The Role of Abstinence in the Genesis of Alcoholic Epilepsy

• 1 Ce travail concerne l'observation clinique de 241 sujets alcooliques preAsentant des crises convulsives. Trois groupes de patients ont pu eCtre distingueAes dont le plus important comporte 90% des sujets examineAs.
• 2 Dans le groupe le plus important, les crises, de type grand mal, apparaissent aG l'aCge adulte et surviennent de facLon isoleAe ou reApeAteAes en breGves seAries lors du sevrage alcoolique apreGs une peAriode d'intoxication chronique. L'E.E.G. est normal sauf dans la peAriode immeAdiatement post-critique. Des eApisodes de delirium tremens surviennent dans 1/3 des cas, toujours apreGs la fin des crises.
• 3 La moitieA environ des sujets de ce premier groupe montre une sensibiliteA anormale aG la stimulation lumineuse qui est en relation chronologique preAcise avec les crises par rapport au sevrage alcoolique et aux eApisodes de delirium.
• 4 Deux groupes plus reAduits ont eAteA isoleAs. L'un comprend 7 patients souffrant d'une eApilepsie idiopathique, qui sont devenus alcooliques apreGs le deAbut de leurs crises. L'autre comprend 21 patients alcooliques ayant preAalablement subi un traumatisme cranien; il est caracteAriseA par une grande proportion de crises focales et d'anomalies E.E.G. Dans ces deux derniers groupes les crises surviennent sous l'effet ou en dehors de l'effet de l'alcool, mais plus particulieGrement dans la premieGre condition.
• 5 En ce qui concerne l'E.E.G. aux diffeArentes eAtapes de l'intoxication alcoolique, il est normal chez les alcooliques qui preAsentent des crises eApileptiques, sauf de facLon treGs transitoire, dans les peAriodes de sevrage apreGs un abus, il est au contraire anormal chez les eApileptiques aG crises renforceAes par l'alcool. Ces constatations E.E.G. confirment l'impression clinique que l'eApilepsie alcoolique est engendreAe par l'alcool lui-meCme et infirment la notion suivant laquelle l'alcool ne ferait que preAcipiter les crises eApileptiques chez des sujets qui preAsentent des crises ou sont “constitutionnellement” preAdisposeAs aux convulsions.
• 6 Le facteur le plus important dans la geneGse de l'eApilepsie alcoolique semble eCtre le sevrage de l'alcool apreGs une peAriode d'abus chronique. Ce facteur joue un roCle eAvident dans la forme habituelle de l'eApilepsie alcoolique, mais il est aussi preAsent dans les cas d'eApilepsie idiopathique ou post-traumatique favoriseAs par l'alcool. Le meAcanisme responsable des manifestations du sevrage alcoolique est encore inconnu de facLon preAcise.

     

The Measurement of Folic Acid Activity in Serum: A Diagnostic Aid in the Differentiation of the Megaloblastic Anemias

A modified L. casei microbiologic assay for the "folic acid" content of fastingserum appears to reflect the presence or absence of folic acid deficiency inpatients with megaloblastic anemia of various causes.

Advantages of this assay method for fasting serum "folic acid" level overother procedures presently in use for evaluating possible folic acid deficiencyare discussed.

Submitted on May 25, 1959 Accepted on July 11, 1959     

Serial Lead Impedance Measurements Confirm Fixation of Helical Screw Electrodes During Pacemaker Implantation

The purpose of this study was to determine whether serial measurements of helical screw pacemaker lead impedance could reliably confirm electrode fixation in the right atrium and right ventricle. Fixation is generally assessed fluoroscopically, which can be misleading because the myocardium is radio lucent. Alternatively, because the electrical conductivity of blood is greater than that of myocardium, serial measurements of the lead impedance might be expected to show an impedance increase with appropriate fixation of the pacemaker electrode when the electrode becomes embedded in myocardial tissue. Impedance measurements were made during the placement of 23 atrial and 28 ventricular active fixation electrodes in 31 consecutive patients. Impedance measurements were recorded in unipolar and bipolar electrode configurations with the electrode free floating in the chamber, unfixed (with exposed screws) but touching the endocardial surface, and after fixation. No significant impedance differences were found between free-floating and unfixed electrode positions. With fixation, the lead impedance increased significantly in the ventricle (P = 0.0001, unipolar and bipolar) and the atrium (P = 0.0069 unipolar and 0.0052 bipolar). Typical increases, reflected by median values, were 197 ohms unipolar and 203 ohms bipolar in the ventricle and 47 ohms unipolar and 53 ohms bipolar in the atrium for electrodes with permanently exposed or retractable screw designs. Comparing serial measurements of lead impedance before and after electrode fixation is a valid electrical method of confirming appropriate fixation of helical screw electrodes.     

