Alteration in ocular blood flow and its effect on the progression of glaucoma

青光眼是由多种因素引起的神经退行性疾病,眼压过高会损害视神经而导致永久性视力丧失。虽然青光眼的基本病理生理机制尚未确定,但眼组织如视神经,视网膜,脉络膜以及虹膜的血流改变是青光眼发病的重要危险因素。由于不同因素所引发的视神经损害的有限认知,测量方法和治疗方面缺乏,人们对青光眼的理解存在障碍。尽管研究人员在不断地积累证据,力证眼血流的变化在青光眼发病机制中起着重要的作用,但大部分情况下,对于眼血流的变化和青光眼的患病风险之间的关系,他们都持有多样甚至矛盾的结论。本文中,我们回顾了青光眼的不同方面以及眼血流在疾病发展中的影响。     

Reassortant Avian Influenza A(H9N2) Viruses in Chickens in Retail Poultry Shops,Pakistan, 2009–2010

Phylogenetic analysis of influenza viruses collected during December 2009–February 2010 from chickens in live poultry retail shops in Lahore, Pakistan, showed influenza A(H9N2) lineage polymerase and nonstructural genes generate through inter- and intrasubtypic reassortments. Many amino acid signatures observed were characteristic of human isolates; hence, their circulation could enhance inter- or intrasubtypic reassortment.     

Biobehavioral Measures for Pain in the Pediatric Patient

Pain is a complex biobehavioral phenomenon. The quantification of pain involves the incorporation of many factors, including physiologic, behavioral, and psychologic factors. Recognition of pain relies heavily on the expression of the patient as well as the interpretation of the caregiver. There are many studies published on biobehavioral pain assessment tools, such as neuroimaging, neuromuscular, biomarker, and behavioral pain assessment scales. These tools present a clinical challenge to appropriately assess and manage pain in the noncommunicative pediatric patients, such as infants, preverbal toddlers, and intubated and/or unconscious or cognitively impaired patients. Pain is a combination of physiologic, behavioral, and psychologic interactions. Any tool that incorporates the measurement of only one of those domains is inherently incomplete in the assessment of pain. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review was to provide a comprehensive overview of these biobehavioral pain assessment tools used in pain assessment in the noncommunicative pediatric population.     

Pharmacological Studies on the Antispasmodic,Bronchodilator and Anti‐Platelet Activities of Abies webbiana

This study evaluated the antispasmodic, bronchodilator and anti‐platelet activities of Abies webbiana to rationalize some of its folk uses in gut and airways disorders and inflammation. The crude extract of A. webbiana (Aw.Cr) caused a complete relaxation of both spontaneous and K⁺ (80 mM)‐induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum in a concentration‐dependent manner. Aw.Cr shifted the Ca⁺⁺ concentration–response curves (CRCs) to the right, in a fashion similar to verapamil, confirming its Ca⁺⁺ channel blocking (CCB) effect. In isolated rabbit tracheal preparations, it caused relaxation of carbachol (1 μM) and K⁺ (80 mM)‐induced contractions comparable to verapamil suggesting that the bronchodilatory effect may possibly be mediated through CCB activity. Aw.Cr was found to be the inhibitor of both ADP‐ and epinephrine‐induced aggregation of human platelets thereby suggesting therapeutic potential in this plant against thrombo‐embolic conditions. The exhibited anti‐platelet effect was observed at low doses against epinephrine as compared to ADP. This study confirmed the presence of spasmolytic activity in Abies webbiana through possible blockade of Ca⁺⁺ channels providing evidence for its folkloric use in gut and respiratory disorders in addition to anti‐platelet activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">TLR4</Emphasis> polymorphisms and disease susceptibility

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in the regulation of the host immune system. Each TLR recognizes specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). TLR4 is one of the well characterized pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognizes the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria, some conserved structures from fungal to mycobacterial pathogens and some endogenous ligands. A complex signaling cascade initiates after the ligand binds to the TLR4 ectodomain, leading to the activation of multiple inflammatory genes. Genetic variations greatly influence immune responses towards pathogenic challenges and disease outcome. In this review, we summarize various reports regarding TLR4 polymorphisms and disease susceptibility.