Anterior resection following posterior transsacral stapling and transection of the anal canal for low-lying rectal cancer in males

(Received for publication on Apr. 10, 1997; accepted on Nov. 6, 1997)     

Peripheral α2-adrenoceptor-mediated sympathoinhibitory effects of mivazerol

Summary— Mivazerol is a new compound that could potentially reduce perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with or at risk of coronary disease and submitted to surgery. This action of mivazerol depends on a well documented centrally mediated reduction in sympathetic nerve activity, but a direct peripheral decrease in sympathetic neurotransmitter release induced by activation of prejunctional α₂-adrenoceptors located on sympathetic nerve endings could also contribute. To investigate this issue, the effects of mivazerol on the pressor, systemic and regional hemodynamic (pulsed Doppler technique) as well as on the cardiac responses to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord (SCS) were measured in pithed rats in the absence and in the presence of mivazerol. Mivazerol exerted strong sympathoinhibitory effects: SCS-induced increases in blood pressure, total peripheral resistance and heart rate were dose-dependently reduced by mivazerol, but among the regional vascular beds investigated, only the hindlimb vasoconstrictor responses were significantly drug-affected. All these sympathoinhibitory effects of mivazerol were abolished by prior yohimbine administration. Simultaneously, mivazerol did not induce any postjunctional adrenoceptor blockade as it did not affect noradrenaline cardiac and hemodynamic effects. On the contrary, through postjunctional α₂-adrenoceptor stimulation, mivazerol, in this pithed preparation, dose-dependently increased blood pressure, total peripheral and hindlimb vascular resistances, but heart rate was not affected. We conclude that, in the pithed rat, mivazerol exerts strong peripheral sympathoinhibitory effects. The mechanism involved is prejunctional α₂-adrenoceptor activation as i) mivazerol does not display any postsynaptic α-adrenoceptor blocking effect — it even behaves as a postsynaptic α₂-adrenoceptor agonist — and ii) yohimbine abolishes mivazerol's sympathoinhibitory effects. Thus, direct peripheral together with central mechanisms contribute to mivazerol's sympathoinhibitory effects and ultimately to its cardioprotective action.     

Height changes among chronic low back pain patients during intense physical exercise

The possible effects of intense physical exercise on the total body stature of low back pain patients were monitored by circadian total body height measurements. The height was measured with a statiometer, and the change in height was correlated with the changes in the range of motion, pain and subjective disability and degree of disc degeneration seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pictures. The stature of 24 low back pain patients was measured during a 3-week period. There was an increase of about 3 mm in height after only 4 days of exercise, and by the end of the programme the morning height increased on average by 7.2 mm.
There were also 12 non-rehabilitated low back pain patients but no such increase was noted among them. The gain of height and reduction of pain were found to be statistically signigicantly correlated ( P =0.0001, r =−0.41), as did the gain of height and teh decrease of back disablity (Oswestry index) ( P <0.0001, r =−0.39). Circadian total height measures but not the MR images will change due to the active back rehabilitation programme.     

Paraspinal mapping: Quantified needle electromyography in lumbar radiculopathy

In the diagnosis of low back pain, the presence of a high percentage of false positive findings on radiologic imaging studies has lead to a more definitive role for electrodiagnosis as a confirmatory test. The paraspinal muscles are a crucial part of the electrodiagnostic examination for radiculopathy. To date, no technique for paraspinal evaluation has been validated. Based on previously documented anatomical techniques, we have designed a method of paraspinal examination termed “paraspinal mapping” (PM). Electromyographic (EMG) needles are placed in five carefully chosen locations and inserted in multiple directions. Individual scores for these insertions are added to determine a total PM sensitivity score. The first 50 studies using PM were compared to peripheral EMG, imaging studies, and pain drawings. Results indicate that the technique is easy to perform. Sensitivity scores relate well with these tests. In this limited and uncontrolled population, PM had higher sensitivity for abnormalities than either peripheral EMG or imaging studies. Because of the anatomical validity of PM, future studies may show it to be useful in localizing the level of radiculopathy independently from peripheral EMG, and to support clinical findings and imaging studies. © 1993 John Wiley & Soncs, Inc.     

