Pelvic afferent reflex control of rectal motility and lumbar colonic efferent discharge mediated by the pontine sympatho-inhibitory region in guinea pigs

Rectal motility and the efferent discharge of lumbar colonic nerves (LCED) have previously been shown to be affected by reflex activity activated by rectal stimulation. The sensory limb of this reflex is represented by afferent fibers in pelvic nerves. The present study revealed that this reflex is modulated by supraspinal sympatho-inhibitory regions. Pelvic afferent stimulation led to rectal contraction through the withdrawal of a tonic inhibitory influence of lumbar colonic nerves. The supraspinal region responsible for this antagonism ofthe rectal-inhibitory colonic nerve activity was localized to the pons. Neither the intravenous administration of atropine nor that of guanethidine (and Eisai compound 865–123, another adrenergic neuron blocking agent) effected the ability of pelvic afferent stimulation to inhibit tonic discharge of lumbar colonic efferent nerves; nervertheless, both agents eliminated the mechanical response of the rectum to stimulation of pelvic afferents. These observations suggest that lumbar sympathetic nerves may tonically inhibit the release of acetylcholine from excitatory neurons in the rectal myenteric plexus. We conclude that descending fibers from the pons are activated as a result of pelvic afferent nerve stimulation. These descending pontine fibers in turn inhibit the firing of sympathetic lumbar colonic nerves. Removal of this tonic restraint leads to rectal contraction.     

Nature of factors inactivating postural asymmetry factor on intial stages of compensatory adjustments in animals with unilateral destruction of the motor neocortex

I. P. Pavlov Department of Physiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Department of Normal Physiology, I. P. Pavlov First Leningrad Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. N. Klimov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 108, No. 10, pp. 402–404, October, 1989.     

Facial asymmetry in young healthy subjects evaluated by statistical shape analysis

Statistical shape analysis, a relatively a new method for biological research, compares body forms by using specific landmarks determined by anatomical prominences. In this study, we aimed to identify normal facial asymmetry between the right and the left sides of the face. Facial landmark data were collected from two‐dimensional digital images of 321 young healthy subjects (150 males and 171 females). These data were analysed using Euclidean distance matrix analysis. The number of significantly asymmetric linear distances between the two halves of the face was greater in females than in males. We found that the left side of the face was most commonly dominant in both males and females. Such data may be useful in establishing a database for future similar studies.     

Neovaginal cytology after total pelvic exenteration for gynecological malignancies

Vaginal reconstruction has become an established method to re-store sexual function in women who have undergone ultraradical surgery and/or irradiation for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Cytologic evaluation of the neovagina serves a major role in the detection of recurrent disease. The purpose of this retrospective 6-yr study (January 1987–December 1993) was to evaluate the cytologic features of vaginal smear specimens from neovaginas constructed utilizing split-thickness skin grafts. Thirty-four vaginal smears were obtained at regular intervals from nine women (mean age: 51 yr) who underwent total pelvic exenteration with vaginal reconstruction for recurrent malignancies of the vagina and the cervix. Anucleated, keratinizing squames were a constant finding in each smear. Over a 4-mo-6-yr postoperative period, superficial and intermediate squamous cells were present in the majority of the smears and the maturation index showed a shift to the right. In two cases, a squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix recurred within the neovagina. Knowledge of the cytologic features associated with neovaginas is important in order to distinguish normal changes from neoplastic lesions. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Head region of unconventional myosin I family members is responsible for the organ‐specificity of their roles in left–right polarity in Drosophila

In Drosophila, Myosin31DF (Myo31DF), encoding a Myosin ID protein, has crucial roles in left–right (LR) asymmetric development. Loss of Myo31DF function leads to laterality inversion for many organs, including the embryonic gut. Here, we found that Myo31DF was required before LR asymmetric morphogenesis in the hindgut, suggesting it functions in LR patterning instead of directly in hindgut morphological changes. Myosin61F (Myo61F) encodes another Myosin I, and Myo31DF or Myo61F overexpression reverses the laterality of different organs. Myo31DF and Myo61F have domains conserved in Myosin proteins, particularly in the proteins' head regions. We studied the roles of these domains in LR patterning using overexpression analysis. The Actin‐binding and ATP‐binding domains were essential for both proteins, but the IQ domains, binding sites for Myosin light chains, were required only by Myo31DF. Our results also suggest that the organ specificities of the Myo31DF and Myo61F activities depended on their head regions. Developmental Dynamics 237:3528–3537, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

