Fos Expression in the Rat Brain Following Vaginal-Cervical Stimulation by Mating and Manual Probing

Vaginal-cervical stimulation (VCS), provided by mating or manual probing, induces many reproductive behavioral and endocrine changes in female rats. These changes include an increase in lordosis duration, heat termination and pseudopregnancy. Electro-physiological and [¹⁴C]2-deoxy-D-glucose studies collectively show that neurons in the medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamus and midbrain central gray respond to manual VCS. In the present study we immunocytochemically labeled brain sections for Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos, to detect VCS-responsive neurons in hormone-primed animals receiving VCS by mating or manual probing. In Experiment 1, females receiving mounts and intromissions were compared to: 1) vaginally-masked females receiving mounts but no VCS, 2) females exposed to an intact anesthetized male or 3) females not exposed to males or the testing arena. Those animals receiving VCS showed a dramatic increase in the number of Fos-immunoreactive cells in the medial preoptic area, posterodorsal portion of the medial amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, as well as the dorsomedial hypothalamus, ventromedial hypothalamus and midbrain central gray. These effects of VCS were confirmed in Experiment 2 in animals receiving manual vaginal-cervical probing. These findings extend previous electrophysiological and [¹⁴C]2-deoxy-D-glucose studies by providing evidence that additional brain areas respond to VCS by mating, as well as manual probing.     

Differential Regulation of RGS-2 by Constant and Oscillating PTH Concentrations

PTH has diverse effects on bone metabolism: anabolic when given intermittently, catabolic when given continuously. The cellular mechanisms underlying the varying target cell response are not clear yet. PTH induces RGS-2, a member of the Regulator of G-protein Signaling protein family, via cAMP/PKA, and inactivates PKC-mediated signaling. To investigate intracellular signaling pathways with different PTH concentration-time patterns, we treated UMR 106-01 osteoblast-like cells in a perfusion system. PTH was administered intermittently (4 min/h, 10⁻⁷ M) or continuously at an equivalent cumulative dose (6.6 × 10⁻⁹ M). cAMP was measured using radioimmunoassay, mRNA levels using real-time rtPCR and ribonuclease protection assay, and protein levels using Western immunoblotting. A single PTH pulse transiently increased cAMP levels by 2000% ± 1200%. In contrast to continuous PTH exposure, cAMP induction remained unchanged with intermittent PTH, ruling out desensitization of the PTH receptor. In continuously perfused cells, RGS-2 abundance was three to five times higher than in cells intermittently exposed to PTH for up to 12 h. MKP-1 and -3 were significantly less induced with pulsatile PTH; exposure-mode-dependent differences in MMP-13 and IGFBP-5 were small. Pulsatile but not continuous PTH administration prevents PTHrP receptor desensitization and accumulation of RGS-2 in osteoblasts, which should preserve PKC-dependent signaling.     

Immunosuppression Minimization in Pediatric Transplantation

The greatest benefit of immunosuppression minimization for children may lie in improving patient morbidity, by the elimination of the inherent side effects of steroid and calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). The newer generation of powerful induction and maintenance immunosuppressants offers an option for selected immunosuppression minimization strategies, some of which have been shown to also reduce graft morbidity. Steroid minimization and avoidance in single-center uncontrolled trials have shown early promise and the availability of data from an ongoing randomized, prospective, controlled trial of steroid avoidance in children will provide necessary data to support a practice change for steroid elimination in children. Calcineurin inhibitor minimization and addition of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or sirolimus have shown variable improvements in renal function, though suboptimal efficacy and safety with the currently proposed regimes have limited their application. Randomized, prospective studies of steroid and calcineurin inhibitor minimization and/or avoidance are warranted to clearly confirm the short and long-term safety and efficacy of alternative immunosuppression combinations. Linked pharmacokinetic and mechanistic studies within these trials will allow for optimizing drug dosing and monitoring. This article reviews published experience to date with steroid and calcineurin minimization in pediatric renal transplantation and discusses the risks and benefits of these approaches.     

针刺对血浆骨动素,生长抑素及内皮素的影响及其意义

探讨针刺调整调整胃肠功能机理中胃肠激素的作用。方法：对４０名健康人对进行针刺胃肠相关穴位试验，随机分４组，即天枢组，巨虚组，非穴位刺激组及空白组。各针刺组均观察针刺前，中，后６次血浆ＭＴＬ，ＳＳ及ＥＴ水平的动态变化，空白组不行针刺，只观察同一时间蚋ＭＴＬ，ＳＳ及ＥＴ水平的自然波动。     

消化性溃疡的皮质醇分泌异常

采用放射免疫测定法研究了70例非应激性消化性溃疡患者的皮质醇分泌状态;并比较了患者与84例正常人的血清皮质醇浓度及其昼夜分泌节律。发现非应激性消化性溃疡血清皮质醇浓度明显高于健康对照组(P<0.01);然昼夜分泌节律相仿。结果提示,非应激性消化性溃疡有皮质醇分泌的明显异常。     

Limbus-based versus Fornix-based conjunctival flap in filtering surgery

Summary A randomized prospective study was performed to compare the results of filtering surgery using a Limbusbased versus a Fornix-based conjunctival flap. The wound closure of the Fornix-based flap was performed using a running 10/0 nylon suture at the limbus. No statistical significant difference of IOP regulation was found between the two groups. There was a tendency of reduced occurrence of shallow anterior chamber and of less vascularized filtering blebs in the Fornix-based technique.     

隐睾患儿血清FSH、LH、T水平及其临床意义

目的研究隐睾患儿血中促卵泡激素(FSH)、促黄体激素(LID和睾酮(T)激素水平变化,探讨其临床意义及在隐睾症发病中的作用。方法应用化学发光免疫技术检测42例隐睾症和23例斜疝(对照组)患儿血清FSH、LH、T水平。结果单侧隐睾症组和斜疝组之间血清FSH、LH和T水平无显著性差异(P＞0．05)；(2)双侧隐睾组血清FSH水平高于斜疝组,差别有统计学意义(P＜0．05)；单侧隐睾症组血清FSH高于斜疝组,低于双侧隐睾症组,差别无统计学意义(P＞0．05)。结论(1)血清中性激素LH和T水平的变化在隐睾发生中并不起主要作用；(2)血清FSH水平的升高可能反映睾丸功能损害严重程度。     

Neuroactive Properties of Reproductive Steroids

Migraine is 3 times more common in postpubertal women than in men. Migraine is frequently exacerbated perimenstrually and commonly occurs exclusively at that time. It is often benefited by pregnancy and menopause. Estrogen withdrawal has been implicated as a mechanism for triggering migraines. The mechanism, however, is not well understood. Reproductive steroids have neuroactive properties that can modulate neuronal morphology and physiology. Increasing evidence suggests that circulating reproductive steroid levels regulate the balance of neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory activities in some brain regions by influencing synaptic plasticity. Estrogen has neuroexcitatory, whereas progesterone has neuroinhibitory, effects in most preclinical and clinical models. Several neurotransmitter systems that are implicated in migraine vary with reproductive steroid levels during the reproductive cycle. Estrogen stabilization may provide effective treatment in susceptible women, especially for catamenially exacerbated migraine.