Cat-301 immunoreactivity in the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex of the strabismic amblyopic cat

Purpose: It was investigated whether alterations in neuronal structure and function occasioned by strabismic amblyopia also may be reflected in alterations in the expression on Y type neurons of a Cat-301 antibody sensitive antigen in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and cortex of our cat model of strabismic amblyopia. Methods/Results: The percentage of positively labelled cells was reduced in LGN laminae that received input from the deviated eye in strabismic amblyopic cats compared with normal cats. In the strabismic cortex, the density of immunopositive neurons was significantly reduced compared with normal, the effect being most pronounced in layer IV Conclusions: Despite previous physiological recordings indicating a decrease in X-cell associated acuity in strabismic amblyopia, the present findings imply that the changes in the early visual experience occasioned by strabismus also produce specific molecular changes in theY neuronal class.     

Aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch: A case report

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

Peribursal fat plane of the shoulder: anatomic study and clinical experience

A comprehensive anatomic and radiographic analysis of the peribursal fat plane in 12 cadavers confirmed that the fat plane seen on radiographs represents extrasynovial fat lining the subacromial bursa and documented the anatomic relations of the bursa. A three-part retrospective clinical evaluation of rotator cuff tears, calcific tendinitis, and rheumatoid arthritis was performed. Two osteoradiologists blindly graded the appearance of the peribursal fat plane with the shoulder in external versus internal rotation in 21 patients with arthrographically intact rotator cuffs and 21 patients with disrupted rotator cuffs. The peribursal fat plane was seen better with disrupted rotator cuffs. The peribursal fat plane was seen better with the shoulder in internal rotation and was seen in 60% of control subjects but only 21% of patients with rotator cuff tears. Partial or complete obliteration of this fat plane is a sensitive (79%) but less specific (60%) indicator of rotator cuff tears. Obliteration of the peribursal fat plane by inflammatory processes in adjacent tissues, including calcific tendinitis and rheumatoid arthritis, occurred with a high frequency.     

Multiple intramedullary lipomas with conal intramedullary dermoid: magnetic resonance appearances.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Intramedullary fat-containing benign childhood tumors of the cord include lipomas, dermoid cysts, and teratomas. These are embryonal tumors. Most intramedullary fat-containing tumors are solitary. Multiple intramedullary lipomas are rare and may represent a spinal lipomatous malformation. The presence of another intramedullary dermoid tumor in the same case is rare. PURPOSE: The intent of this case report is to look at magnetic resonance features and possible mechanisms of association of these fat-containing intramedullary tumors. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A 3-year-old male child presented with spastic quadriplegia. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spine was done on a 1.5-T scanner in different planes. RESULTS: MRI showed multiple intramedullary spinal lipomas with an intramedullary dermoid involving the conus, cord atrophy, and subarachnoid fat droplets. CONCLUSION: Multiple intramedullary lipomas with an intramedullary dermoid represent a form of spinal lipomatous malformation. Both may represent embryogenic mesenchymal inclusions and hamartomatous growth, which can be accurately diagnosed with MRI.     

The Cathlocator: A novel non-radiological method for the localization of enteral tubes

Safe placement of nasogastric tubes requires reliable positioning of the tip of the tube within the stomach. Radiology and aspiration are currently used to confirm tube position, but suffer from significant problems of cost and efficacy, respectively. We have developed a novel method to locate the position of a catheter tip within the body, using the detection of a low energy electromagnetic field generated in a coil located in the catheter with an external hand-held unit (Cathlocator). In vitro, the unit detected the distance of the coil from the detector with an accuracy of 0.1 cm over a range of 4–12 cm. In vivo studies were performed in 11 healthy volunteers using a purpose-built manometric assembly that incorporated the signal generating coil in its tip. In all subjects the Cathlocator showed the position of the signal generating coil to be cranial to the xiphisternum when manometric and transmucosal potential difference criteria showed it to be located above the lower oesophageal sphincter. When the coil was within the stomach, the Cathlocator identified its position within the epigastric, umbilical and left hypochondrial regions of the abdomen. The distance of the coil from the surface was significantly greater when in the duodenum mean (±s.e.m. 7.6±0.3 cm; P<0.001) and oesophagus (8.6±0.2 cm; P<0.002) than the stomach (5.0±0.4 cm). In one subject studied twice there was a close correlation between the location and depth measured by the device on each occasion. The Cathlocator is a novel non-radiological device that has the potential to be useful in the placement of gastrointestinal catheters.     

The mechanism of histamine release induced by the ionophore X537A from isolated rat mast cells. II. The relationship between increase of cell volume and histamine release

The ionophore X537A induced swelling of isolated rat mast cells parallel to histamine release. Both actions were depressed by extracellular calcium and BSA, temperatures below 37°C, NEM, PMSF, and TTX, and were enhanced by high potassium and pretreatment of the cells with ATP. DSCG, theophylline, and DFP enhanced the histamine release noted after 10 min of incubation without influencing the swelling action of X537A. The swelling action could not be separated from histamine release and it is suggested that it right be inherent in the mechanism of secretion induced by X537A. The present results further distinguish histamine release induced by the two ionophores X537A and A23187.