The different shapes of the fourth ventricle

With a distinctive shape and surrounding anatomical structures, the fourth ventricle is located in the posterior cranial fossa. There are various pathologies, either developmental or acquired, that can present as a characteristic deformity of the fourth ventricle. Therefore, this paper will cover the anatomy of the fourth ventricle and correlate this to the various pathologies. The aim of this review is to improve the ability of the readers to recognise the change in shape and configuration of the fourth ventricle, enabling early detection of pathologies.

Cauda equina thickening: an approach to MRI findings

There are many causes of cauda equina (CE) thickening on neuroimaging of the lumbar spine. The imaging features of CE thickening for the various conditions often overlap and are non-specific to clinch a definite diagnosis. Hence, the imaging findings have to be discerned in accordance with the patient's presenting history, clinical examination findings, and results from electrophysiology and laboratory studies. In this review, the authors aim to supplement the existing literature on imaging findings of CE thickening with a diagnostic framework for clinical workup. The authors also aim to familiarise readers with the interpretation of CE thickening on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and would like to illustrate the normal variants and pitfalls that could be mistaken for abnormal results.

POS0793 IMPROVED RELAPSE-FREE SURVIVAL WITH THE NORWICH PREDNISOLONE REGIMEN FOR GIANT CELL ARTERITIS

Background

Glucocorticoid therapy is the mainstay treatment for GCA. There is no consensus on the dose of prednisolone to be used. Prednisolone regimens used in clinical trials have reported relapse rates of 66 to 92%. The long-term follow-up of Tocilizumab and prednisolone for 1-year showed a relapse rate of 74% at 2 years. The Norwich Regimen is a bespoke prednisolone plan with an initial dose of 1mg/kg of lean body mass. It delivers 164.64 mg/kg of lean body mass in a logarithmic taper over 100 weeks. It was devised to reduce the risk of relapse and allow patients to be in control of their prednisolone reduction.

Objectives

To document drug-free survival at 150 weeks of people with GCA treated with a bespoke prednisolone taper

Methods

All patients were diagnosed by biopsy, ultrasonography or PET scan and provided with a printed prednisolone plan at diagnosis. All individuals were assessed at approximately 3-6 monthly intervals in addition to suspected relapse, toxicity or other need for course correction. Relapses were confirmed objectively using a modification of the Kerr criteria. Relapse free survival was recorded at 100 weeks. Patients were given an open invite to contact us in the event of a suspected relapse after coming off prednisolone. A notes review was done to record events at 150 weeks.

Results

150 consecutive people with objectively diagnosed GCA (mean age 74) since 10/01/2012 have completed 150 weeks since starting prednisolone. Drug-free, relapse-free survival at 100 weeks was met by 133/150 (89%). 7 individuals died and 20 relapsed. A further 5 died and 15 relapsed by week 150; 103/150 (69%) survivors were in prednisolone-free remission. Of the 12 deaths – 6 died of cancer, 1 subdural haemorrhage, 1 ischaemic bowel, 1 septicaemia, 1 general decline (aged 93). The cause of death was not available for 2 individuals who died in the community. The median time to relapse for the 35 individuals was 80 weeks (IQR 64,109).

Conclusion

We report the first results of a bespoke prednisolone taper to be used in real life. The Norwich Regimen for the treatment of GCA results in drug-free relapse-free survival of 89% at 100 weeks and 69% at 150 weeks, which is superior to all other reports published so far.

References

[1]Mukhtyar, C, Cate, H, Graham, C, Merry, P, Mills, K, and Misra, A, 2019, ‘Development of an evidence-based regimen of prednisolone to treat giant cell arteritis – the Norwich regimen’ Rheumatology Advances in Practice, Volume 3, Issue 1, 2019, rkz001, https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkz001

[2]Hellmich B, Agueda A, Monti S, et al2018 Update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:19-30.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Predictors of increased mortality in untreated moderate aortic stenosis

Background

The natural history of native valvular moderate aortic stenosis (AS) is poorly understood.

