The gene encoding protein-tyrosine phosphatase RPTP epsilon (PTPRE) is assigned to human chromosome 10q26

In suspected Horner's syndrome, cocaine eye drops are applied to verify the diagnosis. Subsequent application of hydroxyamphetamine or pholedrine eye drops allows localization of the site of the interruption in the oculosympathetic pathway. In the present study the influence of cocaine on subsequent pholedrine testing was examined. Cocaine 5% and pholedrine 5% eye drops were applied to eight (72-h interval only six) normal volunteers with light-colored irides. The ages of the subjects ranged from 23 to 40 years. Eye drops were applied to the same eye at varying intervals of up to 72 h, with the cocaine being given between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Pupil diameters were recorded by means of a frame-grabber card in a personal computer and were subsequently measured before and at 50-60 min after each drug application in 1.7 cd/m2 ambient light. In the absence of pretreatment with cocaine, pholedrine changed the mean pupil diameter from 6.89 to 8.57 mm. At 12 h after cocaine pretreatment the pupil remained dilated. Pholedrine dilated the pupil further, from 7.69 to 8.61 mm. When cocaine was given 24 h before pholedrine, the pupil dilated from 6.75 to 8.25 mm; at 48 h after cocaine application, pholedrine dilated the pupil from 6.14 to 8.20 mm; and at 72 h after cocaine pretreatment, pholedrine dilated the pupil from 5.74 to 8.00 mm. As compared with the mean diameter of the untreated contralateral pupil, the pholedrine-induced dilation amounted to 2.32 mm in the absence of cocaine pretreatment, 1.04 mm at 12 h after cocaine application, 1.29 mm at 24 h after cocaine administration, 1.89 mm at 48 h after cocaine pretreatment, and 2.18 mm at 72 h after cocaine application. The residual cocaine effect interfered with the mean pupil dilation produced by pholedrin for at least 48 h. To ensure that the sensitivity of the pholedrine test is maximal, the examiner should delay its use for more than 48 h after the cocaine test.     

Morphologic and immunohistochemical observation of explanted Proplast-Teflon temporomandibular joint interpositional implants

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular tissue response to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Proplast-Teflon disc material by morphologic and immunohistochemical means. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients who had been subjected to TMJ discectomy combined with insertion of a Proplast-Teflon interpositional implant (PTIPI) were recalled for removal of the alloplastic disc. The time elapsed between the Proplast-Teflon disc implantation and its removal varied between 13 and 71 months (mean, 54.6 +/- 5.8 [SEM]) The implants and periimplant tissues were examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemically using a panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with different subclasses of leukocytes. The sections were immunostained using the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique. RESULTS: Fibrosis and a massive foreign body giant cell reaction were seen inside the heavily disrupted alloplastic implants and in the periimplant tissues. CD68-positive monocyte-derived cells dominated the reactive infiltrate in the implants and surrounding tissue. The CD68-positive cells also were partly positive for lysozyme. The lymphocytic infiltration contained no B cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study of the PTIPI-induced tissue reaction gave no indication of a toxic or an immunologic pathogenesis. Mechanical stress seems important in the fragmentation of the implant and induction of the foreign body reaction. It is not yet known if this fragmentation is the major contributing factor.     

Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated resistance arteries of spontaneously diabetic rats

