Study of Response of Thymic and Submaxillary Lymph Node Lymphocytes to Administration of Lead by Different Routes

A number of studies have reported that heavy metals are not only toxic for the organism but they may modulate immune responses. In the current study, the effect of 4-week administration of 200 ppm of PbAc₂, using different routes of administration (orally and intraperitoneal injection), on lymphatic organs was evaluated. In the thymus, the number of lymphocyte cells and the cellularity diminished significantly for both routes of treatment. Regarding the submaxillary lymph nodes, no significant variations took place. Cell-mediated immune response is commonly evaluated by cell proliferation assays. Mitogens are known to induce a vigorous proliferative response in lymphoid cells from mammals. An increase in the proliferation of T lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A and the proliferation of B lymphocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharides was found in thymus for both routes of administration, whereas in the lymph nodes, there was a decrease in proliferation of T lymphocytes. Furthermore, lead administration by intraperitoneal route caused an effect on B and T lymphocyte subpopulations. Thus, there was an increase in B+ cells and a decrease in T+ cells. Regarding CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, there were only variations, concretely a drop in both subpopulations, in lymph nodes when lead was administered intraperitoneally. It is important to emphasize that an increase in apoptosis was found in this tissue. At the histological level, evident alterations were described in thymus both for the oral and for the intraperitoneal route. Therefore, it is possible to show that lead administered by both routes generated effects on an immunological level.     

蒙脱石散不同给药方式治疗小儿腹泻的疗效观察

目的:分析蒙脱石散保留灌肠和口服不同给药途径对小儿腹泻的疗效影响.方法:对2008年2月～2011年5月间使用蒙脱石散治疗的腹泻患儿资料63例进行回顾性分析.结果:治疗一个疗程后,治疗组总有效率93.6％;对照组总有效率80.6％,两组总有效率之间有统计学差异(P ＜0.05).两组患儿总住院时间有显著统计学差异(P＜0.01).两组治疗后大便次数均较治疗前减少,且治疗组改善情况优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论:临床上治疗小儿腹泻不必拘泥于传统的口服给药途径,保留灌肠也不失为一种较好的方法.     

Effects of Melatonin Administration in Different Time Modes on Morphofunctional Indices of the Hypothalamic Serotonergic Neurons in Obese Rats

Neurophysiology - We examined the effects of introduction of melatonin in different time modes on morphofunctional parameters of serotonergic neurocytes of the rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus...     

Comparison of Corticotrophin and Corticosteroid Response to Lysine Vasopressin,Insulin, and Pyrogen in Man

Plasma corticotrophin (ACTH) and corticosteroid levels in response to lysine vasopressin (LVP), insulin hypoglycaemia, and pyrogen have been compared in seven subjects with normal pituitary adrenal function. Intramuscular vasopressin was a weak stimulus to corticotrophin release, peak values lying within the range 49 to 141 pg/ml. Insulin hypoglycaemia consistently caused a more noticeable increase, with peak levels between 114 and 364 pg/ml, while pyrogen was the most powerful, corticotrophin levels rising to between 209 and 1,725 pg/ml. Peak plasma corticosteroid levels showed less pronounced differences between the three tests, and correlated poorly with peak ACTH levels. Thus, relatively small acute changes in corticotrophin levels produce near-maximal adrenal stimulation. Under these conditions, plasma corticosteroid measurements do not accurately reflect circulating corticotrophin levels. These findings help to explain the physiological basis of several observations on the corticosteroid responses to these clinical test procedures.     

