Comparison of second lumbrical and interosseus latencies with standard measures of median nerve function across the carpal tunnel: a prospective study of 450 hands

The second lumbrical-interosseus distal motor latency (2LI-DML) was compared prospectively in 450 hands. Median nerve function was assessed by standard motor and sensory electrophysiological tests. In a control group of 100 hands the upper limit of normal for the 2LI-DML was 0.5 ms. In all hands studied the correlation coefficients of 2LI-DML were higher with sensory nerve tests than with motor studies. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was diagnosed clinically in 276 hands, and 174 showed no clinical signs of CTS. The 2LI-DML was prolonged in 269 of the 276 hands, with clinical signs of CTS and normal in 170 of 174 non-CTS hands. Thus the 2LI-DML resulted in a sensitivity of 97.5 %. On the other hand, combining the standard tests yielded a sensitivity of 98.5 %. In 31 of 36 additional hands a lumbrical response was recorded, although motor and sensory responses form standard median nerve conduction studies were absent, and the 2LI-DML was substantially prolonged. The 2LI-DML therefore represents a highly sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform, and cost-efficient method to study median nerve function across the wrist and may help to localize the lesion in cases in which standard electrophysiological methods fail. Received: 23 July 1999, Received in revised form: 12 January 2000, Accepted: 8 March 2000     

Immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the CNS that is characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal injury. Although the etiology of MS is still unknown, many findings point toward a central role for the immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the beneficial effects of immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapy on disease activity. Over the past few years, substantial progress has been made in deciphering the immune response in MS. Although animal models have advanced our knowledge of basic mechanisms of immune responses in the CNS, recent studies have also highlighted the differences between MS and its animal equivalent, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. New immunotherapeutic agents have been developed and evaluated in clinical trials. Here, we review current knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of MS and corresponding animal models of disease, and discuss new immunointerventional treatment strategies based on changing pathogenetic concepts.     

Liquid Silicone Rubber Foamed with Thermoplastic Expandable Microspheres

To reduce the material costs as well as the density of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR), LSR foams can be produced in an injection molding process. Expandable thermoplastic microspheres can be used as blowing agents. This publication deals with the analysis of the cell structure of these LSR foams. For this purpose, cylindrical disks are injection molded and examined for their cell structure as a function of different proportions of microspheres using a scanning electron spectroscope. In addition, the density of the samples is determined. It was found that a very homogeneous cell structure is produced in this process, that heat transport has a significant influence on the expansion of the microspheres, and that the formation of a filler network limits the expansion at higher proportions of blowing agent.     

Recent Advances in Detection of Plasmodium ovale: Implications of Separation into the Two Species Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium ovale curtisi

Recent molecular studies indicate that Plasmodium ovale malaria is caused by two closely related species of protozoan parasites, thereby imposing new challenges for detection and species differentiation. This minireview explores the potential value of innovative methods for the molecular diagnosis of malaria with a strong emphasis on the discrimination and genotyping of P. ovale wallikeri and P. ovale curtisi as well as tools for the simultaneous detection of P. ovale sp. An update for the widely used NP-1993 to NP-2005 (SSU rRNA) protocols for all human malaria parasites is discussed.     

Effects of pH on the comparative culturability of fungi and bacteria from acidic and less acidic forest soils

Under aerobic conditions, the culturable microbial population of acidic forest soils was more tolerant to acidic cultivation conditions than was the culturable microbial population of less acidic soils. The number of culturable bacteria decreased sharply under acidic cultivation conditions, while the number of culturable fungi remained relatively constant over the pH range 2.2–6.5. The ratios of culturable bacteria to culturable fungi were greater than one at pH 6.5; in contrast, the bacteria-to-fungi ratios were less than one at pH 2.2–4. At pH's approximating those of the soils examined, culturable fungi predominated the culturable microbial community in acidic soils. However, relative to the populations resolved, acidic forest soils displayed a more acid tolerant bacterial population than did less acidic forest soils. The culturable fungal population contained both filamentous and yeast morphologies. An acid-tolerant fungal isolate that grew at pH 1 was identified as a subspecies of Penicillium frequentans, and an acid-tolerant yeast that grew at pH 2 was identified as the yeast stage of the basidiomycetes Ustilago maydis.     

The organization of intrinsic hippocampal connections in explants of rat hippocampus studied by topical application of HRP crystals

Hippocampal slices were taken from 7-day-old rats and maintained in vitro for 1–3 weeks. The organization of intrahippocampal connections in these explants was studied by placing onto the tissue small crystals of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) soaked with the detergent Nonidet. Antero- and retrograde transport of HRP was visualized by diaminobenzidine. The principal arrangement of intrinsic hippocampal connections closely resembles the in situ situation of the adult rat. The use of HRP crystals provides a fast and convenient tool for the study of connections in brain explants.     

