Supraspinal and segmental input to lumbar epaxial motoneurons in the rat

Inputs to medial longissimus (ML) and lateral longissimus (LL) motoneurons were studied in urethane or urethane-chloralose anesthetized rats by recording from ML and LL nerves while stimulating ipsilateral lumbosacral dorsal roots, medial medullary reticular formation (RF), vestibular nuclei (VN), dorsal midbrain (MDBR), or ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH).Stimulation of appropriate dorsal roots produced short-latency responses (1.5–3.0 ms) in nerves to medial longissimus or lateral longissimus. The connections underlying these responses, which could be monosynaptic, are weak, since generally two or more stimuli were necessary for a response to occur. Short-latency LL nerve responses required more dorsal root stimuli than did ML nerve responses and stable LL responses sometimes could not be obtained, suggesting that segmental reflexes to a back muscle (LL) could be weaker than those to a proximal tail muscle (ML).Trains of conditioning stimuli delivered to the RF, VN, and MDBR facilitated segmental responses in ML nerves or LL nerves. Temporal profiles of facilitation of ML differed for the three regions. On one extreme, the facilitation produced by RF conditioning required few stimuli (median, 3 shocks) and peak facilitation occurred at short condition-test intervals (median, 1.5 ms). On the other extreme, facilitation produced by MDBR conditioning required long trains (median, 14 stimuli) and peak facilitation occurred at longer condition-test intervals (median, 10ms).Stimulation within the VMH never facilitated ML or LL nerve activity.These results demonstrate excitatory connections from reticular formation, vestibular nuclei and the dorsal midbrain to medial longissimus and lateral longissimus. Such connections could be involved in behaviors mediated by midbrain, and in postural regulation through brain stem control of axial musculature.Motoneuron cell bodies for LL, ML and lumbar transversospinalis (TS) muscles were localized by ejecting dye at sites where unitary antidromic responses to muscle nerve stimulation were recorded extracellularly. ML cells were found ventrolaterally in the L₆-S₁ ventral horn. LL and TS cells were found medially in the ventral horn of the lumbar enlargement.     

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) as an adjunct to interferon alpha therapy of neutropenic patients with hairy cell leukemia

Summary Six patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and neutropenia (median neutrophil count 563/l, range 30–1200) were treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) at a dose of 5g/kg by daily subcutaneous injection as an adjunct to interferon-alpha (IFN-a) therapy, in order to ameliorate neutropenia. Five of six patients responded to G-CSF with normalization of neutrophil counts (>1800/l) within 2–11 days and a median neutrophil count of 5211/l (range 4312–10160) at the end of G-CSF therapy. In three of these patients, infections resolved when neutropoiesis recovered. In one patient with very severe neutropenia (30/l), in whom myeloid progenitors were not detectable, G-CSF therapy failed to restore granulopoiesis. Cessation or interruption of G-CSF after 2–5 weeks of therapy resulted in a rapid decline of neutrophil counts to lower or subnormal levels (median value 1478/l, range 770–2739) within 1 week, suggesting that the improvement of granulopoiesis was dependent on G-CSF and not due to IFN-a therapy. G-CSF may be a useful adjunct to IFN-a therapy in patients with HCL in order to manage or prevent neutropenic complications in the early phase of treatment.     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

真菌诱导子对人参毛状根皂苷生物合成和生长的影响

目的 :考察真菌诱导子对人参毛状根的生长和人参皂苷生物合成影响。方法 :提取黄瓜炭疽病菌Colletorichumlagnarinm、青菜炭疽病菌Phomafiltrate、棉花枯萎病菌Fusariumoxysponum、黑曲霉Asperillusniger中的真菌诱导子与人参毛状根共培养 ,应用HPLC及比色法对培养物中总苷及几种单体皂苷进行分析测定。结果 :真菌诱导子不但能影响人参毛状根总苷的合成量 ,也能使某些单体皂苷消失或增加 ,如培养液中黑曲霉多糖诱导子增加到 20mg·L^-1浓度时 ,使总苷含量增加到 3.649% ,而单体皂苷中Rg₁和Re未检出 ,Rg₂ 和Rb₁的含量则有明显增加 ,并可促进人参毛状根的生长。结论 :真菌诱导子对人参毛状根某些皂苷的合成具有特异性 ,同时也影响人参毛状根的生物量。培养过程中通过外源性诱导子的添加 ,有利于人参毛状根次生代谢产物的定向积累。     

