The role of endothelin-1 during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

In order to investigate the role of endothelin-1 during ischemia-reperfusion injury, 80 adult male Wistar rats were subjected to three hours of ischemia and one hour of reperfusion. Animals were evenly divided into eight groups. The rats in group 1 served as the normal control group, while the rats in group 2 received an intravenous infusion of endothelin-1 in a dosage of 0.5 ng/kg/min, group 3 in a dosage of 5 ng/kg/min, and group 4 in a dosage of 50 ng/kg/min. The rats in group 5 were infused with angiotensin II (10 ng/kg/min). The rats in group 6 received an intravenous infusion of 10,000 units of superoxide dismutase and 10,000 units of catalase. Group 7 rats were infused with endothelin-1 (50 ng/kg/min), superoxide dismutase (10,000 units), and catalase (10,000 units). Group 8 rats received an infusion of angiotensin II (10 ng/kg/min), superoxide dismutase (10,000 units) and catalase (10,000 units). The infusions were given during the reperfusion period. After one hour of reperfusion, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the experimental animals were excised and assayed for ischemia-reperfusion injury by measuring triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction. The results showed that the limb activity of the ischemic extremity was 40.33 +/- 2.75% in group 1, 41.62 +/- 4.08% in group 2, 14.42 +/- 3.14% in group 3, 4.43 +/- 1.05% in group 4, 23.81 +/- 3.51% in group 5, 57.23 +/- 4.52% in group 6, 31.79 42- 3.63% in group 7, and 27.39 +/- 3.95% in group 8. Endothelin-1 reduced the limb activity in a dose-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hemiparkinsonism in a patient with frontal meningioma.

We report on a 44-year-old woman with a right frontal meningioma, who presented with resting tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia in the left limbs. There were no other neurologic manifestations. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a huge high-density mass in the right frontal lobe and marked surrounding edema causing compression of the basal ganglia. Cerebral angiography showed a typical sunburst tumor stain and three feeding vessels from the bilateral middle meningeal arteries and the right callosomarginal artery. The pathologic diagnosis was transitional type meningioma. Before surgery, treatment with levodopa and bromocriptine was significantly effective in controlling hemiparkinsonism, which completely disappeared after surgical removal of the tumor. This outcome supports the notion that local compression due to edema may cause a functional disorder in the basal ganglia producing reversible contralateral parkinsonism.     

Conservative treatment of neonatal hydronephrosis.

From February 1990 to January 1991, 19 cases of hydronephrosis in children of less than one year of age were managed at Mackay Memorial Hospital. In the majority of these patients, there were evident causes such as ureteropelvic junction stenosis, ureterovesical reflux or a posterior urethral valve for which definite therapeutic measures were performed. However, some cases had no obvious origins and the hydronephrosis was speculated to be from nonobstructive or physiologic dilatation of the kidneys. The conventional tools, such as intravenous pyelogram or renal ultrasound, which comprise the mainstay of diagnosis, provide limited information on renal functional status. Recent introduction of the Tc-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) diuretic renal scan has enabled us to distinguish between obstructive and nonobstructive hydronephrosis and helps us to determine whether or not surgery is necessary. In the past year, eight patients with hydronephrosis of less than one year of age were diagnosed as nonobstructive after a series of evaluations using renal ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and Tc-99m DTPA diuretic renal scan. Follow-up studies by echography or DTPA renal scan revealed spontaneous resolution of the dilated collecting systems in these cases and confirms our belief that some hydronephrosis in neonates and infants may resolve spontaneously and may just be a manifestation of physiologic change during development. The value of the Tc-99m DTPA diuretic renal scan in the diagnosis of obstructive uropathy is discussed.     

