The effect of chlorpromazine,phenmetrazine, imipramine and physostigmine on the exploratory and conditioned avoidance reaction in rats with different excitability of the central nervous system

Summary Rats with extremely high and extremely low excitability of the central nervous system, determined by the intensity of the orientation reaction in new surrounding according to the techniques ofLát, showed significant differences in the effect of chlorpromazine, phenmetrazine, imipramine, and physostigmine on their exploratory activity and their avoidance reaction. Less excitable animals reacted by a greater excitation to an exciting drug, more excitable animals by a greater depression to a depressing drug. Chlorpromazine in the dose of 2 mg/kg evoked in less excitable rats paradoxal excitation.Imipramine in the dose of 2 mg/kg increases only the rate of standing up, whereas phenmetrazine only the rate passing through a door from one chamber to another. The effect of imipramine especially in less excitable rats is an inverted picture of the effect of physostigmine.Statistical evaluation.     

Evaluation of the Glasgow coma scale score in critically Ill infectious disease patients

Summary In this prospective study the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was evaluated in 107 critically ill infectious disease (ID) patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during a 1-year period. Patients were separated into two groups: those affected by central nervous system (CNS) infections and those affected by infections other than of the CNS. There were no apparent differences in the first ICU day GCS score values between the two groups (11±4 vs. 11±4, p=0.5318). Univariate logistic regression analysis confirmed a significant relationship between the first ICU day GCS score and the subsequent ICU mortality in the group of patients with CNS infections (r=0.3152, p=0.0015) but not in the group with infections not affecting the CNS (r=0.0919, p=0.1106). Our preliminary results suggest that the prognostic value of the GCS score is valid only in patients with CNS infections but not in other ID patients.

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Evaluierung der Glasgow Coma Skala bei schwerkranken Patienten mit Infektionen

Zusammenfassung Die Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) wurde bei 107 schwerkranken Patienten mit Infektionen im Rahmen einer prospektiven Studie evaluiert. Es handelte sich um Patienten, die während eines Jahres in der Intensivpflegestation behandelt wurde. Sie wurden nach dem Vorliegen oder nicht Vorliegen einer Infektion des Zentralnervensystems in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt. In den GCS-Scores am ersten Tag der Intensivpflegebehandlung wiesen die beiden Gruppen keine Unterschiede auf (11±4 und 11±4; p=0,5318). Die logistische Regressionsanalyse für eine Variable deckte eine signifikante Beziehung zwischen dem GCS Punktewert am ersten Tag und der folgenden Sterberate bei Patienten mit ZNS-Infektionen auf (r=0,3152; p=0,0015). Bei Patienten, deren Infektion das ZNS nicht betraf, war eine derartige Beziehung nicht zu erkennen (r=0,0919; p=0,1106). Diese vorläufigen Ergebnisse lassen darauf schließen, daß der Glasgow Coma Score nur bei Patienten mit ZNS-Infektionen eine valide Funktion hat, nicht aber bei Patienten mit anderen Infektionen.

     

3D–2D registration in endovascular image-guided surgery: evaluation of state-of-the-art methods on cerebral angiograms

Purpose

Image guidance for minimally invasive surgery is based on spatial co-registration and fusion of 3D pre-interventional images and treatment plans with the 2D live intra-interventional images. The spatial co-registration or 3D–2D registration is the key enabling technology; however, the performance of state-of-the-art automated methods is rather unclear as they have not been assessed under the same test conditions. Herein we perform a quantitative and comparative evaluation of ten state-of-the-art methods for 3D–2D registration on a public dataset of clinical angiograms.

Methods

Image database consisted of 3D and 2D angiograms of 25 patients undergoing treatment for cerebral aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. On each of the datasets, highly accurate “gold-standard” registrations of 3D and 2D images were established based on patient-attached fiducial markers. The database was used to rigorously evaluate ten state-of-the-art 3D–2D registration methods, namely two intensity-, two gradient-, three feature-based and three hybrid methods, both for registration of 3D pre-interventional image to monoplane or biplane 2D images.

Results

Intensity-based methods were most accurate in all tests (0.3 mm). One of the hybrid methods was most robust with 98.75% of successful registrations (SR) and capture range of 18 mm for registrations of 3D to biplane 2D angiograms. In general, registration accuracy was similar whether registration of 3D image was performed onto mono- or biplanar 2D images; however, the SR was substantially lower in case of 3D to monoplane 2D registration. Two feature-based and two hybrid methods had clinically feasible execution times in the order of a second.

Conclusions

Performance of methods seems to fall below expectations in terms of robustness in case of registration of 3D to monoplane 2D images, while translation into clinical image guidance systems seems readily feasible for methods that perform registration of the 3D pre-interventional image onto biplanar intra-interventional 2D images.

     

The Cameriere,Haavikko, Demirjian,and Willems methods for the assessment of dental age in Croatian children

International Journal of Legal Medicine - This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the Cameriere European formula, Demirjian, Haavikko, and Willems methods for estimating dental...     

