The RULER model. Is this how the somatosensory cortex works?

Despite a wealth of information, it is still not known how neurones in the different neocortical layers interact to produce a conscious perception. We now put forward a model for the somatosensory cortex in which a touch is perceived whenever superficial cortical pyramidal cells (in layers II and III) are made to discharge by a recurrent input from deep pyramidal neurones (in layer V). The superficial cells act as biological amplifiers and the number discharging will depend both on the strength of the message from the thalamus and on the variable background depolarisation of their apical dendrites. The recurrent volley arises in the layer V neurones at the end of an IPSP (inhibitory postsynaptic potential), which itself follows an excitatory response induced by the incoming thalamic signal; the IPSP is generated by local basket cells. The duration of the initial excitation--IPSP--late excitation sequence corresponds to a time chunk, that is, the period over which neural activity is integrated to produce a perception. During the time chunk, the superficial cortical pyramids, unlike the deeper ones, can accumulate information as subthreshold excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). The relative time at which the information arrived in the cortex is roughly coded by the gradient of EPSPs among cells in an axis perpendicular to the cortical surface. Although developed for the somatosensory cortex, the basic features of the model may well apply to other sensory receiving areas of the cortex.     

Dynamic touch reduces physiological arousal in preterm infants: A role for c-tactile afferents?

Preterm birth is a significant risk factor for a range of long-term health problems and developmental disabilities. Though touch plays a central role in many perinatal care strategies, the neurobiological basis of these approaches is seldom considered. C-Tactile afferents (CTs) are a class of unmyelinated nerve fibre activated by low force, dynamic touch. Consistent with an interoceptive function, touch specifically targeted to activate CTs activates posterior insular cortex and has been reported to reduce autonomic arousal. The present study compared the effect of 5 min of CT optimal velocity stroking touch to 5 min of static touch on the heart-rate and oxygen saturation levels of preterm infants between 28- & 37-weeks gestational age. CT touch produced a significant decrease in infants’ heart-rates and increase in their blood oxygenation levels, which sustained throughout a 5-min post-touch period. In contrast, there was no significant change in heart-rate or blood oxygenation levels of infants receiving static touch. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that CTs signal the affective quality of nurturing touch, providing a neurobiological substrate for the apparent beneficial effects of neonatal tactile interventions and offering insight for their optimisation.     

Efficacy of “touch” DNA recovery and room-temperature storage from assault rifle magazines

Crimes committed with assault rifles are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States. In the absence of other evidence, DNA analysis can often provide informative leads. Unfortunately, any DNA transferred to rifle components left behind at a crime scene is likely to be low in quantity and/or quality. Furthermore, collected evidence is unlikely to be processed immediately and may require storage. Long-term storage can subject DNA to damage and degradation, which ultimately affects DNA profile interpretation and may prevent the identification of potential suspects.This study assessed the ability of a new swab storage device, the SwabSaver®, to preserve “touch” DNA from AR-15 magazine rifles using three different collection devices. Three volunteers loaded bullet cartridges into plastic polymer and aluminum AR-15 magazines. DNA was collected with traditional cotton swabs, layered cotton paper swabs, or nylon-flocked swabs. Collection devices were then stored at room-temperature for up to two months in either the SwabSaver® device or an empty centrifuge tube. The results suggest that substrate and swab type had less of an effect on profile completeness than storage type. Furthermore, SwabSaver® storage yielded DNA quantities comparable to “touch” DNA extracted after 24 h.     

机动门脉动真空灭菌器的工作原理故障现象及解决办法

我院是卫生部评审通过的首批新三甲医院,供应室共有八台机动门脉动真空灭菌器,使用频率高,出现的故障比较多。本文详细介绍了脉动真空灭菌器的管路、水源、气源、真空泵、密封门、疏水阀、控制器、触摸屏等七个容易出故障的部分的工作原理故障现象及解决办法。     

阿托伐他汀预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤Caspase-3、Bcl-2表达的影响

[目的]探讨阿托伐他汀预处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制.[方法]随机将48只雄性SD大鼠分为4组:对照组、假手术组、缺血再灌注组和阿托伐他汀预处理组.阿托伐他汀预处理组在模型制备前用阿托伐他汀20mg/kg连续灌胃10d,1次/d;假手术组及缺血再灌注组用相同体积的等渗盐水连续灌胃10d.以线拴法制作大鼠大脑中动脉缺血再灌注模型,于缺血2h再灌注24 h后行5分制神经功能评分,并断头取脑分别测定脑梗死体积、凋亡细胞数及半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3 (Caspase-3)、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2基因(Bcl-2)表达.[结果]与对照组和假手术组比较,缺血再灌注组和阿托伐他汀预处理组神经功能缺损较为严重,脑梗死体积增大,凋亡细胞数目增多,Caspase-3、Bcl-2表达显著增加(P＜0.01).与缺血再灌注组相比,阿托伐他汀预处理组神经功能有不同程度改善,脑梗死体积明显减小,凋亡细胞数及Caspase-3表达降低,Bcl-2表达增高,比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).[结论]阿托伐他汀预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注有神经保护作用,其作用机制可能与阿托伐他汀上调脑组织中Bcl-2、下调Caspase-3表达,抑制细胞凋亡有关.     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病恢复期实施抚触的临床观察