Purpose

To examine the prognosis of patients with native valvular moderate AS, and identify high risk-features associated with increased mortality.

Methods

Natural language processing of electronic health records in the claims-linked Optum® database (2011–2018) from over 200 hospitals and 7000 clinics in the United States identified severity of AS (mild/moderate/severe) from echocardiograms and physician notes of patients more than 65 years old. Our cohort included 30,204 patients (3594 with mild, 9938 with moderate, and 16672 with severe AS). We used competing risk Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare 5-year mortality (obtained from the Social Security Death Masterfile) between the different AS severity groups adjusted for demographics and comorbidities, censoring for aortic valve replacement. The relationship between AS severity and survival was examined during median 1049 days (interquartile range: 597 to 1652 days) of follow-up. We performed Fine-Gray modeling to examine risk factors associated with long-term mortality in patients with moderate AS.

Results

A higher proportion of comorbidities like atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and coronary artery disease were observed with increasing severity of AS (Figure 1). After adjustment, compared with mild AS (5-year mortality: 31.6%), patients with untreated moderate (5-year mortality: 40.0%, HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.25 – 1.44) and untreated severe AS (5-year mortality: 51.1%, HR 1.88, 95% CI 1.75– 2.01) have increasing risk of long-term mortality (Figure 2). Significant predictors of 5-year mortality in patients with moderate AS include older age (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.29 –1.47), male sex (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.15 – 1.27), heart failure (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29 – 1.44), coronary artery disease (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.13 – 1.27), and atrial fibrillation (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02 – 1.14). In a subcohort of 5189 patients for whom left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) information was available, reduced LVEF was associated with worse long-term mortality (LVEF<40%: HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 –1.31; LVEF 40–50%: HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.97 –1.20).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that moderate AS is associated with poor long-term survival with higher risk associated with LVEF <40%, and comorbidities including heart failure, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. Whether patients with moderate AS, particularly with high-risk features, benefit from treatment remains unknown.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Baseline CharacteristicsAdjusted KM curves with Competing Risk

Recombinant turnip yellow mosaic virus coat protein as a potential nanocarrier

AIMS

To display a short peptide (GSRSHHHHHH) at the C-terminal end of turnip yellow mosaic virus coat protein (TYMVc) and to study its assembly into virus-like particles (TYMVcHis₆ VLPs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, recombinant TYMVcHis₆ expressed in Escherichia coli self-assembled into VLPs of approximately 30-32 nm. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of protein fractions from the immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) showed that TYMVcHis₆ VLPs interacted strongly with nickel ligands in IMAC column, suggesting that the fusion peptide is protruding out from the surface of VLPs. These VLPs are highly stable over a wide pH range from 3·0 to 11·0 at different temperatures. At pH 11·0, specifically, the VLPs remained intact up to 75°C. Additionally, the disassembly and reassembly of TYMVcHis₆ VLPs were studied in vitro. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that TYMVcHis₆ VLPs were dissociated by 7 mol l^-1 urea and 2 mol l^-1 guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) without impairing their reassembly property.

CONCLUSIONS

A 10-residue peptide was successfully displayed on the surface of TYMVcHis₆ VLPs. This chimera demonstrated high stability under extreme thermal conditions with varying pH and was able to dissociate and reassociate into VLPs by chemical denaturants.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first C-terminally modified TYMVc produced in E.  coli. The C-terminal tail which is exposed on the surface can be exploited as a useful site to display multiple copies of functional ligands. The ability of the chimeric VLPs to self-assemble after undergo chemical denaturation indicates its potential role to serve as a nanocarrier for use in targeted drug delivery.

Risk factors for transplant renal artery stenosis after live donor transplantation

Background

Renal transplant surgeons are making increasing use of live donor kidneys with multiple renal arteries. This study aimed to identify independent risk factors for the development of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) in the modern era of complex arterial reconstruction for multiple vessels.

Methods

Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a stepwise variable deletion model was used to identify risk factors for the development of TRAS in a consecutive series of live donor kidney transplants.

