Quantification of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor Binding in Depressed Suicide Attempters and Non-Attempters

Objective: To determine serotonin system abnormalities related to major depression or previous suicidal behavior.

Methods: [¹¹C]WAY100635, [¹⁸F]altanserin and positron emission tomography were used to compare 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A binding in MDD patients divided into eight past suicide attempters (>4yrs prior to scanning) and eight lifetime non-attempters, and both groups were compared to eight healthy volunteers.

Results: The two receptor types differed in binding pattern across brain regions from each other, but there were no differences in binding between healthy volunteers and the two depressed groups or between depressed suicide attempters and non-attempters. No effects of depression severity or lifetime aggression were observed for either receptor.

Conclusion: Limitations of this study include small sample size and absence of high lethality suicide attempts in the depressed attempter group. No trait-like binding correlations with past suicide attempt or current depression were observed. Given the heterogeneity of nonfatal suicidal behavior, a larger sample study emphasizing higher lethality suicide attempts may find the serotonin biological phenotype seen in suicide decedents.     

宁波市北仑区2013-2014年儿童哮喘流行病学调查

目的调查宁波市北仑区0~14岁儿童哮喘发病率、发病规律及危险因素,为制定防治措施提供参考。方法2013年1月-2014年1月,采用整群抽样法抽取北仑区19所学校0~14岁儿童为调查对象进行问卷调查,对筛查出的疑似哮喘儿童进行确诊,并对其人口学特征进行分析,采用logistic回归方程分析危险因素。结果调查收回有效问卷23 781份,共检出哮喘患儿534例,发病率为2.25%,男女发病率比例为1.92:1。其中发病较轻患儿占44.01%,中度占31.46%,重度占24.53%。发病时间以换季、冬季为主,分别占35.96%、32.02%。多因素logistic回归分析显示,呼吸道感染、药物过敏史、家族过敏史和食物过敏史是儿童哮喘发病的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论北仑区儿童哮喘发病率较高,具有性别和季节发病差异,应加大对患病危险因素的宣传,规范标准化治疗方案,减少儿童哮喘疾病的发生。     

Reactive oxygen species and human spermatozoa: physiology and pathology

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathophysiology of human sperm function has been emphasized in recent years. ROS production in semen has been associated with loss of sperm motility, decreased capacity for sperm–oocyte fusion and loss of fertility. There is a current presumption that the most prolific source of ROS in sperm suspensions is an NADPH oxidase located in leukocytes or in spermatozoa which produces superoxide which is further converted to peroxide by the action of superoxide dismutase. Hydrogen peroxide has been recognized as the most toxic oxidizing species for human spermatozoa, which are very sensitive to lipid peroxidation owing to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their plasma membrane, though this is not the sole mechanism by which sperm function might be impaired by ROS. Although the excessive production of ROS is detrimental to human spermatozoa, there is a growing body of evidence which suggests that ROS are also involved in the physiological control of some sperm functions. This review focuses on the nature and source of the ROS generated by human spermataozoa as well as their operational mechanisms and their effects, which may be detrimental or beneficial.     

Stemmed femoral knee prostheses: Effects of prosthetic design and fixation on bone loss

Although the revision rates for modern knee prostheses have decreased drastically, the total number of revisions a year is increasing because many more primary knee replacements are being done. At the time of revision, bone loss is common, which compromises prosthetic stability. To improve stability, intramedullary stems are often used. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of a stem, its diameter and the interface bonding conditions on patterns of the bone remodeling in the distal femur.

We created finite element models of the distal half of a femur in which 4 types of knee prostheses were placed. The bone remodeling process was simulated using a strain-adaptive bone remodeling theory. The amount of such remodeling was determined by calculating the changes in bone mineral density in 9 regions of interest from simulated DEXA scans.

The computer simulation model showed that revision prostheses tend to cause more bone resorption than primary ones, especially in the most distal regions. Predicted long-term bone loss due to a revision prosthesis with a thin stem equalled that around a prosthesis with an intercondylar box. However, strong regional differences were found- the stemmed prostheses having more bone loss in the most distal areas and some bone gain in the more proximal ones. A prosthesis with a thick stem led to an increase in bone loss. When the prosthesis-cement interface was bonded, more bone loss was predicted than with an unbonded interface. These results suggest that a stem which increases stability initially may reduce stability in the long term. This is due to an increase in stress shielding and bone resorption.     

De-novo expression of vascular ecto-5′-nucleotidase and down-regulation of glomerular ecto-ATPase in experimental chronic renal transplant failure

Ischemic injury plays an important role in chronic renal transplant failure (CRTF). Down-regulation of ecto-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in combination with up-regulation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase is a hallmark of ischemic injury. We studied the expression of renal ecto-5'-nucleotidase and ecto-ATPase in experimental renal transplantation. Fisher 344-to-Lewis allografted rats were either treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or left untreated. Lewis-to-Lewis syngrafted rats served as controls. Untreated allografted rats developed proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, and mild intimal hyperplasia. ACEi completely prevented focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FGS) and proteinuria, but significantly enhanced intimal hyperplasia. Untreated allografted rats revealed marked vascular ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity, which increased with ACEi. Vascular ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity was absent in syngrafted animals. Ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity correlated well with intimal hyperplasia. Glomerular ecto-ATPase expression was significantly reduced in untreated allografted rats compared to syngrafted rats and correlated well with the extent of FGS. ACEi prevented reduction in glomerular ecto-ATPase. We found de-novo expression of ecto-5'-nucleotidase at sites of renal intimal hyperplasia. Glomerular ecto-ATPase expression was markedly reduced in allografted rats and was prevented by ACEi. These enzyme expression patterns suggest local ischemic damage in experimental CRTF.