Fluid movement in the lumen of the rat epididymis: effect of vasectomy and subsequent vasovasostomy

Intraluminal fluid movement rate was measured in four regions of the rat epididymis. The fastest flow occurred in the proximal caput epididymis (18.5 +/- 3.7 mm/hour) and the slowest in the distal cauda (2.5 +/- 0.5 mm/hour). Vasectomy significantly reduced caput fluid flow rates unless a sperm granuloma was present at the vasectomy site. Thirty days after vasovasostomy, caput fluid movement remained reduced in animals unless a granuloma was present. Failures of this or other aspects of epididymal biology to return to normal after vasovasostomy could play a role in the frequent infertility which persists after the operation.     

Nerve growth factor and p75NGFR factor receptor mRNA change in rodent CNS following stress activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

The synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) by the hippocampus raises the possibility that NGF may play a role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Subchronic cold stress has been shown to activate the HPAA in a mild noninvasive manner, to stimulate serum glucocorticoid levels, and to perturb NGF binding in hippocampus and basal forebrain. One or repeated episodes of cold stress increased NGF mRNA levels in the hippocampus and p75^NGFR mRNA levels in the basal forebrain. These changes were not due to elevated serum glucocorticoid levels since treatment with exogenous corticosterone had no effect on NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA levels. Adrenalectomy did not prevent the stress induced increases in NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of Tenidap (CP-66,248) on human neutrophil arachidonic acid metabolism, chemotactic potential and clinical efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study examining the clinical efficacy of a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent: Tenidap (CP-66,248). RA patients receiving active drug therapy (n = 6) demonstrated clinically significant improvements in observer assessment of pain (p less than 0.025), painful joint count (p less than 0.010), and overall clinical assessment as based on a modified rheumatoid activity index, MRAI (p less than 0.025). In parallel laboratory assays, Tenidap was found to exhibit a significant in vitro dose-dependent inhibition of ionophore-stimulated neutrophil production of the 5-lipoxygenase product: [3H]leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Although more importantly, Tenidap was also found to exhibit an in vitro dose-dependent inhibition (IC50 20 microM) of the ionophore-stimulated release (deacylation) of the precursor [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids. In further studies, Tenidap did not have any effect on fMLP-induced neutrophil chemotactic response. These results suggest that one of the possible mechanisms for the clinical effectiveness of this agent, may be through its effect at inhibiting the release of free AA from membrane phospholipids and therefore limiting its further metabolism into certain biologically-active inflammatory lipids.     

Dynamic skinfold thickness measurement in infants fed breast-milk, low- or high-sodium formula

A stratified sample of normal infants born at term at Johannesburg Hospital, who attended the hospital for a routine 6-week follow-up visit, were selected to include 43 infants who were exclusively breast-fed, 42 fed a low-sodium formula and 39 fed a high-sodium formula (greater than 10 mmol sodium/l). Dynamic skinfold thickness measurements (DSTM), designed to assess the amount of interstitial fluid, were performed on each infant by the application of a skinfold caliper for a 3-second sampling period at two sites. The curves generated by these applications were recorded and analysed by microcomputer. There were no differences between any of the feeding groups for DSTM measurements of blood pressure suggesting that the range of sodium ingested by these groups of infants had no significant effects on extracellular water content. However, using multiple linear regression, both DSTM and blood pressure were best predicted by body weight and not by age or any other anthropometric measurement. Thus the normal postnatal decrease in extracellular fluid volume and increase in blood pressure appears to be most closely related to an increase in body weight.     

Deep palmo-plantar wart causing extensive bone erosion: brief report

A case is described in which a deep palmo-planar wart (myrmecia) caused erosion of the underlying phalanx.