Results

Of 506 kidney transplants, 19 (3·8 per cent) had evidence of significant TRAS on CT angiography. Functional TRAS, defined by improvement in BP control or renal function after correction of a stenosis by angioplasty, occurred in 13 of 506 patients (2·6 per cent). Independent risk factors for TRAS were: use of an explanted internal iliac artery graft from the recipient (odds ratio (OR) 4·95; P = 0·020) and total ischaemia time (OR 1·82; P = 0·010). TRAS was associated with a lower 5-year allograft survival rate (79 versus 88·7 per cent; P = 0·020) but only one graft loss was attributed directly to TRAS. The 5-year allograft survival rate after internal iliac artery grafting was 86 per cent.

Conclusion

Although use of an internal iliac artery graft is an independent risk factor for TRAS after live donor kidney transplantation, this technique is still a useful option for complex arterial reconstruction.

[Primary culture of cat intestinal epithelial cell and construction of its cDNA library]

Objective To establish the primary cat intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) culture methods and construct the cDNA library for the following yeast two-hybrid experiment, so as to screen the virulence interaction factors among the final host. Methods The primary cat IECs were cultured by the tissue cultivation and combined digestion with collagenase XI and dispase I separately. Then the cat IECs cultured was identified with the morphological observation and cyto-keratin detection, by using goat anti-cyto-keratin monoclonal antibodies. The mRNA of cat IECs was isolated and used as the template to synthesize the first strand cDNA by SMART™ technology, and then the double-strand cDNAs were acquired by LD-PCR, which were subsequently cloned into the plasmid PGADT7-Rec to construct yeast two-hybrid cDNA library in the yeast strain Y187 by homologous recombination. Matchmaker™ Insert Check PCR was used to detect the size distribution of cDNA fragments after the capacity calculation of the cDNA library. Results The comparison of the two cultivation methods indicated that the combined digestion of collagenase XI and dispase I was more effective than the tissue cultivation. The cat IECs system of continuous culture was established and the cat IECs with high purity were harvested for constructing the yeast two-hybrid cDNA library. The library contained 1.1×10⁶ independent clones. The titer was 2.8×10⁹ cfu/ml. The size of inserted fragments was among 0.5-2.0 kb. Conclusion The yeast two-hybrid cDNA library of cat IECs meets the requirements of further screen research, and this study lays the foundation of screening the Toxoplasma gondii virulence interaction factors among the cDNA libraries of its final hosts.

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of renal masses in patients with renal impairment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of contrastenhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the risk stratification of indeterminate renal lesions picked up incidentally on abdominal imaging, in patients with renal impairment.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed of nonconsecutive patients who underwent CEUS at our tertiary care centre for indeterminate renal lesions between March 2010 and September 2014. A total of 63 patients with 74 nodules were assessed with CEUS and stratified into either benign (Bosniak I, II, IIF) or suspicious for malignancy (Bosniak III, IV or hypervascular solid lesions). Diagnostic accuracy was determined by comparing these findings to subsequent histological diagnoses, temporal change after at least 20 months follow-up or after a diagnostic computer tomography / magnetic resonance imaging study.

RESULTS

CEUS correctly identified 49/52 (94.2%) of benign lesions and 21/22 (95.5%) of malignant lesions, resulting in a sensitivity of 95.5% (95% CI 77.2-99.9%), specificity of 94.2% (95% CI 84.1-98.8%), positive predictive value (PPV) 87.5% (95% CI 67.6-97.3) and negative predictive value (NPV) 98.0% (95% CI 89.4-100%).

CONCLUSION

CEUS has high diagnostic performance in predicting the benignity of a renal lesion in patients with renal impairment, showing sensitivity and NPV approaching 100%.

