Role of Tyrosine Kinase in Desflurane-induced Preconditioning

Background: Short administration of volatile anesthetics preconditions myocardium and protects the heart against the consequences of subsequent ischemia. Activation of tyrosine kinase is implicated in ischemic preconditioning. The authors investigated whether desflurane-induced preconditioning depends on activation of tyrosine kinase.

Methods: Sixty-four rabbits were instrumented for measurement of left ventricular pressure, cardiac output, and myocardial infarct size (IS). All rabbits were subjected to 30 min of occlusion of a major coronary artery and 2 h of subsequent reperfusion. Rabbits underwent a treatment period consisting of either no intervention for 35 min (control group, n = 12) or 15 min of 1 minimum alveolar concentration desflurane inhalation followed by a 10-min washout period (desflurane group, n = 12). Four additional groups received the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (5 mg/kg) or lavendustin A (1.3 mg/kg) at the beginning of the treatment period with (desflurane-genistein group, n = 11; desflurane-lavendustin A group, n = 12) or without desflurane inhalation (genistein group, n = 9; lavendustin A group, n = 8).

Results: Hemodynamic values were similar in all groups during baseline (left ventricular pressure, 87 +/- 14 mmHg [mean +/- SD]; cardiac output, 198 +/- 47 ml/min), during coronary artery occlusion (left ventricular pressure, 78 +/- 12 mmHg; cardiac output, 173 +/- 39 ml/min), and after 2 h of reperfusion (left ventricular pressure, 59 +/- 17; cardiac output, 154 +/- 43 ml/min). IS in the control group was 55 +/- 10% of the area at risk. The tyrosine inhibitors had no effect on IS (genistein group, 56 +/- 13%; lavendustin A group, 49 +/- 13%; each P = 1.0 vs. control group). Desflurane preconditioning reduced IS to 40 +/- 15% (P = 0.04 vs. control group). Tyrosine kinase inhibitor administration had no effect on IS reduction (desflurane-genistein group, 44 +/- 13%; desflurane-lavendustin A group, 44 +/- 16%; each P = 1.0 vs. desflurane group).     

gamma-ray spectrometry of soil samples from the Provincia dell'Aquila (Central Italy).

In the Abruzzo Region (Central Italy) there is a lack of measurements of gamma-ray activity in soils and waters. For this reason, we have planned to carry out a systematic measurement of soils in the area of the Provincia dell'Aquila, which covers about one-half of the entire region. In this paper we report the results obtained from 56 soil samples, collected in the northern part of the area of interest (about one-fourth of the total area under study). The results, in terms of content of uranium, thorium and potassium and the activity of caesium are reported, as well as the details on the experimental procedure. The results show a limited content of K and U, with no large variations from site to site, in agreement with the expectations based on the knowledge of the geo-lithological nature of the soil. The amount of Th is also quite limited, with a few exceptions where the Th content is up to five times the average value. Caesium, originated from the fall-out following the Chernobyl accident, is very irregularly distributed owing to the complicated orography of the land. Future plans are also shortly discussed.     

Percutaneous selective thermorhizotomy in the treatment of "essential" trigeminal neuralgia. The importance of lesion selectivity

Results following percutaneous thermorhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia are described in 111 patients. Recurrences and side effects are more frequent whenever selectivity of the surgical lesion has been imperfect (exceeding the original pain area and causing marked hypoesthesia), and less frequent in the cases with strictly selective lesion.     

Short-Ti inversion-recovery pulse sequence: analysis and initial experience in cancer imaging

Inversion recovery (IR), commonly considered a pulse sequence capable of producing T1-weighted images with excellent display of normal anatomy, is versatile: The null point and peak time provide a useful, succinct summary of the properties of IR and its capacity for producing both T1- and T2-weighted images. Shortening of the inversion time (TI) and creation of a short-TI inversion-recovery (STIR) pulse sequence increases sensitivity to malignancy and other abnormalities by making the effects of prolonged T1 and T2 on signal intensity additive and by nulling the signal from fat. The authors examined over 300 patients with various malignancies and compared STIR images with T1- and T2-weighted images obtained at 0.5 T. In 43 cases, signal-difference-to-noise ratios (SD/Ns) were calculated between tumor, fat, and muscle. In general, STIR images demonstrated tumor as a conspicuously high-intensity area in a background of muted, discernible anatomic detail. The good contrast achieved with STIR sequences between tumor and fat (SD/N = 18.1) and tumor and muscle (SD/N = 12.9) consolidated into a single image the information contained separately on T1- and T2-weighted images, which facilitates efficient detection and localization of malignancy.     

Rupture of the posterior tibial tendon: CT and surgical findings

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 42 patients with 49 clinically suspected tears of the posterior tibial tendon. Twenty-eight of the 49 suspected tears were subsequently surgically explored and repaired. Three patterns of tendon abnormalities were recognized on CT scans: type I-intact, hypertrophied, heterogeneous tendon; type II-attenuated tendon; and type III-absence of a portion of a tendon. Types I and II correlated with partial rupture seen during surgery, and type III correlated with complete rupture of the tendon. CT findings were accurate in 96% of the patients who underwent surgery. In four cases (14%), tendon rupture was seen on CT scans, but the extent of the injury was underestimated and the rupture was misclassified. Reactive periostitis of the distal tibia was seen in 71% of diseased tendons and may represent an important factor in the diagnosis of tendon rupture.     

Differential effects of human recombinant interleukin-1 beta on cytochrome P-450-dependent activities in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.

The immunomodulator interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) is one of the major inflammatory mediators. In vivo, it has been reported to depress some rat liver cytochromes P-450 (cytochrome P-450). Our aim was to study those effects in vitro, using cultured fetal rat hepatocytes as a model. Testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase (cytochrome P-450 IIIA family activity) was not depressed by IL-1 treatments, but its induction by dexamethasone was prevented. The effect was time- and dose-dependent. Ethoxyresorufine-O-deethylase (cytochrome P-450 IA1 activity) decreased after IL-1 treatment, and dexamethasone partially prevented this inhibition. Acute phase effects of IL-1 were assayed by albumin and transferrin secretions. The cell's sensitivity to glucocorticoids was determined by tyrosine-aminotransferase activity. Our data demonstrate that IL-1 was able to prevent the glucocorticoid induction of cytochrome P-450 IIIA involving at least two different mechanisms. This is in agreement with the theory suggesting that the induction of CYPIIIA family by glucocorticoids requires the presence of the glucocorticoid receptor and some other regulatory elements. Other cytochrome P-450-dependent activities (IIA1, IIB1/2, and IIC11) were inhibited by IL-1 treatments, depending on dose and time, but some were also protected by dexamethasone.     

Growth and rupture of an ovarian endometrioma in pregnancy.

Pregnancy has long been considered to have beneficial effects on endometriosis. We describe a patient who underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy at gestation week 35 for rupture of an ovarian endometrioma.