Extracellular dopamine and neurotensin in rat prefrontal cortex in vivo: effects of median forebrain bundle stimulation frequency, stimulation pattern, and dopamine autoreceptors

In vivo microdialysis coupled with HPLC and radioimmuno-assay techniques were used to analyze dopamine (DA) and neurotensin (NT) in prefrontal cortical extracellular fluid following electrical stimulation of mesocortical axons. The release (overflow into the extracellular fluid) of both DA and NT increased with increasing number of impulses and with frequency. At the lowest frequency tested (2.5 Hz), DA release was significantly increased, while there was no significant increase in the release of NT. As the frequency of stimulation was increased from 2.5 to 20 Hz, the ratio of extracellular DA:NT decreased exponentially. Stimulation in a burst pattern produced greater release of both DA and NT than tonic stimulation when the number of impulses per second and the total number of impulses were held constant. Furthermore, blockade of DA autoreceptors with sulpiride stereoselectively increased the release of DA while decreasing the release of NT. These data suggest that the release of coexistent molecules (DA and NT) from mesocortical neurons can be influenced by physiological and pharmacological factors such that under certain conditions simultaneous or differential release may occur.     

HLA-DPB1 gene polymorphism and multiple sclerosis: a large case-control study in the southwest of France

The polymorphism at the HLA-DPB1 locus has been characterized in a large number of patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 112) and in healthy controls (n = 115). Both patients and controls lived in the southwest of France (in the Pyrénées Atlantiques) and had similar ethnic background. The typing procedure involved the selective amplification of the second exon of the DPB1 locus by polymerase chain reaction, followed by hybridization of the amplified DNA with 14 sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. Individual alleles were identified by the pattern of hybridization of the different probes. The distribution of the DPB1 alleles was not significantly different in multiple sclerosis patients and controls (p = 0.11). This does not corroborate the reported association of multiple sclerosis with the primed lymphocyte typing (PLT)-defined DPw4 specificity and is not in favour of a role played by polymorphic residues of the DP molecule in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.     

Comparison of yogurt, soybean, casein, and amino acid–based diets in children with persistent diarrhea

Although previous studies have shown successful treatment of persistent diarrhea (PD) with the use of yogurt-based diets, some recent ones speculate the need of special formulas for the nutritional management of PD complicated cases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the consumption of 3 lactose-free diets, with different degrees of complexity, is associated with lower stool output and shorter duration of diarrhea when compared with the use of a yogurt-based one on the nutritional management of PD. A total of 154 male infants, aged between 1 and 30 months, with PD and with or without dehydration, were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Throughout the study, the patients were placed in a metabolic unit; their body weights and intakes of oral rehydration solution, water, and formula diets, in addition to outputs of stool, urine, and vomit, were measured and recorded at 24-hour intervals. Four different diets were used in this study: diet 1, yogurt-based formula; diet 2, soy-based formula; diet 3, hydrolyzed protein-based formula; and diet 4, amino acid–based formula. Throughout the study, only these formula diets were fed to the children. The data showed that children fed the yogurt-based diet (diet 1) or the amino acid–based diet (diet 4) had a significant reduction in stool output and in the duration of diarrhea. The use of an inexpensive and worldwide-available yogurt-based diet is recommended as the first choice for the nutritional management of mild to moderate PD. For the few complicated PD cases, when available, a more complex amino acid–based diet should be reserved for the nutritional management of these unresponsive and severe presentations. Soy-based or casein-based diets do not offer any specific advantage or benefits and do not seem to have a place in the management of PD.     

Fatty acids platelets and oxidative markers following intravenous n-3 fatty acids administration in cystic fibrosis: An open pilot observational study.

