Serotonergic interhemispheric asymmetry: Neurochemical and pharmaco-EEG evidence

1. Postmortem neurochemical investigations revealed interhemispheric asymmetry in the mediofrontal region of human brain. Significantly higher right hemisphere serotonin metabolite (5HIAA) content as well as increased maximal imipramine binding (IB) were found in the right hemisphere than in the left side.

2. IB did not show a gender difference in the mediofrontal area. However, women had higher IB in the right orbital frontal cortex than did men.

3. In vivo pharmaco-EEG results tend to support the postmortem neurochemical data. Intravenous chlorimipramine resulted in an asymmetric topographic distribution of the P300 auditory evoked potential, peak amplitudes were shifted to the right hemisphere.     

Development of rostrocaudal dendritic bundles in rat thoracic spinal cord: analysis of cholinergic sympathetic preganglionic neurons.

Using monoclonal antibodies to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), we have analyzed the development of the dendritic bundles formed by cholinergic sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) in relationship to changes in the organization of glial fibers. In adult rat thoracic spinal cord, SPNs in the intermediolateral (IML) and central autonomic (CA) regions extend dendrites in both the mediolateral and rostrocaudal directions, forming a ladder-like pattern in horizontal sections of thoracic spinal cord. We report that, while the mediolateral dendrites form prenatally, the rostrocaudal dendritic bundles are not detected until at least a week later, during early postnatal life. The rostrocaudal dendrites develop rapidly during the first postnatal week, and achieve an adult-like pattern by postnatal day 14. The observed ontogenetic arrangements of dendritic bundles were correlated with the developing organization of astroglial processes with which they are intimately associated. While the appearance of mediolateral dendrites is consistent with the radial organization of glial in the embryonic spinal cord, the developmental time course of the rostrocaudal dendritic bundles coincides with the transformation of glial cells from this predominantly radial or transverse orientation to the randomly-oriented, stellate pattern of mature astrocytes. This temporal association suggests that ontogenetic changes in the organization of glial cells may contribute to the differential development of mediolateral and rostrocaudal dendritic patterns in the spinal cord.     

Differential ontogenesis of type I and II benzodiazepine receptors in mouse cerebellum

The ontogeny of type I and type II benzodiazepine binding sites was studied in mouse cerebellum by displacement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding by zolpidem, a ligand specific for the type I sites. Type I binding sites predominate throughout development and in the adult while type II sites account for 25% of total cerebellar benzodiazepine binding sites at birth and, during development, decrease to 10% or less in the adult. On a per cerebellum basis type II sites increase during the first postnatal week and then remain at a steady level while type I sites increase until adulthood. These results may indicate a specific localization of the type II sites (and of the corresponding alpha-protein subunits in the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex) in structures already present at birth and developing during a short early postnatal period. The affinity of zolpidem for its high affinity (type I) binding sites increases during cerebellar ontogeny, this increase possibly indicates an epigenetic (post-translational) 'maturation' process of the corresponding receptor molecule. Hill numbers indicate the existence of an additional binding site heterogeneity greater during development but still present in the adult; probably this is to be related to the simultaneous presence of different 'maturation' stages during development and with a certain variety of the final products.     

Temporomandibular joint eminence augmentation by down-fracture and inter-positional cartilage graft. A new surgical technique.

A new surgical technique for the treatment of recurrent temporomandibular joint subluxation or dislocation is described. Following a horizontal osteotomy and down-fracture of the articular eminence an inter-positional bovine cartilage xenograft is inserted in order to augment the vertical height of the eminence. The procedure combines simplicity with minimal post-operative morbidity. The increase in eminence height is both predictable and stable.     

Microscopic endonasal surgery of the paranasal sinuses and the parasellar region

The anatomic principles and operative techniques currently applied to functional endoscopic endonasal surgery have allowed for significant refinements in another approach to regional pathology that uses the operating microscope, newly designed sinus instruments, and a self-retaining nasal speculum system. The main benefits of this method are the superb widefield stereoscopic vision and the distinct freedom to work bimanually. Additionally, direct bipolar cautery of bleeders is afforded while use of the observer tube or video allows for excellent teaching. The precise nature of this surgery affords less fear of serious complications in the treatment of periorbital, paranasal sinus, and parasellar diseases. We describe technical aspects of the surgery and associated complications in 219 patients treated from 1984 to 1987.     

