Adrenal Medullary Nodules in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Resemble Extra-Adrenal Paraganglia

Clues to mechanisms regulating development and tumorigenesis may be provided by studies of unusual diseases. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare congenital disorder apparently related to abnormal regulation of insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) production. IGF-2 mRNA has been previously localized to the chief cells of extra-adrenal paraganglia and to adult, but not fetal, adrenal medulla. Expression of IGF-2 by neuroblastomas has been hypothesized to reflect extra-adrenal paraganglionic differentiation. In the adrenals of a fetus with BWS, we have observed both increased numbers of chromaffin cells and organoid nodules resembling extra-adrenal paraganglia. Immunoreactive IGF-2 was observed in both cell types, but was also observed in chromaffin cells in the normal fetal adrenal. The findings suggest autocrine or paracrine influences of IGF-2 in regulating the number and phenotype of cells derived from sympathoadrenal precursors in the developing adrenal medulla as well as in extra-adrenal paraganglia. These results have implications for the interpretation of data from neuroblastoma studies.     

A simple,rapid and simultaneous analysis of complex volatile hydrocarbon mixtures in blood using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with a wide-bore capillary column

Summary A screening method for detecting volatile hydrocarbons in blood has been developed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with a wide-bore capillary column and a headspace method. Toluene-d₈ and indan were used as the internal standards for quantitative analysis. Hydrocarbons with retention indices from 600 to 1200 were simultaneously and quantitatively detected in relatively low concentrations (0.01 g/m1) in reconstructed ion chromatography. This method could prove useful in forensic cases in which urgent examination of complex hydrocarbon mixtures, e.g. petroleum components, is required. Offprint requests to: K. Hara     

Congenital lens coloboma and associated pathologies

Coloboma of the lens is characterized by notching of the equator of the lens. The cause of the condition is faulty development of the zonule. The lens deprived of its normal pull in the defective region is thicker and more spherical as if there were no loss of its substance. We report five cases of lens coloboma and localized zonular defect without any associated systemic anomalies. One case included retinal detachment; another included an iris coloboma; and a third included iris, choroid and optic disk colobomas and retinal detachment with lens coloboma. The remaining two cases were without associated ocular anomalies. The pathogenic mechanisms and relationship of this defect with the differentiation of the tertiary vitreous and development of the zonule is discussed. The defect most likely occurs in the third to fourth months of gestation during differentiation of the tertiary vitreous in response to toxic, inflammatory or genetic factors.     

Identification of α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in the dog prostate

Summary The ₁-adrenoceptor subtypes of dog prostate were characterized in binding and functional experiments. In saturation experiments, [³H]prazosin bound to ₁-adrenoceptors with high affinity. In the displacement experiments, unlabelled prazosin and WB4101 biphasically inhibited the binding of 400 pM [³H]prazosin, suggesting the presence of at least two distinct affinity sites for prazosin or WB4101. The proportion of high-affinity sites was approximately 10%. HV723 also recognized two distinct affinity sites but the proportion of high-affinity sites was approximately 20%. From these results the presence of three distinct ₁-adrenoceptor subtypes was suggested: presumably subtypes _1A (high affinity for prazosin and WB4101), _1N (high affinity for only HV723) and _1L (low affinity for the three antagonists) according to the recently proposed ₁-adrenoceptor subclassification. The density of subtype _1L was much higher than that of subtypes _1A and _1N subtypes. In the functional experiments, prazosin, WB4101 and HV723 competitively antagonized the contractile response to noradrenaline with low affinities close to those estimated for the _1L subtypes. These results suggest that the contractile response to noradrenaline in the dog prostate is mediated predominantly through _1L subtype -adrenoceptors.     

