The load applied to the foot in a patellar ligament-bearing cast

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a patellar ligament-bearing cast reduces the load applied to a foot in a cast. In a study of ten people who had no history of gait abnormalities, disease involving the motor system, or deformities of the lower extremities, we compared the load applied to the plantar aspect of a foot in a cast (as detected with F-Scan computer-monitored pedobarographic sensors) with the total load that an extremity in a cast receives relative to the ground (as detected with force-plates). Six trials were completed three times by each person. The trials consisted of walking (1) while wearing regular shoes; (2) with a patellar ligament-bearing cast on one leg; (3) with a patellar ligament-bearing cast and an overlying soft knee brace, locked in full extension, on the leg; (4) with only a below-the-knee cast on the leg; (5) with a below-the-knee cast and an overlying knee brace, locked in full extension, on the leg; and (6) with only a knee brace, locked in full extension, on the leg. The loads at peak heel-strike for all three trials were averaged and normalized to body weight. The load on the plantar aspect of the foot, as compared with the total load, was reduced a mean of 11 percent when the patellar ligament-bearing cast was worn alone, and it was reduced a mean of 26 percent when the patellar ligament-bearing cast was used with an overlying knee brace locked in full extension. This difference was significant (p = 0.007). With the numbers available, we could not detect a significant difference between the reduction in load when a patellar ligament-bearing cast was worn alone compared with that when a below-the-knee cast was worn alone or between the reduction when a below-the-knee cast was worn alone compared with that when a below-the-knee cast was used with a knee brace (p = 0.3). In conclusion, we could not demonstrate a significant reduction in the load on the foot when a patellar ligament-bearing cast was used in a traditional fashion; however, a significant (p = 0.007) reduction in load was found when a knee brace locked in full extension was worn in addition to the patellar ligament-bearing cast.     

Postural control--a comparison between patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency and healthy individuals

Postural control in the sagittal plane was evaluated in 22 patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency and the result was compared to that of a control group of 20 uninjured subjects. Measurement of the body sway was done on a fixed and sway-referenced force plate in both single-limb and two-limb stance, with the eyes open and closed, respectively. Further, an analysis of the postural reactions to perturbations backwards and forwards, respectively, was made in single-limb stance. The results demonstrated statistically significant deficits of the postural control in the patient group compared to the control group, but also within the patient group. There was a significantly higher body sway within the patient group when standing on a stable support surface on the injured limb than standing on the uninjured limb with the eyes open, but no difference with the eyes closed. When standing on a stable support surface, there was a significantly higher body sway in the patient group standing on the injured leg than in the control group, both with eyes open and closed. The patient group also showed a significantly impaired postural control compared to the control group when standing on the uninjured leg with the eyes closed. There was no difference between the groups in the two-limb stance. When standing on the sway-referenced support surface, the patient group had a significantly larger body sway than the control group when the eyes were open, but there was no significant difference between the groups with the eyes closed. The measurement of the postural corrective responses to perturbations backwards and forwards showed that the reaction time measured from the initiation of the force plate translation, and the amplitude of the body sway was significantly greater in the patient group than in the control group. We conclude that patients with a continuing chronic ACL insufficiency several years after injury have an impaired postural control in the antero-posterior direction in single-limb stance on their injured leg. They also show a greater body sway and a prolonged reaction time when subjected to antero-posterior perturbations when standing on their injured leg.     