高渗诱导人气道上皮细胞系黏液高分泌

目的研究高渗条件对正常人气道上皮细胞(HBE)黏蛋白(MUC)5AC分泌的影响,以及蛋白激酶C(PKC)-热休克蛋白(HSP)70信号途径在其中的可能作用。方法 采用高渗盐水诱导培养HBE16细胞的方法复制黏液高分泌体外模型,分别用PKCμ抑制剂G 6976、PKCα抑制剂Safingol、PKCβ抑制剂LY333531和PKCδ抑制剂Rot-tlerin干预HBE16细胞。Western blot检测HSP70-2的蛋白含量;RT-PCR检测人HSP70-2转录水平;ELISA检测培养上清MUC5AC蛋白含量c各高渗组的培养上清MUC5AC蛋白含量、HSP70-2蛋白和转录水平较对照组显著升高,并随着培养时间的延长而逐渐增加(P<0.05)。G 6976处理组的上述指标显著降低(P<0.01),但仍高于对照组(P<0.05);而Safingol、LY333531和Rottlerin处理组均无改变。结论 高渗盐水可诱导人气道上皮细胞MUC5AC的高分泌,HSP70-2系通过PKC中的μ亚型在该过程中起重要作用的。     

LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY TREATED WITH RECOMBINANT INTERFERON GAMMA: CUTANEOUS HISTOLOGIC CHANGES

We report on the histologic changes occurring in single cutaneous lesions, from six active lepromatous patients, 1 week following the administration of three daily intradermal injections, 35 micrograms each, of recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma). Except for a strong induration at the injection site, rIFN-gamma produced no adverse systemic reactions and was able to promote a remarkable influx of T-lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes with large nuclei, nonvacuolated cytoplasm, and reduced lysozyme reactivity. Furthermore, despite no clear-cut reduction of mycobacterial dermal burden, bacilli showed a clear increase in the granular appearance. Present findings provide a basis for further elucidation of rIFN-gamma as an additional tool for leprosy treatment.     

Experimental T-2 Toxicosis in Swine: III. Morphologic Changes following Intravascular Administration of T-2 Toxin

Experimental T-2 Toxicosis in Swine. III. Morphologic Changesfollowing Intravascular Administration of T-2 Toxin. PANG, V.F., LORENZANA, R. M., BEASLEY, V. R., BUCK, W. B., and HASCHEK,W. M. (1987) Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 8, 298–309. The grossand microscopic changes in swine following a single intravascular(iv) dose of T-2 toxin are described and evaluated quantitatively.T-2 toxin, in 70% ethanol, was given iv at 0 (5 pigs), 0.6 (5pigs), 1.2(1 pig), 4.8 (5 pigs), or 5.4 (2 pigs) mg/kg to 40to 60 kg female crossbred pigs. The 4.8 and 5.4 mg/kg grouppigs died between 5 and 10.5 hr after treatment, while the 0,0.6, and 1.2 mg/kg pigs were killed at 24, 24, and 12 hrs aftertreatment, respectively. Morphologic examination was performedat the gross and light microscopic levels. In addition, a quantitativeevaluation of microscopic changes present in lymphoid tissuesand intestinal tract was performed using a semiquantitativescoring system. Gross lesions in the T-2-treated pigs consistedof edema, congestion, and hemorrhage of the lymph nodes andpancreas; congestion and hemorrhage of the gastrointestinalmucosa, subendocardium, adrenal gland, and meninges; and edemaof the gall bladder. Histologic examination confirmed the grossobservations. Additional microscopic lesions included widespreaddegeneration and necrosis of the lymphoid tissues as well asof the surface and crypt epithelium of the gastrointestinalmucosa; mild scattered necrosis of pancreatic acinar cells,myocardium, bone marrow cells, adrenal cortical cells, and tubularepithelium of renal medulla; and mild interstitial pneumonia.A dose-dependent increase in lesion severity was observed exceptfor the pancreatic lesion which was slightly more apparent inthe pigs from the 0.6 mg/kg group. These findings indicate that(1) T-2 toxin-induced lesions in the lymphoid tissues and gastrointestinaltract of pigs are similar to those of other species, (2) thepancreas and heart should be considered as additional targetorgans in the pig, and (3) both rapidly dividing cells and thosewith little or no turnover are damaged by T-2 toxin.