Location and geometric description of carpal bones in CT images

The carpal regions of ten cadaver extremities were imaged by CT. The images were combined into a 3-dimensional model of the carpus using a technique based on a dynamic programming algorithm to find an optimal estimate of the location of the bone boundaries in the CT images. The resulting set of surface points on each bone was used to compute volumes and principal and antipodal axes for the bones. A spatial coordinate system was established based on the positions of the centroids of three bones in the distal carpal row. The angular orientations of all carpal bones were determined with respect to this system. The principal axes for the same bone among ten wrist specimens proved to be more widely dispersed than the antipodal axes for the same bones. The antipodal axes also correspond more closely to an intuitive notion of the “longest axis” of the bones. We conclude that the antipodal axis is a more reliable and useful measure of bone orientation than the principal axis.     

CAR2 displays unique ligand binding and RXRalpha heterodimerization characteristics.

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) regulates the expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Alternative splicing of the human CAR gene yields an array of mRNAs that encode structurally diverse proteins. One form of CAR, termed CAR2, contains an additional four amino acids (SPTV) that are predicted to reshape the ligand-binding pocket. The current studies show a marked, ligand-independent, CAR2-mediated transactivation of reporters containing optimal DR-3, DR-4, and DR-5 response elements, and reporters derived from the natural CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 gene promoters. Overexpression of the RXRalpha ligand binding domain was critical for achieving these effects. CAR2 interaction with SRC-1 was similarly dependent on the coexpression of RXRalpha. Mutagenesis of Ser233 (SPTV) to an alanine residue yielded a receptor possessing higher constitutive activity. Alternatively, mutating Ser233 to an aspartate residue drastically reduced the transactivation capacity of CAR2. The respective abilities of these mutagenized forms of CAR2 to transactivate a DR-4 x 3 reporter element correlated with their ability to interact with RxRalpha and to recruit SRC-1 in a ligand-regulated manner. Together, these results demonstrate a robust RXRalpha-dependent recruitment of coactivators and transactivation by CAR2. In addition, CAR2 displays novel dose responses to clotrimazole and androstanol compared with the reference form of the receptor while at the same time retaining the ability to bind CITCO. This result supports a hypothesis whereby the four-amino-acid insertion in CAR2 structurally modifies its ligand binding pocket, suggesting that CAR2 is regulated by a set of ligands distinct from those governing the activity of reference CAR.     

Extended-release divalproex in bipolar and other psychiatric disorders: A comprehensive review

Bipolar disorder can be a devastating disease state for individuals with the disease and also for family members. Proper recognition and treatment is vital to the successful management of this disease state. Through increased community and practitioner awareness, along with efforts to increase awareness for proper assessment, the rate of diagnosed bipolar disorder is increasing. Recent years have brought about the introduction of several new medications with approved indications for the treatment of bipolar disorder. In addition to new agents, traditional mood stabilizing medications have also been released in different formulations to better enhance tolerability without jeopardizing efficacy. One particular product is extended-release divalproex sodium. In the following article, we review the clinical presentation of bipolar disorder, its epidemiology, and the pharmacokinetics and mechanism of action for divalproex. In addition, we specifically review the role of extended-release divalproex in bipolar disorder through a critical analysis of the currently available published primary literature.     

Short term correlates of the Neuro Emotional Technique for cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms: A pilot case series

Introduction As many as one quarter of all cancer survivors report traumatic stress symptoms from cancer-related experiences. While the majority of these patients do not meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is growing evidence that subsyndromal symptoms can significantly contribute to functional impairment and negative health outcomes. Treatment options for the hallmark symptoms of traumatic stress—unpleasant, intrusive thoughts and avoidant behaviors—have not been well investigated for the cancer survivorship population. Materials and methods Seven female cancer survivors with traumatic stress symptoms from cancer-related experiences and no other major psychopathology, were enrolled to receive three sessions of Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET), a brief, targeted treatment that combines traditional desensitization principles with complementary modalities. Results Psychological outcome measures (Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) and physiological measures (Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Conductance Level (SCL) demonstrated the following changes: 71% on IES, 88% SUD, 74% on HR, and 65% on SCL following the intervention. Statistically significant changes were observed for all four parameters, and effect size g for proportion improved were 0.50 each for IES, SUD, and HR, and 0.20 for SCL. Conclusions These cases suggest feasibility of the NET intervention for cancer-related traumatic stress and the potential for change in symptoms and physiological reactivity. Further investigation is needed to determine the specific and long-term effects of such an approach. Implications for cancer survivors Traumatic stress from cancer-related experiences might represent a constellation of symptoms that are amenable to brief, targeted interventions. This study was supported by the O.N.E. Research Foundation     

