Intrinsic nerves in the mammalian colon: confirmation of a plexus at the circular muscle-submucosal interface

Slow waves in the small intestine seem to arise in plexuses of neurites with interstitial cells of Cajal. In the colon, slow waves appear to arise at the circular muscle - submucosal interface. We therefore sought a plexus at this surface in the colon in the cat, dog, ferret, opossum, rabbit, rat, guinea-pig and man. Segments from all levels of the colon were stained by the Champy-Maillet osmic acid-zinc iodide method and cut into serial 25 micron sections in the plane of the muscle layers. A dense network of neurites with abundant interstitial cells of Cajal was found at the circular muscle - submucosal interface in all species except rabbit. Neurites in this plexus appeared to arise from the deep plexus of the submucosa (Schabadasch's or Henle's plexus). It was not found in the small intestine and stomach. A similar plexus was found in the interstices of the myenteric plexus in the colon. Interstitial cells of Cajal in both plexuses were positive for the NADH-diaphorase stain, but not for silver impregnation. The possible roles of the plexuses of neurites and interstitial cells of Cajal at the circular muscle - submucosal interface and at the plane of the myenteric plexus in the generation of rhythmic activity in the colon are discussed.     

Parental communication deviance: its relationship to parent, child, and family system variables

Audiotape recordings of family interaction samples from 30 nondistressed and 32 multiproblem families were coded for communication deviance (CD). Maternal CD was found to be higher in families high on measures of "preschizophrenic" child behavior, externalizing or "acting out" offspring behavior, overall family distress, and maladaptive marital and family alliance structures. Paternal CD was found to be higher in families in which offspring were rated high on externalizing behaviors.     

Pulmonary artery catheterization: a modified technique

A modified technique for catheterization of the pulmonary artery was developed. It involves the passage of a tapered, movable-core, J-tipped guide wire across the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery followed by the advancement of a straightened Grollman pigtail catheter. The technique was successful in 34 of 34 pulmonary artery catheterizations. The method avoids prolonged catheter manipulation within the right ventricle. In addition, since the catheter does not cross the tricuspid valve until the guide wire has been advanced, the occasional complication of the pigtail "hooking" on a tricuspid valve leaflet or chordae tendineae during catheter withdrawal and manipulation is prevented.     

Do concentrations of neurotransmitters measured in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid reflect the concentrations at brain level?

Summary CSF concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) were measured in the lateral ventricles and at the lumbar level in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The concentrations of VIP (n=15), NA (n=10) and DA (n=10) were significantly higher at the lumbar level than at the ventricular level, whereas the concentrations of CCK (n=9) were similar at the two sites. A signifikant positive correlation between the concentrations measured at the two levels was found for VIP (r_s=0.65; p0.01) and DA (r_s=0.94; p0.001). The results indicate that the concentrations of transmitter substances measured in CSF at the lumbar level not necessarily are indicative for concentrations measured more centrally. The negative correlations between Evans ratio and L-CSF VIP (r_s=-0.76; p 0.001), and between resistance to outflow and V-CSF as well as L-CSF CCK (r_s=-0.75); p 0.05) might be explained by a reduction in number of cortical neurons or by disturbances in CSF dynamics in patients with NPH.     

Anion channels in a leaky epithelium

We have used the patch-clamp technique to characterize three anion channels in the ventricular membrane of the choroid plexus epithelium from Necturus. The most frequently occurring channel had a nonlinear IV-curve. The conductance in excised patches with 112 mM chloride at both sides was 28 pS at 0 mV, increasing towards positive membrane potentials. The selectivity ratios were P _NaP _Cl 0.1 and . SITS and furosemide (1 mM) on the inside reduces chloride flux to 0.15 and 0.37 times the control value. In attached patches, the most commonly observed channel had a conductance of 7.5 pS. The single-channel current for this channel reversed direction at 15 mV hyperpolarization, indicating accumulation of chloride to a factor of 1.8 above equilibrium. External stimulation of the tissue by theophylline, IBMX and dbcAMP, or by hypotonic shock did not increase the activity of this channel. In very few excised patches, we have observed a chloride channel with a conductance of 7 pS with 112 mM chloride at both sides. The 7 pS channel appears to be identical to a 2 pS channel found in attached patches. The 2 pS channel was not normally active in attached patches but was activated in 28% of the patches by external stimulation. Finally, in few excised patches we have found a 375 pS channel which inactivates within seconds when membrane potential is stepped from 0 mV to a value that differs more than 10–20 mV from zero. The channel did not conduct gluconate but and P _NaP _Cl 0.1. Internal SITS and furosemide (1 mM) reduced chloride flux to 0.3 and 0.5 times the control value. The channel was never seen in attached patches. The current carried through these channels can not account for the transepithelial steady state Cl^–-flux measured by microelectrodes. KCl exit from the cell is suggested to be carried by KCl-cotransport or by channels that are too small to be seen in patch-clamp experiments.     

