Regulation of in vivo IgE biosynthesis in mice with complete Freund's adjuvant

Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) administered before sensitization dampened the normal and cyclophosphamide-enhanced response of high and moderate IgE responder phenotype mice (CAF1 and C57B1/6J, respectively). CFA-induced suppression of IgE biosynthesis was effective in reducing anaphylactic histamine release from approximately 2,900 ng histamine per milliliter to background levels (less than 100 ng/ml). CFA-induced ascites fluid was able to reduce the cyclophosphamide-enhanced IgE response of low-responder phenotype SJL mice from 1:320 to less than 1:5 as determined by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Muramyl dipeptide, a mycobacterial cell wall component capable of eliciting effects similar to those seen with CFA, was shown to induce suppression of IgE production if incorporated in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Muramyl dipeptide administered in saline was ineffective, while incomplete Freund's adjuvant alone had some immunoregulatory properties. Ongoing IgE responses were less susceptible to regulation. CFA administered to sensitized C57B1/6J mice was ineffective in inducing IgE suppression when animals were challenged with antigen.     

Topographic analysis of Horner's syndrome

Horner's syndrome or oculosympathetic paralysis is not an uncommon finding in patients with head and neck neoplasms. While in most cases the syndrome is easily established at the bedside, it can be confirmed and topographically defined as a central, preganglionic, or postganglionic lesion through sequential pharmacologic testing. The importance of such localization lies in differentiating neoplasia vs. a benign condition as the cause of the syndrome. Such variants as congenital Horner's, an alternating Horner's, and a pseudo-Horner's syndrome are discussed in regard to their differential features.     

Concomitants of excess coronary deaths--major risk factor and lifestyle findings from 10,359 men and women in the Scottish Heart Health Study

The Scottish Heart Health Study is a study of lifestyle and coronary heart disease risk factors in 10,359 men and women aged 40-59 years, in 22 districts of Scotland. The study was conducted during 1984-86, when Scotland had the highest national coronary heart disease mortality reported by the World Health Organisation. A self-completed questionnaire, complemented by a 40 minute visit to a survey clinic, staffed by nurses, enabled the classical major risk factors and some more newly described ones to be measured. The study emphasised quality control and representativeness, and incorporated a World Health Organisation protocol for measurement of key items to allow comparisons in place and time, and therefore also to provide a definitive baseline against which interventions can be assessed. This paper describes the overall findings. Current cigarette smokers constitute 39% of men and 38% of women, higher levels than those reported in England but lower than previous Scottish reports. Mean blood pressure levels were 134/84 mmHg for men and 131/81 mmHg in women, lower than in British studies of the 1960s and 1970s. Mean body mass index levels, 26.1 Kg/m2 in men and 25.7 Kg/m2 in women, were not high by international standards. However, mean serum cholesterol levels were 6.4 mmol/l in men and 6.6 mmol/l in women--as high as those in previous British studies and high by international standards. Levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-fasting triglycerides and fibrinogen are also reported. Physical activity both at work and in leisure time was low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus. A disease primarily of white men with Barrett's esophagus

Sex and racial predilection, social history, and histology were analyzed in a biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus/esophagogastric junction collected over a 5-year period in two teaching institutions with different patient populations. Adenocarcinoma occurred in 11% of patients with biopsy-proven esophageal cancer. The disease occurred only in males at one center, and in a 7:1 ratio of males to females at the other center. Clear racial predilection was seen, since 12 of 13 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus were white, whereas less than 20% of patients with squamous carcinoma of the esophagus were white. The finding of Barrett's epithelium in eight of the 13 cases strongly supports the theory that in white males, Barrett's epithelium is a precursor lesion of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus/esophagogastric junction.     

SURGERY OF PERIURETERIC OBSTRUCTION IN 101 CHILDREN OVER ONE YEAR OF AGE

One hundred and one children over 1 year of age have had surgery for pelviureteric obstruction over an 11 year period. The common clinical features were abdominal pain, urinary infection or haematuria, but number presented as an incidental finding. Less commonly, the patients presented with an abdominal mass or with hypertension. The diagnosis was usually made on intravenous pyelography (IVP) but in the latter part of the series, renal nuclide scan (RNS) and ultrasonography (US) were preferred. Ninety–three patients had unilateral pyeloplasty, three had bilateral pyeloplasty and five had nephrectomy or heminephrectomy. Whereas initially nephrostomy drainage was used in the majority of patients after pyeloplasty, trend away from nephrostomy evolved in the latter part of the series. With experience, the incidence of postoperative complications was also reduced and there was reduction in the period of hospitalization. Clinical results were consistently satisfactory. Postoperative assessment after pyeloplasty was made by IVP and/or RNS and also US. A review of these investigations showed that RNS provided more factual information of the result when compared with the IVP.     

Intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute limb ischemia: a three-year experience

Peripheral arterial thromboembolism and thrombosis of arterial grafts continue to threaten viability of extremities. Percutaneous intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) and angiodilatation have afforded limb salvage in some of these patients. Proper patient selection appears to be the hallmark of success with IAT. During a recent three-year period, we used IAT in 32 extremities in 28 patients who had acute arterial insufficiency. Before IAT, 16 extremities were painful at rest, and 16 had incapacitating claudication. The overall success rate was 38%, but some degree of thrombolysis occurred in 88%. Limb salvage was achieved in 27 of 32 extremities (84%). Only five of 17 limbs (29%) with arterial graft thrombosis required no operation or an operation of lesser magnitude than predicted before IAT. Of six extremities with native arterial embolism, four (67%) were completely cleared with IAT. Major complications occurred in eight cases (25%), with two IAT-related deaths (6%). This study suggests that IAT is best reserved for individuals with acute limb ischemia caused by arterial embolus, those whose degree of ischemia would tolerate a 24-hour trial of IAT, and those whose femoral or tibial runoff is not likely to require remedial operation.     

Peri-ventricular grey stimulation versus motor cortex stimulation for post stroke neuropathic pain.

Central post stroke pain is often difficult to manage satisfactorily with conventional treatment modalities for pain. In the last decade functional neurosurgery has offered hope with motor cortex stimulation achieving significant alleviation of pain in some patients. Unfortunately this has led to the neglect of chronic stimulation of deep grey matter as another modality of treating this condition. In this article we present our experience with motor cortex stimulation and that with deep grey matter stimulation in patients with post stroke pain. We argue that both modalities have a significant role and that what is required are better methods of identifying particular patients who are more likely to respond to one or the other.     

Cyclodextrin formulation of dorzolamide and its distribution in the eye after topical administration.

Due to limited aqueous solubility of dorzolamide at physiologic pH, the pH of Trusopt eye drops (cont. 2% dorzolamide) has to be kept at about 5.65, and to increase the topical bioavailability of the drug from Trusopt the contact time of the drug with the eye surface is increased by increasing the viscosity of the eye drops to 100 cps. This low pH and high viscosity can lead to local irritation. In this study, dorzolamide hydrochloride was formulated as 2% and 4% low viscosity solutions (viscosity 3 to 5 cps) containing randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin at pH 7.45. These formulations were evaluated in rabbits. The animals were sacrificed at various time points after topical administration of the drug and the dorzolamide concentration determined in the different parts of the eye. Trusopt was used as a reference standard. The topical availability of dorzolamide from the cyclodextrin-containing eye drops appeared to be comparable to that from Trusopt and the drug reached retina and optic nerve to give measurable concentrations for at least 8 h after administration of the eye drops.