High resolution real-time B-mode echotomography in the diagnosis of extracranial carotid lesions. Comparison with traditional angiography

Summary Tumour growth essentially requires fibrin formation and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) is liberated into the circulation on fibrin formation. In the present study, a possible elevation of serum FPA level was examined in patients with metastatic brain tumour. A significant elevation of serum FPA level was shown in all 6 patients with metastatic brain tumour, when blood was drawn from the internal jugular vein. It was extremely high in 2 patients with rapidly growing tumour. However, such a significant elevation was not shown in 3 cancer patients without brain metastasis or in 1 patient with a huge meningioma. This suggests the possibility that the presence of metastatic brain tumour could be detected by measuring FPA in blood drawn form the internal jugular vein. This also suggests the tendency that elevation of serum FPA is higher in patients with more rapidly growing tumour.Infusion of urokinase into the internal carotid artery resulted in an elevation of serum fibrinopeptide B (1)15–42 (FPB) in 5 patients with metastatic brain tumour, when blood was drawn from the internal jugular vein. This suggests that urokinase could induce fibrinolysis in the tumour tissue, though this remains in conclusive because of the lack of complete controls.     

Opposing actions of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptor-mediated alterations of adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) formation during the amphetamine-induced release of endogenous dopamine in vitro

Summary Changes in the formation of cyclic AMP following d-amphetamine (0.1 to 20 pmol/1) were examined in vitro in striatal slices of the rat. d-Amphetamine caused a doserelated increase in cyclic AMP content. This action of d-amphetamine was abolished by tissue pretreatment with reserpine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and 3-iodotyrosine (1 mmol/1). By contrast, both clorgyline (0.1 pmol/l) and nomifensine (30 mol/l) enhanced the d-amphetamine-induced increase in cyclic AMP formation. In superfusion experiments, a strong correlation between endogenous dopamine and cyclic AMP release was observed before, during and after d-amphetamine exposure. Finally, Sch 23390 (10 mol/1) abolished while (–)sulpiride (10 mol/1) enhanced the amphetamine-induced increase in cyclic AMP content. These results suggest that d-amphetamine enhances the formation of cyclic AMP through the release of endogenous dopamine into the synapse where it can interact with both D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors. These results provide direct evidence that the antagonistic properties of D-1 and D-2 receptors on cyclic AMP formation are apparent at striatal synapses during release of endogenous neuronal dopamine.Abbreviations DA dopamine - 5-HT serotonin - CAMP cyclic AMP adenosine-3,5-cyclic monophosphate Supported in part by the West Virginia University Medical Corporation and a grant from the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Some of the findings were presented at the Annual meeting of the Society for Neurosciences, Washington, DC (Azzaro and Liccione 1986) Send offprint requests to A. J. Azzaro at the above address     

Effects of fenflumizole on aggregation ex vivo of human platelets and formation of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F_{1\alpha }

Summary Fenflumizole (2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazole), a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was given to healthy subjects in single oral doses of 0.1, 1 and 2 mg/kg. The effect of the drug was followed for up to 8 h by repeated tests of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation and was related to its concomitant plasma concentration. Fenflumizole reversibly inhibited platelet aggregation and the degree of inhibition was found to be linearly correlated with the log plasma concentration. There was depression of the formation of thromboxane B₂ and 6-keto-prostaglandin F₁ (the stable metabolites of thromboxane A₂ and prostacyclin) in clotted whole blood measured by radioimmunoassay after fenflumizole 1 mg/kg. This effect was directly related to the concentration of the drug in plasma, the maximum effect being reached at fenflumizole concentrations >200 ng/ml. EC₅₀-values for inhibition of the formation of thromboxane B₂ and 6-keto-prostaglandin were approximately 20 and 40 ng/ml, respectively. The results suggest that orally administered fenflumizole is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation and prostanoid formation.     

