Esophagectomy for carcinoma in the octogenarian

To correlate the findings on MRI with histopathology of metastatic melanoma, MRI was performed on 29 patients with 36 lesions, using spin-echo and inversion recovery sequences. Histopathologic examination of lesions was performed within 4 weeks of imaging. Lesions were categorized according to cell type and were also evaluated for the presence and extent of melanin, iron, and necrosis. These data were then correlated with the signal intensities of the lesions. Enhancement of lesions after injection of intravenous gadolinium was calculated and correlated to vascularity of the tumor. Melanin was present more frequently in lesions appearing hyperintense or with mixed signal intensity (12/15) than in those appearing hypo- or isointense (6/21) on the T1-weighted sequence. This trend was significant (P = .013). Also, more lesions appearing mixed, ie, having both hypo- and hyperintense components, contained melanin (15/23), as opposed to lesions that appeared to be only hyperintense (3/13) on the STIR sequence. There was no clear association between signal intensity and melanin content on the T2-weighted sequence. There was no significant association between the signal intensities on the MR images and the iron content, tumor size, or tumor cell type of these lesions. There was no clear association between enhancement after gadolinium injection and vascularity, as assessed by histology. The authors concluded in this study that T1 shortening and hypointensity on the STIR sequence seen in patients with metastatic melanoma are most closely related to the melanin content of the tumor.     

A comparison between low-magnitude voucher and buprenorphine medication contingencies in promoting abstinence from opioids and cocaine.

This study compared the relative efficacy of low-magnitude, contingent monetary vouchers, contingent buprenorphine medication, and standard counseling in promoting abstinence from illicit opioids and cocaine among opioid-dependent adults. Following an 8-week baseline period during which participants received buprenorphine maintenance treatment with no contingencies in place, 60 participants were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups for 12 weeks: (a) Participants in the voucher group earned vouchers for each opioid- and cocaine-negative urine sample, in accordance with an escalating schedule. Continuous abstinence resulted in voucher earnings equivalent to a total of $269, which participants could exchange for material reinforcers of their choice. (b) Participants in the medication contingency group received half their scheduled buprenorphine dose for clinic attendance and the other half for remaining abstinent from opiates and cocaine. Thus, they received only half of their scheduled dose on submission of an opioid- and/or cocaine-positive urine sample. (c) Participants in standard treatment did not receive programmed consequences contingent on urinalysis results. All participants were maintained with buprenorphine according to a 3-times-per-week dosing regimen and participated in behavioral drug counseling. Retention rate did not significantly differ across the groups; however, participants in the medication contingency group achieved significantly more weeks of continuous abstinence from opiates and cocaine compared with participants in the voucher group (Ms = 5.95 and 2.90, respectively). Results suggest that the use of medication-based contingencies in combination with behavioral therapy in promoting drug abstinence may have clinical utility. Limitations of the study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Human beta-glucuronidase. I. Recognition and uptake by animal fibroblasts suggests animal models for enzyme replacement studies

As part of an effort to develop an animal model for studies of uptake of human beta-glucuronidase, fibroblasts were established from primary explants of connective tissue from nine different animal species, and examined for their ability to take up human platelet beta-glucuronidase. Endogenous fibroblast beta-glucuronidase was inactivated by heating extracts to 65 degrees for 30 min. Human beta-glucuronidase was stable to this treatment. Uptake of human beta-glucuronidase by animal fibroblasts was measured as heat-stable beta-glucuronidase present in fibroblasts after exposure to partially purified human platelet beta-glucuronidase for 48 hr. Althought all animal fibroblasts examined exhibited some uptake capacity for human beta-glucuronidase, the uptake capacity of different animal fibroblasts varied over a 10-fold range. The uptake capacity of bovine fibroblasts was at least 80% that of human fibroblasts. Rat and hamster fibroblasts showed about half the uptake capacity of human fibroblasts. The rat fibroblasts resembled the human fibroblasts in the kinetics of uptake of hihg uptake (platelet) enzyme, poor uptake of human placental enzyme, and lack of appreciable turnover of enzyme taken up over 4 days. Heating extracts of rat organs containing added human beta-glucuronidase at 65 degrees selectively inactivated rat enzyme.     

Experimental liver injury: serial splenoportography and post-mortem angiography by means of Schlesinger''s mass

Out of 222 eyes with diabetic retinopathy, observed during a period of 6-42 months after argon laser photocoagulation, 66 (30%) became worse. The most common complication was a fast increase of previous existing macular oedema due to extensive and heavy macular treatment. Another complication was an increase of the neovascularisation due to the inadequate treatment of avascular zones and heavy-leaking areas and to the growth of the neovascular tuft after the feeder vessel technique without previous peripheral ablation. Retinal and vitreal haemorrhages were frequent in this group. Fibrous tissue formation and vascular pseudopapillitis were less frequent complications. Large coagulations outside the macular area (peripheral ablation) are necessary to destroy the zones of borderline nutritional supply, which probably are closely related to the new vessel formation. The feeder vessel technique must not be used without a peripheral ablation although it may be of great help in destroying prepapillary or large neovascularisation.     

