Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) in Parkinson's disease.

To elucidate the possible role of vitamin E in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), we compared serum levels of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the vitamin E/cholesterol ratio of 42 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using their spouses as the control group. The serum levels of vitamin E did not differ significantly between the groups (13.84 +/- 0.56 micrograms/ml for PD and 14.80 +/- 0.57 micrograms/ml for controls), nor did the vitamin E/cholesterol ratio (0.64 +/- 0.03 for both groups). There was no influence of antiparkinsonian therapy on vitamin E or the vitamin E/cholesterol ratio. Serum levels of the vitamin E and vitamin E/cholesterol ratio did not correlate with age, age at onset, scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale or the Hoehn and Yahr staging in the PD group. These results suggest that serum vitamin E concentrations do not play a role in the pathogenesis of PD.     

Posttransfusion hepatitis. A prospective study

This prospective study was carried out on thirty patients transfused with blood or blood products, by ten (33.3%) posttransfusion hepatitis was diagnosed; this is 15.75 cases per 1,000 U transfused. Four patients developed jaundice; six remained asymptomatic. In nine patients (90%) non-A, non-B hepatitis was diagnosed and one (10%) case was classified as hepatitis B. Two patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis developed chronic hepatitis, corroborated through percutaneous liver biopsy.     

Porphyria cutanea tarda associated with autoimmune hypothyroidism, vitiligo and alopecia universalis.

The aetiology of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) has not been elucidated, but the possibility of an autoimmune mechanism has been proposed. We report a case of an unknown clinical combination of PCT with autoimmune hypothyroidism, alopecia universalis and vitiligo with thyroid and parietal cell circulating antibodies. This is highly suggestive of underlying autoimmune damage in this patient.     

The cardioprotective action of nifedipine during short-term transient ischemia

To determine the therapeutic activity on regional myocardial function of nifedipine intravenous administration (0.16 mg/kg) during short term myocardial induced ischemia, we used 6 mongrel dogs anesthetized and intubated those who we have implanted 3 pairs of ultrasonic crystals in the subendocardial layer. Utilizing an open chest canine model we performed total 1 minute and partial 2 minutes 30 seconds alternative obstructions, controlled with electromagnetic flowmeters in the anterior descending (AD) and circumflex (Cx) coronary arteries before and after drug administration. During the 70-80% obstructions we have shown a significant improvement in segment shortening, reduced by ischemia, in the ischemic and peri-ischemic zone. The ischemic markers, per cent increment of end diastolic length (% IEDL) and per cent increment of end systolic length (% IESL), have shown significant improvement during partial obstructions in the ischemic and peri-ischemic zone. After total obstructions the improvement on regional myocardial function is less marked and limited to ischemic zone.     

Serotonin 5- HT (2C) receptor knockout mice: autoradiographic analysis of multiple serotonin receptors.

Quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to study possible alterations of the densities of multiple serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes and of serotonin transporter in the brain of 5-HT(2C) receptor knockout mice. The radioligands employed were [(3)H]citalopram, [(3)H]WAY100,635, [(3)H]8-OH-DPAT, [(3)H]GR125743, [(3)H]sumatriptan, [(3)H]MDL100,907, [(125)I](+/-)DOI, [(3)H]mesulergine, [(3)H]5-HT, [(3)H]GR113808, and [(3)H]5-CT. As expected, radioligands that label 5-HT(2C) receptors showed a complete absence of labeling in mutant mice choroid plexus and significantly reduced densities in other brain regions expressing 5-HT(2C) receptors. With the rest of the radioligands, no significant alterations in the densities of labeled sites were found in any brain region. In situ hybridization showed no changes in 5-HT(2A) receptor and serotonin transporter mRNA levels, whereas 5-HT(2C) receptor mRNA levels were reduced in certain brain regions. The present results indicate that the mouse serotonergic system does not exhibit compensatory up- or down-regulation of the majority of its components (serotonin transporter and most 5-HT receptor subtypes) in response to the absence of 5-HT(2C) receptors.     

Repeat pregnancy associated with cardiac pacemaker.

Two pregnancies in a patient with a fixed-rate pacemaker are reported. The first pregnancy was uneventful. The second had no maternal complications either. A moderate tachysystolia was detected during the second period. The newborn was delivered with forceps applied under spinal anesthesia. Newborn infant evolution presented no hazards, but umbilical cord analysis revealed a severe acidosis, in spite of a normal scalp analysis 45 min earlier. Epidural anesthesia is recommended for such patients.     

Direct percutaneous ureteral approach for the treatment of ureteral stenosis or obstruction.

Two cases are presented in which conventional approaches did not permit dilation of and stent placement in obstructed ureters. In patients with iatrogenic ureteral laceration or rigid ureteral kinking, direct percutaneous translumbar puncture may provide a safe alternative. The authors' technique is described.     

Pathogenesis of central nervous system lesions in visna: cell-mediated immunity and lymphocyte subsets in blood, brain and cerebrospinal fluid.

There are several indications that central nervous system (CNS) lesions in visna are immune-mediated and that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) may be of importance in the initiation of the lesions. To study the role of CMI in the pathogenesis of CNS lesions, five sheep were infected by intracerebral inoculation with visna virus and observed for 1 year. The following parameters were monitored at regular intervals: (1) neutralizing and ELISA antibodies; (2) visna virus-specific stimulation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood; (3) lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain at sacrifice. The CNS lesions were graded and compared with other parameters. The time course and titers of antibodies did not correlate with the severity of CNS lesions whereas the CMI did, indicating that CMI may play an important role in lesion development. The correlation of the number of CD8-positive cells in the CSF with the severity of lesions and the reversed ratio of CD4/CD8-positive cells in the diffusely infiltrated neuroparenchyma indicates that the CD8-positive T lymphocyte may be an important effector cell in the induction of CNS lesions.     

An alternative approach in the surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis. The fresh antibiotic-sterilized aortic valve homograft

Following the pioneering work of Ross and Barratt-Boyes, there is currently a strong evidence based on long-term follow-up data that valve homografts are the best valve substitutes in the aortic position. Currently there exists a renewed interest in the use of fresh and cryopreserved homografts as we know that homografts show a prolonged durability together with the lack of thromboembolic complications. Here we present the case histories of 3 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement by fresh homografts sterilized in antibiotic solution. The underlying pathology was infective endocarditis in all 3 patients, a disease that is considered the ideal indication for homograft implantation. Technical details at the time of implantation, their advantages with regard to other replacements devices and the whole process of procurement, manipulation and preservation are commented on.