DeGarengeot hernia: transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair and appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: The incarcerated appendix in the femoral hernia represents a rare clinical case that was first described by the Frenchman de Garengeot in 1731. Besides the open procedures, laparoscopy presented itself as a treatment option. CASE REPORT: Our case concerns a 38-year-old patient with a right femoral hernia with an inflamed incarcerated appendix. Because of the clinically inconclusive finding, we chose transperitoneal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) combined with a laparoscopic appendectomy. The intra- and postoperative course was uneventful. This case shows that a laparoscopic procedure is possible even in the case of an incarceration in conjunction with an appendicitis that has not spread to the adjacent peritoneum. DISCUSSION: Compared with open interventions, the subjective social advantages (shorter hospital stay, earlier return to work, less need for pain killers, and others) of laparoscopic hernia treatment have been extensively studied. The use of both methods in the case of an incarcerated hernia is open to dispute, though various small series confirm the feasibility. CONCLUSION: Here, TAPP seems to be the more reliable method in terms of patient safety because of the simultaneous possibility of using laparoscopy.     

EFFECTS OF SARAFOTOXIN S6c ON RENAL HAEMODYNAMICS AND URINE FORMATION IN ANAESTHETIZED DOGS

1. The effects of sarafotoxin S6c (S6c), a selective endothelin ETB receptor agonist, on renal haemodynamics and urine formation were examined in anaesthetized dogs. 2. Intrarenal arterial infusion of S6c at a rate of 1 or 5 ng/kg per min produced a transient increase in renal blood flow (RBF), with no change in systemic blood pressure and heart rate; RBF then decreased gradually to below the basal value. There were significant and dose-dependent increases in urine flow and free water clearance and decreases in urine osmolality during S6c infusion, whereas urinary excretion of sodium and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remained unchanged. Simultaneously, S6c administration elicited a marked increase in urinary excretion of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, N0₂^? and N0₃^? (UNO*V). 3. In dogs simultaneously administered S6c (5 ng/kg per min) and iV^G-nitro-L-arginine (NOARG; 40 (jig/kg per min), a NO synthase inhibitor, the renal vasodilator effect of S6c was abolished and marked reductions in RBF and GFR were observed. The S6c-induced diuretic action was not affected by NOARG. In the presence of NOARG, there was a small amount of UNO_xV at the basal level and the administration of S6c did not increase UNOxV. 4. These results suggest that an intrarenal arterial infusion of S6c enhances the production of NO in the kidney and that this enhancement contributes to the peptide-induced renal vasodilation. In contrast, it is unlikely that S6c-induced water diuresis is related to NO production stimulated by this peptide.     

In vivo and in vitro anti-tumour response of selenium-protein polysaccharide extracted from rich selenium Agaricus blazei

In this study, the anti-tumour activity of selenium-protein polysaccharide (SPP), a water extract of the rich selenium Agaricus blazei, was tested both in vivo and in vitro. The results of in vivo experiments show that SPP at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg inhibits proliferation of implanted Sarcoma 180 by 22 and 37.69%, respectively, and promotes lymphocyte transformation and natural killer (NK) cells activity in tumour bearing mice. During the in vitro experiment, we treated the tumour and non-tumour bearing mice with SPP, and prepared serum treated with SPP (Serum_SPP). The results show that Serum_SPP, whether from tumour or non-tumour bearing mice, significantly inhibits K562 cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis, and also significantly increases caspase-3 activity of K562 cells. However, the difference in anti-tumour activity of Serum_SPP between tumour and non-tumour bearing mice is significantly different (p<0.01). The results, according to the studies both in vivo and in vitro, imply that SPP extracted from rich selenium A. blazei can inhibit growth of implanted Sarcoma 180 and promote lymphocyte transformation and NK cells activity in vivo. Additionally, Serum_SPP can inhibit proliferation and cause apoptotic morphological changes and the fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA, and increase caspase-3 activity of K562 cells in vitro, which indicates that apoptosis of K562 cells induced by Serum_SPP may be related to up-regulation of caspase-3.     

Measurement of contact impedance of electrodes used for deep brain stimulation

High frequency electrical stimulation by means of electrodes implanted into the brain has become an accepted technique for treatment of Parkinson's disease. The electrical field distribution normally inserted into the sub thalamic nucleus minimise abnormal brain activity. Square wave pulses of 1–3.6 V with duration of 60–90 μs at a frequency range of 130–185 pps are generally used. Every electrode unit consists of four cylindrical electrodes positioned in a row and can be switched on independently. This paper determines the contact impedance of the electrodes for different frequencies and proposes improvement to reduce the contact impedance between the electrodes and the brain. Measurements were performed by placing the electrodes in a tank filled with saline. Different frequencies were applied on two electrodes via a resistor. The current was measured through the resistor and the voltage was registered between one of the electrodes and a third non current carrying electrode. The obtained values were used to calculate the contact impedance. The result shows large contact impedance for the used frequency compared to the impedance of the treated tissue, which means that variation in contact impedance can result in variation in the electrical field applied to the tissue.     

