Partial segmental thrombosis of corpus cavernosum: case report and review of world literature

Partial segmental priapism is an unusual clinical condition characterized by thrombosis within the proximal corpora cavernosa. Previous management strategies have included open exploration, surgical shunts, corporal injection, irrigation, and oral medication therapy. We report a case of a 37-year-old man treated conservatively with full restoration of erectile function.     

CXCL11 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via inhibition of vascular remodeling

Aberrant vascular remodeling is a central hallmark for the development and progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiologic alterations, however, are poorly understood. A recent phase II trial of interferon gamma-1b has demonstrated a trend toward a decrease in profibrotic and proangiogenic biologic markers, and upregulation of lung CXCL11 mRNA and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma protein levels of CXCL11. We hypothesized that net aberrant vascular remodeling seen during the pathogenesis of fibroplasia and deposition of extracellular matrix during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis can be attenuated by treatment with the angiostatic ELR(-) CXC chemokine, CXCL11. In a preclinical model, systemic administration of CXCL11 reduced pulmonary collagen deposition, procollagen gene expression, and histopathologic fibroplasia and extracellular matrix deposition in the lung of bleomycin-treated mice. CXCL11 treatment significantly reduced bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis without altering specific lung leukocyte populations. CXCR3 is not expressed on fibroblasts and CXCL11 had no direct functional effect on pulmonary fibroblasts. The angiogenic activity in the lung was significantly decreased, however, and CXCL11 treatment reduced the total number of endothelial cells in the lung following bleomycin exposure. The results suggest that CXCL11 inhibits pulmonary fibrosis by altering aberrant vascular remodeling.     

Delay of gratification,locus of control,and eating patterns in obese and nonobese children

Two studies were conducted investigating the behavioral concomitants of childhood obesity. In the first study assessment of the internal-external dimensions of personality style by means of delay of gratification and locus of control tasks yielded no significant effects for obese vs nonobese children. However, the consumption of a snack varied for the two groups. The obese children ate the snack at a faster rate than did the nonobese children. Study 2 was directed at further describing the obese eating style in children over a total of three cafeteria meals. The results of this study again supported a distinctive eating style for the obese children who consumed a greater proportion of the food on their plates and also displayed a greater number of intervals with multiple eating responses. These results are discussed with regard to the social validation of an obese eating style in children and the inclusion of instructions to modify eating style in weight management programs for obese children.     

Elevated false recognition in patients with frontal lobe damage is neither a general nor a unitary phenomenon

This study examined verbal recognition memory in amnesic patients with frontal lesions (AF), nonamnesic patients with frontal lesions (NAF), and amnesic patients with medial temporal lesions (MT). To examine susceptibility to false alarms, the number of studied words drawn from various categories was varied. The AF and MT groups demonstrated reduced hits and increased false alarms. False alarms were especially elevated when item-specific recollection was strongest in control participants. The NAF group performed indistinguishably from control participants, but several patients showed excessive false alarms in the context of normal hit rates. These patients exhibited impaired monitoring and verification processes. The findings demonstrate that elevated false recognition is not characteristic of all frontal patients and may result from more than 1 underlying mechanism.