Localization of cholecystokinin-like and calcitonin-like peptides in infant carotid bodies: a light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemical study

Previous immunohistochemical studies have identified several regulatory peptides in the carotid body chief cells in both humans and animals. These peptides, together with amines, may be important in the modulation of the chemoreflex by the carotid body. We report the localization and distribution of calcitonin and cholecystokinin-like (CCK) immunoreactivity in chief cells of human infant carotid body by light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemical techniques. Consecutive sections immunostained with calcitonin and/or CCK antibodies revealed positively stained chief cells, both alone and in clusters, scattered throughout the carotid body lobule. Generally more chief cells were positive for calcitonin than for CCK. This was confirmed by quantiative analysis showing that the ratio of calcitonin to CCK immunoreactive cells was consistently >2:1 in all cases studied. There was no apparent correlation between the immunoreactivity for the two peptides and the age, sex, or postmortem interval. Calcitonin-like and CCK-like immunoreactivities were localized electron-microscopically over the dense core granules of the chief cells. Calcitonin and CCK-like peptides in carotid body chief cells may act as neutransmitters or neuromodulators involved in chemoreception.     

Rethinking historical controls

Inference from traditional historical controls, i.e. comparing a new treatment in a current series of patients with an old treatment in a previous series of patients, may be subject to a strong selection bias. To avoid this bias, Baker and Lindeman (1994) proposed the paired availability design. By applying this methodology to estimate the effect of epidural analgesia on the probability of Cesarean section, we made two important contributions with the current study. First, we generalized the methodology to include different types of availability and multiple time periods. Second, we investigated how well the paired availability design reduced selection bias by comparing results to those from a meta-analysis of randomized trials and a multivariate analysis of concurrent controls. The confidence interval from the paired availability approach differed considerably from that of the multivariate analysis of concurrent controls but was similar to that from the meta-analysis of randomized trials. Because we believe the multivariate analysis of concurrent controls omitted an important predictor and the meta-analysis of randomized trials was the gold standard for inference, we concluded that the paired availability design did, in fact, reduce selection bias.     

颈动脉斑块LRNC特征可诊断2型糖尿病患者急性脑梗死的风险

2型糖尿病可能加重颈动脉斑块的易损性并增加缺血性中风的风险,关于2型糖尿病患者伴有颈动脉斑块特征的急性中风亚型鲜有研究报道。本研究旨在探讨2型糖尿病患者颈动脉斑块特征与MRI确定的急性脑梗死病变特征之间的关系。本研究以颈内动脉区急性脑血管病患者为研究对象,所有患者分为2型糖尿病组和非2型糖尿病组,分别行颈动脉和脑部MRI扫描,测定同侧颈动脉斑块的形态和特征,以及颅内和颅外颈动脉狭窄。基于中风亚型和急性脑梗塞病变模式对患者进行评估。研究结果表明,与非2型糖尿病患者相比,2型糖尿病患者颈动脉型IV-VI病变的患病率更高,斑块负荷更大,以及富脂质坏死核(LRNC)更大。在有症状的颈动脉LRNC患者中,与非2型糖尿病组相比,2型糖尿病组颈内动脉区出现较多的伴有大穿孔动脉梗塞形态和较大的急性脑梗塞。LRNC%>23.5%的颈动脉斑块是2型糖尿病患者存在颈动脉狭窄的急性脑梗塞病变的独立危险因素。颈动脉斑块特征的量化,尤其是MRI诊断的富脂质坏死核对中风风险具有潜在应用价值。     

Responses of non-spiking giant interneurons to substrate tilt in the crayfish, with special reference to multisensory control in the compensatory eyestalk movement system

