Deficit in voluntary wheel running in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain models in mice: Impact of sex and genotype

Patients with chronic pain report decreased general activity and emotional distress. Therefore, the development of various animal models that encompass different aspects of pain are crucial for the discovery of genetic differences and the assessment of novel analgesics to improve quality of life. C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice received unilateral intraplantar injections of 100 % CFA, paclitaxel, or CCI surgery to compare their distance traveled in a voluntary wheel running assay, paw edema diameter, and mechanical sensitivity. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds were lower in both strains of mice that received CFA when compared to their vehicle. However, a decrease in distance traveled was observed in CFA-treated C57BL/6J but not DBA/2J mice. In a separate group, chemotherapy agent paclitaxel 8 mg/kg, i.p. was administered to both strains of mice to induce CIPN which was confirmed by lower mechanical thresholds in paclitaxel-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. Only female C57BL/6J mice showed attenuation of distance traveled following treatment, whereas male C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice did not. Lastly, C57BL/6J mice underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI) or sham surgery to observe the impact of another chronic neuropathic pain model in wheel running assay. CCI mice showed a gradual decrease in mechanical withdrawal threshold and a decrease in distance traveled compared to sham 5 days following the procedure. Comparing these chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain models in different mouse strains may help us better understand genetic differences underlying pain perception and its impact on reflexive and nonreflexive outcome measures.

Cutaneous mucinosis of infancy: report of a rare case and review of the literature

Cutaneous mucinosis of infancy (CMI) is a rare dermatologic condition, first reported in 1980 and currently classified within the complex group of papular mucinoses. We report a case of CMI and review the prior 13 cases in the literature. The patient was a 5-year-old girl who presented with asymptomatic dermal papules and plaques on her leg and back with no overlying color change. These lesions were first noticed during infancy and had become slightly more evident over time. The patient had a history of birthmarks and eczema. Her family history included eczema, allergies, photosensitivity, and Graves disease. Pre-biopsy clinical differential diagnosis included connective tissue nevus, granuloma annulare, myofibroma, lipofibroma, and lymphangioma. Biopsies revealed significant increase in interstitial mucin within the reticular and mid dermis, without significant sclerosis or fibroblastic proliferation. The relatively quiescent pattern of interstitial mucinosis with slight fibrocyte hyperplasia presenting as dermal papules-plaques on the trunk and extremities was most consistent with a diagnosis of CMI. We report another case of CMI in an otherwise healthy patient. Our patient is unique as she is the first CMI patient with a family history of Graves disease, although our patient appeared euthyroid. We will also review the literature on this rare entity.

Photodynamic therapy provides local control of cholangiocarcinoma in patients awaiting liver transplantation

Many transplant centers use endoscopically directed brachytherapy to provide locoregional control in patients with otherwise incurable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) who are awaiting liver transplantation (LT). The use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-directed photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an alternative to brachytherapy for providing locoregional control in this patient population has not been studied. The aim of this study was to report on our initial experience using ERCP-directed PDT to provide local control in patients with unresectable CCA who were awaiting LT. Patients with unresectable CCA who underwent protocol-driven neoadjuvant chemoradiation and ERCP-directed PDT with the intent of undergoing LT were reviewed. Four patients with confirmed or suspected CCA met the inclusion criteria for protocol LT. All four patients (100%) successfully underwent ERCP-directed PDT. All patients had chemoradiation dose delays, and two patients had recurrent cholangitis despite PDT. None of these patients had progressive locoregional disease or distant metastasis following PDT. All four patients (100%) underwent LT. Intention-to-treat disease-free survival was 75% at mean follow-up of 28.1 months. In summary, ERCP-directed PDT is a reasonably well tolerated and safe procedure that may have benefit by maintaining locoregional tumor control in patients with CCA who are awaiting LT.