Compartmentalization of anterogradely and retrogradely transported organelles in axons and growth cones from chick optic tectum

Previous work suggests that organelles contacting microtubules in axons are in fast transport. Here, we examine the distribution of organelles contacting microtubules in growing axons and growth cones from chick optic tectum. Five axon segments, each 10 microns long, and 4 entire growth cones were reconstructed from serial electron micrographs of quick-frozen, freeze-substituted chick optic tectum. Organelles contacting microtubules in axons are evenly distributed along all microtubules. Smaller organelles, presumably in anterograde transport, are enclosed in fascicles of microtubules, while larger organelles in retrograde transport lie outside the fascicles. In contrast, organelles contacting microtubules are prevalent only in the most proximal parts of the growth cone, before the microtubule fascicles splay out more distally. The distance between noncontacting organelles and microtubules also becomes progressively greater, reaching a maximum in the mid- and more distal region of the growth cone. Contacts with microtubules of both the smaller, presumably anterogradely transported organelles, as well as the larger, presumably retrogradely transported organelles, abruptly become less frequent in the proximal midregion of the growth cone. It is therefore of possible significance in stopping and starting microtubule-based organelle transport that microtubules change from a straight to an undulating configuration in the midregion of the growth cone. The decrease in organelle binding to microtubules at the demarcations between the straight and undulating microtubule segments may depend on proteins or other local factors as well as the splaying out of the microtubule bundles.     

Randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing montelukast and cetirizine for treating perennial allergic rhinitis in children aged 2–6 yr

Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) were recently added to the method of treating allergic rhinitis (AR). However, in children under 6 yr old, there has been no study about its efficacy in treating AR. We aim to compare the clinical efficacy of montelukast, cetirizine and placebo in the treatment of children from 2 to 6 yr old with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), to see if there are any significant differences. Sixty children were selected and treated with montelukast, or cetirizine, or placebo once daily. The efficacy of the three agents was compared with the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and Total Symptom Score (TSS) by diary. In addition, we also examined serum IgE, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), blood eosinophil counts, nasal airway resistance (NAR) and eosinophil percentage in nasal smears. The results revealed that both montelukast and cetirizine were significantly efficacious compared with placebo in NAR, eosinophil percentage in nasal smears, PRQLQ, TSS and all symptom items except nasal itching, throat itching and tearing. For nasal itching, only cetirizine was significantly efficacious. On the other hand, for night sleep quality, montelukast was significantly superior to cetirizine.     

健康和病变人声带振动特性声门图

本文用多功能声门图仪测定了健康受试者(男46名,女34名)和不同喉病患者(男134名,女87名)声门图的波形及其特征参数。根据测出的正常声门图及其参数分布研究了恶性喉病变、声带麻痹、喉内关节病变、功能性声门发声障碍、声带息肉、声带小结、喉炎和早期喉病的临床声门图表现及其与声带振动模式变异之间的关系,并探讨了上述病变声门图的鉴别诊断指标和用声门图对喉病手术治疗、药物治疗和功能治疗的疗效进行定性和定量评价。研究结果证实:声门图方法能准确、定量、灵敏地反映声带振动模式及其变异;在喉病诊治中具有重要的应用价值。     

Accidental ingestion of Ecstasy in a toddler.

Toddlers who ingest the drug of abuse 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') are at particularly high risk of serious neurological and cardiovascular side effects. We report of a 20-month-old male toddler who accidentally ingested Ecstasy. He presented with fever and seizures, tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia. Urine amphetamine level was 2111 ng/mL. Treatment included rapid cooling, hydration, and support measures. Vital signs were regularly monitored. His condition became stable on day 2 and urine amphetamine level returned to normal on day 3 of hospitalization. His behavior, activity, and appetite had returned to their usual levels upon follow-up at our outpatient clinic. The incidence of drug abuse with MDMA has increased dramatically over the last decade in developed countries. It can be expected that accidental Ecstasy poisoning in children will increase as well. This case illustrates the need to consider the possibility of accidental Ecstasy ingestion in the differential diagnosis of a child suffering from convulsions with fever.