Intracranial circulation: pulse-sequence considerations in three- dimensional (volume) MR angiography

The technique and feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of intracranial vessels were studied in 35 healthy volunteers. Variations in image orientation, repetition time (TR), and flip angle were evaluated to determine their effects on flow-related enhancement. Gradient modifications--including echo time (TE), motion compensation, bandwidth, and field of view--were also studied in an effort to reduce motion-induced phase shifts. Results indicated that a FISP (fast imaging with steady precession) sequence with a TR of 50 msec, TE of 15 msec, velocity compensation in the read and section-select directions, acceleration compensation in the read direction, anisotropic volume, and a 1.25-mm partition thickness produced three-dimensional angiographic MR images that were accurate and reproducible in the depiction of the major intracranial vessels. Difficulties with field of view, persistent signal void secondary to higher-order motion, and spatial resolution remain major problems requiring additional study.     

Granulomatous jellyfish dermatitis

The induction of a granulomatous inflammation by jellyfish toxins is rare. More typically, acute toxic and urticarial reactions are seen. An 11-year-old boy developed a striated urticarial erythema on the left cheek after contact with a gelatinous mass while swimming in the sea in Croatia. After initial erosion, a striated induration developed in the area of contact. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with some eosinophils. While topical steroid-based antiinflammatory and antibacterial therapy over several weeks was not effective, topical therapy with tacrolimus 0.1% for two two-week treatment periods led to healing of the skin changes with a slight scar. There was no clinical recurrence after 5 month of follow-up.     

AlphaV beta3 (αvβ3) integrin inhibition reduces leukocyte–endothelium interaction in a pressure-induced reperfusion model

The leukocyte-endothelium interaction is known to contribute to reperfusion injury, which is considered to participate in the pathophysiology of pressure ulcers, and integrin alphaV beta3 (alphavbeta3) has been shown to mediate the processes of cellular adhesion in various types of cells. This study aims to clarify leukocyte behavior in our original microcirculatory pressure-induced reperfusion model, which can visualize the microcirculation in vivo. We also estimated the effect of alphavbeta3 integrin inhibition on the reduction of the leukocyte-endothelium interaction. Mice with dorsal skinfold chambers were divided into three groups: the baseline group (n=6), in which animals received no compression; the compression-reperfusion group (n=6), in which animals underwent 2-hour compression of the dorsal skin, followed by release, and the inhibitor-treated group (n=7), in which an alphavbeta3 inhibitor, CP4715, was administered in addition to the compression-release procedure. Staining with rhodamine 6G quantitatively visualized leukocyte behavior under the intravital fluorescent microscope. Compression-reperfusion induced a significant increase in rolling, sticking, and extravasation of the leukocytes. Treatment with the inhibitor strikingly reduced leukocyte sticking and extravasation. The present experiment has provided evidence that alphavbeta3 inhibition reduces leukocyte-endothelium interaction in our original pressure-induced reperfusion model.     

Beobachtungen an der Spaltlampe über eine normalerweise den Hyaloidearest der Hinterkapsel umziehende weiße Bogenlinie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Raf-1 kinase,epidermal growth factor receptors,and mutant ras proteins in colonic carcinomas

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) andras mutations are known to play a significant role in controlling cell growth and tumor promotion. Both of them transmit mitogenic signals to the nucleus by activation of Raf-1 kinase. In this study, the expression of EGFR and mutant Ras proteins, and, for the first time, the expression, phosphorylation and kinase activity of Raf-1 kinase have been determined in paired samples of colorectal cancer and mucosa. The tumor and mucosa samples did not differ significantly with regard to Raf-1 kinase content and activity. A major difference between tumors and mucosa was found, however, in the phosphorylation of Raf-1. Most of the mucosa samples (13/20), but only 1/20 of the cancer samples, contained hyperphosphorylated Raf-1. EGFR were significantly (p=0.0025) decreased in the tumors. The decreased phosphorylation of Raf-1 in colonic carcinomas could be the result of activation of Raf-1 phosphatases or inactivation of kinases phosphorylating Raf-1. New forms of treatment based on EGFR overexpression do not seem to be suitable for the majority of colonic cancers.This work was supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg (Verbundforschungsprojekt: Aufklärung von Mechanismen der Tumorentstehung und Tumorabwehr).     

Pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effects of ISDN following different dosage forms and routes of administration

The pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effects of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) have been investigated following administration of single doses as a sublingual (SL) spray (2.5 mg), sublingual tablet (5 mg) and peroral tablet (10 mg) in a randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial in 16 healthy volunteers.After the sublingual spray C_max was higher (39.0 ng·ml^-1) and t_max was shorter (3.9 min) than after the sublingual (22.8 ng·ml^-1 and 13.8 min) and peroral (16.9 ng·ml^-1 and 25.6 min) tablets. The AUC of ISDN did not differ following any of the three formulations (1031; 879; 997 ng·ml^-1·min, for the spray, SL tablet and PO-tablet, respectively). Mononitrate metabolites of ISDN (IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN) and total nitrates in plasma increased in proportion to the administered dose. This indicates that the fraction of the dose absorbed was the same for all the formulations but that the extent of first-pass metabolism increased in the order sublingual spray < sublingual tablet < peroral tablet. Thus, compared to the spray, the relative bioavailability of ISDN was 48% and 28% from the sublingual and peroral tablets, respectively.The haemodynamic effects were quantified using the a/b ratio of the finger pulse wave and the systolic blood pressure and heart rate under orthostatic conditions. For the a/b ratio of the finger pulse, the maximal effect was higher (e_max=130%) and the time to e_max (t_emax) shorter (16.6 min) after the spray than the sublingual tablet (84.4% and 25.5 min) or peroral tablet (90.2 and 31.3 min). The onset of effect was within 3, 5 and 7.5 min after the spray, sublingual and peroral tablets, respectively. A larger change in the orthostatically-induced decrease in systolic blood pressure and increase in heart rate was obtained following peroral than sublingual administration despite the similar plasma concentrations of ISDN. This probably reflects the larger amount of pharmacodynamically active mononitrate metabolites formed after oral dosing. The integrated effect following administration of 2.5 mg ISDN as spray was similar to that of a sublingual tablet of 5 mg.     

Implantation of posterior chamber lenses in eyes with phakodonesis and lens subluxation

Unilateral posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed after phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction in ten of 11 patients with phakodonesis or lens subluxation, which was bilateral in two cases. To facilitate placement of the IOL, the anterior capsule was opened with a YAG laser in nine patients. Intraoperative vitrectomy was performed in two patients, and posterior chamber IOL implantation was accomplished with fixation in the ciliary sulcus. Postoperative follow-up studies failed to demonstrate significant decentration or dislocation of the IOLs. Phakodonesis and lens subluxation are no longer considered absolute contraindications to implantation of posterior chamber IOLs.