Oestradiol enhances the vulnerability threshold for schizophrenia in women by an early effect on dopaminergic neurotransmission

In a representative sample of 392 first hospital admissions for schizophrenia from a population of 1.5 million we assessed the "true" age of onset by a semi-standardized interview "IRAOS". We demonstrated that the mean age at onset of the disease is 3-4 years higher in females than in males, with the lifetime risk being exactly equal. In males, the rates of onset show a steep increase - starting from school age and reaching their maximum value in the age group 15-24 years - followed by a steady decrease. Females reach the first peak with a clear delay between 20 and 29 years. After the decrease, a second smaller peak is observed consistently in females within the age group 45-49 years and over. After having excluded competing explanations, we hypothesized that the effect of oestradiol on the dopaminergic system enhances the vulnerability threshold, which is lowered again during the menopause. Alternatively, we assumed that testosterone reduces the vulnerability threshold and thus furthers the earlier onset of the disease in males. We tested the hypotheses in three animal models by examining the effect of gonadal hormones on haloperidol-induced catalepsy and on apomorphine-induced stereotypies in both neonatal and adult rats. No clear influence by testosterone was shown. Oestradiol caused a significant reduction of both dopamine-agonist and dopamine-antagonist induced behaviour. The effects were stronger in neonatal rats. Since oestradiol caused the dopamine (DA) receptor affinity for sulpiride to be reduced by a factor of 2.8, we assumed that the behavioural changes due to oestradiol were accounted for by a down-regulation of DA receptor sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Does ventricular dysfunction occur during liver transplantation?

In conclusion, we believe that ventricular dysfunction occurs infrequently during liver transplantation, except for the very short period of "cardioplegia" of the heart on reperfusion in some patients. There is no evidence that prolonged cardiac dysfunction is a common problem during liver transplantation. Understanding the physiologic changes that occur during liver transplantation should allow the anesthesiologist to correct many factors that might otherwise cause hemodynamic instability.     

Experimental cryptorchidism in the adult mouse. III. Qualitative and quantitative electron microscopic morphology of Leydig cells.

The morphology of Leydig cells of control and 28-day-old cryptorchid mice was studied by electron microscopy and stereologic techniques. Leydig cell profiles of control mice were larger in section when compared to cryptorchid mice, but no differences were observed in the distribution of organelles in Leydig cells in the two groups. Quantitatively, the absolute volumes of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), mitochondria, lysosomes, multivesicular bodies, peroxisomes, cytoplasmic matrix, nucleus, lipid droplets, membrane whorls, ribosomal aggregates, and annulate lamellae per Leydig cell were reduced significantly after 28 days of cryptorchidism. However, the absolute volumes of these organelles per testis were not significantly different between control and cryptorchid mice, due to the increase in Leydig cell number per testis in the cryptorchid testis, compared to the controls, except that the absolute volume of Golgi per Leydig cell was not significantly different between control and cryptorchid rats, but the absolute volume of Leydig cell Golgi was significantly lower in control rats. Based on these results, we conclude that, morphologically, a 28-day cryptorchid mouse Leydig cell clearly approximates a "half unit" of a control Leydig cell.     

Incidence of the morphological aspect on the rate of implantation of embryos obtained by fertilization in vitro]

1350 embryos obtained by In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have been examined with the reverse microscope before their transfer in utero. Some embryos are "morphologically normal" (34.7%); some others are atypical. It is difficult to determinate the implantation rate by embryo according to morphological aspect because, most of the time we transfer several embryos to only one patient and we do not know, in case of pregnancy, which one or which ones have developed. Nevertheless, we have tried to appreciate, for 500 embryos transfers after IVF, the incidence of morphological aspect according to the presence or absence of "morphologically normal" embryos. The implantation rate is significantly higher in the groups in which you find "morphological normal" embryos than in the group where they are missing. (19.7% and 19.2% vs 10.2%). It seems that the aspect of the embryo when it is transferred, has an incidence on its future development.     

Surgery for colorectal cancer guided by radiodetecting probe. Clinical evaluation using monoclonal antibody B72.3.