EEG asymmetry,power, and temperament in children

Measures of EEG spectral power, lateral asymmetry in the frontal and parietal areas, and social behavior with an examiner were analyzed on 166 children, 10 to 12 years old, who were participating in a longitudinal study of the temperamental contributions to social behavior. Loss of 8- to 13-Hz power (alpha band) on the right, compared with the left, frontal area (right frontal active) was most prevalent among children who were classified as high reactive at 4 months and were highly fearful at 14 and 21 months. Second, greater frontal power in the 14- to 30-Hz band (beta) at rest was correlated with the tendency to be right frontal active. Finally, spontaneous talkativeness with an unfamiliar examiner was associated with right frontal activation and high alpha power for boys, but with right frontal activation and high beta power for girls. Right frontal activation is most characteristic of children who begin life with a temperamental bias favoring high reactivity and who develop a fearful reaction to unfamiliar events in the second year of life.     

Hemispheric Asymmetry for Word Perception: Behavioral and ERP Evidence

Reaction times (RTs) to words or patterns presented in the left or right visual fields and averaged Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) evoked by the same stimuli presented foveally were measured separately. In both experiments, an oddball paradigm known to elicit the P3 component was used. Twenty-four subjects (12 males) were tested in each experiment. In the electrophysiological study EEG was measured differentially from five different scalp sites, each referred to linked ear lobes. There were two frontal and two parietal lateralized electrodes, and a fifth which was located at the vertex (C_z). The RTs to words were significantly delayed relative to the RTs to patterns. Furthermore, the responses were significantly shorter in the right visual field when the target was a word, yet only slightly shorter in the left visual field when the target was a nonsense pattern. The same pattern of results was found with the evoked potentials: A positive wave evoked by the target stimulus was measured at vertex with mean latency of 511.3 msec in the verbal task, and 464.4 msec in the nonverbal task. At the lateralized locations, a significant Task by Hemisphere interaction was found. When the target was a word the base to peak P3 amplitudes were higher over the left than over the right hemisphere. A reverse trend was found with nonverbal targets. The base to peak P3 amplitudes were slightly (but not significantly) higher over the right than over the left hemisphere.     

Retroperitoneal lymph node aspiration biopsy in staging of pelvic cancer: a cytological study of 228 consecutive cases

Knowledge of the status of the pelvic lymph nodes is important for accurate staging and adequate treatment of patients with genitourinary tract cancer (bladder and prostatic carcinoma, testicular tumors, and uterine carcinoma). A total of 228 consecutive patients underwent preoperative evaluation of the lymph node status by lymphangiography combined with fine-needle aspiration biopsy. A lymphadenectomy was performed in 94 patients. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 93%. There were 5% false-negative results and no false-positive diagnoses. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is an inexpensive method with which to detect the presence of metastatic lymph nodes visualized by bipedal lymphangiography. It is also a safe and well-tolerated method, with a low morbidity and no mortality. The various cytological features are described as are some possible pitfalls.     

Conservative management of postmenopausal pelvic echo-free findings - preliminary results

Objectives: To develop a conservative protocol for the treatment of echo-free findings in the pelvis, diagnosed by sonography in post-menopausal women, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Methods: A prospective study where each post-menopausal patient underwent sonographic evaluation of the pelvic mass, serum Ca-125 levels, ambulatory aspiration of the cyst, and operative laparoscopy if necessary. Results: One hundred and eighty-two women were included in the 3 years of the study. Only two cases of malignancy were diagnosed. There were no false-negative results. Conclusion: Although the results of our protocol of conservative management look promising, we cannot draw final conclusions because of the small sample size. Perhaps as our knowledge increases, physicians will feel more confident in handling adnexal findings conservatively.     

Calcium signaling: A common thread in vertebrate left–right axis development

The establishment of a left–right axis during vertebrate development is essential for coordinating the relative positions of the internal organs to ensure that they function appropriately. Studies in numerous model organisms have revealed differences in regulative mechanisms upstream of nodal signaling, a conserved pathway in left–right axis specification. This review will summarize the diverse pathways involved in the break of left–right symmetry and explore in depth the multiple roles of calcium in vertebrate left–right axis specification. Developmental Dynamics 237:3491–3496, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.