Motor neuron disease: etiology, pathogenesis and treatment--a review

This study was conducted in order to determine the effects of body position on integrated electromyographic (IEMG) activity of sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles in 17 patients with myogenic cranio-cervical-mandibular dysfunction. EMG recordings at rest and during swallowing of saliva and maximal voluntary clenching were performed by placing surface electrodes on the sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles (contralateral to the habitual side of sleeping of each patient), in the following body positions: standing, seated, supine, and lateral decubitus position. Significant higher EMG activities were recorded in the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the lateral decubitus position and in the supine position (except during swallowing), whereas a significant higher EMG activity was recorded in the masseter muscle during maximal voluntary clenching in standing and seated positions. The EMG pattern observed suggests that the presence of parafunctional habits and body position could be closely correlated with the clinical symptomatology in the sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles at wakening and during waking hours, respectively, in patients with myogenic cranio-cervical-mandibular dysfunction.     

Temperature-regulated expression of the tac/lacl system for overproduction of a fungal xylanase in Escherichia coli

Temperature-regulated expression of recombinant proteins in the tac promoter (Ptac) system was investigated. Expression levels of fungal xylanase and cellulase from N. patriciarum in E. coli strains containing the natural lacI gene under the control of the Ptac markedly increased with increasing cultivation temperature in the absence of a chemical inducer. The specific activities (units per milligram protein of crude enzyme) of the fungal xylanase and cellulase produced from recombinant E. coli strain pop2136 grown at 42 degrees C were about 4.5 times higher than those of the cells grown at 23 degrees C and were even slightly higher when compared with cells grown in the presence of the inducer isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The xylanase expression level in the temperature-regulated Ptac system was about 35% of total cellular protein. However, this system can not be applied to E. coli strains containing lacIq, which confers over production of the lac repressor, for high-level expression of recombinant proteins. In comparison with the lambda PL system, the Ptac-based xylanase plasmid in E. coli pop2136 gave a considerably higher specific activity of the xylanase than did the best lambda PL-based construct using the same thermal induction procedure. The high-level expression of the xylanase using the temperature-regulated Ptac system was also obtained in 10-litre fermentation studies using a fed-batch process. These results unambiguously demonstrated that the temperature-modulated Ptac system can be used for overproduction of some non-toxic recombinant proteins.     

Development of technologies aiding large-tissue engineering

Apoptosis associated oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA can result from the activation of endonucleases that exhibit different pH optima and are either sensitive or insensitive to divalent cations. DNA fragmentation due to activation of cation sensitive endonucleases occurs in the absence of a change in intracellular pH whereas intracellular acidification is a feature of apoptosis characterized by activation of cation insensitive acidic endonuclease. We have reported earlier that somatostatin (SST) induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis is signaled in a receptor subtype selective manner uniquely via human somatostatin receptor subtype 3 (hSSTR3). In the present study we investigated the pH dependence and cation sensitivity of endonuclease induced in hSSTR3 expressing CHO-K1 cells by the SST agonist octreotide (OCT) and its effect on intracellular pH. We show that OCT induced apoptosis is associated with selective stimulation of a divalent cation insensitive acidic endonuclease. The intracellular pH of of cells undergoing OCT induced apoptosis was 0.9 pH units lower than that of control cells. The effect of OCT on endonuclease and pH was inhibited by orthovanadate as well as by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, suggesting that hSSTR3 initiated cytotoxic signaling is protein tyrosine phosphatase mediated and is G protein dependent. These findings suggest that intracellular acidification and activation of acidic endonuclease mediate wild type p53 associated apoptosis signaled by hormones acting via G protein coupled receptors.     

Induced magnetic fields as evidence for subsurface oceans in Europa and Callisto

The Galileo spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 7 December 1995, and encounters one of the four galilean satellites-Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto-on each orbit. Initial results from the spacecraft's magnetometer have indicated that neither Europa nor Callisto have an appreciable internal magnetic field, in contrast to Ganymede and possibly Io. Here we report perturbations of the external magnetic fields (associated with Jupiter's inner magnetosphere) in the vicinity of both Europa and Callisto. We interpret these perturbations as arising from induced magnetic fields, generated by the moons in response to the periodically varying plasma environment. Electromagnetic induction requires eddy currents to flow within the moons, and our calculations show that the most probable explanation is that there are layers of significant electrical conductivity just beneath the surfaces of both moons. We argue that these conducting layers may best be explained by the presence of salty liquid-water oceans, for which there is already indirect geological evidence in the case of Europa.     

Phase I trial of weekly scheduling and pharmacokinetics of titanocene dichloride in patients with advanced cancer

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of a weekly schedule of titanocene dichloride (TD) and to define the pharmacokinetics of titanium in plasma and urine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with a median age of 58 years received 83 courses of TD. TD was given as 1-hour infusion at escalating doses from 70 to 185 mg/m2/wk. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed in eight patients for total plasma titanium (TPTi) and in three patients for ultrafiltrable titanium (UFTi). RESULTS: At the fifth dose level (185 mg/m2/wk), a variety of DLTs were seen in five patients: fatigue in three, bilirubinemia in one, and hypokalemia in two. A further six patients were treated at 140 mg/m2; only one had dose-limiting creatinine elevation and this dose was therefore defined as the MTD. No myelosuppression or alopecia were observed. One patient with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary had a minor response. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that TPTi maximum concentration (Cmax) values were linear with dose and elimination of TPTi was triphasic with a long terminal half-life (t1/2; median, 165 hours; range, 89 to 592). Between 7% and 24.3% of the total of administered titanium was eliminated in urine over the first 24 hours. In contrast, UFTi elimination was described by a one-compartment model with a t1/2 of 0.41 hours; peak levels of UFTi were 5.2% +/- 2.5% those of TPTi. CONCLUSION: The MTD of TD given on a weekly schedule is 140 mg/m2, with cumulative, but reversible creatinine and bilirubin elevation being the DLTs.     

