The resolution of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration: leukocyte recruitment via the choroid plexus

Inflammation is an integral part of the body's physiological repair mechanism, unless it remains unresolved and becomes pathological, as evident in the progressive nature of neurodegeneration. Based on studies from outside the central nervous system (CNS), it is now understood that the resolution of inflammation is an active process, which is dependent on well‐orchestrated innate and adaptive immune responses. Due to the immunologically privileged status of the CNS, such resolution mechanism has been mostly ignored. Here, we discuss resolution of neuroinflammation as a process that depends on a network of immune cells operating in a tightly regulated sequence, involving the brain's choroid plexus (CP), a unique neuro‐immunological interface, positioned to integrate signals it receives from the CNS parenchyma with signals coming from circulating immune cells, and to function as an on‐alert gate for selective recruitment of inflammation‐resolving leukocytes to the inflamed CNS parenchyma. Finally, we propose that functional dysregulation of the CP reflects a common underlying mechanism in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, and can thus serve as a potential novel target for therapy.     

The developing shoulder has a limited capacity to recover after a short duration of neonatal paralysis

Mechanical stimuli are required for the proper development of the musculoskeletal system. Removal of muscle forces during fetal or early post-natal timepoints impairs the formation of bone, tendon, and their attachment (the enthesis). The goal of the current study was to examine the capacity of the shoulder to recover after a short duration of neonatal rotator cuff paralysis, a condition mimicking the clinical condition neonatal brachial plexus palsy. We asked if reapplication of muscle load to a transiently paralyzed muscle would allow for full recovery of tissue properties. CD-1 mice were injected with botulinum toxin A to paralyze the supraspinatus muscle from birth through 2 weeks and subsequently allowed to recover. The biomechanics of the enthesis was determined using tensile testing and the morphology of the shoulder joint was determined using microcomputed tomography and histology. A recovery period of at least 10 weeks was required to achieve control properties, demonstrating a limited capacity of the shoulder to recover after only two weeks of muscle paralysis. Although care must be taken when extrapolating results from an animal model to the human condition, the results of the current study imply that treatment of neonatal brachial plexus palsy should be aggressive, as even short periods of paralysis could lead to long-term deficiencies in enthesis biomechanics and shoulder morphology.     

胎儿胃肌间神经节胆碱能神经元的研究

本文采用胆碱乙酰转移酶（ＣｈＡＴ）和乙酰胆碱酯酶（ＡＣｈＥ）酶组织化学方法和显微图像分析技术对３２周～４０周胎儿胃底部、胃体部、胃窦部及胃幽门管部的肌间神经节内胆碱能神经元进行光镜定位定量观察。结果表明：胆碱能神经元的分布,细胞大小及酶活性在胃各部有所不同,胆碱能神经元数量由胃底至幽门管部逐渐递增;胃痛和胃体部以中小型神经元为主,胃窦和胃幽门管部以大中型神经元为主;胃各区酶活性强度不一,胃底部和胃体部酶活性显著高于胃幽门部,胃体部酶活性最强。提示胃各部的运动功能和代谢功能有所不同。     

Lipomas as an Extremely Rare Cause for Brachial Plexus Compression: A Case Series and Systematic Review

Introduction  Brachial plexus lipomas are extremely rare benign tumors that may cause slow progression of neurological deficits leading to thoracic outlet syndrome. Up to now, surgery remains challenging. The aim of this study is to present our surgical treatment regime and long-term neurological outcome in three cases of giant brachial plexus lipomas and to show results of systematic review. Patients and Methods  Retrospective analysis of our database “peripheral nerve lesion” to identify patients suffering from brachial plexus lipomas between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019. Systematic review was performed for literature published until March 31, 2020, analyzing PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library independently by two authors. Results  Over the past years, three patients suffering from giant brachial plexus lipomas attended to our neurosurgical department. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound examinations, and electrophysiological testing. Tumors were removed microsurgically via anterior/posterior, supraclavicular/infraclavicular, and combined approaches. The patients were accessed postoperatively by MRI and clinical follow-up. Systematic review of the literature revealed 22 cases, which were analyzed in regard to demographics, surgical treatment, and neurological outcome. Conclusion  Brachial plexus lipomas are an extremely rare cause for brachial plexus compression. Total microsurgical removal with intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring is the treatment of choice with excellent long-term MRI and clinical outcome.     

