Heterotopic heart transplantation: a radiographic review

Heterotopic heart transplantation can be performed in the presence of high pulmonary vascular resistance. The authors call attention to a rare, but potentially life-saving procedure.     

Physiologic and pharmacologic approaches to spasticity

The term spasticity is used to describe many relatively unrelated syndromes and, because they share few common pathophysiologic mechanisms, it is not possible to define the physiology or pharmacology of spasticity. In patients with spastic paresis, it is the latter negative symptom (rather than the spasticity) that accounts for almost all the functional disability. Clinical neurophysiologic techniques are useful for categorization of patients with clinically identical syndromes into subgroups which respond to different therapies. Fusimotor or spindle primary afferent hyperactivity have not been demonstrated in spastic patients; reduction in central inhibitory mechanisms probably accounts for spastic hyper-reflexia. Increased passive muscle stiffness may also be clinically significant. Therapies for spasticity include elimination of causative or enhancing factors, frequent muscle stretching, surgical approaches and chemotherapy. The latter includes dantrolene (which weakens muscles), baclofen (particularly useful for reduction of flexor spasms and flexor dystonia in patients with spinal lesions) and diazepam.     

A placebo-controlled trial of light treatment for winter depression.

We studied 32 patients with winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in a counterbalanced crossover design comparing 1 h of morning light treatment (about 7000 lux) to 1 h of morning placebo treatment (deactivated negative ion generator). Both treatments significantly reduced depression ratings, but there was no difference between the antidepressant response to light and to placebo. Several possible explanations for this result were discussed including an inadequate 'dose' of light (e.g., ineffective duration or intensity), an unusual sample of patients, and a placebo mechanism.     

Intraocular pressure-dependent dynamic changes of optic disc cupping in adult glaucoma patients.

The authors performed a study of intraocular pressure-dependent changes in optic disc cupping in 17 adults with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Analyses with the Rodenstock Optic Nerve Head Analyzer were performed at baseline low intraocular pressure during therapy, after elevation of intraocular pressure (from therapeutic failure or noncompliance), and after reduction of intraocular pressure with successful therapy. Optic disc cupping increased significantly upon short-term increase of intraocular pressure from baseline of 20.4 +/- 2.5 mmHg to 31.1 +/- 5.9 mmHg. Optic disc cupping reverted to baseline after persistent intraocular pressure reduction to 19.3 +/- 4.8 mmHg. These data demonstrate intraocular pressure-dependent dynamic changes of optic disc cupping in patients with demonstrable glaucomatous optic nerve damage. They underscore the detrimental effect of elevated intraocular pressure and the beneficial effect of intraocular pressure reduction on optic disc cup changes.     

Artifacts due to stimulus correlated motion in functional imaging of the brain

To assess the effect of stimulus correlated motion on the appearance of functional magnetic resonance images, conventional visual and motor protocols were each performed by four normal volunteers and an image co-registration technique was used to retrospectively monitor subject motion. In three studies synthetic data sets were constructed from single baseline images using the positional information obtained from the co-registration procedure. Cumulative difference images were then created from both the synthetic and functional image sets. Stimulus correlated motion was detected in all eight studies and the synthetic cumulative difference images showed striking similarities to the equivalent functional images in each case.     

Respiratory symptoms and cigarette smoking in 3,197 pulmonologist-based asthmatic patients with a highly prevalent use of inhaled corticosteroid.

The relation between smoking and risk of asthma has been well-examined; however little attention has been paid to the correlation between smoking and asthma symptoms. The aims of this study were to examine respiratory symptoms in asthmatics with a highly prevalent use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and to assess the effects of smoking and its cessation. A cross-sectional study of pulmonologist-based 3197 asthmatics (men 45.2%, ages 20-97) was performed using a questionnaire about smoking habits, the incidence and frequency of symptoms (sputum, cough and wheezing, night symptoms, and shortness of breath), physical activity interference, and medication. Although 81.4% of the patients used ICS according to the international guideline, 14.9% had activity interference, and daily symptoms remained in 43.3%. At the time of the questionnaire, 21.6% were current and 25.1% were ex-smokers. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors of significance (p < 0.0001) were (1) smoking; for all four symptoms, (2) age and duration of asthma; for shortness of breath. Current smokers were at a risk of sputum (age-adjusted odds ratio 2.32 [95% confidence interval 1.73-3.11]; 2.09 [1.57-2.79]), of cough and wheezing (2.38 [1.81-3.14]; 1.78 [1.35-2.36]), of night symptoms (1.95 [1.41-2.60]; 1.47 [1.09-1.98]), and of shortness of breath (1.70 [1.26-2.28]; 1.30 [0.97-1.75]) in men and women, respectively. These ratios in ex-smokers decreased to the level similar to nonsmokers. Although 81.4% of asthmatic patients used ICS, 43.3% complained of daily respiratory symptoms, especially sputum. It is suggested that the effects of ICS on asthma symptoms may be interfered with by smoking and therefore more emphasis should be placed on cessation of smoking.