Bernard–Soulier syndrome in pregnancy

Bernard–Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited bleeding disorder. Pregnancy in patients with BSS is characterized by ante‐, intra‐, or postpartum haemorrhage, which may be delayed and severe. There is no consensus in the management of BSS in pregnancy and so far only 16 pregnancies in nine patients have been described. We report a further three pregnancies in two women with the syndrome. We also outline our management of pregnant patients with BSS.     

The effect of interleukin-1 on iron metabolism in rats

The effect of interleukin-1 on iron metabolism in rats was evaluated. Plasma iron decreased from 184 +/- 16 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SE) to 24 +/- 12 at 6 hours after interleukin-1 intramuscular administration in non-fasting rats and 109 +/- 6 micrograms/dl to 12 +/- 1 micrograms/dl in fasting rats, which was significantly lower than in control rats. Ferrokinetic studies showed a more rapid disappearance rate and lower iron turnover in interleukin-1-injected rats. The release of iron from the mononuclear phagocyte system to plasma was studied at 3 h after interleukin-1 administration. Although the percent of radioactivity in plasma of the total injected dose was 3.2 +/- 0.6% in interleukin-1, which was significantly lower than in the control rats (5.4 +/- 0.6%) at 9 h after intravenous injection of 59Fe chondroitin ferrous sulfate, there was no difference between the amount of 59Fe released from the mononuclear phagocyte system over the first 9 h in interleukin-1 and control rats. These data appear to imply that iron release is unimpaired but that, for some reason, there is an enhanced rate of clearance of the 59Fe once it has been released from the mononuclear phagocyte system into the plasma.     

Golgi study on brain of macular mutant mouse as a model of Menkes kinky hair disease

Summary This study was undertaken to elucidate, using the Golgi method, the neuropathological change in the brain of the macular mutant mouse, whose hemizygote (Ml/y) is considered to be a model of Menkes kinky hair disease (MKHD). The hemizygote mice gradually lost weight after 10 days of age and died with emaciation and seizure around day 15. The normal littermate (+/y) was well developed. In the cerebrum, the arborization of pyramidal neurons in the layer V of the Ml/y was the same as that in the +/y on day 10. However, development of arborization in the Ml/y was delayed in comparison with that in the +/y on days 12 and 14. Purkinje cells with several somal sprouts were observed in the cerebellum in both the Ml/y and +/y on day 7. The somal sprouts in the +/y had regressed gradually by day 12, while they were still in the anterior and middle lobes of the Ml/y on day 14. Additionally, the trunks of Ml/y stem dendrites became thicker and a cactus formation was recognized on the branching portion of the dendrites on day 14. Arborization of these abnormal Purkinje cells was distinctly poor compared with that in the +/y. These results suggest that the growth of the neurons is delayed in the Ml/y and simultaneously their cytoskeletal developments are disturbed, especially in the Purkinje cells. There is a close similarity in many respects to the neuropathological change in MKHD.     

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata: 16-year follow-up of a child from birth

A boy with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, diagnosed on the laboratory evidence of a high plasma concentration of phytanic acid and a low erythrocyte concentration of plasmalogens, has been followed from birth to the age of 16 years. The clinical pattern (somatic, skeletal and neurological) tallies with published findings in this disease. Unusual findings are the associated epilepsy, confirmed by EEG, and the long survival. CT brain scan and MRI showed cortical and subcortical atrophy but not gyral abnormalities or demyelination.

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Sommario Viene descritto il caso di un bambino affetto da condrodisplasia punctata rizomelica seguito dalla nascita fino ai 16 anni. La diagnosi clinica, efettuata in base alle caratteristiche somatiche, scheletriche e neurologiche del paziente è stata confermata dai reperti di laboratorio (alta concentrazione plasmatica di acido fitanico, bassa concentrazione di plasmalogeni eritrocitari). Come correlati inusuali del quadro clinico vanno segnalati l'associazione con epilessia e a la lunga sopravvivenza. La TAC e la RNM cerebrale hannovaltresì documentato atrofia corticale e sottocorticale ma non anomalie della girazione o demielinizzazione.

     

Lithium for irritability in Post-Traumatic stress disorder

Irritability is often a problem for patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We describe two cases that illustrate the use of lithium in the treatment of veterans with PTSD who complained of serious problems with irritability or angry outbursts. These cases are discussed in the context of evidence that lithium may be useful in other patients with disorders of impulse control. The evidence linking disorders of anger and impulse control to a dysregulation in neurotransmitter regulation, particularly in serotonergic pathways, supports a psychopharmacologic approach to treatment. These findings should lead to further study of the role of lithium in the treatment of this symptom complex in patients with PTSD.     

组织扩张术皮肤胶原的代谢改变

目的：研究常规扩张（ＩＴＥ）和持续快速扩张（ＣＴＥ）对皮肤胶原代谢的影响。方法用白色小家猪制作组织扩张术动物模型，用Ｇｏｒｄｅｌａｄｚｅ法测定血清和扩张组织的羟脯氨酸（ＨＰ）含量，藻酸盐印模材膜片法测量标记区面积；光镜测量真皮厚度。结果：ＩＴＥ组血清ＨＰ含量升高，０．８倍，ＣＴＥ组升高１．２倍，ＩＴＥ和ＣＴＥ组皮肤含量与正常皮肤相同，组织中ＨＰ总量均明显升高，持续扩张皮瓣组（ＣＴＥＦ）术后４ｗｋ皮     

Evidence for a NO synthase in porcine platelets which is stimulated during activation/aggregation

Abstract: We tried to characterize the porcine platelet nitric oxide (NO) synthase and its L-arginine (L-arg)/NO metabolism. Using RT-PCR we could show a constitutive endothelial NOS (ecNOS) and an inducible NOS (iNOS) similar mRNA in platelets. The NOS protein could be evidenced by an ecNOS specific antibody which also bound in platelets. This finding could be confirmed by Western blot showing an ecNOS in the membrane but not the cytosolic fraction; iNOS protein could not be detected. Using NADPH-diaphorase staining we could show NO synthase in preactivated platelets but not in resting platelets, indicating that the platelet NOS may be activated during platelet activation/aggregation. Porcine L-arg plasma levels (9.31 × 10^–5 mol/l ± 10%) could be shown to be in the same range as human plasma levels. Moreover, we could show that the NO precursor L-arg and hydroxy-L-arginine (OHarg) concentration dependently inhibited collagen induced platelet aggregation. Summarizing these results confirm the existence of and further characterize porcine platelet NO synthases.     

Evidence of an abnormal intramuscular component of fatigue in multiple sclerosis

The goals of this study were to investigate muscle fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to determine the relationships between muscle fatigue, clinical status, and perceived fatigue. The fatigability of the anterior tibial muscle was quantitated in patients and controls during 9 min of intermittent stimulation (used to eliminate central sources of muscle fatigue). During exercise, the decline in tetanic force, phosphocreatine, and intracellular pH was greater in patients than in controls. The compound muscle action potential amplitude did not decrease during exercise, indicating that there was no failure of neuromuscular transmission during fatigue. Thus, the excessive fatigue in MS developed from sources beyond the muscle membrane. Following exercise, the recovery of tetanic force was delayed in patients (a pattern that suggests abnormal excitation–contraction coupling), whereas the recovery of metabolites was complete in both groups. Muscular fatigue was correlated with clinical disability but not with perceived fatigue. These results suggests that fatigue in MS has both central (perception, upper motor neuron dysfunction) and peripheral (impaired metabolism and excitation–contraction coupling) components.© 1995 John Wiley &Sons, Inc.