围产保健对降低低出生体重的影响

目的探讨低出生体重与母亲孕产期等因素的关系。方法对１９９３～１９９６年嘉兴市秀城区９３３７例活产儿（２６９例低出生体重儿）的围产保健资料进行收集、整理、统计、分析。结果４年中低出生体重儿（＜２５００ｇ）的平均发生率为２．８８％，有逐年下降趋势。低出生体重儿与母亲的文化、身高、妊娠胎数、产前检查次数、分娩孕周以及胎儿性别有关。结论做好围产保健、孕产妇系统管理，有利于降低低出生体重儿的发生率、围产儿死亡率和婴儿死亡率     

Effect of chronic protein malnutrition on experimentally induced seizures in the rat

Rats malnourished at various stages of development by feeding them a low protein diet were tested at adulthood for susceptibility to motor seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), electroconvulsive shock (ECS), or amygdaloid kindling. Compared to control animals, malnourished rats were more sensitive to ECS, less susceptible to kindled motor seizures, and did not differ in sensitivity to PTZ. We conclude that malnutrition during development does not exert a uniform effect on all classes of seizure phenomena.     

A case of multiple sclerosis with multi-ring-like and butterfly-like enhancement on computerized tomography

We report a case of multiple sclerosis in which CT showed multiple ring-like enhancement and butterfly-like distribution of a low density area with marginal enhancement. The latter finding is found in other demyelinating disorders but is less common in tumors or abscesses. Therefore, it seems to have some diagnostic value in multiple sclerosis.     

IRON RELEASE FROM THE STORES: A MECHANISM IN MAINTENANCE OF CONCENTRATION OF HEMOGLOBIN IN LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Abstract. Lundström, U. (Pediatric Hematology, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Findland). Iron release from the stores: A mechanism in maintenance of concentration of hemoglobin in low-birth-weight infants. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 249, 1980.—After the resuming of the postnatal red cell production at two months of age infants are dependant on storage iron due to the great need for iron at a time when the iron content of the diet is low. This is even further accentuated in low-birth-weight infants. In this study the release of storage iron in the hemoglobin pool. During the two month period from two to four months of age at least 20 mg of iron per month was transferred from the storage sites for hemoglobin production. This amount represents 5 mg per kg of body weight and exceeds the rate iron was mobilized from storage sites in an adult male under experimental conditions. Rapid weight gain was associated with early depletion of iron stores. However, residual iron stores in infants with the slowest growth rate could not maintain the level of hemoglobin achieved in iron-supplemented low-birth-weight infants. These findings suggest that in rapidly growing low-birth-weight infants the need of iron for erythropoiesis is so great that iron deficient erythropoiesis may develop in the presence of iron stores if the diet is not supplemented with iron.     

Gentamicin and sisomicin — Induced renal tubular damage

Summary Early signs of aminoglycoside — induced renal tubular damage were detected in 26 patients given gentamicin and 23 given sisomicin. The urinary elimination of 3 low molecular weight proteins (LMWP) — beta 2 microglobulin, retinol binding protein and lysozyme (LZM), and the urinary activity of 2 enzymes — alanine aminopeptidase and N-acetylbeta-glucosaminidase — was measured before, during and after treatment. In gentamicin — treated patients LMWP elimination increased, especially LZM which rose markedly during treatment and returned to normal values after its end. Enzyme activities also rose while gentamicin was being given. Sisomicin produced smaller changes. As neither the mean serum creatinine nor the mean urinary elimination of transferrin were increased, glomerular function was probably not affected. However, tubular damage was detected, as shown by the LMWP output (especially LZM) and increased enzyme activity. Urinary LMWP and enzyme measurements are presented as sensitive and reliable methods to monitor early aminoglycoside — induced tubular impairment. It is suggested that the different renal toxicities of gentamicin and sisomicin are related to differences in their accumulation in the renal cortex.     

Profile of drug effects on temporally spaced responding in rats.

A differential reinforcement of low rate schedule was used with rats to test 15 psychotropic drugs. The computer analysis was based on interresponse time (IRT). Mean IRT, IRT standard deviation, median IRT, IRT midrange, modal IRT, frequency of modal IRT, and an efficiency index, in addition to numbers of responses and reinforcements and the IRT histogram were obtained for each rat in each drug test. An increase in number of responses and a peak shift to shorter IRTs in the histograms were observed with amphetamine, methamphetamine, priradrol and nicotine, as reported by many other investigators. Decrease in IRT midrange and less change in number of responses were observed with diazepam and chlordiazepoxide. Long pauses were found with LSD-25, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and mescaline. In a factor analysis, the following main factors were obtained. High values in factor loading a1 were observed with chlorpromazine, chlordiazepoxide, pentobarbital, imipramine, nialamide, LSD-25, DOM and mescaline. With these drugs, mean IRT and IRT standard deviation were also high. Values for a2, were high with amphetamine, methamphetamine, pipradrol and nicotine. High a3 values were observed in some rats with chlorpromazine, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, pentobarbital, pipradrol and caffeine. The changes in a3 values were correlated with changes in the IRT midrange. These results may be valuable in classifying new compounds in drug screening programs as being of the amphetamine type, nicotine type, diazepam type of LSD-25 type.