E-cadherin and catenins: molecules with versatile roles in normal and neoplastic epithelial cell biology

Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens was studied in the brains of 10 healthy sheep 2 months to 5 years old and 13 sheep infected with visna virus by intracerebral inoculation and killed one and 6 months post infection (p.i.). In healthy sheep there was prominent expression of class I, mainly on endothelial cells but also detected on ependyma, choroid plexus and in the leptomeninges. Class II expression was sparse. It was observed on perivascular cells, in choroid plexus, leptomeninges and on microglial cells in the white matter. No definite increase with age in the constitutive expression of class I and II was observed, confirming that we are dealing with a true constitutive expression. In visna-infected sheep a considerable induction of MHC antigens on microglia was observed, which correlated with severity of lesions and was mainly found in or adjacent to inflammatory infiltrates of the white matter. Increase in class II antigen expression was detected in all sheep but class I only in sheep with the most severe lesions 6 months p.i., an indication of a higher threshold for induction of class I than class II antigens on microglia. Few cells expressed viral antigens, indicating that direct immune-mediated destruction of infected cells plays a minor role in evolution of lesions. Since the preferential induction of MHC antigens on microglia in the white matter correlated with the lesion pattern, activated microglia may play a considerable role in the pathogenesis of lesions.     

Characterization of expression of phosphofructokinase isoforms in isolated rat pancreatic islets and purified beta cells and cloning and expression of the rat phosphofructokinase-A isoform

We prepared polymers having a phospholipid polar group, poly [omega-methacryloyloxyalkyl phosphorylcholine (MAPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate(BMA)], as new biomedical materials and evaluated their blood compatibility with attention to protein adsorption and platelet adhesion. The total amount of proteins adsorbed on the polymer surface from human plasma was determined, and the distribution of adsorbed proteins on the plasma-contacting surface was analyzed. The amount of proteins adsorbed on every poly (MAPC-co-BMA) was small compared with that observed on polymers without the phospholipid polar group. However, there was no significant difference in the amount of adsorbed proteins on the poly(MAPC-co-BMA) even when the methylene chain length between the phospholipid polar group and the backbone in the MAPC moiety was altered. Platelet adhesion on the polymer surface from a platelet suspension in a buffered solution was evaluated with and without plasma treatment on the surface. When a rabbit platelet suspension was brought into contact with the poly(BMA) surface after treatment with plasma, many platelets adhered and aggregated. However, a reduced amount of platelet adhered on the poly(BMA) was found in the case of direct contact with the platelet suspension. On the other hand, the poly(MAPC-co-BMA)s could inhibit platelet adhesion under both conditions. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the proteins adsorbed on the surface play an important role in determining the platelet adhesion and suppression of the protein adsorption on the surface, which is one of the most significant ways of inhibiting platelet adhesion.     

Effects of feeder cells (human cancer cell lines) on the development of mouse embryos by co-culture

The participation of apical membranes of uterine epithelial cells in the process of blastocyst adhesion makes them an interesting object in the study of changes occurring during early pregnancy. In the study of these changes alkaline phosphatase (AIP), a typical brush border enzyme, was chosen for demonstration with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) by means of a backscatter detector. Thus the temporal and spatial pattern of enzyme activity on the uterine luminal surface was made visible with lead salt procedures. AIP activity was shown to be located on apical membranes and microvilli of endometrial epithelial cells with high activity on day 2 of pregnancy decreasing to virtually no activity on day 5. This decrease in overall AIP activity was shown to be asymmetrical with respect to the uterine cavity. It begins on the antimesometrial half of the uterine lining on day 2. A distribution pattern demarcating a presumptive implantation site along the uterine horn was not found. However, on day 5 of pregnancy, a characteristic pattern of surface folds was found, dividing the uterine horn into 'implantation segments'. In addition, SEM investigation revealed a marked variation of AIP activity from one individual cell to the next on day 2 of pregnancy resulting in a mosaic-like pattern. This pattern is lost with the decrease of AIP activity on day 5. Thus heterogeneity of uterine epithelial cells in AIP activity is apparently a feature of nonreceptive epithelium in contrast to the homogeneous epithelium on day 5. It is proposed that epithelial cell homogeneity could be a marker for uterine receptivity.     

