Improvement of mount preparations in showing myenteric nerve plexus from intestines of mice

Objective: The whole mount preparations of digestive tract is an effective experimental way to study the appearance and distribution of nerve plexus in digestive tract. Although myentric nerve plexus preparations technique was reported very early. But we have done experiment over and over during our research work in order to improve this traditional method and to meet the needs of our research work, we made some progresses in regular mount preparations after many experiments, which helped offer better situation in observing myentric nerve plexus. Methods: Five healthy male adult Kunming mice (20-30 g in weight) were used in this study. After intraperitoneal injection of muscle relaxant, with dislocation of cervical vertebra method, the abdominal cavity was exposed through abdominal median incision. After several steps of mount preparations the mucous layer and longitudinal muscle layer mount preparations with myentric nerve plexus were stripped under anatomical microscope. Immunohistochemical staining was also used in our study. Results: The mount preparation samples with myentric nerve plexus from intestines of mice showed positive SP immunoreaction. The positive cells were dark brown. Many of the cytons appeared circular and oval, while some appeared triangular or irregular. Conclusion: Our improved method is really a good method to show enteric nerve plexus. The method has many advantages and is particularly applied to small animals such as Kunming mice and BALB/c mice, weighing from 20 g to 30 g.

Transposition of Branches of Radial Nerve Innervating Supinator to Posterior Interosseous Nerve for Functional Reconstruction of Finger and Thumb Extension in 4 Patients with Middle and Lower Trunk Root Avulsion Injuries of Brachial Plexus

This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests, electrophysiological examinations, and clinical confirmation. Muscular branches of the radial nerve, which innervate the supinator in the forearm, were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function. Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis, as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip, were monitored. All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months, with an average of 27.5 months. Motor unit potentials（MUP） of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months, while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months. Compound muscle action potential（CMAP） appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis, and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus. Furthermore, the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade Ⅲ at 21 months. Lastly, the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months. In conclusion, for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus, transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.

Neural differentiation of choroid plexus epithelial cells:role of human traumatic cerebrospinal fluid

As the key producer of cerebrospinal fluid（CSF）,the choroid plexus（CP） provides a unique protective system in the central nervous system.CSF components are not invariable and they can change based on the pathological conditions of the central nervous system.The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of non-traumatic and traumatic CSF on the differentiation of multipotent stem-like cells of CP into the neural and/or glial cells.CP epithelial cells were isolated from adult male rats and treated with human non-traumatic and traumatic CSF.Alterations in m RNA expression of Nestin and microtubule-associated protein（MAP2）,as the specific markers of neurogenesis,and astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein（GFAP） in cultured CP epithelial cells were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR.The data revealed that treatment with CSF（non-traumatic and traumatic） led to increase in m RNA expression levels of MAP2 and GFAP.Moreover,the expression of Nestin decreased in CP epithelial cells treated with non-traumatic CSF,while treatment with traumatic CSF significantly increased its m RNA level compared to the cells cultured only in DMEM/F12 as control.It seems that CP epithelial cells contain multipotent stem-like cells which are inducible under pathological conditions including exposure to traumatic CSF because of its compositions.

Supplementary motor area deactivation impacts the recovery of hand function from severe peripheral nerve injury

Although some patients have successful peripheral nerve regeneration,a poor recovery of hand function often occurs after peripheral nerve injury.It is believed that the capability of brain plasticity is crucial for the recovery of hand function.The supplementary motor area may play a key role in brain remodeling after peripheral nerve injury.In this study,we explored the activation mode of the supplementary motor area during a motor imagery task.We investigated the plasticity of the central nervous system after brachial plexus injury,using the motor imagery task.Results from functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that after brachial plexus injury,the motor imagery task for the affected limbs of the patients triggered no obvious activation of bilateral supplementary motor areas.This result indicates that it is difficult to excite the supplementary motor areas of brachial plexus injury patients during a motor imagery task,thereby impacting brain remodeling.Deactivation of the supplementary motor area is likely to be a serious problem for brachial plexus injury patients in terms of preparing,initiating and executing certain movements,which may be partly responsible for the unsatisfactory clinical recovery of hand function.

