Stress selectively influences center region activity of mice in an open field

Effects of immobilization and footshock stress on locomotor activity in different areas of an open field were examined in mice. Center region activity, peripheral region activity and total activity were used as measurement indices. These results indicate that both immobilization and footshock stress significantly increased total activity across 24 min of behavioral testing. Further analyses revealed that the difference in total activity between the experimental and control groups were mainly attributal to an increase in center region activity. Both stress manipulations markedly augmented peripheral region activity for only the first 6 min. More important, when the proportion of center to peripheral activity was used as an index, both experimental groups manifested an inverted U shape relationship with the maximum effect occurring between 13-18 min of behavioral testing. Similarities of these activity measures in response to different stressors suggests that common neurochemical and/or neurohormonal mechanisms may mediate these behavioral changes.     

Anatomic study of a new axial skin flap based on the cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery

A new axial skin flap based on the middle cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery was evaluated in 33 fresh cadaver legs. The vascular pedicle of the skin flap is based on the middle cutaneous artery, its venae comitantes, and segments of the great saphenous vein, if necessary. The middle cutaneous artery is the largest cutaneous branch, arising from the medial plantar artery 2.5 cm distal to its origin. The diameter of its origin is 1.2 mm, and its pedicle is 2 cm long. The midline of the flap runs from the first web space to the heel tip. The upper and lower borders of the flap are 3 to 4 cm on either side of this line. The upper border is medial to the extensor hallucis tendon, and the lower border is medial to the abductor hallucis. Distally, the border begins 2 cm proximal to the metatarsalphalangeal joint; proximally, the border is at the middle of the medial malleolus. The flap diameter can be up to 8 × 12 cm. The middle cutaneous branch of the medial plantar artery was found in all cadaver specimens, except for one with a common trunk. The new flap design leaves the major blood supply to the foot and the plantar aponeurosis intact. It is easy to harvest and may be used either as an island flap or free flap. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Emergency free flaps to the type IIIC tibial fracture

Type IIIC tibial fractures are complex injuries involving extensive bone and soft-tissue devascularization that result in a high percentage of complications and ultimate amputation. An emergency free flap transfer not only may salvage the limb but also may improve the aesthetic and functional results of reconstruction by placing the injured structures in a well-vascularized bed. Two cases of type IIIC tibial fracture were treated in this manner, and we present our experience with a 30-month follow-up of one patient and a 6-month follow-up of another patient.     

Heat probe thermocoagulation as a substitute for surgical intervention to arrest massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage: an experience in 153 cases

In a period of 2 years 7 months, we performed heat probe (HP) thermocoagulation in 153 cases of massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage. The male/female sex ratio was 125/28. The average age was 57.6 +/- 1.3 years (mean +/- SEM; range, 17 to 88). There were 69 cases (45.1%) of spurting hemorrhage, 50 cases (32.7%) of oozing hemorrhage, and 34 cases (22.2%) of nonbleeding visible vessels. Seventy-seven patients (50.3%) were in shock before therapy. After therapy we obtained initial success in 147 cases (96.1%). Rebleeding episodes occurred in 23 patients (15.6%) within 1 month after therapy. Nineteen patients received a second therapy, and treatment in 15 of these cases (78.9%) was ultimately successful. Finally, treatment in 142 cases (92.8%) was ultimately successful. The duration of hospitalization was 6.3 +/- 0.4 days (mean +/- SEM). After discharge all patients were followed at the outpatient department for at least 1 month. Sixty-seven patients were followed endoscopically for at least 2 to 3 months after therapy. Fifty-six patients (83.6%) had a healed scar at the previous bleeding site 2 months after therapy, and 62 patients (92.5%) had a healed scar 3 months after therapy. We conclude that HP thermocoagulation is an ideal and reliable modality of therapeutic endoscopy in arrest of massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage. HP thermocoagulation may become the first choice of therapy for massive peptic ulcer bleeding in the near future.     

