Effects of terbutaline on the pressure volume relationship in fetal rabbit lung.

The pressure-volume relationship in preterm rabbit lung was studied at 28 days of gestation. Injection of 0.1 mg terbutaline, a selective beta2-receptor stimulating drug, significantly increased the volume of air at equivalent low transpulmonary pressures, compared to a saline treated group and an untreated group. These findings indicate an increased pulmonary distensibility of the fetal rabbit lung after terbutaline administration. The mechanism of action is discussed and surfactant mediated effects are suggested to be the probable explanation.     

Biotransformation by plant cells immobilized in cross-linked polyacrylamide-hydrazide

Plant cells were entrapped by mixing suspended MENTHA cells with linear, water soluble polyacrylamide-hydrazide chains followed by the stoichiometric addition of glyoxal as the cross linking agent (PAAH-G entrapment). In parallel, some cells were entrapped in calcium-alginate beads, as previously described. The capability of both immobilized cell systems to reduce monoterpenes was compared with freely suspended MENTHA cells. Entrapment by either alginate or PAAH-G did not impair cell vitality, as observed by fluorescein diacetate staining. Biotransformation of (-) menthone to (+) neomenthol by M-cells and of (+) pulegone to (+) isomenthone by P-cells indicated that the transformation efficiency of the cells entrapped in PAAH-G is as high as that of freely suspended cells. Moreover, the distribution of both precursor and product in the medium versus their content in the cells (or cells contained in gel-beads) showed that less monoterpenes were retained in cells entrapped in PAAH-G, as compared to the freely suspended cells. Thus prolonged incubation (e.g. 24 hr), which usually results in appreciable loss of monoterpenes from the chloroform extract of freely-suspended-cells, caused considerably less loss from the PAAH-G entrapped-cells. In a preliminary test it was shown that PAAH-G entrapped cells were capable to perform three, consecutive, batch-type monoterpene biotransformations, without significant decrease of transformation capability. The capability to immobilize living plant cells within this synthetic chemically crosslinked gel system, combined with the favourable beads/ free-medium ratio of monoterpene distribution, point towards a potential development of a continuous biotransformation process carried out by plant-cells entrapped in this system.     

Biotransformation of monoterpenes by Mentha cell lines

Previous results indicated that all tested cell suspension lines derived from various MENTHA chemotypes were capable to biotransform (-) menthone to (+)-neomentol but only some of these lines converted (+)-pulegone to (+)-isomenthone. In order to quest whether only the natural secondary metabolites or also other compounds with similarities to pulegone are biohydrogenated by MENTHA cell suspensions, we incubated such suspensions with 5 unsaturated alpha-beta; ketones. No conversion was detected when mesityl oxide, trans-6-tert. butyl pulegone or 3-isopropylidine-9-methyl-decalone-2 were incubated with MENTHA cells, while saturation of the alpha-beta double bond of 2-isopropylidine cyclohexanone and of trans-6-methyl pulegone was observed in suspensions of those cell lines which are capable of pulegone transformation. Suspensions of MENTHA cell lines which were incapable to hydrogenate pulegone did not biotransform the two latter pulegone analogues.     

The combined sensate radical forearm and iliac crest free flaps for reconstruction of significant glossectomy-mandibulectomy defects.

The loss of motor and sensory function of the tongue following ablative surgery has a devastating effect on oral function. At the present time, there is no way to restore lost tongue musculature following partial glossectomy. The use of sensate cutaneous flaps has been shown to restore sensory feedback to reconstructed areas of the oral cavity. No single composite flap supplies a sensate soft-tissue component together with an osseous component of sufficient bone stock for functional mastication. In this article, the combination of the radial forearm free flap with the iliac crest osteocutaneous or osteomyocutaneous free flap is reported. The radial forearm free flap was used to resurface the resected portion of the tongue to provide maximum mobility and sensation. The lingual nerve was the recipient nerve for anastomosis to the antebrachial cutaneous nerves in all but one case. The iliac bone was used to reconstruct the mandible, with the iliac skin paddle or the internal oblique muscle used to reconstruct the neoridge. This combination of flaps was used in 10 patients. There was one flap failure due to vascular kinking from "piggybacking" the iliac crest to the distal end of the radial forearm flap. As a result, the use of two separate sets of recipient vessels is now advocated. Although a single composite free flap offers an excellent form of oromandibular reconstruction in most cases, it has been shown that oral function deteriorates when large areas of anesthesia are present in the oral cavity. We believe that this combination of two free flaps offers an opportunity for superior function in select patients with significant glossectomy and/or large mucosal defects.     

Conduiturinary diversion and urinary-tract infection. I. Serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in relation to urographic findings.

The serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and/or Proteus mirabilis were elevated in 26 of 80 patients (33%) with a conduit urinary diversion. Urographic findings were abnormal in 44 of these 80 patients (55%). Urography was normal in 59% of the patients with normal antibody titers, but in only 15% of those with elevated titers. Raised antibody levels against E. coli O antigen (greater than 256 before and/or greater than 32 after mercaptoethanol treatment of serum) were associated with wide upper urinary tract or calculi more often than were normal E. coli antibody titers. Raised titers against P. mirabilis (greater than 256 before and/or greater than 32 after mercaptoethanol treatment of serum) were associated with scarring of the renal parenchyma more frequently than were normal titers. A statistically significant association was found between "small" kidney area and raised serum antibody titers against E. coli or P. mirabilis. The frequency of "small" kidney increased with the time lapse after urinary diversion. At 3 to 11 months postoperatively it was 29%, but among the patients with urinary diversion for more than five years the corresponding frequency was 82%. When at least one kidney was "small", the serum creatinine was higher than when both kidneys were of normal size. Patients with raised antibody titers tended also to have high serum creatinine (greater than or equal to 124 mumol/l) more often than those with normal titers (23 vs. 10%). These observations imply a connection between elevation of the antibody titers and destruction of the renal parenchyma in patients with conduit urinary diversion. They illustrate the value of antibody titration in the follow-up of patients with urinary diversion.     

