Syntactic comprehension in Broca's aphasic Spanish-speakers: null effects of word order

The syntactic and nonsyntactic strategies used for understanding sentences by Spanish-speaking Broca's aphasic patients in off-line tasks were analysed. It is emphasized that given the characteristics of syntax in Spanish, such as its flexibility (greater freedom in the order of constituents), the function of the direct object with the preposition a (to) and the effect of determiners, research with Spanish-speaking patients will allow for a characterization of specific disorders that cannot be generalized on the basis of research conducted in other languages. A linguistic instrument was applied to 10 Broca's aphasic patients. A forced choice task was used in which the patient listened to 190 different reversible sentences and was asked to select one of four options presented on a plate; each option contained a pair of animals performing a specific act and only one option was correct. The results showed significant differences in the use of syntactic and nonsyntactic strategies. Broca's aphasic patients used only morpho-syntactic marks with high cue validity. No significant effects of word order were found. These findings imply the existence of specific off-line linguistic mechanisms that influence the comprehension in non-fluent aphasic patients.     

Disc Escape After Minor Strut Fracture in a Björk-Shiley Mitral Valve Prosthesis

A case is presented in which the minor strut of a Björk-Shiley mitral prosthesis fractured 11 years postoperatively. The relevant diagnostic contributions of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are discussed.     

In vitro test to determine the effect of cytostatic drugs on co-cultured rat hepatocytes and hepatoma cells

Using uptake of the fluorescent bile acid derivative cholylglycylamido-fluorescein (FITC-GC) as a measurement of liver cell population size and functional, the antiproliferative and toxic effects of the well known cytostatic drug, cisplatin was evaluated on rapidly growing rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells and rat hepatocytes in primary culture under non-proliferating conditions. Co-culture set up to mimic the in vivo situation of tumour and extratumoural liver tissue exposed to cytostatic chemotherapy does not markedly affect the survival or the growth dynamics of both cell types. FITC-GC uptake as corrected for DNA and protein contents in the dish was significantly lower in hepatoma cells than in rat hepatocytes throughout the experimental period (96 h). Effect of 0.1–100 μ M cisplatin exposure from 24 to 96 h of culture on cell population size, as measured by protein and DNA contents in the culture dishes, were consistent with changes observed in total FITC-GC uptake. Cisplatin concentrations lower than 50 μ M did not affect FITC-GC uptake by rat hepatocytes. By contrast, a progressively increasing effect on hepatoma cells as from 2 μ M cisplatin was observed. Two phases in the decay of FITC-GC uptake versus cisplatin concentrations were found in co-cultures exposed to this drug. The first segment, between 2 μ M and 50 μ M , was characterized by a slow decay that matched the response of hepatoma cells to cisplatin exposure. This was considered to be due to the antiproliferative effect of cisplatin. The second segment, with a steeper decay, matched the effect of cisplatin on hepatocytes. This was interpreted as being due to non-specific toxicity. These results suggest that FITC-GC uptake by co-culture of hepatocytes and tumour cells provides a useful experimental model to explore the mechanism of action and the size of beneficial effect window for new drugs in vitro .     

Hemodynamic Comparison by Doppler Echocardiography of Valves in the Aortic Position

In 281 patients, we used Doppler echocardiography to compare the hemodynamic performance of different aortic prosthetic valves at three postoperative stages and investigated the value of the continuity equation in diagnosing aortic prosthetic obstruction. A baseline study was performed in 163 patients, a 5 ± 2-month follow-up study was performed in 103 patients, and a 15 ± 5-month follow-up study was performed in 65 patients. From baseline to the second study, left ventricular diastolic diameter, heart rate, and maximum (MG) and mean Doppler-derived gradient (MeG) decreased significantly, and left ventricular shortening fraction, systolic blood pressure, stroke volume, and prosthetic valvular area (PVA) increased significantly. No changes were found between the second and third studies. Thus, noninvasive hemodynamic values at the time of follow-up are reported in 171 patients: 86 with Björk-Shiley Monostrut, 27 with Carbomedics, 11 with Medtronic-Hall, 18 with Hancock modified, and 29 with Toronto valve bioprosthesis. Patients implanted with the Toronto had a larger prosthetic size (Monostrut 23 ± 2 mm, Carbomedics 23 ± 3 mm, Medtronic-Hall 23 ± 2 mm, Hancock 23 ± 2 mm, Toronto 25 ± 2 mm, P < 0.01) despite a similar body surface area. MeG and MG were lower (MeG [in mmHg] Monostrut 12 ± 5, Carbomedics 14 ± 6, Medtronic-Hall 19 ± 6, Hancock 11 ± 4, Toronto 7 ± 5; P < 0.01 between Toronto and all others), and PVA was greater (Monostrut 2.0 ± 0.7 cm², Carbomedics 1.8 ± 0.8 cm², Medtronic-Hall 1.6 ± 0.7 cm², Hancock 1.7 ± 0.5 cm², Toronto 2.2 ± 0.9 cm²; P < 0.01 between Toronto and Carbomedics, Medtronic-Hall, and Hancock), even compared with the same sizes in the other valves. A PVA of 0.9 cm² or less and MeG of 28 mmHg or more identified prosthetic obstruction with 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity. Hemodynamics change significantly from the early to the late postoperative state. The Toronto valve stentless porcine bioprostheses performs hemodynamically better than other valves. PVA measurement using the continuity equation may accurately identify prosthetic obstruction.     

