Insulinlike growth factor 1 production is inhibited in human sepsis

We studied the response of 14 normal volunteers and five septic patients to a 48-hour course of exogenous biosynthetic human growth hormone (hGH) or placebo. Six normal controls (group 1) received saline, eight normal controls received hGH (group 2), and five septic patients also received biosynthetic hGH (group 3). Urinary urea excretion declined, and splanchnic amino acid uptake was maintained only in group 2 subjects. Septic patients exhibited changes in amino acid and urea dynamics comparable to those of subjects receiving placebo. Insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) production and plasma concentrations increased in group 2 in a fashion corresponding to the changes in nitrogen exchange, whereas septic patients exhibited no change in IGF-1 level. Therefore, in this septic patient group, exogenous hGH was ineffective in attenuating nitrogen losses and stimulating IGF-1 production. This supports the hypothesis that IGF-1 is a mediator of the anabolic effect of hGH.     

Allergy to barium sulfate suspension with angioedema of the stomach and small bowel

Hypersensitivity reactions occurring during barium studies of the gastrointestinal tract are rare. A case is presented with radiographically demonstrated angioedema in the stomach and small bowel accompanied by allergic rhinitis, which was apparently an allergic response to the barium sulfate suspension. The reaction was documented twice during separate challenges to the barium suspension performed several months apart.     

Transfer of specific immunity from donor to recipient of an allogeneic bone marrow graft: evidence for donor origin of the antibody producing cells

A rapid recovery of specific humoral immunity in the recipient of an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) can be observed after immunization of the donor before graft sampling. This has been attributed to transfer of specific immunity from donor to recipient. However, to maintain the concept of transfer the origin of the antibody producing cells in the recipient after BMT must be demonstrated. To this end, donor-recipient pairs with differences in Gm-allotypes were selected and immunized before BMT with the neo-antigen Helix pomatia haemocyanin (HPH) according to three immunization protocols. Additionally, the recipients were immunized at day 42 after BMT. Serum samples were weekly obtained from the recipients in the first 100 d after BMT. The origin of HPH-specific antibody producing cells was assessed by two approaches: (1) determination of the Gm-allotypes of anti-HPH antibodies within a distinct IgG subclass, (2) analysis of anti-HPH antibody spectrotypes by isoelectric focusing combined with immunoblotting. The results obtained with these two approaches show concordance in most instances and led to the conclusion that the antibody producing cells are of donor origin.     

A randomized, prospective trial of postoperative somatostatin analogue in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND. Pancreatic surgery is not uncommonly complicated by prolonged pancreatic drainage and fistula. Octreotide decreases pancreatic exocrine function and has been reported to improve closure of pancreatic and intestinal fistulae. This randomized, prospective trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative octreotide in reducing pancreatic drainage and complications after resection of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. METHODS. Patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas were entered into the study and randomized after operation to receive octreotide 150 micrograms subcutaneously every 8 hours or saline solution subcutaneously every 8 hours in a double-blinded fashion. Daily pancreatic drainage, total drainage, number of days to drain removal, and complications were recorded. RESULTS. Ten patients were given octreotide; eleven patients were given saline solution. The number of days to drain removal, daily drainage, and total drainage were not significantly different. Complications related to pancreatic drainage were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS. Octreotide is not indicated for the routine postoperative management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.     

Parvalbumin neurons in the entorhinal cortex of subjects diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence indicates that the entorhinal cortex (ECx) might be affected in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). To test whether distinct interneuronal subpopulations might be altered, numbers of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PVB-IR) neurons were measured in the ECx of BD and SZ subjects. These neurons play a pivotal role within ECx intrinsic circuits. METHODS: Numbers, numerical density, and soma size of PVB-IR neurons were measured in the ECx of normal control (n = 16), BD (n = 10), and SZ (n = 10) subjects. The volume of the ECx was measured in Nissl-stained sections. RESULTS: In BD, decreases of total numbers (p = .02) and numerical densities (p = .01) of PVB-IR neurons were detected in the ECx. Within distinct subregions, reductions were detected in the superficial layers of the lateral (p = .02), intermediate (p = .04), and caudal (p = .01) ECx. In SZ, total numbers and numerical densities were not altered. A reduction of soma size was present in the intermediate ECx (p = .01). Volume was unaffected in either disorder. CONCLUSIONS: In BD, a decrease of PVB-IR neurons may alter intrinsic inhibitory networks within the superficial layers of the ECx. The likely consequence is a disruption of integration and transfer of information from the cerebral cortex to the hippocampus.     

The Sigma-trial protocol: a prospective double-blind multi-centre comparison of laparoscopic versus open elective sigmoid resection in patients with symptomatic diverticulitis

Backround  

Diverticulosis is a common disease in the western society with an incidence of 33–66%. 10–25% of these patients will develop diverticulitis. In order to prevent a high-risk acute operation it is advised to perform elective sigmoid resection after two episodes of diverticulitis in the elderly patient or after one episode in the younger (< 50 years) patient. Open sigmoid resection is still the gold standard, but laparoscopic colon resections seem to have certain advantages over open procedures. On the other hand, a double blind investigation has never been performed. The Sigma-trial is designed to evaluate the presumed advantages of laparoscopic over open sigmoid resections in patients with symptomatic diverticulitis.     

SPIO标记间充质干细胞3TMR成像

目的：探讨小容积动物线圈3.0T临床磁共振扫描仪体外示踪磁标记间充质干细胞的可行性。方法：用GFP转染法将含有不同剂量铁（56ug／ml和560ug／m1）的超顺磁氧化铁（SPIO）标记间充质干细胞。细胞内铁的含量利用原子吸收谱来测量。磁共振扫描和显微镜可以观察培养试管中的磁标记间充质干细胞。     

Retinal degeneration associated with RDH12 mutations results from decreased 11-cis retinal synthesis due to disruption of the visual cycle

Human Molecular Genetics     

Cognitive deficits in progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple system atrophy in tests sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction.

Groups of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy or Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, matched for overall clinical disability, were compared using three computerised cognitive tests previously shown to be sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction. On a test of planning based on the Tower of London task, all three groups were impaired, but in different ways. The groups with palsy and Parkinson's disease were slower in the measure of initial thinking time, whereas the group with multiple system atrophy was only slower in a measure of thinking time subsequent to the first move, resembling patients with frontal lobe damage. On a test of spatial working memory, each group showed deficits relative to their matched control groups, but the three groups differed in their strategy for dealing with this task. On a test of attentional set shifting, each group was again impaired, mainly at the extradimensional shifting stage, but the group with Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome exhibited the greatest deficit. The results are compared with previous findings in patients with Alzheimer's disease or frontal lobe damage. It is concluded that these basal ganglia disorders share a distinctive pattern of cognitive deficits on tests of frontal lobe dysfunction, but there are differences in the exact nature of the impairments, in comparison not only with frontal lobe damage but also with one another.