17β-雌二醇对大鼠脊髓损伤后神经保护作用的研究

目的：探讨17β-雌二醇（E2）对大鼠脊髓损伤（SCI）后的神经保护作用及其机制。方法：应用改良的Allen′s重物打击法建立大鼠急性脊髓损伤模型,将大鼠随机分为两组：A组（PBS对照组）和B组（E2治疗组）,每组42只,B组造模成功后15min及24h腹腔注射E2（4.0mg/kg,以PBS溶解）,A组在相同时间给予等量无菌PBS。分别于伤后7d、14d、21d及28d,应用改良Tarlov评分法和Rivlin斜板试验评价大鼠脊髓神经功能恢复情况。于伤后6h、24h、3d、7d、14d及28d时处死动物,以损伤部位为中心取材,HE染色观察脊髓组织病理变化,TUNEL法染色检测细胞凋亡,免疫组化染色检测caspase-3、Bcl-2的表达情况。结果：从伤后14d起,B组Tarlov评分和斜板试验角度与A组相比差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。TUNEL法检测表明,大鼠SCI后存在细胞凋亡,3d时达高峰,与caspase-3的表达基本一致,B组伤后24h、3d及7d时凋亡细胞比率显著低于A组（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）。免疫组化结果显示B组伤后24h、3d、7d、14d及28d时caspase-3表达低于A组（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）,而Bcl-2表达高于A组（P〈0.01或P〈0.05）。结论：E2能促进大鼠SCI后的神经功能恢复,具有一定的神经保护作用;E2可能是通过减少SCI后继发性细胞凋亡的机制发挥作用的。     

Lack of effect of a single dose of hydrocortisone on serotonin(1A) receptors in recovered depressed patients measured by positron emission tomography with [11C]WAY-100635.

BACKGROUND: Elevated cortisol levels might account for the reduction in central serotonin 1A (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT](1A)) receptor binding and function observed in patients with major depression. We tested this hypothesis by studying the effect of acute administration of hydrocortisone on 5-HT(1A) receptor binding potential (BP) in subjects recovered from depression. METHODS: We studied 14 subjects (8 male, 6 female) who had recovered from at least two episodes of major depression and had been euthymic and drug free for at least 6 months. Serotonin 1A receptor BP was measured by [(11)C]WAY-100635 in conjunction with positron emission tomography. Subjects were tested on two occasions in a double-blind, random-order, crossover design after administration of either hydrocortisone (100 mg orally) or placebo 12 hours previously. Positron emission tomography scans were analyzed with a region of interest analysis. RESULTS: Hydrocortisone treatment did not decrease 5-HT(1A) receptor BP either in the hippocampus, which was our a priori hypothesis, or in other cortical 5-HT(1A) regions; however, female subjects had a higher 5-HT(1A) receptor BP in certain brain areas compared with male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with an earlier study in healthy volunteers and do not support the proposal that decreased 5-HT(1A) receptor BP in patients with acute major depression is a consequence of cortisol hypersecretion.     

Event-related Potentials as Markers for Alcoholism Risk in High Density Families

One hundred sixty-eight adult siblings and parents from affected and control families were tested for ERP characteristics using two tasks involving an auditory oddball paradigm. Significant within family differences among affected families suggest that risk for developing alcoholism may be seen even in adult subjects who have had experience consuming alcohol. Further, analysis of quantity and recency of drinking in the past seven days were not correlated with either amplitude or latency of P300, suggesting that the within-family differences observed reflect relative risk for developing alcoholism rather than experience with alcohol.     

An unexpected complication following immunoadsorption with a staphylococcal protein a column

Extracorporeal immune adsorption with staphylococcal protein A (SPA) columns can remove immune complexes and immunoglobulins in the treatment of a variety of diseases. We present the case of an elderly man with neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy, treated by 3 on-line SPA procedures. At the completion of these treatments his neuropathy relapsed, progressing to near-total paralysis. Return to a baseline clinical status required several months. The reason for this severe relapse is not clear. Possible explanations include SPA activation of T-lymphocytes, with release of gamma interferon and increased antigen recognition, or removal of an anti-idiotype control mechanism. We advise caution in the application of immunoadsorption to conditions in which it has not yet been evaluated. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Lung Transplant Recipients Holding Companion Animals: Impact on Physical Health and Quality of Life

Since lung transplant recipients are susceptible to infections and inhaled pollution, many centers warn against pets. However, data supporting this recommendation are lacking. Our program is less restrictive regarding pets. This study, for the first time, investigates the association of pets with physiological and psychological parameters in these patients. A questionnaire concerning pets was sent to 104 lung transplant recipients. Lung function tests, levels of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)), need for antibiotic treatments and hospitalizations, creatinine clearance, body mass index (BMI) and demographic data were assessed. Additionally, the questionnaire of life satisfaction (FLZ), a question on summarized life satisfaction (LS), the life orientation test (LOT), the hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) and the social support questionnaire (F-SozU) were assessed. Response rate was 86%. Fifty-two percent defined themselves as pet owners, whereas 48% did not. The two groups did not differ in demographic or physiological data. Significant differences in FLZ (79/65, p = 0.04), in LS (4.3/3.9, p = 0.01), LOT (32/29, p = 0.006) and F-SozU (4.5/4.2, p = 0.04) were found in favor of pet owners. In lung transplant recipients keeping pets the frequency of somatic complications is not higher compared to lung transplant recipients without pets. After lung transplantation, pets are associated with a better quality of life.     

Integration and proliferation of transplanted cells in hepatic parenchyma following D-galactosamine-induced acute injury in F344 rats

To determine whether liver repopulation with cell transplantation could be of therapeutic value in acute hepatic failure, it is necessary to establish the fate of transplanted hepatocytes. This study used dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient F344 rats as recipients to analyse the engraftment and proliferation of transplanted hepatocytes. Syngeneic hepatocytes were transplanted intrasplenically 24-30 h after induction of liver injury by D-galactosamine (GalN). Portosystemic shunting was analysed with 99m-Tc-labelled albumin microspheres. GalN-treated rats showed characteristic hepatic necrosis, inflammation, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activation, and regenerative activity, without increased portosystemic shunting (>99% 99m-Tc activity was in the liver in normal and GalN-treated rats). Transplanted cells entered hepatic sinusoids promptly and were observed in liver plates at 48 h. The number of transplanted cells increased in GalN-treated rats by approximately seven-fold (range two- to 12-fold), along with evidence for DNA synthesis between 3 and 14 days after cell transplantation and greater prevalence of larger transplanted cell clusters. These findings indicate that the liver can be safely repopulated in animals with acute liver failure, although the time required for regenesis of plasma membrane structures and proliferation in transplanted hepatocytes will need to be considered in developing therapeutic strategies.