Dermatological phenotype in Costello syndrome: consequences of Ras dysregulation in development

BACKGROUND

The RASopathies are a class of human genetic syndromes caused by germline mutations in genes that encode protein components of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Costello syndrome (CS) is a RASopathy caused by mutations in the HRAS gene, a key regulator of signal transduction.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the specific cutaneous phenotype observed in 46 individuals with Costello syndrome with confirmed HRAS mutations.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Dermatological surveys were designed by the authors and were completed by parents of mutation-positive individuals with CS at the Costello Syndrome Family Network (CSFN) conferences in 2007 and 2009. Dermatological examinations were performed by the authors at the CSFN conferences.

RESULTS

Cutaneous papillomas were reported in 33 of the 46 (72%) participants, with age of onset ranging from infancy to 22years. Individuals with CS are more likely than patients with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC) to present with cutaneous papillomas (72% vs. 5%, P<0·001) and palmoplantar keratoderma (76% vs. 36%, P<0·001). Individuals with CS are less likely than individuals with CFC to present with sparse or absent eyebrows (9% vs. 90%, P<0·001) or keratosis pilaris (33% vs. 80%, P=0·001). This study also identified that loose, redundant skin on the hands and feet, 'stippled' dermatoglyphs (pachydermatoglyphia) on the fingertips (eight of 26, 31%) and acanthosis nigricans (17 of 46, 37%) are frequent features of CS.

CONCLUSIONS

While there is significant phenotypic overlap among syndromes of the Ras/MAPK pathway, individuals with CS are more likely than individuals with CFC syndrome to present with cutaneous papillomas, palmoplantar keratoderma and full eyebrows, and are less likely to present with ulerythema ophryogenes, keratosis pilaris or multiple naevi. The dermatological features of CS, a Ras dysregulation syndrome, share many features with cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes. This may provide further insight into the role of Ras signalling in cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes.

Estimation of the hamaker coefficient for a fuel-cell-supported catalyst system

Hamaker coefficients are estimated for various nanoparticle-support systems commonly used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The interaction energies, cohesion between nanoparticles, and adhesion of nanoparticles on the support are also estimated from the experimental data. Comparison between the bulk properties of platinum metal, calculated from the optical spectra available in the literature, and the nanoparticles are provided. Measurements to obtain the optical properties of the systems of interest are also reported. Implications of the van der Waals forces on the supported catalyst structure properties are discussed. The algorithm used in calculation of the Hamaker coefficient using Lifshitz theory was evaluated with known materials, using the spectral parameters available in the literature, and the results are presented.

Advances in surface-light-scattering instrumentation and analysis: noninvasive measuring of surface tension, viscosity, and other interfacial parameters

A new generation of vibration-mitigating surface-light-scattering instrumentation has been designed and built. The computational application of an instrument function derived by use of Fourier optics is presented. This instrument and its accompanying suite of analysis software allow us to easily make accurate and noninvasive measurements of the interfacial tension, volume viscosity, and other interfacial parameters of fluids. We derived the necessary surface response function algorithms to study both simple fluids and binary fluids at their wetting transition and near their critical points. These developments can be applied to study systems with liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid interfaces, including spread monolayers, whenever optical access for a laser beam is available.

Capillary waves on an asymmetric liquid film of pentane on water

Surface light-scattering measurements have been carried out on thin asymmetric films of pentane on water. We vary the film thickness ? over a wide range (10(-9) m < ? < 10(-5) m). Compared with the ripplons wavelength 1/q, thick films of pentane (? ? 1/q) display the same power spectrum as a pure pentane-vapor interface: a single peak. When thinning the film down to ? approximately 1/q, hydrodynamic coupling between the layers of the interface is revealed by the appearance of a second peak beside the first one. We describe the thickness dependence of the two coupled modes through variations of the positions, the widths, and the amplitudes of both peaks.

