Rates of intestinal absorption of molybdenum in humans.

The intestinal absorption of molybdenum in healthy human volunteers has been measured by simultaneous oral and intravenous administration of the stable isotopes 95Mo and 96Mo, and the results were analysed using the convolution integral technique. The results showed that molybdenum ingested in liquid form was rapidly and totally absorbed into the circulation under ordinary intake regimes. The rates and extent of absorption were lower for composite meals, and also for increasing levels of administration. This information can be helpful in the application of the new ICRP model of the human alimentary tract.     

Diagnosing osteoporosis by using dental panoramic radiographs: the OSTEODENT project.

OBJECTIVES: Measurement of cortical thickness and subjective assessment of cortical porosity on panoramic radiographs are methods previously reported for diagnosing osteoporosis. The aims of this study were to determine the relative efficacy of the mandibular cortical index and cortical width in detecting osteoporosis, both alone and in combination, and to determine the optimal cortical width threshold for referral for additional osteoporosis investigation. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred seventy-one postmenopausal women 45 to 70 years of age were recruited for this study. They received dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the left hip and lumbar spine (L1 to L4), and dental panoramic radiographic examinations of the teeth and jaws. Three observers separately assessed the mandibular cortical width and porosity in the mental foramen region of the mandible. Cortical width was corrected for magnification errors. Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis (CHAID) software was used (SPSS AnswerTree, version 3.1, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis showed that the cortical porosity was a poorer predictor of osteoporosis than mandibular cortical width. For the 3 observers, a mandibular cortical width of <3 mm provided diagnostic odds ratios of 6.51, 6.09, and 8.04. The test is therefore only recommended in triage screening of individuals by using radiographs made for purposes other than osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: When evaluating panoramic radiographs, only those patients with the thinnest mandibular cortices (i.e., <3 mm) should be referred for further osteoporosis investigation.     

Neurocysticercosis in Persons with Epilepsy in Medellín,Colombia

Summary: Purpose: A prospective series of 643 persons with epilepsy attending a reference neurologic center in Medellin, Colombia, was examined by computed tomography (CT scan) or serology or both with the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay (EITB) to assess the prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis. Methods: All presenting patients were consecutively enrolled in the study. Five hundred forty-six persons underwent cerebral CT scans; 376 of them also had serum EITB performed. Results: Prevalence of neurocys@ercosis by CT scan was 13.92%. Overall prevalence of T. solium antibodies with EITB was 9.82%, but for those with late-onset epilepsy (onset after age 30 years), prevalence increased to 17.5% and 19% for those who originated from outside urban Medellin. Seroprevalence in individuals with mixed lesions (cysts and calcifications) was 88.2% and 64.10% in those with live cysts. Conversely, only 2.72% of persons with CT findings not related to neurocysticercosis had positive EITB tests. Conclusions: Our study shows that an important proportion of individuals with epilepsy have radiologic or serologic evidence of T. solium infection, suggesting that neurocysticercosis is an important etiology for epilepsy in Colombia.     

Differential changes of nicotinic receptors in the ratbrain following ibotenic acid and 192-IgG saporin lesionsof the nucleus basalis magnocellularis

The basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are implicated in the pathogenesis ofneurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer^fn2s disease (AD). The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been found to besignificantly afflicted in AD. To study the underlying mechanisms for dysfunction of the basalforebrain cholinergic neurons development of suitable animal models is warranted. In this studywe investigated the effects of bilateral lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis on nAChRs inthe rat brain using the cholinergic system selective immunotoxin 192-IgG saporin andnon-selective excitotoxin ibotenic acid. Changes in nAChRs were measured by ³H-cytisineand ³H-epibatidine, two ligands with different selectivity for nAChRs subtypes. Inthe parietal cortex of ibotenic acid lesioned rates, the choline acetyltransferase activity (ChAT)was decreased by 24% while no changes were detected in the frontal cortex or hippocampus.Similarly, a 40% decrease was observed in the number of nAChRs labelled by ³H-cytisine,but not by ³H-epibatidine, in the parietal cortex, while no changes were found in thefrontal cortex or hippocampus. Although the 192-IgG saporin induced lesions reduced the ChATactivity in the frontal cortex, parietal cortex and hippocampus by 77, 50 and 21%, respectively, nochanges were observed in the number of nAChRs as studied by ³H-cytisine or ³H-epibatidine. The results indicate a difference in vulnerability of the cortical nAChRsubtypes to experimental lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis. The findings in this studysuggest that a major portion of the nAChRs might be located on non-cholinergic neurons in thebrain.