The utility of three-phase bone scintigraphy in the assessment of fractured carpal scaphoid

Thirty-seven joints in 36 patients with a fractured carpal scaphoid were evaluated by three-phase bone scintigraphy. They were classified into two groups according to their progress. Some were in good clinical condition and some in a non-union condition. Increased blood flow in the radial arteries and ample perfusion on and around the scaphoid bones on blood flow images suggested a good clinical course. The activity and the effectiveness of remodeling correlated well with the degree of scaphoid uptake on blood pool images taken more than seven days after the injury. Scaphoid uptake was more localized or there was almost none on blood pool images in cases with nearly complete recovery while it was amply visualized on static images. Blood pool images were indispensable for analyzing lesions and evaluating the clinical course. Two typical findings of scaphoid fractures were found on both blood pool and static images. One was diffusely increased scaphoid uptake seen in cases with a good clinical course, and the other was decreased uptake at proximal fragments seen in cases with non-union. It is concluded that three-phase bone scintigraphy provides useful information for evaluating the process of scaphoid fractures which cannot be obtained by means of conventional bone scintigraphy.     

Laparoscopic treatment of duodenal diverticulum

A patient with a history of intermittent and intense pain in the upper abdomen secondary to an ulcer of a duodenal diverticulum underwent laparoscopic treatment. The diverticulum measured 2.5 cm in diameter and it was located on the lateral wall of the second portion of the duodenum. The diverticulum was inverted and the duodenal muscular defect was closed with interrupted sutures. Ambulation and a clear liquid diet was started on the same day as the operation, and the patient was discharged on the first postoperative day.     

Direct and indirect T cell priming by dendritic cell vaccines

BACKGROUND: Preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that locally administered opioid agonists produce an antihyperalgesic effect through peripheral opioid receptors in inflamed tissue. Loperamide, a mu opioid agonist, does not cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore lacks central effects after systemic administration. The authors defined the effects of topical loperamide on a thermal injury-induced hyperalgesia. METHODS: In halothane-anesthetized rats, thermal injury was induced by placing the plantar surface of a hindpaw on a hot plate (52.0+/-1 degrees C) for 45 s. Loperamide was prepared in a cream emulsion (ADL 2-1294B, 0.5%, 1.7%, and 5.0%). The drug was applied as follows: before or after injury on the injured paw and on a normal paw and after injury on the injured paw of morphine-tolerant rats. Paw withdrawal latency to a radiant heat source was measured to determine the nociceptive threshold. A pharmacokinetic study was performed with the use of 14C-labeled drug. RESULTS: Thermal injury yielded a significant thermal hyperalgesia. Loperamide, but not the vehicle, posttreatment on the injured paw resulted in a dose-dependent antihyperalgesic effect, which was reversible with naloxone (1 mg/kg given intraperitoneally). Treatment with loperamide on the normal paw produced short-lasting hypoalgesia, but the effect was not reversible with naloxone. Pretreatment at 1 and 2 but not 4 h with loperamide was effective. A rightward shift of the dose-response curve was observed in rats made tolerant to systemic morphine with subcutaneous morphine pellets. No rats with drug treatment displayed any evident behavior changes (eg., loss of corneal or pinna reflexes or change in ambulation). Drug activity in the tissue revealed an elimination half life of 2.3 h and negligible concentration in the blood. CONCLUSIONS: Loperamide, a peripherally acting mu opioid agonist, applied topically at the site of inflammation possesses a significant antihyperalgesic action without any systemic side effects.     

