High-strength, ultra-thin and fiber-reinforced pHEMA artificial skin

Membranes of pHEMA-based composites were manufactured by adding various kinds of weaved and knitted fabrics and fibers into a deionized water solution of HEMA monomer, EGDMA cross-linker and BIE initiator, and followed by polymerization under ultraviolet radiation. By varying the amount of initial water addition (IWA), the dimensional change of pHEMA matrix from the newly fabricated state to the eventually swollen state could be adjusted to reduce the swellability mismatch with the fabrics and the possibility of the swollen membranes becoming folded and curled was avoided. Mechanical properties of the fiber-reinforced pHEMA composites, including yielding strength, maximum strength, Young's modulus and elongation at break, are improved evidently depending on the mechanical characteristics of additives applied. The involvement of fabrics and fibers in the soft pHEMA matrix also provides an alternative of making the ultra-thin membranes to overcome the problem of easily being torn during handling. In addition, some of these membranes also exhibit an improvement in water transmission rate.

Effects of desmethylclozapine on Fos protein expression in the forebrain: in vivo biological activity of the clozapine metabolite

Several products of the hepatic metabolism of clozapine are found in high concentrations in the plasma of schizophrenic patients treated with this atypical antipsychotic drug. One of these metabolites, N-desmethylclozapine, has substantially different affinities for dopamine and serotonin metabolites than does the parent compound. However, it is not known if this metabolite is active in vivo. We examined the effect of acute administration of desmethylclozapine to rats on forebrain Fos protein expression. Clozapine induces expression of this immediate-early gene in a distinct regional pattern in the brain. Desmethylclozapine significantly increased Fos protein expression in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, but not in the dorsolateral striatum, thus mirroring the effects of the parent compound. These data indicate that the desmethyl metabolite of clozapine has in vivo biological activity.

The effects of thalamic paraventricular nucleus lesions on cocaine-induced locomotor activity and sensitization

The brain circuitry that subserves the augmented locomotor response to repeated psychostimulant administration has been the subject of intense scrutiny. The dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens is critically involved in psychostimulant-elicited behavioral sensitization, and recent studies suggest that lesions of structures that send glutamatergic projections to the nucleus accumbens alter the acquisition or expression of psychostimulant-elicited sensitization. Although certain thalamic nuclei provide a major glutamatergic input to the striatum, the involvement of the thalamus in psychostimulant-elicited sensitization has not been investigated. We therefore examined the effects of lesions of the thalamic paraventricular nucleus, which projects to the shell of the nucleus accumbens, on cocaine-elicited locomotor sensitization. Lesions of the paraventricular nucleus did not alter basal locomotor activity, but significantly enhanced the acute locomotor response to cocaine. In contrast, repeated cocaine administration did not progressively augment locomotor activity in lesioned rats, but did so in sham-lesioned animals. The thalamic lesions also blocked the conditioned locomotor response to the environment in which the cocaine injections took place. These data suggest that the thalamic paraventricular nucleus may be an integral part of extended circuitry that subserves both the conditioned and nonconditioned components of psychostimulant-induced behavioral sensitization.

Simultaneous determination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid in pharmaceutical products by HPLC with beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase

A simple, rapid and accurate method for simultaneous determination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid using HPLC with beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase was developed. It involves the use of tetraethylammonium acetate (TEAA) as an additive reagent, methanol-buffer solution (pH 4.5) (35:65; v/v) as the mobile phase, detection at 225 mm and chromatogram within 12 min. Linearity and precision of the internal standard method have been obtained. Recoveries ranged from 99.25 to 105.63% for amoxycillin in the synthetic mixture. For clavulanic acid it was from 99.50 to 101.64%. This method is convenient and reproducible for analyses of these two components in different dosage forms.

Circadian rhythm in the visual system of the lizard Anolis carolinensis

The electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded from free-moving Anolis lizards once per hour for 5 days. As in our previous work, the b-wave, but not the a-wave, showed a reliable circadian rhythm (CR) in amplitude, with an acrophase near projected noon. Both the a- and b-waves showed a CR in peak time (implicit time, or IT), with the a-wave IT being longest near midnight, and the b-wave IT at midday. Acrophases were shifted when animals were housed on a phase-shifted light-dark cycle. The ERG CR was unaffected by removal of the parietal organ, but it was virtually abolished by removal of the pineal gland, thus suggesting that pineal output (probably melatonin) modulates retinal responses. In addition to the ERG, the tectal light-evoked potential exhibited a CR--a finding compatible with a circadian variation in retinal output. Lastly, the amplitude of the ERG component waveforms showed a seasonal variation, but the ERG CR was constant across the year.

