Neutrophil and eosinophil participation in atopic and vernal keratoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was conducted at three centers to examine the participation of neutrophils and eosinophils in the inflammatory processes associated with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS: Conjunctival specimens were obtained from four patients with AKC, six with VKC, and five normal subjects. Indirect immunofluorescent staining was used to localize neutrophil elastase (NE) and eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP) in serial sections of all specimens. RESULTS: Specimens from both AKC and VKC patients revealed extracellular deposition of NE and MBP. Control specimens showed no or minimal extracellular NE, and no MBP. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly greater extracellular MBP deposition in AKC specimens compared to controls (p = 0.009), and VKC specimens showed significantly greater staining for both extracellular MBP (p = 0.005) and NE (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that neutrophils, in addition to eosinophils, play an active role in the pathogenesis of AKC and VKC as evidenced by the extracellular deposition of their specific granule proteins.     

Human methadone self-administration: effects of diazepam pretreatment

The effect of diazepam on methadone self-administration was examined. Five methadone-maintained patients with a history of benzodiazepine abuse were recruited. Patients were stabilized on 80 mg of methadone per day. After stabilization patients participated in methadone self-administration sessions. During each session, 128 presses (fixed ratio 128) of 1 button delivered 10 ml of 0.054 mg/ml methadone solution. The same number of button presses on a 2nd button delivered 10 ml of vehicle. Forty-five min prior to the self-administration session, 0 (placebo), 5, 10, or 20 mg per 70 kg body weight diazepam was administered. Ratings of drug liking, goodness, strength, and high were collected 5, 30, 60, 90, and 150 min after the end of the self-administration session. Diazepam pretreatment significantly decreased the amount of methadone consumed. The 10- and 20-mg diazepam doses significantly increased reports of good, like, strong, and high.     

Reinforcement by orally delivered methadone, cocaine, and methadone-cocaine combinations in rhesus monkeys: are the combinations better reinforcers?

RATIONALE: Polydrug abuse is a problem that has been infrequently examined. In the present study, drug self-administration procedures were used to investigate the reinforcing effects of drug combinations. OBJECTIVES: To determine the absolute and relative response rates maintained by orally delivered methadone, cocaine, and their combinations under sequential and concurrent access. Choice between drug combinations containing different concentrations of cocaine was also determined. METHODS: Oral intake of methadone, cocaine, and their combinations was studied with rhesus monkeys during daily 3-h sessions. Lip contact (the operant response) was reinforced by delivery of liquid contingent upon completion of a fixed-ratio schedule. In one series, the drugs and drug combinations were studied sequentially with the water vehicle concurrently available. In the next series, the drugs and drug combinations were concurrently available. In the third series, pairs of drug combinations containing different concentrations of cocaine were also concurrently available. RESULTS: Methadone, cocaine and their combinations functioned as reinforcers. Under sequential access, response rates for the drug combinations and the component drugs were often similar. However, under concurrent access, response rates for the drug combinations were greater than response rates for the component drugs at the highest FR size for each condition. Also, drug combinations containing higher cocaine concentrations were preferred to combinations containing lower cocaine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Combinations of methadone and cocaine have relatively greater reinforcing effects than the component drugs, and these greater reinforcing effects are better detected with concurrent measures than with sequential measures.     

Reconstitution of TCP80/NF90 translation inhibition activity in insect cells

Acid beta-glucosidase (GCase) is the enzyme deficient in Gaucher disease, an inherited metabolic prototype for enzyme and gene therapy. An 80-kDa mammalian cytoplasmic protein (TCP80/NF90) was discovered to interact with the GCase mRNA coding region and inhibit its translation in vitro and ex vivo. Human TCP80/NF90 is identical to NF90, an IL-2 enhancer protein, and MPP4, an M-phase phosphoprotein. The interaction of recombinant TCP80/NF90 with GCase mRNA was evaluated using the baculovirus/Sf9 insect cell system since these cells lack this protein. Purified recombinant and isolated mammalian cytoplasmic TCP80/NF90 had identical functions including binding of coding regions of selected RNAs and inhibition of their in vitro translation. Individual baculoviruses containing the human TCP80/NF90 cDNA (vSf9/TCP80) and GCase cDNA (vSf9/GCase) were used to co-infect Sf9 cells. The presence of preformed TCP80/NF90 significantly (>87%) inhibited wild-type GCase mRNA translation in these cells, but baculovirus containing a mutant GCase did not. Sf9 cells co-infected with vSf9/TCP80 showed a major reduction of GCase RNA polysome association. These results show that the multifunctional protein, TCP80/NF90, can function in vivo as a translation inhibitory protein and include alterations of mRNA binding to polysomes as a component of its mechanism of action.     

