Rubis: an extended relational system managing events Part I: specification

Dynamic aspects of information systems are taken into account in a lot of conceptual models. However, the dynamic concepts of these models have rarely been fully implemented in database management systems (DBMSs).Rubis is an extended relational DBMS which supports an extended relational schema (including event and operation concepts) and automatic control of the dynamic aspects of applications, i.e. event recognition, operation triggering and time handling.The first part of the paper contains a short presentation of the basic concepts and the specification language used for the extended schema. The second part focuses on the internal mechanisms: the temporal processor, which manages the temporal aspects of specifications and recognizes temporal events; and the event processor which manages events treatment and synchronization. These two mechanisms permit an automatic execution of the extended schema and so provide rapid prototyping capabilities. This last part will be covered in the December issue of this journal.     

Effects and mechanism of emodin and sandostatin on pancreatic ischemia in acute haemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis

We hypothesized that maternal serum levels of the isoenzyme creatine kinase (CK)-BB, which is highly expressed in the placenta, may be elevated during the early second trimester in gestations destined to deliver prematurely or of a small-for-gestational-age infant (birthweight below 10th percentile). To test this hypothesis, we compared maternal serum CK-BB levels and percentage of CK-BB over total CK, in 69 normal pregnancies (delivering at term of appropriate-for-gestational-age infants) with those of 25 cases complicated by preterm delivery at < or = 34 weeks (n = 14), of a small-for-gestational-age infant (n = 8), or both (n = 3). No differences were present in maternal serum CK BB levels between normal and complicated pregnancies. Moreover, no correlation was found between gestational age at delivery and CK BB levels (r = 0.03; p = 0.7).     

Plasma estradiol concentrations and pharmacokinetics following transdermal application of Menorest 50 or Systen (Evorel) 50

In order to evaluate the applicability of anthelminthic treatment of wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to limit their infection with Echinococcus multilocularis, bait pellets, each containing 50 mg praziquantel, were repeatedly distributed in an area of 566 km2 where many foxes are infected, in southern Germany. After six baiting campaigns (15-20 baits/km2) over a period of 14 months, the prevalence of the cestode in foxes, initially 32%, had fallen to 4%. The effect was most pronounced in the central part of the treated area, where no positive fox was found in the 2 months before the end of the trial. The study was controlled for other factors that could influence the parasite's prevalence, such as the availability of intermediate hosts. While the potential of this baiting method to remove E. multilocularis from wild hosts has been demonstrated, the question of its long-term efficacy and other unresolved problems have to be addressed by consecutive studies before routine application can be recommended.     

Delayed internal capsule infarctions following radiofrequency pallidotomy. Report of three cases

The authors report on a series of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) who underwent stereotactic radiofrequency (RF) pallidotomies, three of whom suffered delayed postoperative strokes. These three belonged to a group consisting of 42 patients with medically intractable IPD in whom 50 pallidotomies were performed. All three patients had significant previous vascular disease and were in a high-risk group for cerebral infarction. A postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) image was obtained immediately after the pallidotomy was performed to document the placement of the RF lesion and to rule out any hematoma. The delayed strokes occurred on postoperative Days 10, 51, and 117 in patients with previous vascular disease (Group 1, 11 patients). No strokes occurred in the group with the vascular disease risk factor (Group 2, 11 patients) or in the group with no risk factors for vascular disease (Group 3, 20 patients). This observation is statistically significant (p < 0.05). The T2-weighted MR images showed the lesions as high-intensity signals extending to the posterior limb of the internal capsule ipsilateral to the pallidotomy site. The poststroke T1-weighted images obtained in two patients showed persistent contrast enhancement of the RF lesion and no enhancement around the stroke lesion. Clinically and radiographically, these discrete new lesions represent delayed infarctions, suggesting that RF lesioning can induce delayed injury in adjacent tissue. Patients with previously identified vasculopathy may be at risk for delayed capsular infarction following RF pallidotomy.     

Structure and functions of CD23

This review summarizes recent data on CD23, a low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII). CD23 is the only FcR which does not belong to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. The CD23 molecule was discovered independently as an IgE receptor on human lymphoblastoid B cells [1], as a cell surface marker expressed on Epstein-Barr-Virus-transformed B cells (EBVCS) [2] and as a B-cell activation antigen (Blast 2) [3]. CD23 was shown to be a low affinity receptor for IgE [4,5]. Similar to most FcR, soluble forms of CD23 (sCD23) are released into extracellular fluids. The soluble fragments formed by proteolytic cleavage of surface CD23 are not only capable of binding IgE (IgE binding factors) but also exhibit multiple functions that are not IgE related. These observations together with the finding that CD23 displays significant homology with Ca(2+)-dependent (C-type) animal lectins, suggested the existence of natural ligands other than IgE. The recent finding that CD23 interacts with CD21, CD11b and CD11c indicates that CD23 should be viewed not only as a low affinity IgE receptor but also as an adhesion molecule involved in cell-cell interaction. After a brief overview of the molecular structure, there follows a discussion of the biological activities ascribed to human CD23.     

