Topically injected adrenocorticotropic hormone induces mechanical hypersensitivity on a full‐thickness cutaneous wound model in rats

Cutaneous wound pain causes physical and psychological stress for patients with wounds. Previous studies reported that stress induces hyperalgesia and deteriorates wound healing. However, the effect of the stress response such as in hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis on local wound area is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of a stress response on the mechanical withdrawal threshold in the local wound area and describe the identification of a wound pain exacerbation. We topically injected adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the granulation tissue of full‐thickness cutaneous wound model rats on the fifth day postwounding and measured the mechanical withdrawal thresholds, cytochrome P450 2Bs levels and concentration of 5,6‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid in wound exudate. We found that ACTH induced mechanical hypersensitivity at 4 and 6 hours after injection (P = .004 and .021, respectively), and increased gene expression of cytochrome P450 2B12 expression (P = .046). Concentration of 5,6‐EET in the wound exudate was moderately correlated with the mechanical withdrawal threshold (r = ?.630). Finally, the mechanical withdrawal threshold in the 5,6‐EET group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 2 hours after the injection (P = .015). We propose that 5,6‐EET is one of the most promising contributors to the wound pain exacerbation. These findings could guide clinical wound and pain management.     

An updated review on pathophysiology and management of burning mouth syndrome with endocrinological,psychological and neuropathic perspectives

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oro‐facial pain disorder of unknown cause. It is more common in peri‐ and post‐menopausal women, and sex hormone dysregulation is believed to be an important causative factor. Psychosocial events often trigger or exacerbate symptoms, and persons with BMS appear to be predisposed towards anxiety and depression. Atrophy of small nerve fibres in the tongue epithelium has been reported, and potential neuropathic mechanisms for BMS are now widely investigated. Historically, BMS was thought to comprise endocrinological, psychosocial and neuropathic components. Neuroprotective steroids and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor family ligands may have pivotal roles in the peripheral mechanisms associated with atrophy of small nerve fibres. Denervation of chorda tympani nerve fibres that innervate fungiform buds leads to alternative trigeminal innervation, which results in dysgeusia and burning pain when eating hot foods. With regard to the central mechanism of BMS, depletion of neuroprotective steroids alters the brain network–related mood and pain modulation. Peripheral mechanistic studies support the use of topical clonazepam and capsaicin for the management of BMS, and some evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioural therapy. Hormone replacement therapy may address the causes of BMS, although adverse effects prevent its use as a first‐line treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may have important benefits, and well‐designed controlled studies are expected. Other treatment options to be investigated include brain stimulation and TSPO (translocator protein 18 kDa) ligands.     

Ventricular septal fistula formation due to infectious endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient with aortic valve replacement

We report a case of infectious endocarditis in a 77-year-old woman who was undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy, and who was also having a prosthetic aortic valve replacement. The disease resulted from a local skin infection at the needle puncture site of the arteriovenous fistula. Ampicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the causal organism. Surgical treatment could not be performed because of associated intracranial hemorrhage due to septic embolism. In spite of intensive treatment with several antibiotics, a ventricular septal abscess just beneath the prosthetic aortic valve progressed to form a ventricular septal fistula. The resultant intracardiac left-to-right shunt led to refractory congestive heart failure. The patient finally died of heart failure. The formation of a ventricular septal fistula is considered to be a rare and extraordinary complication of infectious endocarditis in a hemodialysis patient with aortic valve replacement. Received: July 25, 2001 / Accepted: November 3, 2001     

Clinical features and outcome in 68 cases of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage without aneurysm repair--a community hospital study

The authors studied the clinical features and outcome at 6 months in 191 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from ruptured aneurysms. Aneurysm repair (AR) was undertaken in 123 cases (64.4%). In the non-AR group (n = 68), 48.5% of the patients were 70 years of age or older, compared with 12.2% in the AR group. The duration from onset to admission was less than 3 hours in 48 non-AR cases (70.6%) and in 42 AR cases (34.1%). Among non-AR patients, 63.2% were Hunt and Hess grade IV or V, whereas the figure for AR patients was only 14.7%. By 6 months after SAH, 94.1% of non-AR patients had died, and the remainder were vegetative or severely disabled. In contrast, only 15.4% in the AR group died, and over 50% showed good recovery. The large majority of non-AR patients were treated conservatively because they were judged to be poor surgical risks and, among these patients, nearly one half were elderly. In the 10 elderly patients considered good surgical candidates, vasospasm was the most common reason (70%) for not performing AR.     

