Pigeon basal ganglia: insights into the neuroanatomy underlying telencephalic sensorimotor processes in birds

This paper reviews the organization of the avian and mammalian striatum. The striatum receives input from virtually the entire rostrocaudal and mediolateral expanse of the cerebral cortex. The corticostriatal projections appear to be glutamatergic, forming excitatory synapses in the striatum. Another major projection to the avian striatum that also appears to be glutamatergic stems from a set of nuclei in the dorsal zone of the avian thalamus that are comparable to the mammalian intralaminar, mediodorsal, and midline nuclei. Furthermore, the striatum receives a massive projection from dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra in the midbrain tegmentum. In return, the midbrain tegmentum receives a direct GABAergic/substance P-ergic/ dynorphinergic projection from the striatum, as well as an indirect one formed by GABAergic/substance P-ergic/ dynorphinergic and GABA-ergic/enkephalinergic striatal neurons projecting to the pallidum in the first step, and pallidal GABAergic/LANT6/parvalbumin neurons projecting to the midbrain tegmentum in the second step. In addition to its projection neurons, the striatum possesses GABAergic and cholinergic interneurons. One motor output pathway of the striatum runs via the pallidum and dorsal thalamic ventral tier nulei to the motor cortex. In addition to this pathway, birds possess a major descending pathway from the basal ganglia to the tectum via the GABAergic nucleus spiriformis lateralis in the pretectum. On hodological and topological grounds, similar nuclei, although not GABAergic, can be found in mammals. Finally, an other striatal motor output is formed by a sequential GABAergic pathway from the basal ganglia via the substantia nigra to the tectum. In conclusion, it appears that the organization of the avian and mammalian basal ganglia is similar rather than different.     

Plasma Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein expression in vinyl chloride monomer workers in Taiwan

Vinyl chloride (VC) workers are known to be at risk for development of liver angiosarcoma, a rare tumor. Previously, more than 80% of VC workers with liver angiosarcoma have been found to have an Asp-13 c-Ki-ras oncogene mutation, and more than 50% of VC-exposed workers without liver tumors were found to have Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein in their plasma. Some workers in Taiwan had also been exposed to VC, and some have contracted liver tumors. In this study, we used enhanced chemiluminescence Western blotting to detect Asp13-p21-Ki-ras in the sera of VC-exposed workers in Taiwan. There were 14 of 113 (12.4%) VC workers positive for the Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein in plasma, but 0 of 18 controls were positive. There were 10 of 69 (14.5%) plasma-positives among the more highly exposed (> 1000 ppm-months) workers and 4 of 48 (9.1%) plasma-positives among the lesser exposed (< or = 1000 ppm-months). Compared with the unexposed controls, the odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals [CI]) for plasma-positivity were 4.11 (95% CI = 0.21, 80.4) in the lower-exposed workers and 6.53 (95% CI = 0.37, 116.9) in the higher-exposed workers, and there was a linear trend between exposure and plasma-positivity (P = 0.073). After adjusting for age and drinking status, the odds ratios (and 95% CIs) were 1.64 (95% CI = 0.17, 15.8), and 2.65 (95% CI = 0.42, 16.8), respectively, and there was a significant linear trend between exposure and plasma-positivity (P = 0.048). In summary, Asp13-Ki-ras oncoprotein can be found in the plasma of VC workers in Taiwan, and a significant dose-response relationship exists between plasma oncoprotein expression and VC exposure.     

The predictive value of electrodiagnostic studies in carpal tunnel syndrome

In recent years, electrodiagnostic studies have become an expected component in the work up and evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome. We conducted a retrospective review of 460 carpal tunnel decompressions to determine whether the accuracy of diagnosis and the prediction of therapeutic outcome could be related to the positivity and severity of findings on preoperative electrical studies. The 349 patients (460 hands) were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of hands with the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome but with normal electrodiagnostic studies (n = 62); in group 2 the hands had a clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome with confirmatory electrodiagnostic studies (n = 398). The number and distribution of signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome were not statistically different between these two groups. There was not a statistically significant difference in the success rate of surgery or the incidence of complications. The similarities between these two groups suggests that the distinction between them (the positivity of electrodiagnostic studies) is an artificial one and that the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is sufficient to predict the presence of the disease, as well as outcome of surgery. On the basis of these data, strict adherence to electrodiagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis will exclude 13 percent of the patients with legitimate carpal tunnel syndrome from receiving appropriate therapy.     

Prospective, randomized trial of prolonged intracoronary urokinase infusion for chronic total occlusions in native coronary arteries

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of three dosing regimens of intracoronary urokinase for facilitated angioplasty of chronic total native coronary artery occlusions. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronically occluded (>3 months) native coronary arteries is associated with low initial success secondary to an inability to pass the guide wire beyond the occlusion. METHODS: Patients were enrolled if a chronic total occlusion >3 months old could not be crossed with standard angioplasty equipment. Of the 101 patients enrolled, 41 had successful guide wire passage and were excluded from urokinase treatment. The remaining 60 patients were randomized to receive one of three intracoronary dosing regimens of urokinase over 8 h (group A = 0.8 million U; group B = 1.6 million U; group C = 3.2 million U), and angioplasty was again attempted after completion of the urokinase infusion in 58 patients. RESULTS: Coronary angioplasty was successful in 32 patients (53%) (group A 52%, group B 50%, group C 59%, p = 0.86). This study had a 90% power to detect at least a 50% difference between dosing groups at alpha 0.05. Bleeding complications requiring blood transfusion did not differ significantly among the dosing groups (A 0%, B 15%, C 6%, p = 0.14), although major bleeding episodes were less common in group A (p < 0.05). There were no major procedural or in-hospital complications. Angiographic follow-up in 69% of the patients with successful angioplasty revealed target vessel patency in 91% but an angiographic restenosis rate of 59%. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged supraselective intracoronary infusion of urokinase can be safely administered and may facilitate angioplasty of chronic total occlusions. Lower doses of urokinase are equally effective and result in fewer bleeding complications than do higher dosage regimens. Vessel patency is frequently maintained, but restenosis remains a problem.     