Anabolic and catabolic hormonal response of elite runners to training at high altitude

A 2-week training period 2000 meters above sea level performed by 6 male elite Swedish runners influenced neither basal anabolic (total and non-sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-bound testosterone (NST) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) nor catabolic (cortisol) hormones when comparing serum levels prior to and after the training camp. The anabolic vs catabolic hormone balance, expressed as the NST: cortisol ratio, also remained unchanged as well as SHBG and body mass. Thus, training at 2000 meters above sea level, often practised by elite runners to improve performance in competition at sea level, does not result in a catabolic situation after return to sea level, as measured by peripheral hormones. However, the adaptation to high altitude was associated with a slight (NS) decrease in testosterone as well as in anabolic vs catabolic balance as measured the third day at high altitude. Simultaneously, a decrease in subjective performance was claimed by the runners, but could not be shown by objective measurements. From day 3 to day 9 at high altitude, all runners claimed a subjective recuperation of performance. Total and non-SHBG-bound testosterone increased significantly from day 3 at high altitude to the first post-camp sea-level test. The results reflect the necessity of adaptation when travelling to races at different altitudes. The Swedish runners had significantly higher cortisol, total testosterone and NST levels compared with basal values of a group of 17 elite Kenyan runners living and training at high altitude. Since the NST cortisol and IGF-1 values were not lower, a catabolic state or malnutrition was not likely to be present. The results might reflect an adaptation to altitude or ethnic variations.     

Conjunctival involvement of lymphomatoid granulomatosis

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is an angiocentric and angiodestructive lympho-proliferative disorder involving multisystems but rarely conjunctiva. We present a 62-year-old Chinese female with lymphomatoid granulomatosis who had an ulcerative conjunctival nodule. Conjunctival biopsy revealed pathological findings important for diagnosis and indicating progression of disease severity. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate pathological findings characteristic of lymphomatoid granulomatosis with conjunctival involvement.     

Overexpression/amplification of HER-2/neu is uncommon in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND： Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is one of the most prevalent fatal cancers in the world. Despite advances in early diagnosis and improvements in surgical techniques, the survival of patients with HCC even after resection is poor because of the high incidence of recurrences. Therefore, the identification of prognostic factors may be helpful in the development of new treatment protocols. AIMS： To investigate HER-2/neu status in HCC by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and fluorescence in situ hybridisation （FISH）, and to explore the possibility of using trastuzumab in the treatment of HCC. METH ODS： Eight hundred and sixty eight surgical samples from patients with primary HCC were examined for their HER-2/neu status. IHC for HER-2/neu was performed with the HercepTest kit; FISH analysis was performed with the PathVysion HER-2 DNA probe kit. The correlations between HER-2/neu overexpression and clinicopathological characteristics were analysed statistically. RESULTS： HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 21 （2.42%） of the 868 primary HCCs. Only one specimen showed HER-2/neu gene amplification by FISH. No significant associations were found between HER-2/neu overexpression and the clinicopathological parameters. CONCLUSIONS： There is a low frequency of HER-2/neu overexpression/amplification in HCC. There appears to be no role for HER-2/neu as a prognostic marker and no benefit of anti-HER-2/neu trastuzumab treatment in patients with HCC.     

Glycine transporter I inhibitor, N-methylglycine (sarcosine), added to antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor had been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Treatment with D-serine or glycine, endogenous full agonists of the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, or D-cycloserine, a partial agonist, improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. N-methylglycine (sarcosine) is an endogenous antagonist of glycine transporter-1, which potentiates glycine's action on N-methyl-D-aspartate glycine site and can have beneficial effects on schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirty-eight schizophrenic patients were enrolled in a 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sarcosine (2 g/d), which was added to their stable antipsychotic regimens. Twenty of them received risperidone. Measures of clinical efficacy and side effects were determined every other week. RESULTS: Patient who received sarcosine treatment revealed significant improvements in their positive, negative, cognitive, and general psychiatric symptoms. Similar therapeutic effects were observed when only risperidone-treated patients were analyzed. Sarcosine was well-tolerated, and no significant side effect was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcosine treatment can benefit schizophrenic patients treated by antipsychotics including risperidone. The significant improvement with the sarcosine further supports the hypothesis of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia. Glycine transporter-1 is a novel target for the pharmacotherapy to enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate function.     

Evaluation of four elastomeric interocclusal recording materials

Background: The fabrication of dental prosthesis requires the transfer of interocclusal records from patient's mouth to semiadjustable articulators using different kinds of recording media. Any inaccuracy in these interocclusal records leads to occlusal errors in the final prosthesis. This study was conducted to evaluate the dimensional changes occurring in the interocclusal recording material over a given period of time and the material's resistance to compression during the cast mounting on the articulator.