Paget bone disease involving young adults in 3 generations of a Korean family

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with a dismal prognosis. It has long been regarded as one of the most difficult cancers to accurately diagnose and stage preoperatively. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the state-of-the-art for early detection, diagnosis, and staging of pancreatic cancer. These methods include spiral CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, laparoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, CA 19-9 serology, fine needle aspiration cytology, ERCP brush cytology, and screening for p53 and ras oncogenes. These advanced techniques should help us to detect pancreatic cancers in high-risk populations at a curative stage and to decrease pancreaticoduodenectomies for benign disease which could otherwise be treated with less morbid procedures. In addition, these tests will help reliably diagnose pancreatic cancer preoperatively.     

Can transplantation of neurons facilitate motor recovery in paraplegics? Study of an animal model

This review strives forward at least two goals. First, to take from the literature the arguments demonstrating that hindlimbs locomotion is controlled by a spinal network of neurons (the so-called Central Pattern Generator for locomotion--CPG) known to be able to generate locomotor activity independently of the control of supraspinal nervous structures, as it is after thoracic lesions of the spinal cord. The principles of work of the CPG and its intrinsic possibilities to adapt its working are reviewed. Special reference is made to the various ways used during experiments to activate the CPG in spinal animals or clinical practice in paraplegic men: training to walk, electrical stimulations, pharmacological stimulations. Second, to show, from our own results, obtained from the study of an animal model of paraplegia, the adult spinal rat, how it could be possible to take advantage of the autonomy of the CPG, with special reference to its sensibility to monoamines, to obtain locomotor recovery in hindlimbs after section of the thoracic spinal cord, by means of transplantation of noradrenergic and/or serotonergic embryonic neurons in the lumbo-sacral spinal cord. Section of the spinal cord at a thoracic level results in an important locomotor deficit in hindlimbs, likely linked to degeneration of monoaminergic terminals in the lumbar enlargement. In the adult spinal rat, sub-lesional injection of a suspension of embryonic nervous cells, taken from either locus coeruleus or raphe sites, leads to reinnervation of the lumbar enlargement with monoaminergic terminals. Despite the fact that connections with supraspinal structures are not reestablished, transplanted animals recover progressively a posture convenient for locomotion. The hindlimbs, which are in an extended position a few days after the lesion, become progressively flexed and able to support the body weight. This evolution does not appear in spinal but non transplanted animals. But, the main point is that transplanted animals develop, within the few weeks that follow transplantation, a good-quality locomotor activity in hindlimbs which had no equivalent in spinal but non transplanted animals. The reality of a lumbar CPG for locomotion and the efficacy of pharmacological treatments and training to walk, to elicit recovery of stepping, are discussed in man, in connection with the relevance to use transplantation of monoaminergic nervous cells in the spinal cord of paraplegics.     

Effect of dietary fats and sesamin on the lipid metabolism and immune function of Sprague-Dawley rats

We examined the effect of three dietary fats, safflower oil (SAF) rich in linoleic acid, borage oil (BOR) rich in gamma-linolenic acid, and perilla oil (PER) rich in alpha-linolenic acid, on the lipid metabolism, and chemical mediator and immunoglobulin levels in Sprague-Dawley rats, as well as the dietary effect of sesame-derived antioxidative sesamin. The serum cholesterol, phospholipid, triglyceride, prostaglandin E2 level and splenic leukotriene B4 level were lower in the rats fed on BOR or PER than in those fed on SAF. SES feeding suppressed the expression of the lipid-decreasing effect of BOR, but not in the rats fed on PER. In respect of the fatty acid composition of the liver and spleen, PER feeding gave a lower arachidonic acid level, and higher eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid levels than SAF feeding did, while the effect of BOR feeding was marginal. The effect of SES feeding on fatty acid composition was much smaller than that of dietary fats. In respect of immunoglobulin production, PER + SES feeding gave the lowest IgE productivity in the mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes. These results suggest that PER feeding regulated lipid metabolism and exerted an anti-allergic effect by a different mechanism from that with BOR feeding.     

Cognitive screening examinations for silent cerebral infarcts in sickle cell disease

OBJECTIVE: In children with sickle cell disease (SCD), silent cerebral infarcts are the most frequent cause of neurologic injury. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of selective neurocognitive measures when separating children with silent cerebral infarcts and SCD from sibling controls. Additionally, we tested the validity of the same cognitive measures to identify patients with overt strokes. METHODS: We examined performance on a neuropsychologic battery containing measures of attention/executive, spatial, language, memory, and motor functioning for seven children with SCD and silent cerebral infarct, 21 children with SCD and overt stroke, and 17 normal siblings. Diagnosis of cerebral infarct was based on results of MRI. RESULTS: Measures from the attention and executive domains were the most useful for identifying children with silent cerebral infarct. The Test of Variables of Attention was the most robust measure and yielded a sensitivity rate of 86% and a specificity rate of 81%. This measure also showed a sensitivity rate of 95% in identifying overt stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Brief cognitive screening measures, if properly constructed, may be an effective means of identifying children with silent cerebral infarct. Future prospective studies should be pursued to assess the utility of cognitive screening for silent cerebral infarcts in SCD.