Neural structures within the sheep temporomandibular joint

To better understand pathologic processes associated with arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), detailed information on the innervation of TMJ tissues in normal as well as arthritic joints is needed. The aim of this study was to describe the normal innervation of the sheep TMJ in preparation for using this animal as a model for the study of the effects of arthritis on joint innervation. The macroscopic and microscopic appearance plus the distribution of neural structures within the TMJ were examined using fluorescence histochemistry (glyoxylic acid), immunohistochemistry (calcitonin gene-related peptide), silver, and gold chloride techniques. Joints from 10 mature merino sheep were studied. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers were found in the capsule and the synovial membrane, but not in the disc. Nerve bundles and single nerve fibers in the capsule, synovial membrane, and the peripheral 2 to 3 mm of the disc were stained by glyoxylic acid. Ruffini, paciniform-type, and Golgi organ nerve endings plus free nerve endings were located in the capsule, with the highest density of nerve endings occurring at the site of attachment of the disc to the capsule. The highest density of neural structures (using gold chloride) was in the posterior part of the joint. The highest density of autonomic fibers (using glyoxylic acid) was in the anterior capsule. The highest density of sensory fibers (using calcitonin gene-related peptide) was in the synovial and subsynovial tissues of the anterior capsule. These results confirm the existence of autonomic and sensory nerves in the capsule, synovial membrane, and peripheral disc in healthy adult sheep.     

A long-term outcome study of 170 surgically treated patients with compressive cervical radiculopathy

BACKGROUND: There is a general impression that publications in neuro-surgical journals have comprehensively evaluated the relative merits of various operative techniques with long-term follow-up in patients treated for compressive cervical radiculopathy. However, in some 20,000 neurosurgical papers over the past 50 years, only 74 (0.3%) have addressed this common surgical problem. METHODS: Long-term outcome was assessed by the standardized Functional Economic Outcome Rating Scale of Prolo. Information was obtained primarily by telephone interviews and office visits. No patients were operated upon without a confirmatory neuroradiologic study. Single level soft discs were removed through a posterior-lateral foraminotomy with hemilaminectomy or laminectomy the root was decompressed by the same technique with hard discs. RESULTS: One hundred seventy patients were operated on from 1959-91 with a 96% follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 15 years. Patients who had sedentary occupations and housewives, had statistically higher Economic Prolo scores (p < 0.001) than those who did strenuous work. Of 10 patients with a total Prolo score of 5 or less, seven did strenuous work and had Workers' Compensation claims; the remaining had legal claims or were at psychologic risk for operation. In 86% of patients outcome was good; defined as a Prolo score of 8 in 5%, 9 in 38%, and 10 in 43%. Of 10 recurrences (6%), seven occurred within 3 years after operation and were treated by discectomy and anterior cervical fusion. There were two patients with postoperative deltoid motor weakness who recovered within 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Although outcome studies must have subjective criteria, the Prolo Scale is more objective and quantitative than currently used methods. The posterior approach to disc lesions causing compressive cervical radiculopathy should be compared to other techniques using the Prolo Outcome Scale.     

The effect of an alphanumeric paging system on patient compliance with medicinal regimens

There are numerous actual and potential impediments to patient compliance with medicinal regimens. The implications of poor compliance include worsening disease states or symptoms, with resultant increased costs of care. Using a population of hospice patients at high risk for noncompliance, this study evaluated the use of an alphanumeric paging system as a memory prosthetic, finding that compliance rose from a mean of 56 percent to 96 percent when the system was used. We conclude that such a program is of use in this setting, and that these findings warrant study and suggest applications in other populations.     

Polyamine analogue induction of programmed cell death in human lung tumor cells

The naturally occurring polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are required for cell growth. Based on this requirement, several polyamine analogues that interfere with polyamine function and metabolism have been synthesized as antineoplastic agents. The symmetrically substituted N1,N12-bis(ethyl)spermine (BESpm), and unsymmetrically substituted N1-ethyl-N11-[(cyclopropyl)methyl]-4, 8-diazaundecane (CPENSpm) have previously been shown to cause rapid cytotoxicity of NCI H157 cells, with concurrent high induction of the polyamine catabolic enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase. However, the precise mechanism(s) of the cytotoxic action of the compounds is not known. We now demonstrate that treatment with either BESpm or CPENSpm results in morphological and biochemical changes consistent with the activation of programmed cell death pathways, and that the unsymmetrically substituted CPENSpm more rapidly activates the death program. These studies suggest that the cell type-specific cytotoxicity of these polyamine analogues may be a result of their ability to selectively activate the cell death pathway in sensitive phenotypes and indicate that the relationship between the structure of the polyamine analogues and the ability to induce programmed cell death should be investigated.     

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades during priming of human neutrophils by TNF-alpha and GM-CSF

Oral administration of large doses of protein antigen generally induces a state of systemic unresponsiveness currently termed mucosally induced tolerance. In this study, we used human milk protein (HMP) without casein as a multi-protein antigen for the study of mucosally induced tolerance. The HMP utilized in this study mainly contained secretory (S) IgA, lactoferrin (Lf) and alpha-lactalbumin (Lact). When mice were given 1 or 25 mg of HMP orally 3 times or 25 mg orally four consecutive weeks prior to systemic immunization, antigen-specific serum IgG responses to HMP were induced by subsequent parenteral immunization with 100 microg of HMP. Analysis of IgG subclasses revealed that IgG1 followed by IgG2b accounted for the IgG responses noted. When both HMP and ovalbumin (OVA) were fed to mice, tolerance developed to OVA but not to HMP. To further investigate the nature of immune responses seen following oral gavage of HMP, we examined responses to individual protein of HMP. Brisk serum IgG1 and IgG2b responses to both S-IgA and Lf were induced by oral followed by systemic immunization with HMP. Analysis of splenic CD4+ T cells from mice given oral HMP revealed production of Th2- but not Th1-type cytokines. These results show that oral administration of HMP preferentially induces exclusive Th2-type immune responses, which may prevent the development of HMP (S-IgA and Lf)-specific mucosally induced tolerance.     

Reaction and total cross sections for low energy pi + and pi - on isospin zero nuclei

We calculated the electrostatic force between a planar interface, such as a planar-supported lipid bilayer membrane, and the tip of a stylus on which another lipid bilayer or some other biomacromolecular system might be deposited. We considered styli with rounded tips as well as conical tips. To take into account the effect of dynamical hydrogen-bonded structures in the aqueous phase, we used a theory of nonlocal electrostatics. We used the Derjaguin approximation and identified the systems for which its use is valid. We pointed out where our approach differs from previous calculations and to what extent the latter are inadequate. We found that 1) the nonlocal interactions have significant effects over distances of 10-15 A from the polar zone and that, at the surface of this zone, the effect on the calculated force can be some orders of magnitude; 2) the lipid dipoles and charges are located a distance L from the hydrophobic layer in the aqueous medium and this can have consequences that may not be appreciated if it is ignored; 3) dipoles, located in the aqueous region, can give rise to forces even though the polar layer is unchanged, and if this is ignored the interpretation of force data can be erroneous if an attempt is made to rationalize an observed force with a knowledge of an uncharged surface; 4) the shape of the stylus tip can be very important, and a failure to take this into account can result in incorrect conclusions, a point made by other workers; and 5) when L is nonzero, the presence of charges and dipoles can yield a force that can be nonmonotonic as a function of ionic concentration.