A note on the early history of electrical stimulation of the human brain

We address inconsistencies in two areas concerning who was first to electrically stimulate a human's brain. First, Boring (1950) and others attributed priority to Eduard Hitzig based on information mentioned somewhat incidentally in Fritsch and Hitzig's (1870) classic work using dogs. Others cited Fritsch and Hitzig but attributed priority to Roberts Bartholow (1874). Second, our examination of translations of Fritsch and Hitzig, especially of footnote 16 in Hitzig's report (1870) of a human case, revealed errors, omissions, and inconsistencies. To aid our inquiry, we requested and received new translations of footnote 16 and of Hitzig's report.

Vibrio vulnificus infection

We report 3 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections from Taiwan. Patient 1, who manifested symptoms of primary septicemia, died after 2 days. Patient 2, who had a wound infection and signs and symptoms of sepsis but negative blood cultures, responded to tobramycin and chloramphenicol plus surgical debridement, and recovered after 26 days of hospitalization. Patient 3 had secondary septicemia originating from a wound inflicted by a shrimp. Originally, the patient seemed to respond to ceftazidime and amikacin treatment along with surgical debridement, but subsequently died from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by several episodes of aspiration which occurred after initial clinical improvements. We conclude that, for patients with severe wounds and evidence of V. vulnificus infection, an appropriate, powerful antibiotic, such as one of the third generation cephalosporins should be used as initial therapy unless the nature of the infection indicates other treatment.

Multiple endobronchial granular cell myoblastomas discovered at bronchoscopy

Granular cell myoblastoma is an uncommon benign tumor. Most cases of endobronchial involvement are detected as they become symptomatic. Multiple tumors of the bronchial tree are quite rare, having been reported infrequently in the English literature. The authors report a case with two-year follow-up, which is unique in that the tumors were asymptomatic and were discovered incidentally at bronchoscopy.

Esophageal perforation associated with combined use of the Thumper Resuscitator and esophageal airway

Esophageal perforation is an uncommon but catastrophic complication of resuscitation with the esophageal obturator airway. Three cases of esophageal perforation are reported associated with combined use of an obturator airway and Thumper mechanical resuscitator. The possibility of increased risk when these devices are used together has not been previously discussed in the literature. This risk may be reduced by using lower balloon volumes, less aggressive compressor settings, and obturator airways modified for nasogastric drainage.

Connective tissue arrangement in respiratory airways

Connective tissue provides dynamic stability to the architecture and mechanical function of the lungs. This study examines the parenchymal connective tissue components of the alveolar ducts, their associated respiratory bronchioles and respective alveoli. Thick sections 100 mu and 200 mu, and serial sections at 8 mu of lungs of different ages were examined histologically after fixation in distention. The varying proportions and spatial architecture of the collagen and elastic fibers and the packing and spatial interrelationships of alveoli were studied using graphic serial reconstruction. Alveolar mouth typically have a polygonal configuration as they arise from the airways. Denser connective tissue passes through the polygonal array and forms a helix encircling the airway. Polygonal packing of alveolar mouths provides a mechanically stable ductular structure with conservation of materials. A helical modification of the polygonal arrangement permits reversible changes in linear and circumferential airway dimensions.

Atypical B cell dyscrasia with Bence-Jones proteinuria and intracellular retention of gamma-chains

A case of atypical B cell dyscrasia is described. The patient presented with a history of weakness, bone pain, and bleeding. A K-type paraprotein was found in serum and urine. The histology of bone marrow was that of a malignant lymphoma, but no enlargement of peripheral lymphoid organs was detectable. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were increased in number and included two populations of immature cells, one lymphoid and the other lymphoplasmocytoid. Immunofluorescent staining showed both populations to contain K and gamma chains in their cytoplasm. The clinicopathological heterogeneity suggests a malignant clone of B cells undergoing incomplete maturation, with arrest at different stages of the cell cycle.

Isolation and characterization of tissue-specific isozymes of glucosephosphate isomerase from catfish and conger

In teleosts glucosephosphate isomerase exists as two tissue-specific isozymes. Most tissues contain the more acidic liver-type isozyme, while white muscle contains the more basic isozyme; and a few tissues contain both the liver- and muscle-type isozymes as well as a hybird. The isozymes were isolated from catfish liver and muscle and from conger muscle and shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, analytical ultracentrifugation, and rechromatography. Both isozymes are of molecular weight 132,000 (S020,w = 7.0 S) and composed of two subunits of Mr approximately 65,000. The muscle and liver isozymes were shown to have distinct isoelectric points (catfish liver = 6.2; muscle = 7.0) and amino acid compositions. Tryptic peptide maps, after S-carboxymethylation and carbamylation, revealed several distinct differences in the primary structures of the isozymes. Although the isozymes could also be distinguished on the basis of their stabilities, most of their basic catalytic properties were found to be similar. A conger was obtained which was heterozygous for the variant allele at the muscle-glucosephosphate isomerase locus. A comparison of the variant conger muscle isozyme with the wild type revealed a single altered peptide, suggesting a point mutation. The structure-function studies, as well as the genetic studies, clearly establish that the two types of isozymes are of independent genetic origin.