Repeated swim stress alters brain benzodiazepine receptors measured in vivo

The effects of repeated swim stress on brain benzodiazepine receptors were examined in the mouse using both an in vivo and in vitro binding method. Specific in vivo binding of [3H]Ro15-1788 to benzodiazepine receptors was decreased in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, midbrain and striatum after repeated swim stress (7 consecutive days of daily swim stress) when compared to nonstressed mice. In vivo benzodiazepine receptor binding was unaltered after repeated swim stress in the cerebellum and pons medulla. The stress-induced reduction in in vivo benzodiazepine receptor binding did not appear to be due to altered cerebral blood flow or to an alteration in benzodiazepine metabolism or biodistribution because there was no difference in [14C]iodoantipyrine distribution or whole brain concentrations of clonazepam after repeated swim stress. Saturation binding experiments revealed a change in both apparent maximal binding capacity and affinity after repeated swim stress. Moreover, a reduction in clonazepam's anticonvulsant potency was also observed after repeated swim stress [an increase in the ED50 dose for protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures], although there was no difference in pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure threshold between the two groups. In contrast to the results obtained in vivo, no change in benzodiazepine receptor binding kinetics was observed using the in vitro binding method. These data suggest that environmental stress can alter the binding parameters of the benzodiazepine receptor and that the in vivo and in vitro binding methods can yield substantially different results.     

Proximal gastrectomy and jejunal pouch interposition: radiographic evaluation of postoperative findings

BACKGROUND: We assessed the postoperative findings of proximal gastrectomy and jejunal pouch interposition with contrast radiography. METHODS: Eleven patients with proximal gastrectomy and jejunal pouch interposition for proximal gastric carcinoma underwent contrast radiography. We evaluated the radiographic findings of the remnant stomach and interposed jejunal pouch. RESULTS: The interposed jejunal pouch showed good expansion, and the motility of the remnant gastric antrum was normal in all patients. One patient had significant lumenal narrowing of the esophageal pouch anastomotic site. Leak at the anastomotic site was not found. Reflux into the esophagus from the pouch was observed in two patients. Gastric emptying time was considerably delayed in two patients. CONCLUSION: Follow-up upper gastrointestinal series of the proximal gastrectomy and jejunal pouch interposition showed different postoperative findings. Awareness of the normal and abnormal findings is essential in the accurate postoperative evaluation of these patients.     

Decreased Serum Epinephrine in Children With Positive Skin Prick Test

Objectives

To evaluate the association between catecholamine levels and skin prick test results among children.

Methods

Two hundred eight first grade children from one elementary school were invited to participate in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) for six allergens (2 house dust mites, cat, dog, mugwort, and pollen mixture) was performed, and patient demographic information was recorded. The parents were surveyed using questionnaires about rhinitis-related symptoms. Finally, venous blood sampling was done to measure catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results

Out of 208 children, 174 (106 boys and 68 girls) enrolled in this study. Ninety-six of the children (55%) had negative SPT (nonsensitization group), while 78 (45%) had a positive SPT to at least one of six allergens (sensitization group). The diagnosis of chronic rhinitis was more prevalent in the sensitization group (35.9%) than nonsensitization group (26.0%), however the finding was not significant (P=0.186). Epinephrine levels were decreased between the sensitization group compared to the nonsensitization group (P=0.004). There was no difference in norepinephrine and dopamine levels (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Epinephrine levels are lower in children with positive SPT compared to controls, however, the level of the catecholamine was not associated with the presence or absence of rhinitis symptoms.     

Spontaneous Tumor Regression in a Syngeneic Rat Model of Liver Cancer: Implications for Survival Studies

PurposeTo characterize tumor growth of N1S1 cells implanted into the liver of Sprague–Dawley rats to determine if this model could be used for survival studies. These results were compared with tumor growth after implantation with McA-RH7777 cells.Materials and MethodsN1S1 or McA-RH7777 cells were implanted into the liver of Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 20 and n = 12, respectively) using ultrasound (US) guidance, and tumor growth was followed by using US. Serum profiles of 19 cytokines were compared in naive versus tumor-bearing rats.ResultsBoth types of tumors were visible on US 1 week after tumor implantation, but the mean tumor volume of N1S1 tumors was larger compared to McA-RH7777 tumors (231 mm³ vs 82.3 mm³, respectively). Tumor volumes in both groups continued to increase, reaching means of 289 mm³ and 160 mm³ in N1S1 and McA-RH7777 groups, respectively, 2 weeks after tumor implantation. By week 3, tumor volumes had decreased considerably, and six tumors (50%) in the McA-RH7777 had spontaneously regressed, versus two (10%) in the N1S1 group. Tumor volumes continued to decrease over the following 3 weeks, and complete tumor regression of all tumors was seen 5 weeks and 6 weeks after tumor implantation in the McA-RH7777 and N1S1 groups, respectively. In an N1S1-implanted rat, multiple cytokines that have been shown to correlate with the ability of the tumor to survive in a hostile environment were increased by as much as 50%, whereas the average increase in cytokine levels was 90%. These findings suggest that the net cytokine environment favors an antitumor immune response. A similar trend was observed in a rat with a McA-RH7777 tumor, and the increase in cytokine levels was considerably more pronounced, with an average increase of 320%.ConclusionsThe model of N1S1 cell implantation in the liver of Sprague–Dawley rats is not ideal for survival studies and should only be used with great caution in short-term studies that involve cancer therapies.     

Adult patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia had no superior treatment outcome to those without t(8;21): a single institution’s experience

Clinical features and treatment outcome of 31 patients over 16 years of age with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were compared with 60 patients without t(8;21). Among 31 patients with t(8;21), 15 patients were classified as AML-M2 and 11 and 5 patients as AML-M4 and M1, respectively. Of these patients, 28 patients (90.3%) achieved complete remission and 22 patients received consolidative treatment: intermediate-dose cytarabine (IDAC) 11, high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) 6, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) 5. When compared with patients without t(8;21), we could not demonstrate better treatment outcome for t(8;21) AML [median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) 10.3 and 12.5 months in AML with t(8;21) vs 11.5 and 15.6 months in AML without t(8;21)]. In the t(8;21) AML group, patients who received HDAC consolidation did not show superior treatment outcome to those who received other consolidative treatment [median EFS: IDAC 11.9 months vs HDAC 9.2 months vs allogeneic BMT 38.1 months (P=NS) and median OS: IDAC 17.8 months vs HDAC 12.0 months vs allogeneic BMT 47.3 months (P=NS)]. Similar treatment outcome between patients with and without t(8;21) and non-superior treatment outcome of HDAC consolidative chemotherapy in the t(8;21) AML group in our study is contradictory to previous reports.These two authors equally contributed to this study: K.-W. Lee and I. S. ChoiSupported by a grant CRI-01-07 from the Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and a grant 05-2001-002 from the S.N.U.H. Research Fund     

First report of Ancylostoma tubaeforme in Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)

Ancylostoma tubaeforme was originally described as a separate species parasitizing the cat. The adults of A. tubaeforme are 7 to 12 mm long. A. tubaeforme can be differentiated from the adults of A. braziliense and A. ceylanicum by the presence of three teeth. Here we describe the first report of A. tubaeforme in a Persian young female leopard, 2–3 years old, with head and trunk length 120 centimeters, length of tail 98 centimeters and body weight 35 kilograms.