other known Ca(v)2.2 blockers were characterized including cadmium, flunarizine, fluspirilene, and mibefradil. IC(50) values correlated with literature EP-derived values. Novel Ca(v)2.2 pharmacology was identified in classes of compounds with other primary pharmacological activities, including Na(+) channel inhibitors and antidepressants. Novel Na(+) channel compounds with high potency at Ca(v)2.2 were identified in the phenoxyphenyl pyridine, phenoxyphenyl pyrazole, and other classes. The highest potency at Ca(v)2.2 tricyclic antidepressant identified was desipramine.     

Exercise testing in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: case report with ECG and literature review

ECG changes during exercise stress testing, such as false-positive ST-segment depression and disappearance of the delta wave, are reported in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern. We present a case of exercise testing in a 53-year-old man with WPW syndrome with ischemic-appearing ECG changes and normal nuclear stress perfusion study findings who was thought to be at clinically low risk for having significant coronary disease. A literature review is discussed. Although ST-segment depression typical for ischemia occurs in half of the patients in whom WPW syndrome is reported, exercise testing is still an important tool in their evaluation. Data other than ECG response can be interpreted in the context of clinical history and physical examination findings to stratify the risk of coronary disease. Complete and sudden disappearance of the delta wave has been seen during exercise in 20% of patients with WPW syndrome and can identify those who are at low risk for sudden arrhythmic death.     

宫内外复合妊娠10例临床分析

目的 探讨体外受精-胚胎移植术后宫内外复合妊娠的临床特点及早期诊治方法.方法 对长沙市第一医院妇产科2011年3月～2012年5月收治的接受体外受精-胚胎移植术后发生宫内外复合妊娠的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 该科共收治异位妊娠131例,其中接受体外受精-胚胎移植术后发生宫内外复合妊娠10例,占异位妊娠总数的7.63％.7例宫内外妊娠行腹腔镜手术治疗,术后均继续妊娠.结论 宫内外复合妊娠的主要病因是输卵管病变.早期动态监测阴道B超和血-绒毛膜促性腺激素检查,有利于宫内外复合妊娠的早期诊断和及时治疗,腹腔镜手术是其有效的治疗方法.     

西安地区2010年手足口病病原血清型及流行特征分析

【目的】了解西安地区2010年引起手足口病的肠道病毒血清型;探讨手足口病肠道病毒的血清型与临床病情轻重的关系。【方法]2010年4～9月在西安市所属13个区县每月采集临床诊断病例肛拭子标本,同时在西安市儿童医院采集临床诊断为危重症、普通重症病例肛拭子标本进行病原分析,研究西安地区2010年手足口病病原构成及肠道病毒不同病原致手足口病临床表现的关系。【结果]2010年西安地区共报告手足口病例23439个,病原分析EV71病毒占24．81％,CAl6病毒占55．04％,非EV71、cAl6的其他肠道病毒占20．16％;EV71在7、8月所占比例增高;EV71占重症病例病原的75．71％。【结论]2010年西安地区手足口病病例较2009年增加较多,病原以CAl6为主,重症主要由EV71引起,手足口病的流行及重症、危重症病例的发生与病原血清型关系较大。     

广西北海市2010年手足口病重症病例流行病学特征分析

[目的]了解北海市手足口病重症病例的流行病学特点,为制定相应的防控策略和措施,合理分配有限的卫生资源提供科学依据.[方法]对2010年1月至12月北海市承担手足口病诊治医疗机构上报的手足口病重症病例进行回顾性分析.[结果]2010年北海市累计报告手足口病重症病例149例,死亡15例.其中病例男女性别比为1.57∶1;婴...