Radioactive antibodies that react with tumour-associated antigens to "tag" antigen-positive tumour cell deposits were given to 20 patients with primary or recurrent colorectal cancer. The tumour associated antigen TAG 72-specific monoclonal antibody B72.3 labelled with 125-Iodine was used, and the radioactivity in the tumour was sought during operation with a hand-held gamma detecting probe. Tumour was detected by the probe in 7 of 15 patients with primary cancer, with a mean tumour: normal tissue ratio of 3.9, and in 4 of 5 patients with recurrent disease, with a mean tumour: normal tissue ratio of 2.0. Immunohistochemical analysis of surgical specimens confirmed the results of the intraoperative detection. The incidence of TAG 72-positive tumours (11/20, 55%), detected by immunohistochemistry, was lower than the 80% in the other series, possibly because of sampling errors or because the cases studied were uncomplicated with small primary tumours. Results obtained with the probe were instrumental in modifying the operation in two of the four "positive" patients with recurrences, allowing the removal of tumour masses that would otherwise have been overlooked.     

"Silent" myocardial ischemia and the activity of the sympathetic-adrenal system in hypertension patients

The aim of the study was to assess the sympathoadrenal activity at the time of silent ischemia event in hypertensive patients. In 15 hospitalized hypertensive patients having silent ischemia event during Holter ECG monitoring while walking, blood samples for catecholamines were taken at the time of silent ischemia event, pointed with alarm by the real time ECG "Q Med" monitor (USA). Control blood samples were taken under the same conditions without ST-segment depression. Plasma noradrenaline (NA) during silent ischemia was significantly higher than the control level without ischemia (458 +/- 71 ng/l vs 717 +/- 95 ng/l) (p less than 0.01). The changes in plasma NA correlated with left ventricular mass assessed by echocardiography (r = 0.70, p less than 0.01). The role of sympathoadrenal hyperactivity in the genesis of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with essential hypertension is discussed.     

Gigantic diverticulum of the colon. A complication of diverticulosis?]

We present a patient affected of diverticular disease of the colon, with diverticulosis and two giant diverticula of the sigma, both located at the mesenteric edge. We would like to stress the low incidence of reports about this entity in the medical literature, its uncommon location and the fact of a double lesion coinciding in a single patient. We discuss the most important nosocomial aspects and the different diagnoses. Finally, we support the idea of distinguishing three different entities that in the medical literature are usually unified as a single "giant diverticulum of the colon". We reaffirm ourselves on the importance of an early diagnosis and a correct indication for surgery.     

Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome. Apropos of a case]

After a brief review of literature, the authors report a case of the "Lasthénie de Ferjol" syndrome. From clinical observations, they establish theoretical landmarks and underline the necessity for searching the meaning.     

Zum Beweiswert von Diatomeen im Knochenmark beim Ertrinkungstod

Zusammenfassung Anhand tierexperimenteller Untersuchungen wurde neuerlich der Frage nach dem qualitativen und quantitativen Übertritt von Diatomeen beim Ertrinken in den großen Kreislauf und somit auch ins Knochenmark nachgegangen. Es kam eine Versuchsanordnung zur Anwendung, die dieser komplexen Fragestellung gerecht wird. So wurden den Tieren (Kaninchen) knapp vor dem Ertränken ein Hinterlauf amputiert und die Gefäße einer Niere abgeklemmt, um auch Diatomeenwerte vor dem Ertrinken zu erhalten. Sodann erfolgte die qualitative und quantitative Untersuchung des Knochenmarks beider Hinterläufe und beider Nieren auf Diatomeen. Dabei zeigte sich in allen Fällen ein Anstieg der Diatomeenzahl in den zuvor nicht amputierten Hinterläufen. Aufgrund der Versuchsergebnisse und den bei der Untersuchung gewonnenen Erkenntnissen wird auf jene Kriterien eingegangen, deren Beachtung vorausgesetzt, der Diatomeenbefund einen wertvollen diagnostischen Hinweis für einen Ertrinkungstod liefern kann. Auf eine mögliche Asservierung der Ertrinkungsflüssigkeit im Magen wird hingewiesen.Auszugsweise vorgetragen anläßlich des Treffens der Süddeutschen Rechtsmediziner in München, Mai 1981     

Influence of (E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine on corneal epithelium healing

When applied as 0.1% or 0.5% eye drops 9 times a day at hourly intervals, BVDU [(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2-deoxy-uridine] did not retard the regeneration of rabbit corneal epithelium. Nor did it exert any toxic effects on the cells. Likewise, IDU (5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine) 0.1% eye drops did not significantly reduce the rate of epithelium wound closure. However, IDU produced toxic alterations in the cells.