A Case of Primitive Trigeminal Artery-Cavernous Fistula: Embolization, Complications and Strategy

A 22-year-old man with primitive trigeminal artery-cavernous fistula was admitted to our hospital. Embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils and microcoils was attempted on the fistula from the internal carotid artery. The last microcoil was incorrectly released to the basilar artery through the primitive trigeminal artery. The misplaced microcoil was eventually retrieved by goose-neck snare. There was no related complication in the follow-up period.

Partial hepatectomy and subsequent radiation facilitates engraftment of mouse embryonic stem cells in the liver

For liver-targeted regenerative medicine, embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells proffer great expectation. In vitro exposure to a combination of various growth factors, such as hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-4, as well as cytokines, leads to differentiation of ES cells into hepatocyte-like cells. We sought to determine the in vivo environment that allowed engraftment of ES cells transplanted to the liver. Thus, we examined the effect of partial hepatectomy (50%) (PHT) and subsequent radiation (RT) of the male Balb/c mouse host liver on ES cell engraftment. ES cells (5 x 10(6)) derived from 129Sv mice were transplanted into the residual liver. The controls were ES cells transplanted into a normal liver. Bromo-deoxy-residine (BrdU)-uptake was performed to evaluate the effect of hepatectomy and RT on hepatocyte regeneration. Mouse ES cells engrafted, forming teratomas in the normal liver without showing any mononuclear infiltration. A liver modified by PHT and RT facilitated engraftment of mouse ES cells compared with a normal liver. Hepatic RT significantly suppressed hepatocytic uptake of BrdU.

Macroscopic dynamics in separable neural networks

Parallel dynamics of neural networks with separable coupling is given starting from Coolen-Sherrington theory. Away from saturation, it is shown that this parallel retrieve dynamics is equivalent to the sequential dynamics for finite temperature. But the finite-size effects were found to be governed by a homogeneous Markov process, not by a time-dependent Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process in sequential dynamics.

A molecular clone of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (DeltavpuSHIV(KU-1bMC33)) with a truncated, non-membrane-bound vpu results in rapid CD4(+) T cell loss and neuro-AIDS in pig-tailed macaques

We report on the role of vpu in the pathogenesis of a molecularly cloned simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV(KU-1bMC33)), in which the tat, rev, vpu, env, and nef genes derived from the uncloned SHIV(KU-1b) virus were inserted into the genetic background of parental nonpathogenic SHIV-4. A mutant was constructed (DeltavpuSHIV(KU-1bMC33)) in which 42 of 82 amino acids of Vpu were deleted. Phase partitioning studies revealed that the truncated Vpu was not an integral membrane protein, and pulse-chase culture studies revealed that cells inoculated with DeltavpuSHIV(KU-1bMC33) released viral p27 into the culture medium with slightly reduced kinetics compared with cultures inoculated with SHIV(KU-1bMC33). Inoculation of DeltavpuSHIV(KU-1bMC33) into two pig-tailed macaques resulted in a severe decline of CD4(+) T cells and neurological disease in one macaque and a more moderate decline of CD4(+) T cells in the other macaque. These results indicate that a membrane-bound Vpu is not required for the CD4(+) T cell loss and neurological disease in SHIV-inoculated pig-tailed macaques. Furthermore, because the amino acid substitutions in the Tat and Rev were identical to those previously reported for the nonpathogenic SHIV(PPc), our results indicate that amino acid substitutions in the Env and/or Nef were responsible for the observed CD4(+) T cell loss and neurological disease after inoculation with this molecular clone.

Development of terfenadine-pseudoephedrine double-layer tablet dissolution-equivalent to core tablet

