Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland

Acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point (AP) was abolished by hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy. Termination of the AA producing pathway from the AP to the pituitary gland was in the medial hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (M-HARN). The origin of the descending pain inhibitory system associated with AA was in the posterior HARN (P-HARN). AA in the hypophysectomized rats, and enhanced neuronal activity in the P-HARN that were abolished during acupuncture stimulation, were both restored by intraperitoneal microinjection of 0.5 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 micrograms beta-endorphin into the P-HARN during acupuncture stimulation. Of the analgesia produced by dopamine or beta-endorphin injected into the P-HARN, that caused by beta-endorphin disappeared after denervation of the M-HARN. The P-HARN neurons that responded to acupuncture stimulation also responded to iontophoretic dopamine, but not to iontophoretic morphine nor ultramicroinjected beta-endorphin. The transmission between the M-HARN and P-HARN may be dopaminergic, and beta-endorphin might presynaptically modulate this transmission. Reduction of sodium ions may have been the reason for abolition of AA after adrenalectomy.     

Cardioprotective Effect of Succinate Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

(Received for publication on Sept. 12, 1996; accepted on May 12, 1997)     

Effect of low-frequency electric stimulation on in vivo release of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in medial thalamus of conscious rat

Release of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) in the medial thalamus of conscious rats was measured by brain dialysis and enzyme immunoassay. Analgesia caused by low-frequency electric stimulation of the tibial muscle, the tsusanli acupuncture point, was judged by change of pain threshold due to the stimulation. Medical thalamic CCK-LI released was increased by peripheral electric stimulations of both the acupuncture point and the non-acupuncture point. Results suggest that CCK acts as a neurotransmitter in the medial thalamus, a part of the analgesia inhibitory system.     

Clinical significance of IgG deposition in the glomerular mesangial area in patients with IgA nephropathy

Background

Immunoglobulin (Ig) A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by mesangial deposits of IgA1 and C3, often with co-deposits of IgG. We attempted to clarify the clinical significance of mesangial IgG deposition in patients with IgAN.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients who were diagnosed with IgAN on the basis of pathological examination of renal biopsy specimens obtained between October 2006 and December 2010. Subjects were divided into two groups: IgA+IgG deposition (IgA-IgG) group (n = 29) and IgA deposition alone (IgA) group (n = 28). The study outcome was complete remission (CR), defined as negative proteinuria by dipstick urinalysis and urinary erythrocytes of less than 1–4/high-power field.

Results

Proteinuria was greater in the IgA-IgG group than the IgA group (1.1 ± 0.8 vs. 0.7 ± 0.6 g/day, Mann–Whitney U test, P = 0.042). Capillary wall IgA deposits were noted more frequently in the IgA-IgG group than the IgA group (59 vs. 11 %, Fisher’s exact test, P = 0.014). During the median follow-up period of 33.3 months (range 6–55 months) in the 57 patients, we observed CR in 24 cases (42.1 %). After the start of treatment, urinary abnormalities disappeared earlier in the IgA group than in the IgA-IgG group (log rank test, P = 0.012). Cox’s regression model showed that IgG deposition reduced the hazard ratio for CR (hazard ratio 0.35; 95 % confidence interval 0.14–0.82, P = 0.014). Therefore, IgG deposition is a risk factor for persistent urinary abnormalities.

Conclusion

Mesangial IgG deposition is associated with more severe clinical features in patients with IgAN.     

Radiological Demonstration of Spontaneous Rupture of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst into the Portal System

A rare case of a pancreatic pseudocyst that ruptured into the portal system is reported. Diagnosis was made preoperatively by a combination of radiological examinations. Details of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram, computed axial tomography and ultrasonically guided percutaneous transhepatic portography are presented.     

Treatment of full-thickness skin defect with concomitant grafting of 6-fold extended mesh auto-skin and allogeneic cultured dermal substitute

The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate an allogeneic cultured dermal substitute (CDS) as a biological dressing for highly extended mesh auto-skin grafting. The subjects were five patients with extensive deep burn wounds. Allogeneic CDS was prepared by seeding fibroblasts on a spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid and atelo-collagen. Six-fold extended auto-skin graft was applied to the debrided wound, on which allogeneic CDS was placed. A conventional ointment-gauze dressing was used to protect the CDS. The CDS was applied repeatedly at intervals of 5-7 days. In all cases, the wounds were closed by successful take of mesh auto-skin graft and prompt epithelization from the grafted skin. The skin on the grafted area had a cicatrix appearance, but was soft and thin, maintaining good quality. The application of 6-fold extended auto-skin graft in conjunction with allogeneic CDS is an effective method for treatment of extensive severe burn wounds.     

Relationship between DNA fragmentation and nuclear status of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes: role of cumulus cells

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the attachment of cumulus cells to oocytes and coculture with cumulus cells during maturation culture on the nuclear status and DNA fragmentation of porcine denuded oocytes (DOs). In the first experiment, cumulus cells were removed from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 0, 8, 16, 24 or 32 h after the onset of maturation culture and the DOs were then cultured in their original droplets until 42 h of culture was reached. In the second experiment, all COCs were denuded before the onset of culture and the DOs were cocultured with their removed cumulus cells. The DOs were transferred into fresh medium at 0, 8, 16, 24 or 32 h after the onset of coculture with cumulus cells and then cultured until 42 h of culture was reached. After culture, DNA fragmentation and the nuclear status of oocytes were examined using the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) method. When the DOs were returned to the same droplets after removal of the cumulus cells, the removal of the cumulus cells after 16 h of culture significantly decreased the proportion of oocytes remaining at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. However, coculture treatment of DOs in the presence of their removed cumulus cells had no significant effects on the GV breakdown (GVBD) of oocytes. There were no significant differences in the proportion maturing to MII oocytes among the groups following removal of cumulus cells after the onset of maturation culture; however, DOs cocultured with cumulus cells until the end of maturation culture exhibited an increased maturation rate compared with DOs cocultured for 8 and 16 h. The total proportion of TUNEL-positive oocytes of oocytes remaining at the GV stage was higher than that of oocytes reaching other stages, irrespective of the removal of cumulus cells and coculture treatments. However, coculture for more than 16 h decreased the total proportion of TUNEL-positive oocytes. Our results indicate that the attachment of cumulus cells to oocytes may have a critical role for oocytes undergoing GVBD and that coculture with cumulus cells promotes the ability of oocytes to complete maturation. Moreover, coculture with cumulus cells may assist the oocyte to avoid undergoing DNA fragmentation.