Striatal NPY-Containing Neurons Receive GABAergic Afferents and may also Contain GABA: An Electron Microscopic Study in the Rat

Dual labelling methods were applied to localize simultaneously neuropeptide Y (NPY) and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) immunoreactivities on ultrathin sections of the rat caudate-putamen (CP). By means of a double peroxidase-anti-peroxidase technique, using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and benzidine dihydrochloride as chromogens in animals with no colchicine pretreatment, GAD immunoreactivity was found to be present in terminals only whereas NPY immunoreactivity was detected in neurons displaying the features of aspiny type cells and processes. With this approach, we observed numerous synaptic associations of the symmetrical type between GAD-immunoreactive (-Ir) axonal boutons and NPY-Ir cell bodies and dendrites. By combining immunoperoxidase and radioimmunocytochemical labelling in animals pretreated with colchicine, NPY was again detected in a single population of aspiny type neurons whereas GAD immunoreactivity was observed in neurons which could be classified as aspiny and spiny on the basis of their ultrastructural characteristics. All the cells of the aspiny type displaying clear-cut NPY immunoreactivity were also found to be GAD-positive. Some other neurons of both the aspiny and the spiny type were found to be immunoreactive to GAD alone. GAD/NPY dually labelled terminals were also observed and some axo-axonic appositions between GAD- and NPY-Ir terminals were also detected. All in all, these data show that NPY aspiny type neurons of the rat CP receive GABAergic afferents and provide morphological support for two hypotheses: that NPY is co-localized with GABA in some cell bodies, dendrites and axons, and that presynaptic interactions may occur between NPY and GABAergic neuronal systems.     

Functional imaging of memory retrieval in deficit vs nondeficit schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging studies have provided evidence of abnormal frontal and temporal lobe function in schizophrenia. Frontal cortex abnormalities have been associated with negative symptoms and temporal lobe abnormalities with positive symptoms. The deficit and nondeficit forms of schizophrenia were predicted to differ in prefrontal cortical activity, but not in medial temporal lobe activity. METHODS: Regional cerebral blood flow was studied using oxygen 15 positron emission tomography during 3 different memory retrieval conditions in 8 control subjects, 8 patients with the deficit syndrome, and 8 patients without the deficit syndrome. Behavioral and positron emission tomography data were analyzed using a mixed-effects model to test for population differences. RESULTS: In all memory conditions, frontal cortex activity was higher in patients without the deficit syndrome than in patients with the deficit syndrome. During the attempt to retrieve poorly encoded words, patients without the deficit syndrome recruited the left frontal cortex to a significantly greater degree than did patients with the deficit syndrome. The 2 schizophrenia subtypes did not differ in the activity or recruitment of the hippocampus during memory retrieval. CONCLUSION: Frontal cortex function during memory retrieval is differentially impaired in deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia, whereas hippocampal recruitment deficits are not significantly different between the 2 schizophrenia groups.     

A point mutation (W70A) in the rod PDE-gamma gene desensitizing and delaying murine rod photoreceptors

PURPOSE: To examine the corneal electroretinogram (ERG) of transgenic mice (W70A mice) carrying a point mutation (W70A) in the gene encoding for the gamma-subunit of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDEgamma). METHODS: The ERG of W70A mice was compared with that of normal mice. Cone responses were separated from rod responses by light adaptation, whereas rod sensitivity was assessed by threshold stimulation with dim light. Spectral sensitivity curves of the ERG were obtained using a constant response criterion. RESULTS: The ERG of the W70A mouse has a desensitized, delayed rod b-wave at threshold, and a prolonged rod b-wave at higher flash intensities. The a-wave is absent even at maximal stimulation. The cone ERG of the W70A mouse is indistinguishable from that of normal mice. The spectral sensitivity of the W70A mouse is maximal in the UV spectrum, in contrast to the normal mouse, which is most sensitive in the green region of the spectrum. This supports the interpretation of the results as normal cone and abnormal rod function in the W70A mouse. CONCLUSIONS: The W70A mouse represents new model of stationary nyctalopia that can be recognized by its unusual ERG features.     

Congenital pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect: angiographic and surgical correlates

Of 181 patients with severe congenital pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect or "type IV truncus" (an obsolete term), all but 11% had true central pulmonary arteries. These arteries were demonstrable by large serial biplane angiograms using multiple selective injections into collateral vessels, frequent photographic subtraction, and occasional pulmonary vein-wedge angiograms. These techniques are extremely important for accurate diagnosis and in planning corrective or palliative surgery, which was done in 77% of patients with pulmonary arteries.     