Deoxycytidine transport and metabolism in choroid plexus

In vitro, the transport into and release of [3H]deoxycytidine from the isolated choroid plexus, the anatomical locus of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, were studied separately. By use of the ability of nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI) to inhibit deoxycytidine efflux from choroid plexus, the transport of 1 microM [3H]deoxycytidine into choroid plexus at 37 degrees C was measured. Deoxycytidine was transported into choroid plexus against a concentration gradient by a saturable process that depended on intracellular energy production, but not intracellular binding or metabolism. The Michaelis-Menten constant (KT) for the active transport of deoxycytidine into choroid plexus was 15 microM. The active transport system for deoxycytidine was inhibited by naturally occurring nucleosides and deoxynucleosides, but not by 1 mM probenecid and 2-deoxyribose or 100 microM cytosine and cytosine arabinoside. With less than 1 microM [3H]deoxycytidine in the medium, the choroid plexus accumulated [3H]deoxycytidine against a concentration gradient. However, approximately 50% of the [3H]deoxycytidine was phosphorylated to [3H]deoxycytidine nucleotides at a low extracellular [3H]deoxycytidine concentration (6 nM) in 15-min incubations. This accumulation process depended, in part, on saturable intracellular phosphorylation. These studies provide further evidence that the choroid plexus contains an active nucleoside transport system of low specificity for deoxynucleosides and ribonucleosides, and a separate, saturable efflux system for deoxynucleosides which is very sensitive to inhibition by NBTI.     

超声引导下腰丛神经阻滞在老年患者腹股沟斜疝手术中的应用

目的:探讨超声引导下腰丛神经阻滞应用于老年患者腹股沟斜疝手术中的血流动力学变化及麻醉效果。方法:选取腹股沟斜疝手术患者39例,随机分为观察组(19例,U组)及对照组(20例,C组)。观察组患者采用超声引导下腰丛神经阻滞麻醉,对照组患者采用腰硬联合阻滞麻醉。记录两组患者麻醉开始前(T0)、注药后5 min(T1)、10 min (T2)、20 min(T3)、60 min(T4)及术毕(T5)的平均动脉血压(MAP)、心率(HR)、脉搏血氧饱和度(SPO2);评价两组患者的麻醉效果;记录麻醉后4、8、12、24、48 h的VAS评分;记录术后发生恶心呕吐,头痛、尿储留的例数。结果:C组T1、T2、T3时间点的心率高于U组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);C组T1、T2、T3时间点的MAP低于U组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组麻醉优良率均为100%;C组麻醉后8 h、12 h的VAS评分高于U组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);C组术中升压药使用率高于U组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);结论:超声引导下腰丛神经阻滞麻醉应用于腹股沟疝手术效果确切,血流动力学稳定,并发症较少。     

Myenteric plexus is differentially affected by infection with distinct Trypanosoma cruzi strains in Beagle dogs

Chagasic megaoesophagus and megacolon are characterised by motor abnormalities related to enteric nervous system lesions and their development seems to be related to geographic distribution of distinct Trypanosoma cruzi subpopulations. Beagle dogs were infected with Y or Berenice-78 (Be-78) T. cruzi strains and necropsied during the acute or chronic phase of experimental disease for post mortem histopathological evaluation of the oesophagus and colon. Both strains infected the oesophagus and colon and caused an inflammatory response during the acute phase. In the chronic phase, inflammatory process was observed exclusively in the Be-78 infected animals, possibly due to a parasitism persistent only in this group. Myenteric denervation occurred during the acute phase of infection for both strains, but persisted chronically only in Be-78 infected animals. Glial cell involvement occurred earlier in animals infected with the Y strain, while animals infected with the Be-78 strain showed reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive area of enteric glial cells in the chronic phase. These results suggest that although both strains cause lesions in the digestive tract, the Y strain is associated with early control of the lesion, while the Be-78 strain results in progressive gut lesions in this model.     