In the brain of the intact crayfish, three pairs of non-spiking giant interneurons (G1, G2, G3; NGIs) scarcely responded to substrate tilt about the longitudinal axis of the body either in the dark or in the presence of an overhead light. However, when the statolith was removed, these NGIs responded with depolarizing and hyperpolarizing potentials respectively to upward movements of the ipsilateral legs (2nd–5th pereiopods) and upward movements of the contralateral legs produced by substrate tilt. The relationships between the polarity of the potential and the direction of movement in the contralateral legs were opposite to those in the ipsilateral legs. The amplitude of the responses was proportional to the frequency (0.5-0.05 Hz) and amplitude of tilting. When the legs were moved unilaterally, the NGIs responded with depolarizing and hyperpolarizing potentials to upward movements of the ipsilateral legs and to upward movements of the contralateral legs, respectively. When the legs were moved bilaterally in the same direction by upward or downward movement of the substrate, the NGIs scarcely responded to the leg movements. A hypothetical model is presented to account for the pathways of sensory inputs to the NGIs and the role of NGIs in compensatory oculomotor system.     

Enhanced atherothrombotic formation after oxidative injury by FeCl3 to the common carotid artery in severe combined hyperlipidemic mice

Enhanced susceptibility to atherosclerosis from severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) resulting from lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency has been demonstrated in our recent findings which employed a unique mouse model. In the present study we provide further evidence that severe HTG due to LPL deficiency also promotes an atherothrombotic response to arterial injury induced by ferric chloride in a severe combined hyperlipidemic mouse model. Methods and results: A mouse model (LPL^−/−XApoE^−/− double knockout, DKO) with severe combined hyperlipidemia was established by crossing ApoE and LPL-deficient mice. The common carotid arteries of ApoE knockout (EKO) and DKO mice were subjected to injury by ferric chloride, and the formation of arterial thrombosis together with various markers were compared in these lesions. DKO mice demonstrated significantly enhanced thrombus formation overlying atherosclerotic plaque after injury, which contained smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and neutral lipid. The area of neointima, mean intima/media ratios, and the percentage of luminal stenosis were significantly greater (P < 0.01) in DKO mice. Compared with EKO mice, the expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) were increased in DKO mice. Conclusions: Severe combined hyperlipidemia promotes thrombosis after ferric chloride injury to atherosclerotic vessels and HTG plays a major role in the process.     

高原人体左心室舒张功能和顺应性的改变

应用同步描记心电图、心音图、颈动脉搏动图和心尖搏动图以测定高原人体的左心室舒张功能和顺应性。在4个不同海拔高度进行实验,即76m(海平对照)、2161m、3270m和4179m,每一高度40名健康男性青年,高原3组世居、移居各20名。结果显示:随着海拔增高,主动舒张时间指数(TRTI)有减小趋势,RF波相对振幅(F/H)逐渐降低,A波相对振幅(A/D)则渐趋增大,3270m以上增大明显(p<0.05),舒张振幅时间指数(DATI)逐渐降低,3270m以上差异极显著(p<0.001)。高原世居与移居者相比,在海拔4179m出现明显差别,移居组TRTI、DATI、F/H较低而A/D较高(D<0.05)。测定射血前期与左室射血时间比值(PEP/LVET)、射血分数(EF)及左室周径纤维平均缩短速度(mVcf)3项指标作对照,显示在此高度左室收缩功能仍能保持。高原慢性心肌缺氧可能是导致左室舒张功能和顺应性轻度降低的原因。     

血清同型半胱氨酸、脂联素、高敏C反应蛋白水平与颈动脉内膜中层厚度在老年2型糖尿病合并脑梗死患者中的意义

目的：观察血清同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）、脂联素（APN）、高敏C反应蛋白（hs．CRP）水平与颈动脉内膜中层厚度（1MT）在老年2型糖尿病合并脑梗死患者中的意义。方法：选择2008年5月至2012年5月在我院就诊的2型糖尿病患者218例,按照是否合并脑梗死分为糖尿病伴脑梗死组（105例）和单纯糖尿病组（113例）。选择同期健康体检者30例为健康对照组。观察三组血清Hcy、APN、hs—CRP和IMT的水平变化。结果：糖尿病伴脑梗死组和单纯糖尿病组的血清Hcy、hs—CRP和IMT的水平均较正常对照组明显提高（P〈0．01）,糖尿病伴脑梗死组以上指标显著高于单纯糖尿病组（P〈0．01）;而糖尿病伴脑梗死组和单纯糖尿病组的血清APN的水平较正常对照组明显降低（P〈0．01）,糖尿病伴脑梗死组血清APN的水平较单纯糖尿病组显著降低（P〈0．01）。血清Hcy和hs—CRP水平随着1MT的严重程度增加而升高（P〈0．01）,而APN水平随着IMT严重程度升高而降低（P〈0．01）。结论：糖尿病伴脑梗死的患者大血管病变较单纯糖尿病患者更为严重,颈动脉IMT与Hcy和hs—cRP呈正相关,而与APN呈负相关。     

