Cutaneous nerves in patients with diabetic neuropathy--an electron microscopic study

Since the role of cutaneous nerves in the pathogenesis of cutaneous diseases associated with diabetes mellitus is not well defined, cutaneous nerves in ten patients with severe diabetic neuropathy were electron microscopically investigated as a preliminary study. The specimens were taken from normal-appearing skin of their lower extremities. Cutaneous nerves were seen as axon-Schwann cell complexes in which variously degenerated axons and Schwann cells coexisted with normal ones. The degenerative changes were not, however, specific for diabetes mellitus.     

Trigone sensitivity testing is a measure of exteroceptive function

The trigone sensitivity test, a complementary test to cystometry, has been proposed as a method for distinguishing certain clinical disorders. Pressure is applied to the trigone region of the bladder by pulling upon a Foley catheter with the balloon inflated and the amount of force needed to induce an urge to void is recorded. Although the trigone sensitivity test has been proposed as a test of exteroceptive function, it is possible that deeper receptors, perhaps proprioceptors, are actually responsible for the awareness of the urge to void during the study. The present investigation compared the trigone sensitivity test with provoked detrusor contraction in 107 patients. The findings indicate that variations in the two responses occur independently of each other. It is concluded that different neural pathways are responsible for the two functions. The hypothesis that exteroceptive and not proprioceptive nerves are being measured during trigone sensitivity testing is supported by these findings.     

Analysis of reflex activity in cardiac sympathetic nerve induced by myelinated phrenic nerve afferents

Electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve afferents evoked excitatory responses in the right inferior cardiac sympathetic nerve in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. The reflex was recorded in intact and spinal cats. The latency and threshold of the volley recorded from the phrenic nerve as well as of the cord dorsum potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve indicated that group III afferents were responsible for this reflex. The phrenicocardiac sympathetic reflex recorded in intact cats was followed by a silent period. The maximum amplitude of the reflex discharges was 800 microV, the latency was 83 ms and the central transmission time 53 ms. Duration of the silent period lasted up to 0.83 s. In spinal cats the reflex was recorded 5.5-8 h after spinalization. The maximum amplitude of the spinal reflex discharges ranged from 22 to 91 microV and the latency from 36 to 66 ms.     

THE INCREASE OF FEMORAL ARTERIAL FLOW BY STIMULATING THE DORSAL AND VENTRAL MEDULLA IN CATS

1. In chloralose-urethane anaesthetized cats, the dorsal cardiovascular reactive area (DCRA) in the parvocellular reticular nucleus dorsomedial to the facial nucleus, and the ventral cardiovascular reactive area (VCRA) ventromedial to the facial nucleus, were stimulated by microinjections of sodium glutamate (100–200 nmol) or electric current. 2. Stimulation of DCRA, with a long latency of 15–20 s, elicited a marked increase of blood flow in the contralateral femoral artery with little change to moderate increase in systemic arterial blood pressure (ABP). In the relatively dorsal portion of DCRA, however, a smaller increase of blood flow in the ipsilateral femoral artery was elicited. 3. On the other hand, stimulation of VCRA with a short latency (3–5 s) evoked an increase of blood flow in both femoral arteries which was more prominent on the contralateral side. The responses were accompanied with decreases in the blood flow of other vascular beds with only a slight increase or minimal change in ABP. 4. The data suggest that DCRA and VCRA are both viscerotopically organized to alter the resistance of individual vascular beds for redistribution of blood flow.     

VASOCONSTRICTION IN THE RENAL VASCULAR BED DURING EXERCISE: STUDIES IN CONTROL AND HEART FAILURE RABBITS

1. The effects of graded treadmill exercise on renal blood flow (RBF) were examined in seven rabbits, in which congestive heart failure (CHF) was produced by the administration of doxorubicin, 1 mg/kg, twice weekly for 8 weeks, and in seven controls. A third group of five rabbits underwent doxorubicin treatment with the addition of surgical section of the left renal sympathetic nerve. 2. During submaximal exercise, there was a small reduction in RBF in controls, which was greatly exaggerated in CHF. 3. In both control and heart failure rabbits, there was a precipitous fall in RBF as exercise fatigue developed. 4. Renal sympathectomy ablated these changes in RBF during exercise. 5. It is concluded that in heart failure there is an exaggerated, sympathetically mediated, diversion of blood flow away from the kidney. The onset of exercise fatigue in both normal and heart failure rabbits is accompanied by a marked intensification of this process.     

