Temperature requirements for seed germination of Pereskia aculeata and Pereskia grandifolia.

Pereskia aculeata and Pereskia grandifolia have been studied widely due to their high nutritional and therapeutic values. However, little is known about the biological requirements of their seeds for the various germination factors. Thus, this experiment aimed to evaluate the thermal effects on the germination of these species at the temperatures of 24°C, 27°C, 30°C, 33°C and 36°C.

Treatment of intrabony pockets with Emdogain: results at 36 months.

This study reports the results obtained 36 months after treating deep periodontal defects with amelogenins. Results at 12 months have already been published. Sixteen of 21 patients completed the 3-year recall program.

Tilt-table test during transcranial Doppler monitoring in Parkinson's disease.

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction can occur in Parkinson's disease (PD) and intracranial vascular modifications following orthostatism may be relevant to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. We performed transcranial Doppler monitoring of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) at rest and during passive 70 degrees tilt in 19 patients with idiopathic PD and in 19 age-matched normal controls. Brachial arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean), cardiac frequency (CF), respiratory frequency and mean velocity (MV) of the MCA were recorded after 10 min of rest in supine position, and each minute during 9 min of tilting and 5 min of restored clinostatic position.

Abnormalities of sensorimotor integration in focal dystonia: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

It has been postulated that sensorimotor integration is abnormal in dystonia. We investigated changes in motor cortical excitability induced by peripheral stimulation in patients with focal hand dystonia (12 patients with hand cramps) and with cervical dystonia (nine with spasmodic torticollis) compared with 16 age-matched normal controls. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) to focal (figure-of-eight coil) transcranial magnetic stimulation of the hand area were recorded from the right abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseus (FDI), flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis muscles.

Use of Emdogain in the treatment of deep intrabony defects: 12-month clinical results. Histologic and radiographic evaluation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of an enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain) in deep periodontal pocket therapy. Twenty-one patients presenting intrabony and interproximal defects that could be treated with guided tissue regeneration were selected. The intrabony defects were divided into deep (< 9 mm) and very deep (> or = 9 mm) defects.

The angiogenesis marker ED-B+ fibronectin isoform in intracranial meningiomas.

Fibronectins (FNs), adhesive glycoproteins mainly expressed in the extracellular matrix, are polymorphic molecules whose various isoforms are dependent on alternative splicing patterns. The isoform containing the ED-B sequence and occurring in foetal and neoplastic tissues (oncofoetal or B+FN) has been previously recognized as a marker for angiogenesis. The distribution of this isoform was analyzed in a consecutive series of 134 surgically obtained intracranial meningiomas, using specific monoclonal antibodies.

Value of early variables as predictors of short-term outcome in patients with acute focal cerebral ischemia.

Reliable, simple and safe criteria are needed for the early prediction of short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The aim of our study was to evaluate, in terms of their individual and combined power, the prognostic value of a few widely available clinical and instrumental variables obtained during the acute phase. The study involved 351 consecutive patients who were examined within 48 hours of their first ischemic stroke.

Assessment of the CO2 response by means of non diffusible contrast media and angio-CT in patients with cluster headache.

We analyzed the possibility of assessing functional vasomotor changes by means of Arm-Brain Circulation Time (rABCT) and Vascular volume images (Vv) obtained with Angio-CT, in basal condition and following CO2 inhalation, in a sample of 48 patients with cluster headache. CO2 inhalation resulted in the appearance of local changes, which were detected in 28 regions. Analysis by indicator images of Vv-dependent rABCT distribution showed two main patterns: abnormal rABCT mostly evident at the smallest Vv pixels and abnormal rABCT dependent on abnormal Vv distribution.

Assessment of regional cerebral blood flow images with non-diffusible contrast media and angio-CT. Comparison with Xe-CT.

We derived rCBF (ND-rCBF) images using non-diffusible contrast agent time-density curves obtained by monitoring the first pass with an angio-CT sequence. An appropriate elaboration of the sequence of the images led to the generation of vascular volume (Vv) and regional Arm-Brain circulation time images (rABCT). ND-rCBF was obtained by dividing the Vv image by the rABCT image after having rendered them suitable for such an operation.

Functional circulation images by angio-CT in the assessment of small deep cerebral infarctions.

We analyzed circulation time (rABCT) and vascular volume density images obtained by angio-computerized tomography (angio-CT) in 63 patients with small deep cerebral infarctions. Abnormalities in the rABCT image were found in 88% of the patients and in the vascular volume image in 48%. Two groups with different clinical pictures were picked out by rABCT changes: one with major-vessel involvement, the other with small-vessel involvement.

Functional circulation and blood-brain permeability images by Angio CT in the assessment of cerebral ischemia.

We performed rapid sequential computerized tomography (CT) scanning following i.v. injection of a bolus of contrast medium, and generated three functional images related, respectively, to intravascular circulation time (rABCT), vascular volume density (Vv) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) unidirectional constant uptake rate (Ki).

Functional perfusion and blood-brain barrier permeability images in the diagnosis of cerebral tumors by Angio CT.

