Simultaneous dacryocystography and dacryoscintigraphy using SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Epiphora, an abnormal overflow of tears, is commonly caused by tear drainage system anomalies including nasolacrimal duct obstruction. To assess morphologic abnormalities, dacryocystography by CT is used when CT contrast material is syringed into the lacrimal drainage system. To evaluate the function of the system, dacryoscintigraphy is the most readily available noninvasive method. In the case presented, a 43-year-old man was referred to our clinic with an 8 months' history of indefinite left side epiphora. After performing dacryoscintigraphy, we acquired SPECT/CT images during dacryocystography by CT to establish the surgical indication.     

Study of lipid profile and parieto-temporal lipid peroxidation in AlCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> mediated neurotoxicity. modulatory effect of fenugreek seeds

Background  

Peroxidation of lipid (LPO) membrane and cholesterol metabolism have been involved in the physiopathology of many diseases of aging brain. Therefore, this prospective animal study was carried firstly to find out the correlation between LPO in posterior brain and plasmatic cholesterol along with lipoprotein levels after chronic intoxication by aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). Chronic aluminum-induced neurotoxicity has been in fact related to enhanced brain lipid peroxidation together with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, despite its controversial etiological role in neurodegenerative diseases. Secondly an evaluation of the effectiveness of fenugreek seeds in alleviating the engendered toxicity through these biochemical parameters was made.     

Autoimmune pancreatitis mimicking cancer of the head of pancreas: report of two cases

Autoimmune pancreatitis has been characterised in 1995, but only a few cases have been published since then, most of them from Japan. This report describes the cases of two Belgian male patients who presented with isolated obstructive jaundice. Radiological imaging studies were highly suggestive of carcinoma of the head of pancreas and both patients underwent uneventful cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection. Pathological analysis of the removed tissues suggested an autoimmune process in both cases. Both patients had hyper-gammaglobulinemia and antinuclear antibodies, but failed to show evidence of any other autoimmune disease or cause of chronic pancreatitis. In both cases final diagnosis was autoimmune pancreatitis. Preoperative clinical suspicion of this diagnosis is mandatory and may avoid unnecessary surgery in future cases.     

Marked Differences of Haplotype Tagging SNP Distribution,Linkage, and Haplotype Profile of APOA5 Gene in Roma Population Samples

Roma people are underprivileged, neglected population worldwide, with severe healthcare problems. They have significantly increased prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity, presumably related to their poor social status, alcohol consumption and smoking habits. Assuming that genetic background also plays a role in their susceptibility for cardiovascular diseases, we hypothesized that APOA5 gene polymorphisms, an important role-player in lipid metabolism and in the development of metabolic syndrome and cardio/cerebrovascular events, may also be involved. We examined four APOA5 polymorphisms in 363 Roma and 404 Hungarian DNA samples. For rs662799, rs2266788, rs207560 and rs3135506 we found elevated plasma triglyceride levels in the risk allele carriers compared to non-carriers in both populations. At least a two-fold significant increase was detected in minor allele frequencies in Roma when compared to Hungarians, except the rs2266788 variant. Haplotype analysis revealed significant increase of APOA5*2, APOA5*4 in Roma, as opposed to the higher levels of APOA5*5 found in Hungarians. Different linkage disequilibrium was found between rs207560 and rs3135506 variants in Roma compared to Hungarians. The profound differences observed in almost all APOA5 polymorphisms in Roma require special attention, since these variants are known to associate with cardio/cerebrovascular susceptibility.     

Analysis of the function of GABA(B) receptors on inhibitory afferent neurons of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex of the rat

Purkinje cells, the output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, receive inhibitory input from basket, stellate and neighbouring Purkinje cells. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of GABAB receptors on neurons giving inhibitory input to Purkinje cells. In sagittal slices prepared from the cerebellar vermis of the rat, the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen lowered the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) recorded in Purkinje cells. These effects were prevented by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845. Two mechanisms were involved in the depression of the inhibitory input to Purkinje cells. The first mechanism was suppression of the firing of basket, stellate and Purkinje cells. The second mechanism was presynaptic inhibition of GABA release from terminals of the afferent axons. This was indicated by the finding that baclofen decreased the amplitude of IPSCs occurring in Purkinje cells synchronously with action potentials recorded in basket cells. A further support for the presynaptic inhibition is the observation that baclofen decreased the amplitude of autoreceptor currents which are due to activation of GABAA autoreceptors at axon terminals of basket cells by synaptically released GABA. The presynaptic inhibition was partly due to direct inhibition of the vesicular release mechanism, because baclofen lowered the frequency of miniature IPSCs recorded in Purkinje cells in the presence of cadmium and in the presence of tetrodotoxin plus ionomycin. The results show that activation of GABAB receptors decreased GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic input to cerebellar Purkinje cells both by lowering the firing rate of the inhibitory input neurons and by inhibiting GABA release from their axon terminals with a presynaptic mechanism.     

Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of myomatous uteri: the influence of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use.

AIMS: To detect aromatase expression in the endometrium of myomatous uteri and to correlate it with the location of the myoma, phase of the menstrual cycle, the presence of menorrhagia and oral contraceptive use. METHOD: Aromatase p450 expression was measured using immunohistochemical methods in the endometrium of 116 patients. Sixty-one patients had menorrhagia associated with intramural/submucous myomas and nine had subserous myomas and no excessive bleeding. Forty-six patients had no uterine pathology and served as controls. Nineteen out of 61 patients with menorrhagia were oral contraceptive users at the time of the examination. Endometrial samples were obtained by hysteroscopy in all cases. RESULTS: Aromatase p450 expression was detected more frequently in the eutopic endometrium of patients with submucous or intramural myomas than in those in the subserous group, and was significantly greater during the proliferative phase than during the luteal phase or following the use of oral contraceptives. In normal uteri, aromatase expression was detected in the endometrium in less than 10% of users. CONCLUSIONS: Aromatase expression in the endometrium was affected by the location of the myoma, the presence of symptoms, and the phase of the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives, on the other hand, inhibited aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of patients with submucous/intramural myomas.     

Silicon surface states and subsurface hydrogen

The n-Si|fluoride electrolyte interface exhibits a small interface-state density, as shown by the presence of a weak capacitance peak in the capacitance–potential curves. After in situ chemical dissolution of an anodically formed oxide, a quasi ideal interface with a very low interface-state density was obtained. At open-circuit potential, a slow increase in the interface-state density was observed. These interface states result from the penetration of hydrogen into the silicon subsurface region. The inward diffusion of hydrogen produced by electrochemical etching of silicon accounts for the large time constant observed.