Pattern of myelination and distribution of neuroglial cells along the developing optic system of the rat and rabbit

In order to gather information about the factors influencing myelination and neuroglial cell formation in the central nervous system, the development of myelin and neuroglia was investigated along the length of the optic nerve and tract of rats and rabbits. The results of this study revealed complex developmental patterns for both of these processes. Furthermore, the pattern of myelination for the rat is different from that of the rabbit. Myelination of the rat optic pathway exhibits a general rostro-caudal gradient extending from the eye to the lateral geniculate nucleus, whereas a more homogeneous pattern is present in the rabbit. Myelination along the nerves of both species shows many sharp peaks and trough, especially in the region of the optic canal. Formation of myelin begins at several different sites along the nerve, with the first fibers appearing on both sides of the optic canal. Another small site of myelination develops just in front of the optic chiasm. Myelination of the entire length of an individual axon is not homogeneous but instead it begins at several discrete sites. The number of glial cells along the nerve and tract also fluctuates sharply but their pattern does not precisely parallel that of myelination. A better correlation is obtained by comparing the distribution of axons being myelinated with that of oligodendroglial cells. The complex patterns and the species differences observed in this study indicate that myelination and neuroglial cell development must be regulated by both neuronal and local factors. The data presented here together with other available information suggest that the vascularization of the nerve and the direct effects of hormones upon glial cells are possible factors that contribute to the local variability.     

Cerebral blood flow in preterm infants affected by sex, mechanical ventilation, and intrauterine growth

Sex differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) values have been demonstrated in adults but not in newborns. This study evaluated the influence of sex, intrauterine growth, and need of mechanical ventilation on resting cerebral blood flow in preterm neonates. Sixty-eitht preterm infants with gestational ages of less than 34 weeks and birth weights of less than 1,500 gm were enrolled into the study. Cerebral blood flow was measured by the noninvasive intravenous xenon 133 method 3 times. Measurements were classified into 3 groups: group 1: measurement at 2–36 hours (n = 46); group 2: measurement at 36–108 hours (n = 39); and group 3: measurement at 108–240 hours (n = 41). In all 3 groups, the CBF in girls was significantly lower than in boys (group 1: 11.5 ± 2.8 ml/100 gm/min vs 14.0 ± 4.1 ml/100 gm/min; group 2: 13.4 ± 2.9 ml/100 gm/min vs 16.3 ± 4.3 ml/100 gm/min; group 3: 12.9 ± 3.2 ml/100 gm/min vs 15.3 ± 3.1 ml/100 gm/min). In group 1, the CBF in neonates requiring mechanical ventilation was significantly lower (P < .05) than in patients who were spontaneously breathing (11.5 ± 3.7 ml/100 gm/min vs 14.2 ± 3.1 ml/100 gm/min), and the CBF in neonates who were too small for gestational age was significantly higher (P < .005) than in children with appropriate intrauterine growth (16.1 ± 4.1 ml/100 gm/min vs 11.5 ± 2.6 ml/100 gm/min). It is concluded that in preterm neonates CBF is substantially affected by sex, intrauterine growth retardation, and the need of mechanical ventilation.     

Inhibition of radiation-induced EGFR nuclear import by C225 (Cetuximab) suppresses DNA-PK activity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Inhibition of EGFR-function can induce radiosensitization in tumor cells. Purpose of our investigation was to identify the possible molecular mechanism of radiosensitization following treatment with anti-EGFR-antibody C225 (Cetuximab). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of C225 on radiation response was determined in human cell lines of bronchial carcinoma (A549) and breast adenoma cells (MDA MB 231). The molecular effects of C225 on EGFR-function after irradiation were analyzed applying western blotting, immune-precipitation and kinase assays. Effects on DNA-repair were detected by quantification of gamma-H2AX positive foci 24h after irradiation. RESULTS: The EGFR specific antibody C225 induced radiosensitization in A549 and also in MDA MB 231 cells. Radiosensitization in A549 was associated with blockage of radiation-induced EGFR transport into the nucleus, and immobilized the complex of EGFR with DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) in the cytoplasm. As a consequence radiation-induced DNA-PK activation was abolished, a process that is essential for DNA-repair after radiation exposure. Likewise C225 treatment increased the residual amount of gamma-H2AX-positive foci 24h after irradiation in A549 and in MDA MB 231 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that irradiation induced DNA-PK activation-essential for DNA repair-may be hampered specifically by use of the anti-EGFR-antibody C225. This process is associated with radiosensitization.