三通道电刺激仪的研制及对臂丛神经损伤的临床疗效

目的:研制可用于臂丛神经损伤治疗的三通道电刺激仪,并且将之应用于临床臂丛神经损伤患者,观察该仪器治疗臂丛神经损伤的临床效果。方法:由主控模块、显示模块、键盘模块、三个通道的电刺激发生器模块以及电源模块组成系统,可以连续交替释放脉冲刺激,针对不同神经和肌肉,选择不同的刺激位点。将60例臂丛神经损伤术后的患者随机分成试验组(30例)和对照组(30例),试验组术后第三周使用三通道电刺激仪治疗,对照组不做处理,患者术后随访6-12月后,观察患者上肢肩部、肘部功能恢复情况。结果:试验组治疗后上臂丛、全臂丛、下臂丛的肩部、肘部功能均好于治疗前,差异明显,均有统计学意义(P0.05);试验组上臂丛、全臂丛、下臂丛的肩部、肘部治疗效果均显著优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:三通道电刺激仪可以有效地促进臂丛神经损伤后上肢功能的康复,可以对三组神经和肌肉交替进行电刺激,使用方便,并且便于携带,患者较为满意。     

超声定位与解剖定位对小儿臂丛神经阻滞麻醉效果的比较研究

目的:探讨超声定位对小儿臂丛神经阻滞麻醉的效果及优势。方法:选取我院收治的上肢手术患儿54例,随机分为两组。其中对照组在解剖定位下进行麻醉,实验组在超声定位下进行麻醉。比较两组麻醉完成时间、用药剂量、起效时间及不良反应等。结果:实验组麻醉完成时间及麻醉起效时间均较对照组短,用药剂量较对照组少,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组VAS评分较对照组低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组血肿发生率低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组Honer综合征、局麻药毒性反应以及气胸的发生率均低于对照组,但两组差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声定位下行小儿臂丛神经阻滞麻醉能够明显改善麻醉效果,减少麻醉完成时间、麻醉药物用量及麻醉起效时间,降低麻醉相关不良反应的发生率,值得临床推广。     

B超声引导下肋锁间隙与喙突入路连续臂丛神经阻滞对Barton骨折术后镇痛效果比较

目的:比较超声引导下肋锁间隙与喙突两种入路连续臂丛神经阻滞对Barton骨折手术患者术后的镇痛效果。方法:选择择期行Barton骨折手术患者60例,随机分为肋锁间隙入路连续臂丛神经阻滞组(A组,n=30)和喙突入路连续锁骨下臂丛神经阻滞组(B组,n=30)。两组均在超声引导下进行臂丛神经阻滞,同时留置神经阻滞导管,麻醉后2小时经神经阻滞导管连接无线电子镇痛泵。记录手术过程中神经深度、麻醉操作时间,并评估麻醉效果;记录术后第一次追加药物时间;记录麻醉后6 h、12 h、18 h、24 h、36 h、48 h静息及运动状态VAS评分;记录术后第一天和第二天镇痛泵有效按压次数及补救镇痛情况;记录患者满意度及并发症发生情况。结果:与B组相比,A组神经深度明显减浅(P<0.05),麻醉操作时间显著缩短(P<0.05),术后第一次追加药物时间延长(P<0.05),麻醉后12 h、18 h、24 h、36 h静息及运动状态VAS评分较低(P<0.05),术后第一天有效按压次数明显减少(P<0.05),患者满意度评分高(P<0.05),误穿血管发生率明显减少(P<0.05)。结论:超声引导下肋锁间隙入路与喙突入路连续锁骨下臂丛神经阻滞均可安全有效用于Barton骨折手术术后镇痛;但肋锁间隙连续臂丛神经阻滞术后镇痛效果更好,且具有神经阻滞深度浅、操作时间更短、阻滞效果更好、患者满意度更高及并发症更少等优点。