1. Previous studies have shown that endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of spontaneously diabetic bio bred rats (BB) is impaired. 2. We have investigated noradrenaline (NA) contractility, endothelium-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) and bradykinin (BK) relaxation, and endothelium-independent sodium nitroprusside (SNP) relaxation in mesenteric resistance arteries of recent onset BB rats and established insulin treated BB rats, compared to their age-matched non diabetic controls. 3. There was no significant difference in the maximum contractile response or sensitivity to noradrenaline in either of the diabetic groups compared to their age-matched controls. 4. Incubation with the nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) resulted in a significant increase in maximum contractile response to noradrenaline in the recent onset age-matched control group (P < 0.05). Analysis of the whole dose-response curve (using ANOVA for repeated measures with paired t test) showed a significant left-ward shift following the addition of L-NOARG (P < 0.001). A similar but less marked shift (P < 0.01) was evident in vessels from recent onset diabetics. An overall shift in both sensitivity and maximum response was also evident in the age-matched non diabetic controls of the insulin-treated group (P < 0.05). However, by contrast, there was no significant change in sensitivity in the insulin-treated diabetic rats. 5. ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly impaired in the recent onset diabetic rats compared to their age-matched controls (47 +/- 11% versus 92 +/- 2%, P < 0.05, n = 6), and in the insulin treated diabetic rats (34 +/- 5% versus 75 +/- 6%, P < 0.05, n = 6). The relaxation responses to BK also were significantly impaired in the diabetic rats compared to their age-matched controls (recent onset: 20 +/- 3% versus 72 +/- 7%, P < 0.05, n = 6; insulin treated: 12 +/- 9% versus 68 +/- 7%, P < 0.05, n = 7). 6. Incubation with either the nitric oxide synthetase substrate, U-arginine, or the free radical scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase (150 mu ml-1) failed to improve the attenuated response of acetylcholine-induced relaxation in the diabetic vessels. 7. Endothelium-dependent relaxation mediated by ACh and BK was significantly attenuated in both the diabetic and control vessels after incubation with L-NOARG. 8. Pretreatment with a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, significantly enhanced the relaxation to ACh in both the recent onset and insulin treated diabetic rats (42 +/- 10%, n = 7 versus 64 +/- 7%, n = 7, P < 0.05, and 40 +/- 5%, n = 7 versus 65 +/- 9%, n = 6, P < 0.05). 9. Following endothelium removal, there was a marked impairment in endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to ACh and BK in both the diabetic and control vessels. 10. Incubation with the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548, did not significantly improve the ACh endothelium-dependent relaxation response in the diabetic vessels. 11. Endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside was significantly impaired in the first group of diabetic vessels studied; however, subsequent studies showed no impairment of the sodium nitroprusside response in the diabetic vessels. 12. In conclusion, the ability of the endothelium to regulate vascular contractility is reduced in recent onset diabetic vessels, and significantly impaired in established insulin treated diabetics. Relaxation to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators ACh and BK was impaired in both the recent onset and the established insulin treated diabetics, and the ACh response was significantly improved following pretreatment with indomethacin, suggesting a role for a cyclo-oxygenase-derived vasoconstrictor. Preliminary studies with a thromboxane A2, receptor antagonist, SQ29548 did not significantly improve the impaired relaxation to ACh, indicating that the vasoconstrictor prostanoid is not thromboxane A2.     

Radiation-chemical modification of dermal collagen in the presence of moisture

Forty-two patients who were to undergo plastic surgical procedures were asked whether they would accept acupuncture as a substitute for local anesthesia. Eight patients agreed to acupuncture; one of these had 2 operative procedures with acupuncture. Five of the 9 procedures were successful; the remaining 4 required conversion to local anesthesia. After interviewing the patients, we felt that the success of "acupuncture anesthesia" was largely dependent on patient motivation, and that a patient may experience pain during surgical procedures without any change in facial expression or vital signs. We concluded that "acupuncture anesthesia" is of little value in our patient population at present. Its results are unpredictable; therefore, we anticipate that patient acceptance will be small.     

Optical measurements of nucleic acids in the presence of phenol and protein impurities

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha have been measured by radioimmunoassay in portions of cord, placenta, amnion, chorion, decidua and myometrium. The samples were obtained at defined periods of pregnancy, and the results have been compared with those obtained from the analyses of endometrial and myometrial tissue removed from women during the secretory phase of a menstrual cycle. The results showed that during pregnancy the mean concentration of prostaglandin E2 was higher (27-518%) than the corresponding value for prostaglandin F2 alpha in all tissues. At term the concentration of prostaglandin E2 (ng/100 mg wet weight of tissue, mean +/- S.D.) was higher in the umbilical cord (5-54 +/- 0-88), decidua (4-02 +/- 1-78) and myometrium (4-19 +/- 1-06), than in the amnion (2-25 +/- 1-27), chorion (1-64 "/- 0-63) or placenta (1-04 +/- 0-25). During labour there was a significant rise (P less than 0.0005, Student's 't' test) in the concentration in decidua (10-76 +/- 4-45), and to a lesser extent (P less than 0-05) in the myometrium (5-84 +/- 2-65) and amnion (4-77 +/- 2-51). The overall concentration in decidua during the first trimester (3-09 +/- 1-02) was significantly lower (P less than 0-005) than in endometrial tissue(16-82 +/- 10-13). The concentration was lower in myometrial tissue from non-pregnant subjects (2-90 +/- 2-21), than in the corresponding tissue removed at term (4-19 +/- 1-06) or during labour 5-84 +/- 2-65). The results for prostaglandin F2 alpha showed a similar pattern, but the values were significantly lower in the umbilical cord, and the percentage changes in concentration in the decidua and myometrium were of a higher magnitude.     

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level may aid in the diagnosis of pancreatitis

Ten cases of pancreatitis with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) levels are reported. Patients with chronic or relapsing pancreatitis may at times develop increased SAP levels, either with or without definitive biochemical evidence of pancreatic disease. SAP estimation may assist in establishing a clinical diagnosis in cases of abdominal pain in which pancreatitis is suspected.