Functional inhibition and release: unilateral tachistoscopic performance and stereoelectroencephalographic activity in a case with left limbic status epilepticus

During prolonged nonconvulsive unilateral left limbic status epilepticus, a natural model of functional hemispheric inhibition, we performed two tachistoscopic experiments, a lexical decision task associated with a RVF (left hemisphere) superiority and a facial matching task associated with a LVF (right hemisphere) superiority. We found that epileptic activity in the left hemisphere, especially rhythmic high-frequency "tonic" discharges, inhibited performance on the lexical task but not on the facial matching task. This suggests that only cognitive activity in the discharging hemisphere is inhibited. Strikingly, the best performance of the right hemisphere was obtained while the left hemisphere was most inhibited, suggesting a functional balance of inhibition and release.     

山区农村散居80岁及以上老年人营养调查

对象与方法：在沂蒙山区对４个乡镇的散居高龄老人１２１人进行营养调查（男５５,女６６）,年龄最高男９６岁,女９２岁;最低男女均为８０岁。以称重法与五日询问回忆法相结合,进行四季动态的膳食调查。结果：其膳食构成以谷类（占总重量６１％～７１％）及蔬菜（１２％～１６％）为主,配有少量豆类（１．８％～４．６％）与动物性食品（６．２％～１２．０％）。按中国营养学会８０岁以上老人ＲＤＡ计算,四季能量摄入男性达到ＲＤＡ的８１％～９１％,女性达到７５％～８４％,蛋白质男性仅达到６７％～７５％,女性５５％～６７％,动物和豆类蛋白质来源不足,低于蛋白质总量的３０％～５０％。钙摄入量只有ＲＤＡ的２０％左右,锌、硒、维生素Ａ、Ｂ１、Ｂ２、Ｃ均明显不足。三大营养素所占能量比例合理,脂肪来源以植物油为主,符合老年人营养要求。营养缺乏病检查发现有维生素不足症状,如皮肤干燥鳞皮占４．１％,口角湿白厚２８．９％,舌腥红２２．３％,味蕾肥大８１．０％,膝反射消失１２．４％等。临界高血压患病率为１６．１％,高血压患病率１４．３％。生化检查：血红蛋白检测１１４人,低于１２０ｇ／Ｌ者１６．７％;血糖检测１１６人,高于正常的占６．９％,低于正常的占４７?     

Giant axonal neuropathy. Report of a case with normal hair.

A further case of giant axonal neuropathy is described. The diagnosis was made by sural nerve biopsy in a boy presenting signs of a progressive spinocerebellar syndrome with polyneuropathy. Ultrastructurally a severe abnormality of this peripheral nerve, with loss of thick myelinated nerve fibers and the presence of giant axonal swellings was evident. The axonal swellings appeared to be caused by an accumulation of filaments which were also present in Schwann cells, as well as in endothelial and perineurial cells, justifying the term of "generalized microfibrillar hyperplasia". It is most remarkable that the patient's hair was not unusual, in contrast to the previously reported cases who had "kinky hair".     

富血小板血浆治疗毒蛇咬伤难愈合性创面的疗效评价

目的:评价富血小板血浆(PRP)治疗毒蛇咬伤难愈合性创面的临床疗效。方法:回顾性分析PRP治疗7例毒蛇咬伤难愈合性创面患者的临床疗效。结果:经3～6次治疗,7例患者创面伤口平均愈合率达96.8%,治疗前创面平均面积为(14.44±14.697)cm²,治疗后平均面积为(1.245±3.174)cm²。结论:PRP治疗毒蛇咬伤难愈合性创面效果显著。     

Supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids improves oxidative stress in activated BV2 microglial cell line

Abstract

Many reports have shown promising beneficial effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (L-PUFAs) of the omega 3 series in several brain diseases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that omega 3 fatty acids supplement reduced pro-inflammatory functions in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that a supplement rich in PUFAs (SRP) increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner suggesting its protective role against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell death in BV2 microglial cell line. In the same cultures, the supplement rich in PUFAs reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production. A most prominent target for ROS management is the family of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). The co-treatment with SRP and LPS increased significantly the nuclear immunoreactivity of PPAR-γwhen compared the LPS treatment alone. Moreover, the chronic administration of the SRP in rats, increased the immunoreactivity of the PPAR-γ1 protein confirming its potential neuroprotective effect.     

Brain network analysis reveals affected connectome structure in bipolar I disorder

