The role of propriospinal neuronal network in transmitting the alternating muscular activities of flexor and extensor in parkinsonian tremor

It has been shown that normal cyclic movement of human arm and resting limb tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) are associated with the oscillatory neuronal activities in different cerebral networks, which are transmitted to the antagonistic muscles via the same spinal pathway. There are mono-synaptic and multi-synaptic corticospinal pathways for conveying motor commands. This study investigates the plausible role of propriospinal neuronal (PN) network in the C3-C4 levels in multi-synaptic transmission of cortical commands for oscillatory movements. A PN network model is constructed based on known neurophysiological connections, and is hypothesized to achieve the conversion of cortical oscillations into alternating antagonistic muscle bursts. Simulations performed with a virtual arm (VA) model indicate that without the PN network, the alternating bursts of antagonistic muscle EMG could not be reliably generated, whereas with the PN network, the alternating pattern of bursts were naturally displayed in the three pairs of antagonist muscles. Thus, it is suggested that oscillations in the primary motor cortex (M1) of single and double tremor frequencies are processed at the PN network to compute the alternating burst pattern in the flexor and extensor muscles.

Seasonal abundance and activity of the tick Dermacentor silvarum in northern China

Studies on the seasonal abundance and activity of larvae, nymphs and adults of Dermacentor silvarum (Ixodida: Ixodidae), both on and off the host, were carried out over a 2-year period from February 2008 to January 2010 in northern China. During the study period, feeding ticks were removed weekly from domestic sheep and free-living ticks were collected weekly by flag-dragging in four different habitat types. Rodents were captured and inspected for immature ticks from June to September 2008. The results of this study suggest that the ticks mainly reside in shrubs and complete only one generation per year with sequential seasonal distribution and little overlap between the activity of the larvae and nymphs. Adults were most prevalent from late February to late May and peaked in number in mid-April. Larvae were found from early June to early September and peaked in number in mid-July. Nymphs were mainly distributed from late June to late September and peaked in mid-August. Adult and nymphal D. silvarum were found primarily on the ears of sheep, but no larvae were found on sheep. Additionally, an overwintering male adult population was detected on sheep after October, but no free-living adults were found by dragging.

Cholesterol depletion induces large scale domain segregation in living cell membranes

Local inhomogeneities in lipid composition play a crucial role in regulation of signal transduction and membrane traffic. Nevertheless, most evidence for microdomains in cells remains indirect, and the nature of membrane inhomogeneities has been difficult to characterize. We used lipid analogs and lipid-anchored proteins with varying fluidity preferences to examine the effect of modulating cellular cholesterol on domain formation. We show that lowering cholesterol levels induces formation of visible micrometer-scale domains in the plasma membrane of several mammalian cell types with complementary distributions of fluorescent lipid analogs with preferences for fluid or ordered domains. A uniform distribution is restored by cholesterol repletion. Unexpectedly, cholesterol depletion does not visibly alter the distribution of a crosslinked or uncrosslinked glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (the folate receptor). We also examined the effect of varying cholesterol content on the cold Triton X-100 solubility of several membrane constituents. Although a cholesterol analog, dehydroergosterol, and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein are largely retained after extraction, a lipid analog with saturated 16-carbon acyl chains is largely removed when the cellular cholesterol level is lowered. This result indicates that after cholesterol depletion molecules in the more ordered domains can be extracted differentially by cold nonionic detergents.

Increased nitric oxide in peritoneal fluid from women with idiopathic infertility and endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To verify whether nitric oxide in peritoneal fluid is associated with endometriosis and infertility.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-five women with idiopathic infertility and 38 with endometriosis were recruited, and 18 cases of uterine myomata and 2 cases of ovarian cyst served as controls. Peritoneal fluid samples were aspirated from the pouch of Douglas during laparoscopy or laparotomy. Metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrite and nitrate) in peritoneal fluid were determined by a method using nitrate reductase and the Griess reaction.

RESULTS

Peritoneal concentrations of nitrate/nitrite in both infertile women (42.02 +/- 12.98 mmol/L) and patients with endometriosis (41.75 +/- 16.42 mmol/L) were significantly higher than that in controls (33.96 +/- 13.07, P < .05 for both). No significant difference in peritoneal nitrate/nitrite level was found between infertile women and patients with endometriosis (P > .5). Peritoneal levels of nitrate/nitrite were comparable among patients with endometriosis at different stages (P > .5). Patients with endometriosis had more peritoneal fluid than controls and idiopathic infertile women, while controls and idiopathic infertile women had comparable amounts of peritoneal fluid.

