Evaluation of wound contraction and epithelialization after subcutaneous administration of Theranekron® in cows

Ten bulls (age 7 months, weight 302 ± 15 kg) were used in this study. After sterile preparation of skin, a full thickness wound (20 × 20 mm) was created in each bull. The bulls were randomly assigned into two groups: group 1 received 6 ml Theranekron subcutaneously and group 2 penicillin banzatine 10,000 IU/kg IM. These doses were repeated 6 days after initial wounding. At days 0, 3, 6, 10 and 14, digital photographs were taken from the wounds to calculate wound contraction and epithelialization using geometry. Chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis using SPSS 9 for Windows. There was no significant differences in wound contraction between trial groups (P > 0.05) but a statistical difference was seen in epithelialization between groups (P < 0.05). Epithelialization is one of the most important factors in wound healing. According to the results of the present study, Theranekron can significantly stimulate epithelialization in full thickness wounds in cows during the first 14 days of healing.     

Effect of 5-Aminoisoquinolinone on the Adhesion of Colon Carcinoma

Objective： 5-Aminoisoquinolinone, a water-soluble, potent inhibitor of the activity of poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） polymerase, plays an important role in the tissue injury associated with ischaemia-reperfusion injury and inflammation by inhibiting the activity of poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） polymerase and the expression of cell adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1, P-selectin et al. But how about it in the tumor is not clear. The aim of the present study was to study the effects of 5-Aminoisoquinolinon on the adhesion of colon carcinoma line HT-29 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells; and the effects of 5-Aminoisoquinolinon on the expression of ICAM-1, P-selectin and the activity of poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） polymerase in colon carcinoma HT-29 cells. Methods： The adhesion of HT-29 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was detected by adhesive experiment. Immunocytochemically Streptavidin-Peroxidase method was used to investigate the expression of ICAM-1, P-selectin and Poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose）（ the product of poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） polymerase activation）. Results： the results of the adhesion assay of HT-29 cells to HUVEC showed that the OD570 value in each 5-AIQ-treated group was significant lower than that in the control group （5-AIQ-untreated） in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of ICAM-1, P-selectin and Poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） was significant lower in 5-Aminoisoquinolinone-treated HT-29 cell group than that in 5-Aminoisoquinolinoneuntreated groups. Conclusion： The data suggest that 5-Aminoisoquinolinone can inhibit the adhesion of HT-29 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. 5-Aminoisoquinolinone also can inhibit poly （adenosine 5＇-diphosphate ribose） polymerase activation and the expressions of ICAM-1 and P-selectin in HT-29 cells. 5-Aminoisoquinolinone probably contributes to the prevention of tumor cell metastasis. Further study is needed.     

Interaction of psychotropic drugs with brain muscarinic cholinoceptors: similarities of biperiden with pirenzepine in receptor binding properties

It is generally accepted that there are at least three different subtypes of muscarinic cholinoceptors, pirenzepine being considered a selective M1 antagonist. In the present study, a number of different types of psychotropic drugs have been compared with pirenzepine and atropine as reference antimuscarinic drugs regarding their affinities for rat brain muscarinic cholinoceptors with the help of in vitro receptor binding studies. The most potent drugs, inhibiting 3H-1-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3H-QNB) binding at subnanomolar concentrations, were the antimuscarinic drugs scopolamine and atropine. Biperiden, promethazine, pirenzepine and some tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepin) were the next potent drugs, with IC50-values between 8.4 nM and 190 nM. The inhibition curves were steep and parallel giving Hill coefficients close to unity in all but two drugs studied. These exceptions were biperiden and pirenzepine both with Hill coefficients about 0.55. Thus, in addition to pirenzepine also biperiden seems to bind to the M1 receptor selectively. Additional receptor and functional studies are warranted to further elucidate the possible similarities of these two drugs.     

Hepatic oil embolism following lymphography: CT diagnosis

Hepatic oil embolism following lymphography is reported in a 68-year-old man admitted for chylous ascites associated with recurrent prostatic carcinoma. Abdominal plain radiography, CT, and ultimately liver biopsy strongly support a direct lymphatic pathway and are against the role of lymphaticovenous anastomoses generally advocated to explain this phenomenon.     

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I exert different effects on plasminogen activator production or cell growth in the ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS.

Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) are evaluated for their capacity to affect cell proliferation and plasminogen activator (PA) activity production in an ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS. Insulin at physiological and supraphysiological doses induces cell proliferation and increases PA activity. IGF-I, which is also clearly mitogenic for these cells, surprisingly does not modulate PA activity. The results indicate that the growth promoting effect is mediated through the insulin and IGF-I receptors whereas PA activity is solely regulated via the insulin receptors.     

Cephalometric measurements in snorers, non-snorers, and patients with sleep apnoea.

Cephalometry is often used to assess patients with sleep apnoea but whether these measurements differ from those in non-apnoeic snorers and how they are influenced by age is not clear. Cephalometric radiographs of patients with sleep apnoea were compared with those of snorers without sleep apnoea and those of non-snorers. Fifty two snorers with suspected sleep apnoea had a conventional sleep study and were divided into two groups: those with an apnoea-hypopnoea index greater than 10/h (n = 40, sleep apnoea group) and those whose apnoea-hypopnoea index was 10/h or less (n = 12, snorer group). The cephalometric measurements in these patients were compared with those of 34 non-snoring control subjects. Controls were subdivided into two groups: control group 1 included 17 subjects similar in age to the sleep apnoea and snorer groups (mean (SD) age 50.0 (10.9), 50.7 (9.4), and 50.6 (9.7) years); control group 2 included 15 young men (25.4 (2.6) years). The distance from the mandibular plane to the hyoid bone (MP-H) and the length of the soft palate were greater in the patients with sleep apnoea (28.7 (7.8) and 43.6 (5.0) mm) than in the snorers (23.7 (4.2) and 40.3 (4.9 mm). The MP-H was similar in snorers and age matched control subjects, but was significantly greater in the older than in the younger control subjects (22.1 (6.1) vs 17.0 (6.8]. The soft palate was longer in subjects who snored (both sleep apnoea patients and snorers) than in control subjects. The MP-H distance significantly correlated with age for all subjects (snorers and controls) and for the control subjects alone. This study shows that non-apnoeic snorers have cephalometric abnormalities that differ from those of patients with sleep apnoea and that cephalometric values are influenced by the subject's age.     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR in thoracic disc herniations

Summary The Gd-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance findings in two patients with herniated thoracic intervertebral discs are reported. The first patient was a 56-year-old woman with a small subligamentous T6-7 disc herniation, slightly lateralized to the right. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a central and right posterolateral disc herniation, including a large calcified fragment, at the T8-9 level. The nonenhanced MR examination revealed the presence of an extradural mass lesion in both patients, impinging upon the dural sac and compressing and displacing the spinal cord posteriorly. The lesion was slightly hypointense on both T1- and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Following intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, enhancement of the posterior longitudinal ligament was noted and triangular areas of contrast uptake were seen to occur in the epidural space above and below the herniated disc. At surgery, they were found to correspond to dilated and congested epidural veins.