Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

Ritanserin in the treatment of alcohol dependence – a multi-center clinical trial

Four hundred and twenty-three alcohol dependent subjects were enrolled into a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the safety and efficacy of the 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist, ritanserin (2.5 mg/day or 5 mg/day), in reducing alcohol intake and craving. All subjects received 1 week of single-blind placebo prior to randomization into the 11-week double-blind phase. Additionally, all subjects received weekly individual sessions of manual-guided cognitive-behavioral therapy. Comparing the single-blind period with endpoint, there was approximately a 23% reduction in drinks/day; 34% fall in the total number of drinking days/week; 22% decrease in drinks/drinking day; and a 37% diminution in alcohol craving for all treatment groups. All treatment groups experienced a beneficial clinical outcome as assessed by the Clinical Global Impression Scale. There was, however, no significant difference between treatment groups on any of these measures of alcohol drinking, craving, or clinical outcome. Subjects were of relatively high social functioning at baseline, and this did not change significantly during treatment. Treatment groups did not differ significantly on either medication compliance or reported adverse events. Ritanserin treatment was associated with a dose-related prolongation of subjects’ QTc interval recording on the electrocardiogram. These results suggest that alcohol dependent subjects can show marked clinical improvement within a structured alcohol treatment program. These findings do not support an important role for ritanserin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Received: 30 April 1996/Final version: 3 July 1996     

Glucocorticoid effects on phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in explants of embryonic rat medulla oblongata

Although glucocorticoid hormones have important roles in the development of neurotransmitter systems in cells derived from the neural crest, it is not known whether they have parallel effects on neuronal development in the brain. To address this issue, we have established an in vitro system of fetal medulla oblongata (MO) to follow development of the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT). Embryonic MO was explanted from E13 or E18 embryos and maintained for up to 3 weeks. Successful culture of adrenergic neurons was possible only in explants taken from young embryos, since E18 explants failed to develop. In E13 explants, immunoreactivity to both PNMT and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, was observed. PNMT catalytic activity which was barely detectable at the time of explanation increased markedly during the first week in vitro. To study the effects of glucocorticoids on PNMT development in central neurons, MO explants were grown in glucocorticoid deficient medium in which rat serum from adrenalectomized rats was substituted for human placental serum. Addition of natural glucocorticoids, cortisol or corticosterone, or the mineralcorticoid, deoxycorticosterone, during the third culture week had no effect on PNMT activity. Dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, also had no effect on PNMT during the first or second weeks in culture. However, addition of DEX during the third culture week resulted in a doubling of PNMT activity. However, attempts to block the DEX effect during the third week or to block the increase in PNMT activity during the first week in control cultures with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, dexamethasone 21-mesylate, were unsuccessful. These results suggest that PNMT in central neurons does not require glucocorticoids for ontogeny during the embryonic period. This is in contrast to PNMT in adrenal medulla which requires glucocorticoids for normal development during both the embryonic and postnatal periods. More generally, these studies suggest that development of the same neurotransmitter phenotype in brain and periphery may be differentially regulated.     

The neurotrophic effects of fibroblast growth factors on dopaminergic neurons in vitro are mediated by mesencephalic glia

Neurotrophic support is generally believed to result from a direct action of growth factors on developing neurons. However, there is increasing evidence that growth factors can indirectly affect neuronal development by glial-mediated processes. To investigate a possible role of glia in mediating neurotrophic effects on dopaminergic neurons, four purified growth factors were screened for dual effects on the survival and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons and on the proliferation of mesencephalic glial cells in vitro. Dissociated embryonic day 14.5 rat mesencephalon was grown at low cell density without serum, conditions under which both glial growth and neuronal survival are not optimal. Treatment of these cultures with acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increased the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons by 90-110% [corrected] at 8 d in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of these factors were not additive. High-affinity dopamine uptake was increased by bFGF, but not by aFGF. Length of TH-IR neurites was not affected by either aFGF or bFGF. Both growth factors induced proliferation of mesencephalic astrocytes as demonstrated by autoradiographic labeling with 3H-thymidine combined with immunocytochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In contrast, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and interleukin-1 had no effect on the survival or differentiation of dopaminergic neurons or the proliferation of mesencephalic astrocytes. Inhibition of glial proliferation abolished the neurotrophic effects exerted by aFGF or bFGF on dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, conditioned medium derived from mesencephalic glial cultures replated in the virtual absence of neurons also contained neurotrophic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Die Akutversorgung von Brandverletzten

Burn injuries can be caused by thermal, electrical, chemical, or mechanical trauma or radiation and are relatively rare, as they represent only about 1% of all emergencies. They are caused by accidents at home, during recreational activities, or in the occupational environment. Minor burn traumas are much more common than severe burn injuries with their systemic and potentially life-threatening effects. Altogether, these circumstances may result in a lack of routine for treating such injuries properly by physicians and their colleagues in the emergency room or intensive care unit. A clearly outlined concept for preclinical and clinical treatment can be the keystone of successful further clinical progress. The following article summarizes the current guidelines for first medical aid at the injury scene, burn stabilization and assessment in the emergency room, and the interdisciplinary approach for further clinical care. The treatment of dermatologic emergencies (acute epidermolytic syndromes) or caustic injuries by chemical agents is similar to the treatment of burn victims in many aspects but must be adapted in selected cases.