Studies with {α 2}-adrenoceptor agonists and alcohol abstinence syndrome in rats

Various ₂-adrenoceptor agonists were assessed for their effects on alcohol abstinence syndrome in rats. In the first experimental model, groups of Wistar rats were made alcohol dependent by feeding alcohol together with sweetened milk for 15 days. The volume of fluid intake was measured every 12 h to determine daily ethanol consumption. Abstinence signs following abrupt alcohol withdrawal were observed in control as well as test groups receiving various ₂-adrenoceptor agonists. Clonidine, guanfacine and B-HT 920, in equimolar concentration (0.5 M/kg), effectively attenuated the various abstinence signs, which developed after alcohol withdrawal. In the other experimental model, rats were subjected to cold water immersion to induce wet shakes. The inhibitory action of ₂-adrenoceptor agonists was assessed in this test model. Clonidine, guanfacine and B-HT 920 markedly suppressed the cold water immersion-induced wet shakes and pretreatment with yohimbine (0.1 and 2.0 M/kg) reversed this inhibitory effect. The present data reveal the possible therapeutic potential of ₂-adrenoceptor agonists in alleviating alcohol abstinence syndrome, and suggest that the resultant reduced noradrenergic activity may be responsible for the beneficial action.     

Sex in the Era of COVID-19 in a U.S. National Cohort of Cisgender Men,Transgender Women,and Transgender Men Who Have Sex with Men: April–May 2020

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing body of research focused on the effects that measures like stay-at-home orders and social distancing are having on other aspects of health, including mental health and sexual health. Currently, there are limited extant data on the effects of the pandemic on sexual and gender minorities. Between April 15, 2020, and May 15, 2020, we invited participants in an ongoing U.S. national cohort study (Together 5000) to complete a cross-sectional online survey about the pandemic, and its effects on mental and sexual health and well-being (n?=?3991). Nearly all (97.7%) were living in an area where they were told they should only leave their homes for essentials. Most (70.1%) reported reducing their number of sex partners as a result of the pandemic. Among the 789 participants prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 29.9% said they stopped taking their PrEP entirely, and 14.2% started selectively skipping doses. For those who had been taking PrEP, discontinuing PrEP was associated with having no new sex partners (β?=?0.90, 95% CI 0.40–1.40). Among the 152 HIV-positive participants, 30.9% said they were unable to maintain an HIV-related medical appointment because of the pandemic and 13.8% said they had been unable to retrieve HIV medications. Additionally, 35.3% of participants were experiencing moderate to severe anxiety because of the pandemic and 36.7% reported symptoms of depression. In a multivariable logistic regression, reporting a new sex partner in the prior 30 days was significantly associated with being aged 30 or older (vs. not, AOR?=?1.21), being Black (AOR?=?1.79) or Latinx (AOR?=?1.40, vs. white), and being unsure if they had been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (AOR?=?1.32, vs. no contact). It was unassociated with COVID-19-induced anxiety, depression, or knowing someone hospitalized with COVID-19. The pandemic has caused disruptions in sexual behavior (partner reduction) as well as difficulties navigating PrEP and HIV care continua. Findings will guide more comprehensive public health responses to optimize HIV prevention and treatment in the era of COVID-19.

     

Short colon variant

A one day old neonate with a short colon, associated exomphalos minor; bifid scrotum and ileovesical fistula is reported.     

Distal fibular giant cell tumour

A patient who reported with a slowly growing swelling ovr thee lateral aspect of the left ankle, was investigated and diagnosed to have a giant cell tumour which was confirmed on FNAC. The tumour was managed with excision biopsy and reconstruction. The case is being reported for its rare site of occurrence.     

