[Correlation of preoperative reconstruction of foramen ovale parameters and intraluminal balloon pressure during percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the anatomic parameters of foramen ovale and intraluminal pressure during percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with primary trigeminal neuralgia in the Department of Pain Medicine of the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between November 2020 and April 2021 were enrolled. Three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution CT reconstruction of skull base was performed preoperatively to evaluate the parameters of foramen ovale. The intraluminal balloon pressure was continuously recorded during the PBC procedure. Correlation analysis was conducted between intraluminal pressure and foramen ovale parameters. Results: Eighteen patients had complete pain relief, 1 had obvious relief, and 1 had partial relief after PBC. The maximum cross-sectional length of the foramen ovale was (7.8±1.7) mm. The peak intraluminal pressure (PM) during PBC was (194±27) kPa. The intraluminal pressure was (164±28) kPa at initial compression (P0), and (135±20) kPa after compression for 120 seconds respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the P0 was positively and significantly correlated with the length of foramen ovale (r=0.56, P<0.05), but not with the width of foramen ovale (r=0.24, P>0.05), the area of foramen ovale (r=0.36, P>0.05) and the degree of balloon filling (r=-0.09, P>0.05). Similarly, P120 was significantly correlated with the length of foramen ovale (r=0.54, P<0.05). No significant correlation was observed between P120 and the width of the foramen ovale (r=0.18, P>0.05), the area of the foramen ovale (r=0.28, P>0.05) or the width of balloon filling (r=-0.13, P>0.05). Conclusions: The length of foramen ovale correlates with the intraluminal pressure during PBC procedure in trigeminal neuralgia patients. Parameters of foramen ovale obtained via preoperative high-resolution CT reconstruction of skull base may provide reference for predicting targeted intraluminal balloon pressure during PBC.

Modulation of ceramide metabolism enhances viral protein apoptin's cytotoxicity in prostate cancer.

Despite local and systemic therapies, the National Cancer Institute estimates that prostate cancer will cause over 30,000 deaths in 2006. This suggests that additional therapeutic approaches are needed. The chicken anemia viral protein Apoptin causes tumor-selective apoptosis in human tumor lines independent of p53 and Bcl-2 status. Tet-regulated expression of Apoptin from an adenoviral vector showed cytotoxicity in DU145, PC-3, and LNCaP tumor cells regardless of expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, survivin, FLIP(S), XIAP, or CIAP. Apoptin expression caused an increase in the tumor suppressor lipid ceramide, which regulates the cellular stress response. Interestingly, 10 of 15 primary prostate cancers examined by Western blotting overexpressed acid ceramidase (AC), suggesting that ceramide deacylation might serve to negate elevated levels of ceramide, creating a more antiapoptotic phenotype. This was confirmed in AC-overexpressing cells in which we observed decreased sensitivity to apoptosis following treatment with Apoptin. Addition of the AC inhibitor LCL204, in combination with Apoptin, augmented cell killing. This effect was also demonstrated in vivo in that Apoptin and LCL204 cotreatment significantly reduced tumor growth in DU145 xenografts (P<0.05). Taken together, our data demonstrated that Apoptin is a promising therapeutic agent for prostate cancer and that its function is improved when combined with acid ceramidase inhibitors.

Quantitative comparison of ohmefentanyl isomers induced conditioning place preference in mice.

Differences of analgesia and withdrawal response among ohmefentanyl stereoisomers have been studied. In the present study, Quantitative comparison of reinforcing effects of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers and morphine was performed by using a conditioned place preference design in mice. Results showed that morphine and ohmefentanyl stereoisomers were able to increase significantly the time spent in the drug-paired side with respect to vehicle treated animals. A good linear correlation between doses of drugs and number of mice with place preference was found within a given dose range. On the basis of the dose-response curve analysis, ohmefentanyl stereoisomers displayed a significant difference in place preference ED50. The addictive index (analgesic ED50/place preference ED50) was used to assess the addictive potential of drugs. It was demonstrated that the addictive potential of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers did not exhibit a large difference as addictive index. Among these stereoisomers, the addictive potential of compound F9208 was markedly lower than that of morphine.

Aluminum-induced apoptosis in cultured astrocytes and its effect on calcium homeostasis.

Aluminum exposure and apoptotic cell death has been implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we use cultured astrocytes to investigate the ability of aluminum to induce the apoptosis of astrocytes. The proportion of apoptotic cells and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Our results showed that exposure to aluminum at low levels (100 and 200 microM) for up to 6 days did not result in the apoptosis of astrocytes, and a dramatic blockage of apoptotic cells was found at 200 microM aluminum. However, at 400 microM, aluminum markedly induced the apoptosis of astrocytes, which was associated with a significant change in cell cycle distribution characterized by increase of G2/M phase cells (128%). Measurements of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration using the fluorescent calcium indicator dye Fluo-3 demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of intracellular calcium after aluminum treatment. However, no differences were observed among aluminum-treated groups. These findings suggest that aluminum induce and block selectively the apoptosis of astrocytes, which depend upon the concentrations of aluminum. Increased intracellular Ca(2+) may not be the primary mechanism of aluminum-mediated apoptotic cell death.

Comparison of physical dependence of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers in mice.

Stereo-structural difference of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers on analgesic action and receptor affinity has been studied. To assess the difference of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers in physical dependence, the potency of physical dependence was quantified by estimating the ED50 value of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers in the naloxone-precipitated jumping test in mice. Morphine was used to assess the method and as a drug of comparison. The results indicate that the degree of physical dependence of morphine can been quantified by estimating the ED50 value of morphine withdrawal jumping induced by naloxone. A significant difference was observed in withdrawal jumping ED50 values among ohmefentanyl stereoisomers. Of these isomers, F9202 and F9204 had similarly potent analgesic action, but very significant difference in naloxone precipitated withdrawal response. Dependent potency index of F9204 was 618-fold weaker than that of F9202. It is concluded that a stereo-structural difference in physical dependence is found to exist among ohmefentanyl stereoisomers. Compound F9204 displayed a strong analgesic action and weak physical dependent potency.

[Effect of Zea pollinium on the structure and function of erythrocyte membrane in rats].

UNLABELLED: The aged-related changes of ATPase activity as well as the contents of MDA, sulfhydryl and sialic acid of erythrocyte membrane had been observed in many studies. In this paper, the effect of Zea pollinium on the structure and function of erythrocyte membrane in rats was observed. 12 male rats were divided randomly into pollen and control groups, the former was fed with diet containing 10% Zea pollinium; while no pollen for the latter. RESULTS: After feeding for 10 weeks, the Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase activities were 311.5 +/- 35.5 and 813.8 +/- 43.4 nmolPi/mg protein.h respectively in pollen group, significantly higher than that of the control group (209.9 +/- 23.9 and 624.9 +/- 23.3 nmolPi/mg protein.h). The contents of sulfhydryl and sialic acid were also increased, but the content of MDA was markedly decreased with the use of Zea pollinium. These results indicated that Zea pollinium could inhibit formation of lipid peroxidates, protect the structure and function of erythrocyte membrane from the injury of peroxidate.