Motor activity and neurotransmitter release in the gastric fundus of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

As deficiencies of the cholinergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic innervation of the gastrointestinal tract have been described in diabetic rats, we studied the simultaneous release of, and muscular response to, acetylcholine, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and adenosine-5'-triphosphate in isolated preparations of gastric fundus from control and 8-week streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Muscular responses were measured in longitudinal muscle strips prepared from one half of the gastric fundus and release was studied in the other half. The contractile response to acetylcholine and electrical field stimulation was not different in control and diabetic rats. In the presence of atropine, and when tone was increased with prostaglandin F2 alpha, electrical field stimulation, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and adenosine-5'-triphosphate induced relaxation with a similar response in control and diabetic rats. The basal release of acetylcholine, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and adenosine-5'-triphosphate was not significantly different in control and diabetic rats. Electrical field stimulation significantly increased the release of the three substances and this increase was tetrodotoxin-sensitive. While the stimulation-induced increase of acetylcholine and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was not different in control and in diabetic rats, the stimulation-induced release of adenosine-5'-triphosphate increased 3-fold in diabetic compared to control gastric fundus. Desensitization to alpha,beta-methylene adenosine-5'-triphosphate reduced the relaxant response to adenosine-5'-triphosphate and to electrical field stimulation, suggesting a role of adenosine-5'-triphosphate in non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurotransmission of rat gastric fundus. The reduction of the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic relaxation by alpha,beta-methylene adenosine-5'-triphosphate was greater in diabetic tissues. This, with the increase in stimulation-induced adenosine-5'-triphosphate release, suggests that the purinergic component of the vagal non-adrenergic non-cholinergic response of the stomach may be increased in diabetics.     

Correlating digit span performance and event-related potentials to assess working memory.

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a computerized and modified version of the Digit Span Backwards (DB) task from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III). The modified DB version (ERP-DB task) was divided into two sections of 2, 4, 6 and 8 digits in length (Group 1) and 3, 5 and 7 digits in length (Group 2). Each trial had a study phase and a test phase. For the study phase, a series of digits was presented sequentially and aurally to 20 participants (10 for each group). For the test phase, a second series of digits was also presented sequentially and aurally that either corresponded to the reverse order of the digits in the study phase (correct condition) or had one digit in the sequence replaced by an incorrect digit (incorrect condition). The traditional DB task of the WAIS-III was also administered for comparison purposes. A prolonged positive slow wave (PSW) peaking between 450 and 750 ms was elicited to incorrect condition trials. For each participant, a derived measure was calculated from the ERP differentiation between correct and incorrect conditions. The derived measure was defined as the mean of the t-values obtained from the correct and incorrect waveform comparison, within the temporal interval that encompassed this component. The strongest statistical correlations between the derived measure and the traditional DB test scores were found at the Pz site (Group 1: r=0.79; Group 2: r=0.59). This statistical approach shows that it is possible to adequately relate an individual's performance on a traditional measure of working memory and ERP patterns. Overall, we believe that this kind of ERP approach holds promise as a technique for assessing quantitatively non-communicative patients.     

Narrowband UVB therapy for vitiligo: does the repigmentation last?

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, a number of trials have shown promising results in treating generalized vitiligo with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) both in adults and children. However, there is little knowledge concerning the duration and permanency of the treatment-induced repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to perform a follow-up trial of successfully treated patients receiving narrowband UVB for generalized vitiligo. METHODS: We have investigated to what degree the treatment-induced repigmentation remains stable for up to 2 years post-treatment. We performed an initial open trial including 31 patients with generalized vitiligo. They received narrowband UVB thrice weekly for up to 12 months. Patients experiencing > 75% repigmentation were defined responders and were included in the follow-up trial. Responders were followed every 6 months for up to 2 years after cessation of treatment. We observed the pigmentation status and registered any changes indicating loss of pigmentation and relapse. RESULTS: Eleven of the 31 treated patients were included in the follow-up trial. Six patients had relapse and five patients had stable response 24 months after cessation of treatment. Four out of six relapses were within 6 months post-treatment. CONCLUSION: In our study population of 31 patients with generalized vitiligo, five patients (16%) experienced > 75% stable repigmentation 2 years after cessation of a treatment programme of up to 1 years narrowband UVB therapy.     

Ongoing pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection using cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa

We report two clinical pregnancies occurring after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using cryopreserved spermatozoa obtained from testicular biopsy, made in two different infertility situations in our clinic. The first patient showed a secretory azoospermia associated with elevated serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level and spermiogenesis maturation arrest. The second patient was affected by azoospermia resulting from bilateral epididymal obstruction. Spermatozoa present in the wet preparation of testicular biopsy made on the day of scrotal exploration were cryopreserved within the testicular tissue for both men. Intracytoplasmic injections were performed at a later date, using spermatozoa prepared from frozen-thawed tissues. In each case, three embryos were obtained and transferred in utero. The transfers resulted in a twin pregnancy for the first case, and in a singleton pregnancy for the second. Living foetuses were seen in the ultrasound scan at the 7th week and both pregnancies are proceeding to date beyond 30 weeks without complications.