CONCLUSION

An increased peritoneal level of nitric oxide is a common alteration in endometriosis, endometriosis-associated infertility and idiopathic infertility and may be associated with the pathogenesis of these diseases.

The role of controlled anticoagulation in balloon occluding vertebral arteries to treat giant fusiform aneurysms of the basilar artery

SUMMARY

We suggest and discuss the role of controlled anticoagulation therapy after the balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries to treat giant fusiform aneurysms in the basilar trunk. Two cases of giant fusiform aneurysms were treated with balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries. Both of these patients suffered severe brain stem ischaemia. Anticoagulants were used to adjust the PTT to 1.5-2.5 times the normal level to control the formation speed of thrombosis inside the aneurysms. Case 1 was obliged to suspend the anticoagulation therapy one week after occlusion because of digestive tract haemorrhage, and died of severe brain stem ischaemia. On autopsy, the sac of the aneurysm was totally occupied by the thrombus. Two perforating arteries feeding the brain stem arising from the wall of the aneurysm and infarction in the brain stem were found. Case 2 was anticoagulated strictly and progressively improved after three weeks. Anticoagulation was terminated after one month. Follow-up MRI showed the aneurysm had disappeared six months later. Giant fusiform aneurysms in the basilar artery trunk can be treated with the balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries which induces thrombosis in the sac of aneurysm. Controlled anticoagulation should be given to slow down the thrombotic obliteration in the perforators arising from the aneurysm wall to the brain stem and give the brain stem have enough time to establish the sufficient collateral circulation.

[An occlusive evaluation proposal to intra-saccular embolization of intracranial aneurysm]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the imaging criteria for evaluating intracranial aneurysm embolization.

METHODS

Angiographic occlusive criteria for intracranial aneurysm embolization (aneurysm not opcified angiographically after embolization, 100% occlusion; a little part of aneurysm neck residual, 95%; neck residual, 90%; neck and a little part of aneurysm cavity residual, 80%; some cavity residual, < 80%) were used by 6 specialists to evaluate 121 aneurysms embolized with MDS (mechanical detachable spiral) and/or GDC (guglielmi detachable coil) from March 1995 to July 1999. The rationality, feasibility and limitation of the criteria were discussed.

RESULTS

Among the 121 aneurysms, 100% occlusion was reached in 53 aneurysms (43.8%), 95% in 27 (22.3%), 90% in 16 (13.2%), 80% in 15 (12.4%), and less than 80% in 10 (8.3%) respectively. Good accordance was obtained among different doctors in the occlusive evaluation of aneurysm embolization.

CONCLUSIONS

The suggesting criteria are simple and feasible in clinical practice, although the effect of imaging follow-up of embolized aneurysm is unknown and the numerical value of occlusive percentage is arbitrary.

[Study on ascite of ovarian cancer]

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of correlative factors in ascite of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The clinical data of 72 patients with ovarian cancer admitted to our hospital from 1993 to 1998 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

73.5% of patients with ovarian cancer had cancer cells in ascite, the incidence of ascite was 81.9%, III and IV stage ovarian cancer with cancer cells in ascite were 91.2%, positive rate of tumor cells obviously increased in cases whose ascite were more than 1,000 ml, in cases with tumor surface infiltration as well as with metastasis to omentum, intestine and diaphragm. CA125 value in ascite without cancer cells was (324.94 +/- 527.64) kU/L, whereas in ascite with cancer cells it was (5,172.64 +/- 1,432.61) kU/L. Whether cancer cells were positive or negative. Chromosomal aneuploidy was detected in two third of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Routine examination of cancer cells, chromosome and CA125 in ascite with ovarian cancer may improve the diagnostic accuracy.

[In vitro study of prolactin secretion by ectopic endometrial stromal cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between prolactin (PRL) secretion by ectopic endometrial stromal cells and elevated PRL concentrations of peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis.

METHODS

Twelve samples of each ectopic endometrium and normal endometrium were separated and cultured in vitro. After stimulated with progesterone(10(-8) mol/L) for 6 days, PRL levels in the media of cultured stromal cells from both tissue types were measured by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay(ELISA). A study of correlation between PRL level in culture supernatant of stromal cells from ectopic endometrium and American Fertility Society (AFS) classification of endometriosis score was performed. The expression of PRL protein of stromal cells from both tissue types were determined by immunocytochemical method.