贯叶连翘不定根反应器培养的初步研究

目的:对贯叶连翘不定根进行反应器培养,寻找适合不定根生长的适宜条件,为大量生产贯叶连翘不定根提供理论依据.方法:利用5L气升式生物反应器研究了IBA浓度、糖种类和浓度、不定根的接种量和通气量等影响因子对贯叶连翘不定根培养的影响.结果:在MS培养基中培养贯叶连翘不定根,随着IBA浓度的增加,贯叶连翘不定根增殖系数呈增长趋势,当IBA质量浓度在1.25～1.75 mg·L-1时不定根生长良好;在糖种类和浓度试验中,发现以蔗糖为碳源培养的不定根生长最好,增殖系数达最大值22.15,当蔗糖质量浓度为30g·L-1时鲜物重、干物重和增殖系数均达最大值;在接种量试验中,结果表明当反应器的接种量为20 g时有利于不定根的生长;在通气量试验中,当反应器的通气量为0.075(空气体积/培养体/min)时,不定根的生长最旺盛,不定根的增殖系数显著增加;在不同大小反应器中培养不定根,发现不定根在5L反应器中的培养条件完全适用于10,20 L的反应器.结论:IBA浓度、糖种类和浓度、不定根的接种量和通气量对贯叶连翘不定根的生物反应器培养有显著影响.     

粘毛黄芩毛状根培养体系的建立及其黄芩苷的动态合成

目的：建立粘毛黄芩毛状根培养体系，并对其生长特性和次生代谢产物的合成进行初步探索。方法：采用卸甲型根癌农杆菌Agrobacterium tumofaciens C58C1感染粘毛黄芩无菌苗的茎段，获得毛状根，并得到了优质株系；测定了毛状根的生长曲线；利用PCR对毛状根进行T-DNA转化的检测及利用HPLC进行黄芩苷含量检测。结果：PCR检测结果表明，发根农杆菌Ri质粒的rolC基因已整合入粘毛黄芩毛状根基因组中。C58C1感染粘毛黄芩无菌苗茎段8 d后，毛状根陆续在其伤口处产生，28 d时幼茎产生毛状根的外植体达81%。1/2 MS液体培养32 d后毛状根干重增加了17.42倍，总黄酮和黄芩苷含量分别增加了21.60，25.56倍。结论：粘毛黄芩毛状根离体培养的建立为进一步进行药用活性成分的工业化生产奠定了基础。     

Anatomical variations of the cords of brachial plexus and the median nerve

The variations in formation, location, and courses of the cords of brachial plexus and the median nerve were studied in both axillae of 172 cadavers. The total prevalence of variation was 12.8% (CI, 7.6-17.4) and it was found in 13.2% (CI, 7.5-18) of male and in 10.7% (CI, -0.6-19.6) of female cadavers. These variations were divided into three groups. The first group was abnormal location of the cords, which was either posterolateral or anteromedial in relation to the axillary artery in 2.3% (CI, 0.1-4.5) cadavers. The lateral cord and the medial root of the median nerve had received communicating branches from the posterior cord in most of the cases of this group. The second group was absence of the posterior cord in 3.5% (CI, 0.7-6.1) of cadavers. The lateral and medial cords of this group were connected with the communicating branches, which had a course in front of the axillary artery. The third group was abnormal formation and course of the median nerve in 7% (CI, 3.1-10.6) of cadavers. In all cases of this group the medial root received communicating branch/branches either from the lateral or posterior cord. In eight (4.7%) cadavers, both roots of the median nerve were joined on medial side of the axillary artery to form a median nerve, which traveled medial to the artery. In four (2.3%) cadavers the roots of the median nerve did not join and both traveled separately anteromedial to the axillary and brachial arteries. This study indicates that all three cords and median nerve vary considerably in levels of origin, location and course in relation to the axillary artery and these variable cases were joined with the communicating branch/branches. The observed variations are of anatomical and clinical interest. These kinds of variations are more prone to injury in radical neck dissection and in other surgical operation of the axilla.     