Gallium-67 scanning for carcinoma of the lung

Gallium-67 citrate scanning was prospectively evaluated in 55 patients who had lung lesions suspected to be primary carcinoma on chest x-ray films and in whom subsequent histologic diagnosis was obtained. Of 47 patients with histologically proved carcinoma of the lung, 44 (94 per cent) had a positive 67Ga scan. No patient with a positive scan had a benign lesion, so that the positive scan accuracy rate was 100 per cent. All 8 patients with a benign lesion and 3 patients with a malignant lesion had negative scans, for a negative scan accurary rate of 72 per cent for benign lesions. These results give statistical validity for the usefulness of the 67Ga scan in diagnosing carcinoma of the lung (p less than 0.001). Tumor cell type had little effect on the sensitivity of 67Ga scan. The 67Ga scan was equally useful in the evaluation of peripheral and central lesions. There was little difference amount T1, T2, and T3 classified lesions in their ability to take up 67Ga. The 67Ga scan was competitive with mediastinoscopy in assessing mediastinal lymph node metastases and provides a noninvasive method of assessing hilar lymph node metastases. There was a good correlation between the clinical staging of patients with lung cancer based on a chest x-ray film and 67Ga scanning and the staging after surgical treatment based on the histology of the resected specimens.     

Displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus treated non-operatively. Clinical results and analysis of motion and ground-reaction and temporal forces

Twenty-seven patients who had a unilateral displaced intra-articular fracture of the calcaneus were managed with a cast instead of with reduction or an operation. The clinical result after a mean of six years (range, two to ten years) was excellent in five patients, good in five, fair in seven, and poor in ten. The sixteen patients who were re-examined for this study and for whom the gait was analyzed demonstrated abnormalities in ground-reaction force with regard to vertical force (F3) and temporal force factors (T2, T3, T6, and T9). Analysis of temporal and distance factors showed a trend toward a decreased proportion of single-limb support on the involved side. Three-dimensional motion analysis of the ankle and hindfoot was performed with electrogoniometers as the subject walked on a level surface, on a 10-degree side-slope, and up and down stairs. Motion was decreased in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes during walking on level ground and on a side-sloping surface. Significant decreases in motion in these planes were also seen during walking up and down stairs. Although these patients did not have a subsequent reconstructive operation, most had a residual functional deficit.     

Effects of heparin-induced non-esterified free fatty acid on minimal model-derived insulin sensitivity in individuals with varying degrees of glucose intolerance

We report a case of pineocytoma associated with an unusually large cyst. A 15-year-old boy was admitted with a complaint of intermittent headache. Neurological examination was normal except for bilateral papilledema. CT scan showed triventricular hydrocephalus and a large mass. A solid portion of the tumor in the pineal and retrothalamic areas was isodense, and contained massive calcification on CT. A huge cystic portion extended far into the infratentorial, supracellebellar area. On MR, the solid tumor showed isointensity on T1-WI and iso- to high intensity on T2-WI, and was enhanced by Gd-DTPA. After a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, the tumor was partially removed through an occipital supratentorial approach. Histological examination revealed a pineocytoma with neuronal and astrocytic differentiations. Reviewing the literature, it is most unusual to find a pineocytoma associated with a huge cyst as was seen in this case.     

Different signaling pathway between sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid in Xenopus oocytes: functional coupling of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor to PLC-xbeta in Xenopus oocytes

We investigated the influence of the growth surface on the direction of Xenopus spinal neurite growth in the presence of a dc electric field of physiological magnitude. The direction of galvanotropism was determined by the substratum; neurites grew toward the negative electrode (cathode) on untreated Falcon tissue culture plastic or on laminin substrata, which are negatively charged, but neurites growing on polylysine, which is positively charged, turned toward the positive electrode (anode). Growth was oriented randomly on all substrata without an electric field. We tested the hypothesis that the charge of the growth surface was responsible for reversed galvanotropism on polylysine by growing neurons on tissue culture dishes with different net surface charges. Although neurites grew cathodally on both Plastek substrata, the frequency of anodal turning was greater on dishes with a net positive charge (Plastek C) than on those with a net negative charge (Plastek M). The charge of the growth surface therefore influenced the frequency of anodal galvanotropism but a reversal in surface charge was insufficient to reverse galvanotropism completely, possibly because of differences in the relative magnitude of the substratum charge densities. The influence of substratum adhesion on galvanotropism was considered by growing neurites on a range of polylysine concentrations. Growth cone to substratum adhesivity was measured using a blasting assay. Adhesivity and the frequency of anodal turning were graded over the range of polylysine concentrations (0 = 0.1 < 1 < 10 = 100 microg/ml). The direction of neurite growth in an electric field is therefore influenced by both substratum charge and growth cone-to-substratum adhesivity. These data are consistent with the idea that spatial or temporal variation in the expression of adhesion molecules in embryos may interact with naturally occurring electric fields to enhance growth cone pathfinding.     

