Postsynaptic effects of alpha agonists on adrenoceptors of the reserpinized rat vas deferens

The activities of the alpha-1 antagonist prazosin and alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine were evaluated against noradrenaline (NA), methoxamine (Me) and clonidine (Clo) on the reserpinized rat vas deferens. Prazosin antagonized competitively Me but not NA and Clo. On the other hand yohimbine showed a low and not competitive antagonism towards all the three agonists. Similar results were obtained when the antagonistic activities were tested in the presence of the alternative antagonist, in the attempt to isolate a single receptor population. We can conclude that the smooth musculature of the rat vas deferens contains prevalently alpha-1 adrenoceptors and a small population of NA activated receptors resistant to alpha-2 antagonists.     

Complex haptic hallucinations and palinaptia

A patient with biparietal lesions demonstrated complex stereognostic hallucinations and recurrent haptic sensations. Although there was complete astereognosis and palpatory apraxia, she palpated the hallucinated objects appropriately. A second patient with ictal haptic hallucinations is described, and the one case previously reported in the literature. Some observations and speculations are made concerning these rare phenomena.     

Acute obstruction by enterolith complicating jejunal diverticulosis. Case report

Two cases are presented in which the cause of small-bowel obstruction was enterolith originating in jejunal diverticula.     

Functional blockage of open comedones

Sebum excretion rate was measured by a photometric technique. We demonstrated a high correlation between sebum excretion rates on the left and right sides of the upper back and between back and forehead skin. Sebum excretion rate measurements overlying an open comedone (blackhead) were significantly lower than those obtained from normal skin. This observation demonstrates a functional obstruction to the outflow of sebum and would suggest that the lack of involvement of open comedones in inflammatory acne is not because of the maintenance of a free flow of sebum.     

The reliability of three methods for evaluating dental sealants

Three evaluation instruments (global, check-list, and criterion referenced) were used by experienced and inexperienced examiners to evaluate dental sealant end products on 40 extracted teeth. Intra- and interexaminer reliabilities were measured. Experienced examiners achieved higher intrarater reliabilities with all three evaluation instruments than did inexperienced examiners. The highest intraexaminer agreement for all examiners occurred with use of the global evaluation. The highest interexaminer reliability was achieved with the second use of the criterion-referenced evaluation by the experienced examiner. Interexaminer reliability was improved for both types of examiners with the criterion-referenced evaluation.     

Dorsal dislocation of the ulnar styloid and extensor carpi ulnaris tendon into the distal radioulnar joint: the empty sulcus sign

Two cases of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) disruption and diastasis secondary to distal radial fractures were associated with displacement of the ulnar styloid and extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) into the DRUJ. Both cases had a palpable empty ECU tendon sulcus. In one case surgical exploration revealed that the ulnar styloid, triangular fibrocartilage, and extensor carpi ulnaris tendon had dislocated into the DRUJ as a unit. The end result was good. In the second case lack of recognition and reduction of the ECU tendon and ulnar styloid led to persistent subluxation and diastasis. The end result was poor. Early recognition of the dislocation of the ulnar and ECU into the DRUJ and their significance may avoid poor results.     

Massive hemolysis and acute mitral insufficiency one year following mitral valve repair. Apropos of a case

The authors report a case of massive haemolytic anaemia with acute mitral valve regurgitation and left cardiac failure, which occurred one year after surgical reconstruction of the mitral valve for rupture of smaller leaflet chordae. Anaemia, mitral regurgitation and cardiac failure disappeared after mitral valve replacement, using a Carpentier Edwards No. 29 valve. Haemolytic anaemia following mitral valve reconstruction is exceptional. It seems to be due to the suture material lying in a turbulent regurgitation stream when mitral incompetence develops again.     

Synthesis of two biologically active fluorescent probes of thymopentin

This study reports on the synthesis of two fluorescent analogues of thymopentin (TP-5; Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr). A fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled analogue (FITC-TP-5) and a stilbene isothiocyanate labeled analogue (SITS-TP-5) were extensively purified by ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Characterization of the coupling site through amino acid analysis, dansylation and N-terminal cleavage of the fluorescent amino acid yielded results which indicated that both were mono-labeled analogues derivatized at the N-terminal. These analogues were shown to be TP-5-like in nature by their ability to induce the expression of the Thy 1.2 surface marker on nude mouse prothymocytes in both in vivo and in vitro assays. In addition, these analogues were able to inhibit the specific binding of radiolabeled TP-5 to human lymphocytes. Initial studies describing the interaction of FITC-TP-5 with human lymphocytes are shown.