The terfenadine-pseudoephedrine dosage form discussed here is the sustained-release core tablet composed of outer (fast-release) and inner (sustained-release) layers. To develop the double-layer tablet dissolution-equivalent to a core tablet, the fast-release and sustained-release layers were prepared using various disintegrants and polymers, respectively. The layer composed of terfenadine/pseudoephedrine/lactose/cornstarch/sodium bicarbonate/hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)/sodium lauryl sulfate/microcrystalline cellulose (60/10/90/30/20/1/40/1/293 mg), which gave the fast disintegration time and high dissolved amounts of drugs, was selected as the fast-release layer. The dissolved amounts of pseudoephedrine from sustained-release layers increased more with a smaller ratio of ethylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). Dissolution mechanism analysis showed the release of pseudoephedrine was proportional to the square root of time, indicating that drug might be released from the layers by Fickian diffusion. The layer composed of pseudoephedrine/ethylcellulose/HPMC (110/30/155 mg), which had similar dissolution amounts of pseudoephedrine as the inner layer of a core tablet, was selected as the sustained-release layer. Furthermore, the dissolved amounts of drugs from the core and double-layer tablets had deviations of less than 5% against the average dissolved amounts of drugs at each time. There was no significant difference between the dissolved amounts of drugs from these tablets at each time in pH 1.2, 4.0, and 6.8 (P > .05). Our results suggest that this double-layer tablet was a dissolution equivalent to the core tablet.

Two regulators of Ste12p inhibit pheromone-responsive transcription by separate mechanisms

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor Ste12p is responsible for activating genes in response to MAP kinase cascades controlling mating and filamentous growth. Ste12p is negatively regulated by two inhibitor proteins, Dig1p (also called Rst1p) and Dig2p (also called Rst2p). The expression of a C-terminal Ste12p fragment (residues 216 to 688) [Ste12p(216-688)] from a GAL promoter causes FUS1 induction in a strain expressing wild-type STE12, suggesting that this region can cause the activation of endogenous Ste12p. Residues 262 to 594 are sufficient to cause STE12-dependent FUS1 induction when overexpressed, and this region of Ste12p was found to bind Dig1p but not Dig2p in yeast extracts. In contrast, recombinant glutathione S-transferase-Dig2p binds to the Ste12p DNA-binding domain (DBD). Expression of DIG2, but not DIG1, from a GAL promoter inhibits transcriptional activation by an Ste12p DBD-VP16 fusion. Furthermore, disruption of dig1, but not dig2, causes elevated transcriptional activation by a LexA-Ste12p(216-688) fusion. Ste12p has multiple regions within the C terminus (flanking residue 474) that can promote multimerization in vitro, and we demonstrate that these interactions can contribute to the activation of endogenous Ste12p by overproduced C-terminal fragments. These results demonstrate that Dig1p and Dig2p do not function by redundant mechanisms but rather inhibit pheromone-responsive transcription through interactions with separate regions of Ste12p.

[Amantadine usage for influenza A during an influenza outbreak in a nursing home]

An outbreak of an influenza like illness was found in a nursing home in Fukuoka in January, 1999. Results of hemagglutinin inhibition tests with paired sera of patients and rapid diagnosis kit for influenza A indicated that an influenza A (H3N2) outbreak had occurred. A total of 15 patients with influenza like illness from one residential area of the nursing home were administered amantadine, 100 mg per day for five days. Clinical records of 264 residents were surveyed retrospectively from the tenth to the thirty-first of January, 1999. Influenza like illness was found in 112 residents (42.4%). The incidence of influenza like illness differed by residential area, ranging from 27.6% to 54.0%. The mean duration of fever was 3.6 days among patients administered amantadine. The mean duration was 4.4 days for patients not administered amantadine. The incidence of influenza like illness decreased rapidly after amantadine administration in the residential area where amantadine administration was done. These results suggest that amantadine is effective in mitigating influenza symptoms in the elderly. Amantadine may be useful for diminishing the influence of influenza A outbreaks in nursing homes.