The reliability of the "absent cistern sign" in assessing LP shunt function

OBJECTIVE: One of the difficulties with lumboperitoneal (LP) shunts has been non-invasively ascertaining shunt function. It has been previously reported that in the presence of a functioning LP shunt the perimesencephalic cisterns become obliterated--the "absent cistern sign". In order to more rigorously test this association we performed a retrospective analysis of LP shunt patients at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. METHODS: The CT scans of all patients undergoing LP shunting over a 17 year period were reviewed. The "absent cistern sign" and ventricular size were compared against the results of either an isotope shunt study or surgical findings performed within 2 days of the CT. RESULTS: There were 38 CT scans (27 patients) performed within 2 days of an isotope shunt study and 15 CT scans (14 patients) performed within 2 days of a surgical intervention. These results give the absent cistern sign a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 57% when compared to the shunt isotope findings and a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 50% when compared to the surgical findings. Over 30% of the CT scans showed ventriculomegaly in the presence of a functioning shunt and, conversely, nearly 45% of the CT scans had normal or small lateral ventricles in the presence of a malfunctioning shunt. CONCLUSIONS: The "absent cistern sign" appears to reliably rule out a completely blocked shunt, but is less reliable in detecting a normal or partially obstructed shunt. Ventricular size correlates poorly with LP shunt function.     

Patterns of healing of scaphoid fractures. The importance of vascularity

We studied 45 patients with 46 fractures of the scaphoid who presented sequentially over a period of 21 months. MRI enabled us to relate the pattern of the fracture to the blood supply of the scaphoid. Serial MRI studies of the four main patterns showed that each followed a constant sequence during healing and failure to progress normally predicted nonunion.     

Extradural endodermal cyst of posterior fossa: case report, review of the literature, and embryogenesis

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Posterior fossa endodermal cysts are rare. They are located in the midline, in ventral or ventrolateral locations, or intrinsic to the neural axis. Accordingly, various theories of embryogenesis have been proposed. We report the first case of an extradural, dorsolaterally situated endodermal cyst. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An adult male patient presented with a short history of headache and cerebellar ataxia. Neuroimaging revealed an extra-axial cystic posterior fossa mass. INTERVENTION: An entirely extradural cyst was found and was totally excised. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of endodermal cyst. CONCLUSION: The extradural, dorsal location of the endodermal cyst suggests gaps at the cranial end of the notochord causing ectodermal-endodermal adhesions during early gastrulation and the persistence of endodermal remnants in the dorsal mesenchyme of the blastemal cranium. The literature is reviewed, and proposed theories of embryogenesis are discussed.     

Pharmacological studies on nitro‐naproxen (naproxen‐2‐nitrooxyethylester)

Naproxen‐2‐nitrooxyethylester (S‐(+)‐2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐naphthyl)propanoic acid‐2‐nitrooxyethylester, LE‐EK06) was synthesized from naproxen and 2‐nitrooxyethylbromide as a novel nitric oxide–releasing derivative of naproxen. Molar equivalents of LE‐EK06 (6.93–27.73 mg/kg, p.o.) to naproxen dose‐dependently exhibited greater antinociceptive activity in comparison to naproxen in a writhing assay. The compound (5.54–22.18 mg/kg, p.o.) showed greater anti‐inflammatory activity at 2 h after as comparable to its effect at 4 h after carrageenan challenge in rats. Further, LE‐EK06 (9.45 mg/kg, p.o.) was more potent in the carrageenan‐evoked hyperalgesia. LE‐EK06 (11.09 mg/kg, p.o.) and naproxen (8.0 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a comparable inhibitory effect on exudate formation and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in a carrageenan‐induced pleurisy test. Further, the compound (11.09 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity in carrageenan‐treated paw and demonstrated significantly less gastrotoxicity in acute and chronic (21 days) studies. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that LE‐EK06 showed only mild gastric damage (slight disruption of mucus layer) in comparison to naproxen. The present study suggested that naproxen‐2‐nitrooxyethylester (LE‐EK06) represents a novel gastric sparing NSAID. Drug Dev. Res. 61:66–78, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.