BACKGROUND: An imbalance in the ratio of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was found in cystic fibrosis (CF) affected tissues and was suggested to promote inflammation. Several studies have shown that the long chain n-3 fatty acids reduced inflammatory activity while others have highlighted prooxidant activity of DHA at high concentrations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of an intravenous fish-oil emulsion enriched with n-3 FA in patients with CF on plasma and platelet FA composition and peroxidation markers. METHODS: 13 patients with CF received one IV emulsion per week of 2 mL/kg fish-oil n-3 emulsion for 12 weeks. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in 20:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3 platelet FA composition, no variation in 20:4 n-6, a decrease in n-9. There was no variation in plasma FA composition. Specific urinary markers of lipid peroxidation derived from n-3 and n-6 showed a very high level before infusion compared with usual values in healthy subjects which was not affected by treatment. A significant weight loss and a decrease in reduced glutathione were observed in adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: The intravenous administration of n-3 FA in CF patients induced a significant modification in platelet FA composition but no modification of oxidative markers. However, the weight loss and the decreased level in reduced glutathione observed in adult patients may suggest a potential deleterious activity for some patients. Further studies are necessary to determine the optimal dose and route for long chain FA administration required to reach a potential beneficial effect.     

Technical Considerations in Laparoscopic Fundoplication

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease and can be successfully treated by laparoscopic fundoplication. This article describes the technique of laparoscopic surgery for GERD with a focus on operative pitfalls.     

Effect of dithranol therapy on membrane, basement membrane and nuclear markers in psoriasis lesions

We investigated the effects of anti-psoriatic therapy with dithranol (1/20-1%) in salicylic acid (0.5%) in white petrolatum on lesional skin. FITC-labeled lectins and pemphigus vulgaris antibodies (PV) served as analytical means to study the glycocalyx. Antibodies of bullous pemphigoid (BP) were used as basal membrane markers. Nuclear antigens were recorded according to the binding of speckled, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) as well as antibodies to dsDNA. With some lectins, dithranol therapy resulted in pronounced fluorescence of the lower parts of the basal cells. ConA was fixed by the basal cell layer. To a lesser degree, ANA were fixed by nuclei of keratinocytes. PV antibodies were not fixed at all.     

Traumatic cervical Brown-Sequard and Brown-Sequard-plus syndromes: the spectrum of presentations and outcomes.

Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) and Brown-Sequard-plus syndrome (BSPS) are characterised by asymmetrical paresis with hypalgesia more marked on the less paretic side. This study examined the clinical features of 38 patients (30 males and 8 females; mean age = 32 years) with traumatic cervical BSS or BSPS who underwent comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation. Twenty two injuries were caused by road traffic accidents, 8 by penetrating injuries, 5 by diving injuries, and 3 by other causes. After an average of 35 days in acute care and 79 days in rehabilitation, 37 patients had increased muscle strength, all 38 patients improved functional abilities, 29 patients walked independently, 34 had spontaneous bladder emptying, 36 were discharged home, and 14 were employed. Statistically significant increases (p less than 0.001) were made in modified Barthel index functional scores between admission and discharge. Patients with BSPS had a better prognosis than did those with 'pure' BSS. Patients with predominant upper limb weakness had more favourable outcomes than did those with predominant lower limb weakness. Few other potentially predictive demographic, injury, or neurological factors were associated with functional outcome. Patients with BSS or BSPS generally have a good prognosis for neurological and functional improvement.     

MRP8 and MRP14, S-100-like proteins associated with myeloid differentiation, are translocated to plasma membrane and intermediate filaments in a calcium-dependent manner

MRP8 and MRP14 are two Ca(2+)-binding proteins of the S-100 family expressed by myelomonocytic cells. Both proteins assemble to noncovalently associated complexes in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Members of the S-100 family are known to play a role in cytoskeletal- membrane interactions; therefore, we investigated the subcellular distribution of MRP8/MRP14 and their complexes in human monocytes. Using differential centrifugation and subsequent Western blot or enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay analysis, we found that MRP8/MRP14 were almost completely translocated from the cytoplasma to membrane and cytoskeletal structures in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Using a cross- linking technique, complexed forms of MRP8/MRP14 were found to be associated with the plasma membrane. Analysis of MRP-transfected L132 cells showed that the MRP8 as well as the MRP14 component of the MRP8/MRP14 complex may independently bind to membrane and cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, immunogold electron microscopy showed a colocalization of MRP8/MRP14 and the intermediate filament type III protein vimentin in A23187-treated monocytes. Our data indicate that, in analogy to other S-100-like proteins, MRP8 and MRP14 play a role in Ca(2+)-dependent cytoskeletal-membrane interactions. Restriction of MRP8/MRP14 expression to distinct stages of myelomonocytic differentiation suggests that these proteins are involved in highly specific pathways of intracellular signaling in phagocytes.