The Central Projections of the Monkey Tooth Pulp Afferent Neurons

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheatgerm agglutinin (HRP:WGA) entrapped in hypoallergenic polyacrylamide gel was used to study the patterns of termination of primary afferents that innervate the upper and lower tooth pulps within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC) of the monkey. HRP:WGA injections were also made into the lower incisors and molars, in order to examine the topographic arrangement of pulpal afferent projections. HRP-labeled pulpal afferents innervating lower and upper teeth projected ipsilaterally to the rostral subnucleus dorsalis (Vpd) and caudal subnucleus ventralis (Vpv) of the nucleus principalis (Vp); the rostrodorsomedial (Vo.r) and dorsomedial (Vo.dm) subdivisions of the nucleus oralis (Vo); the dorsomedial subdivision of the nucleus interpolaris (Vi); and laminae I—II and/or V of the nucleus caudalis (Vc) at its rostralmost level. The HRP-labeled terminals from upper and lower pulpal afferents formed a rostrocaudal column from the midlevel of Vp to the rostral tip of Vc. The label in Vp and Vo was considerably dense, but the column of terminals was interrupted at the Vpd-Vpv transition. The label in Vi and Vc was much less dense compared to that in the rostral nuclei, and the column of terminals was interrupted frequently. The representation of the upper and lower teeth in TSNC was organized in a somatotopic fashion that varied from one subdivision to the next, though their terminal zones overlapped within Vpd. The upper and lower teeth were represented in Vpv, Vo.r, Vo.dm, Vi, and Vc in a ventrodorsal, dorsoventral, lateromedial, lateromedial, and lateromedial sequence, respectively. Topographic arrangement was also noticed for the projections of pulpal afferents from the lower incisors and molars: The representations of the lower incisors and molars in Vpv, Vo.r, Vo.dm, Vi, and Vc were organized in a lateromedial, dorsoventral, ventrodorsal, ventrodorsal, and lateromedial sequence, respectively. The present results indicating sparse projections from pulpal afferents in the monkey's Vc are in good correspondence with a clinical report that trigeminal tractotomy just rostral to the obex has no significant effect on dental pain perception in patients. Furthermore, the present study indicates that projection patterns of pulpal afferents—which include the termination sites, the density of terminations between nuclei, and topographic arrangement—differ among animal species.     

Skeletal Manifestations of Hydatid Disease in Serbia: Demographic Distribution,Site Involvement,Radiological Findings,and Complications

Although Serbia is recognized as an endemic country for echinococcosis, no information about precise incidence in humans has been available. The aim of this study was to investigate the skeletal manifestations of hydatid disease in Serbia. This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical database of Institute for Pathology (Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade), a reference institution for bone pathology in Serbia. We reported a total of 41 patients with bone cystic echinococcosis (CE) during the study period. The mean age of 41 patients was 40.9±18.8 years. In 39% of patients, the fracture line was the only visible radiological sign, followed by cyst and tumefaction. The spine was the most commonly involved skeletal site (55.8%), followed by the femur (18.6%), pelvis (13.9%), humerus (7.0%), rib (2.3%), and tibia (2.3%). Pain was the symptom in 41.5% of patients, while some patients demonstrated complications such as paraplegia (22.0%), pathologic fracture (48.8%), and scoliosis (9.8%). The pathological fracture most frequently affected the spine (75.0%) followed by the femur (20.0%) and tibia (5.0%). However, 19.5% of patients didn''t develop any complication or symptom. In this study, we showed that bone CE is not uncommon in Serbian population. As reported in the literature, therapy of bone CE is controversial and its results are poor. In order to improve the therapy outcome, early diagnosis, before symptoms and complications occur, can be contributive.     

The first record of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the Argentine northwest

In 2004, the urban presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis was recorded for the first time in Formosa province. In 2006, the first autochthonous case of human urban visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was recorded in Misiones in the presence of the vector, along with some canine VL cases. After this first case, the vector began to spread primarily in northeast Argentina. Between 2008-2011, three human VL cases were reported in Salta province, but the presence of Lu. longipalpis was not recorded. Captures of Phlebotominae were made in Tartagal, Salta, in 2013, and the presence of Lu. longipalpis was first recorded in northwest Argentina at that time. Systematic sampling is recommended to observe the distribution and dispersion patterns of Lu. longipalpis and consider the risk of VL transmission in the region.     

Lateral gradients significantly enhance static magnetic field‐induced inhibition of pain responses in mice—a double blind experimental study

Recent research demonstrated that exposure of mice to both inhomogeneous (3–477 mT) and homogeneous (145 mT) static magnetic fields (SMF) generated an analgesic effect toward visceral pain elicited by the intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid. In the present work, we investigated behavioral responses such as writhing, entry avoidance, and site preference with the help of a specially designed cage that partially protruded into either the homogeneous (ho) or inhomogeneous (inh) SMF. Aversive effects, cognitive recognition of analgesia, and social behavior governed mice in their free locomotion between SMF and sham sides. The inhibition of pain response (I) for the 0–5, 6–20, and 21–30 min periods following the challenge was calculated by the formula I = 100 (1 ? x/y) in %, where x and y represent the number of writhings in the SMF and sham sides, respectively. In accordance with previous measurements, an analgesic effect was induced in exposed mice (I_ho = 64%, P < 0.0002 and I_inh = 62%, P < 0.002). No significant difference was found in the site preference (SMF_{ho, inh} vs. sham) indicating that SMF is neither aversive nor favorable. Comparison of writhings observed in the sham versus SMF side of the cage revealed that SMF exposure resulted in significantly fewer writhings than sham (I_ho = 64%, P < 0.004 and I_inh = 81%, P < 0.03). Deeper statistical analysis clarified that the lateral SMF gradient between SMF and sham sides could be responsible for most of the analgesic effect (I_ho = 91%, P < 0.02 and I_inh = 54%, P < 0.02). Bioelectromagnetics 34:385–396, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solid State 13C-NMR Analysis of Cell Wall Components of Fusarium oxysporum