Editorial

Aim: Wall stress‐independent signalling pathways were studied for endothelin‐1 (ET‐1)‐induced c‐fos expression in rat intact mesenteric small arteries. Methods: Arteries were kept unmounted in Krebs buffer, equilibrated for 1 h and stimulated with vasoactive substances for 15–60 min. The c‐fos mRNA expression was determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Stimulation with fetal bovine serum (FBS), phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) and ET‐1 caused about a doubling of c‐fos mRNA. The ET‐1‐induced c‐fos expression was steady (15–60 min) and was inhibited by the inhibitor of the ET_A receptor, BQ‐123. Platelet‐derived growth factor‐B, angiotensin II and U46619 did not cause increased c‐fos mRNA levels. The broad specificity inhibitor staurosporine inhibited the response to ET‐1, but inhibitors of Rho‐A kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase had no effect. However, inhibitors to tyrosine kinases, the MAP kinases [extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase, p38], and to conventional protein kinase C showed no inhibition. Consistent with these findings, ET‐1 did not cause activation of ERK1/2, a finding also seen in vessels held under pressure. In contrast, ET‐1‐induced c‐fos expression was inhibited by the calcium chelator BAPTA, suggesting a role for intracellular calcium. This possibility was supported by the finding that raising the extracellular K⁺ concentration caused increased expression of c‐fos in a concentration‐dependent manner. Conclusion: The results suggest that in the absence of wall stress, ET‐1 is able to induce increased expression of c‐fos independent of traditional growth pathways, such as MAP kinase. The mechanism appears to be calcium‐dependent.     

Les formes psychiatriques de la maladie de Niemann-Pick de type C

Niemann-Pick type C disease diagnosed in adult neurology departments may be infantile or juvenile forms with prolongated life spans or forms starting at adolescence or adulthood. Psychomotor retardation is practically constant. In some cases, a psychosis may be the only manifestation for several years. The diagnosis is often made when extrapyramidal symptoms appear as well as cerebellar ataxia and ophtalmoplegia in the vertical gaze. The treatment with psychotropic drugs raises the question of a superimposition of a drug induced lipidosis. Hepatosplenomegaly is often discrete contrary to classical infantile cases. Foam cells as well as sea blue histiocytes are features of the disease. The filipin test evidences the lysosomal storage of cholesterol.     

Le suicide par saut et les stratégies de prévention

The topic of this article is to probe into the specificities of suicide by jumping. This means of suicide hasn't been studied much and isn't well known yet.We reviewed the international scientific literature so as to take an in-depth look at this type of auto-aggressive action and highlight the characteristics of the subjects likely to commit suicide by jumping. We thus focus on the available epidemiological data and risk factors associated to suicide jumping. We also describe the prevention strategies most often evoked to deal with this public health issue, which are respectively about improving safety on the identified suicide sites and providing medical and psychological care to individuals likely to commit suicide by jumping.This meta-analysis presents our critical analysis of the methodological limits in the studies exposed. We provide further hints for researching this field of study; they're based on both the taking into account of variables that could be risk factors for this particular means of suicide and the evaluation of the efficiency for the preventive measures used.     

Conduction studies in peripheral cat nerve using implanted electrodes: III. The effects of prolonged constriction on the distal nerve segment

Electrophysiological properties were monitored in detail in chronically constricted peripheral nerves by implanted, multicontact nerve cuff electrodes and correlated with morphometric histology in selected cases. The physiological and histological responses in nerve to a range of constricting cuffs of standard sizes were readily graded. The initial response to any significant constriction was a transient, focal conduction slowing or block at the constriction, followed by more protracted distal effects; the latter ranged from loss of excitability consistent with "dying-back" degeneration to reductions in conduction velocity consistent with histologically observed atrophy. Smaller myelinated fibers tended to have similar but less pronounced changes than larger diameter fibers. Recordings from ventral and dorsal roots showed that distal degeneration was more pronounced in motor than in sensory fibers of similar caliber. Electronmicroscopical measurements showed that basal laminas were relatively preserved around even the most atrophic and demyelinated axons. Perimeter measurements of the basal lamina could be used to estimate the diameter of the original nerve fiber.     

Virion-bound ICAM-1 and activated LFA-1: a combination of factors conferring resistance to neutralization by sera from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals independently of the disease status and phase

The role of the supplementary interaction between virion-bound host ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on target cells in sensitivity to neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is poorly studied. Serum samples from four long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) and sequential sera from one progressor were used to assess neutralization sensitivity of isogenic ICAM-1-negative and ICAM-1-bearing HIV-1(NL4-3), a prototype of T-cell-line-adapted viruses. We found that virus neutralization sensitivity to the studied sera is not modified by the additional interaction between virally embedded ICAM-1 and LFA-1 under an inactive state. However, expression on the target cell surface of an activated LFA-1 form renders ICAM-1-bearing virus particles, but not viruses devoid of ICAM-1, more refractory to neutralization by sera from three out of four LTNPs and all sequential sera from the person who has experienced a progression of the HIV-1-associated disease. Although no conclusive correlation could be drawn between virus susceptibility to neutralization and the disease status or stages of HIV-1 infection, these findings demonstrate that other nonspecific virus-cell interactions mediated by virion-anchored host proteins and their normal cognate ligands on target cells represent factors that can affect the mechanism of HIV-1 neutralization.     

运动应激对大鼠胃肠道5-HT免疫反应细胞的影响

目的　探讨力竭游泳对大鼠胃肠道 5 HT免疫反应细胞 (5 HTIR细胞 )的影响。方法　本研究以力竭游泳大鼠为运动模型 ,游泳后即刻取大鼠胃窦、十二指肠、空肠和回肠用免疫组织化学SP法检测 5 HT ,用图像分析系统测定胃肠 5 HTIR细胞数和平均灰度。结果　 (1)游泳后胃窦 5 HTIR细胞数虽与对照组无明显差异 ,但阳性细胞的平均灰度却明显下降 (P <0 .0 5)。 (2 )十二指肠、空肠、回肠 5 HTIR细胞数都明显下降 ,与对照组相比有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5) ,但只有空肠 5 HTIR细胞平均灰度明显增加 ,与对照组间有明显差异 (P <0 .0 5)。结果　胃肠道不同区域 5 HTIR细胞以不同的反应方式应答运动应激。