Ischaemic myelopathy following aortic surgery or traumatic laceration of the aorta

Microcirculatory derangement, energy depletion and lipid peroxidation have been related to development of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the liver. This study investigates the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Three groups were evaluated: 1) sham-operated control (laparotomy only, no ischemia, no HBO), n=8; 2) ischemia control (1-h ischemia, 2-h reperfusion, no HBO), n=8; and 3) HBO pretreatment (100%, oxygen, 2.5 atm absolute, 90 min) plus ischemia (1-h ischemia, 2-h reperfusion), n=8. An in vivo microscope was used to investigate hepatic microcirculation. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were determined. In comparison with the ischemia control group, HBO significantly improved harmful insults following ischemia-reperfusion. HBO lessened adherent leukocyte count (6.00+/-1.31 cells/200 microm vs 11.38+/-2.88 cells/200 microm), and improved flow velocity (1.72+/-0.26 mm/s vs 0.83+/-0.19 mm/s) in post-sinusoidal venules. HBO also reduced MDA (1.04+/-0.24 nmol/mg protein vs 2.24+/-0.49 micromol/g protein), and increased ATP (2.03+/-0.17 micromol/g wet wt vs 0.73+/-0.11 micromol/g wet wt) levels. This study demonstrates that HBO before ischemia may ameliorate the ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver in the rat model.     

A function-oriented surface reconstruction framework for reverse engineering

Reverse engineering can be considered as the methodological process of analyzing and reconstructing a digital model of a physical asset. It has gained considerable interest with the advent of sophisticated sensors and data processing technologies hence becoming an important enabler for the product digital twin. However, while existing approaches to reverse engineering focus on the mere geometric reconstruction, this paper presents a novel paradigm called function-oriented surface reconstruction, that is capable of reconstructing the underlying part and surface function and thus outperforms existing methods. The applicability of the presented method is demonstrated through a case study of a gearbox.     

Effect of hyperglycemia on brain cell membrane function and energy metabolism during hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that hyperglycemia ameliorates changes in brain cell membrane function and preserves cerebral high energy phosphates during hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets. A total of 42 ventilated piglets were divided into 4 groups, normoglycemic/normoxic(group 1, n=9), hyperglycemic/normoxic(group 2, n=8), normoglycemic/hypoxic-ischemic(group 3, n=13) and hyperglycemic/hypoxic-ischemic(group 4, n=12) group. Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries and simultaneous breathing with 8% oxygen for 30 min. Hyperglycemia (blood glucose 350-400 mg/dl) was maintained for 90 min before and throughout hypoxia-ischemia using modified glucose clamp technique. Changes in cytochrome aa3 were continuously monitored using near infrared spectroscopy. Blood and CSF glucose and lactate were monitored. Na+, K+-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation products (conjugated dienes), tissue high energy phosphates (ATP and phosphocreatine) levels and brain glucose and lactate levels were determined biochemically in the cerebral cortex. During hypoxia-ischemia, glucose levels in blood and CSF were significantly elevated in hyperglycemic/hypoxic-ischemic group compared with normoglycemic/hypoxic-ischemic group, but lactate levels in blood and CSF were not different between two groups. At the end of hypoxia-ischemia of group 3 and 4, triangle up Cyt aa3, Na+, K+-ATPase activity, ATP and phosphocreatine values in brain were significantly decreased compared with normoxic groups 1 and 2, but were not different between groups 3 and 4. Levels of conjugated dienes and brain lactate were significantly increased in groups 3 and 4 compared with groups 1 and 2, and were significantly elevated in group 4 than in group 3 (0.30+/-0.11 vs. 0.09+/-0.02 micromol g-1 protein, 26.4+/-7.6 vs. 13.1+/-2.6 mmol kg-1, p<0.05). These findings suggest that hyperglycemia does not reduce the changes in brain cell membrane function and does not preserve cerebral high energy phosphates during hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets. We speculate that hyperglycemia may be harmful during hypoxia-ischemia due to increased levels of lipid peroxidation in newborn piglet.     

Effects of human oviductal cell coculture on various functional parameters of human spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human oviductal cells on various sperm functions in vitro. DESIGN: Controlled experimental laboratory study. SETTING: University gynecology unit. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing tubal ligation or hysterectomy and men who were visiting our subfertility clinics. INTERVENTION(S): Coculture of oviductal cells with human spermatozoa in vitro; sperm functions were determined after coculture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Capacitation, acrosome reaction, zona binding, and oocyte fusion. RESULT(S): Oviductal cells and conditioned medium induced more spermatozoa to capacitate than did control medium. Although there was no difference in the spontaneous acrosome reaction between any of the groups, the coculture group had a lower percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa after calcium ionophore challenge than did the control and conditioned medium groups. Coculture and conditioned medium treatment reduced the number of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida. The penetration rate and penetration index of the control spermatozoa in the zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test were significantly higher than that of the cocultured or conditioned medium-treated spermatozoa. CONCLUSION(S): Human oviductal cells promoted capacitation, stabilized the acrosome, and suppressed binding to the zona pellucida and fusion with the oocyte in vitro.