Effects of Steam and Water Blanching on Drying Characteristics, Water Distribution, Microstructure, and Bioactive Components of Gastrodia Elata

In the current work, the effects of steam and boiling water blanching on the drying characteristics, water distribution, microstructure, and contents of bioactive substances of Gastrodia elata (G. elata) were explored. Results showed that the degree of steaming and blanching was related to the core temperature of G. elata. The steaming and blanching pretreatment increased the drying time of the samples by more than 50%. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) of treated samples showed that the relaxation time corresponded to water molecule states (bound, immobilized, and free) and G. elata became shorter, which indicated a reduction in free moisture and increased resistance of water diffusion in the solid structure during drying. Hydrolysis of polysaccharides and gelatinization of starch granules was observed in the microstructure of treated samples, which was consistent with changes in water status and drying rates. Steaming and blanching increased gastrodin and crude polysaccharide contents and decreased p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol content. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of steaming and blanching on the drying behavior and quality attributes of G. elata.

Colorectal cancer with indeterminate pulmonary nodules

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies with a dismal prognosis. Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) are lung nodules with uncertain nature, generally defined as a noncalcified nodule smaller than 10 mm in diameter or solid nodule no greater than 20 mm at maximum diameter without malignant character. With the widespread use of preoperative staging computed tomography (CT) of the chest and follow-up CT, IPNs are frequently detected in patients with CRC, which makes diagnosis more controversial. Generally, progression to pulmonary metastasis from IPNs is rare. Thus, no further interventions were needed for IPNs in CRC patients. A second reviewing of scans with IPNs by both clinicians and experienced thoracic radiologists may help to obtain a more accurate diagnosis.

An Acupuncture-like Quantitative Mechanical Stimulator

A stimulator that analogs the needle puncture has been designed to deliver quantitative mechanical stimulus to a small area of muscle. A friction coupler is designed to transmit the driving force from motor to a needle which is used to deliver stimulus. Rotation of the needle may be stopped but the friction will be maintained between the needle and the tissue when this friction moment comes to the driving moment of the coupler. Experiments were done on 6 hindlimb muscles in 2 cats and the results show the value of the stimulator in probing the mechanisms of acupuncture.

[Morphological and physiological changes of the nervous system in chronic painful peripheral neuropathy]

Peripheral nerve injury may result in many kinds of sensory disorders such as hyperalgesia, dysesthesia, causalgia, etc. This paper mainly reviews the changes in morphology and physiological function occuring in the chronic painful peripheral neuropathy of two kinds of animal models which are now generally used to study the mechanisms of chronic neuropathic pain.

Inhibitory effect of anisodamine on the neuropathic hyperalgesia following peripheral nerve injury (II)

A peripheral neuropathy with hyperalgesia and allodynia was produced by loosely tying constrictive ligature around the left sciatic nerve of rats, i.v. injection of anisodamine 20 mg/Kg abolished both neuropathic hyperalgesia responses to noxious radiant heat and ectopic discharges generated from the injured region of the nerve. Anisodanime applied either systemically or locally to the damaged area of the nerve not only ceased the spontaneous ectopic discharges recorded from A beta to C fibers but also blocked the afferent ectopic discharge elicited by K+ channel blocker, noradrenaline, Ca2+ or antidromic stimulation of sciatic nerve proximal to the injured nerve area. The experiments indicated that anisodamine probably possessed a calcium channel blocker-like activity and produced selective block of the new channels in the injured area. It is suggested that anisodamine may be a candidate therapeutic agent in relieving hyperalgesia and allodynia following nerve injury.

The relationship between new ion channels and ectopic discharges from a region of nerve injury

Changes in ectopic discharges from axons in an injured nerve were examined while agents that interact with ion channels were applied to the site of the nerve injury. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) greatly facilitated spontaneous ectopic discharges or evoked ectopic firing in previously silent axons. Tetrodotoxin, an Na+ channel blocker, completely blocked spontaneous discharges. Verapamil, La3+, and Mn2+, agents that interact with Ca2+ channels, blocked spontaneous discharges and depressed the responses evoked by TEA, noradrenaline and high concentration of K+. Increasing Ca2+ levels facilitated ectopic discharges and this effect was blocked by La3+ and Mn2+. Normal axons (from uninjured nerves) were insensitive to all the effects seen in the axons from the injured nerve. These results suggest that following nerve injury the membrane of the regenerating sprout contains new ion channels, particularly Ca2+ channels, and that these channels are responsible for the generation of ectopic discharges.

Effects of m-nisoldipine and nisoldipine on electric activity of human atrial tissue

Using intracellular microelectrode technique and microcomputer analyzing system, the effects of m-nisoldipine (m-Nis) and nisoldipine (Nis) on spontaneous electric activity of human atrial tissue were studied. APA and Vmax were remarkably decreased by m-Nis (0.25 and 1.25 mumol.L-1) and Nis (0.25 mumol.L-1). RPF was also greatly decreased as a result of inhibition in VDD. The inhibitory effects of m-Nis on transmembrane potentials were less than those of Nis at equal concentration (0.25 mumol.L-1). Neither MDP nor APD90 was affected by m-Nis and Nis.

