MRI of Recurrent Cystic Mesothelioma: Differential Diagnosis of Cystic Pelvic Masses

A case of recurrent cystic pelvic mesothelioma in a woman who developed pelvic fullness, frequent urination, and pressure sensation in the lower abdomen with interesting magnetic resonance imaging findings is presented. The differential diagnosis of cystic pelvic masses is briefly discussed.     

Transplanted neural stem cells survive,differentiate, and improve neurological motor function after experimental traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: Using the neural stem cell (NSC) clone C17.2, we evaluated the ability of transplanted murine NSCs to attenuate cognitive and neurological motor deficits after traumatic brain injury. METHODS: Nonimmunosuppressed C57BL/6 mice (n = 65) were anesthetized and subjected to lateral controlled cortical impact brain injury (n = 52) or surgery without injury (sham operation group, n = 13). At 3 days postinjury, all brain-injured animals were reanesthetized and randomized to receive stereotactic injection of NSCs or control cells (human embryonic kidney cells) into the cortex-hippocampus interface in either the ipsilateral or the contralateral hemisphere. One group of animals (n = 7) was killed at either 1 or 3 weeks postinjury to assess NSC survival in the acute posttraumatic period. Motor function was evaluated at weekly intervals for 12 weeks in the remaining animals, and cognitive (i.e., learning) deficits were assessed at 3 and 12 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS: Brain-injured animals that received either ipsilateral or contralateral NSC transplants showed significantly improved motor function in selected tests as compared with human embryonic kidney cell-transplanted animals during the 12-week observation period. Cognitive dysfunction was unaffected by transplantation at either 3 or 12 weeks postinjury. Histological analyses showed that NSCs survive for as long as 13 weeks after transplantation and were detected in the hippocampus and/or cortical areas adjacent to the injury cavity. At 13 weeks, the NSCs transplanted ipsilateral to the impact site expressed neuronal (NeuN) or astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein) markers but not markers of oligodendrocytes (2'3'cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase), whereas the contralaterally transplanted NSCs expressed neuronal but not glial markers (double-labeled immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that transplanted NSCs can survive in the traumatically injured brain, differentiate into neurons and/or glia, and attenuate motor dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.     

Biopharmaceutical assessment of eye drops containing aloe (Aloe arborescens Mill.) and neomycin sulphate

The subject of the studies was eye drops made of aloe, containing the group of aloe chemical substances of anti-inflammatory use and neomycin sulphate. The aim of the studies was to evaluate the permeability of biologically active aloe substances, determined as aloenin, through synthetic lipophilic and hydrophilic membranes in a standard perfusion apparatus and in vitro verification of the transport possibilities of these substances through the isolated cornea of pig's eye. The permeability process of biologically active aloe substances determined as aloenin, through synthetic lipophilic and hydrophilic membranes, was analyzed using the first-order kinetics. Estimated quotas of permeability rate constant show that the investigated chemical compounds of aloe, included in the eye drops, diffused through the applied membranes. The studies of permeability through isolated pig's cornea proved that biologically active aloe substances could not overcome this biological barrier. On the basis of biopharmaceutical studies it can be concluded that the eye drops containing aloe and neomycin sulphate, due to the lack of permeating abilities through the eye cornea, should be particularly useful in the treatment of inflammations and infections of external parts of the eye, such as conjuctiva, eyelid edges, lacrimal sac and cornea.     

The moderating effect of anxiety sensitivity on caffeine-induced hypoalgesia in healthy women

Abstract Rationale. Caffeine is an analgesic adjuvant, but also has panicogenic properties. Anxiety sensitivity is a trait vulnerability factor related to negative responses to pain, and is known to moderate negative psychological responses to caffeine. Objectives. The current study sought to investigate whether anxiety sensitivity moderates the effect caffeine has on the pain responses of healthy women. Methods. Caffeine (250 mg) was administered to women pre-selected as high, medium or low in anxiety sensitivity. Measures of arousal and mood were taken before and after drug administration. The cold pressor pain task was used to induce pain. Pain threshold, tolerance, sensory and affective pain responses were also recorded. Results. Caffeine increased systolic blood pressure and mood. Additionally, those low in anxiety sensitivity exhibited caffeine-induced improvement in negative mood (less depressed) and caffeine-related hypoalgesia. Conclusions. These results suggest that the analgesic effects of caffeine may depend on anxiety sensitivity status, and that the fear of bodily sensations should be considered in pain management programmes. Electronic Publication     

Residual effects of middle-of-the-night administration of zaleplon and zolpidem on driving ability,memory functions,and psychomotor performance