Thymic Carcinoid in a Case of Zollinger Ellison Syndrome A Case Report

A case of Zollinger Ellison Syndrome who has developed carcinoid tumour of thymus and hypercalcaemia seven years later is presented.     

Renal handling of indomethacin and its relationship with the secretory pathway of prostaglandins

The uptake of prostaglandin E₂, one of the main renal prostaglandins and of p-aminohippurate, an indicator of the anion organic transport, by slices of kidney cortex from adult female rats was studied in the presence and in the absence of indomethacin. The drug's inhibitory effect on the uptake of prostaglandin E₂ was observed both after in vivo administration as well as when it was present in the bathing media. The effect was more pronounced when the drug was given in vivo and in addition, was present in the bath. [¹⁴C]PAH uptake was inhibited by indomethacin in a dose-related pattern and the kinetic analysis of this effect is indicative of a competitive inhibition. As expected, uptake of PAH by medullary slices was not affected by the presence of either indomethacin of PGE₂. Indomethacin was more potent in inhibiting PGE₂ uptake than PAH uptake.     

Mediastinal extramedullary erythropoiesis in hereditary spherocy tosis

Summary Evidence of thoracic extramedullary erythropoiesis has been noted before but it is considered rare in the course of chronic haemolytic anaemia. We report an adult who was admitted for splenectomy because of hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The evidence of a large mediastinal mass before surgery ledus, after isotopic scanning using ¹¹¹ Indium transferrin, to suspect extramedullary erythropoiesis; this was confirmed by cytology during surgery. The utility of ¹¹¹ Indium transferrin as a bone marrow tracer is also noted.     

Comparative Analysis of the Vascular Actions of Diterpenes Isolated from Euphorbia canariensis

We have analysed the effects of 2,3-diepiingol 7,12-diacetate-8-isobutyrate (compound 1 ), ingenol-3-angelate-17-benzoate (compound 2 ), ingenol-3-angelate-17-benzoate-20-acetate (compound 3 ) and 3,5,7,8,9,15-hexahydroxyjatropha-6(17),11-dien-14-one-5,8-bis(2-methylbutyrate)-7-(2-methylpropionate) (compound 4 ), four diterpenes isolated from E. canariensis, on the isometric tension developed by isolated rabbit basilar and carotid arteries. Concentration-response curves to these compounds were obtained cumulatively in both arteries at resting tension and active tone (KCl, 50 mM). At resting tension a concentration-dependent contraction was induced by the four compounds. In the basilar artery the order of potency was 3 = 1 > 2 = 4 , without significant differences between E_max values. In the carotid artery the order of potency was 3 > 2 = 1 = 4 and there were no significant differences between the E_max (maximum effect) values of compounds 1–3 , all of which were higher than that of compound 4 . In pre-contracted basilar artery compounds 1–3 induced concentration-dependent relaxation and compound 4 was almost ineffective; the order of potency was 3 > 2 = 1 without significant differences between E_max values. In the carotid artery with active tone the four compounds tested induced further contractions; the order of potency was 3 > 2 = 4 > 1 without significant differences between E_max values. These results show that the four diterpenes are potent active substances in rabbit basilar and carotid arteries and that there are regional differences between their action. The four compounds tested contract basilar and carotid arteries at resting tension. Compounds 1–3 relax pre-contracted basilar artery but not carotid artery.