Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is required for performance of a strategy implementation task but not reinforcer devaluation effects in rhesus monkeys

The ability to apply behavioral strategies to obtain rewards efficiently and make choices based on changes in the value of rewards is fundamental to the adaptive control of behavior. The extent to which different regions of the prefrontal cortex are required for specific kinds of decisions is not well understood. We tested rhesus monkeys with bilateral ablations of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex on tasks that required the use of behavioral strategies to optimize the rate with which rewards were accumulated, or to modify choice behavior in response to changes in the value of particular rewards. Monkeys with ventrolateral prefrontal lesions were impaired in performing the strategy-based task, but not on value-based decision-making. In contrast, orbital prefrontal ablations produced the opposite impairments in the same tasks. These findings support the conclusion that independent neural systems within the prefrontal cortex are necessary for control of choice behavior based on strategies or on stimulus value.     

Incidence and distribution of opportunistic lung infections in aids patients related to intravenous drug use: A study of bronchoalveolar lavage cytology by the diff-quik stain

The present study was undertaken in order to determine the incidence and distribution of opportunistic lung infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related to intravenous drug use. One hundred ninety seven patients of both sexes were investigated. Based on bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, a total of 156 (79%) patients were found to harbor opportunistic lung infections by the Diff-Quik staining procedure. Seventy-nine percent of the males and 80% of the females were positive. Pneumocystis carinii was the most common of the opportunistic infections accounting for 83% of the positive cases. Cryptococcus. Candida sp., and Aspergillus sp. were also identified in a small number of patients. Cytomegalovirus was not detected in any of the cases under study. There were no sex-related differences in the distribution of the various infectious agents, males and females being equally affected.     

Use of the QTc interval and QTc dispersion in patients on haemodialysis: assessment of reproducibility.

Sir, Cardiac arrhythmias, frequently encountered in haemodialysis(HD) patients [1], are one of the major causes of cardiac deathin end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Increased QT and QT dispersion(QTd) measurements on a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) haveshown to be a useful and reliable means for predicting susceptibilityto life threatening ventricular arrhythmias. QT interval, reflectingthe total ventricular recovery time, and QTd, a direct measureof regional heterogeneity of myocardial repolarization, areboth abnormally prolonged in ESRD [2]. Moreover, recently, theseelectrical markers were found to be independent predictors oftotal and cardiovascular mortality in both non-uraemic     

Optical coherence tomography provides images similar to histology and allows the performance of extensive measurements of drug-eluting metal stents in animal ureters

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and histology images of metal stents (MSs) inserted in animal ureters were compared, and the reliability of an OCT-based automated method for the performance of quantitative evaluation of ureteral MSs was evaluated. A zotarolimus-eluting metal stent (ZES) and a bare metal stent (BMS) were inserted in each ureter of ten pigs and six rabbits. OCT was performed in unobstructed stented ureters. Histopathologic examination of the stented ureters embedded in glycol-methacrylate took place. Quadrants of OCT images were compared to their respective histologic images by employing two independent observers who delineated different layers in the quadrants of OCT images and correlated them to the respective histologic quadrants. Manual (integrated OCT device software) and automated measurements of the OCT images using an automated strut detection method were compared. The observers highly agreed on the delineation of urothelium from the lamina propria and the lamina propria from the muscle layer of the ureteral wall. The algorithm measurements were similar to the manual measurements, and the algorithm proved to be reliable in the evaluation of ureteral MSs. Significantly higher endothelial hyperplasia of the BMSs in comparison to the ZESs was also quantitatively demonstrated by the strut detection method. OCT proved to be a reliable method for the evaluation of ureteral MSs. OCT provided images of the stented ureteral lumen similar to light microscopy quality. Measurements of the stented ureter are reliably performed by the automated strut detection method.     

Wallstent migration into the right ventricle causing severe tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular perforation

Endovascular stents are being used with increasing frequency for various problems of the venous system, but they have been associated with numerous complications. We report the case of an 88-year-old woman who presented with persistent, progressive dyspnea. Imaging revealed a migrated stent lodged in the tricuspid valve and extending into the right ventricle, causing severe tricuspid regurgitation. After a failed attempt at endovascular retrieval, emergent surgical removal was successful. During surgery, the stent was found to be embedded in the tricuspid leaflets, and part of the stent had also perforated the right ventricle. Review of the patient's records revealed that 2 WALLSTENT venous endoprostheses had been placed 6 months earlier to treat stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein and, further, that the migrated stent had been visible on outpatient chest radiography performed 4 months after the stent placement. This case emphasizes the need to consider the possibility of stent migration in patients who present with unusual symptoms.     

Cross-sectional relationship of a Mediterranean type diet to diastolic heart function in chronic heart failure patients

Systolic and diastolic functions of both ventricles play a crucial role in the progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). As data about the role of dietary habits in ventricular dysfunction are lacking, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between biventricular diastolic and systolic function and dietary habits in patients with CHF. During 2007, 372 consecutive CHF patients were enrolled. Biventricular systolic and diastolic function was evaluated through echocardiography. Dietary habits were recorded using a food frequency questionnaire, and adherence to a Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the MedDietScore. The MedDietScore was positively correlated with log?Smv, left atrial EF and V (p), and inversely correlated with log?EA and log?Emv/Amv levels (p?相似文献   

Comparative study of serum and synovial fluid interleukin-11 levels in patients with various arthritides

Objective: To determine the levels of serum and synovial fluid (SF) interleukin (IL)-11 in patients with various arthritides and estimate the contribution of IL-11 to acute phase response (APR).

Design and methods: Serum and SF IL-11 were measured by ELISA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 31), seronegative spondyloarthritis (SSA, n = 23), gout (GT, n = 14) and osteoarthritis (OA, n = 20) and were correlated with ESR and acute phase proteins as well as with cytokines IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF.

Results: IL-11 was detected in both serum and SF in each group, with IL-11 being statistically higher in SF than serum in all groups, suggesting reduced catabolism or increased synthesis of IL-11 intra-articularly. Median SF IL-11 levels were higher in OA patients than in other groups and in the treated than in the untreated RA subgroup. Moreover, serum and SF IL-11 were correlated significantly with each other, and moderately with the other cytokines examined in RA, SSA, and GT, but not in OA patients, while a significant negative correlation was found with a few of the inflammatory markers examined in each group.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence of extensive intra-articular expression of IL-11 in arthritides, especially in OA and treated RA patients, suggesting a protective role for IL-11 in joints, probably through the induction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases.     

Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the female breast with secretory activity: The significance of aspiration cytology as diagnostic procedure

We report the case of an intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast in an elderly woman. Gross and microscopic observations support the contention that intracystic fluid is partly a result of secretory activity by the neoplastic epithelial cells and that, intracystic hemorrhage, which may contribute to it, is a secondary event complicating the primary process. Cytology of the aspirated fluid was negative for malignant cells. It is concluded that in the case of large cystic breast lesions, aspiration cytology may not be helpful in establishing the malignant nature of the lesion and that a negative cytology should be interpreted with caution, always taking under consideration the clinical picture of the disease. A concomitant adenocarcinoma was also present in the opposite breast, the second case reported in the literature. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.