Thirty healthy volunteers participated in this two-part study. Part 1 was a single-blind, two-period crossover design to determine the effects of a single dose of ethanol (0.03% < BAC < 0.05%) or ethanol-placebo on driving ability, memory, and psychomotor performance. Part 2 was a double-blind, five-period crossover design to measure the effects of a middle-of-the-night administration of zaleplon 10 or 20 mg, zolpidem 10 or 20 mg, or placebo on driving ability 4 hours after administration and memory and psychomotor performance 6 hours after administration. The on-the-road driving test consisted of operating an instrumented automobile over a 100-km highway circuit at a constant speed (95 km/h) while maintaining a steady lateral position between the right lane boundaries. The standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) was the primary performance parameter of the driving test. The psychomotor and memory test battery consisted of the Word Learning Test, the Critical Tracking Test, the Divided Attention Test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Data for each part were analyzed separately using ANOVA for crossover designs. Zaleplon 10 and 20 mg did not significantly impair driving ability 4 hours after middle-of-the-night administration. Relative to placebo, after zolpidem 10 mg, SDLP was significantly elevated, but the magnitude of the difference was small and not likely to be of clinical importance. Memory and psychomotor test performance was unaffected after both doses of zaleplon and zolpidem 10 mg. In contrast, zolpidem 20 mg significantly increased SDLP and speed variability. Further, zolpidem 20 mg significantly impaired performance on all psychomotor and memory tests. Finally, driving performance, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Divided Attention Test, and immediate and delayed free recall of the Word Learning Test were significantly impaired after ethanol. The results show that zaleplon (10 and 20 mg) is a safe hypnotic devoid of next-morning residual impairment when used in the middle of the night.     

Distinct haplotype profiles and strong linkage disequilibrium at the MDR1 multidrug transporter gene locus in three ethnic Asian populations

The MDR1 multidrug transporter plays a key role in determining drug bioavailability, and differences in drug response exist amongst different ethnic groups. Numerous studies have identified an association between the MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) exon 26 3435C>T and differences in MDR1 function. We performed a haplotype analysis of the MDR1 gene in three major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays and Indians) by examining 10 intragenic SNPs. Four were polymorphic in all three ethnic groups: one occurring in the non-coding region and three occurring in coding exons. All three coding SNPs (exon 12 1236C>T, exon 21 2677G>T/A and exon 26 3435C>T) were present in high frequency in each ethnic group, and the derived haplotype profiles exhibited distinct differences between the groups. Fewer haplotypes were observed in the Malays (n = 6) compared to the Chinese (n = 10) and Indians (n = 9). Three major haplotypes (> 10% frequency) were observed in the Malays and Chinese; of these, two were observed in the Indians. Strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) was detected between the three SNPs in all three ethnic groups. The strongest LD was present in the Chinese, followed by Indians and Malays, with the corresponding LD blocks estimated to be approximately 80 kb, 60 kb and 40 kb, respectively. These data strongly support the hypothesis that strong LD between the neutral SNP exon 26 3435C>T and a nearby unobserved causal SNP underlies the observed associations between the neutral SNP and MDR1 functional differences. Furthermore, strong LD between exon 26 3435T and different unobserved causal SNPs in different study populations may provide a plausible explanation for conflicting reports associating the same exon 26 3435T allele with different MDR1 functional changes.     

Effect of intra-tegmental microinjections of 5-HT1B receptor ligands on the amphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in rats

Previous research demonstrated that the mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) pathway played a critical role in the behavioral effects of amphetamine in rodents. Nonetheless, recent findings have also indicated involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) transmission in these effects. In the present study, we investigated the role of 5-HT1B receptors located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the amphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in rats. Male Wistar rats, implanted bilaterally with cannulae in the VTA were infused with saline (0.2 microl/side), GR 55562 (an antagonist of 5-HT1B receptors; 0.1-1 microg/side) or CP 93129 (an agonist of 5-HT1B receptors; 0.003-0.03 microg/side) immediately prior to the injection of saline (1 ml/kg, ip) or amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, ip). The monitoring of locomotor activity in photobeam chambers began at once and proceeded for 60 min. Neither GR 55562 nor CP 93129 affected basal locomotor activity. Pretreatment with GR 55562 (0.1-1 microg/side) did not affect the locomotor hyperactivity evoked by amphetamine. On the other hand, microinjections of CP 93129 (0.01-0.03 microg/side) enhanced the amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotor activity. GR 55562 (1 microg/side) markedly reduced the enhancing effects of CP 93129 (0.01 microg/side) on the amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. These findings indicate that 5-HT1B receptors located in the VTA do not play a major role in the hyperlocomotion elicited by amphetamine, whereas their activation may modulate the behavioral response to the psychostimulant.     

Inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the urinary sediment of patients with lupus nephritis

OBJECTIVE: Lupus nephritis is characterized by intrarenal inflammation and lymphocyte activation. In the present study, the expression of cytokine genes in the urinary sediment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was examined. METHODS: We studied 3 SLE patient groups (25 with active lupus nephritis [active group], 25 with inactive SLE and previous renal involvement [remission group], 20 with inactive SLE and no history of renal involvement [nonrenal SLE group]) and 2 control groups (10 patients with noninflammatory renal diseases [non-SLE group] and 10 healthy volunteers [healthy group]). Cytokine gene expression in the urinary sediment was studied by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Expression of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) in urinary sediment was significantly higher in the active group than in all other groups (P < 0.001 by Kruskal-Wallis test). Among the SLE patient groups, there was a close correlation between IFNgamma expression and the overall SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score (Spearman's r = 0.590, P < 0.001) and the SLEDAI renal score (r = 0.642, P < 0.001). Urinary expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the active group was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (P = 0.046) but not in the remission or nonrenal SLE groups. There was no difference in the levels of IL-4 expression among the SLE groups. CONCLUSION: We found a predominance of Th1 cytokine in the urinary sediment of patients with active lupus nephritis. Measurement of cytokine gene expression in urinary sediment may be a useful noninvasive tool for assessing the severity of renal involvement in SLE.