Diagnostic value of a psychological test in cases of suspected child abuse

The use of the Bene-Anthony Family Relations Test is described and illustrated by three examples of child abuse. This test should be considered in the investigation of definite or suspected cases of abuse and as part of the preparation of court evidence.     

Comparative studies in chronic ocular chalcosis

Seven eyes containing a copper foreign body for a period from 8 months to 2.5 years were studied histopathologically. Foreign bodies, containing 99% copper, were in all eyes, encapsulated and located in the anterior vitreous. Characteristic features were: formation of foreign body granuloma, especially in later stages, marked fibroblastic proliferation in the vitreous with traction retinal detachment, choroidal effusion with fibrosis and foci of chronic nongranulomatous inflammation in cyclitic membranes, iris, ciliary body and sclera. Copper could be identified by rubeanic acid and rhodanine stainings in the fibrous capsule around foreign body in all eyes, in the lens capsule in one eye and in macrophages in the vitreous and retina in 2 eyes. In eyes with intravitreal haemorrhage macrophages contained also haemosiderin.     

Prostacyclin production by internal mammary artery as a factor in coronary artery bypass grafts

Long-term patency of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) with internal mammary artery (IMA) is better than with saphenous vein (SV) grafts. To determine if vascular prostacyclin (PGI2) produced by IMA might contribute to the improved outcome, we compared PGI2 generated by IMA and SV fragments from 26 patients undergoing CABG and tested the effect of preoperative, long-term ingestion of of aspirin. Fresh tissues were incubated in buffer +/- 25 mumol/L of sodium arachidonate at 37 degrees C for 5 minutes to stimulate PGI2 production, measured by radioimmunoassay of its major hydrolytic product, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Results were expressed in picograms of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha per milligram tissue wet weight for total PGI2 production by vascular segments and picograms per cm2 surface area for endothelial PGI2 production. Endothelial PGI2 production was compared for IMA and SV in template-stirring chambers that exposed only the luminal surface of the vessel, excluding underlying smooth muscle. Endothelial PGI2 production by IMA was significantly higher than production by SV under both basal (mechanical stimulation only 1436 +/- 224 versus 842 +/- 227 pg/cm2, mean +/- SEM, p greater than 0.05) and stimulated (25 mumol/L sodium arachidonate: 3343 +/- 347 versus 2032 +/- 465 pg/cm2, p less than 0.025) conditions in patients not receiving aspirin. For patients receiving aspirin, endothelial PGI2 production by IMA was significantly higher than production by SV in stimulated conditions (1382 +/- 526 versus 683 +/- 124 pg/cm2, p less than 0.05). Histologic examination of the tissue segments revealed intact endothelium after incubation in both IMA and SV. Thus a high capacity for PGI2 synthesis and diminished inhibition of PGI2 after aspirin were demonstrated for IMA compared with SV tissue and may be a factor in the improved patency of IMA grafts.     

The physics of FeldenkraisPart 3: stability

In the last article in this series, we briefly examined the Principle of Least Effort and the five forms of strain. Strain, you may recall, in physics, describes a change in the volume of a material when a force is applied. Our treatments are a blend of rotation and translation movements of our hands with a changing mix of strains being applied onto the client's tissues. Harnessing and interweaving the various forms of strain with dexterity may aid us in improving our treatment efficacy.In this tissue, we will consider the importance of anchorage and stability in treatment, We will consider a set of ‘House Rules' for improving treatment. In addition, we will explore Bernstein's concept of degrees of freedom.