The study of infantile hydrocephalus with combined air and isotope ventriculography

A method for a combined air and isotope ventriculography is described. Twenty-nine infants with suspected hydrocephalus were studied. The merit of the combined study is the possibility of obtaining both anatomical and functional information. A very small amount of radioactivity—15 μc—was found to give satisfactory results. Patterns of cerebrospinal fluid flow in communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus and in cases of porencephalic cyst and complete obstruction of the lateral ventricles are described.     

Growth effect of gastrin on gastric cancer and its clinical implications for gastric cancer surgery

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of gastrin on the growth of gastric cancer and evaluating postoperative hypergastrinemia in patients that had received various types of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. RT-PCR for gastrin/CCKB receptor mRNA was performed in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissue. The effect of gastrin or glycine-extended gastrin on the growth of gastric cancer cell lines was determined by MTT assay. Serum gastrin levels were compared with respect to the resection type of gastric cancer surgery. Gastrin/CCKB receptor mRNA expression was detected in all 9 gastric cancer cell lines, and in 19 of 29 (62%) gastric cancer tissue samples. Growth of gastric cancer cell lines containing the gastrin/CCKB receptor was significantly enhanced by gastrin and glycine-extended gastrin. The proximal gastrectomy group had a significantly higher mean serum gastrin level than the distal subtotal gastrectomy, total gastrectomy, or preoperative groups (p<0.05). Our study confirms that a high proportion of gastric cancer tissue samples express the gastrin/CCKB receptor, which can stimulate the growth of gastrin/CCKB receptor-positive gastric cancer cells. In addition, we confirm that hypergastrinemia can be induced in about half of patients after proximal gastrectomy. More studies are needed to clarify the relationship between hypergastrinemia and tumor recurrence after proximal gastrectomy.     

Mutational analysis of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">hMsh6</Emphasis> in Israeli HNPCC and HNPCC-like Families

Germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (DNA-MMR) genes, mainly hMlh1 and hMsh2, underlie Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). Germline hMSH6 gene mutations have been reported in a small subset of HNPCC families. In the present study, ethnically diverse individuals with HNPCC and HNPCC-like features were genotyped for hMsh6 germline mutations using exon-specific PCR, DGGE, and DNA sequencing. The study encompassed 92 individuals representing 88 unrelated families who were previously analyzed for Msh2 and Mlh1 mutations: Jewish Ashkenazim (n = 44), non-Ashkenazim (n = 27), Israeli Moslem-Arab (n = 15), Druze (n=3), and Cypriot non-Jews (n = 3). Of the study population, 71 had colon cancer (CRC), mean age at diagnosis was 50.9±13.2 years (range16–73 years), 5 had endometrial cancer (two with concurrent CRC), (mean 43.6±3.26 years, range 38–45 years), and unaffected individuals (n = 18) were first degree relatives within HNPCC families and were genotyped at a mean age of 48.3±11.7 years (range 30–69 years). Of the 92 individuals analyzed, none showed a truncating hMsh6 mutation, and 6 (6.6%) harbored one of three germline missense mutations: a previously reported one (V878A), and two novel mutations (V509A, S227I). The pathogenic significance of these three missense mutations is yet unclear. In addition, 5 polymorphisms were detected, 2 of which were novel. We conclude that the rate of pathogenic hMsh6 mutations in HNPCC families of Jewish and Mediterranean origin is low, and that mutations in other genes probably account for the phenotype in these families.     

A gender-based dynamic multidimensional longitudinal analysis of resilience and mortality in the old-old in Israel: the cross-sectional and longitudinal aging study (CALAS)

The objective was to examine gender differences and similarities in health, function, familial and non-familial social networks; longitudinal resilience in those factors; and their association with risk of mortality in Israeli men and women aged 75-94. We used the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS), a stratified random sample of 960 Israeli Jews aged 75-94, drawn on January 1, 1989 from National Population Registry, stratified by gender, age (75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94), and place of birth (Europe/America, Middle East/North Africa, Israel), interviewed twice (Wave 1, 1989-1992; Wave 2, 1993-1995); Wave 1 values and longitudinal resilience predicted the 1999 mortality risk for those alive at both waves. Gender differences and similarities were found at Wave 1 in longitudinal resilience and in risk factors for mortality, partially supporting a gender paradox. Men were more physically active, had better cognition, gave more help to children, relied less on paid caretakers, and attended synagogue more than women, factors associated with better health and functioning. Women had poorer health and functional status and more help from children. More physical activity, synagogue attendance, and resilience in activities of daily living (ADL) were associated with lower risk of mortality for both genders. Women's risk of mortality was reduced by smoking reduction and higher cognitive vitality, and men's by emotional support and solitary leisure activity. Both men and women were resilient, yet there were differences. Gender-neutral mortality reduction programs would include physical activity, religious services, maintenance and improvement of ADL, and engaging in solitary leisure activities; for women, smoking cessation and cognitively challenging activities; and for men, maintaining or increasing emotional ties.     

Erythropoietin in heart failure

The incidence of both congestive heart failure (CHF) and end-stage renal disease both are increasing. Anemia is common in both conditions and is associated with a marked increase in mortality and morbidity in both CHF and chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI). Each of these 3 conditions can cause or worsen the other 2. In other words, a vicious circle frequently is present in which CHF can cause or worsen both anemia and CKI, in which CKI can cause or worsen both anemia and CHF, and in which anemia can cause or worsen both CHF and CKI. We have called this vicious circle the cardio renal anemia syndrome. Optimal treatment of CHF with all the recommended CHF medications at their recommended doses will, in our experience, frequently fail to improve the CHF and CKI if anemia is present and is not corrected. On the other hand, correction of the anemia with subcutaneous erythropoietin and intravenous iron has caused a great improvement in the CHF including a marked improvement in patient and cardiac function and a marked reduction in the need for hospitalization and for high-dose diuretics. It also frequently has caused renal function to improve or at least stabilize. In addition, patients' quality of life and exercise capacity also have improved with the correction of the anemia. In CKI patients, anemia also may play an important role in increasing the risk for death, coronary heart disease, stroke, and progression to end-stage renal disease. Erythropoietin may have a direct positive effect on the heart and brain unrelated to correction of the anemia by reducing cell apoptosis and by increasing neovascularization, both of which could prevent tissue damage. This could have profound therapeutic implications not only in CHF but in the future treatment of myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, strokes, and renal failure.     

Survival of frozen-thawed human ovarian fetal follicles in long-term organ culture

Ovarian follicles obtained from second and third-trimester human fetuses survived 4 weeks in organ culture and secreted 17-beta estradiol (E(2)).