Blood-Brain Transfer of l-Phenylalanine Declines After Peripheral but Not Central Nervous Administration of Vasopressin

To determine whether a previously reported effect of vasopressin on blood-brain transfer of leucine extends to other large neutral amino acids, we measured the regional blood-brain transfer of L-phenylalanine with the integral technique. Intravenous co-injection of L-phenylalanine and arginine vasopressin (30 nmol to 10 pmol) resulted in a decrease of the permeability-surface area (PaS) product of phenylalanine of between 11 and 39%. In addition, the peptide elicited a decrease of the cerebral blood flow of between 11 and 56% combined with a drastic decrease of the cardiac output (32-64%) and an elevation of the blood pressure to approximately 150% of control values. However, we found no changes of the cardiac output, the blood pressure, or the PaS product of phenylalanine after microdialysis (30 min, 5 microliters min-1) of arginine vasopressin (15 mumol L-1) into the dorsal hippocampus, but cerebral blood flow was decreased. The results support the hypothesis that arginine vasopressin receptors at the blood-brain barrier are involved in the regulation of large neutral amino acid transfer from blood to brain and indicate that these receptors are located at the luminal membrane of the endothelial cells.     

Choline Administration Reverses Hypotension In Spinal Cord Transected Rats: The Involvement of Vasopressin

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) choline (50–150 g) increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate in spinal cord transected, hypotensive rats. Choline administered intraperitoneally (60 mg/kg), also, increased blood pressure, but to a lesser extent. The pressor response to i.c.v. choline was associated with an increase in plasma vasopressin. Mecamylamine pretreatment (50 g; i.c.v.) blocked the pressor, bradycardic and vasopressin responses to choline (150 g). Atropine pretreatment (10 g; i.c.v.) abolished the bradycardia but failed to alter pressor and vasopressin responses. Hemicholinium-3 [HC-3 (20 g; i.c.v.)] pretreatment attenuated both bradycardia and pressor responses to choline. The vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist, (-mercapto-, -cyclopenta-methylenepropionyl¹, O-Me-Tyr², Arg⁸)-vasopressin (10 g/kg) administered intravenously 5 min after choline abolished the pressor response and attenuated the bradycardia-induced by choline. These data show that choline restores hypotension effectively by activating central nicotinic receptors via presynaptic mechanisms, in spinal shock. Choline-induced bradycardia is mediated by central nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Increase in plasma vasopressin is involved in cardiovascular effects of choline.     

Circadian Response of Annual Weeds in a Natural Setting to High and Low Application Rates of Four Herbicides with Different Modes of Action

Four herbicides [glyphosate (GLYT), an amino acid synthesis inhibitor; glufosinate (GLUF), a glutamine synthetase inhibitor; fomesafen (FOME), a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor; and chlorimuron ethyl (CLIM), an acetolactate synthase inhibitor] were used to examine the influence of time of day of application on the control of a variety of annual broadleaf weeds in field studies conducted in Minnesota (five studies on GLYT and GLUF, three studies on FOME and CLIM). All herbicides were applied with an adjuvant at recommended high and low (half or quarter strength) rates every 3h between 06:00 and 24:00h local time. Visual ratings of percent weed control evaluated at 14d were analyzed by herbicide and application rate for each study and across studies for time-of-day effect by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and single cosinor. A circadian response to each herbicide was found, with greatest weed control observed between 09:00 and 18:00h. Increasing the herbicide application rate did not overcome the time-of-day effect (ANOVA: p≤0.008 for time-of-day effect for each herbicide and application rate). The least-squares fit of a 24h cosine was significant (p≤0.001) for each herbicide and application rate, with double amplitudes of 18–82% (units=% visual control) and estimated peaks (acrophases) near midday between 12:40 and 13:35h. Analysis of residuals obtained from multiple regression that included weed height, herbicide rate, temperature, and relative humidity as independent factors also found a significant time-effect by both ANOVA and cosinor for each herbicide and rate, with acrophases advancing significantly by 3 to 7h for GLYT and GLUF, but not for FOME or CLIM. These results suggest that the four herbicides, while belonging to different families with different modes of action, may reveal different peak times of efficacy when adjusting for environmental factors. Nonetheless, each displays similar circadian patterns when influenced by these factors under natural seasonal field conditions. The within-day rhythmic differences found in weed control are large enough to warrant consideration of the practical financial and environmental importance of the time-of-day that these and other herbicides are applied.     