Electrophysiological investigations on the central innervation of the rat and guinea-pig pineal gland

Summary The possible influence of central nervous structures on the electrical activity of single pineal cells was investigated in rat and guinea-pig.In the rat electrical stimulation of the hippocampal formation elicited both single cell responses with different latencies and mostly long-term excitations in single pineal cells, while stimulation of the habenular nuclei caused clear orthodromical responses with different latencies, alterations in the rate of spontaneous electrical activity and evoked discharges of silent units.In the guinea-pig electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus influenced predominantly cells in the deeper layers of the posterior part of the pineal gland. Electrical stimulation of both the superior and inferior colliculi elicited field potentials with a constant latency, indicating a functional relationship between the corpora quadrigemina and the pineal organ.Intrapineal stimulation and recording in the guinea-pig indicate functional connections between anterior and posterior parts of the pineal organ and that information can be conducted in both directions of the pineal axis.The data from the rat pineal gland are part of a thesis presented by St. Reuss in partial fulfillment for the degree of Dr. rer. nat. Preliminary data have been presented at the NATO Symposion The pineal gland and its endocrine role, Sicily 1982 (cf. Semm, 1983) and at the 6th European Neuroscience Congress, Malaga 1982 (cf. Reuss andSemm, 1982). — Financial support of the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk is gratefully acknowledged.     

Blast Crisis of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia with Tumor Formation Characterized by T-cell Features--A Case Report

We report a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) associatedwith pronounced peripheral lymphadenopathy, with the cells havingthe Philadelphia (Phl) chromosome and T-cell features. A 23-year-oldman who was diagnosed as having CML and treated with busulfanwas admitted to our hospital because of increasing hepatosplenomegalyand pronounced lymphadenopathy. An axillary lymph node biopsydisclosed that the malignant cells formed rosettes with neuraminidase-treatedsheep red blood cells (En) (95.0%) and were positive for Leu1 (91.8%). Of the cytochemical reactions, peroxidase was negativeand periodic acid-Shiff, acid -naphthyl acetate esterase andß-glucuronidase were all positive. The karyotype ofthe bone marrow cells was 46 XY Phl positive (22q–), andthat of the lymph node cells was 51 XY Phl positive +8, +9,+18, +19, +21, 22q–. He was treated with various anti-leukemicagents and irradiation. Despite such treatments, he died ofpneumonia. This is a report of a CML patients with blast crisisand tumor formation characterized by T-cell features.     

Brainstem afferents to the omnipause region in the cat: a horseradish peroxidase study

"Omnipause" neurons (OPNs), located in the nucleus raphe pontis and the reticular formation, actively suppress saccadic eye movements during intersaccadic intervals. To determine the brainstem afferents that may inhibit the OPNs and thereby allow a saccade to occur, we injected horseradish peroxidase into the raphe pontis of four cats at the site of physiologically identified OPNs. Labeled neurons were found in a number of brainstem nuclei. The greatest concentrations, composed of small to medium-sized neurons, were located in a group of nuclei around the habenulopeduncular tract, in the rostral mesencephalic reticular formation, in the deep layers of the superior colliculus, and in parts of the subjacent cuneiform and subcuneiform reticular nuclei. Smaller numbers were found in the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis. Caudal to the injection site, labeled neurons were scattered in parts of the nuclei reticularis gigantocellularis, paragigantocellularis dorsalis, and paragigantocellularis lateralis. A few neurons were labeled in a restricted region of the causal part of the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi and in the nucleus reticularis medullaris ventralis. Larger numbers of neurons were labeled in the dorsal column nuclei and in parts of the cochlear nuclei. Smaller numbers were found in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, the lateral nucleus of the superior olive, and the fastigial nucleus of the cerebellum. The nonreticular brainstem projections may contribute sensory information in a number of modalities since OPNs respond to visual, somesthetic, and auditory stimuli. Our findings indicate a number of regions that may contain neural elements impinging on the OPNs. The best prospects for a saccade initiation signal from one of the labeled populations appear to be the meso-diencephalic reticular formation and/or the superior colliculus.     