Evidence for feeding elicited through antihistaminergic effects of tricyclic antidepressants in the rat hypothalamus

We studied central mechanisms of antidepressants that affect feeding behavior in rats. The tricyclic compounds amitriptyline, doxepin and imipramine significantly induced feeding after their infusion into the third cerebral ventricle in the light phase, but the tricyclic, desipramine, and the dicyclic zimelidine, did not. Drinking was not affected by any compound tested. The relative order of potency in eliciting feeding was: amitriptyline and doxepin > imipramine > desipramine and zimelidine. To clarify the involvement of neuronal histamine in antidepressant-induced feeding, alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), a suicide inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, was intraperitoneally administered before infusion of amitriptyline. FMH attenuated the amitriptyline's effect. Bilateral microinfusion of amitriptyline into the ventromedial hypothalamus or the paraventricular nucleus verified that these are loci for the modulation of feeding by amitriptyline. In the lateral hypothalamus, amitriptyline was less effective. These findings indicate that tricyclic antidepressants directly facilitate feeding, which is, at least in part, mediated by histamine in the hypothalamus.     

立体定向显微手术切除脑内病灶

目的探讨立体定向显微手术切除脑内病灶的可行性。方法应用F.L.FischerZD定向仪,CT定位,对24例脑重要功能区及脑深部病灶进行立体定向开颅显微手术。病变性质胶质瘤14例,脑囊虫2例,转移瘤2例,脑脓肿1例,脑膜瘤1例,动静脉畸形(AVM)1例,海绵状血管瘤1例,异物1例,炎性肉芽肿1例。病灶直径为1.5～3.0cm,＞3.5cm     

桡神经肱肌支的解剖特点与临床意义

目的研究桡神经肱肌支的解剖特点。方法解剖136侧固定尸体的上肢,寻找并分别测量各型肌支的起始点、入肌点、长度、横径及其与桡神经主干的夹角,观察其行程特点。结果桡神经肱肌支的出现率是25.7%(35侧),肱肌支的出现以单侧多见,与性别和侧别无关。根据肱肌支与肱骨长轴的夹角将其分为升支、水平支及降支三种类型。肌支的起点在Hunter's线下1.40cm至Hunter's线上11.70cm,入肌点在Hunter's线上0.60～11.70cm,肌支的长度为0.20～4.68cm,横径是0.4～2.4mm,与桡神经主干的夹角在5～171°。结论桡神经肱肌支的存在较普遍（约1/4）,行上臂、肘部手术时,应对其加以保护。     

云芝糖肽的单糖组成分析

目的 对多孔菌科真菌云芝的活性成分云芝糖肽的单糖组成进行研究。方法 采用薄层色谱法和高效液相色谱－蒸发光用射检测器（HPLC－ELSD）联用技术。结果 云芝糖肽的单糖组成及摩尔比为：葡萄糖：D－甘露糖：半乳糖：木糖＝1：0.074:0.067:0.0178。结论 建立了云芝糖肽的单糖组成的检测方法,各单糖之间的比例与文献报道有所不同。     

通过独立的伦理委员会保护受试者权益

首先介绍了我国临床药理基地(Baced of clinical Tical)的设置、职能、任务和现行的临床试验分期,概述了我国临床试验管理规范中关于维护和尊重受试者权益的基本要求.重点介绍了通过设置独立的伦理委员会,按照赫尔辛基宣言等国际公认的法规和准则,从保障受试者权益的角度,对临床药理试验全面进行伦理学评审和把关的途径和方法.最后还简要介绍了作者所主持的学校医学伦理学委员会坚持工作的独立性,坚持正确的评审原则,坚持会审会签制度等有效方法,并对可能出现的问题作了讨论.     

前列腺癌40例临床分析

目的　为提高前列腺癌的诊断和治疗水平 ,对 40例前列腺癌进行分析。方法　回顾性分析采用直肠指检、前列腺特异性抗原、B超、前列腺穿刺活检诊断与睾丸切除术、内分泌治疗 40例前列腺癌患者资料。结果　直肠指检 (DRE)阳性率 6 2 %。前列腺特异性抗原 (PSA) 4 .4～ 2 75 μg/L。穿刺活检确诊 2 1例 (72 % )。病理以低分化、晚期肿瘤居多。35例经随访 0 .5～ 7年 ,三年生存率 85 .7%。结论　PSA、DRE和穿刺活检联合应用可提高前列腺癌的早期诊断率 ,内分泌治疗是对前列腺癌特别是晚期前列腺癌的主要治疗方法。