Ionotropic glutamate receptors regulating labeled acetylcholine release from rat striatal tissue in vitro: possible involvement of receptor modulation in magnesium sensitivity

This study evaluated the role of glutamate ionotropic receptors on the control of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) release by the intrinsic striatal cholinergic cells. [3H]-choline previously taken up by chopped striatal tissue and converted to [3H]ACh, was released under stimulation by glutamate, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), kainate and a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA). Experiments were conducted in the absence of choline uptake inhibitors or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. A paradigm of two stimulations was employed, the first in control conditions and the second after 9 min of perfusion with the test agents MK-801, 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), tetrodotoxin (TTX), 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo-[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (NBQX), glycine and magnesium. Our results support that (1) in the absence of Mg2+, NMDA is the most effective agonist to stimulate [3H]ACh release from striatal slices (2) magnesium effectively antagonized kainate and AMPA stimulation suggesting that at least part of the kainate and AMPA effects might be attributed to glutamate release (3) besides NMDA, kainate receptors showed a more direct involvement in [3H]ACh release control based on the smaller dependence on Mg2+ and less inhibition by TTX and (4) stimulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors may induce long lasting biochemical changes in receptor/ion channel function since the effects of TTX and/or Mg2+ ions on [3H]ACh release were modified by previous exposure of the tissue to agonists.     

Should patients with a pre-operative prostatespecific antigen greater than 15ng/ml be offered radical prostatectomy?

Background Patients with prostate cancer with a pre-operative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) τ;15ng/ml who undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) generally do not have a good outcome, yet may have organ-confined cancer and should be offered the option of surgery. Aim To assess the outcome of patients who underwent RRP with a pre-operative PSA ≥ 15ng/ml. Methods Thirty-four patients, mean pre-operative PSA: 25.46ng/ml (15.03–76.6) and mean Gleason score: 6.4 (5–9) were assessed. Results Two groups were identified. Group I: 41% (14/34) have no biochemical recurrence to mean follow up of 58 months (30–106). Mean PSA: 18.8ng/ml (15.03–25.84). Mean Gleason score: 6.1 (5–7). Clinical stage: T1c in 80%. No patient had seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement. Group II: 59% (20/34) have biochemical recurrence or died (3) from their disease to mean follow up of 66 months (36–98). Mean PSA: 28.9ng/ml (15.28–76.6). Mean Gleason score: 6.7 (5–9). Clinical stage: T1c in 25%. Eleven patients had seminal vesicle (8) involvement or positive lymph nodes (3) or both (2). Conclusion RRP seems feasible in patients whose pre-operative PSA is between 15 and 25ng/ml with stage T1c, Gleason score ≤ 7 and negative lymph node frozen section.     

Duodenal somatostatinomas associated with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. Apropos of 2 cases

Somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors; they are essentially located in the pancreas and in the duodenum. The association with a neurofibromatosis type I is especially observed when the tumor is located in the ampulla of Vater. These tumors are not associated with a "somatostatin syndrome", but often present with gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. The diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemical studies. The aim of this study is to report 2 cases of metastazing duodenal periampullary somatostatinomas associated with von Recklinghausen's disease and to discuss the prognosis of these tumors. Future genetic research are necessary as point out the familial feature of this association in one of our cases.     

高效液相色谱法测定寒痹停片中士的宁含量

目的：建立用ＨＰＬＣ测定寒痹停片中士的含量的方法。方法：氰基柱;流动相－甲醇－水－三乙胺－乙酸（９８００：１５５：１５：３０）;紫外检测波长２５４ｎｍ。结果：在４～２０ｕｇ／ｍｌ范围内,标准曲线回归方程为：Ｙ＝－２８０３＋８９６７ｘ（ｒ＝０．９９９７）,ＲＳＤ＝１．６５％?加样回收率的平均值为９９．８２％。结论：实验表明,这是一个适用于生产控制和产品质量检验的简单、快速、准确的方法。     

Chondrodysplasia punctata after warfarin in early pregnancy. Case report and summary of the literature

A third case of chondrodysplasia punctata after exposure to warfarin alone in early pregnancy is described. The clinical course of the child during the first 18 months is outlined. The use of warfarin in early pregnancy must be avoided because of its established teratogenic effects in causing this syndrome, in addition to an overall increase in perinatal mortality.     

Effects of chronic haloperidol on stress-induced oral behaviour in rats

Rats received daily injections of haloperidol (HAL, 5 mg/kg SC, or IP) or tartaric acid vehicle for 14–21 days. Four to six days after discontinuation of the daily injections, rats were given a single 5-min tail pinch (TP) test. HAL-treated rats showed significantly shorter latencies to display oral behaviours (OB: licking, gnawing, or drinking) compared to controls in five separate replications. Food consumption per se was not consistently affected. Shorter OB latencies were significantly corrlated both with increased striatal ³H-spiperone binding and with apomorphine stereotypy scores. In a final eperiment, this effect of HAL on OB latencies was blocked by a systemic injection of naloxone (2 mg/kg IP) prior to the TP test. Naloxone did not affect OB latency in control rats, suggesting the possibility of endogenous opiate involvement in the chronic HAL effects. The overall results suggest that OB latencies following mildly activating stimulation may provide a useful behavioural assay for neuroleptic-induced oral abnormalities as well as a functional index of striatal dopamine D-2 receptor sensitivity.     

Caudal-posteroanterior view in coronary arteriography

Posteroanterior (PA) and caudally angulated PA views were obtained in 20 patients undergoing routine coronary arteriography. Although the left main coronary artery (LMCA) was seen well on both views in all patients, the PA-caudal view improved depiction of the LMCA bifurcation in 15 (75%). In addition, the PA-caudal view markedly improved depiction of the circumflex artery, affording optimal depiction of this artery and its branches in 78%-89% of patients. Neither the PA nor the PA-caudal view allowed adequate depiction of the left anterior descending artery. Thus, the PA-caudal view should supplant the PA view in routine coronary arteriography.