神经源性声带运动障碍与喉神经电生理

声带运动障碍的病因和临床表现复杂多变，涉及多学科，从病因上分为神经源性和非神经源性。对于神经源性声带运动障碍的诊治，首先通过喉镜等检查明确有无声带运动障碍及严重程度，值得注意的是声带纵向张力变化障碍也属于运动障碍的范畴；然后采用喉肌电图（LEMG）检查进行定性分析，在确诊神经源性损伤后，进一步对神经损伤部位进行定位诊断并查找导致神经损伤的病因；同时根据喉部神经电生理评估结果，判断预后。最后综合上述的评估结果制定相应的治疗策略。     

Nerve ultrasound reference data in children from two to seven years

ObjectiveWe examined selected peripheral and spinal nerves of children aged between two and seven years.MethodHigh resolution ultrasound was performed in 116 children (2–7 years of age) at 19 predefined landmarks of median, ulnar, tibial, fibular, sural and radial nerves, the vagus as well as cervical spinal nerve 5 and 6. Further, side-to-side measuring and grey-scale analysis was done at selected nerve sites.ResultsNerves of children were on average smaller than those of adults. Nerve growth correlates significantly with age in all nerves, the mean values were similar in the age of two to four years and five to seven years. Body mass index (BMI) and gender showed moderate effect at some nerve sites, however not uniformly in all. A side-to-side difference of up to 30% in median, and up to 20% in tibial nerve can occur in healthy individuals. Grey-scale analysis for echointensity has been performed in median, ulnar and tibial nerves.ConclusionNerve size increases with age, BMI and gender have moderate effect. A side-to-side-difference of up to 30% can exist.SignificanceReference values of nerve cross-sectional area, side-to-side-difference and echo intensity are necessary to detect nerve pathology in children as well as in adults.     

Non-viral transfer of BDNF and uPA stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration

Peripheral nerves connect brain and spinal cord with the extremities and inner organs, and nerves injury can lead the disability and social exclusion. Growth factors and other natural stimulators of regeneration processes look very promising as future medicines. In our study, we tested the influence of genetic constructions that contain genes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and urokinase plasminogen activator on nerve's structure and function after traumatic and ischemic injuries. Injection of pVax1-hBDNF and pVax1-muPA after traumatic injury led to better restoration of nerve's structure and function compared to similar parameters of control group mice. In ischemic injury model pVax1-hBDNF and pVax1-muPA slowed and reduced the damage progression and stimulated nerve regeneration as well. However, the treatment with pVax1-muPA was less effective after the traumatic injury. As we chose a non-viral method of gene delivery during our study the optimal conditions of plasmid intramuscular delivery were also determined.     

Ex Vivo Radiation Leads to Opposing Neurite Growth in Whole Ganglia vs Dissociated Cultured Pelvic Neurons

BackgroundProstatic radiation therapy (RT) often causes erectile dysfunction (ED) and the mechanisms governing RT-induced ED are unclear with a lack of therapeutic strategies.AimTo determine the effects of ex vivo RT on major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neuron survival, and neurite growth in whole vs dissociated culture.MethodsMPGs were removed and irradiated (0 or 8 Gy) from male Sprague Dawley rats. For dissociated culture, MPG neurons were digested in collagenase/dispase and cultured on coverslips. Immunofluorescent staining for beta-tubulin III (TUBB3; neuron marker), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS; nitrergic marker), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; sympathetic marker), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assessed neurite length, branching, autonomic neuron density, and apoptosis. For whole organ culture, MPGs were grown in Matrigel. Gene expression of apoptotic markers (caspase 1, 3), TUBB3, nNOS, TH, and Schwann cells (Sox10, Krox20, glial fibrillary acid protein) was measured in whole organ cultured MPGs by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.OutcomesAfter 72 hours, neurite length, branching, autonomic neuron density, and apoptosis were assessed, and gene expression was measured.ResultsRT increased apoptosis in dissociated neurons measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (P < .001) and whole MPG culture via upregulation of caspase 3 gene expression (P < .05). Nitrergic neurons were markedly decreased in irradiated dissociated culture (P < .05), while nNOS gene expression was upregulated in irradiated whole organ culture (P < .05). The proportion of dissociated sympathetic neurons and whole organ TH gene expression remained unchanged after RT. Interestingly, RT dissociated neurites were 22% shorter than controls, while RT whole organ neurites were 15% longer than controls (P < .01). MPG Schwann cells markers (Sox10, Krox20) were elevated after RT in whole organ culture.Clinical TranslationProstatic RT leads to increased neuronal cell death and less erectogenic nitrergic neurons contributing to ED.Strengths & LimitationsThe advantages of dissociated neuron culture include distinct neurites which are easily measured for apoptosis, length/branching, and specific neuron types. In contrast, whole MPG culture is advantageous as it contains all the supporting cells present in vivo.ConclusionThe 2 different culture methods demonstrated opposing neurite growth after RT indicating the importance of supporting cell network to promote pelvic neuron neuritogenesis and survival following RT.Randolph JT, Pak ES, Koontz BF, et al. Ex Vivo Radiation Leads to Opposing Neurite Growth in Whole Ganglia vs Dissociated Cultured Pelvic Neurons. J Sex Med 2020;17:1423–1433.     