磁共振PROSET序列在腰脊神经根成像中的临床应用价值

目的：探讨磁共振选择性激励技术（PROSET）序列对腰脊神经根显示及病变诊断的价值。方法：用3.0T超高场MRI仪,对健康对照组70例及病例组43例行腰椎MRI常规序列（T1WI、T2WI）、PROSET序列及磁共振脊髓造影（MRM）序列扫描,PROSET用＂肥皂泡＂软件行神经根曲面容积重组,MRM行MIP重组。由2位教授级MRI诊断医师分析和比较3种方法显示腰脊神经根长度及病变的影像表现,评价PROSET的应用价值。结果：2位MRI诊断医师达成一致意见的结果,即PROSET显示腰脊神经根长度达节后段,MRM未显示节后段,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。PROSET与常规MRI诊断腰椎间盘突出（LDH）差异无统计学意义,但PROSET显示神经根鞘受压移位、神经根病变及与神经根关系的全貌。＂Soap Bubble＂后处理PROSET图像在一帧图像上显示神经根走形全貌。结论：PROSET序列能诊断神经根病变,且图像质量优于MRM,是常规MRI的重要补充;＂Soap Bubble＂后处理图像可提供直观的解剖形态信息。     

基层官兵睡眠质量与社会支持及影响因素

目的探讨基层官兵睡眠质量与社会支持及其影响因素的关系。方法采用随机整群取样法,抽取2797名基层官兵(研究组)和271名同一地区一般人群(对照组),对这两组对象使用军人睡眠问题测量问卷(CMPSDS)、中国军人社会支持量表(SSRS)进行测量,用SPSS17.0对测量结果进行t检验、Pearson相关分析和多元逐步回归分析。结果①基层官兵的睡眠问题问卷各条目得分均明显高于一般人群(t=66.942~101.110,P0.01);②睡眠质量各因子与社会支持各因子呈正相关(r=0.292~0.502,P0.05),与年龄、军龄呈负相关(r=-0.155~-0.014,P0.05);③经多元逐步回归分析显示,社会支持各因子、军龄进入回归方程(P0.05)。结论基层官兵睡眠质量较一般人群差,社会支持、军龄是影响基层官兵睡眠质量的主要因素。     

神经根撕脱后脊髓运动神经元的病理表现

目的:观察神经根撕脱后脊髓前角运动神经元的病理表现,探讨在该条件下运动神经元死亡的神经生物学机制。方法:选择成年SD雌性大鼠20只,体重200-300g,撕脱右侧臂丛C₅-T₈神经根,术后动物存活3d、5d、1周后取C₅-C₈节段脊髓,对冰冻切片行NADPH-d组化、c-jun免疫组化、中性红和HE染色。观察神经元的形态,计数脊髓前角NOS阳性运动神经元及存活运动神经元数目,以非损伤侧的前角运动神经元数目为100%,计算百分比。结果:神经根撕脱3d、5d、1周后,损伤侧脊髓前角NOS运动神经元平均阳性率分别为:0.74%±0.59%、24.83%±6.73%、51.16%±8.67%。神经元平均存活率分别为93.00%±4.32%、93.67%±5.27%、89.83%±2.65%;c-Jun从撕脱术后3d就有表达,5d后表达开始减少。运动神经元形态变化不明显。1周时偶见前角运动神经元的胞核偏位,但核膜清晰,核仁尚存,染色体固缩。结论:脊神经根撕脱1周内,脊髓前角运动神经元NOS表达递增,c-Jun表达递减,运动神经元开始死亡。NO/NOS可能通过抑制神经元损伤后的再生反应,促进脊髓前角运动神经元的死亡。