Location of the central sulcus via cortical thickness of the precentral and postcentral gyri on MR.

PURPOSETo determine whether relative cortical thickness measurements of the precentral and postcentral gyri can be used to differentiate the central sulcus from adjacent cortical sulci.METHODSTurbo inversion-recovery MR imaging of the entire brain was done with scans parallel to the anterior commissure-posterior commissure line. Cortical thickness was measured in each hemisphere with a jeweler''s eyepiece with 0.1-mm gradations. Three measurements were obtained perpendicular to the central, precentral, and superior frontal sulci, as determined by means of established anatomic methods. The ratios of cortical thickness on both sides of the central, precentral, and superior frontal sulci were calculated and compared.RESULTSThe mean ratio of precentral/postcentral gyri was 1.64 for the right hemisphere and 1.53 for the left hemisphere. The mean cortical thickness ratios were as follows: 1.01 for the right hemisphere and 3.01 for the left hemisphere across the precentral sulcus, and 1.03 for the right hemisphere and 0.99 for the left hemisphere across the superior frontal sulcus.CONCLUSIONCortical thickness measurements across the central sulcus provide a method for locating the primary motor (precentral gyri) and primary somatosensory (postcentral gyri) cortices. The higher mean cortical thickness ratio across the central sulcus corresponds with known cytoarchitectonic relationships.     

Differential effects of paroxetine on fatigue and depression: a randomized, double-blind trial from the University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program.

PURPOSE: Fatigue and depression typically occur together in cancer patients, suggesting a common etiology, perhaps based on serotonin. This randomized clinical trial tested whether paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant known to modulate brain serotonin, would reduce fatigue in cancer patients and whether any reduction was related to depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for the first time were assessed for fatigue. Of 704 patients who reported fatigue at their second chemotherapy cycle, 549 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 20 mg of oral paroxetine hydrochloride daily or placebo for 8 weeks. The assessments of fatigue and depression were performed at cycles 3 and 4 of chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients treated with paroxetine and 235 patients treated with placebo provided assessable data. No difference was detected in fatigue between patient groups. At the end of the study, there was a difference between groups in the mean level of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scores, 12.0 v 14.8, respectively; P <.01). CONCLUSION: Paroxetine had no influence on fatigue in patients receiving chemotherapy. A possible explanation is that cancer-related fatigue does not involve a reduction in brain 5-HT levels.     

Effect of two-level pedicle-screw fixation with different rod materials on lumbar spine: A finite element study

Background

Pedicle-screw-rod fixation system is very popular surgical remedy for degenerative disc disease. It is important to observe load vs. spinal motion characteristic for better understanding of clinical problems and treatment of spinal instability associated with low-back pain.

Herpes labialis in patients with Russell's viper bite and acute kidney injury: a single center experience

Snake bite is an important health hazard in tropical countries and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Herpes labialis is a common ailment caused by the Herpes simplex virus. There is no published data showing any association between the snake bite and development of Herpes labialis. Here, we present a series of patients who developed Herpes labialis after Russell's viper bite and had acute kidney injury. We attempted to find whether snake bite is an immunosuppressed state and whether it could have pre-disposed the patients to the development of these lesions.     

Failed adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-specific T cells: reversal with low-dose interleukin 15 but not low-dose interleukin 2

Adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-specific T cells has emerged as a valid approach for prevention or treatment of diseases, such as melanoma and EBV-associated lymphoma. As interleukin (IL) 15 promotes survival of CD8(+) memory CTLs, we hypothesized that it could be used to enhance antitumor immunity in vivo through the maintenance of adoptively transferred memory CTL. To test this, we treated mice bearing P1A(+) tumors with adoptively transferred T cells possessing a transgenic Valpha8(+) T-cell receptor specific for the P1A tumor antigen (called P1CTL). Mice were then randomized to receive daily low-dose IL-15 (0.5 microg/day) or PBS. Mice receiving the transgenic P1CTL and IL-15 experienced a significantly delayed tumor relapse or complete tumor regression (P < 0.002 compared with PBS), with a striking persistence of the CD8(+) Valpha8(+) P1CTL compared with mice receiving the CD8(+) Valpha8(+) P1CTL and PBS vehicle (26.3 versus 5.1% P < 10(-5)). Animals exhibiting complete tumor regression had a significant population of CD8(+) Valpha8(+) P1CTL (46%) that persisted with IL-15 treatment until 140 days after adoptive transfer and successfully defended them against tumor rechallenge without IL-15. Low-dose IL-2 afforded no protection over vehicle and resulted in lower percentages of T cells with an activated memory phenotype, lower Bcl-2 expression, and lower ex vivo antitumor cytotoxicity compared with mice treated with IL-15. Collectively, the data support the notion that exogenous low-dose IL-15 therapy can enhance and even reverse the limited efficacy of adoptively transferred tumor-specific T-cell therapy and may do so in a fashion that is superior and distinct from exogenous IL-2 therapy.