Statistical MUNE: A comparison of two methods of setting recording windows in healthy subjects and ALS patients

OBJECTIVE: To address the issue as to how best to perform statistical MUNE, we applied two different approaches and compared results in healthy subjects and ALS patients. METHODS: Twelve normal subjects (women 8, mean age 52years) and 11 ALS patients (women 4, mean age 54years) underwent two consecutive MUNE studies, which differed in terms of setting and modifying the recording window. These are referred to as the 'expansion' and 'narrowing' methods, respectively. Size-weighted average (Av) SMUP and MUNE values were obtained using the two methods, and compared in control and patient groups. RESULTS: Expansion method-derived Av SMUP sizes and MUNE values differed only slightly from those obtained using the narrowing method in healthy subjects, whereas the narrowing method resulted in significantly larger Av SMUP sizes and smaller MUNE values than the expansion method in ALS patients (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, p=0.003). The sizes of tested areas (mean+/-SD) were significantly larger for the narrowing method than the expansion method in both subject groups with much greater difference in ALS patients; 9.6+/-3.1% vs. 7.9+/-1.7% in healthy subjects and 16.1+/-5.1% vs. 11.2+/-3.0% in ALS patients (Student t-test, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows, unlike that found in normal subjects, that the results of statistical MUNE in ALS patients are heavily dependent on the approach used to set and modify recording windows. SIGNIFICANCE: The expansion method using a 10%-sized window is likely to suffer from systemic errors due to the ceiling effect and the sampling of artifactually small motor units in ALS patients. The authors recommend that the narrowing method be considered as an alternative that avoids these problems.     

Enhancement of hepatic hemangiomas with levovist on coded harmonic angiographic ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of contrast enhancement with Levovist on coded harmonic angiographic ultrasonography of hepatic hemangiomas. METHODS: Twenty hemangiomas were evaluated with coded harmonic angiographic ultrasonography and a microbubble contrast agent. Verification of the diagnosis of a hemangioma was made by means of dynamic computed tomography (n = 8), dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1), radionuclide scanning (n = 6), or follow-up ultrasonography (n = 5). Ultrasonographic images were obtained before contrast agent administration and with a bolus injection of 2.5 g of a microbubble contrast agent (300 mg/mL Levovist; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) every 10 to 15 seconds for 5 minutes. The contrast enhancement patterns of the 20 hemangiomas were assessed. RESULTS: The tumor diameters as measured on ultrasonography were 7 to 97 mm (mean, 26.7 mm). Of the 20 hemangiomas, peripheral globular enhancement with progressive centripetal fill-in was shown in 15 (75%), rimlike enhancement with progressive centripetal fill-in was shown in 2 (10%), and homogeneous enhancement was shown in 1 (5%). In the remaining 2 lesions (10%), the enhancement patterns could not be seen, because they were not found on coded harmonic angiographic ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: Coded harmonic angiographic ultrasonography with a microbubble contrast agent can depict the typical enhancement pattern in most hepatic hemangiomas.     

Poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) micelles for low cytotoxic biodegradable gene delivery carriers.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-grafted poly(L-lysine) (PLL) (PLL-g-PLGA) was synthesized to demonstrate its micelle-forming property in an aqueous solution. The micelles were used as a gene delivery carrier. The hydrodynamic diameter of PLL-g-PLGA micelles in an aqueous solution was ca. 149 nm with a narrow size distribution. Critical micelle concentration (cmc) was 9.6 mg/l. The PLL-g-PLGA micelles could be used to produce compact nanoparticulate complexes with plasmid DNA, which could efficiently protect the complexed DNA from enzymatic degradation by DNase I. The micelle/DNA complexes had highly compacted structure sized between 200-300 nm with a positive surface charge value. The PLL-g-PLGA micelles exhibited much higher transfection efficiency with lower cytotoxicity than PLL. Here, we demonstrated that biodegradable and cationic PLL-g-PLGA micelles could be used as an effective DNA condensation carrier for gene delivery system.     

Alkaloidal components ofPanax ginseng

Over twelve alkaloids were delected in the roots ofPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Among them three alkaloids were isolated and were identified as N₉-formylharman, ethyl β-carboline-1-carboxylate and perlolyrine on the basis of spectroscopic studies.     

Pancreatoblastoma--histopathological and ultrastructural analysis of two cases.

