Myocardial turnover of endogenous opioids and calcitonin-gene-related peptide in the human heart and the effects of spinal cord stimulation on pacing-induced angina pectoris

OBJECTIVE: The authors determine if the intraoperative placement of paclitaxel powder in the subconjunctival space improves the outcome of glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits. METHODS: A posterior lip sclerectomy was performed in the right eye of 24 New Zealand white rabbits. Before the conjunctiva was fully sutured, 8 mg of mannitol powder alone, or 8 mg of mannitol powder containing either 10 micrograms or 250 micrograms of paclitaxel, was placed in the subconjunctival space of six eyes each in masked fashion. An additional six animals were treated with episcleral application of a sponge soaked in a solution of 0.5 mg/ml of mitomycin C (MMC) for 5 minutes before the sclerectomy was performed. Intraocular pressure and bleb size were measured until the operation had failed or until the 7 weeks of observation had concluded. RESULTS: Both paclitaxel powder and MMC solution improved the outcome of filtration surgery in this model as measured by magnitude of intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering and duration of surgical success. No toxic effect of either drug was observed, although endophthalmitis was observed in eight animals followed for more than 3 weeks. CONCLUSION: The introduction of paclitaxel into the subconjunctival space at the conclusion of filtration surgery has an effect comparable to intraoperative MMC.     

Montgomery Lecture, 1975. Changing concepts of the prognosis and management of small malignant melanomas of the choroid

Recent studies have shown conclusively that patients with small choroidal melanomas tend to have a favourable prognosis and that this, in turn, is closely related to tumour cell type, mitotic activity, degree of trans-scleral extension, and other characteristics of the tumour. It has not yet been established whether enucleation of the tumour-containing eye increases or decreases the patient's chance for survival. The frequency with which we observe late metastatic deaths among patients who had seemingly been 'cured' by enucleation indicate that host factors are most important in determining whether or not a patient will succumb to his tumour. It is possible that nonsurgical methods of treatment may be as effective or even more effective than enucleation (a) by diminishing the changes of intravasation of tumour cells, and (b) by promoting a more favourable host response to the tumour. While the total experience in management by methods other than enucleation is small, the results reported to date with photocoagulation, radiation, and no therapy are encouraging. Only after a much larger experience with prolonged periods of evaluation (more than 10 years after recognition of the tumour) will we be able to compare the results with those obtained by enucleation.     

The colposuspension operation for urinary incontinence

Forty-two patients with urinary incontinence and related symptoms were treated by colposuspension. Two patients were lost to follow-up and the results of surgery in the remaining 40 patients are presented and discussed. The place of vaginal surgery in women with urinary symptoms is also discussed.     

Phospholipid composition of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus cells in logarithmic and stationary growth phases

Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus cells were grown in spinner culture and harvested in logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. The phospholipids were extracted from the cells, and the fatty acid profiles of the phospholipid classes were determined and compared. The major components were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, constituting greater than or equal to 80% of the phospholipid. The fatty acid profiles of lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and cardiolipin showed changes with aging of the Culex cells and between the species. In the lysophosphatidylcholine fraction, there was an increase in saturation of the fatty acids of the C. quinquefasciatus cells, and chain lengthening occurred in both species from the logarithmic to stationary phases of growth. In the phosphatidylinositiol fraction, both Culex species showed a decrease in monoenes and an increase in polyenes, while only the C. tritaeniorhynchus cells showed an increase in fatty acid chain length with aging. The C. quinquefasciatus cells had an increase in polyenes with aging in the cardiolipin fraction. Differences in the percentage composition of the fatty acids were shown in all the phospholipid fractions between the Culex species in the logarithmic phase of growth and all except the phosphatidylinositiol and cardiolipin fractions in the stationary phase.