[The efficacy of influenza vaccine among geriatric inpatients]

To investigate the efficacy of influenza vaccine in the elderly, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titer for the three types of influenza viruses were measured and the influenza infection rate was determined serologically in geriatric inpatients. Influenza vaccination was done for inpatients. For patients who had influenza vaccination in the year prior to the study, influenza vaccine was administered once or twice, and the number of injections were determined randomly. Influenza vaccine was injected twice to those had not received influenza vaccine in the previous year. Serum samples were collected from 166 vaccinated and 104 unvaccinated patients before and after 1996/1997 influenza season. In the vaccinees who had been vaccinated the previous year, 56 patients were injected once and 58 patient were injected twice. Fifty-two patients had not been vaccinated the previous year. Serologically diagnosed influenza infection rate in the 104 unvaccinated patients was 16.3% for influenza A/H3N2 and 8.7% for influenza B. The infection rate was 3.0% for influenza A/H3N2 and 0.6% for influenza B in the 166 vaccinated patients. The infection rates were significantly lower in the vaccinees than in the unvaccinated patients (p < 0.001 with A/H3N2 and p < 0.01 with B). There was no significant difference in the infection rate among the three vaccinated groups. These results suggest that the influenza vaccination had significant protective efficacy for influenza infection in the elderly. Prior vaccination did not diminish the efficacy of the influenza vaccine. The efficacy of a single influenza vaccine injection was equivalent to that of two injection.

Microglial activation and neurological symptoms in the SIV model of NeuroAIDS: association of MHC-II and MMP-9 expression with behavioral deficits and evoked potential changes

HIV-1 causes cognitive and motor deficits and HIV encephalitis (HIVE) in a significant proportion of AIDS patients. Neurological impairment and HIVE are thought to result from release of cytokines and other harmful substances from infected, activated microglia. In this study, the quantitative relationship between microglial activation and neurological impairment was examined in the simian immunodeficiency model of HIVE. Macaque monkeys were infected with a passaged, neurovirulent strain of simian immunodeficiency virus, SIV(mac)239(R71/17E). In concurrent studies, functional impairment was assessed by motor and auditory brainstem evoked potentials and by measurements of cognitive and motor behavioral deficits. Brain tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry using two markers of microglia activation, MHC-II and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The inoculated animals formed two groups: rapid progressors, which survived 6-14 weeks postinoculation, and slow progressors, which survived 87-109 weeks. In the rapid progressors, two patterns of MHC-II expression were present: (1) a widely disseminated pattern of MHC-II expressing microglia and microglial nodules in cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter, and (2) a more focal pattern in which MHC-II expressing microglia were concentrated into white matter. Animals exhibiting both patterns of microglial activation showed mild to severe changes in cognitive and motor behavior and evoked potentials. All rapid progressors showed expression of MMP-9 in microglia located in subcortical white matter. In the slow progressors MHC-II and MMP-9 staining was similar to uninoculated control macaques, and there was little or no evidence of HIVE. These animals showed behavioral deficits at the end of the disease course, but little changes in evoked potentials. Thus, increases in MHC-II and MMP-9 expression are associated with development of cognitive and motor deficits, alterations in evoked potentials, and rapid disease progression.

Structure of the human transcription factor TFIIF revealed by limited proteolysis with trypsin

In this study, the human general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF), a heteromeric complex of RAP74 and RAP30 subunits, was subjected to limited proteolysis with trypsin. The central region of RAP74 was demonstrated to be highly sensitive to trypsin while both the N- and C-terminal regions contained trypsin-resistant structures. In contrast, RAP30 digestion occurred after proteolysis of RAP74. The digestion pattern of RAP74 recruited into the preinitiation complex showed no marked difference from that of IIF, while RAP30 in the complex was protected from trypsin. These results indicate that RAP74 apparently contains three structural domains, the central one of which is externally surfaced and unstructured, but RAP30 is internally wrapped by RAP74. Furthermore, the accessibility of the central region of RAP74 is unaltered in the minimal preinitiation complex, while RAP30 is involved in promoter recognition through its DNA binding activity.