The notion that healthy brain function emerges from coordinated neural activity constrained by the brain's network of anatomical connections—i.e., the connectome—suggests that alterations in the connectome's wiring pattern may underlie brain disorders. Corroborating this hypothesis, studies in schizophrenia are indicative of altered connectome architecture including reduced communication efficiency, disruptions of central brain hubs, and affected “rich club” organization. Whether similar deficits are present in bipolar disorder is currently unknown. This study examines structural connectome topology in 216 bipolar I disorder patients as compared to 144 healthy controls, focusing in particular on central regions (i.e., brain hubs) and connections (i.e., rich club connections, interhemispheric connections) of the brain's network. We find that bipolar I disorder patients exhibit reduced global efficiency (?4.4%, P =0.002) and that this deficit relates (r = 0.56, P < 0.001) to reduced connectivity strength of interhemispheric connections (?13.0%, P = 0.001). Bipolar disorder patients were found not to show predominant alterations in the strength of brain hub connections in general, or of connections spanning brain hubs (i.e., “rich club” connections) in particular (all P > 0.1). These findings highlight a role for aberrant brain network architecture in bipolar I disorder with reduced global efficiency in association with disruptions in interhemispheric connectivity, while the central “rich club” system appears not to be particularly affected. Hum Brain Mapp 37:122–134, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Effects of Platelet‐Rich Plasma on Halting the Progression in Porcine Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Disc degeneration and the subsequent herniation and/or rupture of the intervertebral disc (IVD) are due to a failure of the extracellular matrix of the annulus to contain the contents of the nucleus. This results from inadequate maintenance of the matrix components as well as the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade matrix molecules. Arresting progression of disc degeneration in the annulus holds greater clinical potential at this point than prevention of its onset in the nucleus. Therefore, in this study, we have therapeutic aims that would decrease levels of the cytokines and growth factors that indirectly lead to disc degeneration via stimulating MMP and increase levels of several beneficial growth factors, such as transforming growth factor‐β, with the addition of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) that would stimulate cell growth and matrix synthesis. For this study, we attempted to address these imbalances of metabolism by using tumor necrosis factor‐α treated annulus fibrosus cells isolated from porcine IVD tissue and incubating the cells in a growth factor rich environment with PRP. These results indicate that the PRP in vitro increased the production of the major matrix components (type II collagen and aggrecan) and decreased the inhibitory collagenase MMP‐1. This application will address a therapeutic approach for intervening early in the degenerative process.     

富含半胱氨酸的酸性分泌糖蛋白对囊肿衬里上皮细胞细胞周期及其调控基因表达的影响

目的研究富含半胱氨酸的酸性分泌糖蛋白(SPARC)对人常染色体显性多囊肾病(ADPKD)囊肿衬里上皮细胞(CLECs)细胞周期及其调控基因表达的影响,初步探讨SPARC对CLECs的作用。方法体外条件下用不同浓度SPARC处理CLECs,5鄄鄄2脱溴氧尿苷酶联免疫吸附测定法(BrdUELISA)测定CLECs增殖;流式细胞术检测细胞周期;实时荧光定量RT鄄PCR方法检测CLECs细胞周期调控基因ClnD1、P21Waf1表达水平的变化。结果μg水平的SPARC能有效抑制ADPKDCLECs增殖(P<0.01),使细胞周期停滞于G0/G1期。10μg/mlSPARC刺激后,ClnD1mRNA水平(3.56±0.54)×104拷贝/百万GAPDH较对照组(7.50±0.99)×104显著减弱,P21WmRNAaf1水平(7.72±0.85)×103较对照组(4.25±1.38)×103显著增强。结论SPARC能够有效抑制CLECs细胞周期的进展。其机制可能通过抑制ClnD1、促进P21Waf1的表达,抑制细胞通过G1鄄S期限制点,从而对其增殖产生显著的抑制作用。     

富血小板血浆结合松质骨移植治疗腕舟骨骨不连的实验研究

目的 通过实验研究探讨富血小板血浆结合松质骨移植治疗腕舟骨骨不连的效果。方法 健康新西兰大白兔36只,随机分为A、B两组,每组18只,两组建立腕舟骨骨不连动物模型后,A组为腕舟骨骨不连处植入松质骨治疗,B组为舟骨骨不连处植入松质结合PRP治疗,术后8周观察动物一般状况与骨愈合情况。结果 术后A组骨基质可见且钙盐沉积不明显,B组骨不连区能够看到诸多新生骨,但新生骨量较A组低;术后8周B组实验侧修复性新骨形成均多于A组,对比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。术后8周观察组的软骨总体形态与微形态评分分别为1.74±0.43分和3.20±1.74分,对照组分别为3.61±0.56分和7.42±1.24分,观察组明显少于对照组（P<0.05）。两组胶原含量在术后都呈现明显上升的趋势,术后8周观察组与对照组的胶原含量分别为0.24±0.03ng/L和0.17±0.06ng/L,观察组明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 富血小板血浆结合松质骨移植治疗腕舟骨骨不连对骨的再生与修复有明显的促进作用,应用比较方便,有比较好的应用价值。     

Expandable intramedullary nailing and platelet rich plasma to treat long bone non-unions

Background  Roentgenographic and functional outcomes of expandable self locking intramedullary nailing and platelet rich plasma (PRP) gel in the treatment of long bone non-unions are reported. Materials and methods  Twenty-two patients suffering from atrophic diaphyseal long bone non-unions were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with removal of pre-existing hardware, decortication of non-union fragments, and fixation of pseudoarthrosis with expandable intramedullary nailing (Fixion™, Disc’O Tech, Tel Aviv, Israel). At surgery, PRP was placed in the pseudoarthrosis rim. Results  The thirteen-month follow-up showed 91% (20/22 patients) of patients attaining bony union. The average time to union was 21.5 weeks. No infection, neurovascular complication, rotational malalignment, or limb shortening >4 mm were observed. The healing rate of non-unions was comparable to that observed in previous studies but with a lower complication frequency. Conclusions  The combined use of self locking intramedullary nailing and PRP in the management of atrophic diaphyseal long bone non-unions seems to produce comparable results with less complications than previously reported. Further data are warranted to investigate the single contribution of PRP gel and Fixion nail.