Drug therapy of hemiballism. Review of the literature and personal observations

Hemiballism is a rare hyperkinetic disorder which is characterized by irregular vigorous rotatory movements of the limbs of one side of the body. The disabling and exhausting movements with their high risk of severe injuries require an acute drug treatment. However, there are no common guidelines for the treatment of this disorder. Therefore we reviewed the available literature to establish a concept for a rational symptomatic drug treatment. Furthermore, own observations in 6 patients with hemiballism of different origins are reported.     

Efficient computer implementation of the renormalized coupled-cluster methods: The R-CCSD[T], R-CCSD(T), CR-CCSD[T], and CR-CCSD(T) approaches

The recently proposed renormalized (R) and completely renormalized (CR) coupled-cluster (CC) methods of the CCSD[T] and CCSD(T) types have been implemented using recursively generated intermediates and fast matrix multiplication routines. The details of this implementation, including the complete set of equations that have been used in writing efficient computer codes, memory requirements, and typical CPU timings, are discussed. The R-CCSD[T], R-CCSD(T), CR-CCSD[T], and CR-CCSD(T) computer codes and similar codes for the standard CC methods, including the LCCD, CCD, CCSD, CCSD[T], and CCSD(T) approaches, have been incorporated into the gamess package. Information about the main features of this new set of CC programs is provided.     

Use of electrophoretic karyotyping and DNA-DNA hybridization in yeast identification

The behavioral disturbances of 16 nursing home patients with a history of sundowning behaviour and dementia were treated with light therapy instead of psychopharmacological medication. After the withdrawal of the before established medication a very individual, heterogenous deterioration of the symptoms was noted. A significant improvement of the behaviour was not found by light therapy in any patient. The problems in practical handling and possible consequences of further investigation are discussed.     

Influence of To?pa Peat Preparation on the phagocytic activity and bactericidal properties of granulocytes in healthy volunteers

It was found, that To?pa Peat Preparation (TPP) administered to healthy volunteers in doses of 100-300 mg/day during 14 days evoked the stimulation of the phagocytic and bactericidal activity of the granulocytes. The dose of 600 mg/day causes only a transient and insignificant increase of phagocytic and bactericidal properties of the granulocytes.     

Immunoreactivity and expression of amylin in gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors

Amylin was isolated from human insulinomas, but there has been only preliminary data regarding whether this peptide can also be detected in other types of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors. In the present study, immunohistochemical staining of 87 gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors demonstrated amylin immunoreactivity in 21.8% of the neoplasmas. Thirteen of 15 insulinomas, three of 21 gastrinomas, two of 29 nonfunctioning tumors, and one of 18 carcinoids were amylin-immunoreactive. Seventeen of the 19 amylin-immunoreactive tumors were primarily located in the pancreas, but two tumors were found in the intestine. Measurements of amylin messenger RNA expression in a few tumors revealed amylin synthesis in these tumors. Amylin immunoreactivity did not correlate with invasion and metastasis. However, the rate of curative resections was significantly higher in amylin-immunoreactive tumors. These results demonstrate for the first time that amylin immunoreactivity is not restricted to insulinomas and can also occur rarely in endocrine tumors of the intestine.     

Porphyromonas-like gram-negative rods in naturally occurring periodontitis in dogs

A total of 259 Gram-negative Porphyromonas-like rods isolated from subgingival plaque samples of 16 family-owned dogs with naturally occurring periodontitis were characterized phenotypically by biochemical reactions, metabolic end products and enzymatic activities (API-ZYMTM, RoscoTM). Four distinct groups were found. Group A isolates (63) were asaccharolytic, lipase negative, trypsin positive and produced phenylacetic acid (PAA) from peptone-yeast extract glucose broth. Unlike P. gingivalis strains they were catalase positive. Group B isolates (42) differed from those of group A by a positive lipase reaction and from those of group D by failing to ferment sugars. Group C isolates (88) were asaccharolytic and did not produce PAA. They were alpha-fucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) and trypsin negative, resembling P. endodontalis, but unlike human isolates, they were catalase positive. Subgroup C.1 isolates (6) differed from those of parent group C by producing minor amounts of PAA, and subgroup C.2 isolates (12) were beta-NAG positive. Group D isolates (46) were weakly fermentative, lipase, catalase and trypsin positive, and produced PAA. They resembled the B (P.) salivosus type strain which, in our hands, fermented weakly glucose, lactose and mannose. Two isolates could not be assigned to any of the previous groups.     

A major isoform of the maize plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase: characterization and induction by auxin in coleoptiles

The plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase has been proposed to play important transport and regulatory roles in plant physiology, including its participation in auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments. This enzyme is encoded by a family of genes differing in tissue distribution, regulation, and expression level. A major expressed isoform of the maize PM H(+)-ATPase (MHA2) has been characterized. RNA gel blot analysis indicated that MHA2 is expressed in all maize organs, with highest levels being in the roots. In situ hybridization of sections from maize seedlings indicated enriched expression of MHA2 in stomatal guard cells, phloem cells, and root epidermal cells. MHA2 mRNA was induced threefold when nonvascular parts of the coleoptile segments were treated with auxin. This induction correlates with auxin-triggered proton extrusion by the same part of the segments. The PM H(+)-ATPase in the vascular bundies does not contribute significantly to auxin-induced acidification, is not regulated by auxin, and masks the auxin effect in extracts of whole coleoptile segments. We conclude that auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments most often occurs in the nonvascular tissue and is mediated, at least in part, by increased levels of MHA2.