Loss of dopamine D2 receptors induces atrophy in the temporal and parietal cortices and the caudal thalamus of ethanol-consuming mice

Background: The need of an animal model of alcoholism becomes apparent when we consider the genetic diversity of the human populations, an example being dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) expression levels. Research suggests that low DRD2 availability is associated with alcohol abuse, while higher DRD2 levels may be protective against alcoholism. This study aims to establish whether (i) the ethanol‐consuming mouse is a suitable model of alcohol‐induced brain atrophy and (ii) DRD2 protect the brain against alcohol toxicity. Methods: Adult Drd2+/+ and Drd2?/? mice drank either water or 20% ethanol solution for 6 months. At the end of the treatment period, the mice underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging under anesthesia. MR images were registered to a common space, and regions of interest were manually segmented. Results: We found that chronic ethanol intake induced a decrease in the volume of the temporal and parietal cortices as well as the caudal thalamus in Drd2?/? mice. Conclusions: The result suggests that (i) normal DRD2 expression has a protective role against alcohol‐induced brain atrophy and (ii) in the absence of Drd2 expression, prolonged ethanol intake reproduces a distinct feature of human brain pathology in alcoholism, the atrophy of the temporal and parietal cortices.     

Ventricular volume change in childhood

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to construct a model of age-related changes in ventricular volume in a group of normal children ages 1 month to 15 years, which could be used for comparative studies of cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders and cerebral atrophy developmental syndromes. METHODS: A magnetic resonance imaging-based segmentation technique was used to measure ventricular volumes in normal children; each volume was then plotted against the child's age. In addition, intracranial volumes were measured and the ratio of ventricular to intracranial volume was calculated and plotted against age. The study group included 71 normal children, 39 boys and 32 girls, whose ages ranged from 1 month to 15.3 years (mean 84.9 months, median 79 months). The mean ventricular volume was 21.3 cm3 for the whole group, 22.7 cm3 in boys and 19.6 cm3 in girls (p = 0.062, according to t-tests). The mean ventricular volume at 12 months for the whole group was 17 cm3 (20 cm3 in boys and 15 cm3 in girls), representing 65% of the volume achieved by 15 years of age (87% in boys and 53% in girls). The volume increased by a factor of 1.53, to 26 cm3 (23 cm3 in males and 28 cm3 in females, increase factors of 1.15 and 1.86, respectively) at 15 years of age. The change in ventricular volume with age is not linear, but follows a segmental pattern. These age periods were defined as: 0 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 10, and 11 to 16 years. A statistical difference based on sex was only demonstrated in the first 6 years of life. The mean ventricular volume for the first 6-year period was 22.4 cm3 in boys and 15.7 cm3 in girls, and the difference was significant for the two sexes (linear regression analysis for age and sex, significant according to analysis of variance regression at 0.007, p = 0.108 for age, p = 0.012 for sex). Thereafter, there was no significant difference in ventricular volume between boys and girls with further growth. The ratio of ventricular volume to intracranial volume was 0.0175 for the whole group, 0.017 in boys and 0.018 in girls (p = 0.272, according to t-tests). At 12 months of age the ratio was 0.019; it stabilized to 0.015 at 8 years of age, and increased to 0.018 at 15 years of age. No statistical difference based on sex was demonstrated with growth. CONCLUSIONS: The ventricular volume in normal children increases with age by a factor of 1.5; the increase is in a nonlinear segmental pattern. Boys have significantly higher ventricular volumes only in the first 6 years of life. The ventricular/intracranial volume ratio remains stable throughout childhood.     

城市流动未婚人工流产女青年生殖健康状况分析

为了解城市流动人口未婚女青年生殖道感染(RTI)与性传播感染(STI)患病率，性暴力发生率，性和生殖健康知识，态度、观念和行为，我们对4个城市的1129名流动女青年进行了调查。     

Early experience with laparoscopic antireflux surgery in the rural setting

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) affects a significant portion of the population, and refractory or untreated disease can have serious long-term complications. Antireflux procedures are now done more frequently because of advances in laparoscopic technique. It has been reported in the literature that the quality of care is better in larger urban hospitals than in smaller facilities. We report our experience with laparoscopic antireflux surgery in a 35-bed rural county hospital. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 26 patients who had a laparoscopic antireflux procedure in our facility during a 2-year period. Data from the preoperative evaluation, the operative procedure, and the postoperative period were recorded. The patients had office follow-up after the procedure and also were contacted at the time of the study to evaluate their outcome. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients had excellent symptomatic relief from heartburn and required no medication at follow-up. There was no mortality. Our complication rate was 7%, and the conversion rate to laparotomy was 7%. Most patients were discharged on the day after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic antireflux procedures can effectively relieve symptoms of GERD with minimal morbidity and mortality. The outcome of our initial experience in a small rural facility is analogous to results previously published in the literature.     

Double-dissociation of the catecholaminergic modulation of synaptic transmission in the oval bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) is a cluster of nuclei within the extended amygdala, a forebrain macrostructure with extensive projection to motor nuclei of the hindbrain. The subnuclei of the BST coordinate autonomic, neuroendocrine, and somato-motor functions and receive robust neuromodulatory monoaminergic afferents, including 5-HT-, noradrenaline (NA)-, and dopamine (DA)-containing terminals. In contrast to 5-HT and NA, little is known about how DA modulates neuronal activity or synaptic transmission in the BST. DA-containing afferents to the BST originate in the ventral tegmental area, the periaqueducal gray, and the retrorubral field. They form a fairly diffuse input to the dorsolateral BST with dense terminal fields in the oval (ovBST) and juxtacapsular (jxBST) nuclei. The efferent-afferent connectivity of the BST suggests that it may play a key role in motivated behaviors, consistent with recent evidence that the dorsolateral BST is a target for drugs of abuse. This study describes the effects of DA on synaptic transmission in the ovBST. Whole cell voltage clamp recordings were performed on ovBST neurons in brain slices from adult rats in the presence or absence of exogenous DA and receptor-targeted agonists and antagonists. The results showed that DA selectively and exclusively reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission in the ovBST in a dose-dependent and D2-like dopamine receptor-dependent manner. DA also modulated excitatory synaptic transmission in a dose-dependent dependent manner. However, this effect was mediated by α2-noradrenergic receptors. Thus these data reveal a double dissociation in catecholaminergic regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the ovBST and may shed light on the mechanisms involved in neuropathological behaviors such as stress-induced relapse to consumption of drugs of abuse.     

Intracranial extension of sphenoid sinusitis

Background. The incidence of sphenoid sinusitis has decreased significantly since the pre-antibiotic era. Intracranial complications from isolated sphenoid sinusitis are rare but have a high morbidity and mortality. Methods. A case of intracranial extension of sphenoid sinusitis in a 64-year-old woman is reported. Results. A 64-year-old woman was initially seen unconscious with bacterial meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula. Imaging suggested sphenoid sinusitis with intracranial extension. She underwent a sinus drainage procedure, was placed on antibiotic therapy, and underwent a definitive sphenoid sinus obliteration. The patient made a satisfactory recovery. Conclusions. Despite the low incidence of intracranial complications of sphenoid sinusitis, the potential morbidity and mortality from such complications is high. We advocate aggressive management consisting of antibiotic therapy, sinus drainage, and definitive CSF fistula repair. © 1995 Jons Wiley & Sons, Inc.