Appendicitis associated with recent barium study.

There have been several reports of "barium-induced" appendicitis in the literature. When confronted with a possible case of this phenomenon, a review of the literature on the subject was carried out. The suggestion is made that there is no evidence to support a cause-effect relationship between barium retained in the appendix and appendicitis. Diseased appendices can be marked by retained barium and a higher likelihood may then exist for the subsequent development of appendicitis. Following the finding of prolonged retention of barium after contrast study, it is recommended that the patient be instructed as to the possibility of developing symptoms of acute appendicitis. Patients who present with symptoms of appendicitis should be questioned as to history of recent barium study, and x-rays should be reviewed with the possibility of finding appendoliths.     

Striatal dopamine transporter binding in neuroleptic-naive patients with schizophrenia studied with positron emission tomography

OBJECTIVE: Recent in vivo imaging studies indicate a dysregulated presynaptic function of the striatal dopaminergic system in patients with schizophrenia. To further explore the basis of this phenomenon, the authors studied brain dopamine transporter binding in vivo in patients with first-episode, never-medicated schizophrenia. METHOD: Nine patients with schizophrenia and nine healthy matched comparison subjects were recruited. Striatal dopamine transporter binding was measured with positron emission tomography and a specific dopamine transporter ligand, [(18)F]CFT, a radiolabeled form of 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane. RESULTS: Average caudate and putamen dopamine transporter binding potentials were almost identical in the patients and comparison subjects, but the patients lacked the right-left asymmetry of the caudate dopamine transporter binding seen in the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Average striatal dopamine transporter density is unaltered in neuroleptic-naive patients with schizophrenia. However, patients lack asymmetry in caudate dopamine transporter binding, which conforms with disrupted brain lateralization in this disorder.     

Evaluation of heme oxygenase-1 as a systemic biological marker of sporadic AD

BACKGROUND: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a 32-kDa stress protein that catalyzes the degradation of heme to biliverdin. HO-1 immunoreactivity is greatly increased in neurons and astrocytes of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of individuals with AD and colocalizes to senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. METHODS: We investigated whether systemic HO-1 regulation is also deranged in AD patients and whether blood HO-1 measurements provide a peripheral biomarker of the disease. Plasma HO-1 protein levels were measured by competitive ELISA and lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA levels were determined by Northern analysis in patients with early probable sporadic AD, normal elderly controls (NEC), normal younger controls, individuals with age-associated cognitive decline (AACD) not meeting AD criteria, and patients with non-Alzheimer dementia, nondementing neurologic illness, and chronic medical disorders. CSF HO-1 protein concentrations were also determined by ELISA in pathologically confirmed AD and control cases. RESULTS: Mean plasma HO-1 protein concentrations were significantly lower in AD patients (0.85 +/- 0.14 microg/mL) compared with NEC (1.77 +/- 0.34 microg/mL; p < 0.05) and control patients. The AACD group exhibited plasma HO-1 concentrations (1.06 +/- 0.33 microg/mL) intermediate between, but not different from, those of the AD patients and NEC. Lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA levels were lower in the AD cohort relative to NEC (p < 0.001) and individuals with AACD, non-Alzheimer dementia, nondementing neurologic illness, and chronic medical conditions. Lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA levels were also lower in the AACD group relative to NEC (p < 0.05). In comparison with all groups excluding AACD, the sensitivity and specificity of lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA measurement for diagnosis of early sporadic AD are 88% and 75%. Mean CSF HO-1 protein concentrations were lower (p < 0.01) in AD cases (19.07 ng/mL) relative to control values (32.48 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma and CSF HO-1 protein and lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA levels are decreased in subjects with sporadic AD. Quantitative assay for lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA expression may serve as a useful biologic marker in early sporadic AD.     

A rat model of leptomeningeal human neoplastic xenografts

Leptomeningeal (LM) cancer spread from either a primarybrain tumor or a systemic cancer is rapidlyfatal. Current therapies are ineffective and highly toxicto normal nervous system tissues. A xenograft modelof LM neoplasia in nude rats using adiversity of tumor cell types was established inorder to evaluate new treatment strategies and tostudy the pharmacokinetics and biological effects of treatmentsadministered into the subarachnoid space. Consistent leptomeningeal engraftmentand progressive tumor growth was seen after intrathecalinjection of 9 of 13 tumor cells lines,including 2 melanomas, 2 neuroblastomas, 2 medulloblastomas, 2gliomas, and 1 breast cancer. Clinical signs rangedfrom steady weight loss commencing from the dayafter tumor implantation to absence of any signsfor three weeks until the sudden occurrence ofmajor neurological deficits or death. Pathologic examination showedonly leptomeningeal tumor growth with some cell linesand severe parenchymal invasion with others. CSF cytologyconsistently demonstrated tumor cells in animals with LMdisease. Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) following intravenous (IV)administration of a contrast agent revealed enhancing lesionsone week following melanoma tumor implantation. Reliable ventricularpuncture was demonstrated by radiography following intraventricular (IVent)injection of an iodinated contrast material. IVent instillationof saline, albumin, or antibodies did not provokeclinical toxicity or an inflammatory response.