The hepatotropic properties of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents

The hepatotropic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as indomethacin, voltaren, piroxicam, phenylbutazon, mefenamic acid was studied. It was found that according to their level of the pharmacological protection of the liver against tetrachlormethan these agents may be arranged in the following sequence: mefenamic acid, phenylbutazon, voltaren, piroxicam. The hepatoprotective effect of NSAID correlates with the antioxidant properties and fails to correlate with the antioxidant ones. The hepatotoxic effect of NSAID was determined by their ability to suppress synthesis of prostaglandins.     

Evidence for dual modulation of pepsinogen secretion using isoproterenol, carbachol, CCK-8, forskolin, 8 bromo-cAMP, and A23187 probes

The cellular mechanisms by which pepsinogen (PNG) secretion is controlled are not understood. The aim of this study was to explore whether modulation of PNG secretion is mediated by cAMP or calcium-calmodulin (C-C). PNG secretion in isolated rabbit gastric fundic glands (IGG) was tested, using agents believed to act via cAMP or C-C. IGG were stimulated for 30 minutes with histamine (H) 10(-5) M, isoproterenol (I) 10(-5) M, carbachol (C) 10(-5) M, cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) 10(-7) M, forskolin (F) 10(-5) M, 8 bromo-cAMP (8B) 10(-3) M, and A23187 (A) 10(-6) M. PNG levels were determined by spectrophotometric assay of hemoglobin digestion products. PNG amounts secreted were (mean per cent above basal levels of total IGG PNG units +/- SEM): H, -0.02 +/- 0.30%; I, 3.5 +/- 0.9%; C, 5.1 +/- 2.2%; CCK-8, 5.3 +/- 1.5%; F, 10.6 +/- 3.8%; 8B, 13.8 +/- 4.5%; A, 2.1 +/- 1.1%. All secretagogues except H stimulated PNG release significantly above basal levels (p less than 0.05). A primary histaminergic mechanism for pepsinogen secretion is unlikely. Since two other adenylate cyclase activators, isoproterenol and forskolin and the 3':5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate analog 8-bromo cAMP stimulated pepsinogen secretion, cAMP-dependence is probable. Since carbachol, CCK-8, and A23187, which are believed to act via calcium-calmodulin, also stimulated pepsinogen secretion, this system, too, presumably plays a substantial role. Thus the data support a dual 3':5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate/calcium-calmodulin modulation of pepsinogen secretion.     

Laminar organization of the main olfactory bulb of Podarcis hispanica: an electron microscopic and Golgi study

In this study, the lamination pattern of the main olfactory bulb (MOB) of P. hispanica has been described using EM and Golgi-impregnation techniques. Six layers could be distinguished from the external surface to the ventricles: olfactory nerve layer (ONL), glomerular layer (GL), external plexiform layer (EPL), mitral layer (ML), internal plexiform layer (IPL), and granular cell layer (GCL). In ONL unmyelinated axonic bundles from the olfactory mucosa are seen. The GL is defined by the presence of terminal ramifications of the mitral primary dendrites and by axonic terminals of the olfactory nerve. The EPL is a dendritic articulation layer between the mitral and granule cells, where a great density of dendrodendritic synaptic contacts has been found. The ML is defined by the large mitral cell somata, and the IPL by myelinated axonic bundles that run rostro-caudally. Finally, the GCL is characterized by the presence of granule cells. Using the Golgi-impregnation method, five different neuronal types have been described. In the glomerular layer, a small cell population is located; these neurons seem the periglomerular cells described in mammals. The second type corresponds to the mitral cell population and the morphological features of these cells resemble to those of mammals. The three remaining types constitute the granule cell population; this population is characterized by a great morphological heterogeneousness. However, these types have been differentiated according to their dendritic tree morphology and location of the cell body. A morphological gradient depending on the distance of cell body for each type to the ependymal layer, has been observed. In EM, four different types of neuronal cell bodies according to their location and ultrastructure have been defined. The laminar organization of the MOB of Podarcis is similar to that in all vertebrates. The results for the fine structure and dendritic tree morphology have revealed a high similarity between these reptiles and mammals.     

Spiral coils for arterial occlusion

Roentgen endovascular occlusion with spiral emboli was used in 240 patients with different diseases. The introduction of spiral emboli into the arteries of abdominal and retroperitoneal organs was fulfilled through usual angiographic catheters. Duration of the arterial occlusion was checked up in the following angiographic examinations and showed the devices described to be appropriate for a continuous arterial blockade. No complications resulting from the introduction of the spiral embolus were noted.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance proton imaging of bone pathology

Thirty-two patients with diversified pathology were examined with a supraconductive NMR imager using spin echo with different TR and TE to obtain T1 and T2 weighted images. They included 20 tumors (12 primary, eight metastasis), six osteomyelitis, three fractures, two osteonecrosis, and one diffuse metabolic (Gaucher) disease. In all cases except for the stress fractures, the bone pathology was clearly visualized in spite of the normal lack of signal from the compact cortical bone. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging proved to be at least as sensitive as radionuclide scintigraphy but much more accurate than all other imaging procedures including computed tomography (CT) and angiography to assess the extension of the lesions, especially in tumors extended to soft tissue. This is due both to easy acquisition of sagittal and coronal sections and to different patterns of pathologic modifications of T1 and T2 which are beginning to be defined. It is hoped that more experience in clinical use of these patterns will help to discriminate between tumor extension and soft-tissue edema. We conclude that while radionuclide scintigraphy will probably remain the most sensitive and easy to perform screening test for bone pathology, NMR imaging, among noninvasive diagnostic procedures, appears to be at least as specific as CT. In addition, where the extension of the lesions is concerned, NMR imaging is much more informative than CT. In pathology of the spine, the easy visualization of the spinal cord should decrease the need for myelography.     

Pr?senile Demenz bei polyzystischer lipomembran?ser Osteodysplasie

Wir berichten über den ersten Fall von polyzystischer lipomembran?ser Osteodysplasie oder “brain, bone and fat disease” in Deutschland. Die nach dem Erstbeschreibern auch als Morbus J?rvi-Hakola-Nasu bezeichnete Erkrankung ist bisher vor allem in Japan und in Finnland beschrieben worden. Einzelne F?lle wurden aus Schweden, Norwegen, Italien, Südafrika, Belgien und den USA berichtet. Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist bisher ein Fall aus ? ver?ffentlicht worden.     

Quality of life and standard of living in a randomly selected group of psychiatrically disabled people in Sweden 2 years after a psychiatry reform.

In Sweden, a psychiatry reform, aimed at improving the living conditions of the psychiatrically disabled, came into force in 1995. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the reform by investigating quality of life and standard of living 2 years later in a randomly selected group of people with longstanding psychiatric disability. Self-ratings and interviews were conducted in a study group and a control group. The study group consisted of 19 women and 18 men (mean age 46.1 years) diagnosed with neurosis, schizophrenia or affective disorder. The control group consisted of 19 women and 17 men (mean age 48.7 years). Self-rated quality of life was significantly poorer in the study group (P < 0.0001, unpaired t-test), and so was housing (P < 0.001, test of similar proportions in independent samples). We found no significant positive correlation between subjective quality of life and standard of living in either group but a significant negative correlation in the control group (P < 0.05; r = 0.40, Pearson correlation coefficient). The results suggest that, in 1997, people with longstanding psychiatric disability still had poorer quality of life than the general population. This may be due to factors other than outward standard of living.