Two opacification patterns of the same hydrophilic acrylic polymer: case reports and clinicopathological correlation

We report 2 intraocular lenses (IOLs) manufactured from the same hydrophilic acrylic polymer by Ioltech that developed optic opacification. In both cases, the postoperative course after implantation of the IOLs was complicated by significant inflammatory reaction with fibrin formation in the anterior chamber. Pathologic analyses of the explanted IOLs were consistent with dystrophic calcification leading to optic opacification, but the pattern was different between the 2 IOL designs. Patient-related factors might have been responsible for this complication.     

A pilot randomised, open, uncontrolled, clinical study of two dosages of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) herb extract (LI-160) as an aid to motivational/behavioural support in smoking cessation

There is an association between smoking and depression, yet the herbal antidepressant St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.; SJW) herb extract has not previously been investigated as an aid in smoking cessation. In this open, uncontrolled, pilot study, 28 smokers of 10 or more cigarettes per day for at least one year were randomised to receive SJW herb extract (LI-160) 300 mg once or twice daily taken for one week before and continued for 3 months after a target quit date. In addition, all participants received motivational/behavioural support from a trained pharmacist. At 3 months, the point prevalence and continuous abstinence rates were both 18%, and at 12 months were 0%. Fifteen participants (54%) reported 23 adverse events up to the end of the 3-month follow-up period. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of adverse events for participants taking SJW once or twice daily (p > 0.05). Most adverse events were mild, transient and non-serious. This preliminary study has not provided convincing evidence that a SJW herb extract plus individual motivational/behavioural support is likely to be effective as an aid in smoking cessation. However, it may be premature to rule out a possible effect on the basis of a single, uncontrolled pilot study, and other approaches involving SJW extract may warrant investigation.     

The influence of amphetamine on language activation: an fMRI study

Rationale Amphetamine administration has been found to affect the degree of cerebral dominance for motor control in animals. In humans, cerebral dopamine neurotransmission is also correlated to motor dominance. Since language dominance is related to motor dominance, amphetamine might also affect cerebral dominance for language. Methods To test this hypothesis, language activation was measured twice with functional magnetic resonance imaging in ten healthy right-handed men in a double-blind crossover design 2 h after amphetamine or placebo administration. Results Language-related activation increased significantly in task-related areas, but the individual lateralization index was not affected in the amphetamine condition as compared to placebo. Conclusions This finding suggests that short-termed alterations in the dopaminergic neurotransmission do not affect language dominance.     

Drug evaluation: ranirestat--an aldose reductase inhibitor for the potential treatment of diabetic complications

Ranirestat is an orally available aldose reductase inhibitor under development by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd (formerly Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co Ltd), Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Eisai Co Ltd for the potential treatment of diabetic complications, such as neuropathy, cataracts, retinopathy and nephropathy. Phase III trials were ongoing in February 2006.     

Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics

Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway is implicated in driving the formation of various human cancers, particularly those of the digestive tract. Inhibition of aberrant Wnt pathway activity in cancer cell lines efficiently blocks their growth, highlighting the great potential of therapeutics designed to achieve this in cancer patients. Here we provide an overview of the promise and pitfalls of current drug development strategies striving to inhibit the Wnt pathway and present new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.     

Neurological disorders and perhexiline maleate therapy. Clinical study of 10 cases. Neuropathological, pharmacocinetic and biochemical studies (author's transl)]

Ten new cases of perhexiline induced peripheral neuropathies are reported. The authors emphasize the possible association of other neurological disorders: cerebellar symptoms in one case, complex tremor in two other cases, marked decrease of photomotor reflexes in one case and disgeusia in another one. The pharmacocinetic study of 4 cases revealed the presence of a low metabolism of the drug in one of them. Polymorphous inclusions have been seen in Schwann cell and endothelial cell cytoplasm in the three patients with electron microscopic study of the nerves. The pathological study of one case showed the demyelination of spinal cord posterior columns. In another case, who died from hepatic coma, the biochemical study of cerebral lipids revealed the low values of cerebrosides and sulfatides in cerebellum and cerebral white matter.     

The application of Bandura's self-efficacy theory to abstinence-oriented alcoholism treatment

This paper explores the relevance of self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1977b) to the process of abstinence treatment and the phenomenon of relapse. By distinguishing between the particular efficacy and outcome expectations created in treatment it is possible to clarify some of the problems encountered between clinicians and alcoholics. Bandura's theory also explains why some treatment methods might be more effective than others. Analysis of relapse suggests that while some of the expectations created in treatment might serve to promote abstinence, others might unwittingly precipitate relapse. The understanding of abstinence treatment could be enhanced by the testing of hypotheses which emerge from this analysis.     

An orderly lattice of axial tubules which interconnect adjacent transverse tubules in guinea-pig ventricular myocardium

Electron microscopy of guineapig heart muscle (ventricular) shows that large-diameter axial tubules are present in between the myofibrils. There is free communication between the lumina of these axial tubules and the transverse tubules. This transverse-axial tubular system forms an interconnected orderly network of “intracellular” tubules lined with basement membrane and open to the bulk interstitial fluid. Micropinocytotic-like vesicles are found along the axial tubules as well as the transverse tubules. Electron-opaque diffusion tracers, such as horseradish peroxidase (diameter of about 55 Å) and colloidal thorium dioxide (diameter of 60 Å) readily enter into these tubules. This tubular lattice occupies a large fraction of the cell volume (> 7.7%), and this fraction increases in hypertonic solutions due to swelling of the transverse-axial system. A network of closed or small SR sarcotubules into which tracer does not penetrate are also present surrounding the myofibrils, and often this system is in close proximity to the transverse-axial system. The transverse-axial tubular system is absent in the guinea-pig atrial muscle, but these cells do contain a closed SR sarcotubular system. Thus, in the ventricular cells the myofibrils and mitochondria have close access to a space that is continuous with the bulk interstitial fluid and which may be of similar cationic composition; such an arrangement should facilitate excitation-contraction coupling.