Intracellular records of the effects of primary afferent input in lumbar spinoreticular tract neurons in the cat

1. The afferent-evoked synaptic input to lumbar spinal cord (L5-S1) neurons that were activated antidromically from the medial pontomedullary reticular formation (nucleus reticularis gigantocelluaris and vicinity) was investigated with the use of intracellular recordings in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized cats. 2. Spinoreticular tract (SRT) neurons (n = 33) were categorized into three types ("deep-inhibited," "deep-complex," and "intermediate") on the basis of their locations and of their responses to natural and electrical stimulation. 3. The deep-inhibited-type neurons, located in the medial part of the deeper laminae (approximately VI-VIII), comprised a large component of the sample (20/33). They had no demonstrable excitatory receptive field (RF). However, electrical stimulation of low-threshold cutaneous afferents of hindlimb nerves evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) via an oligosynaptic linkage. High-threshold cutaneous and muscle afferents also evoked IPSPs. 4. In the deep-complex-type neurons (8/33), electrical stimulation of low-threshold cutaneous afferents evoked complex IPSP-excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) sequences. With intense stimuli, long-latency C-fiber-like EPSPs were evoked. Two of these eight neurons were characterized as wide-dynamic-range (WDR) neurons with large, excitatory and inhibitory cutaneous RFs. 5. Intermediate-type neurons (5/33) were concentrated in the lateral spinal gray and relatively superficially (approximately lamina V). These neurons had convergent low- and high-threshold cutaneous inputs (WDR neurons). Electrical stimulation of low-threshold cutaneous afferent fibers from within the excitatory RF evoked mono- or disynaptic EPSPs followed by IPSPs. High-threshold muscle and cutaneous afferents also evoked EPSPs. 6. These results show that SRT neurons have a variety of response characteristics resulting from various degrees of spatial and temporal summation of primary afferent input. Neurons with widespread inhibitory responses but no excitatory drive from the periphery comprise a surprisingly large component of the SRT: the function of these cells is unknown. It is apparent that the spinoreticular projection has considerable functional heterogeneity.

Electrophysiological evidence for hyperalgesia in the peripheral neuropathy

A peripheral neuropathy was produced in adult rats by placing loosely constrained ligature around the common sciatic nerve. At the ligature region of the nerve, demyelination developed. The postoperative behavior of these rats indicated that hyperalgesia and allodynia were produced. The electrical activity pattern of the damaged fibers was remarkably different from those of normal nerves: there were some abnormal spontaneous afferent firings from the injured fibers; multi-impulse responses of C-fiber to single shock was recorded; a lasting firing was elicited after the injured region was gently pressed or by oil drops at 40 degrees C; an antidromic electric stimulus to the injured region, stimulations of L5 sympathetic ganglion or systemic administration of noradrenaline, all caused an increase in on-going spontaneous discharges of the injured fibers or brought the silent fibers into firing. Stimulation of the dorsal roots of the sciatic nerve produced no effect on their activities or caused a pause of the on-going discharges of them. Phentolamine, an alpha receptor blocker, ceased the abnormal firing, but did not affect the normal fiber firings. It is hypothesized that noradrenaline released by the sympathetic nerve would be an important factor responsible for both hyperalgesia and allodynia following injury of peripheral nerve.

Effect of gossypol on the potential difference of rat seminiferous tubules

The p.d. of the rat seminiferous tubules was 4.75 +/- 1.39 mV (lumen negative) at 35 degrees C and varied linearly with temperatures from 26 to 40 degrees C. A depolarization of the seminiferous tubules was found in the rats administered with gossypol at the dosage of 30 mg/kg body weight for 3 weeks, the p.d. lowered to 3.63 +/- 0.79 mV at 35 degrees C and was independent of the changes of seminiferous tubules temperature. In the 5-week-gossypol-treatment group, the tracer penetrated not only the myoid cell layer, but also went beyond the tight junction complexes between Sertoli cells. The lanthanum appeared in the cleft surrounding spermatogonia. In the 8-week-gossypol-treatment group, the lanthanum was found in the adluminal compartment. It indicates that gossypol can cause a dysfunction of the Sertoli cells and blood-testis barrier and disturb a good physiological environment for the developing spermatocytes.

Further investigation on the hypothesis of meridian-cortex-viscera interrelationship

The hypothesis of Meridian-Cortex-Viscera Interrelationship maintains: 1. Meridian channel system is an independent system connected with the nerves to the cortex; 2. It acts through the nerves; 3. The nervous action is realized by humoral agents. This article gives preliminary-experimental supports for the above criteria.

Influence of monoaminergic nuclei in lower medulla and their neurotransmitters on the activity of nociceptive units in spinal cord

In this article, seventy nociceptive units of dorsal horn and five preganglionic sympathetic units of spinal cord in forty-four anesthetized cats immobilized with Flaxedil were studied. The results observed were: 1. Electrophoretic administration of noradrenaline (NA) induced a remarkable depression of both evoked and spontaneous discharges of nociceptive units. Similar effects could be produced by electric stimulation of noradrenergic Al nuclei or injection of amphetamine or hand pressing of "Zusanli" (one form of acupuncture) respectively. 2. The effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT on evoked nociceptive discharge was similar to NA, but on spontaneous discharge of nociceptive units was excitement. 3. Effects of the above-mentioned factors on the nociceptive discharges of preganglionic sympathetic neurons were similar to the nociceptive units too. 4. On the contrary, the activity of inhibited neuron by noxious stimulation was augmented by administration of NA, amphetamine, the stimulation of Al nuclei and the deep muscle. It is suggested that the noradrenergic nuclei in lower brain stem may play an important role in descending inhibitory circuits of nociceptive spinal reflex.