目的:探讨抚触对新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病(HIE)恢复期的影响。方法:随机将82例HIE患儿经急性期(脑水肿期)治疗后分为抚触组和对照组,抚触组42例在常规护理基础上按国际通用抚触方法进行抚触,对照组40例进行常规护理,对照观察两组新生儿生长发育、神经行为发育情况结果。结果:上述二项抚触组均优于对照组差异有显著性(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:抚触对患儿的生长发育也有促进作用,也明显促进HIE患儿神经系统的发育。     

Innocuous cooling can produce nociceptive sensations that are inhibited during dynamic mechanical contact

In a previous study of the heat grill illusion, sensations of burning and stinging were sometimes reported when the skin was cooled by as little as 2°C. Informal tests subsequently indicated that these nociceptive sensations were experienced if cooling occurred when the stimulating thermode rested on the skin, but not when the thermode was cooled and then touched to the skin. In experiment 1 subjects judged the intensity of thermal (cold/warm) and nociceptive (burning/stinging) sensations when the volar surface of the forearm was cooled to 25°C (1) via a static thermode (Static condition), or (2) via a cold thermode touched to the skin (Dynamic condition). The total area of stimulation was varied from 2.6 to 10.4 cm² to determine if the occurrence of nociceptive sensations depended upon stimulus size. Burning/stinging was rated 10.3 times stronger in the Static condition than in the Dynamic condition, and this difference did not vary significantly with stimulus size. In experiment 2, thermal and nociceptive sensations were measured during cooling to just 31°, 29° or 27°C, and data were obtained on the frequency at which different sensation qualities were experienced. Stinging was the most frequently reported nociceptive quality in the Static condition, and stinging and burning were both markedly reduced in the Dynamic condition. In experiment 3 we tested the possibility that dynamic contact might have inhibited burning and stinging not because of mechanical contact per se, but rather because dynamic contact caused higher rates of cooling. However, varying cooling rate over a tenfold range (–0.5° to –5.0°/s) had no appreciable effect on the frequency of stinging and burning. Overall, the data show that mild cooling can produce nociceptive sensations that are suppressed under conditions of dynamic mechanical contact. The latter observation suggests that cold is perceived differently during active contact with objects than during passive heat loss to the environment. Hypotheses about the physiological basis of the nociceptive sensations at mild temperatures and their possible role in the phenomena of paradoxical heat and synthetic heat are discussed. Electronic Publication     

Reactions to music, touch and object presentation in the final stage of dementia: an exploratory study

Two patients in the final stage of dementia of Alzheimer type were stimulated with music, touch and object presentation during 12 consecutive days (16 trials per patient). Evaluations were made by direct observations, analysis of video-taped recordings and registrations of pulse and rate of respiration. Both patients reacted differently to music than to touch and object presentation.     

Intraoperative analysis of sentinel lymph nodes by imprint cytology for cancer of the breast

BACKGROUND: The utilization of lymphatic mapping techniques for breast carcinoma has made intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) attractive, because axillary lymph node dissection can be performed during the initial surgery if the SLN is positive. The optimal technique for rapid SLN assessment has not been determined. Both frozen sectioning and imprint cytology are used for rapid intraoperative SLN evaluation. METHODS: A retrospective review of the intraoperative imprint cytology results of 133 SLN mapping procedures from 132 breast carcinoma patients was performed. SLN were evaluated intraoperatively by bisecting the lymph node and making imprints of each cut surface. Imprints were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Diff-Quik. Permanent sections were evaluated with up to four H&E stained levels and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. Imprint cytology results were compared with final histologic results. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of imprint cytology were 56% and 100%, respectively, producing a 100% positive predictive value and 88% negative predictive value. Imprint cytology was significantly more sensitive for macrometastasis than micrometastasis 87% versus 22% (P = 0.00007). Of 13 total false negatives, 11 were found to be due to sampling error and 2 due to errors in intraoperative interpretation. Both intraoperative interpretation errors involved a diagnosis of lobular breast carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of imprint cytology are similar to that of frozen section evaluation. Imprint cytology is therefore a viable alternative to frozen sectioning when intraoperative evaluation is required. If SLN micrometastasis is used to determine the need for further lymphadenectomy, more sensitive intraoperative methods will be needed to avoid a second operation.     

"AUGMENTING" AND "REDUCING" IN AVERAGED VISUAL EVOKED RESPONSES TO SINE WAVE LIGHT

It has been reported that the change in averaged visual evoked response (VER) amplitude with change in light flash intensity is related to a measure of kinesthetic figural after effects. It has also been reported that in some subjects, the amplitude of VER to sine wave light may decrease as depth of modulation approaches 100%. This study attempted to examine the change in VER amplitude resulting from change in depth of sine wave modulation on the one hand, and a measure of kinesthetic figural after effects (referred to as the bar test) on the other. The VER amplitudes to the six depths of modulation were plotted as a ftmction of depth of modulation, and the slope of that function served as an index of VER “augmentation” and “reduction.” The bar test was also scored to yield an index of kinesthetic “augmentation” and “reduction.” There was a rank correlation of .66 (p < .01 for N = 30) between VER slopes and bar test scores. Test-retest values for eleven subjects show that VER slopes and bar scores changed together and that order of test day apparently had no regular effect. The administration of phenylephrine to dilate pupils produced a steeper VER slope, that is, a greater “augmentation,” in all six subjects tested. These results are discussed in terms of a general stimulus intensity control mechanism which influences sensory responsivity across modalities.