Recruitment of inotropic reserve in “stunned” myocardium by the cardiotonic agent AR-L 57

Summary Contractile dysfunction of reversibly injured, reperfused myocardium can be enhanced by inotropic interventions. A decrease in the Ca-sensitivity of contractile proteins with slow recovery during reperfusion has been suggested as a potential mechanism underlying this postischemic dysfunction. We therefore tested the effects of the cardiotonic agent AR-L 57 (1 mg/kg i.v.) in six anesthetized, vagotomized dogs during constant atrial pacing at 192±6 beats/min. Before ischemia, AR-L 57 increased left ventricular pressure from 131±22 to 138±21 mm Hg and maximum dP/dt from 3,022±1,427 to 4,337±2,608 mm Hg/s. Mean systolic thickening velocity of the posterior myocardium was increased from 8.9±1.1 to 11.7±1.1 mm/s. After release of a 15 min LCX-occlusion which caused complete regional akinesia, baseline function in the posterior myocardium was severely depressed and only gradually returned towards control values over 8 h of reperfusion. AR-L 57 increased systolic thickening velocity at 10 min, 4 and 8 h reperfusion to a similar extent as before ischemia. With reference to a purported Ca-sensitizing mechanism underlying the positive inotropic action of AR-L 57, our data suggest no change in the Ca-sensitivity of reperfused myocardium.     

经鼻滴入海人藻酸引起C57BL/6小鼠嗅球和海马区神经元的退行性病变

目的 应用海人藻酸(KA)在C57BL／6小鼠建立神经退行性病变动物模型并观察其对嗅球神经元的影响。方法 经鼻滴人KA应用尼氏和嗜银染色观察海马及嗅球的病理变化，免疫组化检测Cyclooxygenase2(COX-2)的表达。结果 经鼻滴入KA成功地在C57BL／6小鼠建立了神经退行性病变动物模型，KA通过嗅神经引起双侧嗅球和海马损伤，其病变程度与小鼠体重和滴入KA剂量有关，同时KA引起了脑内明显的胶质细胞增生和炎症因子COX-2在嗅球部的表达。结论 经鼻滴入KA能够引起嗅球和海马的损伤。     

劳力性热射病患者APACHEⅡ评分与TIMP-1及MMP-9、PCT的相关性研究

[目的]探讨劳力性热射病（EHS）患者血清中基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1（TIMP-1）水平与基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）、降钙素原（PCT）等相关因子水平及与急性生理与慢性健康状况评分Ⅱ（APACHEⅡ）的相关性.[方法]回顾性分析本院住院部2010年5月至2013年10月收治的49例EHS患者,根据患者的APACHEⅡ评分为低分组、高分组.比较两组患者的TIMP-1、PCT、MMP-9水平（采用ELISA方法检测）及与APACHEⅡ评分的相关性.[结果]在不同APACHEⅡ评分患者中,低分组患者的TIMP-1水平明显高于高分组患者,MMP-9、PCT水平则明显低于高分组患者,且两组相比较差异均有显著性（均P＜0.01）.相关分析显示TIMP-1与A-PACHEⅡ评分存在明显负相关（P＜0.01）,MMP 9、PCT等与APACHEⅡ存在正相关（P＜0.01）.[结论]EHS患者血清炎症因子与APACHEⅡ评分关系密切,可作为病情进展评价及疗效判定的指标,其可为临床诊疗该疾病提供新的思路.     

委中穴刺络放血治疗腰椎间盘突出症临床观察

目的观察舒筋止痛水拍打委中穴后刺络放血疗法治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效。方法将60例腰椎间盘突出症患者随机分成两组,治疗组采用舒筋止痛水拍打委中穴后刺络放血疗法,对照组口服塞来昔布胶囊（西乐葆）。通过NRS评分表及腰椎JOA评分表记录治疗前后临床症状的改善程度。结果治疗组总有效率为100．0％,对照组总有效率为86．7％：治疗组治疗后NRS、JOA评分改善优于对照组,具有统计学意义（P〈0．001）。结论舒筋止痛水拍打委中穴后刺络放血是治疗腰椎间盘突出症的一种有效治疗方法。     

Immune responses of a meningococcal A + W outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccine with and without aluminium hydroxide adjuvant in two different mouse strains

Meningococci (Neisseria meningiditis) of serogroups A and W have caused large epidemics of meningitis in sub‐Saharan Africa for decades, and affordable and multivalent vaccines, effective in all age groups, are needed. A bivalent serogroup A and W (A + W) meningococcal vaccine candidate consisting of deoxycholate‐extracted outer membrane vesicles (OMV) from representative African disease isolates was previously found to be highly immunogenic in outbred mice when formulated with the adjuvant aluminium hydroxide (AH). OMV has been shown to have inherent adjuvant properties. In order to study the importance of AH and genetical differences between mice strains on immune responses, we compared the immunogenicity of the A + W OMV vaccine when formulated with or without AH in inbred C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice (Th1 and Th2 dominant strains, respectively). The immunogenicity of the vaccine was found to be comparable in the two mice strains despite their different immune profiles. Adsorption to AH increased anti‐OMV IgG levels and serum bactericidal activity (SBA). The immune responses were increased by each dose for the adsorbed vaccine, but the third dose did not significantly improve the immunogenicity further. Thus, a vaccine formulation with the A and W OMV will likely benefit from including AH as adjuvant.     

Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled study

Background

Vaginal atrophy, the thinning and drying of vaginal mucosa, is associated with menopause. The standard estrogen treatment is not suitable for all women.

Objective

To investigate the effects of oral sea buckthorn (SB) oil supplementation on vaginal atrophy.

Method

A total of 116 postmenopausal women experiencing symptoms of vaginal dryness, itching or burning were randomized to this placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Ninety-eight participants completed the intervention of three months, during which they consumed 3 g of SB or placebo oil daily. At the beginning and end, factors of vaginal health were scored by a gynecologist, vaginal pH and moisture were measured and vaginal health index was calculated. Symptoms of atrophy and menopause were evaluated at study visits and by daily logbooks. Serum samples were collected for the analysis of circulating lipids, liver enzymes and C-reactive protein.

Results

Compared to placebo, there was a significantly better rate of improvement in the integrity of vaginal epithelium in the SB group when both compliant and noncompliant participants were included (odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95% CI 1.11–8.95). A beneficial trend was observed when only the compliant participants were included (OR = 2.9; 95% CI 0.99–8.35). There was a tendency (P = 0.08) toward better improvement of vaginal health index from baseline to the end in the SB group [(0.8 (SD 2.8)] compared to placebo [−0.1 (SD 2.0)].

Conclusions

SB oil showed beneficial effects on vaginal health, indicating it is a potential alternative for mucosal integrity for those women not able to use estrogen treatment for vaginal atrophy.