胰岛素不同给药方式对妊娠期糖尿病患者围手术期血糖控制的效果研究

目的:研究胰岛素不同给药方式对妊娠期糖尿病患者围手术期血糖控制的效果与安全性。方法:选择2013年11月～2016年11月于我院接受治疗的92例妊娠期糖尿病患者,所有患者按随机数字表法分为对照组和研究组,每组46例。对照组围手术期予以皮下注射胰岛素治疗,研究组围手术期予以胰岛素泵治疗。比较两组空腹血糖(FBG),餐后2 h血糖(2hPBG),血糖达标情况,抗生素使用情况,切口愈合情况、住院时间及并发症的发生情况。结果:治疗后12 h、24 h及36 h,两组FBG、2hPBG水平均较治疗前显著下降,且研究组以上指标均低于对照组(P0.05)。研究组血糖达标、抗生素使用、切口愈合及住院时间均明显短于对照组(P0.05)。两组均有低血糖、切口感染发生,研究组并发症发生率低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:胰岛素泵输注胰岛素对妊娠期糖尿病患者围手术血糖的控制效果明显优于皮下注射胰岛素,且其安全性更高。     

Decrease of Extracellular Taurine in the Rat Dorsal Hippocampus After Central Nervous Administration of Vasopressin

The extracellular amino acid concentrations in the left and right dorsal hippocampus of male rats were studied before and during application of vasopressin into the right hippocampus. The method of intracerebral microdialysis was used for both arginine vasopressin administration and monitoring of the composition of the extracellular fluid. The concentrations of 16 amino acids were measured by HPLC in the perfusate samples. The level of taurine declined 20% in the right hippocampus during perfusion with vasopressin, whereas o-phosphoethanolamine decreased in both sides, the left 20% and the right 24%. These alterations may be related to cerebral osmoregulation. Also, the levels of tyrosine and phenylalanine increased 15% and 35%, respectively, during administration of vasopressin. No changes of other amino acids were observed.     

Sexual Dimorphism in the Response of the GABAergic System to Estrogen Administration

Abstract: Administration of estradiol benzoate to gonadectomized female rats results in up-regulation of CNS γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. The increase of [³H]muscimol binding activity is observed in six of the seven brain areas examined. The same treatment, performed in castrated male or and rogenized female rats, induced an increase of [³H]muscimol binding only in the striatum. Evidence is provided suggesting that the dimorphic sensitivity of GABA receptor is not correlated with the difference in spontaneous motor activity reported between male and female rats.     

Modulation of Caspase Activity Regulates Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Function in Response to Vasopressin and Tumor Necrosis Factor

Muscle homeostasis involves de novo myogenesis, as observed in conditions of acute or chronic muscle damage. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) triggers skeletal muscle wasting in several pathological conditions and inhibits muscle regeneration. We show that intramuscular treatment with the myogenic factor Arg⁸-vasopressin (AVP) enhanced skeletal muscle regeneration and rescued the inhibitory effects of TNF on muscle regeneration. The functional analysis of regenerating muscle performance following TNF or AVP treatments revealed that these factors exerted opposite effects on muscle function. Principal component analysis showed that TNF and AVP mainly affect muscle tetanic force and fatigue. Importantly, AVP counteracted the effects of TNF on muscle function when delivered in combination with the latter. Muscle regeneration is, at least in part, regulated by caspase activation, and AVP abrogated TNF-dependent caspase activation. The contrasting effects of AVP and TNF in vivo are recapitulated in myogenic cell cultures, which express both PW1, a caspase activator, and Hsp70, a caspase inhibitor. We identified PW1 as a potential Hsp70 partner by screening for proteins interacting with PW1. Hsp70 and PW1 co-immunoprecipitated and co-localized in muscle cells. In vivo Hsp70 protein level was upregulated by AVP, and Hsp70 overexpression counteracted the TNF block of muscle regeneration. Our results show that AVP counteracts the effects of TNF through cross-talk at the Hsp70 level. Therefore, muscle regeneration, both in the absence and in the presence of cytokines may be enhanced by increasing Hsp70 expression.     

Effect of Vasopressin V1a Receptor Blockade on Renal Osmoregulatory Function in L-Thyroxine-Induced Hyperthyroid Rats with Different Blood Vasopressin Levels

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - The effect of V1a receptor (V1aR) blockade on the renal osmoregulatory function was studied in WAG and Brattleboro rats under...     