Pancreatoblastoma has been described in children and characterized by unique histologic features and excellent clinical course. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of pancreatoblastoma reveal either exocrine alone or both endocrine and exocrine differentiation. We present two cases of pancreatoblastoma in children in which immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination failed to demonstrate features of either enzyme or hormone production and which became worse in clinical course. We assume that pancreatoblastomas are tumors which differentiate more toward acinar or ductal elements than toward islet cell.     

A prospective study of Autologous Growth Factors (AGF) in lumbar interbody fusion.

BACKGROUND: Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have reported on the use of platelet concentrates to promote tissue healing. The results in spinal fusion applications are limited and controversial. PURPOSE: The purpose of the current prospective clinical cohort study is to assess the effect of Autologous Growth Factors (AGF) on lumbar interbody fusion with specific attention paid to determination of clinical and radiographic outcomes. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective clinical study PATIENT SAMPLE: Candidates for anterior-posterior lumbar fusion with diagnosis of degenerative disc disease and/or up to grade I spondylolytic spondylolisthesis based on positive provocative discography. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical (visual analogue pain scale/functional outcome assessment) and radiographic outcomes (fusion on computed tomography at 6 months and plain radiographs at 12 and 24 months). METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were assigned to standard anterior-posterior interbody fusion L2-S1 (single or two-level) using iliac crest bone graft (autograft group: 22 patients with 32 levels operated) or allograft combined with autogenous growth factors (AGF group: 15 patients with 25 levels operated). Radiographic outcomes were collected at 6 months postsurgery with computed tomography and at 12 and 24 months with plain radiographs. Pre- and postoperative clinical outcome measures included visual analog scores (VAS) for back and leg pain (0-10), SF-36 scores, and Oswestry disability determination. Average clinical and radiographic follow-up for the autograft group was 24.3+/-5.6 months (12-36 months) and AGF was 25.7+/-7.5 (6-40 months). RESULTS: Fusion incorporation at each end plate was determined at 56% in both autograft and AGF (p=NS) patients based on computed tomography at 6 months with minimal subsidence noted and no direct correlation between the incidence or degree of cage subsidence and bone graft technique. The 12- and 24-month radiographic results confirmed an 85% arthrodesis rate for the autograft patients, whereas the AGF patients had an 89% fusion rate (p=NS). Clinical outcomes were similar for both groups and no significant differences were noted for pain or functional outcome improvements. CONCLUSIONS: AGF combined with an allograft carrier is equivalent in radiographic and clinical outcomes to autograft in one- or two-level lumbar interbody fusion with supplemental posterior fixation and, thus, eliminates any morbidity from iliac crest bone graft harvesting. AGF combined with an appropriate carrier is a reasonable alternative to autograft and expensive bone induction technologies. Further research is still required to examine the optimum carriers, preparation and formulation, and platelet concentrations for this technology.     

The immunomodulatory effects of 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol on murine splenocyte and peritoneal macrophage function in vitro.

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol (MCPD) is a well-known by-product of acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce during its manufacturing process. MCPD has been reported genotoxic in vitro, and reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity in rats. To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of MCPD on murine splenocyte and macrophage in vitro, we investigated splenocyte blastogenesis by concanavalin A (Con A), anti-CD3, and lipopolyssacharide (LPS), the production of cytokines from splenocyte, and the activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages. There was a significant decrease in lymphocyte blastogenesis to Con A or anti-CD3 at subtoxic dose of MCPD. A significant decrease in splenocyte blastogenesis to LPS was also observed. The production level of interferon (IFN)-gamma on splenocyte culture with Con A was significantly reduced at the higher concentration than 1.0mM of MCPD. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 were also decreased at high concentrations of MCPD. There was a significant decrease in production of nitric oxide (NO) by peritoneal macrophages treated with MCPD. MCPD also inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production of stimulated macrophages. These results indicate that MCPD might be able to reduce the functionality of lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro.     

Depressed convulsions by diazepam and its effects on brain monoamines and amino acids in E1 mice

The effect of diazepam on inbred mutant E1 mice, which develop convulsive seizures after repeated sessions of being tossed up, was examined. Acute administration of diazepam (32 mg/kg, i.p.) completely inhibited the convulsions. At that time, the dopamine level was increased in the cortex and hippocampus, and the norepinephrine level in the cerebellum was decreased. 5-Hydroxytryptamine levels were not changed. As for amino acids, the glutamine level increased and the levels of GABA, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and other amino acids were not changed.