Giant axonal neuropathy: central abnormalities demonstrated by evoked potentials

Previous studies of giant axonal neuropathy have reported clinical and pathological findings that indicate involvement of the central nervous system. We studied 3 boys with giant axonal neuropathy, who were 14 to 16 years of age, using auditory, visual, and somatosensory evoked potentials. Absence of waveforms and prolongation of peak and interwave latencies were found. Abnormalities were noted in all modalities. The auditory brainstem evoked response in particular indicated a significant increase in brainstem conduction time. These studies add clinical neurophysiological confirmation of the central nervous system involvement in this disorder and may also provide a means of quantitative evaluation of its progression.     

Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter. Etiology, diagnosis, treatment and pathology

In order to draw attention to this rather rare condition affecting all age groups, 4 cases of fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter are reported. Conservative surgery is mandatory after adequate preoperative work-up. The pathological findings, incidence and diagnostic and therapeutic modalities are discussed and some etiological factors proposed.     

Synthesis of estradiol haptens

Synthesis of Estradiol Haptens Two estradiol haptens, 4-(3β,17β-dihydroxyestran-7α-yl)butanoic acid ( 9 ) and 7α-(4-aminobutyl)-3β,17β-estradiols ( 13 ), were prepared from 19-nortestosterone by partial synthesis. The binding activity for the cytosol estrogen receptor was determined by competition against [³H]-estradiol; at a concentration of 2×10^?7mol/l, compound 9 displaces 50% of [³H]-estradiol. Attached to AH-Sepharose 4B compound 9 allows the cytosol estrogen receptor from calf uterus to be concentrated 1800-fold by affinity chromatography.     

Telephone dissatisfaction in pediatric practice: Denver and Baltimore

A survey of pediatricians in private practice in the Denver and Baltimore metropolitan areas was conducted to assess pediatricians' satisfaction with the telephone in their practices. The response rates were 84% (89/106) in Denver and 72% (90/125) in Baltimore. In both cities, 42% of the physicians were dissatisfied with their telephone systems. Dissatisfied physicians were less likely to provide a morning telephone hour (P less than .02), less likely to delegate calls to office staff (P less than .01), more likely to believe that they lacked sufficient time to handle daytime calls (P less than .0001), and more likely to be in group rather than solo practice (P less than .05). Younger age of the respondent approached, but did not reach, statistical significance in its association with dissatisfaction.     

Trends in analgesic self-poisoning in West-Fife, 1971-1985

All admissions for analgesic self-poisoning to a district poisons unit over a 15-year period have been reviewed. During this time overdose with analgesic drugs increased to represent almost half of all admissions for self-poisoning. The types of analgesics taken in overdose also changed significantly during the period of this review. Aspirin and Distalgesic poisoning declined in incidence and more cases of self-poisoning by paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents were seen. The impact of these changes on the medical management and outcome of deliberate self-poisoning is analysed. The reasons behind the trends described in this paper are assessed and their implications for future prevention and treatment are discussed.     

Analysis of reticulocyte counts using various methods.

The precision and accuracy of manual reticulocyte counts using the Miller disc reticle, other ruled reticle and no reticle are compared with the reticulocyte results from the automated Hematrak 590 instrument. Two slides of each of 50 patient blood specimens were sent to the hematology laboratories of each of six participating hospitals. In addition to between-method comparison (precision), the manual method results using the three different counting techniques were each compared with the Hematrak results to determine if there were significant differences in reported results (accuracy). Statistical analysis revealed that the Miller disc method was the most precise and accurate manual method as compared with the Hematrak. Methods without a Miller disc reported significantly higher reticulocyte counts. Imprecision was also higher among non-Miller manual methods. By using the Miller disc, the accuracy and precision of manual methods may be increased to that of the automated Hematrak method.     

Formation of free choline in brain tissue during in vitro energy deprivation

Free choline and ATP contents were measured in Mongolian gerbil hippocampal slices (tissue) and incubation media (media) during exposure to 30 min of aglycemia, high potassium, anoxia, or ischemia. Changes in choline levels reflected the degree of energy reduction, lower ATP levels being associated with high choline (4-fold increase during exposure to high potassium and anoxia, and 11-fold increase during ischemia). Media (extracellular) choline was particularly affected and increased about twofold during relatively mild energy depletion (e.g., aglycemia), but tissue choline content was less sensitive to energy reduction. A plot of choline vs. ATP levels indicated a nonlinear correlation, and the sharp increase in choline occurred when ATP values fell to about 2.5 nmol/mg of protein. Inhibition of acetylcholine sterase by 10 microM physostigmine during ischemia did not prevent an increase in choline contents but rather enhanced them, indicating that acetylcholine hydrolysis was not the source of free choline. Formation of free choline was Ca2+ independent. These findings suggest the involvement of phospholipase D and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in free choline formation during energy stress. The extent of choline formation may be an indicator of the degree of membranal damage, which in turn reflects damage to the metabolic machinery of the cell.