An abdominal fat accumulation complicated by high blood triglycerides is regarded as a risk factor of metabolic syndrome. Feeding powdered nacre, mother of pearl, from Pinctada maxima, resulted in reduced body weight, visceral fat amount, and blood triglyceride level without influencing the food intake, body length, or amount of muscular tissue, suggesting that nacre powder specifically could decrease visceral fat.     

注射小针刀联合奥施康定治疗癌性疼痛的临床疗效研究

目的:观察注射小针刀联合奥施康定治疗癌性疼痛的临床疗效。方法:选择我院收治的66例癌性疼痛患者,根据随机方法将入选病例分为注射针刀组(针刀配合奥施康定)、奥施康定组(单纯西药奥施康定),每组各33例。针刀组每日给予口服药物、隔日给予针刀治疗;奥施康定组每日给予口服药物,14日为1个观察周期。治疗前后测定疼痛程度(NRS)并分析疼痛缓解度(PAR)。结果:治疗组临床总有效率为90.9%,对照组为84.9%,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组NRS评分均较治疗前显著降低(P0.05),且治疗组比对照组改善更为显著(P0.01)。结论:注射小针刀联合奥施康定对癌性疼痛的治疗疗效较单用奥施康定更好。     

小儿慢性胃炎的消化道外表现(附864 例报道)

目的:分析和总结小儿慢性胃炎的消化道外表现。方法:选择2008年1月~2008年10月哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院儿科门诊诊治的经腹部胃区叩诊法确诊为慢性胃炎的患儿864例,建立随访卡片,分析和总结其消化道内及消化道外的临床表现。结果:864例患儿常见的消化道症状依次为腹痛、恶心呕吐、便秘、上腹压痛。消化道外表现依次为头痛、刀枪刺、鼻出血、胸痛、多动抽动、手足搐搦。消化道外表现的发病率并不低于消化道表现,特别是头痛的发病率高达58.54%。腹痛、恶心呕吐症状缓解得最快,其次是头痛、头晕、胸闷、胸痛,多动症状较晚缓解,腹部叩痛的消失时间最晚。结论:小儿慢性胃炎的胃肠道外表现广泛存在,且极易与脑炎、心肌炎误诊,值得关注。头痛、胸痛的产生原因可能与内脏-内脏之间的牵涉痛有关。     

Conditional restoration and inactivation of Rbm47 reveal its tissue‐context requirement for viability and growth

Rbm47 encodes a RNA binding protein that is necessary for Cytidine to Uridine RNA editing. Rbm47^gt/gt mutant mice that harbor inactivated Rbm47 display poor viability. Here it was determined that the loss of Rbm47^gt/gt offspring is due to embryonic lethality at mid‐gestation. It was further showed that growth of the surviving Rbm47^gt/gt mutants is impaired. Rbm47 is expressed in both the visceral endoderm and the definitive endoderm. Using the utility of the switchable FlEx gene‐trap cassette and the activity of Cre and FLP recombinases to generate mice that conditionally inactivate and restore Rbm47 function in tissue‐specific manner, it was demonstrated that Rbm47 function is required in the embryo proper, and not the visceral endoderm, for viability and growth. genesis 54:115–122, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Conditioning pain stimulation does not affect itch induced by intra-epidermal histamine pricks but aggravates neurogenic inflammation in healthy volunteers

This study investigated whether itch induced by intra-epidermal histamine is subjected to modulation by a standardized conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm in 24 healthy volunteers. CPM was induced by computer-controlled cuff pressure algometry and histamine was introduced to the volar forearm by skin prick test punctures. Moreover, neurogenic inflammation and wheal reactions induced by histamine and autonomic nervous system responses (heart rate variability and skin conductance) were monitored. CPM did not modulate the intensity of histamine-induced itch suggesting that pruriceptive signaling is not inhibited by pain-recruited endogenous modulation, however, CPM was found to aggravate histamine-induced neurogenic inflammation, likely facilitated by efferent sympathetic fibers.     

Experimentally induced masseter-pain changes masseter but not sternocleidomastoid muscle-related activity during mastication

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of induced masseter-muscle pain on the amplitude of muscle activation, symmetry and coactivation of jaw- and neck-muscles during mastication. Twenty-eight male volunteers, mean age ± SD 20.6 ± 2.0 years, participated in this study. Surface electromyography of the masseter and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles was performed bilaterally during mastication of a gummy candy before and after injections of monosodium glutamate solution and isotonic saline solution. As a result, we observed a decrease in the amplitude of activation of the masseter muscle on the working side (p = 0.009; d = 0.34) and a reduction in the asymmetry between the working and the balancing side during mastication (p = 0.007; d = 0.38). No changes were observed either on the craniocervical electromyographic variables. In conclusion, experimentally induced pain reduced the masseter muscle activation on the working side, thereby reducing the physiological masseters’ recruitment asymmetry between the two sides during mastication. No effects on SCM activity were detected. These results may partly explain the initial maladaptative changes underlying TMD conditions.