Nerve growth factor and p75NGFR factor receptor mRNA change in rodent CNS following stress activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

The synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) by the hippocampus raises the possibility that NGF may play a role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Subchronic cold stress has been shown to activate the HPAA in a mild noninvasive manner, to stimulate serum glucocorticoid levels, and to perturb NGF binding in hippocampus and basal forebrain. One or repeated episodes of cold stress increased NGF mRNA levels in the hippocampus and p75^NGFR mRNA levels in the basal forebrain. These changes were not due to elevated serum glucocorticoid levels since treatment with exogenous corticosterone had no effect on NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA levels. Adrenalectomy did not prevent the stress induced increases in NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Bilateral Ulnar Agenesis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Bilateral ulnar agenesis is a rare abnormality. A total of 36 cases are analyzed: 35 of these are documented in the literature and 1 stillborn male is presented in this study. Most patients had one of the three conditions: Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild syndrome, syndrome of ulnar aplasia with split hand/split foot deformity, or the Brachmann—de Lange syndrome. Fifty percent of all cases with bilateral ulnar agenesis were associated with lower limb defects and these cases, for the most part, also belonged to the aforementioned syndromes. Nonskeletal, internal organ malformations were identified in 34% of all patients. Nine patients presented with isolated bilateral ulnar agenesis. The Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild syndrome and the split hand/split foot deformity are heritable disorders. There was no evidence for genetic etiology in most of the other cases. Bilateral ulnar agenesis in our fetus was part of the Brachmann—de Lange syndrome with associated cardiac defect, diaphragmatic hernia, and umbilical artery agenesis.     

Unusual course of an epidural rhabdomyosarcoma of the upper thoracic spine

Summary This report deals with a case of rhabdomyosarcoma in the upper thoracic spine. It is of particular interest, not only for the rarity of type and location of this tumour, but for its clinical course, which presented fluctuations of neurological status, included an acute demonstration of complete paraplegia followed by full recovery after conservative treatment, and gradual relapsing of neurological deficit, one year later.     

Drivers' differential perceptions of legal and safe driving consumption

UK drink-drive countermeasures have been grounded in deterrence theory and more specifically through per se legislation. Education and information campaigns to stimulate inhibitory behavioural systems have emphasized the legal limit in terms of “driving safeness”. This study examined the relationship between subjective perceptions of safe driving and legal driving consumption limits and other factors important in the decision to drive after drinking. Responses from over 900 drivers established that those who perceived safe consumption levels to be greater than that required to break the law indicated reduced moral commitment to present and possible future countermeasures. These drivers also had previous experience of being breath tested (but not charged with a drink-driving offence), reported comparatively lower estimates of their chances of apprehension and accident involvement when over the legal limit, showed higher consumption levels on a driving trip and greater self-reported driving while impaired by alcohol. The implications of the findings for the development and delivery of measures to counter drink-driving are discussed.     

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy improved muscle strength in a patient with multifocal motor neuropathy and antibodies against the glycolipid LK1

We report improvement in muscle strength in a patient with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) when given high-dose intravenous immunoglobin (i.v.-Ig) treatment. The patient had asymmetrical limb weakness, atrophy and absent or weak reflexes, but no sensory disturbances. Neurography showed multiple conduction blocks in peripheral motor nerves but no sensory nerve abnormalities. Serum and anti-GM1 antibodies were not found, however, the patient had serum antibodies against the glycolipid LK1, an epitope found both in glycolipid and also in some glycoproteins in peripheral nerve myelin. Muscle strength improved 5 days after i.v.-Ig therapy, and lasted about 10 weeks. Repeated courses of treatment resulted in similar improvement. This is, to our knowledge, the first patient reported with MMN found to have antibodies against the glycolipid LK1.     

Renal abnormalities in children with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis —fact or fallacy?

Retrospective review of the abdominal ultrasound (US) examination of 274 children studied for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) was undertaken to determine if there is an increased incidence of renal disease as previously reported. Five major abnormalities were detected in the 126 children with HPS. Three lesions were newly diagnosed and two had been diagnosed previously. Five children had abnormalities classified as minor or normal variants. Renal abnormalities were found in six of the 148 children who did not HPS. Only three of these were newly diagnosed and medically important. Eight children without HPS had minor abnormalities or normal variants of the kidneys. Newly diagnosed medically important renal lesions were present in 2.4% of children screened for HPS. The incidence of the finding was the similar in children with and without HPS.Paper presented at 1992 RSNA meeting     

Acute renal failure without fibrotic skin changes in progressive systemic sclerosis

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is defined as sudden development of accelerated hypertension, hyperreninemia, and acute renal failure in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Although the diagnosis of PSS is generally straightforward because of dermal fibrosis, we report 2 patients who had PSS with SRC without the characteristic fibrotic skin changes of scleroderma. PSS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained acute renal failure and accelerated hypertension even though the cutaneous fibrotic manifestations of the disease may be absent.     

Characteristics and localisation of 125I ion binding in mammalian airways

We have examined some of the binding characteristics and the autoradiographic distribution of binding sites for Na125I (I-Na) in airway tissue from the guinea-pig, monkey, pig, rat, mouse and from man. Basal I-Na (100 pM) binding levels were extremely low. However, in the presence of ascorbic acid (10 microM) or dithiothreitol (10 microM), I-Na binding was markedly increased in guinea-pig trachea, with lesser increases detected in monkey and rat trachea and in monkey and human bronchus. In guinea-pig trachea, ascorbic acid-induced I-Na binding was not saturable within the concentration range 100-620 pM and could not be reduced by washout. Autoradiography revealed that in central airways, I-Na binding was localized at or near the interface of the airway epithelium and submucosa in small clusters, apparently involving one or two cells per focus. The physiological significance of these binding sites is yet to be established, although they may be involved in intracellular iodine storage.