Basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA increases in specific brain regions following convulsive seizures.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a trophic factor synthesized in the central nervous system (CNS), where it is believed to play a role in neuronal maintenance and repair. Little is known about the regulation of this growth factor in the CNS. To determine whether the expression of the bFGF gene in the brain of adult animals changes in response to alterations of neuronal activity, we examined bFGF mRNA levels in several brain regions of rats experiencing focally-evoked convulsive seizures. Seizures were induced by microinjecting bicuculline unilaterally into an epileptogenic site within the deep prepiriform cortex, area tempestas (AT). By 5 h after initiation of brief limbic motor seizures from AT, there was a four fold increase in the levels of bFGF mRNA in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and olfactory bulb, but not in the caudate-putamen. The maximal expression of bFGF mRNA was reached by 10 h after seizure onset. In the same animals, the mRNA encoding nerve growth factor (NGF) was increased in entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, but not in the olfactory bulb. Our results demonstrate that neuronal activity can influence bFGF expression in an anatomically selective fashion and that acute changes in bFGF can occur in the uninjured mature brain. The increase in bFGF expression in response to excessive activation of specific neuronal circuitry may represent an adaptive response to protect against potential injury in those circuits.     

BioMEMS Education at Louisiana Tech University

A course in BioMEMS was recently taught at the senior undergraduate and graduate level at Louisiana Tech University and the Institute for Micromanufacturing. The course focused on the basic principles and applications of MEMS technology in the area of biomedical microsystems. The course was well received and had an enrollment well above that expected. Student feedback and a review of the course evaluations indicated that the course was effective in achieving its aims. A poster session involving the presentation of student design projects at the end of the course proved to be a highlight and a valuable experience for all involved. While the course proved successful, suggestions for improvement of the course are outlined and a summary of student responses is presented. An overview of a BioMEMS short course based on the University course is also presented.     

Application of a Microtitre Plate Antiglobulin Technique to Determine the Incidence of Donors Lacking High Frequency Antigens

Approximately 65,000 random blood donors have been screened by a microtitre low ionic strength saline antiglobulin technique over a 12-month period. Antisera to high frequency antigens including: Vel, Lub, k, Kpb, Yta and Era were used. Additional sera including: anti-Lan, -Coa, -Sc1 and an antibody to an unidentified high frequency antigen, Mrs C.A., have been used as they became available. This has enabled the approximate frequencies of donors lacking the corresponding antigen, to be calculated.     

Clinical uses of intravenous immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulins are an important component of host defense against infections. They also play a central role in immune regulation. A wide spectrum of human diseases is associated with decreased or abnormal regulation of immunoglobulin levels. Recently IV preparations of immunoglobulin have become available for clinical studies. There are already substantial data indicating a useful role for IV immunoglobulin in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia, neonates predisposed to group B streptococcal infections, individuals with ITP, children with Kawasaki disease, and bone marrow transplant patients predisposed to CMV infections. Promising data have been reported in burn patients and in individuals with CLL; these data require confirmation. Potential areas for future investigation include AIDS, autoimmune disorders, and viral disorders other than CMV.     

Anaesthesia for neurosurgery in the sitting position.

The sitting position offers many advantages in terms of surgical access for posterior fossa and posterior cervical spine surgery. However, these advantages must be balanced against the risks which include venous and paradoxical arterial air embolism, cerebral and myocardial ischaemia secondary to hypotension, and complications of the positioning itself. These are largely in the domain of the neuroanaesthetist. In this paper, therefore, we will review the advantages, disadvantages and management of complications of the sitting position, from the neuroanaesthetist's perspective.     

In vivo kinetics of 123I-labelled insulin: studies in normal subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus

Radioactive tracer techniques using 131I- and 125I-insulin have been applied to study insulin metabolism. A simple method to label human insulin with 123I to a high specific activity is described. We have used this radiotracer to study insulin kinetics in vivo in normal subjects and in two groups of diabetic patients. The rate of decline in plasma radioactivity was shown to be significantly reduced in patients with diabetes. There were no significant differences in the time-activity profiles of liver and kidneys between the groups studied. This technique may provide insight into the mechanism of some forms of insulin resistance.     

Genital inoculation of male baboons with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Eight male baboons inoculated intraurethrally with Neisseria gonorrhoeae failed to shed gonococci or develop serum antibody. Urethral inoculation, preceded by epididymal inoculation, elicited an anamnestic antibody response.