Severe hyponatremia and inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion following ecstasy use

An 8-month-old girl with SCID presented with severe bronchiolitis. She received an HLA-identical sibling BMT without conditioning or GVHD prophylaxis. She deteriorated despite mechanical ventilation but had normal cardiac, hepatic and renal function. ECMO was instituted on day +3 and subsequent improvement was seen concurrently with emergence of CD4+ cells on day +11. She was taken off ECMO on day +18 and suffered a left-sided stroke evidenced by a dense left hemiplegia. She was extubated on day +25 and weaned from supplemental oxygen on day +36 and at day +100 has recovered strength in her extremities. This is the first successful use of ECMO as a bridge to engraftment in a BMT patient.     

Small increase of CR1 and CR3 by C5a-receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus

One of the anaphylatoxins, C5a, is known to increase the expression of the complement receptors, CR1 and CR3, on PMNs which play important roles in the phagocytosis. We measured the expression of these receptors before and after the stimulation with C5a and C5a-receptors (C5aR) on PMNs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PMNs from 16 patients and 11 normal controls were tested. All the patients with SLE were administered with prednisolone orally and were in the inactive stage. The CR1 expression in SLE was significantly weak (p < 0.01) before and after stimulation with 4.55 nM (50 micrograms/ml) of C5a. There was no significant difference of CR3 expression before stimulation. However, after the stimulation with C5a, the increase of CR3 on PMNs from SLE was significantly small (p < 0.01). C5aR on PMNs showed no difference between the two groups. However, the expression of C5aR was significantly suppressed in patients treated with a high dosage of prednisolone (> = 10 mg/day) compared to those with a low dosage of prednisolone (< 10 mg/day). There was no significant difference of CR1 and CR3 expression between these groups. It is concluded that the increase of CR1 and CR3 on PMNs by C5a in small in SLE, of which impaired increase is not due to C5aR on PMNs, and that the expression of C5aR is suppressed by prednisolone.     

Measuring Soil Pressure on a Buried Model Structure for the Validation of Quantitative Frameworks

The paper presents the methodologies and results of an experimental study aimed at measuring the soil contact pressures which develop on a buried structure as it interacts with the surrounding soil under load. The study has been based on measurements made on model structures tested in a pressure chamber filled with a fine uniform sand. The buried model structure was a very rigid right cylinder designed such that it could be fitted with roofs of different thicknesses. The structure bottom and roof were instrumented with newly designed and constructed soil pressure cells based on the null response concept. The device is unaffected by the issues that affect the use of traditional soil pressure cells. The development of pressure on the structure was measured as uniform pressure was applied to the soil surface. The results illustrate the effect of roof stiffness on the development of pressure at the roof center. The midroof pressure was seen to increase with roof stiffness, however the development of pressure was also seen to be dependent upon the actual deflection. In the case of a flexible roof it was seen that the development of contact pressure is a nonlinear function of the pressure applied at the soil surface and is highly dependent upon stress history. In contrast, it was seen that pressure on a stiff roof develops as a linear function of pressure applied at the soil surface and is less dependent of stress history. The results of the model tests together with soil stiffness data supplied in the paper will be useful in the calibration and validation of numerical and analytical frameworks.     

