A PROGRESS NOTE ON MISTLETOE CONTROL INVESTIGATIONS

Current silvicultural practice in the pine plantations of the Forests Department of Western Australia, involves a thinning to waste at an early age. This note describes a circular saw mounted in front of a wheel tractor which has proved a most satisfactory implement for this operation.     

Determination of ventricular diameters in multiple sclerosis patients with transcranial sonography (TCS)

Abstract.Context: Brain atrophy is an indicator of diffuse brain pathology that appears even in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques used in clinical trials suggest a correlation between ventricular enlargement and axonal pathology and clinical disability in MS.Objective: To evaluate by transcranial sonography (TCS) and MRI ventricular diameters in order to assess prospectively the development of brain atrophy in MS.Setting: MS outpatient clinic of a university hospital.Patients and Methods: 38 MS patients (27 females, 11 males) were followed up for 2 years. Ventricular diameters (third ventricle, right and left lateral ventricle) were determined by TCS at baseline, 12 and 24 months and correlated with clinical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite Score (MSFC). MRI was performed at study entry and after two years.Main outcome measure: Correlation of ventricular diameters measured by TCS and MRI with assessment of clinical disability in MS patients at baseline and after two years.Results: TCS and MRI measurements especially of third ventricle diameter matched closely at study entry and after two years (r = 0.9; p < 0.0001). At all time points the width of the third ventricle was significantly correlated with clinical disability (EDSS: r = 0.6, p < 0.01; MSFC: r = –0.6, p < 0.02). In the follow-up over 2 years there was an increase of the width of the third ventricle in comparison with study entry (p < 0.002). Increase of third ventricular width at study entry was associated with higher EDSS levels after 2 years (p = 0.01).Conclusion: Assessment of ventricular diameters by TCS is a reliable tool with which to monitor brain atrophy in the longitudinal follow-up of MS patients. Because TCS is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive and generally available bedside-test it may be used in clinical practice as well as in therapeutic trials to assess brain atrophy.(died unexpectedly 05. 08. 2003)     

Low Dietary Protein is Associated with an Increase in Food Intake and a Decrease in the In Vitro Release of Radiolabeled Glutamate and GABA from the Lateral Hypothalamus

Abstract

Moderately low-protein diets lead to a rapid increase in food intake and body fat. The increase in feeding is associated with a decrease in the concentration of serum urea nitrogen, suggesting that the low-protein-induced increase in food intake may be related to the decreased metabolism of nitrogen from amino acids. We hypothesized that low dietary protein would be associated with a decrease in the synaptic release of two nitrogen-containing neurotransmitters, GABA and glutamate, whose nitrogen can be derived from amino acids. In this study, we examined the effects of a low-protein diet (10% casein) in Sprague-Dawley rats on the in vitro release of <PRE>3</PRE>H-GABA and <PRE>14</PRE>C-glutamate from the lateral and medial hypothalamus. The low-protein diet increased food intake by about 25% after one day. After four days, the in vitro release of radiolabeled GABA and glutamate was assessed. The calcium-dependent, potassium-stimulated release of radiolabeled GABA and glutamate from the lateral hypothalamus was decreased in rats fed the low-protein diet. The magnitude of neurotransmitter release from the lateral hypothalamus inversely correlated with food intake. No dietary differences in the release of neurotransmitters from the medial hypothalamus were observed. These results support the contention that alterations in nitrogen metabolism are associated with low-protein-induced feeding.     

The role of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain postlaminectomy

Since the inception of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as a modality for the treatment of chronic pain, the most common indication has been postlaminectomy pain, or failed back syndrome.This article describes our experience using SCS as a method of treatment in 182 patients with postlaminectomy pain in which 53% successful pain relief was obtained over a mean follow-up period of 8.8 ± 4.5 years. We also discuss the experience of other authors as reported in the literature. This paper discusses the surgical technique of SCS, the prognostic factors of SCS, and the anticipated benefits of a new electrode, the transverse tripolar electrode with a dual-channel voltage stimulator, which will be available for use in the near future. The constraints of double-blinded and randomized procedures in this pathophysiology are considered.     

Local application of volatile anesthetics attenuates the response to a mechanical stimulus in humans

PURPOSE: Volatile anesthetics may cause local hyperalgesia and/or analgesia. This double-blind randomized study investigated the effect of these medications when applied locally on the response to a mechanical stimulus. METHODS: In experiment 1, standard commercial preparations of halothane 1 mL, isoflurane 1.5 mL and sevoflurane 2.7 mL were randomly applied on the forearm of 30 volunteers for 30 min, after which the response to a mechanical stimulus was recorded. The other forearm received water as control. The next day, the experiment for each anesthetic was repeated in a reverse fashion. Thirty minutes after the application, the response to a standardized mechanical stimulus was recorded. In experiments 2 and 3, the response to the same mechanical stimulus was tested after local applications of 2, 4, and 6 mL of halothane or after a local application of 5 mL sevoflurane respectively. RESULTS: Low doses of the three anesthetics did not alter the response to the mechanical stimulus (F = 3.055, df = 1,174, P = 0.082). Two, 4, and 6 mL of halothane attenuated the response to the mechanical stimulus by 36%, 27% and 29% respectively (F = 9.586, df = 1,114, P = 0.002). Five millilitres of sevoflurane attenuated the response to the mechanical stimulus by 36% (F = 5.111, df = 19, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Low liquid volumes of volatile anesthetics, when applied locally to the skin, did not influence the response to a mechanical stimulus, but higher volumes attenuated this response.     

Nutritional strategies in the prevention of colorectal cancer

A variety of dietary factors have been implicated as agents that can modulate the development of malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly colorectal cancer. The effects of fat, red meat, fruits, vegetables, and alcohol on colorectal carcinogenesis have been examined extensively and appear to play substantial roles. Although fiber may play a protective role, recent studies raise the question of whether the protection is conveyed by other components in fiber-laden foods. Folate, selenium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have emerged as factors more recently but may be equally important agents in nutritional chemoprevention, whereas the role of antioxidant vitamins is less certain. Until more firm data are available, the dietary recommendations provided by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute are appropriate for use in counseling patients on this issue.