Effects of oral stimulation on the cephalic phase of pancreatic exocrine in dogs

In dogs with cannulated gastric and duodenal fistulas, gustatory receptors were stimulated by swab application of taste stimulus solutions. The experiments were performed with fistulas open. A single taste stimulus of either 0.29 M sucrose, 0.1 M critic acid or 0.001 M quinine sulfate produced a large increase in pancreatic secretion of both volume and protein output. Sucrose was a better stimulant than citric acid or quinine sulfate for pancreatic output. After only one or two trials with each stimulant, the secretory response was no longer seen in any of the dogs. Following this extinction of the secretory response, the same dogs were given orally 100 ml of taste stimulus solution mixed with 25 g cellulose. Pancreatic secretory response occurring within 40 min following administration was gradually restored primarily for sucrose-cellulose. Oral administrations of the unpalatable citric or quinine-cellulose mixtures resulted in low pancreatic output, similar to the control water-cellulose. In contrast to oral administrations, intragastric administrations of these taste stimulus-cellulose mixtures resulted in low pancreatic output within 40 min after administration. The results suggest that taste stimulation alone does not affect pancreatic secretion. However, when coupled with swallowing, there is a greater effect by palatable than unpalatable taste stimuli on the cephalic phase of pancreatic secretion.     

The efficacy and efficiency of an in-vitro fertilization programme including embryo cryopreservation: a cohort study

A cohort of 485 couples starting their first in-vitro fertilization(IVF) attempt between January, 1989 and February, 1991 inclusive,were followed until June 1, 1992. A total of 1086 treatmentcycles were initiated (mean 2.2, range 1–6). Of these,235 (21.8%) cycles were cancelled, giving a total of 851 embryoreplacements (mean 1.7, range 1–5). After IVF treatment,189 women have either delivered or have an ongoing pregnancyin the second or third trimester. This gives a baby take-homerate of 17.4% per started cycle and 22.2% per embryo replacement.For 91 (18.6%) of the couples, the treatment was abandoned priorto completion of the three scheduled IVF attempts and 57 (11.7%)of these had no completed IVF cycles. In the group of coupleswith reduced sperm quality, the delivery rate was significantlylower than that of the other groups. A total of 193 women hadembryos cryopreserved in at least one IVF cycle; 124 of thesewomen started a frozen embryo replacement cycle and 88 had atleast one cycle with replacement of frozen/thawed embryos, resultingin 25 deliveries/ongoing pregnancies. Due to the Norwegian lawon assisted procreation 65 (33.7%) of the women have had theirfrozen embryos thawed and discarded after 12 months of storage.The cryopreservation programme, with the limitations of theNorwegian law, gives a 5.2% increase in the baby take-home ratefor women entering the IVF programme, an increase of 13.2% inthe number of ongoing pregnancies/deliveries and an 11.6% increasein number of children/viable fetuses. A total of 214 women havedelivered or have ongoing pregnancies in the second or thirdtrimester. This represents 44.1% of the 485 women accepted forIVF treatment, irrespective of whether they were treated ornot, and 50.0% of those couples who completed at least one IVFcycle.     

Studies of human chromosomes by DNA-binding fluorochromes I. The normal chromosome complement

Caspersson's method of labelling chromosomes with DNA-binding fluorescent agents has been applied to the study of human chromosomes. Fluorescence distribution curves of normal metaphase chromosomes treated with quinacrine mustard (QM) were obtained by scanning transparent pictures of the labelled chromosomes in a Beckman Analytrol® an instrument normally used for scanning electrophoresis strips. Representative fluorescence distribution curves of the different chromosomes, as well as one complete "QM karyotype", have been presented. The distribution curves of individual chromosomes appear to be characteristic and reproducible and it was concluded that the technique of fluorescent labelling holds great promise for identification of individual human chromosomes end chromosomal regions.     

Selective neck dissections for squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: patterns of regional failure.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons have been using selective neck dissections in the treatment of squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract for over 20 years. To date, no data is available that can answer the question "What are the patterns of failure in the neck following a selective neck dissection and is a selective neck dissection a reliable procedure for metastatic disease?" METHODS: To answer this question, the medical records of all patients with squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 1985-December 31, 1990, with a selective neck dissection were reviewed. Five hundred seventeen neck dissections were analyzed: suprahyoid (41), supraomohyoid (284), and anterolateral (192). The end point of the study was regional failure and survival. RESULTS: Regional recurrence in patients treated with a suprahyoid dissection was 43% with pathologically positive nodes. The regional recurrence in the patients treated with a supraomohyoid neck dissection was 1.9% with pathologically negative nodes, 35.7% with path N1 without postoperative radiation therapy, and 5.6% with postoperative radiation therapy. The neck staged pathologically N2B failed with and without postoperative radiation, 8.3% and 14%, respectively. Thirteen percent of the anterior/lateral neck dissections failed regionally. If multiple pathologically positive nodes (N2B) were present, the regional failure with postoperative radiation was 30% and 33.3% without postoperative radiation. CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study suggest that a selective neck dissection is a satisfactory staging procedure and is a definitive operation if all the nodes are pathologically negative. However, if a node is found to be invaded with cancer, the use of postoperative radiation is advisable.     

Increased levels of intercellular adhesion molecules and vascular cell adhesion molecules in pre-eclampsia

Objective To investigate the correlation between soluble forms of the intercellular adhesion molecule (SICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) and the severity of pre-eclampsia or its possible consequences for fetal growth.
Design Prospective observational study.
Setting Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo, Department of Medical Genetics and Haematological Research Laboratory, Ullevål University Hospital; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Participants Seventy-six women with normotensive pregnancies and 157 women with pre-eclampsia divided into three subgroups: mild, severe and pre-eclampsia with fetal growth retardation.
Methods ELISA-measurements of plasma SICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were performed in a group of healthy pregnant normotensive women and three groups of women with varying degrees of pre-eclampsia.
Results SICAM-1 concentrations were higher in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1 were significantly greater ( P < 0.0001) in all pre-eclampsia subgroups (835.34, 855.25 and 964.05 ng/mL) compared with the control group (667.62 ng/mL). Within the pre-eclampsia group, plasma concentration of sVCAM-1 was significantly higher in the subgroup exhibiting fetal growth retardation ( P = 0.03) compared with mild pre-eclampsia.
Conclusion The observed increases in plasma concentrations of sVCAM-1 suggest that measurements of this adhesion molecule may be useful in monitoring pregnancies with respect to the development of pre-eclampsia or fetal growth retardation.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive group B streptococcal isolates from south-west Sweden 1988-2001

The antibiotic susceptibility of 297 invasive isolates of group B streptococci (GBS) to a panel of 12 antibiotics was analysed using the E-test. The isolates (from 123 neonates and 174 adults) were collected from south-west Sweden during the 2 periods 1988-1997 and 1998-2001. The breakpoints of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute were used. All isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime, meropenem, linezolid, vancomycin, moxifloxacin and quinupristin-dalfopristin. Two strains displayed a slightly decreased susceptibility to penicillin G (MIC 0.25 microg/ml) also when tested by the broth dilution method. Two per cent were resistant to erythromycin and 1% to clindamycin. Strains with intermediate sensitivity to erythromycin and clindamycin increased over the 2 study periods. 68% were resistant to doxycycline, and the resistance rate for doxycycline increased over the 2 study periods. No strain was resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Serotype V dominated among strains with intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin and clindamycin. There were no other relationships between serotypes and decreased sensitivity to any agent. There were no significant differences in susceptibility to any agent tested between strains isolated from neonates and adults. In conclusion, penicillins remain the drug of choice in the region but with the increasing rates of intermediate susceptibility to both erythromycin and clindamycin, antibiotic sensitivity analysis should be performed on the GBS isolates from penicillin-allergic patients.     

Two novel missense mutations in the LDL receptor gene causing familial hypercholesterolemia

We have employed analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphisms to identify mutations in the low density lipoprotein receptor gene causing familial hypercholesterolemia. Two familial hypercholesterolemia heterozygotes had abnormal single-strand conformation polymorphism patterns of exons 4 and 8. DNA sequencing revealed that the abnormal pattern of exon 4 was due to heterozygosity (G/T) at nucleotide 502. Nucleotide 502 is the first base of codon 147, and the G→T mutation (D147Y) changes this codon from Asp_GAC to Tyr_UAC. The abnormal pattern of exon 8 was due to heterozygosity (A/G) at nucleotide 1097. Nucleotide 1097 is the second base of codon 345, and the A→G mutation (Q345R) changes this codon from Gln_CAG to Arg_CGG- Based upon screening of 437 unrelated familial hypercholesterolemia heterozygotes, both D147Y and Q345R account for about 0.5% of the mutations causing familial hypercholesterolemia in Norway.     

Effect of vitamin B-6 deficiency on preference for several taste solutions in the rat.

The effect of dietary-induced vitamin B-6 (B-6) deficiency on the intake of the taste solutions, sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium saccharin (NaSacc), quinine sulfate (QS), and hydrochloric acid (HCl) was studied using a 48 hour, two-bottle choice technique. The B-6 deficient group demonstrated increased preference to 1.5 X 10(-1) and 3.0 X 10(-1) M NaCl compared to control ad libitum fed and control pair-fed groups. Total fluid intake on NaCl test days was also elevated in the B-6 deficient rats. There was no significant difference in the mean preference to NaSacc, QS, or HCl among the three groups. Adrenal hypertrophy was observed in the deficient rats. There was no change in the plasma level of Na and Zn but there was a reduction in urinary Na excretion. When the deficient rats were replenished by intraperitoneal injection of pyridoxine.HCl and feeding with the control diet containing adequate B-6, the increased preference for NaCl was extinguished, suggesting that the preference alteration was reversible. Urinary Na excretion also returned to normal.