两个地区东方田鼠基因组RAPD分析比较研究

为了建立一种与临床上冠脉搭桥手术和经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（PTCA）等病理过程相似的血管再狭窄模型,探讨血管再构和新内膜形成的机理,及在血管再狭窄中所起的重要作用,我们用不同品系（BALB／cA和C57BL／6J）小鼠的左颈总动脉进行了结扎,在2周和4周后,分别作病理学观察,结果发现两种品系小鼠产生了不同的病理结果,C57BL／6J小鼠有明显的血管狭窄和炎症细胞浸润,而BALB／cA小鼠虽有炎症细胞的浸润,但血管的内膜无炎症细胞浸润,也无血管狭窄表现,结果提示：血管再狭窄是血管再构和新内膜形成的共同原因。     

京尼平苷对地鼠胆固醇结石形成的影响

目的观察京尼平苷预防给药对地鼠胆固醇结石形成的影响.方法用高脂肪高蛋白致石饲料造成地鼠胆固醇结石模型,阳性对照药物熊去氧胆酸80mg/kg和京尼平苷50,100mg/kgig,每天预防给药,给药30d后作胆囊内容物涂片检查观察地鼠的成石率,检测胆汁脂类成分计算胆汁成石指数.结果模型组的成石率为100%,成石指数(LI)大于1;京尼平苷50和100mg/kg组的成石率分别为40%(P＜0.05)和25%(P＜0.01),LI均小于1,熊去氧胆酸组的成石率与LI与京尼平苷100mg/kg组相近.结论京尼平苷对地鼠胆固醇结石的形成可能具有抑制作用.     

Long non-coding RNA LINC01116 accelerates the progression of keloid formation by regulating miR-203/SMAD5 axis

BackgroundEmerging evidence reveals the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development and progression of keloid formation. However, the roles and molecular mechanism of lncRNA LINC01116 in the progression of keloid formation remain largely unknown.MethodsThe expression levels of LINC01116, microRNA-203 (miR-203) and SMAD family member 5 (SMAD5) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected by Cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell assay. Flow cytometry and western blot assay were used to examine cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. The interaction between miR-203 and LINC01116 or SMAD5 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays.ResultsLINC01116 and SMAD5 were upregulated while miR-203 was downregulated in keloid tissues and keloid fibroblasts. LINC01116 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and ECM production but induced apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts through enhancing miR-203 and inhibiting SMAD5. Moreover, SMAD5 was identified as a direct target of miR-203 and miR-203 could directly bind to LINC01116. Besides, LINC01116 regulated SMAD5 expression by targeting miR-203.ConclusionDownregulation of LINC01116 inhibited the progression of keloid formation by regulating miR-203/SMAD5 axis, which might provide a novel target for keloid therapy.     

Surgical site infection following surgery for spinal deformity: About 102 patients

IntroductionComplex spinal surgery is known to be at risk of complications. Surgical site infection is a serious complication in spine surgery and its frequency is significantly increased in adult spinal deformity correction. The aim of this study is to identify patients’ characteristics and risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) following an osteotomy.MethodsThis is a single-center retrospective study of patients who underwent an osteotomy between January 2015 and December 2017. Surgical site infection diagnosis was based upon patient's clinical evidence of infection, biologic parameters, microbiological criteria and/or image findings.ResultsIn total, 102 patients were eligible and 70 were women (68.6%). Mean age was 65 years old (27–83 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.14 kg.m⁻² (18.4–44.1). Eleven patients were in the SSI group and 91 in the No-SSI group. The mean Schwab grade was 1.5 (1–4) in the SSI group vs. 1.4 (1–5) in the No-SSI group (P = 0.435). The mean operative time was on 201.9 minutes (67–377). Mean length of stay was 20.6 days (10–73) in the SSI group vs. 15 days (5–44) in the No-SSI group (P = 0.041). Favorable outcome was found in 10 patients (90.9%) in the SSI group.ConclusionCorrection surgery for adult spinal deformity with osteotomies carries a high risk of complications specially SSI. Identification of risk factors, prevention and medical management of SSI should be well assessed.