OBSERVATION ON EFFECT OF POINT INJECTION AS THE MAIN TREATMENT FOR OBSTETRIC BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY

To discuss the best way of treatment for obstetric brachial plexus palsy （OBPP）. Method： The 102 cases of OBPP were randomized into two groups： the observation group （51 cases） and the control group （51 cases）. The observation group was treated by point injection with nerve growth factor （NGF）, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The control group was treated by acupuncture and moxibustion. Result： The result was compared after two courses of treatment. The curative rate of observation group was 35.3% and that of control group 11.8%. The curative and remarkably effective rate was 78.4% and 43.2% respectively. In the two-two comparison, the difference was significant （ P〈 0. 01 ）. Conclusion： The effect of NGF point injection as the main treatment for OBPP was good, worth spreading.

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B:A still little known diagnosis for organic causes of intestinal chronic constipation

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B(IND-B) is a controversial entity among the gastrointestinal neuromuscular disorders. It may occur alone or associated with other neuropathies, such as Hirschsprung's disease(HD). Chronic constipation is the most common clinical manifestation of patients. IND-B primarily affects young children and mimics HD, but has its own histopathologic features characterized mainly by hyperplasia of the submucosal nerve plexus. Thus, IND-B should be included in the differential diagnoses of organic causes of constipation. In recent years, an increasing number of cases of IND-B in adults have also been described, some presenting severe constipation since childhood and others with the onset of symptoms at adulthood. Despite the intense scientific research in the last decades, there are still knowledge gaps regarding definition, pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and therapeutic possibilities for IND-B. However, in medical practice, we continue to encounter patients with severe constipation or intestinal obstruction who undergo to diagnostic investigation for HD and their rectal biopsies present hyperganglionosis in the submucosal nerve plexus and other features, consistent with the diagnosis of IND-B. This review critically discusses aspects related to the disease definitions, pathophysiology and genetics, epidemiology distribution, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria and therapeutic possibilities of this still little-known organic cause of intestinal chronic constipation.

Transferrin receptor 1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy

Previous studies demonstrate an accumulation of transferrin and transferrin receptor 1(TfR1) in regenerating peripheral nerves.However, the expression and function of transferrin and TfR1 in the denervated skeletal muscle remain poorly understood.In this study, a mouse model of denervation was produced by complete tear of the left brachial plexus nerve.RNA-sequencing revealed that transferrin expression in the denervated skeletal muscle was upregulated, while TfR1 expression was downregulated.We also investigated the function of TfR1 during development and in adult skeletal muscles in mice with inducible deletion or loss of TfR1.The ablation of TfR1 in skeletal muscle in early development caused severe muscular atrophy and early death.In comparison, deletion of TfR1 in adult skeletal muscles did not affect survival or glucose metabolism, but caused skeletal muscle atrophy and motor functional impairment, similar to the muscular atrophy phenotype observed after denervation.These findings suggest that TfR1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, China(approval No.SYXK 2017-C023) on June 1, 2018.

Could contact lens dryness discomfort symptoms sometimes have a neuropathic basis?

Symptoms of dryness discomfort in soft contact lens wearers frequently lead to discontinuation from wear.The negative influence of pre-fitting tear dysfunctions appears likely to be exacerbated by the challenges to tear homeostasis caused by contact lenses.The corneal mechanisms for symptoms in contact lens wearers are different to those for dry eye disease because the cornea is insulated by the lens from ambient conditions as well as from lid wiper friction during blinking.Symptoms of dryness discomfort might be the consequence of increased lid wiper friction during blinking when the lens front surface becomes soiled and dry and exhibits very rapid tear break up.It is possible that some cases of contact lens intolerance and discontinuation could be a function of lid wiper neuropathy.In relation to the possibility of corneal neuropathy,a stagnant post-lens tear pool with the possibility of increased concentrations of metabolic by-products,cellular debris,and bacterial exotoxins,might have the potential to disturb the corneal epithelial and sub-basal nerves.Contributions by contact lens-induced inflammation to any neuropathic changes may partly depend on the degree to which inflammatory mediators are concentrated in a stagnant post-lens tear pool.It does not appear to be known if corneal neuropathic changes could develop under these conditions.The chances of neuropathic involvement may be greater if discomfort develops after a significant period of successful wear and there is a history of comorbid pain conditions.Esthesiometry and in vivo confocal microscopy in discontinued contact lens wearers may support a diagnosis of contact lens-related corneal neuralgia.