Liver Transplant Recipients Older Than 60 Years Have Lower Survival and Higher Incidence of Malignancy

Older age is not considered a contraindication for liver transplantation, but age-related morbidity may be a cause of mortality. Survival and the incidence of the main post-transplant complications were assessed in 111 adult liver transplant recipients. They were divided in two groups according to their age (patients younger than 60 years, n=54; patients older than 60 years, n=57) and both groups were compared. Older patients were more frequently transplanted for hepatitis C (p= 0.03) and hepatocellular carcinoma (p= 0.05) and their liver disease was less advanced (Child-Pugh and MELD scores were significantly lower; p=0.004 and p=0.05, respectively). After transplantation, older patients had a significantly lower survival (p=0.02). Higher age was independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio for each 10-year increase: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.1- 4.0; p=0.02). The incidence of de novo neoplasia and nonskin neoplasia were higher in older patients (p=0.02 and p =0.007, respectively). Malignancy was the cause of death in one patient younger than 60 years and in 12 patients older than 60 years (p =0.002). In multivariate analysis, a higher age and smoking were independently associated with a higher risk of dying of de novo neoplasia. In conclusion, older liver transplant recipients have a significantly lower survival than younger patients. Malignancy is responsible for this decreased survival.     

Concurrent medical and psychiatric disorders among schizophrenic and neurotic outpatients

The records of two groups of patients (358 schizophrenics and 69 neurotics), attending the community mental health center of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, were reviewed to assess the extent and severity of reported medical problems. Results indicate that 38% of the schizophrenics and 53% of the neurotics report medical problems, but schizophrenics present with serious medical problems more often than do the neurotics. The authors draw attention to the need for properly assessing the severity of these medial problems and for adequately coordinating psychiatric and medical care. Strategies to overcome these difficulties are suggested.     

Academic Achievement of Children with Epilepsy

The academic achievement scores of 122 children with epilepsy were examined in relation to demographic and clinical seizure variables. As a group, these children were making less academic progress than expected for their age and IQ level. Academic deficiencies were greatest in arithmetic, followed by spelling, reading, comprehension, and word recognition. Results of the multiple regression analyses indicated a modest combined predictive significance of the demographic and clinical seizure variables for academic performance. In addition, the magnitude of these relationships varied by academic area. Among the individual variables examined the strongest correlates of academic performance were age of the child, age of seizure onset, lifetime total seizure frequency, and presence of multiple seizures (absence and tonic-clonic). These results are discussed in relation to developing an understanding of the factors which underlie academic vulnerability in children with epilepsy.     

Ketorolac and Enoxaparin Affect Arterial Thrombosis and Bleeding in the Rabbit

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may interfere with hemostasis during the perioperative period, and the combination of NSAID and enoxaparin could increase this effect. The aim of this prospective, blinded experimental study was to assess these effects using a model of arterial thrombosis and bleeding in the rabbit.

Methods: After anesthesia was induced and monitors placed, the common carotid arteries were exposed, and 60% stenosis of the right common carotid artery was produced. Twenty minutes later, a compression injury of the artery was produced that triggered a series of cyclic episodes of thrombosis and clot lysis. This was manifested as cyclic flow reductions (CFR; measured with an electromagnetic flow meter). After the first flow reduction was noted, the rabbits were immediately and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10 each) that received intravenous infusions: control, ketorolac (2 mg/kg), enoxaparin (0.5 mg/kg), and ketorolac plus enoxaparin (2 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively). The number of CFRs that occurred in the subsequent 20-min period was used as a measure of treatment effect. The contralateral common carotid artery was exposed, and both stenosis and injury were produced. The ability of the administered drug to prevent thrombosis was assessed as the number of CFRs that occurred during the first 20-min period after vessel injury. In addition, both before and after group assignment and drug injection, bleeding times were noted and a platelet aggregation test was performed. Laparotomy was followed by a spleen section, and the extent of the wound and the amount of splenic bleeding were measured.

Results: The treatment effect was indicated by the median number of CFRs, which was 5.5 in the control group, 1 in the ketorolac group, 2 in the enoxaparin group, and 0 in the ketorolac + enoxaparin group. The prevention effect was indicated by the median number of CFRs, which was 4 in the control group, 0 in the ketorolac group, 2 in the enoxaparin group, and 0.5 in the ketorolac + enoxaparin group. Bleeding time was significantly lengthened in the enoxaparin and in the ketorolac + enoxaparin groups. Splenic and wound bleeding was greater in the ketorolac group. Platelet aggregation was completely inhibited in the ketorolac and the ketorolac + enoxaparin groups.     

Structure-activity relationship of macrocyclic and linear gadolinium chelates: Investigation of transmetallation effect on the zinc-dependent metallopeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme

Transmetallation between commercially available solutions of gadolinium (Gd) chelates and the zinc (Zn)-dependent angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was investigated. In vitro, the strongest inhibitions were observed for the linear Gd complexes, Gd diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) bis-methylamide (BMA) (IC₅₀ = .016 ± .006 mmol/1) and Gd-DTPA (IC₅₀ = .350 ± .034 mmol/1). The two macrocycles Gd tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and Gd-HP-DO3A were similar and 400 times less active than Gd-DTPA-BMA. These effects were mainly due to the presence of free ligand for DTPA and calcium (Ca) chelate in the case of DTPA-BMA because the addition of Zn²⁺ in the same quantities suppresses their inhibitory effects. In vivo, these two solutions of linear Gd chelates significantly inhibited ACE activity (Gd-DTPA: 67 ± 9% versus baseline; and Gd-DTPA-BMA: 73 ± 2% versus baseline at the clinical dose of .1 mmol/kg), whereas no significant effect was observed for the two macrocyclic chelates Gd-DOTA and Gd-HP-DO3A. Formulating the Gd chelate solution with either an excess of free ligand or Ca chelate (to decrease Gd³⁺ release) in the case of linear Gd chelate may have deleterious biologic consequences.     

Introducing a new cannula: a versatile cannula for use with the machine and with the syringe

Summary A new liposuction cannula which can be used both with the syringe and with the machine has been produced by the author.     

The potential role of lonidamine (LND) in the treatment of malignant glioma

Summary Up-to-date unsatisfactory results obtained in multimodality treatments of malignant glioma have prompted the research of new therapeutic modalities with unconventional modes of action. Lonidamine (LND) is a drug which reduces aerobic glycolytic activity in both human and experimental tumors. This effect mainly depends on the inhibition of mitochondrially-bound hexokinase (HK) which is present in large amounts in malignant cells. A Phase II study was conducted on patients with recurrent glioma; 12 patients were admitted to the study. Clinical side effects were moderate, necessitating a reduction of the dosage in only 1 case. The objective results were evaluated according to the indications of Levin. 2 responders and 3 cases of stable disease were observed out of 10 evaluable patients. The potential value of this new drug is discussed.     

Effect of medication in Parkinson's disease: a wavelet analysis of EMG signals

The improvements in the motor ability in patients with Parkinson's disease due to antiparkinsonian medication is well-known and widely documented. Recent results, based both on kinematic parameters and standard electromyographic (EMG) signal analysis, clearly indicated that the medication reduced, as expected, the clinical signs of Parkinson's disease, but did not restore agonist burst duration modulation with distance in elbow flexion movements. The main aim of the present work is to shed more light on this medication effect using a wavelet analysis approach on multiple EMG signals recorded both on shoulder and elbow muscles in ballistic or rapid movements. The wavelet cross-correlation information allows us to evidence some important quantitative features of the EMG signals due to medication.