RESULTS

PRL was secreted in similar concentrations by stromal cells from both tissue types. The mean levels of PRL in ectopic and normal endometria were (21.8 +/- 8.0) and (24.5 +/- 7.9) micrograms.L-1.6 d-1 per, respectively (P > 0.05). There is significant positive correlation between PRL secretion by ectopic endometrial stromal cells and the scoring of endometriosis (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in the immunostaining integral score of PRL between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Production of PRL by ectopic implants of endometriosis is likely to be a contributing factor of the elevated peritoneal fluid PRL in patients with endometriosis.

[Measurements of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of cytokines in peritoneal fluid on pathogenesis of endometriosis (EM).

METHODS

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) contents in peritoneal fluid (PF) of 31 cases with EM were detected by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and compared with the counterparts of 22 cases without EM (controls). The correlation analyses between cytokine concentrations in peritoneal fluid of EM patients and the severity of EM or dysmenorrhea score were performed.

RESULTS

The peritoneal fluid from patients with EM contained significantly greater amounts of IL-6 [(1.8 +/- 0.4) ng/L] and IL-8 [(1.7 +/- 0.5) ng/L] than those in controls [(1.2 +/- 0.2) ng/L and (1.4 +/- 0.3) ng/L respectively, P < 0.05]. However, in the amounts of TGF-beta 1 there were no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups. The highest PF IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were found in stage II, III and stag I, II EM respectively. A significant correlation between PF IL-6 content and the severity of disease was noted but there were no evidences of a relationship between concentrations of IL-8 and TGF-beta 1 and the severity of EM as well as between concentrations of three cytokines and dysmenorrhea score.

CONCLUSION

Unusual levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in PF of EM patients partly account for imbalance of the immunologically dynamic environment in peritoneal cavity of EM patients.

Characterization of rapid membrane internalization and recycling

Lipids and other membrane constituents recycle between the plasma membrane and intracellular endocytic compartments. In CHO cells, approximately half of the internalized C(6)-NBD-SM, a fluorescent lipid analogue widely used as a membrane maker, recycles via the endocytic recycling compartment with a t(12) of approximately 12 min (Mayor, S., Presley, J. F., and Maxfield, F. R. (1993) J. Cell Biol. 121, 1257-1269). Surprisingly, the rest returns to the plasma membrane very quickly. A detailed kinetic study presented in this paper indicates that after a brief internalization pulse, 42-62% of the internalized C(6)-NBD-SM returns to the plasma membrane with a t(12) of 1-2 min. Similar results are obtained using HEp2 and nonpolarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Using FM dyes of different hydrophobicity, we show that rapid recycling involves passage through an endocytic organelle that was subsequently identified as the sorting endosome by co-localization with internalized transferrin and low density lipoprotein. These results imply that the membrane internalization rate is much higher than previously estimated, with a t(12) as short as 5-10 min. Rapid internalization and recycling would facilitate processes such as nutrient uptake and cholesterol efflux.

Clinical observation and experimental study on compound hypoglycemic decoction for hyperglycemia

PURPOSE

To observe the clinical efficacy of Compound Hypoglycemic Decoction (CHD) and its effect on serum total cholesterol in model mice.

METHOD

The paired t test was used to analyze the data recorded before and after administration of drugs for hyperglycemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of 75% egg yolk emulsion in experimental mice. CHD and Fenofibrate were administered as prevention measures.

RESULTS

The total effective rate of serum total cholesterol (TC) decrease in 60 cases of hyperglycemia was 86.66% and that of serum total triglyceride (TG) decrease was 81.81%. The total effective rate of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) increase was 75%. The decrease in TC and TG, and the increase of HDL-C after treatment by in-group comparison were all significant (P < 0.05). 21.9% and 22.2% decrease in the total cholesterol was respectively found in the CHD and Fenofibrate groups (both P < 0.05), with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

The hypoglycemic action of Compound Hypoglycemic Decoction was remarkable in clinical practice, and it is very effective in preventing hyperglycemia in experimental mice.

[Refractory carotid-cavernous fistula: causes and countermeasures]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the causes and countermeasures of refractory carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF).

METHODS

Twelve refractory cases from 123 cases of consecutive traumatic CCF during 12 years were reviewed.

RESULTS

The main causes of refractory CCF were: small or large fistula's opening, or constrictive parent artery; inappropriate early treatments such as ligature of internal carotid artery or common carotid artery, balloon detachment of, and non-dense packing of coils inside the cavernous sinus; unexpected deflation or balloon displacement of resulting in fistula recurrence. Anatomical cure was achieved in 11 cases, and clinical care in 1 by using balloon or/and coil or/and NBCA (n-butal 2-cyanoacrylate) through arterial, venous or surgical approach.