Development of an amperometric flow injection immunoanalysis system for the determination of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water

An amperometric flow injection immunoanalysis (FIIA) system based on an immunoreactor with immobilized biocomponents on a silica surface has been developed for the determination of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). In the antigen coating mode the hapten was immobilized and monoclonal primary antibody against 2,4-D together with alkaline phosphatase (AP)-labelled secondary antibody were used as sensing elements in a titration assay. In the antibody coating mode a biotinylated monoclonal antibody was immobilized on the surface of the immunoreactor and a 2,4-D-AP-conjugate was used for detection. For electrochemical measurements p-aminophenol enzymatically generated from p-aminophenyl phosphate was oxidized at a carbon working electrode at +150 mV versus Ag/AgCl. The system enabled the determination of 2,4-D in drinking water samples in the range from 0.2 to 70 micrograms/l. The whole system was computer controlled with a measuring time of 12 min for one determination.     

Nontuberculous mycobacteriosis as a complication of the Swyer-James syndrome

The chest radiograph of a 35-year-old man with fatigue, exertional dyspnoea and haemoptyses revealed a cavity in the left upper lobe and a shrunken left lung with radiolucency greater than that on the right. Acid-fast rods in sputum were identified as Mycobacterium kansasii on culture. Scintigraphy showed a 9% residual perfusion on the left and abnormal ventilation, compatible with Swyer-James syndrome. This had favoured the development of a mycobacterial infection. There was also a decrease in ciliary function (rate of 4-7 Hz, normal: 10-11). Treatment, begun when tuberculosis had been suspected, was after sensitivity tests changed to a combination of rifampicin (600 mg), ethambutol (1600 mg) and protionamide (500 mg) daily. There was marked regression of the findings within 4 weeks, but treatment was prematurely stopped after 11 months. Two years later there was a recurrence which again responded well to the same drug regimen with additional sulphamethoxazole (1600 mg/d).     

The use of fluorogenic substrates to measure fungal presence and activity in soil

Our objective was to determine if 4-methylumbelliferyl-labelled enzyme substrates could be used to detect and quantify specific components of chitinase and cellulase activities as specific indicators of the presence and activity of fungal biomass. The fluorogenic substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl (MUF) N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide and MUF beta-D-lactoside were used for the detection and quantification of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) (NAGase) and endo 1,4-beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4)/cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91) (CELase), respectively. Culture screenings on solid media showed a widespread ability to produce NAGase among a taxonomically diverse selection of fungi on media with and without added chitin. NAGase activity was expressed only in a limited number of bacteria and on media supplemented with chitin. The CELase activity was observed only in a limited number of fungi and bacteria. Bacterial CELase activity was expressed on agar media containing a cellulose-derived substrate. In soil samples, NAGase activity was significantly correlated with estimates of fungal biomass, based on the content of two fungus-specific indicator molecules, 18:2 omega 6 phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and ergosterol. CELase activity was significantly correlated with the PLFA-based estimate of fungal biomass in the soil, but no correlation was found with ergosterol-based estimates of fungal biomass.     

Oral imagery and autonomic arousal in social isolation.

Electrodermal activity of 120 male Ss high and low on Rorschach oral-dependent responses was monitored in 1 of 3 conditions while the S was in a soundproof chamber for 40 min: alone with no task, alone working on a clerical task, and together with a male confederate, both working independently on the clerical task. Oral-dependent Ss placed in the chamber with the confederate showed fewer electrodermal increases over time than orals sitting alone or nonorals either alone or with the confederate. On the clerical task there was a strong main effect of orality, with nonorals showing more accuracy than orals. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antitubercular activity of lomefloxacin in an experiment

The effect of lomefloxacin was studied on mice with experimental infection due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The antibiotic was administered in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. It was shown that the use of lomefloxacin for a month provided a lower death rate of the animals with progressing acute generalized tuberculosis, a lower level of the lesions in the internal organs and a lower number of the Mycobacterium isolates from them. The efficacy of the treatment depended on the drug dose. When lomefloxacin was used in a dose of 200 mg/kg, the survival rate was much higher and the number of the epithelial unicellular granulomas in the tissue of the lung and spleen was markedly decreased while with the lower dose the indices did not differ from those in the control.