Human V5/MT+: comparison of functional and cytoarchitectonic data

To date, the delineation of the human visual “motion area” still relies on functional paradigms originally devised to identify monkey area MT. Using fMRI, we have identified putative human area V5/MT+ in normals by modelling the BOLD responses to alternating radially moving and stationary dot patterns. Functional activations were compared with cytoarchitectonic probability maps of its putative correlate area hOc5, which was calculated based upon data from histological sections of ten human post-mortem brains. Bilateral visual cortex activations were seen in the single subject dynamic versus stationary contrasts and in the group random-effects analysis. Comparison of group data with area hOc5 revealed that 19.0%/39.5% of the right/left functional activation was assigned to the right/left hOc5. Conversely, 83.2%/53.5% of the right/left hOc5 was functionally activated. Comparison of functional probability maps (fPM) with area hOc5 showed that 28.6%/18.1% of the fPM was assigned to hOc5. In turn, 84.9%/41.5% of the area hOc5 was covered by the respective fPM. Thus, random-effects data and fPMs yielded similar results. The present study shows for the first time the correspondence between the functionally defined human V5/MT+ and the post-mortem cytoarchitectonic area hOc5.     

Thio TEPA pharmacokinetics during intravesical chemotherapy and the influence of Tween 80

Summary A pharmacokinetic study of randomised crossover design was carried out in which eight patients with recurrent stage pTa or pT1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were given thio TEPA (30 mg) in distilled water or in 10% (v/v) Tween 80 (30 ml) intravesically for 2 h, followed 3 months later by the alternative treatment. Thio TEPA and its primary metabolite, TEPA, were measured in plasma and urine using a sensitive and specific chromatographic assay. Large differences between patients were observed in the proportion of thio TEPA absorbed, ranging from 20%–78%. Peak plasma levels of thio TEPA were observed within 1 h of intravesical administration. By 2 h after administration the plasma levels of TEPA were similar to those of thio TEPA and, in contrast to those of the parent compound, remained at a similar level over the next 4 h. The rate of absorption of thio TEPA was not influenced by Tween 80, but it did cause statistically significant increases in mean peak plasma levels (from 101 to 154 ng/ml) and mean AUC values (from 0.376 to 0.496 g h per ml) and a decrease in the mean half-life (from 1.83 to 1.25 h). To obtain plasma levels similar to those achieved after instillation with thio TEPA alone, the dose should be reduced with Tween 80.     

Impact of sociomedical factors on pre-school malnutrition -- an appraisal in an urban setting

The nutritional status of 584 preschool children in an urban slum of Srinagar district was assessed through interviews of mothers conducted in a house-to-house survey, the clinical assessment of child nutritional status, and the anthropometric measurement of the children using accepted standard techniques. The anthropometric measurements of the children were compared to the 50th percentile of the Harvard Standard, while the classification recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics was adopted for the categorization and grading of protein energy malnutrition. 60.45% of the children were malnourished, comprised of 33.22%, 20.89%, and 6.34% of children with grade I, II, and III degrees of malnutrition, respectively. Higher prevalence of malnutrition is associated with higher age, female sex, lower per capita income, higher birth order, and lower parental literacy. Parental literacy status followed by birth order and per capita income were the most important factors associated with preschool child malnutrition.     

Peroxisome proliferators increase ethanol catabolism through utilization of the catalase pathway

We investigated the effects of ciprofibrate, a potent peroxisome proliferator, on ethanol metabolism in mice. The blood alcohol levels of mice fed a liquid diet containing both ciprofibrate and ethanol were markedly depressed compared with mice fed the ethanol-containing diet alone. Ciprofibrate markedly induced enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, hydrogen peroxide, and to a lesser extent catalase in both control and ethanol-diet fed mice. Northern blot analysis indicated no significant upregulation of cytochrome P450IIE1 mRNA by ciprofibrate. Our study suggests that peroxisome proliferators increase ethanol catabolism through hydrogen peroxide production, thus allowing utilization of the catalase pathway. These findings indicate that catalase has the potential to provide a significant pathway for ethanol metabolism under conditions of peroxisome proliferation.     

Carcinoma in a fibroadenoma

A carcinoma arising within a fibroadenoma is an unusual occurrence, with only a little over 100 reported cases. The purpose of this report is to increase the awareness of this entity and to discourage the practice of rendering a diagnosis on gross examination of the tumor. We are reporting a case with two distinct primary tumors within the same breast, one of which was arising within the fibroadenoma. Only two such cases have been previously reported.     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

A case of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a 19 years old male involving cutaneous and skeletal systems is reported. A clinical scoring system to diagnose such cases is highlighted.     

The Bournewood judgment: a way forward?

In this article we provide a commentary on the various reasonings behind the Law Lords' unanimous judgements in their recent decision (25 June 1998) in Regina v. Bournewood Community and Mental Health NHS Trust, Ex parte L. After summarizing the judgment and commenting on its important implications, we suggest a way forward. The 1995 Law Commission incapacity proposals, on which the 1997 consultation paper Who Decides? was based, do afford a mechanism which could resolve much of the practical difficulty which practitioners feared from the Appeal Court decision, whilst at the same time affording the sorts of rights which the House of Lords decision denies.     

Oesophagogastrectomy in the elderly high risk patients: role of effective regional analgesia and early mobilisation

BACKGROUND: Oesophagogastrectomy is the best available treatment for patients with carcinoma of the oesophagus or cardia. However, surgical resection may lead to increased mortality, morbidity and longer hospital stays in elderly (aged over 70 years) high risk patients. METHODS: To assess the impact of balanced pre-emptive and postoperative analgesia combined with early mobilisation in elderly patients undergoing oesophagogastrectomy we consecutively studied 52 patients (30 male, 22 female) of 75+/-4.2 years of age (mean+/-SD). Pre-emptive analgesia was by pre-incisional percutaneous paravertebral block combined with an opiate and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) premedication. Postoperative maintenance analgesia was by NSAID and continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block. Following surgery all but three patients were returned to the ward. RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate was 7.6%. Morbidity caused by cardiovascular (27%), respiratory (23%) and cerebrovascular (19%) complications occurred in 19 patients, with two patients requiring ventilatory support. The mean hospital stay for the survivors was 10 days (range 8 to 30 days). All the survivors had their swallowing restored to normal and returned to their accustomed environment. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggests that surgical treatment can be achieved in the elderly high risk patients with acceptable mortality and morbidity. This is achieved by early mobilisation enabled by balanced pre-emptive and postoperative analgesia.