Coexistence of autonomic and somatic mechanisms in the pressor areas of medulla in cats.

The effects of electrical stimulation and microinjection of sodium glutamate (0.5 M) in the sympathetic pressor areas of the dorsal medulla (DM), ventrolateral medulla (VLM), and parvocellular nucleus (PVC) on the knee jerk, crossed extension, and evoked potential of the L5 ventral root produced by intermittent electrical stimulation were studied in 98 adult cats anesthetized with chloralose and urethane. During electrical and glutamate stimulation of these pressor areas, in addition to the rise of systemic arterial blood pressure marked inhibition of the spinal reflex was produced, indicating presence of neuronal perikarya responsible for these actions. Mild to moderate augmentation of spinal reflexes was also observed during brain stimulation but only in a few cases. The magnitude of the somatic effects among the pressor areas of the VLM, DM, and PVC subsequent to glutamate activation was about the same. Induced spinal reflex inhibition, independent from the baroreceptor and vagal influence, remained essentially unaltered after acute midcollicular decerebration. The inhibition was also observed in cats decerebellated 8-10 days in advance. The inhibition was not affected after bilateral electrolytic- or kainic-acid-induced lesions in the paramedian reticular nucleus (PRN). On the contrary, PRN-induced spinal reflex inhibition was attenuated after bilateral lesions in the DM or VLM. Data suggest that there coexists neuronal subpopulations in the VLM, DM, and PVC that can affect both the sympathetic pressor systems and spinal reflexes.     

Long-term results of Grice subtalar arthrodesis in children

Talipes valgus, mostly resulted from poliomyelitis, of 44 feet in 43 children, aged 4 to 12 years, were treated by Grice extra-articular arthrodesis of the subtalar joint, and on 36 of them tendon transfer was done as well at the same time. The result in all of them, after a period of 15.3 years (ranging 5 to 23 yrs.), was found satisfactory in 32 feet (72.7%), and unsatisfactory in 12 (27.3%). Eight of the latter were found to be due to secondary varus deformity, a consequence of imbalance of muscle power following medial transfer of peroneal tendon (s). It is emphasized that in correcting foot deformity, slight valgus is receptible while over correction (varus) must be avoided. It is also found that after subtalar stabilization, traumatic osteoarthritis of midtarsal and ankle joints developed more frequently in patients who had better limb function than in those whose limbs had functioned much less.     

Amorphous oxide--a platform for drug delivery.

Usually, a drug is loaded onto the metallic surface of a medical device by applying a polymer layer containing the drug. Unfortunately, polymer coatings on the metallic surface may exhibit numerous problems after implantation, such as late thrombosis, inflammation, and restenosis. Current research was conducted to investigate whether a suitable oxide layer can be used as a polymer-free platform for drug loading, especially for cardiovascular stents. The loading of heparin onto, as well as eluting of heparin from, the amorphous oxide film on the 316LVM stainless steel wire was confirmed by experimental studies using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and activated clotting time (ACT). Evidence shows that amorphous oxide can be an ideal substitute for the polymer coating of drug-loaded stents to minimize metallic corrosion, inflammation, late-thrombosis, and restenosis.     

Baclofen intoxication: report of four cases and review of the literature.

Four cases of baclofen intoxication are reported, with a review of 33 cases from the literature. Analysis of these 37 cases suggests that there are two types of baclofen intoxication syndrome. Patients with acute intoxication present with four major clinical manifestations: encephalopathy (disturbance of consciousness and/or seizure), respiratory depression, muscular hypotonia, and generalized hyporeflexia. Patients with chronic intoxication present with hallucinosis, impaired memory, catatonia, or acute mania. The acute intoxication syndrome has a faster onset, shorter duration, more severe clinical manifestations, and higher incidence of seizures than the chronic intoxication syndrome. Baclofen intoxication, although it may cause grave encephalopathic manifestations and electroencephalographic findings, has a benign outcome if actively managed.     

Fluid-fluid levels in cavernous hemangioma of soft tissue

Five cases of cavernous hemangioma with fluid-fluid levels on magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography are reported. The signal characteristics were those of blood and histological analysis of the fluid-fluid levels showed that they were blood-filled cavities in the tumor. Although this finding itself is not specific, it may help in confirming the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma.     

Region-specific constitutive gene expression in the adult porcine meniscus.

The knee meniscus exhibits extensive spatial variations in native healing capacity, biochemical composition, and cell morphology that suggest the existence of distinct phenotypes for meniscus cells. Constitutive gene expression levels of appropriate extracellular matrix proteins may serve as useful molecular markers of cellular phenotypes; however, relatively little is known of variations in the gene expression for meniscus cells of different regions of the tissue. The objective of the present study was to evaluate constitutive differences between radial inner and outer regions in gene expression for extracellular matrix proteins relevant to the meniscus. A secondary objective was to determine if these region-specific differences in gene expression are maintained after periods of monolayer culture. The innermost regions of the meniscus were found to constitutively express higher mRNA levels for proteins highly expressed in articular cartilage, including aggrecan, type II collagen, and NOS2. In contrast, the outer meniscus was found to contain higher gene expression for proteins associated with fibrous tissues including type I collagen, and the proteases MMP2 and MMP3. Isolated inner and outer meniscus cells maintained these region-specific gene expression patterns for collagens and proteoglycans during short-term monolayer culture. The results provide new information that suggests the utility of constitutive gene expression levels as molecular markers to distinguish tissue and cells of the inner and outer meniscus.     

Electrogastrographic activity in patients who received proximal gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition or total gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition.

Electrogastrograms (EGGs) were recorded in patients both before and after receiving proximal gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition (PGJI) or just after receiving total gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition (TGJI). Intraluminal pressure was also recorded in some postoperative patients. The EGG 3 cpm component (2.5-4.9 cpm) remained after PGJI, but subsequently decreased with a significant reduction in the preoperative to postoperative ratio of the 3 cpm components (P<0.05). The mean frequency of the 3 cpm components increased significantly after PGJI (P<0.05) and its instability factor increased. The EGG 10 cpm components became relatively dominant compared to other frequency components in 2 out of 8 of patients having PGJI but the mean amplitude of 10 cpm decreased. In TGJI patients, only the 10 cpm component was conspicuous in EGG as in the case of total gastrectomy and Roux en Y anastomosis procedures. The spectral frequencies of intraluminal pressure in the interposed jejunum were similar to the EGG of 10 cpm components both in the case of PGJI and TGJI patients. In conclusion, surface EGG could record the electrical activities of the interposed jejunum more easily in patients having had TGJI than in PGJI.