Geographic distribution in some latin countries of cancers of the alimentary tract (author's transl)

Geographic distribution in some latin countries of cancers of the alimentary tract. A comparison of alimentary tract cancer incidence rates has been undertaken from the results of 5 latin cancer registries. The most striking features are the high incidence rates for gastric cancers in the provinces of Zaragoza and Piemont, for colorectal cancers in the canton of Geneva, and in the countries of C?te-d'Or and Bas-Rhin. Tumour localization in the large bowel differs significantly between Geneva and the French counties. The canton of Geneva has the highest rate for cancer of the pancreas, French countries for cancer of the oesophagus in males. Sex ratio for primary cancer of the liver differs considerably from one region to another.     

Occurrence of glioblastoma multiforme in three closely related patients

Three cases of glioblastoma multiforme are presented. These cases have in common the fact that all three patients were relatives but not blood relatives. There had been prolonged intimate contact between them before the development of the neoplastic lesion.     

Frontal and parietal electroencephalogram asymmetry in depressed and nondepressed subjects

High vs. low scorers on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were compared on measures of resting EEG activation asymmetry from frontal and parietal brain regions. Depressed subjects showed greater relative right frontal activation compared with nondepressed subjects. Parietal asymmetry did not distinguish between the groups. These data support the hypothesis of right hemisphere hyperactivation in the frontal region of depressed individuals and are consistent with the growing body of literature which suggests that the left and right frontal regions may be differentially specialized for particular positive and negative affects.     

Dark-pigmented Bacteroides species in subgingival plaque of adult patients on a rigorous recall program

This study was designed to examine human subgingival plaque for the presence of dark-pigmented Bacteroides (DPB) species in a large adult population that had been following a rigorous oral hygiene and recall program for 2 years. Subjects received scaling and root planing and oral hygiene instructions at the time of entry and then a prophylaxis and/or oral hygiene instructions at frequent intervals. Clinical measurements were determined and microbial flora identified in subgingival plaque. The DPB species were found in 63% of the subjects and 47% of the total sites. The N-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase-positive DPB species ( B. melaninogenicus, B. denticola or B. loescheii ), B. intermedius, B. gingivalis and strains of unclassified pigmenting Bacteroides were found in 25, 50, 3 and 40% of the subjects, respectively, and at 15, 35, 2 and 25% of the sites, respectively. Plaque and bleeding indices, probing depth and mean proportions of motile rods and spirochetes were higher at sites with DPB as compared to sites without DPB species. Sites with B. intermedius had higher plaque and gingival indices and greater loss of probing attachment than sites with DPB other than B. intermedius . The prevalence of B. intermedius and other DPB species was high even though subjects were on a rigorous oral hygiene and recall program.     

Incompatibility of Hexabrix and papaverine in peripheral arteriography

A case is reported in which a previously patent artery became temporarily occluded during angiography. The authors believe it happened because of incompatibility of the contrast agent ioxaglate (Hexabrix) and papaverine. Extreme caution is recommended whenever a new low-osmolality contrast agent is used in conjunction with a pharmacoangiographic agent.     

The pacemaker current If in single human atrial myocytes and the effect of β-adrenoceptor and A1-adenosine receptor stimulation

1. We used single human atrial myocytes to study I_f occurrence, properties and pharmacological modulation. Cells were obtained by chunk enzymatic digestion from samples of right atrial appendages of patients undergoing corrective cardiac surgery.
2. Patch-clamped cells in the whole-cell configuration were superfused with a modified Tyrode solution to reduce contamination by interfering currents and to amplify I_f. The average cell membrane capacitance was 85.06±2.41 pF (n=531). Data were consistent with the geometrical dimensions of the cells (length 94.2±1.89 μm, width 17.9±0.42 μm, n=126).
3. When hyperpolarizing to −120 mV from a holding potential of −40 mV, 252 of 306 tested cells (82%) expressed a hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I_f density =3.77±0.25 pA pF⁻¹); the current was considered to be present in a given cell if its density at −120 mV was larger than 0.5 pA pF⁻¹.
4. Current activation was sigmoidal and fitted a Boltzmann model; the average activation curve (n=25) showed a maximum current amplitude of 205.97±19.94 pA, corresponding to 3.87±0.63 pA pF⁻¹, voltage of half-maximal activation (V_1/2) at −86.68±2.19 mV and a slope of −11.39±0.69 mV. The reversal potential of I_f measured by tail-current analysis was −13.07±1.92 mV (n=6). The addition of CsCl (5 mM) fully and reversibly blocked the current.
5. In the presence of the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (Iso, 1 μM), V_1/2 was significantly shifted toward less negative potentials by 6.06±1.96 mV (n=16, P=0.0039). The selective A₁-adenosine receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 1 μM) caused a statistically significant shift of V_1/2 toward more negative potentials with respect to the control curve, both in the absence (−7.37±1.83 mV, P=0.0005, n=11) and in the presence of 1 μM Iso (−4.97±1.78, P=0.031, n=6).
6. These results demonstrate that a current with the properties of I_f described in cardiac primary and secondary pacemakers occurs in the majority of human atrial cells. While the pathophysiological relevance of I_f in human atrial tissue remains to be defined, our data clearly show that it is modulated through stimulation of β-adrenoceptors and A₁-adenosine receptors.