A chemically defined medium for the culture of mature oligodendrocytes

A new chemically defined medium consisting of equal parts of Dulbecco modified Eagle's and Ham's F-12 media supplemented with insulin, sodium selenite, putrescine, and D+ galactose, which allows the long-term survival of mature oligodendrocyte pure cultures, is described. Immunohistochemical staining has shown that over 90% of the cells become positive for myelin proteins shortly following subculture. Contaminating astrocytes (2%) do not survive in this medium. Biochemical data have indicated that these purified oligodendrocytes express 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase and UDP-galactose ceramide galactosyltransferase activities. Electron microscopical examination revealed that the oligodendrocytes were mostly of medium-dark type and appeared to be identical to cells cultured in serum-containing medium. The ability to maintain pure oligodendrocyte cultures in such a defined medium will allow investigations concerning exogenous and endogenous factors involved in oligodendrocyte metabolism.     

Detection of massive pulmonary embolism by transesophageal echocardiography.

Transesophageal echocardiography is a new echocardiographic technique with indications that are still expanding and being redefined. Recently, the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in pulmonary embolism has been demonstrated in several case reports. In this article, we present 3 cases with pulmonary embolism diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and discuss its diagnostic value in this clinical setting.     

Waldenstrm macroglobulinemia presenting in the form of cold urticaria and cold purpura]

A Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia case, manifested in the form of non-specific skin-symptoms (cold urticaria and cold purpura) is described in a 37 years old female patient. As new skin-symptoms progressive telangiectasia and naevi aranei could be observed. Involvement of skin may be explained by macroglobulins with kryoprotein properties, making early diagnosis possible at the same time.     

The additive prognostic value of restrictive pattern and dipyridamole-induced contractile reserve in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction and lack of contractile reserve are unfavorable prognostic predictors in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). AIMS: This study aims to assess whether diastolic dysfunction and lack of dipyridamole-induced contractile reserve were additive predictors of poor outcome in patients with DCM. METHODS: A total of 116 patients with DCM and ejection fraction (EF<35%) were studied by dipyridamole echo (0.84 mg/kg over 10 min). At rest, a restrictive filling pattern was defined as: E/A ratio >2 and an E-wave deceleration time of <140 ms on transmitral flow velocity profile. RESULTS: Rest wall motion score index (WMSI) was 2.2+/-0.3 and decreased to 1.9+/-0.41 after dipyridamole (p<0.001). During follow-up (median 26.5 months), 22 cardiac deaths occurred. At multivariate analysis, dipyridamole-induced contractile reserve yielded significant incremental prognostic value (RR=0.275, p<0.006) over NYHA class (RR=1.971, p<0.03), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy (RR=0.173, p<0.001), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RR=1.131, p<0.001). The worst prognostic combination was the presence of restrictive pattern at rest and the absence of contractile reserve (deltaWMSI<0.15). CONCLUSION: In patients with DCM, the ominous combination of restrictive transmitral flow pattern and lack of contractile reserve during dipyridamole stress predicts an unfavourable outcome.     

Obesity Treatment Using a Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB)—Preliminary Croatian Results

Aim of Study  

This study aims to assess the effectiveness, tolerance, safety, and patient satisfaction of obesity treatments using the Bioenterics intragastric balloon (BIB).