皮肤瘙痒神经传导介质的研究进展

瘙痒是皮肤科的一种常见症状,是多因素相互作用的结果,其发生受到中枢和外周机制的双重调控,但具体发生机制尚不十分清楚。近年来随着研究的不断深入,多种物质如组胺、乙酰胆碱、5-羟色胺、蛋白酶和蛋白酶相关受体、细胞因子、阿片样肽等介质在瘙痒产生过程中起重要作用,这些介质通过刺激C类神经纤维或直接与皮肤感觉神经纤维受体相结合来介导瘙痒。本文就将皮肤瘙痒的神经传导及传导介质作一综述。     

Diagnostic sensitivity of electrophysiology and ultrasonography in ulnar neuropathies of different severity

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying clinical severity in 135 consecutive patients.MethodsClinical severity of ulnar neuropathy was graded on a 4 point scale from very mild (symptoms only) to severe (marked atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles). Sensitivity and localization ability of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound were assessed for each point of the scale.ResultsUltrasound had higher sensitivity than electrophysiology in clinically very mild (20% and 3% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) and mild (62% and 47% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) neuropathies, had greater localizing ability in axonal ulnar neuropathies, and identified nerve hypermobility.Ultrasound nerve cross-sectional area had strong positive correlation with both clinical and electrophysiological severity scores, but with significant overlap across the severity groups.ConclusionThe diagnostic work-up of ulnar neuropathies was improved by using both electrophysiology and ultrasound at all levels of clinical severity. Ultrasound increased the diagnostic yield in very mild and mild neuropathies, localized all the ulnar neuropathies with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology and identified nerve hypermobility.SignificanceThis is the first detailed analysis of the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying severity.     

环化酶激活剂对大鼠感觉神经元保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨环化酶激活剂（前列腺素E1、腺苷及Zn^2＋离子）对周围神经损伤后感觉神经元的保护作用.方法在大鼠坐骨神经夹毁模型术后21 d,取背根节用图像分析法观测前列腺素E1（PGE1）、腺苷（Ade）和高Zn^2＋饲料（Zn^2＋）对背根节细胞数、核偏心率及核等圆径的影响,并与人胎盘神经生长因子（hNGF）的作用相比较.结果NGF及环化酶激活剂组与夹毁对照组相比都能增进背根节细胞的存活和减轻核偏移（P＜0.05）;NGF组和高Zn^2＋饲料组在背根节细胞存活数、核偏心率及核等圆径方面与假手术组无差别（P＞0.05）.结论PEG1、Ade及Zn^2＋离子等环化酶激活剂对DRG神经元均有保护作用,其中Zn^2＋离子的保护效应与NGF无差别.     

胸腺内注射异基因抗原诱导鼠神经移植免疫耐受的实验研究

目的探讨小鼠胸腺内注射异基因抗原在同种异体异基因坐骨神经移植免疫耐受中的作用。方法自供体小鼠C57BL／6的脾细胞中提取MHC抗原注人受体鼠Balb／c小鼠胸腺内，于2周后移植供体鼠坐骨神经。48只Balb／c小鼠随机分为4组，A组（胸腺内注射组）、B组（自体神经移植组）、C组（冷冻异体神经移植组）、D组（异体神经移植加用免疫抑制剂组）。于3周后进行电生理学、组织学、免疫学检测。结果A组运动神经传导速度（38．23m／s）与D组（36．39m／s）相比无显著性差异（P〉0．05），组织学、电镜、免疫学（混合淋巴细胞培养及迟发性超敏反应）检测结果均证实B组分别优于A组、D组和C组。结论胸腺内注射异基因MHC抗原可诱导大鼠对异体坐骨神经移植的特异性免疫耐受。     

食蟹猴年龄相关的运动功能减退及其与纹状体多巴胺转运体的关系

目的研究食蟹猴老化过程中运动行为和脑内纹状体多巴胺系统功能变化及两者之间的相关关系。方法选取4岁、10岁和15岁3个年龄组的健康食蟹猴共29只,利用计算机化的网络摄像头视频检测系统和行为分析软件连续采集和分析每个动物8h随意运动活动总量,各年龄组分别选取4只动物用多巴胺转运体(DAT)配体99mTc-TRODAT-1结合单光子发射体层摄影术(SPECT)显像观察脑内纹状体多巴胺转运体放射性摄取率的变化。结果在4岁、10岁和15岁年龄组,8h随意运动活动总量(×106)分别为5·00±1·93,3·28±1·02,2·79±0·67,在10岁和15岁较之4随年龄组分别降低了34·50%和55·71%(P<0·05,P<0·01),但此两个年龄组运动活动总量无显著差异(P>0·05);纹状体99mTc-TRODAT-1放射性摄取率分别为2·98±0·08,2·56±0·12和2·27±0·35,10岁和15岁较之4随年龄组分别降低了14·00%和25·60%,但仅4岁与15岁年龄组存在显著相关关系(P<0·01)。二者均随着年龄的增长呈逐渐减低的趋势,直线回归分析显示两者分别与年龄呈负相关关系(r=-0·57,P=0·001;r=-0·86,P<0·01)。8h随意运动活动总量与纹状体99mTc-TRODAT-1放射性摄取率呈显著的正相关关系(r=0·70,P<0·05)。结论正常食蟹猴老化过程中,脑内多巴胺神经系统功能的减退伴随着运动行为的减少,两者之间的相关关系进一步佐证了运动功能的减退可能是由于纹状体内多巴胺神经元功能减退所致。