Surface fluctuation spectroscopy by surface-light-scattering spectroscopy

In recent years surface-light-scattering spectroscopy has been transformed from a complex optical experiment requiring substantial effort to operate effectively to a simpler instrument for which an accurate theory of operation has been developed. The accuracy and precision are sufficiently enhanced that refinement of the theory of spectral band shapes is justified to include more subtle effects such as bending moduli and thin-film forces associated with the van der Waals and the Casimir effects. We show how to develop extensions of the theory of interfacial fluctuations through the mass and the momentum balances of interfacial transport. We also show that free-energy functionals can be used to express curvature effects crisply. The results are detailed formulas that can be used to fit experimental spectra.

Hybrid reflection-transmission surface light-scattering instrument with reduced sensitivity to surface sloshing

A hybrid reflection-transmission surface light-scattering instrumental design is presented, examined theoretically, and tested experimentally. The purpose of the design is to reduce the sensitivity of the instrument to vibration in general and surface sloshing in particular while sacrificing little performance. Traditional optical arrangements and two new optical configurations with varying trade-offs between slosh resistance and instrumental simplicity and accuracy are examined by use of Fourier optics methods. The most promising design was constructed and tested with acetone, ethanol, and water as subject fluids. The test involved backcalculation of the wave number of the capillary wave examined with the known physical parameters for the test fluids. The agreement of the computed wave number was +/-1.4%.

Ankle arthrodesis using an arthroscopic method: long-term follow-up of 34 cases

Thirty-four ankle arthrodeses performed using an arthroscopic technique were followed for an average of 8 years. The fusion rate was 97% and the average time to fusion was 9 weeks; 86% of patients had good or excellent functional results. There were no wound infections or neurological injuries. There was one malunion and one additional minor complication. The arthroscopic method uses an abrader to denude the joint surfaces of cartilage, followed by screw fixation. The average time to fusion is significantly less than other ankle arthrodesis techniques, which hastens the recovery period. The shorter time to fusion is likely a result of the minimal soft tissue stripping that is performed during the procedure. The low morbidity of this technique eliminates the need for hospitalization in most cases. There were no long-term adverse sequelae. This is the largest reported series of arthroscopic ankle arthrodeses.

Orthopedic soft-tissue tumors. Concepts for the primary care physician

Mesenchymal neoplasia includes an extensive variety of tumors. It is important that the primary care physician understand the different qualities of benign and malignant processes in incidence, pathogenesis, history, physical findings, and diagnostic work-up and, as a result, be able to make the appropriate orthopedic consultation when necessary. It also is important that they understand basic concepts of definitive treatment so that they may educate their patients. Table 2 lists some of the more common benign and malignant soft-tissue tumors. It is by no means an attempt to be inclusive, but rather to serve as an introduction to a vast group of neoplasms.

Comparative evaluation of gastrointestinal intolerance produced by plain and tri-buffered aspirin tablets

Two multi-investigator, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trials were conducted to determine whether tri-buffered formulations of both regular strength aspirin and extra strength aspirin would be less likely than plain aspirin to provoke subjective gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance. Each trial was divided into two phases, a qualification phase and a test phase. During the qualification phase, subjects with a history of gastrointestinal intolerance to aspirin were randomized to a double-blind crossover treatment with aspirin and placebo (325 mg aspirin per tablet in study 1 and 500 mg aspirin per tablet in study 2), two tablets four times a day for 3 days or until the occurrence of stomach upset. Subjects who reported gastrointestinal symptoms with aspirin and not with placebo qualified to participate in the test phase of the study. They were rerandomized to participate in a three-way crossover study of plain aspirin, tri-buffered aspirin, and placebo in the test phase. Tri-buffered aspirin was associated with an appreciable reduction in the incidence of gastrointestinal upset relative to plain aspirin, 34 percentage points in study 1 (p less than 0.001) and 33 percentage points in study 2 (p less than 0.001). Similar results were obtained in the evaluation of the reduction of the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Lower esophageal ring: experiences in treatment of 88 patients