CONCLUSIONS

refractory CCF can be treated effectively skilled catheterization and embolization as well as appropriate approach and embolic material according to fistula structure and vascular route.

Metabolic engineering of Arabidopsis and Brassica for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer production

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) are natural polymers with thermoplastic properties. One polymer of this class with commercial applicability, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) can be produced by bacterial fermentation, but the process is not economically competitive with polymer production from petrochemicals. Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) production in green plants promises much lower costs, but producing copolymer with the appropriate monomer composition is problematic. In this study, we have engineered Arabidopsis and Brassica to produce PHBV in leaves and seeds, respectively, by redirecting the metabolic flow of intermediates from fatty acid and amino acid biosynthesis. We present a pathway for the biosynthesis of PHBV in plant plastids, and also report copolymer production, metabolic intermediate analyses, and pathway dynamics.

[Animal experiment and clinical application of self-made mechanically detachable coils]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the practical and thrombogenetic characteristics of self-made mechanically detachable coils by the animal experiment and primary clinical application.

METHOD

The bifurcation type of aneurysm model was established on rabbit and embolized with self-made mechanically detachable coils 2 weeks after surgery. 24 coils were used in 5 experimental aneurysms. Control angiography was performed and the rabbits were sacrificed 2 - 3 weeks after the embolization. The embolized aneurysm samples were examined by pathologist. Ten patients were treated with self-made mechanically detachable coils in primary clinical application. They were divided into aneurysms (7 patients), traumatic carotid-carvenous fistulas (2), dural arterio-venous fistula in carvenous sinus region (1). 146 coils were used totally and all were delivered with mechanical detachable system (MDS Balt co. France).

RESULT

Pathologically, the cavities of rabbit aneurysm models were occluded by tungsten coils (2 complete, 3 almost complete). The coils were trapped in granulation tissue which was covered by a thin layer of endothelium on the surface facing the blood flow. In the coils dense packing ones, the aneurysms were completely excluded from the parent circulation by neointimal layers. In the practice procedures, the coils fit MDS (Balt co. France) very well and can be delivered, withdrew and detached smoothly.

CONCLUSION

The self-made mechanically detachable coils have practical reliability and evident thrombogenetic effects.

[Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with GDC: report of 8 cases]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the usefulness and practical experience in intracranial aneurysm embolization with guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) applied firstly in China.

METHOD

Under general anesthesia and systematic anticoagulation, eight cases of intracranial aneurysms were embolized with GDC which was introduced by tracker micro-catheter, combined remodeling technique (RT) if necessary.

RESULT

100% occlusion was achieved in 5 cases, 95% in 2 and 90% in 1, without any complication. Among these cases, 4 failed in the previous attempts of endovascular treatment with mechanical detachable system (MDS), because MDS could not be safely and totally placed inside the aneurysms and Mag 3F/2F micro-catheter could not be navigated into the aneurysms.

CONCLUSION

Embolization of intracranial aneurysms with GDC is safe, effective and reliable, and it may offer the cure opportunity to those enearysms which are very dangerous to embolize or can not be embolized with MDS.

[Interventional endovascular therapeutic modalities of giant intracranial aneurysm]

OBJECTIVE

To treat 28 cases of intracranial giant aneurysms in the last 7 years and study the therapeutic methods and their effectiveness on this disease.

METHOD

The cases of giant aneurysms were divided into several groups. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods were compared. The main modality of endovascular therapy was to use balloon to occlude the parent artery.

RESULT

In the 16 cases treated by the proximal balloon occlusion, 13 were cured angiographically with complete obliteration of the aneurysmal sac and in 4 of them the aneurysms disappeared both on CT and MRI. No deterioration after operation was encountered with the exception of 2 deaths.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular therapy can cure the intracranial aneurysms which were difficulty treated by direct open operation.

[A study of genetic heterogeneity in Pfeiffer syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the molecular pathology of Pfeiffer syndrome.

METHODS

DNA from peripheral blood was examined in 4 families with Pfeiffer syndrome by SSCP-sequence analyses and PCR-restriction enzyme digestion.

RESULTS

The authors found the mutations of FGFR2 gene in two families, an A to G transition in the 3' acceptor splice site of intron 8 in a family, and Asp321 Ala substitution in exon 9 in another family. In addition, the mutation in exon 5 of FGFR1 gene (Pro252Arg) was found in a family.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal the genetic heterogeneity of Pfeiffer syndrome and can help one understand the molecular mechanism of the disease.