Contralateral spondylolysis and fracture of the lumbar pedicle in an elite female gymnast: a case report

STUDY DESIGN: The case of an elite female gymnast whose pathology started in her 12th year and whose evolution has been exceptional is reported. OBJECTIVE: To present a fracture of the right lumbar pedicle showing complete spontaneous consolidation despite gymnastic practice 15 hours a week. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar pain, which has an incidence of approximately 75% among young athletes, often results from diseases of the posterior arch of vertebrae in gymnasts, including spondylolysis. The association between unilateral spondylolysis and fracture of the contralateral lumbar pedicle in young athletes is poorly described. METHODS: An elite young female gymnast underwent clinical examination and lumbar radiographs (as systematically required by the French Federation for high-level gymnasts) from 1994 to 1997 to join a sports program in gymnastics. RESULTS: Clinical examination and lumbar radiographs systematically required of an asymptomatic female gymnast allowed the condensation of the right pedicle to be observed before lysis of the left isthmus of L5 in 1994, unilateral lysis of the left isthmus of L5 in 1995, a right pedicular fracture of L5 in 1996, and healing of the pedicular fracture in 1997. CONCLUSION: Inconsistency between radiographs and clinical observations can be noted, and spontaneous consolidation of pedicular fractures can occur despite the practice of the gymnastics 15 hours a week.     

Infants born to narcotic dependent mothers: Physical growth patterns in the first 12 months of life

Objectives: To describe the physical growth patterns of infants born to narcotic dependent mothers (INDM) over a 12 months period and, if possible, to relate the growth to drug taking patterns during pregnancy.
Methodology: The growth of a cohort of 43 INDM was measured during the first 12 months of life. Weight and length measurements were compared with percentile charts and converted to Z scores. Questionnaire data about drug taking practices, demographic variables and the neonatal period (including withdrawal scores) were obtained.
Results: Twenty-four (55.8%) of INDM had evidence of neonatal drug withdrawal requiring treatment with phenobarbitone. At birth, Z scores for weight and length indicated relative intrauterine growth retardation. By 12 months, there had been some catch up growth, but Z scores for weight and length were still below zero. Persistent weight retardation at 12 months was correlated with methadone dosage during pregnancy, but not the need for phenobarbitone therapy.
Conclusions: The growth patterns of INDM in the first 12 months of life indicated that at birth there was evidence of intrauterine growth retardation, but by 12 months the growth was little different from the rest of the community. There appears to be some influence of narcotic agents taken while pregnant on subsequent growth of INDM.     

Rising incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scottish children, 1984-93. The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics

OBJECTIVES: To calculate the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scottish children aged less than 15 years between 1984 and 1993; to examine changes in incidence; and to calculate the prevalence of diabetes at the end of this period. DESIGN: Three data sources were used to construct the Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics register: active reporting of all new cases; reports from the Scottish Morbidity Register 1; and local registers. SUBJECTS: All children resident in Scotland diagnosed with primary insulin dependent diabetes mellitus when less than 15 years of age between 1984 and 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual incidence and prevalence rate for Scotland; time trend in incidence over the 10 years; differences in incidence between the three different age groups; and completeness of the register. RESULTS: The average annual incidence for Scotland was 23.9/100,000 children. The prevalence rate was 1.5/1000 in 1993. A total of 2326 cases was identified from the three sources. Capture-recapture analysis suggests a case ascertainment of 98.6%. The annual incidence rates increased at a rate of 2% each year (rate ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.03). The incidence was higher in boys than girls (rate ratio = 1.08, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.18), and the incidence rates increased with age: 15.3/100,000/year for age 0-4 years, 24.4/ 100,000/year for age 5-9 years, and 31.9/ 100,000/year for age 10-14 years. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scotland is increasing and the prevalence is relatively high. These findings have important implications for health service resource allocation. The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics' register provides a base for monitoring and research.     

Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix metastatic to lymph nodes

OBJECTIVE: We set out to evaluate the prognostic factors in cervical adenocarcinoma metastatic to lymph nodes. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of 40 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma and lymph node metastasis from 1976 to 1996. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had adenocarcinoma, and six had adenosquamous carcinoma. Median survival was 50 months. The median survival for patients with stage I disease was 69 months. Stage at diagnosis, treatment with radical hysterectomy, and receiving adjuvant therapy were associated with prolonged survival. A trend toward improved survival was noted with the use of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy as an adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lymph nodes does not have a uniformly poor prognosis, especially with early-stage disease. Improved survival was observed with the use of adjuvant therapy, specifically the use of combined chemotherapy and radiation after radical hysterectomy. The optimal therapy in this setting is yet to be determined. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:1131-7.)