Trace minerals in experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage: zinc, copper and manganese levels in rat brain tissue, blood and urine

Summary Background. Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) are involved in regulatory systems in the cell. Their role in neuromodulator activities and redox reactions has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to determine changes of Zn, Cu and Mn levels in brain tissue, blood and urine after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The possible importance of these trace minerals on the pathogenesis of SAH was also discussed. Method. Rats were divided into three groups; namely a SAH group, a control group and a normal group. Blood samples in the SAH group and normal saline in the control group were injected into the cisterna magna. No surgical procedures were performed on the normal group. Brain tissue, blood and urine samples were measured for trace minerals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Measurements were taken on days 3, 7 and 10 after the onset in the control and SAH groups, and on the first day in the normal group. Findings. The reduced blood Zn levels and increased Zn urine loss observed in the SAH group were conspicuously significant. Furthermore, significant changes in Mn levels were also seen at different stages of the trial in the SAH group. However, differences found in the Cu levels between the groups were not significant enough to explain the results. Interpretation. These results suggest that the low blood Zn levels seen throughout the stages, the low brain tissue Mn levels seen during the latter part of the trial, and the low blood Mn levels observed during the early stages, may all be related to an increased risk in experimental SAH in rats. These differences may have possible role in the pathogenesis of SAH, and further investigations into the reduced blood Mn levels observed during the study may lead to new insight into the treatment of SAH.     

Intestinal tuberculosis and secondary liver abscess

The incidence of intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) has been increasing in the West, due to the AIDS epidemic, transglobal immigration, IV drug abuse, an aging population, and an increase in the number of immunocompromised patients. Obstruction and perforation of the intestine are the most common and serious complications of ITB. Another complication, tuberculous liver abscess (TLA), is rare and usually associated with foci of infection in the lung or gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of a 17-year-old boy with Down syndrome who presented with multiple TLAs secondary to obstructive and multiple perforated ileal tuberculosis.     

The effect of various alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonists on pupillary dilation

We prospectively evaluated the effect of various systemic alpha1 adrenergic receptor antagonists on pupillary dilation in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients who are at risk for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome cannot be elucidated simply by judging preoperative dilation.     

Autonomic control of von Ebner's lingual salivary glands and implications for taste sensation

To learn the nature of the autonomic control of the serous lingual salivary glands of von Ebner, parasympathetic and sympathetic agonists were injected into rats, and the extent of depletion of the secretory granules in gland acini was measured. Injection of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol caused a concentration-dependent reduction of the secretory granule content of the acinar cells. Injection of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol, combined with isoproterenol, blocked the reduction in secretory granule content seen with isoproterenol alone. Injection of the parasympathetic agonist carbachol also produced a concentration-dependent reduction in granule content of the acini. This reduction was partially blocked by injection of atropine, and completely blocked by injection of atropine and propranolol. beta-Adrenergic and parasympathetic agonists alone did not cause total degranulation of the acini. However, this was achieved by injection of both agonists. It is concluded that protein secretion in von Ebner's glands is under both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous control. It is hypothesized that the glands contain two sets of granules with different compositions, each under the control of either the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system. Because von Ebner's glands are closely associated with taste buds and because the glands supply the microenvironment of these taste buds the secretion of these glands may be very important in the mechanism of taste transduction.     

Influence of NaMFP therapy on plasma leptin concentration in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a low dose of fluoride on the plasma leptin concentration in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred one healthy, postmenopausal women participated in this comparative study. To evaluate the influence of NaMFP treatment and body mass index (BMI) on leptin concentrations, patients were allocated to one of four groups: postmenopausal women (1) on NaMFP with BMI < 25 (n = 29), (2) on NaMFP with BMI > or = 25 (n = 26), (3) not on NaMFP with BMI > or = 25 (n = 24) and (4) not on NaMFP with BMI < 25 (n = 22). Plasma leptin levels were measured before and 12 months after the initiation of NaMFP or, in groups 3 and 4, after the start of the study. Ninety-eight women completed the study. RESULTS: There were significant differences in leptin concentrations at baseline and 12 months between NaMFP users with BMI > or = 25 and BMI < 25 and between women not taking NaMFP with BMI > or = 25 and BMI < 25 (group 2 versus 1 and 3 versus 4). After controlling for BMI, the use of NaMFP was not found to be related to the leptin value (group 1 versus 4 and group 2 versus 3). Although plasma leptin concentrations tended to be decreased slightly at 12 months in NaMFP users, this decrease was not statistically significant (P = .065). CONCLUSION: Leptin concentrations are significantly higher in obese, postmenopausal women than in nonobese, postmenopausal women. Plasma leptin concentrations are slightly but nonsignificantly influenced by long-term, low-dose fluoride treatment. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of NaMFP on plasma leptin concentrations.     

Can serum CA-125 levels predict the optimal primary cytoreduction in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of serum CA-125 levels to ability of optimal primary cytoreduction in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: Preoperative serum CA-125 levels were determined by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit in a series of 92 patients with stage IIIC epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The abilities of various cutoff value of CA-125 to predict suboptimal cytoreductive surgery were determined. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to find the most clinically useful CA-125 cutoff value. RESULTS: Optimal cytoreduction was obtained in 48 patients (52%) using the diameter of the largest residual tumor nodule less than 1 cm. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the most clinically suitable CA-125 cutoff value was 500 U/ml. Forty-seven patients (51%) had preoperative serum CA-125 levels below 500 U/ml. Of these patients, optimal cytoreductive surgery was performed in 36 (77%). Of the 45 patients with serum CA-125 levels greater than 500 U/ml, optimal cytoreductive surgery was achieved in 12 (27%). True- and false-positive rates were 73 and 23%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results showed that preoperative serum CA-125 levels might predict the optimal resectable patients, larger prospective studies are needed to prove its predictivity. Gynecologic oncologists should evaluate the sum of all criteria until more data are available.     

Rare coincidence of congenital short and annular pancreas with gallbladder agenesis and splenic malrotation

We present an adult patient with anomalies of congenital short and annular pancreas, gallbladder agenesis and splenic malrotation. The patient presented with symptoms typical of the two pancreatic malformations and is the only reported case with these malformations reported in the English imaging literature.