Improving medication adherence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review

Adherence to medication among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is suboptimal and has negative impacts on survival and health care costs. No systematic review has examined the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve medication adherence. Electronic databases Medline and Cochrane were searched using a combination of MeSH and keywords. Eligible studies were interventions with a primary or secondary aim to improve medication adherence among individuals with COPD published in English. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) criteria. Of the 1,186 papers identified, seven studies met inclusion criteria. Methodological quality of the studies was variable. Five studies identified effective interventions. Strategies included: brief counselling; monitoring and feedback about inhaler use through electronic medication delivery devices; and multi-component interventions consisting of self-management and care co-ordination delivered by pharmacists and primary care teams. Further research is needed to establish the most effective and cost effective interventions. Special attention should be given to increasing patient sample size and using a common measure of adherence to overcome methodological limitations. Interventions that involve caregivers and target the healthcare provider as well as the patient should be further explored.     

Effects of leg movements on the synaptic activity of descending statocyst interneurons in crayfish,Procambarus clarkii

Crustacean postural control is modulated by behavioral condition. In this study, we investigated how the responses of descending statocyst interneurons were affected during leg movements. Intracellular recording was made from an animal whose statoliths had been replaced with ferrite grains so that statocyst receptors could be activated by magnetic field stimulation. We identified 14 morphological types of statocyst-driven descending interneurons. Statocyst-driven descending interneurons always showed an excitatory response to statocyst stimulation on either ipsilateral or contralateral side to the axon. The response of each statocyst-driven descending interneuron to statocyst stimulation was differently modulated by leg movements in different conditions. During active leg movements, six statocyst-driven descending interneurons were activated regardless of whether a substrate was provided or not. In other two statocyst-driven descending interneurons, the excitatory input during leg movements was stronger when a substrate was provided than when it was not. One statocyst-driven descending interneuron received an excitatory input only during leg movements on a substrate, whereas another statocyst-driven descending interneuron did not receive any input during leg movements both on a substrate and in the air. These results suggest that the descending statocyst pathways are organized in parallel, each cell affected differently by behavioral conditions.Abbreviations EMG electromyogram - NGI nonspiking giant interneuron - SDI statocyst-driven descending interneuron     

Experimenteller Beitrag zur Kenntnis der biogenen Amine im Glomus caroticum des Kaninchens

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von p-Chlorphenylalanin-methylester-hydrochlorid (PCPA) und Reserpin auf die biogenen Amine des Glomus caroticum von Kaninchen wurde ultrastrukturell und fluoreszenzmikroskopisch untersucht. Die elektronenmikroskopische Analyse ergab keine eindeutigen Kriterien für arzneimittelinduzierte Veränderungen. Fluoreszenzmikroskopisch ließ sich nach Applikation von Reserpin eine ausgeprägte Senkung des Catecholamin- und Indolamin-Gehaltes und nach PCPA eine Abnahme des Serotonins erkennen.

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Electron microscopic and fluorescence microscopic studies of biogenic amines in the rabbit glomus caroticum after treatment with reserpine and PCPA

Summary The effects of p-chlorophenylalanine-methylester-hydrochloride (PCPA) and reserpine on biogenic amines of the rabbit carotid body were investigated ultrastructurally and by fluorescence microscopy. The electron microscopic analysis did not indicate significantly that structural changes result from treatment with reserpine or PCPA. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that PCPA lowered serotonin, and reserpine lowered both catecholamines and indolamines.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.