SPINAL CORD TRANSECTION: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS OF THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE MATRIX FORMED WITHIN THE SITE OF LESION FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF PIROMEN, CYTOXAN OR TRYPSIN

Spinal cord transection: a quantitative analysis of elements of the connective tissue matrix formed within the site of lesion following administration of piromen, cytoxan or trypsin
Long-Evans hooded rats were cordotomized at the T-5 level and given either (1) cyclophosphamide (cytoxan), an immunosuppressive, (2) piromen, a bacterial polysaccharide-nucleic acid complex, (3) topical and systemic trypsin, or (4) no further specific treatment. Because of past and present controversy surrounding the proposed ability of these agents to promote spinal cord regeneration, a systematic study, employing light and electron microscopy, and quantitative methods in a single animal model, was done in order to re-evaluate the effects of each treatment upon the connective tissue matrix which forms in the defect left by transection. After an initial inflammatory reaction during the first week after surgery, the lesion zone is characterized either by areas of dense collagenous connective tissue with occasional fibroblasts and macrophages, or a loose areolar tissue with numerous sheets and cords of mesodermal cellular elements but minimal collagen. By 45 days postoperatively (dpo), axons supported by Schwann cells invade and become entangled in the loose connective tissue matrix. With longer postoperative survival, cysts appear craniad and caudad to the lesion and erode much of the scar together with viable neural tissue. Giving cytoxan or piromen did not result in any qualitative alteration of the scar matrix as evidenced by electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis revealed a slight reduction in the fibrous connective tissue component of the scar at 45–90 dpo, but this was transient when longer postoperative periods were studied. Trypsin caused a significant reduction in the amount of fibrous connective tissue with a concomitant increase in loose connective tissue and the appearance of a few distinctive, compact bundles of unmyelinated axons lacking Schwann cells.     

Prior Calcium Channel Blockade and Short-Term Survival Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

There is concern over the safety of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in acute coronary disease. We sought to determine if patients taking calcium channel blockers (CCBs) at the time of admission with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had a higher case-fatality compared with those taking beta-blockers or neither medication. Clinical and drug treatment variables at the time of hospital admission predictive of survival at 28 days were examined in a community-based registry of patients aged under 65 years admitted to hospital for suspected AMI in Perth, Australia, between 1984 and 1993. Among 7766 patients, 1291 (16.6%) were taking a CCB and 1259 (16.2%) a betablocker alone at hospital admission. Patients taking CCBs had a worse clinical profile than those taking a beta-blocker alone or neither drug (control group), and a higher unadjusted 28-day mortality (17.6% versus 9.3% and 11.1% respectively, both P < 0.001). There was no significant heterogeneity with respect to mortality between nifedipine, diltiazem, or verapamil when used alone, or with a beta-blocker. After adjustment for factors predictive of death at 28 days, patients taking a CCB were found not to have an excess chance of death compared with the control group (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.87, 1.30), whereas those taking a beta-blocker alone had a lower odds of death (OR 0.75, 95% CI; 0.59, 0.94). These results indicate that established calcium channel blockade is not associated with an excess risk of death following AMI once other differences between patients are taken into account, but neither does it have the survival advantage seen with prior beta-blocker therapy.     

An evaluation of the prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients attending the outpatient oncology clinic

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of cancer patients attending the medical oncology outpatient setting for the first time. Methods: One‐hundred and forty‐one patients (87 males, 54 females) were assessed by a dietitian, using the nutrition assessment tool, the Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA). Tumor types included colorectal, head and neck, lung, pancreatic, gastric or esophageal cancer. No patient had previously received chemotherapy. Results: Forty‐eight (34%) patients were well nourished (PG‐SGA rating A), 79 (56%) patients were at risk of malnutrition (B), and 14 (10%) patients were malnourished (C). The median PG‐SGA score was 7. There were no significant differences in nutritional status between those > 65 years and those ≤ 65 years. The highest PG‐SGA scores (indicating a greater nutritional risk) were found in patients with gastric, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers. There were significant differences found between certain cancer groups using the PG‐SGA, however, these were not detected using other more commonly used criteria, such as the body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: This study confirms that the majority of new patients with cancer presenting to a medical oncologist are at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. It calls for better screening, and adequate nutrition intervention in patients who are about to be considered for systemic treatment.     

大鼠同种异体甲状旁腺脑室内移植后胶质细胞的c-fos表达

以Wistar大鼠为供体，SD大鼠为受体，在立体定向仪上将同种异体的甲状旁腺移植到SD大鼠的侧脑室。应用免疫细胞化学方法对移植后脑内c-fos的表达进行了研究。移植后24h，前脑内开始出现c-fos的表达，4d达到高峰，持续1周后逐渐减少。到移植后4周，c-fos表达基本消失。c-fos表达的部位主要出现在白质内（如胼胝体。前连合等）以及侧脑室周围的脑组织（如隔区、纹状体等）。诱导表达的c-fos阳性细胞呈簇状、大小不等，类似正在分裂增殖中的小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞。本文结果提示，在同种异体甲状旁腺脑室内移植过程中c-fos的表达可能与胶质细胞的活化和增殖有关。     

Imaging of follicular dendritic cell tumours of the liver

Follicular dendritic cell tumour of the liver is a recently recognized entity. To date, only two cases have been described, both in the pathology literature. Histologically, it resembles an inflammatory pseudotumour and immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies are required for its diagnosis. The ultrasound, computed tomography and angiographic features of two cases of follicular dendritic cell tumour of the liver are described in detail. One of the patients had multiple recurrences of this tumour. The imaging features are very similar to those of hepatocellular carcinoma. As follicular dendritic cell tumour is considered to be of low-grade malignant potential, in contrast to the dismal prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma, it is important to be able to accurately distinguish between the two types of tumour prior to initiating definitive therapy.     

A DISMANTLING TRIAL OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND FEEDBACK AMONG HEAVY DRINKING COLLEGE STUDENTS

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a brief intervention that has been shown to reduce heavy drinking among college students. To date, all college studies of MI (and most adult studies) have used an intervention format that includes a feedback profile delivered in an MI style. This presentation will discuss the results of a dismantling trial of motivational interviewing, and feedback among heavy drinking college students. After an initial screen, 350 heavy drinking students were randomized to: (1) MI with feedback, (2) MI without feedback, (3) Web feedback only, (4) Assessment only, or (5) Delayed assessment only. At 6 months, only MI with feedback showed an effect over control in reducing drinks per week, peak BAC, and drinking related consequences. Neither MI nor feedback alone had an effect over assessment. Drinking severity moderated the effect of the interventions.