The outcome of ganglion clipping in hyperhidrosis and blushing

A total of 114 patients with various sympathetic disorders underwent endoscopic sympathetic block over different thoracic ganglions by the clipping method. The advantages of this method include the recognition of the clipped level, changeability, and reversibility. However, 4.4% of patients were unilaterally clipped at the wrong level.     

颅脑外伤后肢体痉挛状态的显微外科治疗

目的 探讨显微外科治疗颅脑外伤后肢体痉挛状态的疗效.方法 回顾分析2006年7月至2008年7月实施的21例显微外科治疗颅脑外伤后肢体痉挛状态,根据不同病例采用相应的选择性周围神经部分切断术,包括:胫神经、肌皮神经、正中神经、尺神经和腰骶段脊神经后根,共计50个肢体.结果 术后随访2～24个月,全部患者术后立即感相应肢体痉挛状态缓解,随访期间缓解率为98%(49/50).随访期间运动功能改善率为86%(18/21),生活质量提高率为95%(20/21).术后发生肢体麻木、疼痛等感觉异常26个(52%),肌力下降18个(36%),随访期间均见好转.术后痉挛状态复发1个(2%).结论 选择性周围神经部分切断术是治疗颅脑外伤后肢体痉挛状态安全有效的方法.选择适应证及手术时机和术后坚持康复训练是保证疗效的关键.     

Physiological Effects of Mental Stress and Orthostasis in Young Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT. The effects of procedures which stimulate sympathetic activity, viz. mental stress induced by a colour-word conflict test (CWT) for 20 min, and orthostasis (ORT) for 8 min were studied in 8 young (16-20 yr) insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients and 9 age and sex-matched healthy controls. The IDDM patients showed no signs of neuropathy or retinopathy and their mean HbA_1c value was 8.4 ±0.6% (normal value < 5.0 %). Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly during CWT and ORT in both groups. The changes in systolic blood pressure and heart rate were comparable in both groups during CWT; the IDDM group showed a higher ( p < 0.05) heart rate after 8 min of orthostasis, however. CWT and ORT elicited equivalent increases in noradrenaline in venous plasma in both groups ( p < 0.05), but the IDDM patients had 50% lower values ( p < 0.01) at rest, during CWT and at rest after CWT than controls. CWT and ORT evoked equivalent plasma adrenaline increases in both groups. The lipolysis marker, plasma glycerol, was about 40 % lower ( p < 0.05) in the IDDM group before and after CWT. Yet, mental stress evoked equivalent increases in glycerol levels ( p < 0.01) in both groups. These findings indicate that sympathetic activity in the young diabetic patients without signs of neuropathy may be blunted.     

Influence of anaesthesia and muscle relaxation on intubating conditions and sympathoadrenal response to tracheal intubation

Background : The study aimed to assess the relative influence of anaesthesia and muscle relaxation on intubating conditions and the haemodynamic and catecholamine responses to tracheal intubation.
Methods : Sixty ASA 1 or 2 patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups (15 patients each) that differed in the depth of anaesthesia (thiopentone plus fentanyl 2.5 μg kg^-1 or thiopentone alone) and the degree of vecuronium–induced neuromuscular block (100% or _>: 65%) at intubation. Muscle relaxation was measured at 0.1 Hz by means of mechanomyography. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured before and after induction of anaesthesia, and 1 min and 5 min following intubation, while adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline concentrations (NA) were determined from arterial blood samples.
Results : Intubating conditions were improved primarily by providing complete muscle relaxation at the adductor pollicis muscle (P<0.001) and to a lesser extent by adding fentanyl to thiopentone (P=0.04). The response of HR and MAP to tracheal intubation was attenuated mainly by fentanyl (P<0.001). Complete muscle relaxation further diminished the response of MAP to intubation (P=0.03). Changes in A and NA were dependent on the depth of anaesthesia only (P =>0.01).
Conclusion : The results of the study demonstrate that the sympathoadrenal response to intubation is attenuated by adding fentanyl (2.5 kg^-1) to an induction regimen with thiopentone, whereas provision of complete muscle relaxation at the adductor pollicis muscle is necessary to attain smooth intubating conditions.