Effect of morphine on the mechanical activity of common bile duct isolated from the guinea pig

The contractile response of isolated guinea pigs common bile ducts (CBD) to transmural electrical stimulation and the effects of morphine and naloxone was studied. Contractile responses increased as a function of stimulus frequency. In the absence of naloxone morphine inhibited the contractile response to electrical stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. Naloxone prevented the inhibitory effect of morphine on the contractile response to electrical stimulation. We conclude that smooth muscle of the CBD in guinea pig is functional and can contribute to biliary motility, and that opiate receptors exist in nerve elements in the CBD.     

In vivo 23Na NMR studies of myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy is an inherited multi-system disease. Its pathophysiology leading to muscle malfunction and damage is not well understood. ²³Na NMR spectroscopy was applied here for an in vivo comparative study of the calf muscles of 7 myotonic dystrophy patients at various stages of the disease and 11 healthy volunteers. Both the total sodium content, expressed as the ratio of the ²³Na and ¹H water signals, and the fast transverse relaxation time, T₂₁, determined from the triple quantum-filtered spectra, increased in correlation with the severity of the disease. The results demonstrate that ²³Na NMR enables the quantitation of myotonic dystrophy progression.     

Cryopreserved cadaveric allografts for treatment of unexcised partial thickness flame burns: clinical experience with 12 patients

Partial thickness burns (PTB) usually heal within 3 weeks. Prevention of infection and desiccation of the wounds are crucial for optimal healing. Early tangential excision of the burn eschar and allografting prevent deepening of the burns, and are therefore advocated for treatment with the best functional and aesthetic results. For superficial partial thickness burns (SPTB) conservative use of topical antimicrobial agents with frequent dressing changes are implemented. We compared the conservarive treatment for PTBs and SPTBs to grafting cryopreserved cadaveric allografts with no prior excision.

Twelve patients with flame PTB areas were allografted after mechanical debridement without excision of the burn wounds. The allografts were cadaveric skin cryopreserved by programmed freezing and stored at −180°C for 30–48 months. Matching burns for depth and area were treated with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) one to two times daily until healing or debridement and grafting were required.

It was found that 80 per cent of the cryopreserved allografts adhered well and 76 per cent of the treated areas healed within 21 days, whereas only 40 per cent of the SSD-treated burns healed within 21 days.

Partial thickness burns can be treated successfully with viable human allografts (cryopreserved cadaveric skin) with no prior surgical excision. The burn wounds heal well within 3 weeks. For deep partial thickness burns (DPTB) treatment with allografts has no advantage if they have not been previously excised.     

Post‐traumatic reactions among rescue personnel 96 hours after the Hilton Hotel bombing in Sinai: The effect of previous exposure

This paper considers the immediate post‐traumatic reactions of rescue personnel who were exposed to the Hilton Hotel bombing in Sinai. The entire rescue personnel (n = 26) were assessed and separated into two groups on the basis of previous exposure to the same type of trauma. The results suggest that among rescue personnel, those with previous exposure had a lower level of post‐traumatic symptoms than those who were being exposed for the first time. This supports the hypothesis that previous exposure to the same type of trauma has an immunizing effect for subsequent same type of traumatic event among rescue personnel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computed tomography of complications caused by manufacturing defects in synthetic grafts

Two unusual cases of delayed synthetic graft complications resulting from manufacturing defects of knitted Dacron are presented. Computed tomography appears to be a suitable noninvasive alternative examination to angiography in this condition.     

C7 complement deficiency in an Israeli Arab village

Deficiencies of terminal complement components, particularly the latter ones, are often detected because of increased susceptibility to Neisserial infections. Herein we document the first report of C7 deficiency among a highly inbred Arab population living in the lower Galilee region of Israel. Both biochemical and molecular analysis were performed on samples from infected survivors and parents of children who succumbed to Neisserial infections in a 4-year period. Only the index case who suffered recurrent infections and a sibling who had not suffered an infection during the outbreak were found to be C7-deficient. The mutation was found to be the one previously described to be prevalent among Israeli Jews of Moroccan ancestry (mutation G1135C). The implications of this finding are discussed in the context of family pedigree, the protective effect of complement deficiency, and the clinical outcome.     

Inhibition of gastrointestinal motility by MPTP via adrenergic and dopaminergic mechanisms

The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was injected intraperitoneally in mice and caused an acute inhibition (of over 60%) of gastrointestinal motility, which was measured by the transit of charcoal. This inhibition was not related to conversion of MPTP to MPP⁺. Administration of the -adrenergic blocker propranolol significantly reduced, but did not completely block, the effect of MPTP. The dopaminergic blocker haloperidol also partly reversed the effects of MPTP. When these blockers were administered together, the action of MPTP was fully blocked. The results indicate that the toxin acted by releasing catecholamines (presumably norepinephrine and dopamine), thereby inhibiting motility.Supported by a grant from the Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah.     

A direct inhibitory effect of erythromycin on rat urinary bladder smooth muscle

Erythromycin (EM) exerts a dual effect on the contractility of smooth muscle. An excitatory effect mediated via motilin receptors is expressed mainly in the smooth muscle of the stomach and duodenum. The other, a direct inhibitory effect mediated via an unknown mechanism, has been described in guinea-pig and human gallbladder, in the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig small intestine and in bronchial smooth muscle. In the present study, the effect of EM on the isolated urinary bladder of the rat was examined using isometric force measurements. The muscarinic agonist carbachol evoked contractions that were reduced by EM in a concentration-dependent manner; at 5 x 10(4) M by 46% [from 1.04+/-0.42 gm. to 0.56+/-0.22 gm., (p <0.001)] and at 10(-3) M by 57% [from 1.04+/-0.42 gm. to 0.45+/-0.20 gm., (p <0.001)]. The inhibitory effect of EM was not altered by the nerve blocker tetrodotoxin. Electric field stimulation of 0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, and 2 Hz contracted the urinary bladder. Erythromycin at 5 x 10(-4) M reduced the contractions evoked at 0.5 Hz by 15% [from 0.60+/-0.22 gm. to 0.51+/-0.20 gm., (p = 0.004)] and at 10(-3) M by 23% [from 0.60+/-0.22 gm. to 0.46+/-0.12 gm., (p <0.001)]. Erythromycin failed to affect the contractions evoked by bradykinin, phenylephrine or substance P. It is concluded that EM has a direct inhibitory effect on the rat urinary bladder smooth muscle.