Prevention of Restenosis after Coronary Angioplasty with Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis

Abstract: A prospective study was performed to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis, when performed only immediately before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions following PTCA. Thirty-six patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypercholesterolemia were divided into 2 groups. The 9 patients in the LDL group underwent LDL-apheresis 1 day before and 5 days after PTCA while the 27 patients of the control group underwent PTCA but did not undergo LDL-apheresis. Follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) was performed 4 months after PTCA. The rate of restenosis of coronary artery lesions was significantly lower in the LDL group (0%) than in the control group (30%). These findings suggest that LDL-apheresis, when performed before and after PTCA, is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions in patients with CHD and hypercholesterolemia.     

Association of the GNAS1 gene variant with hypertension is dependent on alcohol consumption.

The beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding (Gs) protein system has been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system. The gene encoding the alpha-subunit of Gs proteins (GNAS1) is a candidate genetic determinant for hypertension. Because alcohol consumption is known to affect blood pressure partly through the beta-AR-Gs protein system, we examined the possible interaction between GNAS1 T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with hypertension in the present study. As a result, a non-significant but reasonable trend supporting the presence of an interaction was shown (p = 0.076). In line with this trend, the T393C polymorphism significantly interacted with drinking status in the association with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.028). Moreover, supporting the presence of an interaction, T allele carriers consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than CC homozygotes in non-drinkers and light drinkers. In contrast, CC homozygotes consistently had a higher probability of hypertension, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher diastolic blood pressure than T allele carriers in moderate to heavy drinkers. The present study also showed a significant interaction between the T393C polymorphism and drinking status in the association with pulse pressure (p = 0.026), reflected by a significant association between the T393C polymorphism and pulse pressure in moderate to heavy drinkers (p = 0.026). These findings may be helpful in conducting further molecular and biological studies on the relationship among the effects of alcohol, the beta-AR-Gs protein system, and hypertension.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of osteonecrosis in divers: comparison with plain radiographs

Objective. To assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as compared with radiographic findings in osteonecrosis in divers. Design and patients. MRI scans and conventional radiographs of the shoulder, hip and knee joints of 23 professional male scuba divers were reviewed together with their clinical findings and personal histories. Correlations between the MRI findings and the radiographic evaluation, clinical symptoms, and personal history were then investigated. Results and conclusions. Lesions found on MRI in 23 divers included 27 in 39 proximal humeri, 17 in 36 proximal femora, 13 in 32 distal femora, and 12 in 32 proximal tibiae. Diffuse, marginated, or irregular patterns were observed. No lesions were seen in epiphyses of the distal femur or proximal tibia. We tried to classify these MRI findings by location and appearance. MRI showed no patients with only one affected bone. A close correlation between the MRI findings and maximum diving depth was observed in the proximal humerus. MRI depicted bone lesions that could not be detected on the radiographs. A routine MRI investigation of the hip joints should be performed in every diver in whom osteonecrosis is diagnosed at another site, for early detection of femoral head osteonecrosis. MRI of the shoulder joint is also the best surveillance in divers who dive deeper than 15?m.     

Hippocampofugal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing neuron system in the rat: a study using a double-labeling method that combines retrograde tracing and immunocytochemistry

Using a double-labeling method that combines retrograde tracing and immunocytochemistry, we demonstrated the presence of a hippocampofugal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like immunoreactive (GABA-LI) neuron system in the rat. As a preliminary experiment, knife-cut of the dorsal fornix was made and it resulted in a remarkable accumulation of GABA-LI fibers caudal to the section. This suggested the presence of a hippocampofugal GABAergic projection. The hypothesis was confirmed by the double-labeling method: injection of the biotinylated wheat germ agglutinin (B-WGA) into the septum resulted in labeling numerous neurons in the hippocampus and some of them also showed GABA-like immunoreactivity by the simultaneous immunostaining with the antiserum against GABA.