The lower esophageal ring is an unusual clinical disorder of the esophagus and consists of a thin submucosal circumferential scar that forms in the lower esophagus. It is probably an acquired lesion resulting from repeated insults to the lower esophageal mucosa. The symptom of dysphagia results from esophageal obstruction, and the degree of obstruction is directly related to the internal diameter of the ring. Episodic aphagia results from impaction of food at the site of the ring. Since 1970, 88 patients have been seen with either dysphagia or episodic aphagia. Sixty-five with chronic limited reflux were treated primarily by oral dilation. Two of them required an antireflux procedure at a later date because of accentuation of reflux symptoms. Eighteen patients received surgical treatment initially because of severe reflux disease. Treatment consisted of interruption of the ring combined with an antireflux procedure. Five patients received no treatment. Lower esophageal ring may be managed satisfactorily through oral dilation, resulting in relief of dysphagia. If reflux disease is present or is accentuated by dilation and cannot be controlled medically, then the appropriate antireflux procedure should be done.

Surface fluctuation scattering using grating heterodyne spectroscopy

Heterodyne photon spectroscopy is used for the study of the viscoelastic properties of the liquid interface by studying light scattered from thermally generated surface fluctuations. A theory of a heterodyne apparatus based on a grating is presented, and the heterodyne condition is given in terms of the parameters of the experimental setup. Particular attention is paid to those conditions of the experiment that can cause systematic errors. An instrument function for the apparatus relating the measured output to the experimental parameters of interest is derived. It is shown that the instrument function is generally not Gaussian but that its functional form can depend strongly on the parameters of the experimental setup. In particular, it is shown that significant systematic deviations are expected from previous published analysis of the problem. This is primarily due to the nonlinear relation of the surface wave number to the frequency. An algorithm is suggested to arrive at the frequency and width parameters of the spectrum from a typical noisy experimental data set and applied to data obtained from ethanol surfaces.

Double-blind multicenter comparison of 1,200 mg. and 1,000 mg. cimetidine in hospitalized and ambulatory duodenal ulcer patients

A multicenter double-blind study was made to compare whether 1,000 mg dosage of cimetidine, the dose commonly employed in the United Kingdom, was as effective as the 1,200 mg. dose recommended in the United States for the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Our second goal was to test whether hospitalization would enhance the efficacy of cimetidine in the healing of duodenal ulcer. There was no difference in healing rate after either one (40%) or four (86%) weeks of therapy. In addition, hospitalization (one week) did not enhance the efficacy of cimetidine therapy.

Swine vesicular disease: pathways of infection

The pathways of infection in swine vesicular disease have been studied by (i) an estimation of the amounts of virus required to produce infection by different artificial inoculation procedures; (ii) the distribution and amounts of virus in various tissues of pigs killed at intervals after contact infection; (iii) an investigation of the susceptibility to virus infection of pig tissue explants. The results show that pigs can be infected by a number of pathways and that the skin, as the most susceptible tissue, is probably the most frequent route of infection.

Poikilotherm vertebrate cell lines and viruses: a current listing for fishes

A survey of the literature and of work being done in vertebrate cell culture shows that there are currently in existence and available to investigators some 61 cell lines representing 17 families and 36 species of fish. The literature of fish virology shows that at least 17 fish viruses have been isolated and that at least 15 others have been visualized by electron microscopy. A minimum of four major virus groups--rhabdovirus, orthomyxovirus, iridovirus and herpesvirus--are known from fish. Original references, key reviews and sources of cell lines are given.

