The social brain in adolescence: evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging and behavioural studies

Social cognition is the collection of cognitive processes required to understand and interact with others. The term ‘social brain’ refers to the network of brain regions that underlies these processes. Recent evidence suggests that a number of social cognitive functions continue to develop during adolescence, resulting in age differences in tasks that assess cognitive domains including face processing, mental state inference and responding to peer influence and social evaluation. Concurrently, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show differences between adolescent and adult groups within parts of the social brain. Understanding the relationship between these neural and behavioural observations is a challenge. This review discusses current research findings on adolescent social cognitive development and its functional MRI correlates, then integrates and interprets these findings in the context of hypothesised developmental neurocognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms.     

In vitro detoxification of cyclosarin in human blood pre-incubated ex vivo with recombinant serum paraoxonases

An ex vivo protocol was developed to assay the antidotal capacity of rePON1 variants to protect endogenous acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in human whole blood against OP nerve agents. This protocol permitted us to address the relationship between blood rePON1 concentrations, their kinetic parameters, and the level of protection conferred by rePON1 on the cholinesterases in human blood, following a challenge with cyclosarin (GF). The experimental data thus obtained were in good agreement with the predicted percent residual activities of blood cholinesterases calculated on the basis of the rate constants for inhibition of human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by GF, the concentration of the particular rePON1 variant, and its k_cat/K_m value for GF. This protocol thus provides a rapid and reliable ex vivo screening tool for identification of rePON1 bioscavenger candidates suitable for protection of humans against organophosphorus-based toxicants. The results also permitted the refinement of a mathematical model for estimating the efficacious dose of rePON1s variants required for prophylaxis in humans.     

Raman spectroscopic differentiation of activated versus non-activated T lymphocytes: an in vitro study of an acute allograft rejection model

Acute rejection (AR) remains a significant complication in renal transplant patients. Using serum creatinine for AR screening has proven problematic, and thus a noninvasive, highly sensitive and specific test is needed. T cells from human peripheral blood were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. Fifty-one Mixed Lymphocyte Culture (MLC) activated T cells (ATC), 28 Mitomycin C inactivated T cells (ITC), and 35 resting T cells (RTC), were studied utilizing 785 and 514.5 nm wavelengths. Statistical analysis following subtraction of fluorescence used Student's t test to quantify peak ratio differences and discriminant function analysis (DFA), with three distinct sectors assigned for grouping purposes: Sector I, ITC; Sector II, ATC; Sector III, RTC. Differences between ATC and non-activated T cells (ITC and RTC) were found at 1182 and 1195 cm-1 peak positions for both wavelengths. Significant differences in peak ratios for 785 and 514.5 nm wavelengths existed between ATC and RTC (p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively) and ATC and ITC (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively), with a trend in differences observed between ITC and RTC (p=0.07 and p=0.08, respectively). Analysis of the DFA-derived sector distribution for the 785 and 514.5 nm wavelengths revealed a sensitivity of 95.7% and 89.3%, respectively, and a specificity of 100% and 93.8%, respectively. This data suggests that Raman spectroscopy can detect significant differences between activated and nonactivated T cells based upon cell-surface receptor expression, thereby establishing unique signatures that can aid in the development of a noninvasive AR screening tool with high sensitivity and specificity.     

Hand allograft in agenesic newborn: feasibility study

Would a newborn with a single hand benefit from hand allograft? Transantebrachial aplasia is the chosen clinical form of agenesia in our interrogation. The feasibility study presents several aspects: 1) ethical and psychological aspects. Is this a desired surgery for agenesic population? Which are the functional, psychological and social situations of agenesic patient? Is the hand transplantation in newborn ethically acceptable? What is the parents' attitude toward agenesia? Can we envisage organ donation in neonatal period? 2) immunological aspects. The non-vital character of this condition and its' good functional tolerance cannot make accepting the risk of adverse effects of hand allotransplantation. Hence, one may consider this surgery only without immunosuppression. Can the peculiarities of the neonate “immature” immune system represent an opportunity of easier tolerance obtaining, avoiding immunosuppression? 3) anatomical and technical aspects. The proximal tissues at the level of amputation are all hypoplastic in agenesic patients. Can we efficaciously suture those structures with donor eutrophic tissues? 4) cognitive aspects. Is a neonate born with only one hand is able to use two? A feasibility study on such a subject needs to take into account all these aspects. This research is useful because, even if hand allograft in agenesic newborn will never be done, the provided information will allow to progress in the vaster domain of composite tissue allotransplantation in perinatology.     

An overview of chromatographic methods coupled with mass spectrometric detection for determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in biological material

Gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS) methods for the determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and their metabolites in biological material have been reviewed. Since 1980s those hyphenated techniques have been applied to quantitate ACE inhibitors and the dynamic increase in the number of relevant publications can be observed in recent years. Although most of the methods available in the literature were analyses of plasma or serum, assays of blood and urine were also included. Additionally, sample pretreatment methods, separation conditions and ionization modes were overviewed. Some information on chemical structures, cis-trans izomerization and stability of compounds in question was also included. Most of the reported methods were successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies in humans.     

Hemostatically distinct FFPs equally improve abnormal TEG variables in an in vitro dilutional coagulopathy model

Introduction

To improve fresh frozen plasma (FFP) availability, thawed plasma is stored at 4 °C for up to 5 days and considered equivalent to freshly thawed FFP. However, we have shown that hemostatic potential of thawed plasma is highly variable between donors and significantly diminished during storage. We hypothesized that smaller volumes of plasma with higher hemostatic potential (FFP-H) would be needed to restore normal thrombelastogram (TEG) values compared to plasma with lower hemostatic potential (FFP-L).

Materials and Methods

A dilutional coagulopathy model was established from whole blood by diluting plasma with saline to 23%, while cellular components were kept unchanged. Saline was gradually replaced with equal volumes of FFPs with distinctive hemostatic potentials, which was evaluated by the calibrated automated thrombogram. Clot formation in the presence of tissue factor was evaluated by TEG at baseline and after addition of increasing concentrations of FFP-H and FFP-L.

Results

Blood dilution with saline in the presence of tissue factor resulted in abnormal TEGs that resemble a pattern observed in severely bleeding trauma patients. All FFPs produced similar improvements in TEG variables despite different hemostatic potentials. TEG changes were solely dependent on FFP volume and reached the normal reference range when plasma concentration increased to 40%.

Conclusion

Plasma dilution and tissue factor in whole blood results in an abnormal TEG with a hyperfibrinolytic pattern. A plasma concentration of at least 40% was necessary for TEG normalization after dilution with saline. An effect of FFPs’ hemostatic potential on clot formation could not be detected by TEG in this in vitro model.     

具有ATC编码的基因药物在临床上的应用分析与评价

目的分析基因药物在我院的临床使用现状和发展趋势,为临床合理使用提供参考。方法查询《新编药物学》(第17版)基因药品ATC编码,通过编码在世界卫生组织网站"http://www.whocc.no/atc_ddd_index"查询准确的DDD值,然后对我院2011-2013年具有ATC编码的基因药物的品种、数量、金额、DDDs、DDDc、B/A等进行统计分析。结果基因药物的消耗金额呈逐年上升的趋势,其中G-CSF用量较大(约占40%)。国产品种和企业在各年的消耗金额前10名的药品排序中,呈上升趋势。结论基因药物具有较大的发展空间,临床使用合理。     

Evaluation for effects of severe acidosis on hemostasis in trauma patients using thrombelastography analyzer

Objective

To investigate effects of metabolic acidosis on hemostasis function in trauma patients using thromboelastography analyzer.