Neuroprotective effect of inosine on axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats.

Purpose: To explore the potential survival-promoting effect of inosine on axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of adult rats in vivo.

Methods: The left optic nerves (ON) in the subject rats were transected at 1.5 mm from the optic disc.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 in neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve and nucleus of the solitary tract are activated by noxious visceral stimulus in mice.

Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 (pERK1/2) -like immunoreactivity (LI) was enhanced in the neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) 8 min after an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in the mouse; the enhancement in pERK1/2-LI was suppressed after vagotomy. With immunofluorescent double labeling technique, the co-localization of acetic acid-induced pERK1/2 and tyrosine hydroxylase-LIs was observed in some of the NTS and DMV neurons. These results suggest that ERK1/2 signal-transducting pathway is involved in neuronal activities in NTS and DMV which are induced by vagus-conveyed nociceptive visceral information, and that some of these pERK1/2- immunoreactive neurons in NTS and DMV are catecholaminergic.

Evaluation of glucose metabolic disorder: insulin resistance and insulin receptors in critically ill children.

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of glucose metabolic disorder and insulin resistance in critically ill children under severe stress.

Methods: To test glucose, lactate, glucagon, insulin, c-peptide, cortisol levels in 50 critically ill children. While we measured 125I-insulin binding to erythrocytes of 13 critically ill children who had hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.