The influence of diet and diabetes on stearoyl Conenzyme A desaturase (EC 1.14.99.5) activity and fatty acid composition in rat tissues

1. Rats were given low-fat diets for 3 d in which the carbohydrate source was starch. The livers of animals given the fructose or sucrose had increased hepatic activities of the fatty acid synthetase and stearoyl CoA desaturase (EC 1.14.99.5) enzyme complexes: in those given fructose there was a lower activity of the enzymes in adipose tissue. 2. Similar results were obtained in rats given fructose diets for 30 d, but in animals which had previously been made diabetic with streptozotocin, the activities were lower. The dietary treatment made little difference to the fatty acid profiles of the tissue lipids. The diabetic condition on the other hand produced considerable changes in fatty acid profile. 3. With diets containing approximately 200 g fat/kg in the form of butter or of polyunsaturated margarine, the tissue lipids from rats given sucrose had less linoleic acid than those from rats given starch. In addition, there was the expected difference between the rats given butter or margarine. The results are discussed in relation to the current literature.

Binary phase digital reflection holograms: fabrication and potential applications

A novel technique for the fabrication of binary-phase computer-generated reflection holograms is described. By use of integrated circuit technology, the holographic pattern is etched into a silicon wafer and then aluminum coated to make a reflection hologram. Because these holograms reflect virtually all the incident radiation, they may find application in machining with high-power lasers. A number of possible modifications of the hologram fabrication procedure are discussed.

Neuropathology of experimental swine vesicular disease in pigs

A total of 26 young pigs were inoculated intracerebrally, intravenously or intradermally with the UKG27/72 strain of SVD virus, grown in tissue culture, and killed two, four, eight or 16 days after exposure. Overt nervous symptoms were seen only in pigs inoculated intracerebrally, but all pigs of all groups showed a non-suppurative meningitis and panencephalomyelitis principally affecting the mid- and fore-brain. Ganglioneuritis with intranuclear inclusion bodies in perineuronal amphicytes were found to be the most consistently useful characters for distinguishing SVD from other virus encephalitides of pigs. Spinal radiculitis was a feature of the early stages of CNS involvement and lesions were found also in the optic nerve, retina and cornea.

General pathology of experimental swine vesicular disease

Twenty-four minimal disease pigs were inoculated intracerebrally, intravenously or intradermally with an English strain of swine vesicular disease virus. In the skin, snout, tongue and tonsil the main lesion was a full-thickness coagulative necrosis of the stratified squamous epithelium. In the renal pelvis, bladder, tonsillar crypts and the collecting ducts of salivary glands and pancreas, epithelial degeneration with the formation of periodic acid-Schiff-positive material were consistent features of this disease. Histopathological examination alone could not be relied upon to differentiate between well-established skin lesions caused by swine vesicular disease and foot and mouth disease. The relationship between vesicular disease and Coxsackie B5 is discussed briefly.

Laser light-scattering investigations of the teleost swimbladder response to acoustic stimuli

When a laser pencil is directed through the teleost swimbladder fringe patterns can be seen in the far-field that are (a) highly sensitive to the orientation and position of the swimbladder with respect to the incident pencil and (b) a representation of contributions from each membrane through which the light passes. The fringe pattern fluctuates in intensity, and to some extent in position, in response to driving forces that distort the swimbladder. The spectrum of these very small distortions can be measured by standard light scattering techniques. This method was used to study the response of in situ swimbladders to imposed acoustic fields and evidence for a sharp roll-off of the response at frequencies above 1,000 Hz was found. Models for these effects are discussed.

Attemps to infect pigs with Coxsackie virus type B5

Despite the existence of a close serological relationship between the enteroviruses Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD) and Coxsackie type B5 (Cx B5), the administration of this Coxsackie virus type to susceptible pigs by various routes failed to produce clinical disease.Viraemia was not detected after exposure but virus was recovered intermittently from faeces and buccal swabs. A mixed virus population was demonstrated in faecal cultures from some pigs, including Coxsackie virus type B5 and other agents, presumably native pig enteroviruses. The Coxsackie virus persisted in faeces in declining amounts for up to 8 days after primary exposure.Serum neutralizing antibody showed a transient rise to Coxsackie virus, reaching a peak at 14 days and declining below demonstrable titres by 28 days after exposure. The antibody titres attained were proportional to the dose of virus administered and the degree of neutralization was very similar to both SVD and Cx B5 viruses.On cross challenge by exposure to SVD virus 28 days after exposure to Cx B5 virus, most animals (5/6) succumbed with typical vesicular lesions, although the serum neutralizing antibody titres showed a characteristically anamnestic response to both viruses.

