Study of experimental hypoparathyroidism in rats. III. Fluidity changes in brain synaptolemma

The changes of brain synaptolemma fluidity in experimental parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats were studied by using fluorescence polarization and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The results showed that microviscosity (eta) of the rat brain synaptolemma in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and striatum were decreased after a 2-month period of continuous hypocalcemia, and in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex it was decreased significantly as compared with control. These results suggest that the fluidity of the synaptolemma in the brains of hypocalcemic rats is increased. In addition, hypocalcemia also lowered the Tc of hippocampus synaptolemma lipid, which indicates that both fluidity and permeability had increased in these rats.

[An experimental study of ocular contusion and its hemodynamic changes]

The hemodynamic changes in rabbit eyes following contusion were studied with rheoophthalmography (ROG), in which the wave amplitudes were markedly reduced and then recovered in 3 weeks, while in the anisodine-I treated group they recovered in 2 weeks. Contusion of 3 joules disrupted the choroidal circulation and damaged the retina. Anisodine-I improved the vasomotor functions of the choroidal vessels and was effective in treatment of ocular contusion. ROG was a sensitive objective means of estimating the severity of ocular contusion and evaluating the therapeutic effects.

Use of costal cartilage cantilever grafts in negroid rhinoplasties

Dorsal augmentation and nasal tip refinement are important objectives in Negroid rhinoplasty. Use of a costal cartilage cantilever graft will achieve these objectives. We report on our experience in 19 patients. The technique offers an excellent solution to supplying the large amount of material often required to adequately augment the dorsum in these patients. The graft is also versatile enough to allow nasal tip refinement. There are additional aesthetic benefits as the cantilever causes a lengthening in the nasal columella, a reduction in the flare of the nostrils, and increases the columellar-labial angle. The procedure is relatively simple to perform. The problem of warping is minimized by symmetrical carving and the use of large grafts with a substantial cross-section.

Long-term follow-up of hypothalamic-pituitary function in patients with transsphenoidal pituitary herniation and midfacial anomalies

OBJECTIVE

We wished to determine whether patients with transsphenoidal pituitary herniation were at risk of developing pituitary failure.

DESIGN

We followed up hypothalamic-pituitary function annually in patients with midfacial anomalies and pituitary herniation.

PATIENTS

Two patients who had transsphenoidal pituitary herniation and midfacial anomalies were included and the literature was reviewed.

RESULTS

Both patients became gonadotrophin, TSH and growth hormone-deficient despite neurosurgical repair.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the early diagnosis and neurosurgical repair of transsphenoidal pituitary herniation may prevent central nervous system infection and rhinorrhoea. Surgical repair may not prevent pituitary failure as was evident in both of our cases. Periodic evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is essential to determine whether early hormonal replacement therapy is necessary.

[Clinical and experimental research of the treatment of chronic renal failure with shenshuaifang]

33 cases of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients were treated by coloclysis with Chinese medicine Shenshuaifang (SSF). The effective rate was 60.61%, the total effective rate was 87.88%. It showed significant difference in the total effective rate compared with the control group (P less than 0.05). Animal experiments showed SSF could slow down the rising of the blood Cr and BUN of the mice which suffered with CRF, and reduce their urine protein. Conclusion. SSF had good effect on lowering the blood Cr and BUN of the CRF patients, so it could delay the progress of CRF, and it's effect was better than the general medical conservative treatment.

[Clinical significance of Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy]

The authors measured the PK (peak frequency with Doppler sonography in 52 patients of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy AION), 16 patients of oculovascular disease (OVD), and 371 normal subjects. The age ranged from 21 to 62 years in the patients, and 10 to 83 years in the normals. The arterial segments examined were of the bilateral common carotid arteries (CCA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA), totalling 272 segments in the patients and 1,484 in the normals, with the findings that the rate of carotid stenosis in AION was higher than in OVD, and carotid stenosis was observed in 75% of CCA and 91% of ICA in patients under the age of 30 years, significantly higher than in elder age groups. This provides a basis for the definite diagnosis of AION in patients under 30 years old.

[Surgical treatment of extensive recurrent hemangioma involving the eyelid]

Seven (7) cases of extensive hemangioma involving the eyelid, some with history of previous therapies, such as cryocoagulation, sclerosing agent or conservative surgical procedure that failed or the angioma rapidly increased in size after treatment, were performed radical excision by the authors with satisfactory follow-ups of 1-5 years. It was pointed out that conservative procedures could not cure palpebral hemangioma that were extensive and deep-seated.

Calorie restriction delays age-dependent loss in androgen responsiveness of the rat liver

We have shown that restricted calorie intake retards age-associated loss in androgen responsiveness of the rat liver. Sustained androgen receptivity delays age-dependent decline in the synthesis of the androgen-inducible alpha 2u globulin and derepression of the androgen-repressible senescence marker protein (SMP-2). Quantitation of mRNAs for alpha 2u globulin and SMP-2 in the liver of animals of various ages maintained on either ad libitum or restricted diets revealed that, although the 27-month-old ad libitum-fed rat had only 5% as much alpha 2u mRNA as the 6-month-old rat, the mRNA level was as high as 45% in the 27-month-old food-restricted rat. Conversely, the 27-month-old food-restricted rat had a much reduced amount (45%) of SMP-2 mRNA compared to the age-matched control that was allowed unlimited access to food. Furthermore, we have correlated the effect of dietary restriction on age-dependent changes in specific gene expression with the hepatic level of the immunoreactive cytoplasmic androgen-binding (CAB) protein. We observed that senescence in the male causes a substantial decrease in the circulating level of testosterone. However, dietary restriction does not retard the rate of decline in the plasma level of the male hormone during aging. These results indicate that age-dependent changes in the expression of androgen-responsive genes (alpha 2u globulin and SMP-2) reflect changing androgen sensitivity and that food restriction may directly influence the androgen receptivity of the liver.

Prolonged bone marrow and skin allograft survival after pretransplant conditioning with cyclophosphamide and total lymphoid irradiation

Current studies were designed to provide long-term survival of allogeneic skin and bone marrow in mice preconditioned with various combinations of cyclophosphamide (CY) and/or total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). Long-term skin graft and bone marrow survival was obtained across the major histocompatibility barrier (BALB/c into C57BL/6) using pregrafting conditioning with either fractionated TLI or the combination of CY with a single dose of TLI. CY alone and a single dose of TLI alone were relatively ineffective as pregrafting immunosuppressive combinations. Allogeneic bone marrow was required for long-term skin graft survival with either conditioning regimen. Allogeneic marrow transplantation resulted in somewhat more deaths than syngeneic transplantation with both CY + TLI and fractionated TLI.