Apoptosis in cellular compartments of rat spinal cord after severe contusion injury

Following a controlled, severe contusion lesion to the lower thoracic spinal cord in adult rats, we found that apoptosis occurred in cells located in both gray and white matter. This suggested that both nonneuronal cells, including astrocytes, oligodendroglia and microglia, as well as neurons, might participate in programmed cell death (PCD) following spinal cord injury (SCI). Determination of which cell populations participate, and the kinetics and extent of their involvement might reveal new paradigms for approaches to therapy. Consequently, we assessed the functional deficit, comparing a comprehensive locomotor rating scale (LRS) with the inclined plane test at various times after injury. Using standard histology, along with cell-specific markers, we assessed PCD in different spinal cord segments using several parameters of apoptosis. Our results indicate that hind limb motor function was lost at day 1, and then only gradually and ineffectively (about 10-15%) recovered over the next month. Evidence for increased cell number was present for astrocytes and microglia beginning at day 1 after injury. Over the postinjury time period, apoptotic cells appeared (from day 1 to 14), and peaked (in terms of apoptotic index) on day 3. About one-third were microglia, whereas neurons, both large and small, also underwent apoptosis, again peaking at day 3. However, neurons continued to die and were not replaced by proliferation, so that at day 7, three times as many neurons (as a percentage) underwent PCD compared with the glial compartment. Oligodendrocytes also underwent apoptosis, with a biphasic curve, both at days 3 and 14 following injury. Thus, in addition to immediate, passive necrosis, delayed and apoptotic PCD also occurred in all cell populations in severely injured spinal cord.

Neurovirulent simian immunodeficiency virus induces calbindin-D-28K in astrocytes

Astrocyte activation has been postulated to be a major contributor to functional changes in the brain of AIDS patients. We assessed astrocyte activation in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) model. Four groups of macaque brains were examined: uninoculated controls, animals inoculated with virus that did not cause disease, animals inoculated with virus that caused AIDS but did not cause encephalitis, and animals with SIV encephalitis. We examined expression of calbindin-D-28K, a calcium binding protein that is upregulated in astrocytes during excitotoxic events, as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The presence of calbindin in astrocytes was confirmed by double-labeling using confocal microscopy. Increases in calbindin staining were most apparent in the white matter, but increases in GFAP staining were most apparent in middle layers of the cerebral cortex. Six of the seven animals with SIV encephalitis had calbindin immunoreactive astrocytes in the subcortical white matter, corpus callosum, internal capsule, cerebral peduncle, pontine white matter, and cerebellar white matter. Very rarely, a few, very lightly calbindin-immunoreactive astrocytes were present in the uninoculated control brains. The increase in calbindin expression by astrocytes in SIV encephalitis suggests that these cells are subject to calcium toxicity. In uninoculated control macaques, and in macaques inoculated with virus that did not cause disease, GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes were present throughout the subcortical white matter and in layer I, but very few were found in layers III-V of the cerebral cortex. Two animals that died of AIDS without encephalitis had somewhat higher numbers of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes in middle cortical layers. In seven animals that received passaged neurovirulent virus and developed both AIDS and encephalitis, the number of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in middle cortical layers was high, indicating widespread astrocyte activation.

Systemic adverse reactions in young Simmental calves following administration of a combination vaccine

Combination vaccines containing viral and bacterial antigens are commonly used in veterinary practice and have been associated with adverse reactions. A group of young Simmental calves developed fever and depression following administration of a mixed vaccine, and 1 died with pulmonary edema, suggesting that endotoxins or other bacterial components may interact synergistically with some adjuvants to cause an enhanced pathologic inflammatory response in some individuals.

