The inhibitory power of 2-isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate against serum cholinesterase of various individuals

Summary The inhibition of serum cholinesterase by 2-isopropoxyphenyl-N-methylcarbamate in the sera of 10 subjects was measuredin vitro at a pH of 7.4 and at 25 C. Using two different methods, spectrophotometric and titrimetric, the same rate constantk _i=0.95·10³ M^–1 min^–1 for the inhibition of cholinesterase was obtained. No individual variations in the rate constantk _i were observed.     

Hypophysenstieldurchtrennung und Geschlechtsreifung

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 12 TextabbildungenMit Unterstützung der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur in Mainz.     

Utilizing Nottingham Prognostic Index in microarray gene expression profiling of breast carcinomas.

We report a novel approach to gene expression profiling using the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) to stratify 26 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. As an aggregate index of parameters reflecting metastatic potential, growth rate, and genetic instability the NPI has distinct advantages over other clinicopathologic features used to segregate breast cancer patients. As a continuous variable it offers a responsive and sensitive means of modeling a continuum of clinical aggressiveness. Using RNA extracted from 26 tumors and cDNA microarrays with 23 343 unique genetic elements, 84 genes and expressed sequence tags were identified whose expression patterns correlated with NPI. Differential expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) was also observed for two of three genes evaluated by this method. Correlation was determined by the Spearman rank correlation method with null distribution analysis. Among the 84 genetic elements were seven previously implicated in neoplastic progression (including the two demonstrating differential expression by IHC), 11 without specific cancer association but localized to chromosomal sites whose loss or gain has been identified in cytogenetic studies of breast carcinoma, and 73 not previously associated with breast carcinoma. Collectively, the expression patterns of these 84 elements have potential to distinguish high and low NPI patient samples. These data add support to the assertion that prognostic groups of breast carcinoma are reflected in distinguishable expression profiles of a limited set of genes.     

Midline facial defects with hypertelorism and low-grade astrocytoma: a previously undescribed association.

We report on a child with midline facial defects with hypertelorism (MFDH), median cleft lip, sphenoidal ventriculocele, partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, and low-grade astrocytoma in the cervicomedullary junction. This combination of findings has not been reported previously. Although this association might be casual, it demonstrates a relationship between disorders of frontonasal process and posterior fossae. It also suggests that individuals with MFDH might require a prospective follow-up with central nervous system magnetic resonance imaging.     

Cerebral infarction associated with lupus anticoagulants--preliminary report

Hypercoagulability may contribute to stroke in young adults. Lupus anticoagulants (LA) were identified in six patients (4%) of 145 young adults with cerebral infarction. The clinical features of the 6 patients in this survey plus an additional patient from another institution with LA-associated stroke are presented. Four had systemic lupus erythematosus and 3 had idiopathic LA; all had mild thrombocytopenia. In 2 patients, no other conditions associated with stroke were discovered after thorough evaluation. Recurrent arterial thrombosis occurred in 4 of 7 patients during an average of two years of follow-up. Evidence suggests that inhibition of prostacyclin formation may occur with LA, promoting a prothrombotic state.     

Number of potential reversals (turns) and amplitude of the pattern of electrical activity of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in patients with neurogenic diseases

We have quantified the pattern of electrical muscle activity at a force of 0.3 kg, 30% of maximum force, and maximum force in the abductor pollicis brevis muscle of 21 patients with neurogenic disorders (10 with carpal tunnel syndrome, 9 with polyneuropathy and 2 with motor neurone disease) and of 15 normal subjects. In normal subjects, the number of turns, the mean amplitude and the ratio between them were independent of maximum force, age and sex of the subjects. In 21 patients with neurogenic disorders, the cumulative diagnostic yield of the analysis of the pattern of electrical activity was 86% compared to the diagnostic yield of the mean duration and mean amplitude of individual motor unit potentials of 90%. These diagnostic yields in a small distal muscle were of the same order as those of the brachial biceps muscle in previous studies.