Swine vesicular disease: attempts to transmit infection to cattle and sheep

Cattle and sheep were housed with infected pigs for 11 days. Small amounts of virus were recovered intermittently from the pharynx, milk and rectal swabs of the cattle, but no evidence of subclinical infection was found. Some indication of virus growth in the sheep was obtained in that large amounts of virus were recovered from the pharyngeal region 4 to 7 days after exposure and six of the eight sheep developed significant titres of neutralizing antibody which were maintained in four animals for at least 6 weeks.

Swine vesicular disease: comparative studies of viruses isolated from different countries

Seven viruses isolated from outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in various countries between 1966 and 1973 were compared in pigs and infant mice. All produced a similar disease and virus excretion pattern in the pig, although the Italy/66 virus was considerably less virulent than the other viruses. The results of cross neutralization tests of convalescent pig sera and the response of 5-day-old mice to intraperitoneal inoculation indicated minor differences between some viruses. The Italy/66, Hong Kong/71 and France/73 viruses differed from each other and also from the Italy/72, England/72, Austria/73 and Poland/73 group of viruses.

Swine vesicular disease: virological studies of experimental infections produced by the England-72 virus

Pigs exposed to relatively small amounts of virus by intradermal inoculation of the feet or by skin sacrification developed clinical disease. Large amounts of virus were recovered from samples taken from the nose, mouth, pharynx, rectum and the prepuce or vagina during the first week of infection and smaller amounts during the second week. Virus was recovered from the faeces of most animals 16 days after infection and from one animal for 23 days. Pigs in contact with inoculated animals were killed at intervals before the appearance of clinical disease. The distribution and amounts of virus in various tissues indicated that infection has most likely gained entry through the skin or the epithelia and mucosae of the digestive tract. Some pigs acquired subclinical infections in which no virus excretion was detected and no transmission of infection to susceptible pigs took place over a period of 5 weeks.

The growth and persistence of foot-and-mouth disease virus in the bovine mammary gland

In animals exposed to foot-and-mouth disease virus by indirect contact, virus was recovered from the blood, milk, pharynx, vagina and rectum for variable periods of time before clinical disease was apparent. Virus instilled into the mammary gland multiplied rapidly and virus concentrations greater than 10(7) p.f.u./ml. were recorded within 8-32 hr., depending on the virus strain and dose inoculated. Virus multiplication was accompanied by clinical signs of mastitis but the classical signs of foot-and-mouth disease did not appear for 52-117 hr. Dissemination of virus from the mammary gland occurred within 4-24 hr. and in some animals samples taken from the pharynx, mouth, nose and vagina contained virus for periods up to 97 hr. before the appearance of vesicular lesions. Virus production in the udder declined with the appearance of virus neutralizing activity in the blood and the milk but persisted in some animals for periods of 3-7 weeks. The ability of foot-and-mouth disease virus to persist in mammary tissue was confirmed by the demonstration of virus multiplication in the udders of immune animals.

Purification and properties of a bacteriophage-induced cell wall peptidase from Staphylococcus aureus

A phage-induced cell wall solubilizing enzyme isolated from phage-infected Staphylococcus aureus phage type 80 was purified 588-fold. The pH optimal activity was 6.8 to 7.3, and pH optimal stability, 6.5 to 7.5. It was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and specific rabbit antisera. The cell wall lytic reaction is a peptidase resulting in cleavage of the cell wall peptide at N-terminal alanine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Electron micrographs are shown of cell wall "ghosts" remaining after the enzymatic digestion of cell walls.