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus and macroglossia

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus is an uncommon disorder. Macroglossia in association with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus has been reported only twice before. We report the case of a 21-day-old male infant referred from a peripheral hospital for management of hyperglycemia. The mother was a 21-year-old primigravid in good health. There was no history of diabetes or drug or alcohol exposure. The pregnancy was complicated by intrauterine growth retardation and oligohydramnios from 30 weeks' gestation and the birth weight at 38 weeks' gestation was only 1480 gm. Physical examination revealed dysmorphic features and asymmetric growth retardation. The admission weight (1840 gm) and length (40.5 cm) were 5 SDs less than the mean and head circumference (32.5 cm) was 1 SD less than the mean. Dysmorphic features included macroglossia, large fontanelles, hypospadias, umbilical hernia, and bilateral inguinal hernias. Hyperglycemia had been noted on day 1 of life with an initial blood glucose value of 16 mmol/L (288 mg/dl). Despite treatment with regular insulin blood glucose control continued to be erratic. Therefore a regimen of daily NPH insulin was begun, which has a smoother action. Interestingly, from day 41 to day 47 the infant did not receive insulin and a crude control of the blood glucose was demonstrated. Peak levels of blood glucose in excess of 20 mmol/L (360 mg/dl) were followed by drops to levels less than 2 mmol/L (36 mg/dl) without insulin administration. This abnormal pattern of glucose control may represent poorly regulated release of endogenous insulin. However, because of unsatisfactory glucose levels administration of daily NPH insulin was reintroduced. The infant was discharged from the hospital on day 50 and administration of insulin was discontinued uneventfully at 9 months. At 1 year the hemoglobin A1c level was still normal and the infant's weight was at the 10th percentile. Macroglossia was less pronounced. Development showed mild delay in gross motor milestones.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measures of brain function in schizophrenia

This study explores SPECT measured in schizophrenic patients at rest. Left temporal lobe activity was found to be decreased with increasing positive symptoms' scores scores. Medicated patients showed a reversal of this pattern underlying this positive symptom effect. Patients with a recent history of auditory hallucinations showed an atypical right temporal lobe dominance, which occurred independently of medication status. These preliminary data are suggestive of the potential utility of SPECT to elucidate symptom/medication/brain activity interrelationships in schizophrenia.

[Age-dependent changes in the phosphorylation of nuclear phosphoproteins of rat salivary glands]

Development, growth, maturation and aging processes of secretory cells of rat salivary glands progress mainly after birth. Nuclear non-histone proteins, phosphorylated actively and reversively, have an important role as regulatory molecules of gene activity and have a possibility to bring about specific changes in these cellular processes. We examined in the present study the age-dependent changes in the phosphorylation of non-histone proteins of rat salivary glands. Nuclei purified from submandibular and parotid glands of 8-week-old rats rapidly incorporated 32P from gamma-32P-ATP into the nuclear phosphoproteins and reached equilibrium within 9 min. A preponderant amount of the 32P was present in non-histone proteins. The levels of phosphorylation of non-histone proteins in salivary gland nuclei increased rapidly after birth, reaching a maximum in both gland nuclei of 4-week-old rats and then decreasing to the levels observed in submandibular and parotid gland nuclei from 20 and 16-week-old rats, respectively. These levels were still maintained in nuclei from aged rats. Moreover, age-dependent changes in the protein kinase activity of submandibular and parotid gland nuclei were linked up with the changes in the phosphorylation of non-histone proteins. However, changes were not observed in the phosphorylation of histone proteins after birth. These results suggest that protein kinase activity in salivary gland nuclei may have an important role on age-dependent changes in cell function, mediated through the control of the phosphorylation of non-histone proteins.

Cotinine validation of self-reported smoking in commercially run community surveys

A validation study was carried out on self-reported smoking for 1177 people in Sydney and Melbourne in 1983. Because of its long half life and the fact that smoking is its only source in body fluids, saliva cotinine was chosen as the validation measure. Cotinine levels above 250 nmol/l were used to classify people as smokers. The sensitivity of self-reported smoking was 92.6% and the specificity was 93.4%. There was some evidence that people in the process of changing their smoking status might be slow in updating their self-classification. The smoking prevalence estimate based on cotinine levels was found to be 1.7% lower than that for self-reported smoking status. The small proportion of false negatives and false positives suggests that commercially collected data banks can be valid sources of prevalence data. Correlation between cotinine level and reported cigarette consumption was not affected by sample volume, and was similar to that achieved for carbon monoxide and thiocyanate at a low 0.34. Regression analysis using self-reported cigarette consumption filter/non-filter cigarettes, and time since last cigarette as predictors, explained 13.6% of the variance in cotinine level.