We performed rapid sequential CT scanning following iv injection of a bolus of contrast medium and generated three functional images relating to intravascular circulation time (rABCT), vascular volume (Vv) density and blood-brain barrier (BBB) unidirectional constant uptake rate (Ki), respectively. This was accomplished by calculating the first mathematical moment of the monitored time-density curves about the injection time and from the multiple time graph analysis described by Patlack and co-workers. A satisfactory resolution was achieved, allowing separate appreciation of changes in rABCT both in large vessels and in tissue small vessels.

Impairment of central motor conduction in diabetic patients.

In 70 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) we recorded the motor evoked potentials (MEPs) following magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and spinal roots. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) was determined as the difference between MEP latencies after cortical and spinal stimulation. The mean CMCTs for the biceps, thenar and tibialis anterior muscles were prolonged in the DM group, as compared to normal controls, and 21 patients exceeded the CMCT upper confidence limit for at least one muscle.

Effect of protein kinase C activators on the uptake of GABA by rat brain synaptosomes.

Synaptosomes were prepared from rat brain by a discontinuous Ficoll gradient method and used for studying the uptake of labelled GABA. Two GABA uptake components were evidenced, a high (Km = 3.13 microM) and a low (Km = 92.

Functional vascular volume and blood-brain barrier permeability images by angio-CT in the diagnosis of cerebral lesions.

We performed angio-CT following i.v. administration of an iodinated contrast medium and analyzed the pixel contrast time-density curves from 4 to 10 min postinjection to derive vascular and volume BBB permeability images.

Hemodynamic assessment of vascular malformations by angio CT with generation of functional transit time images.

We performed a CT dynamic study during the first pass of an intravenously injected bolus of a iodinated contrast medium, followed by generation of the regional arm-brain circulation time (rABCT) image, in 11 patients with vascular malformations. All lesions could be detected as changes of rABCT, and the comparison with values of normal arteries and veins allowed the deduction of the hemodynamic conditions of the lesions. Seven cases showed evidence of altered distribution of rABCT in the corresponding brain hemisphere, suggesting a perfusion reserve impairment.

Functional circulation time images in the diagnosis of cerebral lesions by angio CT.

An application of angio CT as an adjunct to contrast enhancement evaluation of cerebral lesions is presented. We performed rapid sequential scanning following intravenous bolus injection of an iodinated contrast medium, analyzed the time contrast curves and generated a functional circulation time image. This was accomplished by calculating on a pixel-by-pixel basis the first mathematical moment of the monitored time-density curves about injection time which corresponds to regional arm brain circulation time (rABCT).

Assessment of 99mTc-HM-PAO parameters with SPECT for improved evaluation of blood flow in cerebral lesions.

A method for investigating the linearity between blood flow and distribution of 99mTc-HM-PAO uptake in patients undergoing single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is presented. This method, based on particular elaboration techniques of sequential multiple acquisitions, provides a local index: cumulative transit time (CTT) related to all factors, other than blood flow, affecting 99mTc-HM-PAO uptake. Because a correct qualitative blood flow estimation is based on the uniformity of the above factors, the occurrence of a change of this index indicates a nonlinear relation between blood flow and 99mTc-HM-PAO uptake distributions.

Intravenous 99mTc HM-PAO radionuclide angiography as an adjunct to SPECT assessment of cerebral disease.

An application of intravenous radionuclide angiography as an adjunct to SPECT with 99mTc HM-PAO is presented. From the angiographic sequence a two-dimensional parametric image is generated computing, pixel by pixel, the center of gravity (COG) of the local time curves. This index is independent of blood flow and reflects the relation between transmitted and extravasated activity.

Single photon emission computed tomography with technetium-99m hexamethyl propylenamino oxime in the clinical assessment of cerebral ischemia. A preliminary evaluation.

94 subjects, 64 with cerebral ischemia of varying severity and outcome, and 30 controls were studied with technetium-99m hexamethyl propylenamino oxime single photon emission computed tomography in order to evaluate the suitability of this technique in the assessment of cerebral ischemia. Decreased uptake corresponding to the side of clinical symptomatology and/or to CT lesion was found in 93% of the patients with complete stroke and in 28% of the patients with transient ischemic attack. This procedure can be a useful tool in the routine examination of ischemic patients, although the mechanism underlying brain uptake is far from being completely understood and the possible quantitative evaluation of regional cerebral blood flow is worthy of further assessment.

[Computerized radionuclide angiography of brain tumors. Analysis of activity-time curves].

43 patients with a cerebral supratentorial tumor and an increased uptake at the static scan underwent intravenous radionuclide angiography with time-activity curve analysis. The increased uptake was evident during radionuclide angiography in about 50% of the cases, 16% during the upslope and 40% during the downslope of the curve. From these data it was concluded that increased uptake in tumours is determined rather than by an increased blood flow by the barrier disruption which may be operative in determining the increased uptake during the first pass in about 40% of the cases.

Evaluation of asymmetries of blood flow rate and of circulation time by intravenous radionuclide cerebral angiography in patients with ischemic completed stroke.

155 patients with ischemic completed stroke of varying severity and outcome have been evaluated by radionuclide cerebral angiography with analysis of regional time-activity curves. Two parameters have been evaluated: area under the upslope of the curve (Aup) reflecting regional blood flow rate and moment of the whole curve reflecting tracer circulation time (rABCT) Combination of these two methods ensured increased detection of perfusion asymmetries.