Esophageal cyst--a rare cause of backache

BACKGROUND: The duration of action of muscle relaxants is poorly correlated to the rate of decay of their plasma concentration. The plasma concentration of mivacurium may rapidly decrease below its active concentration because of the extensive hydrolysis of mivacurium. By inflating a tourniquet on one upper limb for 3 min after the administration of atracurium, mivacurium or vecuronium, we studied the influence of the initial decline of their plasma concentration on their effect. METHODS: In 50 patients anaesthetised with thiopental, isoflurane and fentanyl, the effect of bolus doses of 0.15 or 0.25 mg.kg-1 mivacurium (MIV 15, MIV 25), 0.3 or 0.5 mg.kg-1 atracurium (ATR 30, ATR 50) and 0.06 or 0.1 mg.kg-1 vecuronium (VEC 06, VEC 10) were measured on both arms (evoked response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four stimulation every 12 s), a tourniquet being applied on one arm just before and during 3 min after the muscle relaxant bolus. RESULTS: Tourniquet inflation of 3 min almost abolished the neuromuscular effect of mivacurium. In the vecuronium groups and in the ATR 50 group, tourniquet inflation did not modify the maximum degree of depression of the twitch response. Also, the duration of action of vecuronium was unaffected by the tourniquet. In the ATR 30 group, times to return of the twitch response to 25% (duration 25%) and 75% (duration 75%) of control response were significantly shorter in the cuffed arm, 23 min vs 27 min, and 41 min vs 45 min, respectively. In the ATR 50 group, only duration 25% was significantly shorter in the cuffed arm (41 min vs 45 min). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the rate of decline of the plasma concentration of mivacurium is so rapid, that a very low and almost clinically ineffective concentration is present as soon as 3 min after its administration. The results also indicate that the recovery from a mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade is not influenced by the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with genotypically normal plasma cholinesterase.     

The association of intra-abdominal infection and abdominal wound dehiscence

Concurrent infection is a risk factor for abdominal wound dehiscence. We reviewed our experience with fascial dehiscence to determine the incidence and to identify prognostic factors for associated intra-abdominal infection. Over a 7-year period, 107 patients with abdominal wound dehiscence were identified. Seventeen were managed nonoperatively, and 90 underwent exploratory laparotomy, 43 of whom had no intra-abdominal pathology and 47 of whom had intra-abdominal infections. Demographic factors, comorbid diseases, and potential indicators of systemic infection did not distinguish patients with intra-abdominal infection from those without. Patients with an intra-abdominal infection were more likely to have undergone an emergency operation (74% vs 48%; P < 0.02), an operation on the colon (55% vs 25%; P < 0.005), or an operation with a higher wound classification (P < 0.02). Mortality was higher in patients with intra-abdominal infection than in those without (44% vs 20%; P < 0.02). Wound dehiscence after emergent operations, and operations with a higher wound classification, especially those involving the colon, should raise concern for intra-abdominal infection. Thorough abdominal exploration should be performed at the time of dehiscence repair. Before nonoperative management is chosen, intra-abdominal infection should be excluded.     

Performance relationships in PVC–plasticizer dry blending

The phenomenon of plasticizer acceptance by poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in hotprocess dry blending is examined via scanning electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and torque rheometer measurements. The effects of granule porosity, resin molecular weight, and synthesis recipe in PVC manufacture by the suspension process are related to the rate of plasticizer acceptance. For a PVC resin to dry blend, i.e., to become a free-flowing powder when mixed with plasticizer under hot-processing conditions, the resin granules must be porous. Porosity arises from interstices between primary PVC particles. At a given granule porosity, an increase in primary particle agglomeration adversely affects dry blend performance. At constant molecular weight and for resins manufactured by a given recipe, dry-blend performance is quantitatively described by granule porosity. With an increase in resin molecular weight, a greater granule porosity is required to maintain an equivalent dry-blend time (DBT). Accordingly, for most suspending agent recipes, DBT is dependent directly upon granule porosity and inversely upon molecular weight. However, if the suspending agent used in resin manufacture is an excessively rapid film former, dry-blend performance with molecular weight variation is dependent upon the suspending agent's concentration, not upon granule porosity, which must be adequate, nor upon the resin's molecular weight. An interfacial film-forming suspending agent enhances fusion of primary PVC particles at the suspension granule—water interface, increasing the granule's “pericellular membrane” thickness. This membrane, a PVC skin, does not significantly influence dry-blend performance with low- or intermediate-viscosity plasticizers. The particle skin does impede dry-blend rates with high-viscosity, poorly solvating plasticizers, but this effect can be negated in part by increasing the diameter of pore openings in the topographical skin. Dry blending occurs below the glass transition temperature (T_g) of PVC with low-viscosity plasticizers and above the T_g with high-viscosity, poorly solvating modifiers. The influence of resin and plasticizer variables indicates the dry-blend phenomenon to be a diffusion-controlled process. The rate of dry blending is dependent upon two mechanisms: (1) the rate of pore penetration—which exposes the plasticizer to a much greater surface area than if it remained exterior, encapsulating the granule—and (2) the rate of plasticizer diffusion into the PVC matrix.     

Introduction: In-Use,In-Situ: Extending Field Research Methods—Part 2

This study used protocol analyses and user drawings of their models of the system to investigate the “getting lost” problem in hypertext navigation. The “getting lost” problem is viewed as occurring when routine expectations of naive users, concerning appropriate linear sequences, are violated. Several ways in which users persistently attempt to work within a linear model, despite its inapplicability, are examined. The transition to more hierarchical user models is described.