[Diuretic effect of liniaoling(KLP)]

Experimental results have shown that KLP taken orally helps promote the diuretic action of normal Wistar rats, decrease the urine volume of debilitated rats and increase the urine volume of BPH rats. It has also been shown that KLP(i.v.) can increase the urine volume of anesthetic rats and reduce the remnant urine. In addition, KLP can contract the smooth muscle of rats and rabbits.

Mutation of phosphoserine 389 affects p53 function in vivo

To study the importance of phosphorylation for p53 transactivation function, we generated mutations at each of its known phosphorylated serine amino acids. Mutations of murine p53 serine residues individually to either alanine or glutamic acid at positions 7, 9, 12, 18, 37, 312, and 389 resulted in equivalent levels of transcriptional activation in standard transient transfection experiments. However, when p53 transcriptional activity was measured in cells that attain G1 arrest upon contact inhibition, wild-type p53 was inactive, and only alteration at serine 389 to glutamic acid resulted in a functional p53 protein. This Ser --> Glu mutant also has an increased ability to bind DNA. Elimination of the phosphorylation site by substitution of an alanine amino acid resulted in loss of transcriptional activity. We also demonstrated that specific phosphorylation of p53 at serine 389 is induced by cyclin E overexpression in high-density cells. Our data establish for the first time that phosphorylation of p53 at serine 389 is important in activating its function in vivo.

[Laparoscopic diagnosis of tubal infertility and fallopian tube lesions]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the diagnostic value of laparoscopy in patients with tubal infertility.

METHODS

The morphological appearance of fallopian tubes and surrounding tissues of 1120 cases with proven tubal infertility were observed under laparoscopy. Hydrotubation was performed at the same time in each case.

RESULTS

Tubal infertility diagnosed by laparoscopy accounted for 32.8% of infertile patients. Among them, pelvic tuberculosis occupied 63.6%, while nonspecific inflammatory disease (NSID) 36.4%. 44.8% of the tuberculosis and 62.2% of NSID group had negative findings during pelvic examination. Four types of tuberculosis lesions were demonstrated: miliary ascites (9.4%), adherent mass (35.8%), adhesion and calcification (43.1%), nodular sclerosis (11.7%). In the NSID group, simple tubal obstruction accounted for 29.9%, the remaining were mild adhesion or hydrosalphinx. Complete tubal occlusion occupied 81.2% in tuberculosis group and 70.7% in NSID cases. In the tuberculosis group the positive rate of pelvic lesion biopsy and endometrial biopsy was only 59.1% and 20.5% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy examination is a valuable procedure for the etiological diagnosis of tubal infertility.

Cyclin E restores p53 activity in contact-inhibited cells

The wild-type p53 protein is a potent growth suppressor when overexpressed in vitro. It functions as a transcriptional activator and causes growth arrest at the G1/S stage of the cell cycle. We monitored p53 transactivation as an indicator of p53 function throughout the cell cycle. We first demonstrate that cells which exhibited contact inhibition of growth lacked p53 transactivation function at high cell density. Since these cells were noncycling, we examined whether the ectopic expression of any cyclin could override contact inhibition of growth and restore p53 transactivation function. The transfection of cyclin E at high cell density stimulated the progression of cells through the cell cycle and restored p53 transactivation function. The transcriptional activity of p53 induced by cyclin E was regulated at the level of DNA binding. Cells that did not show contact inhibition of growth had a functional p53 regardless of cell density. Thus, contact inhibition of cell growth corresponded to a lack of p53 transactivation function and the overexpression of cyclin E in these contact-inhibited cells stimulated cell cycle progression and resulted in p53 transcriptional activity.

A functionally inactive p53 Li-Fraumeni syndrome mutant

Germline mutations in the tumor-suppressor p53 have been recently identified in Li-Fraumeni syndrome patients. We analysed the function of one of these mutations, an arg-to-trp substitution at amino acid 245 in the murine p53 gene. This p53LFS mutant could not, unlike wild-type p53, suppress foci formation of rat embryo-fibroblasts. Like other p53 mutants it cooperated with activated ras to transform rat embryo fibroblasts. Overexpression of p53LFS thus resulted in a phenotype similar to other mutant p53s. The p53LFS protein was also transcriptionally inactive in contrast to previous studies using a p53LFS/GAL4 fusion protein. To better understand the functional domain disrupted in p53LFS, we developed a dimerization assay and showed that p53LFS still dimerized. In addition, p53LFS retained its ability to bind SV40 large T antigen and not hsc70, both characteristics of wild-type p53. Using immunofluorescence, we localized p53LFS to the nucleus. From these results we conclude that p53LFS represents an unusual p53 mutant in that it retains many characteristics of wild-type p53, however activities critical for growth suppression are lost.