Role of molecular mimicry and polyclonal cell activation in the induction of pathogenic β2-glycoprotein I–directed immune response in Balb/c mice upon hyperimmunization with tetanus toxoid

It is known that tetanus toxoid (TTd)-hyperimmunization induces increased titer of sera β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI)-specific antibodies (Abs) in Balb/c mice. The concentrations of such induced anti-β2GPI Abs as well as their pathogenic potential are strongly influenced by the context of TTd application. β2GPI-specific immune response is established as a part of TTd-specific immune response by molecular mimicry mechanism due to structural homology between TTd and β2GPI. This finding is supported by the following facts: (1) cross-reactive Abs that recognize both TTd and β2GPI epitopes are present in Balb/c mice sera; (2) anti-TTd Abs secretion in splenic cultures is induced after β2GPI stimulation and vice versa. However, analyses of (1) IL-10 production following in vitro stimulation of immunized Balb/c mice splenocytes by TTd, β2GPI or glutaraldehyde-treated β2GPI and (2) specific impact of ConA and agonists of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 on anti-TTd and autoreactive Abs secretion strongly imply that these two branches of the TTd-induced immune response do not use identical cell populations and are regulated in a different way. Results presented in this paper describe that structural homology between foreign and self-antigens could focus mounted autoreactive immune response toward specific self-structure, but the context of antigen application, including a history of previous immune stimulations and adjuvants applied together with the antigen, are the main factors which determine the outcome of the induced immune response.     

The effects of sex steroids on thyroid C cells and trabecular bone structure in the rat model of male osteoporosis

Androgen deficiency is one of the major factors leading to the development of osteoporosis in men. Since calcitonin (CT) is a potent antiresorptive agent, in the present study we investigated the effects of androgen deficiency and subsequent testosterone and estradiol treatment on CT-producing thyroid C cells, skeletal and hormonal changes in middle-aged orchidectomized (Orx) rats. Fifteen-month-old male Wistar rats were either Orx or sham-operated (SO). One group of Orx rats received 5 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. testosterone propionate (TP) subcutaneously, while another group was injected with 0.06 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. estradiol dipropionate (EDP) once a day for 3 weeks. A peroxidase–antiperoxidase method was applied for localization of CT in the C cells. The studies included ultrastructural microscopic observation of these cells. The metaphyseal region of the proximal tibia was measured histomorphometrically using an imagej public domain image processing program. TP or EDP treatment significantly increased C cell volume (Vc), volume densities (Vv) and serum CT concentration compared with the Orx animals. Administration of both TP and EDP significantly enhanced cancellous bone area (B.Ar), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) and reduced trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). Serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary Ca concentrations were significantly lower after these treatments in comparison with Orx rats. These data suggest that testosterone and estradiol treatment in Orx middle-aged rats affect calcitonin-producing thyroid C cells, which may contribute to the bone protective effects of sex hormones in the rat model of male osteoporosis.     

Costamere remodeling with muscle loading and unloading in healthy young men

Costameres are mechano-sensory sites of focal adhesion in the sarcolemma that provide a structural anchor for myofibrils. Their turnover is regulated by integrin-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We hypothesized that changes in content of costamere components (beta 1 integrin, FAK, meta-vinculin, gamma-vinculin) with increased and reduced loading of human anti-gravity muscle would: (i) relate to changes in muscle size and molecular parameters of muscle size regulation [p70S6K, myosin heavy chain (MHC)1 and MHCIIA]; (ii) correspond to adjustments in activity and expression of FAK, and its negative regulator, FRNK; and (iii) reflect the temporal response to reduced and increased loading. Unloading induced a progressive decline in thickness of human vastus lateralis muscle after 8 and 34 days of bedrest (−4% and −14%, respectively; n = 9), contrasting the increase in muscle thickness after 10 and 27 days of resistance training (+5% and +13%; n = 6). Changes in muscle thickness were correlated with changes in cross-sectional area of type I muscle fibers (r = 0.66) and beta 1 integrin content (r = 0.76) at the mid-point of altered loading. Changes in meta-vinculin and FAK-pY397 content were correlated (r = 0.85) and differed, together with the changes of beta 1 integrin, MHCI, MHCII and p70S6K, between the mid- and end-point of resistance training. By contrast, costamere protein level changes did not differ between time points of bedrest. The findings emphasize the role of FAK-regulated costamere turnover in the load-dependent addition and removal of myofibrils, and argue for two phases of muscle remodeling with resistance training, which do not manifest at the macroscopic level.     

The Lateral Enamel Lamina--Component of Tooth Primordia in Selected Mammalian Species

The lateral enamel lamina (LEL) is a part of the enamel organ, which is probably not involved in tooth formation. It represents, besides the "stalk" of the tooth primordium, a second interconnection between enamel organ and oral epithelium or vestibular lamina. We detected the LEL in the sheep ( Ovis aries ), the dolphin ( Stenella attenuata ), and the vole ( Microtus agrestis ) by light microscopy and computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction. The LEL could be found in cap to bell stage tooth primordia, most clearly in slowly developing tooth germs. LEL-like structures have been furthermore described or depicted in tooth germs of the mouse, the elk ( Alces alces ), the dugong ( Dugong dugong ), the elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), and the human. Probably it is a part of all mammalian tooth primordia that undergoes regression during morphogenesis of the enamel organ. As a reducing structure, it should be considered in studies of tooth development.     

Intra-bone nuclear DNA variability in Second World War metatarsal and metacarpal bones

International Journal of Legal Medicine - DNA analysis of Second World War skeletal remains is challenging because of the limited yield of DNA that is usually recovered. Recent forensic research...