Chronic Arachidonic Acid Administration Decreases Docosahexaenoic Acid- and Eicosapentaenoic Acid-Derived Metabolites in Kidneys of Aged Rats

Arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolites produced by cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase are important mediators maintaining physiological renal function. However, the effects of exogenous ARA on kidney function in vivo remain unknown. This study examined the effects of long-term oral ARA administration on normal renal function as well as inflammation and oxidative stress in aged rats. In addition, we measured levels of renal eicosanoids and docosanoids using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Control or ARA oil (240 mg/kg body weight/day) was orally administered to 21-month-old Wistar rats for 13 weeks. Levels of plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and lipid peroxidation were not significantly different between the two groups. The ARA concentration in the plasma, kidney, and liver increased in the ARA-administered group. In addition, levels of free-form ARA, prostaglandin E₂, and 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid increased in the ARA-administered group, whereas renal concentration of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid decreased in the ARA-administered group. Levels of docosahexaenoic acid-derived protectin D1, eicosapentaenoic acid-derived 5-, and 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acids, and resolvin E2 and E3 decreased in the ARA-administered group. Our results indicate that long-term ARA administration led to no serious adverse reactions under normal conditions and to a decrease in anti-inflammatory docosahexaenoic acid- and eicosapentaenoic acid-derived metabolites in the kidneys of aged rats. These results indicate that there is a possibility of ARA administration having a reducing anti-inflammatory effect on the kidney.     

四季竹对不同浓度NaCl胁迫的生理响应

以夏秋季优良笋用竹种四季竹盆栽苗为材料,研究了土壤中1‰~6‰浓度NaCl(干重)处理对四季竹叶片脱落率、离子渗漏率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性以及渗透调节物质含量的变化特征,以探讨四季竹的抗盐机理。结果表明:(1)随NaCl浓度的增大和处理时间的延长,四季竹叶片脱落率逐渐增加;四季竹在1‰~2‰NaCl浓度下的土壤中生长良好,在3‰~5‰浓度下随处理浓度的增大伤害逐渐加重,但这种伤害是可逆的,6‰是四季竹的半致死盐浓度。(2)叶片离子渗漏率随NaCl浓度的增大而显著增大,在6‰浓度处理下随处理时间的延长近直线升高,在3‰~5‰浓度下先升高后降低,而在1‰~2‰浓度处理下变化平缓且与同期对照无显著差异;叶片MDA含量随NaCl浓度的增大而增加,随处理时间的延长先增加后降低。(3)四季竹叶片SOD和POD活性在胁迫3~15 d均出现先下降后上升的过程,其有一定的锻炼适应性;叶片脯氨酸含量随NaCl处理浓度的增大而增加,其随处理时间的延长在1‰~2‰浓度处理下变化平缓,在3‰~6‰浓度处理下显著增加后减小;各浓度处理的可溶性蛋白含量随处理时间的延长先增加后减小,但均高于对照。研究发现,四季竹是较耐盐竹种,其可以通过调控自身保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来有效缓解盐胁迫伤害,从而表现出一定的耐盐能力。     

不同工作模式对医务人员职业精神的影响

??????? 目的 探讨不同工作模式下医务人员职业精神表现的差异。方法 以“优质护理服务工程”、产科“一贯制”工作模式和传统工作模式为基础,通过访谈法和问卷调查对护士和医生两个群体进行统计分析。结果 （1）工作模式对医务人员工作积极性变化和员工满意度有显著影响,试点工作模式得分均高于传统模式。（2）护士和医生员工满意度的原因各不相同：护士偏重工作本身方面,包括工作条件改善、工作内容多样和工作自主性增强;医生偏重自身发展方面,包括医院政策、晋升机会和绩效分配的合理性。（3）工作模式对医务人员工作敬业度和工作倦怠影响不显著,但是对工作敬业度中个别条目影响显著,并且护士和医生各不相同。结论 社会各界应重视医改中工作模式变化对医务人员职业精神产生的影响。