Antipneumococcal activities of levofloxacin and clarithromycin as determined by agar dilution, microdilution, E-test, and disk diffusion methodologies

The activities of levofloxacin and clarithromycin against 199 penicillin- and macrolide-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci were tested by agar and microdilution methods in air and by disk diffusion and E-test methods in air and CO2. For levofloxacin, >/=99. 0% of strains were susceptible at /=17 mm, regardless of incubation in air or CO2. Although zone sizes were smaller and E-test MICs were higher for clarithromycin in CO2 than those in air, category differences were minor, and susceptibility rates for clarithromycin were similar to those obtained by agar and microdilution in air (range, 76.9 to 80.9% by all methods). For clarithromycin, adjustment of breakpoints based upon distribution of results resulted in susceptibility rates which were similar by all methods (75.8 to 76.9% susceptible, 0 to 1.5% intermediate, 22.6 to 23.1% resistant). Minor discrepancies were obtained with levofloxacin for one strain (0.5%) by microdilution and two strains (1.0%) by disk diffusion in CO2. For clarithromycin, minor discrepancies were found in three strains (1.5%) by microdilution, seven strains (3.5%) by agar dilution, four strains (2.0%) by E-test in air, six strains (3.0%) by disk diffusion in air, and five strains (2.5%) by disk diffusion in CO2. Major discrepancies occurred with levofloxacin in one strain (0.5%) by microdilution but were not found with clarithromycin. Very major discrepancies were not seen with levofloxacin, but occurred with clarithromycin in five strains (2.5%) by microdilution, three strains (1.5%) by agar dilution, two strains (1.0%) by E-test in air, eight strains (4.0%) by disk diffusion in air, and one strain (0.5%) by disk diffusion in CO2.     

Expression of the Solfolobus acidocaldarius Rieske iron sulfur protein II (SOXF) with the correctly inserted [2FE-2S] cluster in Escherichia coli

The Rieske protein II (Schmidt et al., 1996, FEBS Lett. 388, 43-46) from the thermoacidophilic crenarcheon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (DSM 639) was expressed in E. coli cells. The full length protein was strictly bound to the E. coli membranes and could only be removed by detergent treatment indicating the presence of a membrane anchor. The iron sulfur cluster was correctly inserted into a fraction of the full length protein and much more effectively into a soluble form created by the deletion of the 45 N-terminal amino acids. The soluble form of the protein displayed the typical spectroscopic properties of a respiratory Rieske protein. The midpoint potential was +375 mV determined by CD redox potentiometry. The presented data demonstrate that the structure of the recombinant protein is very similar or identical to the authentic protein making this a powerful model system for the studies of Rieske proteins by site directed mutagenesis.     

The efficacy of oral appliances in the treatment of persistent sleep apnea after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

Twenty-four patients who failed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had an adjustable oral (Herbst) appliance made to treat the persistent apnea. Six patients discontinued the device prior to sleep evaluation. Eighteen patients had polysomnographic evaluations at baseline, post-UPPP, and with the Herbst appliance in place. The apnea-hypopnea index baseline (AHI) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) nadir were 42.3+/-6.1 and 83.6+/-1.8%, respectively. There was no significant change in either parameter with surgery. With the oral appliance, the AHI fell to 15.3+/-4.4 (p < or = 0.01) and the SaO2 nadir increased to 87.9+/-1.2% (p < or = 0.05). Ten of the patients had control of the OSA with the Herbst appliance with a fall in the AHI to < 10. There were, in addition, two partial responders as defined by an AHI of <20 and a >50% fall in AHI compared with baseline and post-UPPP values. All but one of the responders and partial responders had complete resolution of subjective symptoms of daytime sleepiness with the appliance. An adjustable oral appliance appears to be an effective mode of therapy to control OSA after an unsuccessful UPPP.     

Perception of solar UVB radiation by phytophagous insects: behavioral responses and ecosystem implications

Most of our present knowledge about the impacts of solar UVB radiation on terrestrial ecosystems comes from studies with plants. Recently, the effects of UVB on the growth and survival of consumer species have begun to receive attention, but very little is known about UVB impacts on animal behavior. Here we report that manipulations of the flux of solar UVB received by field-grown soybean crops had large and consistent effects on the density of the thrips (Caliothrips phaseoli, Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations that invaded the canopies, as well as on the amount of leaf damage caused by the insects. Solar UVB strongly reduced thrips herbivory. Thrips not only preferred leaves from plants that were not exposed to solar UVB over leaves from UVB-exposed plants in laboratory and field choice experiments, but they also appeared to directly sense and avoid exposure to solar UVB. Additional choice experiments showed that soybean leaf consumption by the late-season soybean worm Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was much less intense in leaves with even slight symptoms of an early thrips attack than in undamaged leaves. These experiments suggest that phytophagous insects can present direct and indirect behavioral responses to solar UVB. The indirect responses are mediated by changes in the plant host that are induced by UVB and, possibly, by other insects whose behavior is affected by UVB.