A demographic survey of leg and foot ulcer patients in a defined population.

By means of a questionnaire sent to all medical units in Malm?, including primary care, homes for the elderly, and industrial health clinics, 275 patients with leg and foot ulcers were identified. With a population of 232,908 in Malm?, this corresponds to a prevalence of 0.12%, which is lower than reported by others. Since the response rate was high (88% total, Primary Care: 100%), the prevalence of 0.12% is, however, believed to be real and might be explained by the urban area investigated, with easy access to care and proximity to one somatic hospital. 50% of the patients with leg and foot ulcers were treated in Primary Care, and 30% of the leg ulcer patients were treated at the Department of Dermatology. 88% of leg and foot ulcer patients were over 75 years of age. Median age was 79.5 years, with 80 for women and 76.5 for men. In Primary Care the median age was 82. There was a predominance of women in the study population with an overall sex ratio of 3:1. A higher proportion of patients living alone was found in Primary Care. The etiology of the ulcers was considered to be "unknown" or "other" or else no statement was given in 36% of the leg ulcer- and 22% of the foot ulcer patients. This might reflect an overall uncertainty about the underlying etiological cause. Medially and laterally located leg ulcers were reported equally often, but there was also a great proportion of wholly or partially circumferential ulcers. 76% of the foot ulcers were located on the toes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of a Single Nighttime Dose of Oxazepam on Seizure Duration in Electroconvulsive Therapy

In a double-blind crossover study, 12 depressed inpatients receiving bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were given 22.5 mg oxazepam or placebo (identical tablets, randomized order) the night before treatment. Seizure duration was measured using the cuff method and a total of 20 pairs of measurements were made. Mean duration after oxazepam administration was 0.9 s longer than after placebo; this difference was not statistically significant. The relevant lower one-sided 95% confidence limit was -4.1 s. Single administration of oxazepam, 22.5 mg, has little average effect on seizure duration in ECT.     

Lack of influence of glucagon on glucose homeostasis after prolonged exercise in rats

Summary The significance of glucagon for post-exercise glucose homeostasis has been studied in rats fasted overnight. Immediately after exhaustive swimming either rabbit-antiglucagon serum or normal rabbit serum was injected by cardiac puncture. Cardiac blood and samples of liver and muscle tissue were collected before exercise and repeatedly during a 120 min recovery period after exercise. During the post-exercise period plasma glucagon concentrations decreased but remained above pre-exercise values in rats treated with normal serum, while rats treated with antiglucagon serum had excess antibody in plasma throughout. Nevertheless, all other parameters measured showed similar changes in the two groups. Thus after exercise the grossly diminished hepatic glycogen concentrations remained constant, while the decreased blood glucose concentrations were partially restored. Simultaneously concentrations in blood and serum of the main gluconeogenic substrates, lactate, pyruvate, alanine and glycerol declined markedly. During the post-exercise period NEFA concentrations in serum and plasma insulin concentrations remained increased and decreased, respectively, while plasma catecholamines did not differ from basal values. Muscle glycogen concentrations decreased slightly. These findings suggest that in the recovery period after exhaustive exercise the increased glucagon concentrations in plasma do not influence gluconeogenesis.     

Catecholamines and pancreatic hormones during autonomic blockade in exercising man

The importance of autonomic nervous activity for the pancreatic hormonal response to exercise in man was studied. 7 men ran at 58% of V(O2)max (determined without administration of drugs) to exhaustion during alpha-adrenergic blockade with phentolamine (P), during parasympathetic blockade with atropine (A), or without drugs (C). At rest phentolamine increased the plasma concentrations of both insulin and norepinephrine. During exercise norepinephrine concentrations increased and were in P experiments 3 times the concentrations in C experiments. Insulin always declined during exercise but in P experiments never decreased below basal levels. At identical times neither glucagon nor glucose differed significantly in the different expts. Thus during exercise alpha-adrenergic blockade increased insulin concentrations but did not diminish the glucagon response. Nor was this response increased when beta-receptor stimulation in P experiments was intensified by the particularly high catecholamine concentrations. The concentrations of FFA, glycerol and lactate were highest in P experiments and identical in A and C experiments. These findings indicate that during prolonged moderate exercise in man insulin secretion is depressed by stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors whereas glucagon secretion is not influenced by adrenergic receptors. Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors enhances lipolysis but neither lipolysis nor pancreatic hormonal secretion is influenced by cholinergic activity during exercise.