The effect of a carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum on rabbit follicular oocytes and early embryonic development

The effect of a carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum and its duration on rabbit follicular oocytes was assessed by evaluating fertilization and subsequent embryonic development rates. CO2 may cross the plasma membrane and form carbonic acid, which liberates H+, thus lowering the intracellular pH. There were no significant differences in arterial pH and [HCO3-] between CO2 and air treatment groups, whereas arterial pCO2 and pO2 were significantly increased in the CO2 treatment group. We found that the duration of pneumoperitoneum, irrespective of type of gas used, was negatively correlated with success of embryonic development. These findings necessitate that more attention be given to the gas used for creation of a pneumoperitoneum during egg retrieval for in vitro fertilization and an attempt be made to minimize duration of the pneumoperitoneum.     

Anulus fibrosus in bulging intervertebral disks

In this investigation the association of radial tears of the anulus fibrosus and bulging of the intervertebral disk was studied. An index of disk bulging was measured in sagittal anatomic sections in 149 lumbar disks from 31 cadavers. The indexes of disk bulging were correlated with stages of disk development and the presence of an annular tear. The largest disk-bulging indexes were always associated with radial tears of the anulus. Eighty-four percent of the disks with radial tears had disk-bulging indexes greater than 2.5 mm. Most normal adult disks had an index of less than 2.5 mm. The results challenge the concept that the anulus fibrosus is intact in bulging disks, although ruptured in herniated disks.     

Gd-DTPA enhancement of the cisternal portion of the oculomotor nerve on MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To describe a radiographic finding--enhancement of the cisternal portion of the third cranial nerve on postcontrast MR--and to correlate it with patients' clinical symptoms and ultimate diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen consecutive patients with enhancement of the cisternal portion of the third cranial nerve on postcontrast MR were retrospectively identified; 50 control patients referred for pituitary microadenomas were also retrospectively reviewed. FINDINGS: The enhancement was bilateral in six patients and unilateral in seven patients. Four of the six patients with bilateral enhancement had unilateral oculomotor nerve palsies; none had bilateral third cranial nerve palsy. Five of the seven patients with unilateral enhancement had ipsilateral third nerve palsies. Of the nine patients with third nerve palsies, the pupil was involved in four patients. Follow-up studies were available in six patients, four of whom had third nerve palsy. Resolution of the enhancement correlated with resolution of the symptoms in two patients. The patients' underlying diagnoses were lymphoma (four), leukemia (one), viral meningitis (one), neurofibromatosis (two), inflammatory polyneuropathy-HIV related (one), ophthalmoplegic migraine (one), Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (one), coccidioidomycosis (one), and diabetes (one). No enhancement was seen in any of the controls. CONCLUSION: Enhancement of the cisternal segment of the third cranial nerve is always abnormal, revealing an underlying inflammatory or neoplastic process. However, it is not always associated with clinically apparent oculomotor nerve dysfunction.     

Analysis of gene expression in MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis after treatment with a novel brain-penetrating antioxidant

Accumulating data from experimental studies indicate that oxidative stress has a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been suggested that local production of reactive oxygen species, probably by macrophages, mediates axonal damage in both MS patients and the mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have shown previously that our novel brain-penetrating antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (AD4), reduces the clinical and pathological symptoms, including inflammation and axonal damage in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced chronic EAE in mice. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanism by which AD4 exerts protection in MOG-induced EAE mice. Therefore, we analyzed gene-expression profile in the spinal cords of MOG-induced chronic EAE mice and compared them with MOG-induced mice treated with AD4, using a cDNA microarray. We found that MOG treatment up-regulated genes encoding growth factors, cytokines, death receptors, proteases, and myelin structure proteins, whereas MOG- and AD4-treated mice demonstrated gene expression profiles similar to that seen in na?ve healthy mice. In conclusion, our study shows that chronic AD4 administration suppresses the induction of various pathological pathways that play a role in EAE and probably in MS.     

痛

黑暗!黑暗!!黑暗!!!这样的世界看不到半点光明。孤独的舞者终究还是孤独地倒下,然后又孤独地消失。黑暗呀,为什么老是缠绕着我?一声“妈妈”划破了天际,却也突不出黑暗的包围。谁来应我一声呀,妈妈,你在哪里呀?我的心在不停地挣扎,告诉自己:“不怕,不怕。”可这是在黑暗里呀,周     

Differentiation of Giardia duodenalis from other Giardia spp. by using polymerase chain reaction and gene probes.

Giardia spp. are waterborne organisms that are the most commonly identified pathogenic intestinal protozoans in the United States. Current detection techniques for Giardia species in water include microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques. Species of the genus Giardia are classified on the basis of taxonomic criteria, such as cell morphology, and on host specificity. We have developed a polymerase chain reaction- and gene probe-based detection system specific for Giardia spp., which can discriminate between the relevant species of the G. duodenalis type pathogenic to humans and other Giardia species that are not human pathogens. This method can detect a single Giardia cyst and is therefore sensitive enough for environmental monitoring.