Manifestation of malignant lymphoma of the head and neck with special reference to the salivary glands

We found that thirteen per cent of all head and neck malignomas are malignant lymphomas. In 75% of these cases the Non-Hodgkin type could be found. The major salivary glands were involved by the lymphoma in 55% out of 104 patients. Paraglandular lymph nodes of the parotid gland were affected as well as intraglandular lymph nodes and the lymphoid tissue within the gland proper. The submandibular gland normally shows an involvement only with its paraglandular lymph nodes. Two thirds of the Non-Hodgkin lymphomas located in the salivary glands were low-grade. In case of clinical suspicion of a malignant lymphoma, fine needle biopsy is required for cytological diagnosis. However, surgery is mandatory for histological diagnosis, not as a therapeutic measure.     

Pyoderma gangrenosum and related disorders

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon ulcerative cutaneous condition with distinctive clinical characteristics and a frequent association with systemic diseases. Most frequently among the associated disease list are: inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, and a variety of hematologic disorders. There is no specific treatment of PG; however, the effective treatment of an accompanying systemic disease, local therapy, and/or the use of topical or systemic agents known to be useful in neutrophil disorders, have been beneficial in most patients.     

Role of red blood cell deformation in toxicity of contrast media in cerebral angiography

The authors investigated the effect on the brain of red blood cells that had been modified by contrast media. Rat blood was mixed with an equivolume of contrast media, and up to 200 microL of the mixture was infused to the internal carotid artery of the rat. Evans blue was administered intravenously to assess the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Immediately after the death of the animal, or 2.5 hours after the infusion, the brain was removed for evaluation of the degree of BBB destruction and edema. Extensive destruction of the BBB, cerebral edema, and death of the animals were induced by infusion of blood mixed with an ionic contrast medium, such as diatrizoate and iothalamate, which deformed red blood cells. Microscopic observation showed atrophy and necrosis of nerve cells and decomposition of nerve fibers in the affected area of the brain. Cerebral damage was not observed in rats injected with blood mixed with a nonionic contrast medium such as iopamidol, iopromide, or metrizamide, which had less effect on red blood cells. Cerebral damage also was observed in the rats injected with blood mixed with a hyperosmotic solution of mannitol, as well as washed red blood cells mixed with an ionic contrast medium. This study's results indicate that hyperosmotic ionic contrast media affect red blood cells and cause disturbance in cerebral circulation.     

Epidemic measles in an isolated unvaccinated population, India

Between June and September, 1986, an outbreak of measles occurred in Pilkhi Primary Health Centre area (population 56,000) in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Overall, 1092 cases were identified and 62 died; case-fatality ratio was 5.7%. Illness was restricted primarily to children below 15 years of age; 38% cases were in children under 5 and 58% between 5-14 years of age. To better characterize the outbreak, a survey was conducted in 13 affected villages. The age of the cases ranged from 5 months to 19 years (median = 7.0 years). The age-specific attack rates were 22.4%, 54.5%, 46.2% and 35.3% for children under 1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14 years of age respectively. In as many as four villages, the attack rate in children below ten was 80% or more. Secondary attack rate among family members was 70%. Overall, 82% of children with measles developed complications which consisted mainly of pneumonia, diarrhoea and dysentery. The age-specific case-fatality ratios in infants and children 1-4 years of age were 23.1% and 11.5% respectively; thereafter the rates tended to decline with increasing age and was higher in females than in males (less than 0.05). Pneumonia which was a complication in 39% of measles cases contributed to 56% of deaths. Traditional beliefs and customs in the area were strong and did not encourage treatment of measles cases. Although a measles vaccination programme has been launched in India since 1985, only 30 districts could be covered during the first year and another 90 during 1986.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity during graded cycle ergometry

The present study was undertaken to define the response of plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (ir-BE) to exercise of increasing intensity. Nineteen healthy males performed continuous exercise for 32 min on a cycle ergometer, comprised of 8-min bouts at %VO2max approximating 25, 50, and 75% of maximal exercise. Venous blood samples were collected before exercise (T = -20 and 0 min), during exercise (T = 8, 16, 24, and 32 min), and in recovery (T = +15, +30 min). Ir-BE in plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay using Immuno Nuclear assay kits. Plasma ir-BE level (pg X ml-1) was not altered from pre-exercise (18.3 +/- 1.3) after 8 min of exercise at 25 and 50% VO2max intensity; however, ir-BE rose significantly after 8 min of 75% VO2max work intensity (27.1 +/- 2.4) and was further elevated at maximal exercise (74.1 +/- 8.6). Ir-BE level remained elevated 15 min (60.9 +/- 8.1) and 30 min (35.2 +/- 5.2) post-exercise. The response pattern was further characterized by a significant (P less than 0.05) inter-individual variation, both at rest and during exercise; also, regression analysis indicated the ir-Be levels attained at maximal exercise were inversely related to the relative VO2max (ml X kg-1 X min-1) of the subject (predicted ir-BE = 248.2 - 3.39 VO2max; r = -0.397, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)