Cyclosporine A inhibition of microcystin toxins

Cyclosporine A (CyA) given i.v. at a dose of 1.25 mg/mouse blocks a subsequent i.v. lethal dose (1.7-1.8 x LD50) of microcystin-LR for 24 hr, and is about 50% protective at 48 hr. Conversely, the fraction of mice that can be rescued by CyA (0.2 mg/mouse) after a lethal dose of microcystin-LR decreases rapidly with a pharmacodynamic half-time of only about 100 sec. The prophylactic action of CyA was tested against lethal doses of four microcystins. The acute lethality of 1.7-1.8 x LD50 dose of microcystin-LR, -RR, -LY, or -LA given 1 hr after administration of 0.2 mg of CyA is 0%, 0%, 58%, or 100%, respectively. Even a 0.6 mg/mouse dose of CyA is ineffective prophylaxis against a lethal dose of microcystin-LA. The inhibitory potency of CyA on microcystin toxicity can be completely reversed by the single L-amino acid substitution of alanine for arginine in the microcystin.     

Brain and kidney of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy patients contain identical rearrangements of the JC virus promoter/enhancer

The kidneys of six progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) patients were examined by PCR amplification for the presence of JC virus. Amplification of three different areas of the viral genome from multiple samples of each kidney revealed three that were positive for the virus. The use of a PCR-based typing assay on all tissue samples, and cloned sequences from the viral coding region from each positive kidney showed that the same viral genome was present in the kidney as in the brain of the patient. Regulatory region clones all had the archetypal promoter/enhancer structure. However, when PCR fragments from the regulatory region were digested with a restriction enzyme which cuts in region D, the region most often deleted in PML-type promoters, a low level of undigested DNA remained. This DNA refractory to digestion had a rearranged sequence identical to that of the unique rearranged promoter in the brain of each patient. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Early pathological changes in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: a report of two asymptomatic cases occurring prior to the AIDS epidemic

Serial sections of formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded blocks from two asymptomatic, non-AIDS cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were stained with a double-label immunocytochemical method for detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein and JC virus (JCV) capsid proteins and with luxol fast blue/hematoxylin-eosin. In case 1 small, rounded lesions of about 1-mm diameter were seen within a restricted area in the posterior part of the superior frontal gyrus of both cerebral hemispheres, suggesting an early manifestation of the disease. Fully developed demyelinated lesions of the classical type with JCV-infected oligodendrocytes appeared in the white matter and along its border with the cortex. Lesswell-developed lesions, believed to be precursors to the fully developed ones, were seen in the gray and white matter. Of special interest were areas which contained small collections of enlarged, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes without capsid antigen and which seemed to lack destruction of myelin as judged from the appearance of matching serial sections stained for myelin. Large lesions in the brain of case 2 showed the well-known features of advanced PML. The close relation between some astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with viral antigen raises the possibility of early intercellular passage of virus. Vacuolation, seen within or near lesions in both cases, has previously been noted in the CNS infected by HIV, but not in PML. It is suggested that PML, a disease of both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, may actually begin in astroglial cells which, under the influence of a restricted JCV infection, become reactive, express GFAP and pass on virus to the more highly susceptible oligodendrocytes with which they are in contact.Supported in part by a grant N.S.07596 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The work was carried out in the Laboratory of Experimental Neurophathology, NINDS, and in the Department of Pathology II, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm