Regional distribution of somatostatin binding sites in the human hypothalamus: a quantitative autoradiographic study.

Using in vitro quantitative autoradiography and [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 as radioligand, we characterized the detailed distribution of somatostatin binding sites in human hypothalamus of both infants and adults. Guanosine triphosphate pretreatment, before incubation, allowed us to detect higher [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 binding site densities in hypothalamic structures such as preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas and ventromedial and dorsomedial nuclei. In contrast, guanosine triphosphate was without effect in the other hypothalamic regions. The regional effects of guanosine triphosphate pretreatment were not different in infant and adult hypothalamus. Scatchard analysis showed that in a guanosine triphosphate-sensitive region (preoptic area) and a guanosine triphosphate-insensitive area (infundibular nucleus), [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 bound to a single class of binding sites. Affinities were similar in both regions, not modified by guanosine triphosphate pretreatment and not different in the adult (1.5 +/- 1.2 nM vs 3.2 +/- 2.1 nM for preoptic area and infundibular nucleus, respectively) and infant (0.9 +/- 0.5 nM vs 2.4 +/- 1.7 nM for preoptic area and infundibular nucleus). [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 binding sites were widely distributed in the anterior, mediobasal and posterior hypothalamus. Somatostatin 28 was twice as potent as somatostatin 14 to displace [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 binding in the preoptic area and infundibular nucleus. However, IC50s were 30 times lower in the preoptic area as compared with the infundibular nucleus. In adult as well as in infant, high densities were found mainly in the diagonal band of Broca, preoptic area and infundibular nucleus. Intermediate densities were localized in the anterior hypothalamic area, ventromedial, dorsomedial and lateral mammillary nuclei. The dorsal hypothalamic area, the paraventricular and medial mammillary nuclei displayed low but measurable densities. The only marked difference in the distribution of [125I]Tyr0-D-Trp8SRIF 14 binding sites in adult vs infant was observed in the medial and tuberal nuclei where the concentrations were seven-fold higher in adult hypothalamus.     

The surgical section of the bundle of Kent as an operative treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: apropos a series of 82 operated cases

Eighty two patients diagnosed of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) underwent operation for the surgical section of the Kent-His bundle. In these cases, posteroseptal localization (PS) occurred in 32, left lateral (LL) in 25, right lateral (RL) in six, anteroseptal (AS) in one, posteroseptal and left lateral in 14, right and left posteroseptal in two, anteroseptal and left lateral in one, and left lateral and right and left posteroseptal in one. All of the patients presented an invalidating clinical of palpitations and/or loss of consciousness, and episodes of atrial fibrillation and/or reciprocal rhythm were registered in all cases. The mean anterograde refractory period in the accessory pathways was 244 +/- 60 msec, and the shortest RR in atrial fibrillation was 190 +/- 36 msec. A mitral commissurotomy was carried out in 3 patients during surgery, mitral prostheses were implanted in two, a double aorto-coronary bypass was made in three and an interventricular communication was closed in one. After a follow-up of 36 +/- 18 months, the surgical section of the Kent bundle was found to be effective in 77 out 82 patients (94%). (In 70 out of 77 cases, both anterograde and retrograde conduction were totally abolished and in seven out of 77 obtunded. All patients were asymptomatic during the follow-up period). In 5 out of 82 patients, surgical treatment was ineffective all five showed a PS Kent-His and two presented a second Kent-His fascicle (LL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vivo transfer and expression of a human epidermal growth factor gene accelerates wound repair.

This report details the transfer of a human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) expression plasmid to porcine partial-thickness wound keratinocytes by particle-mediated DNA transfer (Accell). After gene transfer an external sealed fluid-filled wound chamber was used to protect the wound, provide containment of the exogenous DNA and expressed peptide, and permit sampling of the wound fluid. Analysis of wound fluid for hEGF and total protein, an indicator of reformation of the epithelial barrier, showed that wounds bombarded with the hEGF plasmid exhibited a 190-fold increase in EGF concentration and healed 20% (2.1 days) earlier than the controls. EGF concentrations in wound fluid persisted over the entire 10-day monitored period, decreasing from 200 pg/ml to 25 pg/ml over the first 5 days. Polymerase chain reaction results showed that plasmid DNA was present in the wound for at least 30 days. These findings demonstrate the possible utility of in vivo gene transfer to enhance epidermal repair.     

A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.